West Coast Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 1881,

West Coast Times, Issue 3846, 5 August 1881, Page 2

West Coast Times. FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 1881,

There is & singular delusion ia the minds of a good many people, that it is a great aod a noble thing for a representative to announce himself an independent member of the House* It sounds manly and self-reliant. It flatters the. vanity of the gentleman who makes the assertion. It justifies any sudden change of front. An independent member permits himself to vote in a variagated manner. He cannot be called a rat, because, he is attached to no party. He has no fixed principles. If he has any guiding star it is the star of his own particular political destiny. He believes in hinaself. For a time this kind of guerilla politician discovers that he is in paradise. He is courted by the whips.' The party leadens whe bribo cur legislators with balls and dinners, overwhelm him with invitations. If he be needy fa© may obtain a loan, Jf h© have a particular hobby he may rido it to death. This goes on for a time with the result that the average independent member becomes entangled in the meshes of one party or the other. The exception is the man who is independent by nature, and rotes according to his conscience aud political belief. These men are vtryrare. We can instance the late Mr Koebuck, who fought for his own hand in the Imperial Parliament. After a time the ordinary "independent," becomes a party man. Who, for instance, doubts that Mr Wettoa. has passed from the self-reliant stage, to a condition of bondage ? He is now, in effect, a Government supporter. If he rote against the Hall Ministry, he may rely upon an outpouring of the vials of wrath from the hands of Ministerial journalists. We are of opinion that a professed independent candidate is not a desirable wprMontetiYf. We think that a gen-

tleman who is ambitious to represent his fellows in Parliament, should have some policy. He should uot be returned simply because he means to fight single handed. We totally object to the theory now so persistently advanced, that our representatives should support the winning side in order to gain local advantages. It is monstrous to ask them to forego their principles io order to get a road or a railway. It is publicly urged that Messrs Eeid and Seddon, ought to support Mr Hall, because if they do not, the Hall MinisJ try will not do justice to Westland. Our representatives, sent to Parliament in a particular interest, sent to oppose a squatting Ministry, are plainly requested to follow the example set by Messrs Masters and Weston, and rat. We hope they will not follow the advice so freely tendered them. We urge them not to abandon a single principle for the sake of getting a little money spent If they do, they will lose the respect of the electors and of themselves.

His Honor Judge Broad arrired yesterday by the Charles Edward. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council will take place at half* past seven this evening. Messrs Pollock and Bevan will sell by auction at noon this day, alongside the Spray, a quantity of prime Canterbury butter, to to which the attention of the trade ia specially directed. A concert and ball will be iield at the Public Hall, Kanieri, this evening, in aid of the funds of the Kanieri band. This band haß often played in Hokitika for various benefits, and it is to be hoped they will reap a substantial addition to tbeir funds by the proceeds of this evening's entertainment. The programme of the concert is published elsewhere. It will be followed by a ball, which no doubt will be numerously attended. A number of visitors from Hokitika are expected. Tram cars will leave at seven and ten o'clock. There are still complaints about the Chinese fisherman at the Mikonui. These men have been catching young fish by the hundred weight, during the past week or two. The rivers have been low during that time, and the Chinese beat the water and drive the fish into their nets* It is possible that some young salmon may be among the fish so netted. Any way, it is worth while for the County Council to look after this matter at once, as the young fish were placed in the Mikonui at public expense. That part of the Bowen.Okarito road, between the Mikonui and Duffer's Creek, is in a very bad condition. Even during the present dry weather pack horses are frequently bogged, and, indeed, the road is dangerous to travel on at night. Messrs Wade and Spence will sell this day on the Wharf, at noon, ex Spray and Charles Edward, consignments of produce; consisting of potatoes, butter, oats, wheat, chaff &o.; also at two o'clock, freehold sections, Sewell street. Mails for United Kingdom and Australian Colonies, per Kotomahana, close at the Bluff this day, at noon. Ordinary messages for transmission will be received at the Hokitika Telegraph Office up till 11 a.m. and urgent messages up till 11.30 a.m. Tenders are invited by the Jockey Club* for repairing the fences and gates of the race course. Two members of the Club will be ob the ground on Monday next, at 2 o'clock) to point out work required. Tenders to be sent ia to tbe Cafe de Paris Hotel, by the 10th inst. Dr Hodson, a medical gentleman travelling through the colonies for the benefit of his health, who has been connected with the | Hertz Smallpox Hospital in England, is now employed by the Government of New South Wales in an official inspection of the worst parts of Sydney. The Parliamentary correspondent of the Taranaki Herald says ;— " There was a little fun got out of the Dr Pollen debate. | A legal opinion was read deciding the intricate question of when a mau arrived at sixty years of age did it involve the granting of a pension ? Mr Fitzberberfc submitted that as he was over 59 and in his 60th year therefore he might be recorded 60 for the purposes of the Act. The question was solemnly refered to the Law Officer of the Crown, and he gave this very sagacious opinion: — ' lam of opinion that a man is not 60 years of age until he has lived 60 years.' The House absolutely shook with laughter when this profound decision was read. Tour readers will observe that little flashes of amusement occasionally illume the massive dullness that ordinarily oppress members when obstructive questions are debated in : the House." { A short time ago a paper by Dr Thursfleld appeared in the Sanitary Record, in it he pointed out a mode by which infectious diseases might be spread through the agency of the ordinary milkman, owing to the absence of any sanitary control over the health of the inhabitants of the dairyman's house. We have not had to waic long for a proof that our fears were by no means chimerical. In a recent number of the Globe we read that "a serious outbreak of scarlatina at Halifax has been traced to tbe dairy. Of eightly-two families supplied by a particulur milkman, forty-five were attacked by the epidemic. The milkman had five children ill of scarlatina at the time he was supply these families, and thus spreading disease and death among bis customers. An ingenious method of checkmating the new prohibitory liquor law of North Care Una has (says the St. James' Gazette) been discovered. Brevard township, on the Ereach Broad River, was made " dry " by the act of the Legislature. The township on tbe opposite side of the river is " wet." The latter is situated on a high bluff overtopping the opposite banks. Two rope 3 have been stretched from the top of the bluff on the wet side to the lower bank on the dry side. Between these a baßkefc is suspended on sliders, with other ropes attached to pull it back and forth. When a man on the dry bank wants a drink he goes down to the river and blows a horn kef t there for the purpose. Then the barkeeper hails him from tbe other side, and aaki him what he wants. The order i§ **IW ft* ft !i WtoiuJcjr mm^W[ "cwa and

rock," or " cock tail," as the case may be. This is put in the basket, wliieh is quicklj drawn on the opposite side of tho river, where it is taken out and drunk, and the price of the drink or drinks pat ia. The basket is then palled back to the bluiE and hung up for a future call- This novel practice is known by the name of " whisky telegraphing," and is found to be a great convenience to the dry township. An article in the Cornhill, by the wife of a London clergyman, headed " At Home to the Poor." has been attracting a good deal of attention, and will probably bear fruit abundantly during the coming summer season. She recommends, and has already illustrated by successful practice the course of inviting small parties of the toiling poor to enjoy and refresh themselves in private houses and pleasure grouads, the party being in each ease selected by those best acquainted with the neighborhood whence thoy are to be invited. The guests may be from twenty to fifty or more, according to the extent of the entertainer's premises. And Mrs Barnett well points out, that the interior of a well furnished, even if not a highly-decorated mansion, is full of interesting novelty for the toiling poor, aud dwells strongly also upon the high value set by the poorest of the poor on a personal welcome.