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Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 2, 22 February 1868, Page 2

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Provincialism has been called petty ; and some people fancy that that which is petty must be bad. That which is large is not always good, and that which is petty is not always bad. Nay, we will go further, and write that that which is petty is not generally bad. Pettiness, when it merely refers to quantity or to number, is not an evil necessarily. When pettiness refers to quality, it may mean that which is an evil either as a cause or as an effect. Pettiness has been identified with localism, and localism has been identified with selfishness. As to selfishness, it must always" exist. Constituted as humanity is constituted, selfishness is a salt that .cements the human family, and gives it firmness. Selfishness is as much the parent of good as is patriotism. Every virtue has its root in selfishness. Self-preservation is the first law of nature ; and the last law too, philanthrophy, patriotism, faith, hope, and charity, has for its basis an organ called the love of" approbation ; and when a man or a woman seeks approval for self, is not bucli seeking selfishness? One class of selfishness benefits a great number; another class of selfishness confers benefit chiefly or only on one individual. This is merely a difference in motive and in effect, not a difference in origin. Orie^ class of selfishness resolves itself jn^ vanity, another cbss"'into ambj^^^ji^| here exists jfche__differenca/''T^^^^^^^^H and large selfishness. /■ tailed by apatriotic n ' which constitutes thftK'Q H^^^^^^^| cause which the vul o r <.fCr§|?^^^^^^H Opt sufficient sagacity .^lb^j^^^^^^^^l Jut-Centralism has beeX'W/ec^^^^^^^H iontrciKv can i)}^^ moii oj^^^^^^^M &**, ™rjpovi n c ;'f s TT ° f ''i^^^H ;vAdva,i numstl . t , . '^ If b/^^^^^^H one \tional'<&|*L <U*e ■T^^^^^^^M land, \"NriKraMey|^^^^^^^^| ways I^V^^Hjfl^^^^^^^^^^^H the GoVJ^ i^^^^^^^^^^^^^H of Juda>.^^^^^^^^^^^^l of the m &n^^^^^^^^^^^H of two dia /'^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H New ZoaV^ Y^^^^^^^^^^^H fair P lav T«^^^^^^^^^^^^H tried, be endeavoa >ji|^^^^^^^^^^^^^H detailed legk<> S^^^^^^^^^^^M tration, / j concoctys Wa&zu^^^^^^^^^^^^^H bluaO^jCjaluM^l^^^^^^^^^^^H vv ' r o3^rl^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^l ' V -^rpv^ta^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H

..ages, has done much good. It has adjusted the bulk of the people ; it has zfld the laud to Bturdy settlers ; it has encouraged immigration. But Provincialism has had and has decided evils ; for example, it i« to Provincialism we owe the religious differences of- the Province ; it is Provincialism lias made Canterbury so aristocratic and ao Episcopalian ; and it is Provincialism' that has made Ob;ig" so Caledonian and so Presbyterian. Wo are well aware that many people esteem their sectarian system of classification admirable ; but, in candor we ask would it not be better to substitu'e unanimity for monopoly, one way or the other ? With a large government, and aa largo legislature, better men would be jrought forward. Provincialism has not given birth to good men ; and bad men will never produce good measures. The larger tho stage the bettor the action. What we rnally want in our administration and in legislation i 8 quality, and not mere numerical strength. We want wide-minded, well-informed thinkers, not mere speakers; and their want will bo supplied when th i lion or of a legislative seat consists in goo.l payment for the talent demanded. It is Centralism mismanaged which deserves blame ; and it is Provincialism •'run mad", which elicits censure. In.leed, it seems that the chief evil of Provincialism consists, not in being too ocal, but in not being sufficiently local. Provincialism is not petty enough. Its jonstitution, its intension, its law, is jood ; bat its administration is imperfect, l'he views of the Prov-incialista are too targe. They, then, do not fulfil the in,eniion of their origin. There are many listant localities in Otago which have no jovcrurnent ' whatever. Provincialism ./as intended to supply resident adminisration of Provincial law ; but in num>era of localities the administrations are aero Hying visits. The Provincial Go/ernnient, instead of minding their own .Irictly local " provincial " business, >aye usurped the functions of the New 'ealand Government. When the New Government -should be occupied yith railways and loans, we find that unction almost entirely in the hands of .line corporations, where legislation and executive should include far smaller and ca r pettier affairs. We would ask either system of govern.nont to be tried apart from the collision •if the second system. If Provincialism is to live, let its functions be more clearly defined. If Centralism is to live, let it live in the receipts of broad national ! revenue ; and let its interference with i local affairs cease. A post-office is a peculiarly local institution ; and yet we Qml that LlihrliraUtrufciiriris yuvurnutt-ljy-c*-Govenior who resides in Wellington. "A telegraph-office is an essentially local inifcitution ; and yet we find thit the New Zealand Government appoints and domineers in that dopartmont. What is strictly local and what is not strictly local, and what is strictly national and what is not strictly national, ahould bo accurately defined, and that definition should be made the basis for a conducive division of legislative and administrative lab;>r md responsibility. Main roals, railways, customs, sheep runs, and gold i-evenue, and the Bench, and the magistrates, with othe,r v national persona and lepartmenta, 'may. be very obviously cliissod as national, including, ai they indisputably do, matters whose importance has an influence in all. New Zealand ; a n( l national topics like those jiassified could properly be administered '>y one large central authority, and legislated for in tho central .assembly of delsgates from the provinces ; but when in the country we find Provincial Government and Parliament interfering in these matters, are we to wonder at the anfiprovincialist cry which people constantly raise in almost every portion of this Colony ? On the other haad, in atu qouqite manner, we find the Colonial Government directing its attention into channels that belong to the Provincial Government. One central administration would necessitate a larger Cabinet -C3""^tieoC 3 ""^tieo- ■ increased o piv^* *c *#>• not, b °

wavering faith to any particular political dogma, may assist to agitate and convert the superficial, but such non-logicians will never assist the development of political truth ; and without that development no commonwealth will ever arrive ah a puKstantial code of legislation and a-ifninißtration. One argument for truth is <3np?rior to ten argnmeuts the Bequel of which is victory and not truth. Success k only good when it is effect' that finds its >rivsn in the greatest good for the greatest number. Ws would nuggcst to the Government the desirability of placing guide posts ori the leading ipura on the track from the Beaumont to Swit-K-n. Reports reach vi r.eirly every week of 'lerpons getting lost on the ranges ; aid v?c wnnlJ imagine there is not another country less tjndly to the poor benighted traveller than Sew Zealand, whose bleak, l:aro hills offer no shelter 'from -the raius or biting coldo of the night. Tnv following-named gentleman in W.iipori, v\r. , Messrs. M'Cay, Buchanan and F.irranfc, have requested tho miners of the district to give them any information they may tliink important in the ensuing conference for a revision of the Mining Regulations, in order that the simp may be communicated to the delegates \yho may be elected for the Tuapeka district. /Tub fenders of the wire suspension bridge which cro3iea the river at Waipori, and which iai c eoied a"t a ve-y great expanse to the Government, are in a very precarioii3 state, and if •pfc repaired soon will by the next flood in all jro l -ability be washel away. The necessary Wira cou'd be executed at once at a cost of aj-out £20, which amount should be made ■|:iilable for that purpose without loss of time. Te are glad to learn that the progress comnifctee have taken the necessary steps to bring |is important matter before the Government, rid we would urge upon the Government that iameliat-e st<jp3 be taken to open at least one cimmunication with this highly important and i ;luab!e district. Albkrtike, the Wizard of tho South, perfpned his wonderful feat of rope-walking on Sturday evening lajfc, in the presence of a la-ge crowd of witnesses who appeared to enjoy 131 3 spectacle amazingly. I That portion of the main road situated iijoutamile to the south of the township of Bxburgh is at present in i a most dangerous stt-e, owing to the existence of a large sheet of \vter covering about twenty acres and very qfi}> in- parts. Somo few week 3 past three men wre engaged by tho Government in endeavoria to render the road passable, but their labrs have only resulted in making the place nye daugerous than it was before they comin seed. We thirtjfc *he Inspector of Roads w i.d do well by^paying a persoaal riait to the . Joittty. Tn. understand Mr. Hicksoa, Warden at M nit Bonger, has received instructions to call for.ender3 fo • the erection of snow poles on the shjei track between the Teviot and Campbell's anjcPolier's Gulliei. This we consider a (step inpe rijjhfc dirastion, aa the w'.ant of these poii has b':en long and saverely fulfc by the Urj nuaibor of minera working in Campbell's <i\ y and neighborhood. IB Doep Shaft Committee held a meeting ia \V uerslonos on Wednesday last, when J. C. B:^n, Esq., M.P.C., submitted the following leSr, which he had received from the Provinal Secretary :— | Provincial Secretary's Ofißce, y \ Dunedin, 17th Feb., 1868. 11,,1 1,, -In reply to your letter dated the 11th ins 1 have the honor to acquaint you that the Go iiHienfc have agreed to advance £150 as a fir: outribution towards the deep sinking at W. wstonosi Will you ba good enough to mi l the Committee accordingly, and at the sai lime remind them that the Government ex i, phould payable gold be struck, that all ad cos should be lepairl, as mentioned in my let No. 5313—6 of the lGch February, 1867, ad ssed to Mr) Bailey, out of the gold obI have, &'j., Jo hub ,Voast/, Provincial Sec. and Treae. 3. Browu, Ejq., M.P.0., , I uajieka. \ - '\_ TO seretary of the Committoe haaj.atldres?fd iv'H H0"H 0 "^ 0^ letter to tho^Provjiic^lSfa lp.arv >j *» or to the above co'mmunicat; TT^^^hW^ Vogei, Egq.^rovincj^^^^^^^^l

Thjs Jiorse which Mr. Clark, baker, fortnight aince haa been dißoovere&4n tl session of a man known by "the name o!>A\ Divine in the Wetheratones district.,^ pears that suspicions were directed t< Divine by Constable Dunn and anothe stable, both of whom followed him. to th Stream, and from thence fcaced him to aom between Oamara and the Waitaki river, he was apprehended with the horse. B carefulH- avoided the main road, especin telegram posts, wherever practicable. A horse disappeared on the same morning 1 Clark's \it was a dark bay fllley with a star on i;|i forehead, and 13 the proiwrty ( Edward Mone ;it has. not been seen or of since iat time. We hope the full p of the la 1 will be meted out as the rewi such dar jg robberies. The n< pssity for a pound in the vicii Lawrenci is every night becoming moi more pat t. Cattle and horses at all hoi wanderin jabout the streets', knocking- • fences, ar&ommjtting many depredation also dißtuling the quietude o f the nigh the rest ofthe peccable inhabitants. B might asklhat advantage would be gaij having a plnd if we have not, a consta hand to IB the quadrupedial dilinque their prisol We leave Mr. Constable swer the qfttion; as it is very uncomf( to get out fibed, even although we may cow which to broken through the fence f on the youffi sweet grass of a paddock tl have been ®rviag for the special use ( pony. I THDRSDifiifct was observed in Lawrwic day of hunffition and prayer, on accbu the late il«?. Both the Presbyterian English Chlies were well attended'; me the places Ibminess, excepting the H were closed! was also the Post-office. Wjs undelnd that a promise was ma hi 3 Honor tffiuperintendent to the Atliej Committee fit the land at present fte trust by thcfihould be used ai an endowr. and the Ccffiittee to have the privilej selecting a ng suitable site for the Athen Building, ©c is at present a piece of surveyed latffli the north side of Irvine-st and opposite School-house, from which Committee <ld do well to select a site ; however, obH the event of a more eligib central Bite It being attainable, becau building of a|a public character shoul( al! means belated at the principal focu population. | have had the pleasure of aminiog the Is of the proposed building, estimated coif which i<? £500. The f elevation pr«a a plain but comely app ance, while tsrouiid plan shows ample sj for the steadiiicreasing requirements of intellect of L; nee for a good few years come. The > partments are these : aca j cious hall, me ing forty -two and a-half f long by twent roe and a-half wide, and i library and a&r for the reading-roo each entering fm wide lobby, which leads tho halL Thß Bs, we believe, were dra out gr<itaitou3lylvro members of the Ath scum Committeelsara, Marshall and Mo son. Tho libraat present consists of volumes ; and thlmmifcteo have still a cl on the Oovernnflof £90, which sum i purpo-.c expeuclinj the purchase of bot ; in fact, we beli« vfie Committee have ma 1 selection of works Standard authors to c full amount of thilaim, and that the E( stion Board have slthe order to Englan )r their supply. Tlwill be a most val ie acquisition to a lijy which v already coi ns a choice selection tir English classics. At Wetherstonelhort time since, two ;n, by three days' worjaok out of the old ta gs of. the blue cementfthe neighborhood, ylcL had been washed! Brooks and partilen months ago, the latjuantity of 2 oz. 14Wts. of gold. This suretf itself offers encojagement for the testizn the cement, to wßh we referred in oor lastie ; for, if old taili/s can be worked so profijy, we naturally k the question, what inave not expect fsn the first and original waig ? I We are glad to Informed that f jse interested in the landlpbjcct of esfahphing a school at W^ complete, a petition tqth&^^^^^^^B^ f or tie same, signed When years arguof a because the children come c necessity for a therefore exist} so few of the age have the of j petition in t[uesexercise its the demands oi by granting once appointing of havo^al-, .amount of

There are thrw candidates nominated for election as delegates to represent the mining interest of the Tuapeka district at the coming conference, viz. : Mr. 5^ of Wethentones, Mr. Keppel, of the Blue fc purj an <i M r Heath, of Waitohuna. We are nobi n a position to say which of the trio is the beat Wed for the im- ' tyrtant duties that will devoV c upon him as deWate, or which U the most^ikely to be succ^aful at tic© election on the 2iu v v i ns t. '