Wanganui Herald. (PUBLISHED DAILY). FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 1884. COLONIAL FEDERATION.

Major Atkinson made a strong defence of Federation in his dying speech. His argument was based on the danger of France annexing the Islands of the Pacific and sending out her criminals who would find their way to the colonies. But what he did not even attempt to show was that Australasian Federation would offer any more protection against the designs of France than is offered by the colonies separatively. He would have liked to make out Lord Derby had refused to attach any weight to the opinions of the colonies expressed each through its own representative. Eyen were this true it would not be any reason for a step involving in it endless expense and international difficulties. The question in its relation to the curtailment of constitutional privileges was weakly alluded to. Here Sir Julius Yogel has discovered a great and imminent danger, and he would provide against it reserving the right to each of the Federal Spates of the Union to adopt or reject any Act of the Federation. He has expressed himself in favor of temporising so as not to provoke the hostility of the other colonies. It would have been much better if he had advised an open and courageous resistance to the wholescheme. Weare getting on very well without running the risk of involving ourselves in a difficulty with France. Suppose the French Government did annex the Islands of the Pacific, we do not see that it would do us much harm. As for New Guinea, it is of as much importance to this colony as Timbuctoo. If French criminals are getting troublesome, then it is time for each colony to -keep them out, and this can very easily be done. When we want to establish a closer relationship with any of the sister colonies, we have only to make a treaty based on the mutual interests of the two. The position is that we are as independent of any other colony as that colony is of New Zealand; There is now a bond of federation between every member of the Empire, wliicb. allows the widest liberty of action to all, and which has the advantage of working smoothly.

fThe Imperial . idea has been fairty turning the heads of many of the old colonists who have returned to: -& c mother country. The Agent-General has become ambassador, and cannot attend to the wants of immigration. Articles appear in the Magazines recommending colonial peerages, and ! K.C.M.Gr.'y are at a discount already. Earldoms, and even Dukedoms, are filling the imaginations of re- | turned colonists and colonial politicians. The squatter, Sir Samuel Wilson, who desecrated Beaconsfield's house by his vulgarity and his moneybags, is a representative of the class that wouid be among the first creations ! Sir George Grey tells an amusing story how a well-known New Zealand statesman wished him to send home a despatch in favor of creating colonial dukedoms. Every honest politician is beginning to sot his face against the backstairs intrigues which, lead to the conferring of honors without the consent of the people, and we hope to see the day when .all these gow-gaws will bo valued at their proper value. Federation, from a New Zealand point of view, is the greatest sham of the day. Our simple policy ought to be to go on energetically developing our internal resources, improving and perfecting the machinery of government, and guarding and extending the principles of constitutional liberty. Here are objects worthy tho ambition of the statesman. It is because that we j believe Federation is being promoted for ambitious ends apart from 1 , ttye interests of the colony, and that we should sink into the position of a petty province with ever narrowing privileges, that we shall oppose the ! scheme at every step.

During the year 1883 the numbers of letters patent and letters of registration applied for were 233. Mr G. Hutchison announces that he will address the electors in the Princess Theatre on Wednesday next, at 8 p.m. We need hardly remind our Waverley readers that to-morrow evening Colonel McDonnell will address the electors of the Waitotara electorate at Waverley. Overtures made to Mr R. Stout, asking him to stand for Oamaru, resulted in a- reply declining the honor.as he preferred representing a Dunedin constituency if any.

We may soon have a distinguished visitor to the South Seas — a\ novelist in search of fresh sensations. Jules Verne is having a vessel built; in which he proposes to go in search of romantic material for literary use in the Antarctic Ocean,' The charges against F. Carr have not. yet been heard- the last of. Carr was 1 arrested yesterday in Turakina, and brought into town last night. He was this mornins charged by Mr J. Anderson with em-' 1 bezzling £7, and at , the request of the ' police a remand for S days was granted. The Australian subscriptions to the Parnell testimonial were £2,061, and £2,000 was transmitted to the National leader. Victoria subscribed £867, New South Wales £645, New Zealand £207, Queensland £125, South Australia £70, and Tasmania £44.

Lady Siemens has placed at the disposal of the Council of the London Society of Arts the sum of £2?, to be offered as a prize for the best applied ion of gas for heating and cooking in dwellings. The prize may be received in money, or as a gold medal, to be called the Siemens prize. At the Burnside refrigerating works a number of last year's lambs are being slaughtered for shipment by the British Queen. They will average fully 501 bin weight, and being so young and in such good condition, should fetch a good price in the London market; The lot were bred at Elderslie by Mr John Reid. We are informed that Mr C. E. Quinton is now engaerecl in putting to music the words of the well-known "Gray's Elegy." The cantata is said by competent critics to contain some brilliant, passages, reflecting credit on the composer. A private rehearsal by some of our leading amateurs is to take place shortly, when a better opinion as to its merits may be obtained. The Wellington correspondent of the Waikato Times says: — "The determination of Mr Stout to re-enter Parliament, the certainty of Mr Ormond's return for Napier, the extreme likelihood of the presence of Sir Julius Yogel in the House, and the possibility of a number oyierhts, certainly lesser than those three, but' capable of giving forth a large amount of political light — points to a' pretty' radical change in parties."

An almost incredible crime was attempted near M'Cormick (South Australia) on the Augusta and Knoxville railroad. As one of the down trains was running along at full speed, the engineer discovered a child on the track. He barely succeeded in stopping the train when only a few yards from' the boy, who was found to be securely tied hand and foot to the iron rail. The railroad men unbound the little fellow and took him on to Augusta. There are strong suspicions as to the parties who sought to cause the child's death .

The Admiralty have published a set of stringent regulations with regard to smoking. Some of the orders seem a trifle grandmotherly. Smoking is only permitted dur* ing certain hours and in certain places. Only flag officers and captains are allowed to smoke in their cabins. Officers in uniform are forbidden to smoke in the streets when wearing their uniform, and the use of the fragrant weed is altogether denied to officers and boys under eighteen, whether ashore or afloat.

It is the intention of the Hibernians to give the first of a series of winter entertainments, in a few weeks. The members of the Lodge, will be assisted by a number of outside friends in the matter, and as a very good programme has been arranged, the entertainment should be very successful. The musical portion will be given by a number of the best amateurs in the district, and as the dramatic portion will be under the direction of Mr J. H. Keesing, there can be no doubt as to its success. These entertainments will do much towards enabling members to pass some pleasant evenings during the winter, to say nothing of the pleasure derived by the public.

The following civil cases were brought on in the R.M. Court this morning. E. Brightwell v, W. G. Watt £13 14s 3d, judgment summons, order made for payment at the rote of £2 per month. Judgments for plaintiffs with costs were given in the following cases : — J. L. Stevenson v. M. O. Driscoll, £7 ISs 6d ; Borlase and Barnicoat v. N. Legge, £10 4s lOd ; Thain and Co. vW. Robinson, £15 2s Od ; M. Eiordan v. J, Henderson, £6 13s Od ; B. N. Manley (Herald Company) v. T. Driver (Kudarz), £4 6s 6d ; T. Dudson v. Horatio Walker, £1 15s 0d ; J. W. McDuff v. J. Belk, £9 14s Od, less £6 Gs Sd paid into Court. The case Gavin Hamilton v. Beere and Burn, £6 3s 6d was struck out ; and that of T. D. CuWmins v. James Brimble was adjourned till Tuesday.

In passing sentence of death upon Edward.", the murderer of his wife and children at Ormoudville, Judge Gillies said : " Rowland Edwards , you have been found guilty by the jury after a patient trial, and after an able defence designed to establish your insanity, of committing the crime wibh which you have been charged, The verdict of the jury is that you are guilty of wilful murder. It isjnot for me to harrow you feelings by referring to the atrocious nature of iho crime you have committed. There is no doubt in my mind that yours is one of the long list of cases caused very immediately by intemperance. It is a snd thing to contemplate, but if pcoplo will ;^ivc way to that vice they cannot know where it will end. As 1 said, it is no duty of mine to enlarge upon the grave nature of your crime, but only to pronounce, in the name of the law, the dread sentence that is attached to the crime of I wilful murder.

Mr Broadhurat's resolution in favour of legalising marriage with a deceased wife's sister was carried in- the House of Commons on Tuesday, May 6, by 238 to 127. Miss Mary Anderson, the beautiful and accomplished actress, has it is rumored, made up her mind to enter a convent, when she has made sufficient money to place her mother and step-father in • a comfortable position. The Zuyrler Zee in Holland is to be enclosed and primped dry, the expected result being the reclamationof 500,000 acres of good farm land. During the last 300 years Holland has reclaimed a territory of 90,000 acres from the sea. To-morrow afternoon at 2 o'clock will be ! held the meeting of County ratepayers to j discuss which system of local government they fire going to adopt. The meeting, which has been called by Mr J . R. Sommerville, County Chairman, will be held in the Red Lion Hotel. Mr Frank Power, the special correspondent whose telegrams from Khartoum have brought credit to the London Times, lives in a vast palace in the capital of the Soudan. He is miserably ill, and sighs for English cookery. "I have lost three stone in weight," he writes, "and look more like an Arab than an Irishman."

; A racy story is told of an old lady who refused to be comforted by her parson's assurances that when he left she would have a better pastor as his successor. "Na, na," she said, ' ' I have seen fourteen changes in i the ministers since I attended the kirk, and I every ane has been waurthan anither." In this week's issue of the Yeoman will be found the usual budget of the local and general news of the past week. In addition to this we print the first portion of a tale by a local author, which will be found to be pleasant reading. The Masonic Hall was again crowded last e/ening, when by the courtesy of the brethren a large number of ladies and gentlemen were present. The programme published by us yesterday was gone through well, and those present enjoyed the evening's entertainment very much. The attendance was much larger than on the previous evening. Sir Evelyn Baring is to be kept in England to advise the Government for six weeks. He and Mr Gladstone have already had some interviews, and they agree entirely as to the objects of our Egyptain policy. Sir Evelyn Baring has made some definite suggestions, however, which are likely to form the subject of more than one Cabinet Council, — Home News. To-morrow the ceremonial birthday parade, postponed from the 24th May, will take I place, when the ordinary salute will be fired. In the evening the gold cup, won by Lieutenant Purnell, will be presented to him by Miss McNeill, and after the | presentation a meeting will be held to coni sider the question of the advisability of having the next colonial meeting in this district.

The returns for the Otago University for 1883 show that during that year there were : 208 attendances at the various classes, as [ against 223 in 1882. The session commenced on May Ist with 103 students, of whom" 33 matriculated. Amongst those who passed the first section for the B.A. degree we notice the name of Mr W. A. Sim, a son of Mr P. Sim, of this town, - Government returns on tlie question of emigration to New Zealand show that from the first of April 1883, to the 25th February 1884, 5,272 persons, equal to 4,591 adults, have arrived in the colony, as against 3,220 persons, equalling 2,858 adults in the twelve months from Ist April, 1882. Of last year's emigrants 1904 adults came to Wellington, 1021 to Auckland, 1251 to Ota&o, 1002 to Canterbury, 63 not being specified for any particular place. People who think too much money is spent on education will, says a Home paper, be interested to hear that the French Education Budget amounts to 6,000,000 sterling ; not only that, but there is a grant of 37,000,000 sterling to be spent in a certain term of years in building 40,000 schools. The Education Minister was not in jest when he said in 1881 that he hoped by the end, of 1883 every French child could be receiving instruction. There is no outcry in France against this expenditure. There is no outcry in Germany. While discussing the Fire Brigade demonstration question last night r Captain Cummins said that from, the first he had been rather against holding these competitions, as it necessitated the taking away of a great portion of the strength of the Brigades. However, as the Brigade here, seemed anxious to meet outsiders, he had agreed to support the demonstration, especially as the Brigade was a strong one, and could send away half-a-dozen men, without losing much strength. He said that in the larger towns there were very few Brigades stronger or better than the Wanganui one, the strength of the Brigades seldom being more than 24 or 30, and it was mainly on their account, that he had opposed the idea, believing that the absence of the best men would not be safe for large towns;

The civil list account for 1883-84, as presented to Parliament, shows that in the first division the sum of £21,125 was paid away for salaries. This sum includes — Governor, £5000 ; Judges, £7,275 ; Sir F. Whitaker, £845 16s Sd (till 24th September, 1883); Major Atkinson, £1508 16s 8d ; Hon. F.Dick, £1250 ; Hon W. Rolleston, £1250 ; W. W. Johnson, £809 10s 6d ; Hon. E. Mitchelsbn, £440 19s 6d; Hon. J. Bryce, £1250 ; Hon. E. T. Connolly, £1250 ; Hon. R. Oliver, £645 16s Bd. In the second division (native) pensioners take £3,023 15s ; assessors, £1,447 10s ; miscellaneous salaries, £944 12s 7d ; medicines, £1447 10s ; contingencies, £501 55., Total, £6180 2s 7d. Grand total, £27,705 2s 7d.

. At the yearly meeting of Foresters held iv Wellington on the 23rd the district officers made their usual annual visit to the Court, and the D.C.R., in his speech, made the following statement : — The Order of Forestry now comprises 4657 Courts and 596,983 members, with an accumulated capital of £3,202,856 ; 53,733 new members were initiated during the year, and the total balance of receipts, after meeting all claims, was £152,431 9s 2d, The Wellington district comprises 16 Courts of 1579 members, with an accumulated capital of £18,396. £3521 7s was received on account of sick and funeral fund, and £1879 3s 6d was paid away dunng the year, leaving a balance of £1622 3s 6d to the good. The Wellington District Lodge has been increased during the year by 294 new members ; Sir George Grey, by 27 ; Sir George Bowen, by 69 ; Robin Hood, by 26 ; Wanganui, by 43 ; Greytown, by 20 ; Feilding, by 19 ; Marton, by 18 j and 7 other Courts, by 72 between them.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Fire Brigade was held last night in the Brigade's meeting room, when the following members were present : — Captain Cummins, Lieut Spurdle, Foremen Thurlow, Sharpe, and Powell, Secretary Hughes, Firemen Ferry, Gray, Cook, Wild, Davenport, Copeland, Furcell, Harwood, Hackett, Kitchen, West, Pennell, Spriggens, Connell, Boyce, Austin, Thomas, Battle, Keesing, Hogg, and Campbell. Three new members having been elected, the nomination of officers was proceeded with, with the following result : — Captain, Mr T. D. Cummins ; Lieutenant, Mr F. M. Spurdle ; Hon. Surgeon, Dr Earle ; Secretary and Treasurer, Fireman R. Hughes ; Assistant Secretary, Fireman Harwood j Foreman No. 1 Company, Foreman Thurlow, Firemen Ferry, Hogg, and Hackett; Foreman No. 2 Company, Foreman Powell, Firemen Battle and Copeland j Foreman No. 3 Company, Foreman Sharpe, and Fireman Campbell ; auditors, Fireman Keesing (for the Brigade), Mr A. Filmer (for the Insurance Companies), and Mr Hutchinson (for Borough Council) ; Committee, Firemen Wild, Keesing, and Connell. The question of holding the annual dinner next month was then considered, and it was resolved that the dinner be held on the last Thursday in Juiy, tickets to be limited to 8s each. Special votes of thanks were passed to the gentlemen who had given the prize money for the late competition j to Mr Parsons, Rutland Hotel, for his donation of £5 ; and Mr McLevie for a donation of flags. The draft of the programme for the Fire Brisade demonstration, at Christchurch, was discussed, and various alterations, suggested by Captain Cummins, were adopted by thein< ling. After other routine business had been attended to, and one new memer proposed, the meeting adjourned.

By last night's Po9t we see that the casa > of W. G, Watt v. John Notman, claim of £25 commission on sale of Rutland Hotel to .Mr A/ J. Parsons, resulted in a verdict for the plaintiff with costs,

Mr J. J. Lawler notifies in another column that he has removed from the premises formerly occupied by him on the Quay to those next to the establishment of Kohn Bros. The position ia a much more central one, and Mr Lawler should reap the advantage accruing therefrom. The local volunteers are notified that a battalion parade (drill order) is called for Tuesday next, the 2nd inst. The following company's parades are also announced :—: — City Rifles, inspection, July 21st; Naval Artillery, July 23rd ; and Wanganui Pi-ifles, July 24th. The Garrison Band is to attend all parades but the last mentioned.

Messrs Walker and Hatrick have made a commencement on their newly acquired lease on the Quay, and men are now engaged in pulling down the old buildings. The' plans and specifications for the new premises are now in the hands of Mr Cole, architect, who expects to have them ready in ti few days. The buildings which are to be erected forthwith will greatly improve the appearance of that part of Taupo Quay. , Mr S. H. Drew has lately obtained some very fine fossil specimens from Kawhia for his well-known museum. The fpssils include a number of bellemnites, and a splendid specimen of ammonite, the latter measuring fully five inches across. These valuables, ; which we're obtained by Major Stapp from Major Tuke, of Kawhia, tend greatly to advance the scientific value of Mr Drew's collection, which now includes many specimens of great value to the scientific student.

In these dull time 3 those who have wares to sell are forced to take the lowest possible price from buyers, and timber merchants seem to be no exception to the general rule. It will be noticed in another column that Mr Bell, of Halcombe, offers timber at low rates, so that those who are in want of timber may find it to their advantage to visit the yards next to Mr Duigan's flourmill.

The Southern Star Lodge, No 190 1.0. G.T. met in. their lodge room last night, Brother Anderson W.C.T. in the chair. After the usual routine business had been goue through, a capital programme consisting of songs, readings and recitations was gone through. It was stated that the temperance lectures in connection with the above, would be given in the first week of Aligns*. The attendance was fair.

The French Chamber has again had M. Paul Bert's Primary Education Bill under discussion. One clause provides that all teachers in public schools shall be laymen. M. Bert defends this against all clerical prptests, as "part of the programme of the great revolution, and a step towards the separation of church and state." Secular schools require school teachera ; the church has its own province, which may remain undisturbed. The country at the last election endorsed the dispersion of the non-recognised monks, and returned a majority resolved on following in the same path, A lay teacher, he contended, was more to be depended upon than a clerical teacher. The lay teacher regarded his conscience as his judge, whereas the churchman regarded the wishes of his superiors. Finally the clause was carried by 377 to 137.

Commenting on the fact that the ss Doric brings a consignment of 100 weasels and stoats to the colony, the New Zealand Times says : — " Settlers in the Wairarapa are already suffering from ferret?, which have recently caused serious loss to breeders of valuable poultry, and it is only the other day that some men came across an old buck ferret which actually showed fight, kept their dogs at bay, and was with difficulty despatched with firearms. Weasels have been known to attack full-grown men before now, and' if they and their still more vicious cousins che stoats are allowed to run riot over the country districts, it will be difficult to say where they mischief they may do will stop ; certainly children will have to be kept close at home. These considerations should be very carefully thought" over .before a Pandora's box of vicious vermin is opened upon the countryside."

General Gordon's choice of a companion for tha expedition- to Khartoum is characteristic. When he came before the Cabinet and annonncod that ho was ready to start' at once, lie was naturally asked whom he would li£'e to 1111 11' 1 have'as compaiiion. Gordon paused for a moment iv reflection,- and then said — * " There is a man- whom I have met a few tim s at the Club ; 1 don't know his name, but he is a man I would like to take with me. If you will wait a little, I will go and see if he can come.'.' Thereupon Gordon left' his Ministerial audience, drove to the Club, found.his man in the smoking-room, explained the case, obtained his consent, and was back iv Downing Street under the half-hour. The man whom Gordon, with instinctive sight, had chosen, was Colonel Stewart, who probably knows more of the East than any other officer in the British army.

Professer Max Muller, lecturing the other day at Birmingham, referred to what he called the eloquent speeches of Henry George on "Progress and Poverty." "It was of little use," he said, " to grow angry about the question of nationalisation of the land, or to bandy hard names. Let them study the question historically. Let them see how the various kinds of tenure of land arose j let them distinguish, in fact, between them. He had no doubt that history would show that there were tenures of land to which originally heavy conditions, such as military service, were attached, and that many of tho»e conditions were no "longer fulfilled. Even in more recent times history might show that common land was inclosed in defiance of historical rights. Those, therefore, who had any regard for the past and for historical rights — the great conservative party — ought not to be so angry with Henry George. What, however, he should like to protest against was the outcry that George's theories were ' dangerous." He did not believe it. They all held theories which might be called dangerous, but which they never thought of carrying . out-*-such, for instance, as loving their neighbors exactly like themselves. And yet that theory was not considered very dangerous, even though it led some of the early Christians to have * all things in common.' "