The Invercargill Times. TUESDAY, JULY 5, 1870.

Southland Times, Issue 1275, 5 July 1870, Page 2

The Invercargill Times. TUESDAY, JULY 5, 1870.

Is the Statement submitted by the hon. the Colonial Treasurer, together with the accompanying scheme of taxation, there is very little of originality, and not much, Jjo. startle. _The j;redit taken by the Colonial Treasurer for the success of last year's financial measures is doubtless natural, and perhaps justifiable. It is, however, open to question whether be has not taken credit for more than the fads of the case warrant. He has instanced as a proof of this success the effect of tho curtailment of the advance system in " enabling a large sum to be brought to account at the end of the year, which, would otherwise have appeared as a charge against this year." This is in reality no argument, but merely proves that which no one will deny, namely, that money spent cannot' remain in band, or tbat if we go into debt, we shall, at some time or other, have to meet~Efi?T*T*efbfe:- — Af un uimAjL agLjbbe' total -debt on colonial account as four millions and two hundred thousand pounds, we are told tbat of tbis amount five hundred and twenty eight thousand pounds ;are represented by Treasury Bills, which, are to remain until November, 1874, as a floating debt, when it is to be' decided whether it shall te paid off or added to the permanent debt of tbe colony. To tbe colonists it is, we apprehend, a matter of little consequence whether debt is floating or permanent. In either case interest must .be, p^-id, and tbo raising of tbe question as to tbe payment of tbe principal seems unnecessary, as referring to something incapable of realization. The " Statement" baying been published and extensively circulated, our readers will have had opportunity of going througb the figured, by which tbe result of the " Statement" is arrived at. Itis difficult to understand how tbe assumed surplus of d576,00Q is obtained, when no account appears to bave been taken of -£60,000 due on overdraft account. The surplus, moreover, is reckoned consequent on tbe bringing to account of £150,000 " Treasury Bills authorised," and it. is admitted .that "only an estimate could be made for nearly the whole of tbe present quarter." It may therefore turn out tbat there is really no surplus, but a deficiency instead. Some ground for the fear of such a contingency may be found in the admission tbat there would be an expenditure of J674,000 in excess of votes, and in tbe suggestion tbat " possibly another £10,000 might have to be paid before all liabilities for tbe year for defence purposes were satisfied." The arguments by which tbe hon. tbe Colonial Treasurer attempts to meet the charge of borrowing money to pay ordinary charges, cannot be accepted as conclusive, and it is possible by skilful manipulation to mate even figures either lie or conceal tbe : truth. In tbe proposal for tbe initiation and carrying out of public works, " roads J and railways," there is an adoption of the policy of the late Government, the obvious effect of tbe systems proposed, together with that for immigration, being to promote centralisation. The general coincidence of tbe policy of the present Government, especially as it is indicated in the Financial Statement, is such, as to force the enquiry, " On what ground was tbe late Ministry ousted ?" inasmuch as tbeir successors so closely walk in their footsteps. In dealing with the question of immigration, the Colonial Treasurer assumes it as " imperative that the partnership between the provinces and the colony should be dissolved." This assumption is probably not intended to be understood as referring to anything beyond the matter under consideration, yet it may, and possibly does, indicate a desire for centralisation. The Colonial Treasurer has stated that " he was not of opinion tbat increased taxation would.be necessary. Indeed, he. proposed that the tariff should be reduced. _. He considered that the tariff required adjustment, andj without raising questions as to free trade or protection, he was willing |to admit that tbe amount of revenue required should be tbe test as to tbe tariff; therefore, while proposing some ; increases of duty, he also proposed decreases, and as far as possible, the articles on tbe two sides were on a par as to popular use. It was proposed that the increases should come into operation at once, but tbat the decreases should not take effect until tbe first of October next." Whether tbe proposal for immediate increase and prospective decrease is made in tbe interest of tbe Government, or of tbe community, requires no great wisdom to decide. The new tariff is not likely to be bailed with anything like general satisfaction, nor are its provisions framed to effect any Tery material change in tbe revenue. It

will occasion a great' deal of trouble, and in a few instances will amount to a prohibition. The impost of Is per lOOlbs on imported flour as a matter of protection is insufficient, while to the consumer the result wili be something like a fourfold addition to tho price of bread. In the article of sugar, on which a decrease of Is pep cwt. is proposed, the consumer will derive no benefit, the reduction going into the pocket of the merchant or retailer. With regard to other articles on "which an increased duty is chargeable/ remark on them will be to open up the question of intercolonial free trade, but as to many on which decrease is made, it is exceedingly difficult to find any reason for the reduction, except tbat which arises -from the idea of class legislation. There are besides. a large number of articles on which the duty is to be decreased, where for the reduction it is impossible to assign any plausible reason, such as Japanned and lacquered metalware, papier-mache-ware, liquorice, alum, and arsenic. Further on in the free list are found American enamelled cloths, hair-seating!, npholsterer's webbing, and springs; and, taken -as a whole, it is (without being disposed utterly to condemn tbe Statement or the revenue project) impossible to Tegard with unmixed satisfaction tbe Financial Statement 01 tnernon:: Diie^ooiouiai Tcoaoa**o».

Yesterday, being the anniversary of American independence, several of our townsmen hoisted the stars ahd stripes on their flagstaff's. A Dunedin contemporary says : — " The rationale of the south-east gales which visit the east coast of Otago in the winter months, is a subject which has hitherto attracted the attention of oar nautical. men only: to a^ very inconsiderable extent. These dangerous storms usually occur at full and change of th? moon, and their approach is indicated by hazy or foggy weather, during whioh the sea rises and breaks in a heavy surf upon" exposed points of the coast. Thia weather generally continues for three days with a falling glass, and the sea reaches its maximum height at high water on the last night of the storm— the night tide, as in other parts of the world, being invariably higher than that of -the da^. A correspondent who has had many opportunities of studying- the phenomena of these etorms, conjectures that their general direction is south-east, and that they strike the coast diagonally, their _ force being confined to a belt, or p^th, the limits ; ofwhich arescTwelTaefihed as frequently to be felt at one of our Northern, ports, whilst that immediately south of it escapes. In support of this hypothesis ifis stated, that during .the time that the Geelong was trading bettveeh Dunedih and Canterbury, she frequently experienced a gale of wind at Akaroa or Lyttelton which the residents at Oamaru or MoeraM escaped, although at ' the latter places the exceptionally low register of barometers pointed out that bad weather was not far off. Sometimes it has happened that a vessel putting to sea during one Of theßeperiodsTias had her sails blown away off thejand at a, time when there was no wind on shore,' the vessel having sailed into^the gale. _ A remarkable illustration of this occurred on Tuesday last. The schooner Cora was discharging at, Oamaru, when the surf began to break in the bay with a suddenness and force which the captain (a,n old coaster) describes as exceeding anything he had previously experienced. With the greatest difficulty the vessel was got to sea, and proceeded to Moeraki. when the captain found, to his astonishment, that nothing of the kind .had been . experienced there. Captain Russell attributes the safety Of his vessel, under Providence, to the gallant manner in which the boats ofthe Oamaru Landing Company were manned and sent to his assistance, and speaks in the highest terms of the conduct of the men. _ It ia almost unnecessary for us to state tbat this is not the first occasion uponwhich the gallantry of the Oamaru boatmen has been displayed." The London correspondent of the Sydney Morning Ber aid, writing by the last mail, says : — Our paper-makers are in despair. The supply of raw materials is failing themi and they are obliged to advance the price of paper fully five per cent. Rags are daily growing dearer, while the Esparta grass crop in Spain has proved a comparative failure. Here's a nice dilemma ! „ What are we to do ? Ar© we to give up our half-penny' newspapers and penny serials f By no means. Come what will, we cannot have our supply of cheap reading dammed up. But what are we to do ? Of course, we are having all sorts, of. suggestions made us ; among others, one of colonial interest. " I have," says a .correspondent,; "ridden across the Pampas in South America where the thistle has covered the ground for hundreds of miles, and again in Australia, .where they- grow to such a height lhat a man's head on horseback would not reach the top. TO get this material to England (if the right sort, and I believe it to be, from its being so tough) wouTd'cost money. _ The labor, the inland. carriage to the port, the freight home, would, I almost fear, bring it to such a price that would preclude itsbemg exported ; but then, if Mahomet were taken to the mountain, instead of the mountain to -Mahomet, I have no doubt profit would result. If some paper capitalist made the attempt in Melbounrerhe would be in the country where the thistle .thrives in perfection ; and, although attempted tb -be kept under by Act of Parliament, forces its way over the wide area of land lying waste in Victoria. Your correspondent from the Sanky Mills in Lancashire writes that the cotton seed husk is an article from which pa-per-can be made. This could be utilised capitally in Melbourne, as Queensland, Fiji, and Tahiti are all becoming extensive growers of cotton, and the freight on the article to -Melbourne would be almost nominal. I take it the' oil is expressed from the .seed, and the refuse used for papermaking. The extracting of the oil is already a profitable business, as it brings iv this market £48 to £50 per ton, and if the manufacturer could combine this business with that of papeivmaHng the success of the enterprise seems certain." This has a practical' look, but another correspondent suggests. the New Zealand flax, at present a. most unsaleable article in the English market. With so many advisers something ought to turn up ; but will if?" . Here is a splendid opportunity for colonial ingenuity. ' It ought to be the making of somebody. England's need might prove Australia's fortune ; whether it will actually be so is another -matter.; . ■ •> As a lady- Was riding out of Patea a few days ago, says tha Wanganui Chronicle, she came across a human skeleton leaning up 'against a tree, in a place called the' Dbney G-ully, near Manawapou. A stick was placed against one of the ribs to preserve the skeleton in its standing position. . It has since been ascertained that the ■ skeleton $is that of a ■•< beautiful young • "Maori woman, named Eruti, who is said to haye been shot, and who was well known by the settlers in and around Patea. : - ■ ; J. Russell, Esq., of Wangai Moana, province ; of Wellington, has tried the experiment of boil- • ing do-»ra ahorse, whichi it is calculated will produce oil, &c., to the amount of £3 10s. ~ "~'i The Bruce Herald of the 29th ulfc says : — "We understand Mr M'Farlane, hotelkeeper, Menzies Ferry, Mataura, offers to build and maintain at his own expense a punt for the conveyance of passengers across the river, upon: condition that the Government gives him- the : exclusive right to the ferry till tht bridge is ' erected.. A petition iv favor of this being granted : has. been prepared, aiid is now being 'largely; signed' in the district. The Necessity for" such a ' punt has long "been toO apparent to -' require any ! argument ' ih behalf of the proposed scheme ■ beiiig carried out. We trust no objection will \ be raised to it on the pare of the Government,and that the arrangements will bo entered into j without delay."

We understand that the Provincial G-overn-ment have partly complied with the request of the Rifle Volunteer Corps, regarding a site for the drill-shed, but as they stipulate that the grant is subject to the consent of the Provincial Council, no action -will be taken until that bod} meets, which is understood to be in about four or five weeks; from this date. . The half-yearly, meeting of the Loyal St: ; G-eorg*liodgeof;Oldfellowa took, place on the 21sb-ult. [ There was , a large attendance ofthe members, and considerable interest was evinced in the proceedings. The principal business consisted in the election of officers, resulting in Bros. p # Porter' and Tho-nas Patehett being appointed S.O. and V.Gt. respectively; John Taylor, E.S., Peter M'Ewan, Warden, W. Organ and A. M. M'lntyre, E. and LS., and Bros. Clement Morton, N.M- Lean, and M'lntyre, Auditors. It was also intimated that an invoice of Oddfellows' books had been received, and they would shortly arrive, for presentation to the library. « A Tattler" writing in the Sydney Mail says:— "The Exhibition -Building grows apace, ; and the Agricultural Society is hard at work preparing for its festival, which I doubt not will be worthy of it and of the colony. But it's a remarkable fact that our blatant southern neighbor, the . irrepressible Victoria, is taking to herself the whole credit of tha affiir. It appears that we owe everything to that noble colony — that we- have even borrowed one of her contractors to build our Exhibition, which couldn't, of course, be built by a New South Welshman. Itis really very kind of Victoria to help us on V this way, and I think we might very well repay her kindness by finishing some of her public buildings for her, it being perfectly plain that she will never finish' them~seraeir. remaps hoWver, such an act would ba mistaken kiudvesi. Victoria would go out of her miud at once." Mf Robert D. Campbell writes to the editor of the Wanganui Herald as follows : — Sir, — Having - watched the progress of the native flax and the. commerce it would make for Wanganui, I knew by experience it would be a failure, and I said so at the time to some of the leading men in Wanganui, for it was the same with China producing- a-substitute for silk some years ago.- Before they knew whether it would make a commerce or not, they glutted the home market before the final trial was made, and when it was made, the whole was condemned on accpunt of the creases not leaving the cloth. Now, sir, it is the very same with the natiye.flax in this country .^ Every one that could, must hare a "flax machine, and went tp work at.the native ; flax before they knew whether it would make a. commerce or not. I think that some ,ivill be greater losers than gainers through the same. I should like' to see set on foot something more substantial. I hope . that^ I may find in you a James H. Dickson; who, : sotiie , years 'ago, set on foot and formed flax societies in England, ! thereby annually saving England some millions of British pounds. JThereifotfei" "showing you the, produce of one acre of ' European flax grown in- England, of very inferior quality, but we will say "sixty stone to the acre, of 1 fourteen pounds to the stone, and say ten shillings per stone, which is the general price for milldressed flax in England, it would give a profit of ' £3*>; thenr deduct £10 to cover expenses, leaves i a net profit of £20. I have given the outside expense of one flax crop, and the weight of the ; middling crop and quality at the same time.* I must observe that if our Wanganui" farmers could ' be trained in the way of managing European flax as the Belgians do, there ia nothing to prevent ' them obtaining, in lieu of ten shillings per stone, • r twenty shillings per stone, as very often spinners give from £120 to £i3O per ton for Courtray flax, and some farmers in Ireland, and Mr -Demann, thia last year, who managed their crops after the Belgian system,' got as high as -£140- per ton. And as flax is uot like, wheat or any grain crop, which, if sown thick, produces short head and small pickle, it should, if the land be well prepared, be sown rather thick. By tbis mode you have the greatest bulk, the more weight, and the finer quality, ani. as a consequence, the more valuable article. Having, therefore, explained what is, or might be turned into a national benefit, any further remarks that "may be asked or required of the writer of this can be* given. The hon. 'sec. of the Southland Provincial Hospital desires to acknowledge, through this journal, the receipt of £1, donation by "J. W. P., goldminer, Athol," with thanks for same. According to the Melbourne correspondent of a contemporary. Sehafer, the "great little traveller," has given up his vagabond life, and is now making an honest living ' by tailoring iv Melbourne, -f '; The Provincial Council of Hawke's Bay was prorogued: on Friday,* June 10, having sat twenty-, four i&ys, during which nine Acts were passed. The late elections for Provincial Councillors in Canterbury resulted in the return of 25 old members, /md 14 new men. - "The Thames : Advertiser reports a baby show which bas been held there, in the Theatre Boyal, and at? which there xreeeZl'- exhibits. In reply to Mr Borlase, in the House of R-spreV sehtatives, -Mr .M'Lean said the sworda presented to the chiefs were purely voluntary from the Queen, and cost the Colony nothing. Six others ■ have been received for other chiefs. Millstones are being cut out of the ordinary blue "stone which abounds in the Timaru quarries. _ Ihewjvas-.a,scene„in: the. Nelson Provincial Council the other day in the debate on " Prospecting." v iOne member said to sanother. that, "no doubt the reason of his not being able to attend in the morning was to _be accounted for by the color of his nose." (Oh, oh.) The member alluded to stigmatised' this as "a ruffianly attack," and added that, "if such reference to noses were allowed aa had been made by Mr O'Conor, there might soon be pulling of noses.". The Nelson Examiner of the 22nd alt. says : — "The Provincial Council has been eight weeks in session, and during aome part of the time has sat every day of the week, Sundays excepted. It has passed at most four or five Acts, none of which are of any length, or, except the Executive Government Act, involving any principle, and that particular measure was disposed of ina few hours. What can. have occupied the attention of 19 intelligent men, the chosen of the province, for so long a period, is really a-mystery, when the real work done is regarded. There must be something radically wrong in the institution of Provincial Governments, which permits of bo much time spent to so little useful purpose." The Wairarapa Mercury suggests that samples of rope, manufactured from New Zealand flax, should be. tested .on board the Government; 'steamer Luna. The suggestion is a good one, ; inasmuch as a report thus obtained would carry with it whatever weight attaches to an Official ; document, and,in this instance, . at least, might • be considered, free, from interested motives.; Besides, it is only fair that the Government j pleasure yacht— which is paid for by the colony — should .be made of some practical service to the colony at large. . _„.....: Owing to the extremely boisterous nature of! the weather last evening, and the existence of countef-fcttractions — a- public meeting in the * Council Hall about the "Daphne" and Mr Harvey's lecture—Mr . CotterelTs entertainpient was ; 1 b)^ fthihly patronised. - Those present, however, seemed to enjoy themselves - thoroughly, the high character of Mr CotterelL's talent being apparently better appreoiated as he. becomes acquainted with ; his audiende. As "the circumstances referred to; *pTevented many from being present. las,t„night, I Mr Cotterell, it will be seen, ; will give another; entertainment for their special, convenience tomorrow evening, when all who have not "yet seen, the " untrained pictures " should be present. i Mr Harvey's lecture - last (evening was ■ better I attended than could ; have t}een expected, con- \ sidering the state of the weather, and the fact: that two other centres "of attraction were in I operation at tlie same time. With regard to the lecture itself space will only permit us to saythat it was oarefully prepared and well delivered. 1