, 1874-04-22

good crops and the bad ones are to each
other as 5 to /, and in the complete alb
sence of any artificial remedy for this state
of things, in the shape of irrigation or
otherwise, there is a real necessity for
something like a public Reserve Fund
made up during the good years, in order
to have something to fall back upon in the
bad ones, if we are to be self-supporting
at all. Had Governor Billie, on his arrival
here, we do not say carried, but only be-
gun the reforms and reductions which had
so often been acknowledged to be urgent,
had he, f.. j In, begun the organization of an
efficient Police or Constabulary Force to
take the place of the present arrangement,
Military and Police, which is acknowledged
on all sides to be too costly an insurance
PREMIUM saving in this one item of
some $25, 900 or $4,000 might have been
effected, at the same time we should have
had at least as efficient protection for life
and property. We do not, however, mean
to lay the blame for this not being done
on him alone. The people bear at least
an equal share of it they want retrench-
mentS made, but seem never to give them
selves the trouble to subject the different
questions to that serious consideration
watch is requisite to form a firm opinion
about what can be done, and hence it be-
comes difficult for any Government to do
any thing. If such a settled opinion had
existed in Governor BiIle's time, there is
no doubt that he would have listened to
it, and we should now have had a hand
some sum in reserve over and above what
is actually in the public chest, supposing
even we had abolished some of the most
obnoxious taxation, and put the rest aside
for a net, or, as we should rather say, a
dry day. This fund might not indeed
have been large enough to have entirely
obyiated the necessity of a loan now, but
certainly, that loan need not have been SO
large as now proposed.
1t is to be hoped that these last years
have taught every body a wholesome les
son, at all events the Budget which His
Excel ency the VicegOvernor had 10 pre-
sent the other day speaks volumes. Every
body who gives these matters a thought,
asks himself how long this state of things
can continue, and many people look upon
Governor Garde as an enigma they cannot
solve. But there is not the same anxiety,
if we may so call it, to find him out, as
there would have been, had he shown less
practical good sense in other respects.
We do not know if we interpret the opin-
ion concerning the governor correctly, but
we do think that there is something
of the following reasoning at the bottom
of it. The Governor has been here long
enough, and has sufficient ability, to find
out the rights of things. The success of
his administration and his reputation de-
pend upon his success in finding out what
will be good for the Colony. Therefore
we will eventually be safe. This reason
ing is as logical as can be, but the premises
of the syllogism would be strengthened if
the Council and the whole people would
agree to give the Governor a hand in find
ing out what is good for US, in other words,
if We could at last agree about that our
selves. All Governments must to a certain
extent be conservative, that is they must
not outstrip public opinion. Now, what
is public opinion on the most important
question before US, which might be called
the Insurance Premium Question 2 We
believe it goes to support the Avis, but we
may be mistaken. If so, what can be doneQ
Will the savings that can be effected in all