The Puapeka Times. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1868. " Measures, not Men."

Tuapeka Times, Volume 42, Issue I, 28 November 1868, Page 2

The Puapeka Times. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1868. " Measures, not Men."

Our readers will find in another column an elaborate letter on the Currency Question, signed " A. H." We quite expected the course advocated by us would give rise to opposition, and are glad to take advantage of the opportunity thus afforded of discussing the question fully. Any person who takes an interest in the land question must be aware of the constant excuse urged by the Executive when any demand for money is made on them. " No funds " is their answer ; and we desired to show how, without possessing the amount required for the necessary and highly beneficial measure referred to, they might, by drawing on their resources, carry it out. Their present policy is to remain with an empty Treasury because they cannot sell or lease more land, and to refuse to sell or lease the land because the Provincial Treasury is empty ! A more flagrant instance of the logical fallacy of reasoning in a circle it would bo difficult to find What- we urged as a scheme worthy at any rate of examination, was the compensation of the runholders by means of an issue of paper money secured on the Provincial Estate, and constituted a legal tender for all public and private debts, except, perhaps, Customs. By adopting tbia policy t}ie Government would secure -for itself a share of the profits at present monopolised by the note-issuing banks.' They would, iv fact, do

away with the necessity of increasing the public debt, by obtaining a large supply of funds without having to pay any interest. This course .Would enable us to, export our gold, which, as " A. H." justly rdmarks, is as much a commodity as beef or mutton — and purchase by means of it additional labor, and, what is almost as much needed, additional capital. In proposing this policy we were aware that we had to encounter two prejudices, viz., the confusion of a paper and inflated currency, and the popular superstitious reverence for gold. We asserted, and not without reason, that iron, copper, tin, &c, were intrinsically more valuable than the more highly-prized metal ; and to this assertion we were led by a careful comparison of the relative utility of the several substances to the human race. We left out of the question all articles of luxury which only concern the more wealthy, and took a working-man's view of the question. The result was to convince us that while the non-exis-tence of gold would have caused very little difference in man's present condition, the want of the socalled baser metals would have greatly ■ retarded his civilization. Of these are composed the weapons by which we conquer Nature or protect our liberties j without them we should be reduced to a state of barbarism and discomfort'; without gold, on the other hand, although our wives, daughters, and sweethearts might lack a few gew-gaws, although the opulent aristocrat might have fewer useless heir-looms to grace his side-board, the affairs of the world would go on much as usual. Gold has a value undoubtedly, as it is worth the price of the labor required to procure it ; but this value is, after all, iictitious. The pursuit of the metal arises Fjimply from the extrinsic value set upon it, and not from an idea that it " could do the work of the socalled baser metals better than they can." In fact, we do not think that "A. H." himself means seriously to set forward a statement so palpably erroneous as this would be. If he does mean it, however, we will simply remind him that gold, from its great softness, cannot even withstand the slight wear and tear which a piece of jewelry has to encounter, unless an alloy be added, It was with the intention, then, of modifying the rooted aversion to anything but a metallic currency, and not from any desire to disparage the artistic value of gold that our remarks were written. So long as J beauty requires adornment, and wealth display, gold will continue to have a value. But in a young country like this, we cannot afford to lock up so large a quantity of our productions as a metallic currency demands. In order to go ahead, we must expend our treasure with a free hand in the purchase of brains and muscles, thinkers and workers, the only true means of ever making this in reality what enthusiastic friends call it, "The Britain of the South Pacific " Before concluding this article, we must express our thanks to "A. II." for the courtesy he has displayed in advocating his side of the question. Even on abstract questions colonial journalists are only too apt to introduce personal abuse and malignant invective.

Owing to a pressure of advertisements we are reluctantly compelled to hold over several items of local interest. Tue entertainment by the Dramatic Club at "Wethers tones on "WefineEday evening proved a success. i^./ The time of theiQh^HLof 'EnglanjHervice bcin^ fcinrl to be^^^^^^^^^^M^^^LoT;' ■"- nal hour, vi^aj^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H^h^ to statj tai.t^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H that hour. A in FTl^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^J Atkeiimni^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H owin* -•./ the number of monitors j^^^^^^^B being sufficient to form a quorum a ]^^^^^^^| la)(ied. x^^^^^l Letter 3 for the English Mail v. I^^^H should be posted in Lawrence on or bofor^^BH 3rd proximo. v, & m At a meeting of- the Church of England congregation, held in the School: oom on Tuesday evening, it was resolved to continue Jiolding service in tho schoolroom. It must have beea clear to every one that Dunedin could not support three morning paper3— one, if not two, would have to go to the wall. The, first victim will succumb next veeV, being Mr. Maokay'3 adventuie, the "Daily Mail.]' We expect uliortly to have to chronicle the demise of the more formidable opponent of the "Daily Times/ viz., Mr. Vogel'a "Sun." Oun"«reattera will find in another column a report of tho tea meeting, in aid of the funds of the. Church of England Committee, at the Bluo f3pur. We regret that our limited space prevents us giving the able and eloquent addresses by the various speakers *t greater length.

An adjourned meeting of the Board of Wardens' was held at Coghill's Bridge Hotel, Waitahuna, on Tuesday last. There were present ,— Messrs. Mackay (in tho chair), Mcc, Gaacoigne, Edie, Crundy, Poison, and Browne (Secretary), xi map, defining the boundaries, forward ,by Government for the approval of the Board,- Wa laid on the table, when the Chairman requested the Board to take into their consideration *Hho matter of sheep boundary. Mr. Edie objected to the boundary marked on the map, as encroaching too far on the cattle reserve. Mr. Browne said if the Board had the power to form boundaries they should certainly use that power as they judged best, and not submit to any dictation on the piirt of Government. After some discussion, Mr.., Qrundy, moved "That the boundaries, as defined by Government, be not adopted by the Board."— Seconded by Mr. Mcc, and carried. - A conversation~follofred relative to applications,' after which Mr. Grundy moved, " That all sheep on the cattle reserve, as la^ off by the Board, be removed within one month." —Seconded by Mr. Mcc, and earned. Mr. Polson read a petition from the settlers at Manuka Creek,- in- which they signified their willingness to allow William Lees to run sheep in the neighbourhood. It was suggested that there was a possibility of some of the signatures being fictitious, when Mr. Grundy moved, "That the petition be not received." Mr. Brown moved, as an amendment, "That the petifion be received, but lie in abeyance until the Board arrives at a definite decision with regard to the sheep boundary." ■ The motion and amendment being put, the former was carried. The Secre- ! tary read a letter from a Mr. Mackenzie,' in which the writer expressed a desire to have hi 3 application to depasture cattle amended, as he had neglected to state therein that he held a \ miner's right. Mr. Gascoigne asked whether | anything had been heard of the bye-laws since they had been submitted to Government ;' on being informed that nothing had- since been j heard of them, he moved, "That the Secretary be instructed to communicate with Government, askiug them whether the bye-laws passed by the Board had been sanctioned."— Seconded by Mr. Grundy and carried. Mr. Gascoigne moved an adjournment for a fortnight, the next meeting of the Board to be held in Tuapeka. The usual vote to the chair closed the proceedings. 'We regret that our sp.ico will not admit of a fuller report. - • A MELANCHOLY accident occurred at the Blue Spur oa Saturday. A maa named Peter May and two mates were working together on Morrison and Oo.'s claim, when a sudden landslip fcopk place. MJay was, unfortunately, not quick enough to escape, v and when his companions looked round for him he was found buried under the debris. Prompt measures were taken to extricate hint from his painful and dangerous position, and a messenger was despatched to the Junction for a doctor. Dr. Halley was soon on the spot, and under his supervision tha poor man was removed to the Hospital. We ar c happy to learn that the injuries sustained by May, although serious,' are not likely to prove fatal. This intelligence, we have 310 doubt, will be welcome to the many friends ho has made by his quiet and obliging disposition. He is a native of Norway, and ha 3 been in this district for some time.