West Coast Times. MONDAY, JULY 30, 1866.

West Coast Times, Issue 265, 30 July 1866, Page 2

West Coast Times. MONDAY, JULY 30, 1866.

The statement of the receipts and expenditure of the ordinary revenue of NeAV Zealand, for the quarter ending the 31st March last, is published in the General Government Gazette of the 19th lust. The contributions made by the several provinces to the colonial revenue for the period covered by the returns, are as follow : — Canterbury, L 7-1.289 8s 8d ; Ofcw?o, L 55,838 17s Id; Auckland, L 44,552 16s 9d ; Wellington, L 24.269 7s 3d; Nelson, L 19,079 15s 6d ; Southland, L 9684 7s 9d ; Hawkes Bay, L 6998 13a lOd ; Taranaki, L3G23 Hs9d; Marlborough, L 2104 12s lOd. In all instances the revenue is chiefly derived from Customs' duties (which include the export duty on gold). Undsr the head of Customs, we find Canterbury's contribution set down at L 63,540, Otago's at*L49,Blo, Auckland's at L.38,092 ; and Wellington's^ L 21,470.

Canterbury thus stands a very long way ahead of all the other provinces ; and this circumstance is due to the large contributions made to its revenues by the goldfields of Westland.

Yet Westland, Avhose resources have seiTed to thus give to Canterbury its proud pre-eminence as the wealthiest province in Npw Zealand, is set down by the East coast papers as in a condition of great indebtedness to the provincial chest. In an article recently published iv the " Lyttelton Times," AA'hich was quoted in the " Despatch" of Thursday evening last, figures Avere " deduced from official returns," from which it appeared that " the sum of L 28,097 14s Id represented the indebtedness of Westland to East Canterbury." Our contemporary estimated the annual revenue of Westland roughly at L 150,000, obtained in the proportion of L 55,000 from the gold export duty, L 56,000 from tho provincial three-eighths of the Customs, and the remainder from Miners Rights, &c. This debt of L 28,000 appeared naturally to cair contemporary, as a small balance against Westland that could be easily repaid, whilst the excess of ordinary revenue over expenditure left a surplus which, "if judiciously expended by the Government, Avould giA r e general satisfaction to the West Coast population, and meet all their immediate necessities."

So far, so good. The fair legitimate expenditure on the goldfields was alone before the eye of the editor of the " Lyttelton Times," when he made this statement of accounts, as between the two divisions of the province. He has since discovered — or been reminded — that a large item of expenditure, on account of Westland, was omftted from his calculations. Tho writer says: — "By inadvertence we recently omitted a considerable item of the amount chargeable against the West Coast." We quote the explanation of the omission : — "As Avas before stated, the entire revenue of the West Coast up to ,the 3 1st March of this present year was L 108,726 6s 2d. There Avas remitted, in all, from Christchurch to the' West Coast up to the same date, the sum of L 126,046 14s, showing a balance of L 16,720 7s lOd due to Chrislchurch. But to this balance has to be added the sum of L 73,543 8s 2d paid at the Treasury in Chvistchurch for West Coast purposes. This amount includes sums paid to con- ! tractors for the road works on the Hokitika side of the range, and other moneys for surveys, escort, police, and tel> -graphs, on the same side. We thus find that at the date to which these calculations refer, the indebtedness of Weitlaud to East Canterbury is represented by the sum of L 90,863." Even this, however, is not the total amount of the balance a/ainst us recorded in the proA'incial ledger. "We have been curious enough to ascertain the result of last quarter's expenditure, and find that it swells this already sufficiently large amount. The total West Coast receipts for the qiiarter ending 30th June, 1866, were L 34.145, while the total expenditure amounted to L 40,687. The difference added to the former advance makes the total due by Westland to East Canterbury not less than L 97,404." The tables are thus completely turned against us; and Westland, during the year aud a-half of its history, is held to havo cost the Provincial Government nearly a huridred thousand pounds in excess of the revenue it has yielded ! The whole thing is monstrous. Until the Road debit is brought as an element into the case — we have seen — the balance is in favor of the district. Aud Avho wanted the road?. Did Westland promote it ? Has Westland ever acquiesced in its policy ? Has Westland eA-er lost an opportunity of protesting against it as a gigantic job? What material advantage has this district ever deriA'ed from the Road that can be held to be fairly represented by the tens upon tens of thousands of pounds that are debited to it on account of this work, and for the

repayment of which Eastland is clamoring ? Suppose there had been a separate government here, would this enormous sum ever have been spent on this road, in preference to the really useful and necessary work of forming tracks and tramways into the back country? We have sustained better cattle supplies, it is true; but a a costly coach line, constructed under immense engineering difficulties, was not necessary for carrying stock over the ranges. Besides, by the easier access obtained to this market, the eastern stockholders have obtained a greater advantage than the consumers here. Let the enormous debt recorded against Westland on account of this road be wiped off the balance-sheet, and let the whole expenditure of this extravagant work be made a charge upon the provincial loan*, and a most unfair pressure upoa the resources of Westland, at a time when it needs them all, will be removed. We know of nothing more unjust and impolitic to a young country, in its first stages of development, than to saddle it with such a burden, as this most uncalled-for charge.

A most unusual course was adopted on Saturday by his Honor the Judge, in challenging the A-'erdict of the jury in the case of Arthur Charles Liardet, who had been tried on a charge of assault. The case itself is one that calls for no special comment, nor any detailed report. The defence Avas ably conducted by Mr Button, and although the judicial summing up Avas strongly adverse to the prisoner, the jury agreed to a verdict of acquittal. It is at this point that we take up the story. On the return ot the verdict, the Judge espressed himself surprised and dissatisfied, and desired the jury to go back and reconsider their decision, imputing to them that they had not ai'rived at their verdict after "mature deliberation."

Mr Justice Gresson, is by date nf appointment, we believe, the senior Judge on the New Zealand Bench, and is entitled to all the deference due to a Hgh position and a long experience. But it sometimes happens that A'eterans in office assume a discretion, AA'hich would never be ventured upon by those who were without the prestige of long service to cover their departures from established rule. We cannot but think that in this instance his Honor presumed on his authority, in his attempt to dictate to the jury the verdict thoy should bring in. We knoAv of no parallel case. There have been instances in Avhich judges have recommended juries to reconsider verdicts of " Guilty." But even in these cases the propriety of that course has always been questioned. The jury aye sworn to " Avell and truly try, and a true verdict give according to the CA'tdence." Tbe evidence being given, and all its points exhausted by cross-examination, and by judicial analysis in the summing up, the case is entirely removed from the further interference of the Bench — unless direction is required on some point of law, or a reference to the Judge's notes is required to refresh the memory of the jurymen. The jury haA'ing finally had the case " left in their hands," according to the customary closing sentence of the judicial charge, nothing more remains but to afford them the opportunity of deliberation, and receive their verdict Avhen when they bring it into Court. In the prosecution to Avhich aa'c refer there was no question involved outside the domain of simple facts. Was there evidence to show that an assault had been committed, and, if so, that the man charged had committed it? No simpler issue could go to the jury. We must repeat, with great respect, that on their return to Court Avith a verdict of acquittal, the reluctance of the Bench to accept it, and the endeavor to induce the jury to reconsider it, was a Avidc departure from established practice and from judicial propriety. It appears to us that his Honor went beyond his right, Avheu he challenged either the correctness of the A'erdict, or the grounds on Avhich it had been delivered — and especially when he made the implied imputation in his remark, that " ip they had arrived at their conclu sion after careful deliberation, he must, of course, receive their verdict."

The inquest upon the bo ly of August Zangelias, who was killed at the Totara on Thursday last, will be held to-day by the District Coroner, Dr "Reswick.

A very handsome specimen of the genus PhocM is now on exhibition at the Fire Brigade Hall. Theanimal was captured on this coast to the southward of Bruce Bay, and is well worth an inspection by those who have never seen one of the species before.

Eight thousand ounces of gold-dust *vcre shipped away for Melbourne by the Tararua, a small amount compared with former exportations. This not an indication of ally decrease in the produce of our fields, as the banks aro holding back, waiting the arrival of the Auckland, which leaves for Sydney on the 2nd proximo. Wo hoar that heavy parcels will bo shipped in her. The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court ended on Saturday with the case of A. C. Liardot, who was charged with having committed an indecent assault. Although tho evidence adduced left no doubt that an assault had actually taken place, it showed thfere was a doubt as to tho prisoner " being the guilty party, and the jury accordingly acquitted him. During tho moruiug the Court was occupied with hives tigating a charge against John Reid, for assault and robbery. He was found guilty, and sentenced to two yoars' imprisonment with hard labor. To-day the civil business of the Court commences, beginning with sittings in chambers at half-past nine. There aro sixteen cases to be disposed of, after which there will be a sitting under the Debtors and Creditors Act, to extend over twenty-four cases. There are, therefore, forty civil eases for hi? Hpnpr to adjudicatp upon.