APPOINTMENT AND STATUS OF COLONIAL GOVERNORS.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 265, 9 November 1888, Page 2

APPOINTMENT AND STATUS OF COLONIAL GOVERNORS.

Sir Thomas Mollwbaith has gob from Lord Knutsford the reply which might ho have expected to bis request that he, as Premier of Queensland, should be consulted aa to the appointment of a Uovsrnor to auceeed the late Sir Anthony Musgrave, First of all Lord Knutsford appoints ft Mr JSlftke to bQGo.yerao.rof Qv4een4^aj°n^e $xmgw

of this promotion he gets Mr Blake knighted, and then he graciously informs Sir "Thomas Mcllwraith that it was simply impossible to comply with his request, as " the Governor muse be selected by the Secretary of State for the Queen's approval, and must bo appointed by and responsible to the down only." As Lord Knutsford says this, we suppose it must be so ; according to its constitution Queensland has no say whatever in the appointment of ita Governor, and if the people don't like the man whom Lord Knutsford sends to rule over them, they can only revenge themselves by voting him a nominal salary_ of one guinea per annum, or worrying him in some other petty fashion. There are indications that this is how they mean to " take it out of" Sir A. H. Blake, for the Brisbane newspapers are reported to bs criticising adversely his appointment. Tho better plan, however, would be to agitate boldly for a change in the constitution of tha colony, and if tho Queetiplandera were told that this was "impossible," the only course left open to them would be to " cut the painter "—a feat by no means impossible of accomplishment;, and which will very probably bo achieved if Lord Knutsford persists in pursuing a policy of irritation. In sending an ex-Governor of Newfoundand to an important colony like Queonsand, Lord Knutsford lays himself open to the suspicion of being actuated by some little piquo at tho recent victory which he had to record for the Government of Queensland in their squabble with the late Governor. More especially is this so when we remember " that the Secretary of State for tho Colonies is credited with a desire to raise the status _of colonial Governors, and to "surprise" colonists by tho magnificence of the appointees to these offices. We sea fchatSir Terence O'Brien, Governor of Heligoland, is to be made Governor of Newfoundland, and this leaves the undoubted inference that Lord Knubsford considers Queensland to bo only two removes from a little barren isleb < in the German Ocean. This method of "raising the status " of colonial Governors is, we admit, calculated to cause surprise, bub we question if it will raiso the Colonial Office in tho estimation of Australasians. After all, the status of a colonial Governor doca not depend upon his abilitius, rank, or achievement'); it obviously is regulated by the power and dignity which attaches to his office ; and perhaps Lord Knafcsford'a little " surprise " will take tiio form of giving 1 tho colonies a consultative voice in the election of their Governors, and in endowing said Governors with greater executive power than they now possess. That would be a real raising of tho status, and ib would indeed bo a .surprise to have such a liberal proposal promulgated by the Colonial Office. The New Zealand Constitution ia in some respects more liberal than tiio.se of the other colonies, and ib is held by high authorities that under it tho Government of New Zealand have power to rccornmond to Her .Majesty any person whom they may desire as Governor. If tho QuoenslnuderH had tho power,-it is evident that they would exorcise it, but wo of New Zealand ujjpear content to let things go on according to uso and wont, raising no constitutional questions but receiving thankfully what may bo sent 11^ in the shape of Uovornors. Ktill, if we <houU bo diasHittaiifd with our way of working, it is cheering to think that "we could an1 v.O would " adopt a more excellent way of getting a Governor.

In coDsequenct! of tho holiday tho Police Court this morning was hold in the guard room at tho station at 10 o'clock. Mi S. V. Collins, J.P., presided, and speedily despatched the business.

"Johnny" and "Jemmy" Aviil, two coloured men, were arrested in a beastly stato of intoxication in CJucen-street last night. They appeared at the Polico Court this morning. In art.-wer to the charge •'.Johnny " reeled round the room to show how he had been, and paid, " I Hupposo that what you say 'drunk.' Aa this was sufficient tiie two of them were each lined 5s and costs. Robert E. Isaacs, a debtor, was examined by MrJ. Lawson, tho Official Assignee, in Bankruptcy, yesterday. His sworn statement wa3 an follows :— Up co January Ist, 1882, 1 t.us ;t clerk in the employment! of Messrs K. and A. lsanca. Then 1 made arrangements wit-h tho linn to take over from thorn their wine and spirit business, getting advances from them for the purpose. I carried on this business unbil June, 1886, when my license expired. Tho business had not paid, and 1 had not succeeded in clearing my indebtedness to the firm. After closing tip the wino and spirit business I continued my employment as clerk with Messrs B. and A. Isaacs afc a salary of £200 a-year, and still remain in thei; ; service, bub aba reduced salary. In conjunction with Mes3ra Aickin, Campbell and ofchers I entered into tho Ellerslie Land Syndicate in July, 1885, and shortly afterwards .signed tho bond for tho Bank. I have been sued upon the bond, and judgment i has bean obtained against me for £3,010 8a lOd. I paid calls up to September, 1807. Not bein;; able to arrange matters with tho Bank, 1 tiled. I have not tha faintest pos- i Bibility of being able to pay off the amount. I have no assefce except 50 shares in tho Miranda Coal Company, 63 shares in the Adelino Gold Mining Company, and a horae of little or no value in possession of Mr Wakefield, at Ellerslio. In addition to this liability on the bond (.C3,010 8s lOd), I owo four other creditors £3/JBl 18a 2d, aa per my schedule.

A meeting of creditors in the bankrupt estate of Thomas Mace Humphreys was held at tho Official Assignee's office yesterday afternoon. It was resolved, on tho motion of Mr .lames Rao, "That the Official Aseitfnoo be requested to facilitate the discharge of the bankrupt." Mr G. N. Brassey proposed, " That the bankrupt bo allowed to collect his book debts, for his maintenance during' his bankruptcy." The creditors present agreed with the motion, and it wm carried, subject to tho approval of the general body of creditors.

At, the R.M. Court; after wo went to press yesterday the case, Joseph Gassidy Lee v. Robert Henry Keenan, claim £50 damages for injuries sustained by a runaway horso, was dealt with. Evidence for tho plaintiff had been taken previously and His Worship reserved his decision on ncmsuifc points raised by Ml" Thco. Cooper. Hie Worship now decided to hear the defence. Keenan was therefore called, and deposed that his horso was frightened by the bolbing of Stewart's horses. He was uofc at the head of his horse, but even if he had been he could not have prevented it from bolting. His Worship reserved judgment till Monday. In an action Edioiston v. Ashwin, claim £s,balance of account due-on a majric lantern, judgment was given for the plain■fci.fr. An action to recover for horse feed supplied —Brig-haui v, Keenan — was dacided in favour of the defendant.

The flower-beds in the Albert Park ore now resplendent- with bloom. Tho plants have been skilfully arranged ao that the colour?, harmoniue nicely. At the base of the fountain some specimens of the Cape water lily aro now flowering. The grass plots uear the beds have nil been trimmed and the general effect is creditable to the skill and knowledge of the gardener, Mr Wm. Goldie. Amongst the flowers are some excellenb specimens of paiieiea as well as marigolds of divers varieties.

We have to acknowledge 4s from F. O. (Hundley), on behalf of Mrs Sorners, flrhone husband was drowned in tho Waikata Sliver eoro© time ago.

A nice little washing of duty linen was attempted in the KM. Court, Whangaroa, the other day, arising oub of a gumdiggers' bail held in that part of the far North. The charges and. counter charges laid wore various — assault, threatening lauguage, malicious damage to property, and praying for sureties of the peace—and two lawyers were engaged. The evidence showed that there had been a general row. The prosecutor gave a ball at To Mata, and provided a quantity of rum, and most of the men who drank it gob very drank, and several fights took place, in which the principal parties were the prosecutor and his wife, and one of the male guests. Mr Bishop, R.M., said :— " After the evidence, I really think that the case should nob be proceeded with. It is nob often that I make a suggestion of the kind, bub I am of opinion that a most disgraceful scene took place, and that id was caused by these men getting drunk with the ruin supplied by the man who gave the dance, i.e., the prosecutor. There is great blame attached to him for doing this, and he has to thank himself for what happened." The cases were dismissed. There was a good attendance at the Columbia Skating Kink last evening, when Professor Simmons repeated hia fancy skating performance. Special attractions were on to-day, the rink being open for an early hour this morning and the band being there all the time. This evening Professor Simmons is to giva an exhibition of fancy skating among bottles of (ire. By permission of Captain Reid, their commanding officer, the band of the Hamilton Light Infantry are to play at the rink tbis evening between the hours of 1 and 9. They have a reputation for being skilful musicians, and their performance> should prove an additional attraction to rinkists. On the top of all this there ia to be a five mile championship race, for which Messrs Galvin, Hough, Eaton, Anderson and Bennett have entered. A general meeting of the Auckland Afchentcum was held last evening at the Club Room, Victoria Arcade, the Rev. W. Tebbs presiding. Several alterations were made in the rules, the most important being that the season should extend over the year instead of six months as formerly, and that the meetings in future should be held wuekly. A sub-committee was appointed to make arrangements with the Society of Arts for the use of the room at Free Public Library, also to see what steps can bo taken for having Society excursions. Mr Jourdain read a paper, in which he referred to the sterility of countries in the Eaab which had formerly been fertile, and a general discussion followed. It is stated that the Marquis of Bath, with a property of £23,000 and a rent-roll of seme £19,000 or £20,000 a yoar, has sold hia entire landed estate in County Monaghan, Ireland, to those who of late farmed his lands. The terms on which the transfer has been made are most favourable to the acquiring tenants. The landlord has received less than 20 years' purchase of rent, lately reduced by perhaps 20 per cent., and his tenant! are now landowners, payinga email annual quit- | rent to Government, and this but for 49 ior 50 years. It is further stated that the | tenants have purchased for cash the whole oi Lord Bath's house property in the little I town of Carrickmacrojss for £15,000, in- ' depondent o£ Lord Ashbourne's Act, or of ' any Government or official assistance. Lord I Bath (.say:-: the " Mark Lane Express") has 1 nit an o:;uoiioiit example, which some other Ltleli landowners might do well to follow. A disgraceful scene occurred in the Victorian Legislative Assembly on the 25th ulb. Mr Benc vssi'.t the Commissioner of Customs -! had crawled into the House in a contempi tiblo way, and then he likened Mr Dow, now Minister of Lands, to a Whitechapel murderer. Mr Dow retorted that he had not [/one down to Lako Entrance with another man's wife. An ominous silence ensued, but Mr Bent passed tho matter over with a remark about there being no truth in the insinuation. Tho Opposition at this time were stone-walling the Distribution of Soats Bill, Gauiiuon having announced that in order to prevent the electorate of Emerald Hill being cut up into three single electorates he would stonewall while any breath was left in his body. Tho Hou.'e sat all night and until 1 o'clock on tho afternoon of the 25th, when the Government gained their point. Before concluding Mr Bent appealed to Mr Dow to withdraw what he had said, and the latter i said he had been goaded into it), but would have given his hand to recall what he had said the moment ho had spoken. He expressed great regret for hia utterances,

It is gratifying (says the " Northern Luminary") to bo able to state that I Jest or and Co., who havo been on the freehold property at Ohaeawai, lately acquired by a Sydney syndicate for the purpose of working the cinnabar ore, for the last coupls of weeks, left by the s.s. To Anau, highly satisfied wibh their bags of specimens, and moreoreVj the 000 acres*of leasehold adjoining their property, lately entangled in some way or other wioh native owners and Mr Earl, is now ats the command of tho syndicate. Months ago we received nsws from a reliable private source that; tests made in Sydney ran fully 58 per cent. This ia considered a haudsome prospect, but wo retrained from publishing the news

Ac the time, in case auy injury should be tiono to the enterprise in more ways than one. Ib is anticipated that operations will commence about January nest, by the erection of several small retorts capable of smelting hnlf-a-tou ate a time, and that the Company will employ from 30 td 40 bands. As Ohaeawai Village, where the smelting work 3 are to be located, is but 12 miles from Kawakawa, with a good metalled road all the way, there will bo no difficulty in securing a supply of cheap coal. We aro given to understand on the best authority thab there aro some very wealthy Australians raixed up in this venture, so that it may safoly be anticipated thore will be no obstacle thrown in the way through lack of funds.

Referring to the recent agitation on the Bubjecb of " sweating" in this colony, the "Insurance and Finance Journal" says ib is necessary to discriminate between sweating and low wages. Tho evil of the sweating system proper is that) unscrupulous contractors undertake work for factories at abnormally low rates, and are able to make a profit by squeezing their workpeople down to the lowest rate of wages. This process of getting work done at less than what are understood to ba current wages bears some resemblance to the criino' of sweating coins, and either from this circumstance, or else from the hard work exacted from their employees, this class of contractor acquired their evil-sounding name. Tho abolition of the sweating system would be a gain. It would, at any rate, relieve society of professional harpies, whose only hope of profit lies in cunning and hardhearfcedness, and it might lead to the payment cf somewhat more equitable wages. The root of tho evil, however, lies not in the sweater, but in the misfortunes of the workers. If instead of turning loose each year a crowd of clumsy, helpless creatures to swell the ranks of unskilled labour, we,both as a community and as individuals, paid proper attention to the wants of the rising generation, there need bs no fear of "sweating "in tho future. When boys are really taught trade.?, and when girls are trained in all departments of women's work, there will be no residuum to become the prey of " sweaters." The root of that evil lies in tho neglect of those parents who, so lo?4g as they can relievo themselves of tho expenso of maintaining their children, are totally regardless of whether the children are learning a trade which will afford decent wages and prospects, or are merely starting on a oareor of ignoranco that will jejover bring in more than children's wages.