PROGRESS OF NEW ZEALAND.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 424, 15 November 1861, Page 4

PROGRESS OF NEW ZEALAND.

Any one wbo has been absent for the last ten years from New Zealand, in ignorance or unconsciousness of the changes, that had meantime been effected would probably find himself in a similar state of bewilderment. He had left the colony under the despotic rule of the Governor and his Nominee Council, as the opponents of that system chose to call it, he would return to Provincial Governments, Representative Institutions and Responsible Ministries. He had left the colony in a state of peace and growing prosperity, he would return to find it plunged in a ruinous and disastrous war, which has only been prevented from ending in a war of races by the removal of an incapable Governor and the dismissal of his responsible and unscrupulous advisers. He had left when the Otago settlement was just founded, and the Canterbury settlement was about to be inaugurated, he would find these provinces among the mo3fc populous and important of the colony. He had left when rumors were rife of gold discoveries in California, when all the world was rushing there to get gold for the digging, he would return to find New Zealand itself become an El Dorado, the newest if not the most tempting of Gold Fields, with thousands contiuually coming to try their luck in this lottery. No doubt many such contrasts between the past and present state of the Colony,—as he left it and as he /lads it on his return —will forcibly strike Sir George Grey on his visit to the different Provinces. We have been led into this train of thought by the address of the Superintendent of Otago to his Council on opening the Session on the 23rd ult. In 1848, according to the Statistics of the Province of New Munster (the name is now obsolete) submitted to the Provincial Legislative Council in June 1849, the population of Otago was 620 and its revenue ,£909. The total population of the southern Provinces of Wellington Nelson and Otago, (for Canterbury was not then in existence) was 8903, its revenue was £16,376. In the Statistics for 1860 published by Government, the population of the Southern Provinces (formerly denominated New Munster) is 54,000, and its revenue £374,966. Wbafc the results disclosed by the Census of 18G1 may be we cannot pretend to say, but the Otago Superintendent informs us his estimate of of the revenue of that Province for the current half year is £100,000, £50,000 of which it is anticipated will be derived from the sales of land, ayd ,£IO.OOO, from sources connected with the gold-fields. Here is a goodly account of a province which when it was first constituted had hardly sufficient income to defray the necessary expenses of its Government, and which by the recent operation of the New Provinces Act has become only half of its former self. £, 200,000—more than double last year's income —would suffice one would imagine to satisfy the most lavish of Superintendents. But in the very same breath in which this announcement is made we are told it will be necessary to supplement this sum by a loan of £20,000, independent of the sums to be raised by mortgage of the Harbor Endowments. It would seem a difficult matter for the tnosfc energetic and go-ahead Superintendent to spend £100,000 in six months with advantage to the province, eveu if all bis plans had been most carefully arranged and considered, and he was ready io carry them out the instant they received the sanction of his Council. But his Honor is prepared not only to spend all tbe provincial revenue, however large, he can lay I.is hands on, but to borrow as much as tbe improved era Jit of the province will allow him to sqiiiuuier. The address relating to the ways and means, how it is got and how it is to be got rid of, is sufficiently interer.tiug to deserve a perusal, but no! withstanding the prudential maxims with wish it is interlarded deprecating a lavish expctuliture, we hope the Council will exhibit incite piudeuce thau the Superintendent in their appropjiation of so laige a revenue, and at least possess sufficient discretion to keep out of debt. But if their heads are turned by this sudden influx of prosperity and they cannot learn to kt'Qp within their income, we trust the General Goverumeut will supply ihe prudence aud caution in which they will prove themselves deficisnt, and resolutely sot themselves to prevent this growing tendency to run into debt on the j-art of the Governments both Provincial and General which is fast approaching a state of general insolvency, and which if not checked will inflict a more lasting ii.jury to the growth cf tie colony than even an incapable Governor or a Native War.— Wellington Spectator.

From a private letter we learn some particulms of ths last days of Catherine Hayes, or MJnio. Bushnell. It is stated that the great sovi-swcsi was about to be mariied to a Captain B /ii.d that she waaon a visit to bis friends pa Sydenham at the time of her death. At a pic-iiic she complained of being unwell, and re-turu-.d to the house; and on the following day, a ruptured ij.'oodve-sel induced the dangerous condition ur.der which she sank. On the production of her will, it was found that she had bcquosthed her mother £ 150 a year, and hud k!t her jewels and everything else she posso.^cd to her betrothed second husband, Captain B . A Jeff. Davis Dinner.—A secessionist went into a restauraut in Martinez a k\v days since, and railed for a ' first rate Jeff. Davis nii'a!/ In due course of time the waiter placed before him a large covered dish—* only that and nothing more.' Ou removing the cover, Si'cesli, found snugly coiled up a hempen rope, wish a slip noose at one end. He left—had no appetite.— San Francisco Herald. Ciunolike.—A thrifty housewife remarked, a few days ago, that au iron hoop was wanting on a tub s!;e had placed to catch rain water. Ail the servants were questioned, but no clue could he found. Next Sunday was the cook's monthly holiday, and as she was leaving the house her mistress noted with surprise the peculiar bulk of her dress. The cook blushed and faltered, which induced her mistress to li.y her hand on the unusual protuberance when, lo and behold ! cook had transformed the rusty hoop into crinoliiie. A _Si>orting-Pun.—Two sporting men diecoursing about a hone that had lost a race, one o.' them, by way of apology, observed, ' Tbat the cause of it was an accident, his running against a wagon ;' to which the other who affected not to uiideYj-tapd him, archly replied, * Why what else was he fit to run against V Lord Brougham on Dkunkenness.—ln 1 lauco it appears that uo less than a fifth of all the raurdeis, during the last four years, had then- origin in tavern brawls. In six English counties having the fewest public houses we rind that, where they were as 1 to 100 oJ the copu-

latioo, the offences are as 1 to 591 j but where the public bouses are as ouly 1 to 235, the offences are as Ito 7G2. In Irelaud the connection of intemperance with crime is even more marked. Between the years 1838 and 1841 the consumption of whisky'bad fallen off above one half, and we find in the latter year judges congratulating the counties on the small number of prisoners ito be tried, and ascribing this happy change to the growth of temperance, So, in 1839, there were in Richmond Bridewell 3202 prisoners, in 1841 only 1604. It is remarkable, though certainly not surprising, that the prudence which leads to economy kept pace with the prudence of sobriety. In the former year the Dublin savings bank had 7264 contributors; in the latter 9585. Source of disease, of poverty, of crime, how long shall that heavy curse be suffered.to afflict us ? How long shall we submit to a conqueror more cruel than the armed invader—to a tyrant the most inexorable of all, which has subdued rational men, and avenged the world of unreasoning creatures for the wrongs received at his hands ? The Steel Pen Disease.—The Boston Journal, in its last issue, reminds its readers of a previous notice of a new disease, relative to a theory advanced by President Felton of Harvard, that the debilitating, and sometimes paralytic, affections of the hand and arm experienced by those accustomed to write much, were attributed to the use of steel pens. Since the appearance of the notice in question there has been a good deal of speculation regarding the theory described, and many practical tests of its relia* bility have been instituted. President Felton has received a great many letters proving the efficacy of resorting to the old goose quill in curing partial, and almost oomplete paralysis of the band and arm caused by usiDg steel pens. One instance is very remarkable. An eminent publisher in this city, some two years ago found himself unable to steady his band to write. His hand and arm swelled so that he was forced to employ an amanuensis; and such was his necessity, except at brief intervals, until he hap* pened to see a description of President FeltOD'a theory in the Journal. Ha adopted the goose quill instead of the steel pen, and in a month thereafter was able to do his own writing, which he continues to do without any trouble. It may save parties the risk of annoying Peesideut Felton with inquiries relative to the baais of his theory when we inform them that he has none to explain.' Holloways Pills and Ointment.—The friends of the afflicted.—For more than a quarter of a ceDtury have these medicaments been before the public, by which their merits, have been universally recognised aud commended. In ailments they prove useful. In debilitated constitutions they act as preventatives to disease, and where maladies have mani* fested themselves, the afflicted can resort to no remedies at once so efficient and harmless as Holloway's. They keep the blood pure, and preserve the stomach in a sound state; they cool and cleanse the whole system. These medicaments should be possessed by all; they will confirm good health, and prove serviceable under any infirmity which can affect mankind. Plain directions accompany each box of Pills and pot of Ointment. . Lucky Little Boys.—On Tuesday some lads, who were fossicking in some ground at Little Bendigo, turned up a nugget weighing 18 ounces.— Bendigo Advertiser. An American paper just received contains the j following amusing paragraph :—' I am captain of the Buldinsvile Company. I riz gradoally but majestically from drummer's secretary to my present position. But I found the ranks wasn't full by no means, and commenced for to recroot. Havin notist a gineral desire on the part of young men who are into the crisis to wear eppylits, I detartnined to have my company composed excloosively of offissers, everybody to rank as brigadeer-ginral. The folieiing was among the varis questions which I put to recroots: —Do you no a masked battery from a hunk of gingerbread ? Do you no a eppylit from a piece of chalk ? If I trust you with a real gun, how many men of your own company do you speck you can manage to kill during the war? Play you ever heard of Ginral Price of Missouri, and can you avoid siniler accidents in case of bat tie ? Havyou ever had the measles; and if so, how many? How air you now? SUow me your tougue, stc, etc. Some of the questions were sarcussstical.'