THE NEW PROVINCES ACT.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 243, 17 February 1860, Page 3

THE NEW PROVINCES ACT.

(Fr,om the Canterbury Stm<fdrfe..sebrmry 2.) However popular the New Provinces' Act vvaa, at the time of its construction, with a few discontented outskirts hanging on the great centres of population and commerce in the colony, that popularity seems now to be fast subsiding. At a large and influential meeting held at Wanganui the other day the question of separation from "Wellington was calmly and ably deliberated ; and after a long debate it was resolved " that the advocates of separation had failed to make out their case to the satisfaction of the meeting." Tin* sanguine hopes of procuring cheap governments by getting, patriotic people to work for nothing is turning out, as might have been expected, to be mere delusion, as in the case of flawke's Bay. There they were to Ibe governed for a thousand a year, and a Superintendent without salary. It is true the new superintendent worked without salary for three months, but at the end of that period he adroitly got his Council to give him not only a yearly salary of .£6OO, (also with leave to follow his private business,) but also a bonus of .£2OO of back salary for the three months of patriotic work for nothing. Since the formation of that Province it can hardly "be said to have. the power of independent action, being merely a " poor relation lounging about the lobby of the General Government, and ready to do the dirtywork of the great and haughty " head of the house" in return for contumely, neglect, cast off, clothes, and cold remnants of dinners. It ia only a few weeks ago that they received orders to discard thft Wonga Wonga steamer which did give three times their business effectually for a trifling sum, and give three times the subsidy to the " Coleman line," the favorite monopolists of the Stafford ministry. The " the poor relative " had to do as he was ordered, and an additional £1000 per annum was added, to the burdens of tiie young province. .Marlborough to all appearance cannot help becoming another feeble hanger on to the Generrl Government, from the hitherto non-de-velopment' of its resources, if it possesses any worth mentioning. Of Picton, its capital, a correspondent of the Nelson Examiner writes thus: —"The houses to be seen are very few : scattered over the whole town, they may number thirty Nothing, or next to nothing, has been done by the few residents in the way of cultivation, for two or three small gardens is the only sign afforded, and it is evident, therefore, that the whole population have been dependent for a living upon expenditure of the Government in making the road leading to Wairau." These are but poor prospects for the capital of a new state emerging into independence; but they lead to one good result, that opening the eyes of the public to the suicidal policy of the Act, and from the'growth of this re-actionary feeling throughout the colony, we feel confident that a force will be brought against it at the next meeting of the General Assembly, that must result in a material modification of its most obnoxious provisions, if not in its total repeal, .a consummation devoutly to be wished;

Since writing the above, we perceive that the General Government have undertaken to pay tha additional jSIOOO yearly to the Province of Napier, on Condition that the province will refund the money if the General Assembly do not ratify the arrangement. The provincial journal calls this a'most generous proceeding, and lavishes praises proportionately on their great patron. For our own part we cannot see^any genesosity in the matter. It is merely a costless showy manner of conferring an apparent obligation and cheaply binding the province to the General Government in the ignoble character of a helpless and dependent pensioner; and, at the same time tha overflowing the coffers of the favorite monopolists at the expense of the colony. If the General Assembly sanction so unnecessary an expenditure we shall certainly call that a very extraordinary instance of profuse simplicity., .

The Presbyterians at Amhebt, Victoria, have erected a commodious school-housa in that township. . The style of architecture i 3 gofchic, and tha dimensions of the school-room 30 feet by 20 feet 6 inches.

We suppose that a man who never speaki jua;f In* said always to keep hfo w<hs,