LATEST NORTHERN NEWS.

Southland Times, Issue 1276, 8 July 1870, Page 2

LATEST NORTHERN NEWS.

♦ ' BY ELEGTRIO TELEGRAPH. (FBOH OF a OWK CORRE3PONDEHT.) : ■ ♦ ' ■ .! ; :' . Nelson", July 5. A large meeting was Jheld here last night. It was called to condemn the Budget. Mr 0. Elliott moved, " That-tliis meeting regards with alarm the Colonial Treasurer's proposals to largely augment taxation, and to carry out by enormous loans a schema of public works in excess of our requirements, and to introduce into our fiscal system, the principle of imposing taxes to benefit particular classes." Mr Elliott condemned the Budget, particularly the tax on flour, and other duties. He said the proposal again to borrow would damage the credit of the colony, retard its progress, and keep back immigration. The scheme was ill-digested and reckless, and would tend to keep capital put of the country. Mr Martin Lightband proposed an amendment to the effect " That the financial scheme of the Government commended itself to the earnest consideration of our legislators, and that this meeting was of opinion that a practical modification of the same will suit the urgent necessities of the colony, and tend to , raise it from its depressed state."' (Loud applause.) He supported . judicious protective duties, instancing Victoria, and the manufacture there of clothing and boots, which were largely, consumed in New Zealand. "We ought to do the same here, and provide systematic employment for working men. He advocated the carrying on of public works and immigration. .-.".■• "-' - ■■■ ■.:. * ■"••■.'■ ■ "■"- Various other speakers opposed the motion^and said New. Zealand was able to supply all its breadstuffs, and save £320,000 a-year. Only one spoke in support of the motion. The amendment was carried; amidst loud and long-continued applause, only six hands being held up; for the motion. The object of the meeting was completely reversed.

■Wellhtgtoit, July 7th. The Court of Appeal has decided that the last criminal session held here was altogether invalid; that the. prisoners then sentenced are in the same position as if they had never been tried. Mr M'Lean announced to-day the surrender at Opotiki of 34 rebels, who had been in hiding since 1865. Mr Reynolds moved his resolutions today. The third was altered to read as follows : — " That all money, from whatever source collected, be considered the revenue of the Province in which it was raised, subject, after deducting Provincial charges, te specified capitation charge for maintenance of Colonial Government; and also for providing for the interest and sinking fund on the colonial debt." He did not pretend to consider his resolutions perfect, and was prepared to accept any amendment embodying the principles contained in the resolutions, which would satisfy, him for this session. Some alteration in the present system of Government was imperative. He placed no reliance on the promise that the ! Government would recoup to the colony the £1200,000 proposed to be expended in the purchase of Native land, as the same thing had been promised in the case of the confiscated lands, and also in that of the Three Million loan. He considered the Treasurer's statement one of the ablest ever made in New Zealand, and the Government scheme would dovetail well with his proposals if the capitation allowance was made by the Provinces to the Colony instead of by the Colony to the Provinces. The Native question was a domestic one, andshould be settled by the North Island.. The cost of Government would be reduced £60,000 by his scheme. He would object to the Provinces borrowing, but not to the Colony doing so for railways, immigration, and similar purposes; but the Provinces would have to give security for the expenditure. His scheme proposed freedom from interference on the part of one island with the domestic concerns of. the other.- ; > Mr Milndoe seconded. The principle contained in the resolutions was that a financial separation of the Islands should take place, and he would be content if that were endorsed. The time for action in this direction had .arrived, the Provincial system having answered its purpose. Dunedin did not want to be made the seat of government, and would view its being made so as a great calamity, i Mr Bolleston advocated the unity of the- Colony, but admitted that a large section of the community looked forward to separation. He regarded Mr Beynolda's scheme as equal in magnitude to that of the Government, especially after the assurances of the Home Commissioners, that the" Imperial Government would discourage more borrowing on the. part of the* Colony. He would endeavor to secure a modification of the Govern-

ment policy to meet our urgent necessity, and find some way of promoting colouis.- . ation. He believed many people, wguld^. prefer separation to entering" uppja^Afe scheme the end of which: no one^il^ foresee ; but the separation must ]be J; complete. : \ ' <■••'■■ -^ \ / Mr. Vogel, in moving an '■ adjournment of the debate uutii Wednesday, said thes--first resolution was, not necessarily antagonistic to Government proposals, and it might ultimately be defdrable ( to. carry out the suggestion contained there^ •- in. . _ The Ballot Bill, with" amendments, ha» passed the second reading. On dit that Mr Macandrew has been appointed .Emigration Agent under th© General Government scheme. ■■■:■■■■'-■ Messrs Fox and Hall Bpoke on -Mr M'Gillivray's motion to-day, condemning Earl Granville's policy. :' '. ",' \ Two shocks of earthquake occurred hereto-day. , .:' ~ „ i.

Chbisxchubch, July .6; The Zyitelton Times, in a series of articles, advocates tHe proposals of the Government with regard to immigration and public works ; bat the Press hw remained silent until this morning: A meeting, of the directors of the Press company wa* held yesterday, when ; ifc was decided to support the Government proposals, and advocate tbeappointment of commissioner* - to superintend the expenditure; df ; the' borrowed money. A leader appeared in the Press to that effect this morning. : ° J A public meeting to consider tk Government proposals is to take place to night. Public feeling here is with the Government. ■• \ : :- : ' ! ,:.' ; -V,-;. ''■'■; y)?:'^

,rv :;: - ; /BsuWEpnr^ i July i ;7th,j The month's escort is 9000ozs.

"We take the following from oar Nor-: them contemporaries : — * > OWEiuNOTOK, June 30. , The debate on the financial pol?cy of the: ■Government.--';' will.-"' wmmenceL,,; pa« 4 ? Tuesday next. '■ The Government ■ hWre : announced that, : whatever may be the result of the -debate, the Governor will not be advised to ~ dissolve until the question of. the i re-distribution .of. tlie^ representation has been fully diacussed.' The Government are not going to continue the marine survey, ofjthe West Coast of the Middled Island, , ancPtnT* services of Lieutenant Woods, the Marine Surveyor, will be dispensed with" when ~ the work already commenced is completed. ;. a The trial of the Maori prisoners hat ended. Most 6f theni : pleaded I giiiity/' Sentence is deferred; :; The Attorney-. General entered a nolle prosequi against some of the old and imbecile prisoners.,. ■•••■•'••■■• 'July I.- v|. Mr Fox introduced the Otago, and" Southland Re- union Bill to-day, and Mr Stafford a Bill to enable the Timaru *n£B Gladstone Board of Works to be elected by the ratepayers. ~ x '" -' An interesting discussion) took rplaceQ on a motion by Mr Stafford for a' return showing the total quantity and* value of the coal imported into the - colony* ?r The motion was carried, with' the addition of the situations of all the coalfields, worked in the colony* and the price of coal at the" pit-mouth in each. - - . - ■ A motion, by Mr, Cracroft Wilson, in favor of the abolition of the honorarium, to members after the present session, '" was. rejected _by_2B to 5^ An amendment ' by Mr Eeynolds, that the amount be * limited to each seasion^ £1 being deducted for each day's absence,- wasralso— lost. The Bill for reducing the interofojtitf^ cial rate of postage ha* passed 'through '- Comraittee. Mr M'G^illivray,Mast nigKt,K£altemperate and excellent speech, moved that the Imperial Government had failed in its duty towards i the colony^ He stronfflr condemned Earl Graiiville'r treatment;of I the colony, saying that it was calculated to drive the colony to separationffj^n the mother country. He also" blamed" the colony for the adoption_by its Government of the self-reliant policy, which had invited such action on the part of the Home Government. . He considered that . the colony ought always to have insisted? that it was the duty of the Empire to * protect it. His speech was loudly cpeerad, and all the succeeding speakers highly * complimented hio\ upon it, Mr Tancred said that' fie considered that the Imperial, policy . was all that could be desired. He thought the colony had been treated with the greatest consideration, except in the matter of t^e.' hasty removal of the troops. The" re- r moval of the troops, -however, was a greater real help to the colony' tHan ten regiments, asjt showed -that it r couldr defend itßel£ ' - -I O /.^iJiCL Mr Reynolds commented on the absence from the House of the— leading members on both sides, and maintained the right of private members to introduce motions such as that of Mr M'Gillivray. Mr Gillies made an-excellent speech, m which he praised Ministers for the stand made by them in their ' Memonindsl against Earl Granville's policy. He thought that the inevitable result of that policy would be to drive the Colonyvtp separate from the mother countiy. *7Tne Colony should take its own time to do it, however, and not be driven in a pet to premature action. ' Some ; day England' would be glad to have her colonies to del fend her. : . :: " ' ■••■•^ «««» t Mr Pnfiaaft *nd Mr "Runny (^nll ro agree with the condemnation !of the Imperial policy. The latter considered that it was the natural sequence W r:^SX^ reKanceJi and that^the Colony was'toblaine^ in not properly carrying, out the selfreliant policy . ' ..

Mr Pox promised that he and his colleagues would speak on the subject on a future occasion. Ministers had declared their views in their Memoranda, and it was now for the House to endorse their action or not. The debate was then adjourned till next week. • Mr Brown introduced a bill to repeal the Ofcago Hundreds "Regulation Act. Mr Yogel and Mr Main both condemned the Hundreds system as no longer suited to the requirements of the province, and advocated free selection. The Ballot Bill has passed though Committee. The decision jn favor of written nominations was rescinded by 26 to 24. " , A Committee of both Houses has been appointed to consider the laws relating to the property of married women. Mr Barff took his seat in the House today. It is understood that he refused to accept the appointment offered him of Warden's Clerk. In reply to Mr Travers, the Government intimated their willingness to allow any province to amalgamate its police with the Armed Constabulary on the same terms as had been granted to Auckland.' July 3rd. The thirty Maori prisoners were sentenced to death yesterday under the Act recently passed, but were informed that the sentence would be commuted to imprisonment for various terms, according to their several degrees of guilt. . Captain Wheeler has assumed the command of the «.s. Taranaki, Captain Holmes having resumed that of the "Wellineton. The Union Steam Company has been registered, but the proposed amalgamation with the Circular Saw Company is not likely to be accomplished. The Auckland members had a meeting yesterday, when a general decision was arrived at in favor of taking the voice of the country on the financial proposals of the Government. The feeling expressed was strongly adverse to the Government policy, but it was considered that the questions were too large to be decided by a moribund Parliament.

"Westpobt, July 2. Mr T. A. S. Kynnersley has been returned without opposition for the 'seat for "Westland Worth in the House of Bepresentatives rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr T. Gallagher.

Napier, July 3rd. There is no news from Waikaremoana yet, which is strange. The Comerang arrived this morning from Auckland. She brings the following Bern** of* news: — The schooner Jane, from the Bay of Islands to the Thames, foundered off Chamberlain's Island. One man was lost. In the Golden Crown claim at the Thames .some very rich stone has been taken from a mam reef, 80ft below high water mark. The Caledonian, Moanataiari, Kuranui, and Plying Cloud goldmining companies are also reported to be doing well and improving in prospects. --- The Auckland Press is opposed to the "proposed~protective duty on corn. - At a meeting of the Auckland Chamber "of Commerce, held for the purpose of considering the question of the port of call in New Zealand for the San Francisco service, an opinion to the following effect was arrived at: — " That Congress,assuming Sydney to be the Australian terminus of the line, and Honolulu the intermediate port of call between San Francisco and New Zealand, having by Bill authorised a subsidy for a mail service to Australia, and the mails being receivable 48 hours sooner at Auckland from San Francisco than at Wellington, this meeting is justified in concluding: that no subsidy would be granted if Wellington were made the port of call."

WELLnrOTOir, July 4th. The Court of Appeal met to-day, but the Chief Justice, Sir George Arney, and Mr . Justice Bichmond being absent, it was adjourned till Wednesday. Mr H. S. Harrison, M.H.B. for Wanganui, has received, for presentation to the House, a petition signed by 274 resi dents in that district, praying the House to refuse to vote the Governor's salary for a longer period than is necessary to enable him to communicate "with the Home Government. Letters received fromMr Pharazyn state that the Victorian government refuse to subsidise the San Erancisco service, having positively decided in favour of the Capeof Good Hope route. Mr Collie has reduced his demands for a colonial subsidy to £50,000, and of this Mr Webb, if he gets the American subsidy, will expect liew Zealand to contribute £20,000, Wellington being the port of call. There is also every probability that Mr Webb, if he gets the American subsidy, will at once start his line, without waiting for colonial assistance.