FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1904

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1101, 23 September 1904, Page 2

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1904

The Licensing Bill that ia now emerging from the House will hardly bo recognised by the advocates of either side of the liquor question as the Hill j that was introduced only a few days ago by the Premier. It has been terribly mangled, and leaves the law in regard to the liquor 'traffic in practically tho samn position as before it was brought down, After the tnrbulant agitation of tho past few months, something better was expected; but instead of that, tho Bill as it now stands is reminiscent of tho "mountain that laboured and brought forth a mouse," Ihtt the llonso is nearly ilor.o with it, and pwhaps thero is no ono bettor pleased that this is so than the Premier. Menaced on all sides by conflicting interests, his position has not been ono to bo envied, lie was 'twixt tho Jtml and the deep blue son, and ir moeting tho leaders of both fiidos mcl chopping up the Bill on tho giyc-ancl-lake principle he showed threat wisdom. Ho was also wiso in giving to his supporters a free ham' ;o vote as they liked, for no measure that we know of has given rise to a greater diversity of opinion, In the division list

ive find that prominent members of the Opposition voted with the Premier, and that Government supporters voted against him. It was ut measure truly on which a free hand in voting was justified. The discussion on the bill showed that our prohibition friends are either not a united body or that some oi them are really good shufflers. For instance/in clause 9, framed on the advice of leaders of the party, they had an opportunity of securing total prohibition in no-license districts — at least'to the satisfaction of tiioao who prompted (he clause-instead of the half-and-half system at present in force: and yet when it came to the pinch prohibition members would have none of it, and the clause was struck out, leaving matters as they were. Disqualifying for life licensees convicted three years running for breaches of the Act is a good provision—it the law is properly administered, With the mint of money it would take for the purchase of the breweries and hotels,

flaying nothing of compensation to owner?, it was not surprising, in view of tho liigh price of money in the Homo market, that the proposal for State control wa9 negatived. A disgusted person will be the "bona tide traveller" who cannot live from 10 p.m. on Saturday till (i a.m. on Monday without a long glass of beer or a short glass of whisky. He must now do a fivo-inilo instead of a three, mile stretch in order to qualify for tho "bona lido" distinction. His lot is indeed a sad one, and for the sake of society it is hoped ho will not expire. The measure has now lo go through the Legislative Council, and when it leaves that Chamber it will perhaps bo only as the skeleton of what remains of the original Bill. It was probably owing to the "happy despatch" by the Council of tho Tied House Bill introduced by the Hon. Mr Rigg that the" tied houso" clause in the Bill under notice was struck out by the House without division and without comment, The Bill, taken as a whole, may be said to be a slight improvement on the existing law, with nothing that will justify either side claiming a distinct victory.

As will bo aeon by reference to our Ad' vcrtising coiuians, a meeting of the subscribers of the Waihi Public Library will bo held in the Forostors' Hill at 7 o'clock on Saturday next. Wo understand that matters of importance aro to io discussed, and it is to bo hopod that as many as possible will attond,

At the Police Court lliia morning two boys. Sydney Barker anil Goorgo Bartlcll, rcmnnded from Auckland on a chargo of theft from Wailii, enmo before Mr. J. E. Slcvin, J.P, Mr. Jackson, for Bartlott, asked for a romand till Wcdnosday, Magistrate's Court day. Sergeant Slicehan agroed to the request. Bail was jjrnntod—;62s by Barllctt's fathor, and X 25 by F, Arns,

During a recent sitting of tho Wellington Divorco Court, Mrs. Helen Clemens appliad for a divorce from Frederick Ci( mons on the grounds of no»lect to maintain, drunkonness and cruelty. They had been married at Pnliuerston North in 1800 Mr. Justice Cooper, who presided, said it was evidently a marringo petitioner should never havo entered into. He pronouncod a decree nisi. Mr, and Mrs. Clemens were formerly residents of Waihi. The breaking of tho rear axlo of a special passenger coach proceeding to Paeroa on Wodncsday ovening last caused no litilo consternation amongst the occupunts, Thoro wero elowm altogether. Tho box seat passengers, Messrs R. J, Williams, manager of tho Waihi mine, and Mr, S, E, Frascr, of Waikino, had an oxcitinp fall. Tho former, who is a gentleman of weight, in his descent down a scrub-clad embankment, fell upon his smaller companion Mr, Fraser, and on top of them tho driver came tumbling down. Of the trio, boyond minor bruises, Mr. Frascr was alone injured, receiving a out on his oye, and an injury to his ankle, On regaining tho road the inside of tho coach presented an almost inoxtrioiible entanglement 'of. struggling huiwiniity, Onoofthe passengers declares it look closo upon fifteen minutes to get everyboiy and everything clear. An illustration of tho perverted use of the word" lady" is given by an Exeter correspondent, of tho Daily Mail, During tho limo Dr, Templo was Bishop of Exeter ho married. Years afterwards ho was appointed Primate of all England, A few days after his translation to Cantorbury Mrs, Touipki whoso identity was then naturally unknown in that city—mado 301110 purchases at somo stores, and requested that they might bo sent to tho police with tho bill, Tho assistant demurred, pointing out that tho " lines woro strictly cash," "But," explained Mrs. Temple, "I am tho Archbishop's hdy," "Very sorry, mum," was tho polito reply, " but it is quito against our rules, I roally couldn't do it, oven if you wero his wife,"

A well-known commercial travcllor (says the Observer) is shaking hands with liimslf just, now, When thoriso in Wnihi Extcntlecls took placo, ho followod tho oxample of certain fnr-aoeing pooplo and appliod for a half aero rnsidonce Bito, and it was granted to him. Tho land was covered with titroo and scrub, and tho holdor of an adjaocnt holdins sent a man out to grub, clear and plough his holding. When the work was completed tho progressive individual, who by tho way is a hotel-keeper, wont out with tho commercial traveller to inspect it. A surpriso awaited thorn, Tho commercial traveller's luck was in. By some mistake, whijh nobody can oxpluiii, it was his section that had hoen cleared and floughod, His gratitude to tho hotelkeoperis unbounded, As for tho boielkoepor, ho is snlisficd that that ploughman must bo a prohibitionist, with a down on tho trade,

Lovora oi good music in Waihi will bo pleasod io hear of tlio formation of a Leidortnfol in Wnihi under tho conductorship of Mr 0. Raynor, a goiilhimn who lms hud special training in trmlo voico singing, Tho society has now 80 picked voices and is making splendid progress. Tho managing committee hopo to bn iiblo logivo the oponing concert curly in November, Tho socioty hnvo beon at considerable rypenso to procuro suilablo music from Syilnoy, Auckland, and Dunodm, ti'irl it is hoped that tho mimic-loving publio of Wailil will givo them thoir hearty support, To make each contort more popular tho committee will endeavour to'ijet a profos* sional singer from Auckland or oilier places to assist, The socioty, after tho first con-, cert, will bo run on tho saino lines as tho Loidertafi'li in other places, giving throo or four concerts in a your, ono of which will bo smoke for gontleinon only. Each subscriber will bo oniilled to a ticket for each concort, with two Indies'tickets, Tho following wore tho officers elected:—President, Mr H, P liavry; vice-president, Dr W, G. Guinness, Mr It, E.Williams; conductor, Mr 0, liayner; lion, treasurernnd chairman of committoe, Mr 1). S. Ready; hot), secretary, Mr W. Robins; librarian, Mr Smith; lion, pianist. Mr \V. Craufurd Brown; committed, Messrs J, Adauu, lloiYOi Rayner, mid Brown.

_ Wo ngain remind thoso ot our reaHors in»c ted of tho general nnniml meeting o tin- Witihi Criukot Assecintion to-night in Piliin»'s Hctel,

In Hi' 1 Houho on Wednesday Mr, Homos p.-'iiip'n : nod of iho way in which the Government schooner Countess of flanfirly l t being used to cnvi'.v tarloiv.uml labour to the Islands. Ho said the schooner was costly, and was not 'worth htr Mi't, and the sooner the Government <olri htr Iho better it would bo for all con- "■ ni-'.l. She was doing grout harm in the island by carrying goods in bond which no other 'vessel was allowed to carry, oud lot Government ofliecrs who were trading without a license, which other traders wore not allowed to do. Mr, llassey said the Countess of Ran-fiu-ly was carrying black labour from Nine lo Mftklun Islnnt], a ino4 unhealthy pluce. Tho Government, which carried a resolution against black labour in Q'wnslimd, ind proposed n resolution against Chineso labour in South Afric.i, used their eclioon--3r to take blacks who wero under cugago:nent for twelve months to a plaoo whoro ;hcy woro twenty times worse off iha.ii the 'Jhinoso in South Africa, The Premier uid if passengers wero offering bcUvcon he islands the Government was bound as lomiuon carriers to curry them.

A deputation which waited on the Premier on Wednesday urged very strongly the starting o! a Slate coal mine in the North. Mr Sedtlou, in reply, stated that ho knew that a coal trust existed in tho Auckland district, aud ho knew that tho working of it had been to the advantage- ot the coal mine-owners within tho trust; also that the consummorshadtopayluglierpricosforeoal and that there had relatively been an in* ereaso in the importation ot Newcastle coal. That showed the necessity for preventing combinations from nourishing in Now Zealand. With regard to the depots', ho assured tho deputation that tho Government had boon condemned prematurely, Everything ho had promised when asking the

Houso to pass the Coal Mines Act would be given effect to, but they had first to gel tho conl, anil they must take enro ,uul make no (also step. Ho wanted to show tlnit the Government could control such things to the advantage of the people, so that Parliament would moro readily agrco to any furdicr extension along the same lines. When tho coal was available thoro would bo no ground for complaint. It tho deputation came back to him in 12 mouths ho I bought they would bo conviucod by that time that tho Slate coal minos had been a success,