THE BANK PRESIDENCY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 237, 4 October 1894, Page 9

THE BANK PRESIDENCY.

EvEßsince the passing of the Bank of New Zealdnd Guarantee Acb imposed upon the Seddon Ministry tho duty of nominating a President of the Bank of New Zealand, op. ponents of the Government have been ineistenb in their predictions thab the Government would fill the office with a political nominee. Ministers, howwsr,. have shown in this, as in their other appointments, that the public good antl fitness■ for the duties must come first »'nd party afterwards. No bettor proof of Us could have been given than was furni3hedin there-appointment of Colonel For.

In the case of the Presidency of the Bank of New Zealand, it ia now known that the portion waa offered to Mr Watson, Chief Inspector of the Colonial Bank «!'New Zealand, and declined by ™>- Ramour now points to Mr James we», Qenoral Manager of the National Bank of New Zealand. This appointment, Y 18: needless to .say, would be pertectly non-political and dictated by a single ware to study the best interests of the institution, and the safeguarding of the »rgo public stake in the Bank's prosParity, We believe that no better apPpmtment could possibly be made. A convincing proof of that is found in his recent selection by the London Board f Directors of tho National Bank Jrom among their chief officers to p 8 Me anpreme control of that corpora- ;.«*.. Mr Coates baa a thorough exPsnence of financial conditions in "$w Zealand, and hia long banking exP«nenee in this colony specially qualifies B«n for discharging the onerous duties of !'">. Presidency of the State-guaranteed wnk with energy, and ab the same time *«« judgment and caution. Mr Coate?, Nwever. would doubtless find some diffi™ty m arranging with the National Bank 'rectors for a speedy severance of the wisting tie, and we shall not be surprised I tbe negotiations which are reported to °*Yfl'been entered into with him fail to "'nit in his acceptance of the office.

"> Ui3 Legislative Council yesterday ■tornooD, the Rating Bill and Lands Improvement and Native Landa Acquisition »'U Paased through their final stages. The Co»ncil decided by 19 to 14 to insist on its •"fcndmenfci, in the Shops anu Shop and'p Bi"' nnd Messre Bowen, Bonar a Keypolda were appointed managers to ; ™»t managers from the other House. Sir th 7, Ucftloy mov«<i the Eecond reading of '"SUovernment Advances to Settler? Bill. '■'-jj™-° . th« debate was adjourned till next 'of ii. £ c debate upon the second reading -.« wo New Zealand Consols Bill, to which im jWBn on the previous day moved an ■ jjßd">enb thab tho. Bill be read a second Si p T.at ay;S»x months, was resumed. Buckley said thab after consultation .J:?'™'Colonial Treaeurer. be had been jj-nomed to' Bay that the Treasurer would 7v>overnor'a message reduce the amount

under the Bill to balf-a-million extending o»«r two yeara. On a division, Mr Bowen'a amendment waa rejected by 16 to 13, and the secondreaciing was carried on the voices, la the House of Representatives the Speaker expressed the opinion that according to their Standing Orders ttie Legislative Council could not alter sections 5 and 21 of the Lands for Settlements Bill, aa they dealt with appropriation of money. ifc rraa decided on the motion of the Minister for Lands bhafe the amendments mndo in these clauses, and in the new clause 8, be disagreed with, and that) a committee bo appointed do draw up reap.onß for disagreeing.. The Native Laud Ceurfc Bill was further considered in committee. An amendment proposed by Mr Houston to prevent lawyers and agents appearing before .the Native Land Court! waa discussed ab great length,: and eventually negatived by 35 to 22. Other amendments were rejected, in mosb instances by large majorities, and progress nras then reported on the Bill.

A meeting of Auckland cyclists was held lasb evening, when it was decided to open the season on Saturday, October 20. The opening promises to be a great success, and s strong Committee was formed to make all arrangements for the ceremony.

Yesterday afternoon, a deputation consisting of Messrs R. Walker, J. Savage, and A. Wright waited upon Mr G. S. Kissling, and asked him to allow himself to be nominated for the position of Mayor of Paruell for the forthcoming year. Mr Kisaling consented. The':requisition presented to Mr Hassling contained close upon 100 signatures. .

A child named William Edward Woodward died ab Parnall yesterday, and the matter waa reported to Constable Hutchison, who ascertained that the mother had lived at Onabuhga, bub upon the decease of her husband went to Rotorua to her parents. The child was a delicate one, and as Dr. Scott had previously attended it bo waa prepared to certify that; death was caused by bronchitis and debility.

A destitute man named Bon Lever is being brought up from Whangaroa in the 8.8. Clansman today for admission to the Costley Home. He is stated to be in an old and feeble condition.

The annual report of the Royal Humane Society of Australasia shows that already 1,117 awards have been made for saving, or attempting to save, life. During 1894, no 1«83 than seventeen awards came to this colony, one silver and six bronze medals, besides ten certificates of merit. Out of 123 cases considered this year, 40 were disallowed, aa it is requisite to secure &n award that the rescuer must himself run an Appreciable risk of losing his life. The Society also gives medallions for competition in schools for efficiency in the knowledge as to the best means of -restoring the apparently drowned.

. The matron of the Jubilee Kindergarten desires to return thanks for the following donations :—Meab : Messrs Salmon, Fenton Kilgour, Lumpkin, Hellaby, and Hedger. Buns, cakes, etc., from Mrs Dallen, Smith and Caughey's social, and Mr Buchanan. Vegetables from Mesdames Kemble, Kelly and Crombie. Milk from the London Dairy daily, flour from the Roller Mills, potatoes from Mr Canhatn, clothes from Mrs Brown, sandwiches and fruit fro.v Mrs Tonga, cake, sugar, etc., from the Choral Hall.

The Victoria Rifles Company play a football match with the Ponsonby Natal Artillery ab Potter's Paddock on Saturday. Victoria Rifles team : Walker, McClusky, Boyce, Baker, Kearney, Savary, Seymour, Shipherd, Tate, Edgar, F. Preston, Sinclair, Young, Migan, Grant; emergencies, Derrona, Melville, Webster, Steveman.

■The Auckland Knights.of Labour held a social re-union of members and friends in the Alexandra-street Primitive Methodist Schoolroom lasb evening, the occasion being a''house warming "upon their first meeting iri that room'! which i» to be their future place of meeting. A number of members and frienda were present, the M.W., Mr W. H. Dixon, being in the chair. A pleasant evening was spent, an-excellent programme of music, etc., being contributed by'the following:—Misb Collings, Mr Marshall, Mrs Collings, Mr R. Salmon, Mrs A. Dixon, Mr G. A. Bradburn, Mi?s R. French, Mr R. French, Mr W. H. Dixon, Mias McCullum, Mr J. T. B. Dines and Mrs Collings. Master Hendry (aged 6) gave a recitation entitled " Tho Burden of Labour," very creditably. During the evening refreshments were handed round by the ladies.

A smoke concert to celebrate the recent football match played between the mercantile and Customs clerks took place last evening ab the Occidental Hotel. Mr R. G. Hallamore presided. Among the guests present were Captain Parker and Adjutant Grant. A number of toasts were proposed, and harmony then prevailed.

Two young men named Beehre and Kehn have bsen committed for trial by the Whangarei Bench on four charges of alleged breaking and entering. The accused will be brought down in the s.e. Wellington to be lodged in Mount Eden Gaol.

The charge sheeb ab the Police Court this morning was a light one, there being only three charges of drunkenness to dispose of. A first offender wa& fined 5s and costs, or in default 24 hours. Geo. Kendell and Eliza Hatfield were both mulcted in a similar penalty. Messrs C. C. McMillan and J. M. McLachlan were the presiding Justices.

The correspondent of the Sydney " Daily Telegraph " says of Goolgardie that the gold does not come from crushing or concentrating large quantities of stone, but is invariably found in a concentrated form in one part or another of the immense quartz body. The gold is in rich veins of ironatone, running as a rule short distances in a big, well-defined quartz lode, but the ironstone deposit vanished from the lode before water level was reached. Recently, however, there has been a rich discovery ab a depth of 250 ft., which ie probably a new make in the form of arsenical pyrites of surface gold chute. If this ia bo, the correspondent thinks it will give new life to Bay ley's. He speaks approvingly of the management) and working of the mine.

The annual meeting of the Tatarariki Cricket Club was held last Friday evening at Te Kopuru. Tho report showed that seven matches had been played, of which six were won and one lost. The balancesheet also proved satisfactory. The following officers were elected for the ensuing season :—Patron, Mr Broad ; President, Mr Jefferson : Vice-Presidents, Messrs H. Hammond, SI. Cobbald.'G. Heatley, J. Lindley, C. H. Matthews, G. French, Brassington ; Captain, Mr T. Elliott; DeputyCaptain, Mr A. W. Legge ; Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, Mr Brassington ; Managing Committee, Messrs W. Smith, G. French, C. Odium and J. A. Whitaker, with Captain, Vice-Captain and Secretary;

The police are " on the warpath' for local tradesmen encroaching on the footpath with their goods. ' A short time ago, the police warned twenty-three tradesmen for this practice. Of this number, it is alleged thab eight have nob token heed of the warning. Today suramonseß were issued, and tne cases wi|l come on for hearing at the Police Court one day aexb week. The parties summonsed are well-known Queen-etreet tradesmen.

Tho Auckland Konnel Club's annoalshow opens in the Agricultural Hall to-morrow afternoon, »D balf-paet two. The show also will be open on Saturday. Nearly 250 does have been entered, including several from,the South. All exhibits mutt be at the Agricultural Hall before 9 o'clock tomorrow morning. Thero is every probability of the chow being the moat successful ever held by the Club,

George Mason, a debtor under examination by bhe Official Assignee, to-day stated that he had been a surveyor for the last 20 years. While at Claudeland*, Hamilton, ho took up seven acrea under a mortgage and built a dwelling-house, vinery, stables, and outhouses, besides bringing the ground under cultivation at a cost of not less than ■ £1,000. He made a fair living, and paid his way until three years ago when, owing to tho produce not realising payable prices, the ravages of the ccdlin moth, and the general depression, his business waa affected. His unsecured debts amounted to £240 3a .5d and secured to £416 ss, tho securities being valued at £487. Hxs assets wsre, book debts £12, and surplus from securities £70 15s, total £32 15?. The household furniture waa held under a bill of .vales for £37, its full value. The bill of sale originally included horse, carb, harness, working tools, and implements as well as the furniture, on which he had borrowed £130, bub actually gob £100. Of that amount £95 bad since been paid back. He did nob consider the security lefb was worth more than the balance of the debt, £37. Ho also held an Education Board lease of 30 acres, which he considered valueless as an asset.

Ab tbs y.M.C.A. Rooms yesterday afternoon, a meeting to which ministers of all denominations were invited, was held under the auspices of the Ground Rent Revenue League of New Zealand, Auckland branch. Mr Georga Fowlds presided, and amongst those present were Bishop Cowie, Archdeacon Dudley, the Revs. Dr. Porchas, G. Burgess, Horton, E. Walker, Fitzgerald, Messrs E. Withy, Spragg and others. Tho Chairman said (hat the League had recently gone into a new proposal, to introduco tho single tax by State purchase. Hitherto, he said, the question of single tax had, in the minds of many, been tinged with confiscation. By the proposal now advocated by the League,, a system of purchase would immediately take place, and land values would be made liquid. Mr Withy then addre?sed tho meeting, dealing first with the ( Scriptural viaw ot tbo land question and tho first settlement of Palestine. Every fifty years the land there had to return to its original holders, and it was perfectly clear that it was never intended that land should be alienated by any one particular individual. It was a prime necessity cf life buab men should have land, and siugle-taxers were in favour of land tenure being made as secure aa possible. It was the ownership of the increased value given by the community that they wished to aim a blow ab. Mr Withy proceeded to explain tho tenets of State purchase at some length, and discussion was then invited on the question. Dr. Purchas, Archdeacon Dudley and others took part. Mr Withy said thab tho system proposed would not mako anyone landless. The presenb Byatem had allowed nob only an enormous enhancement of certain estntes, bub owners of those estates could grab more and more, denying tho possibility of getting any kind whatever to cor tain sections of the people.

Rev. E. Walker, of the New Zealand Alliance, addressed a public meeting in the Wealeyan Church, Dovonport, last evening. He said ib was surprising how far misapprehensions still prevailed respecting the aims of the prohibition movement. That movement did" not contemplate the eiosingof hotels, butonly thesaloof alcoholic beverages ; it did nob contemplate the prevention of the sale of liquor under proper restrictions for medicinal use, nor use in the arts and manufactures ; nor did it even contemplate the suppression of the right of people, as at present possessed, to make their own home-made beer or wino for their own domestic use only. He was not aware of any prohibition State in the English* (speaking world which did this. For personal total abstinence they relied exclusively on moral suasion, Ib was the traffic in alcoholic beverages which proved itself universally so absolutely irregulatable, lawless and mischievous, and ib was this only that the prohibition movement sought to suppress, and even this it sought to suppress only by popular vote. The legislative aspect of the question was also discussed, and ab the close of the address the following resolutions and a yote of thanks to the lecturer were carried unanimously: —" 1, In the opinion of this meeting the voting, whether at the national or tha local option poll, should be simultaneous throughout the colony, and the day of polling be in no case left to the discretion of a local returning officer." 2. " This meeting appeals to the Government not to leb this sessiou close without the passage of the Licensing Bill in such form as will give to the majority of the voters in each district and throughout the colony the power to completely suppress the traffic in alcoholic beverages."

Mr Aldridge'a lantern lectures, which have been given weekly in the Foresters' Hall throughout the winter, came to a conclusion last evening by an address on '•Those Holy Fields; a. Journey Through Palestine," which formed the 26th lecture of the winter series. Beginning at the south of Palestine and proceeding to the north, the chief cities and famous localities of that country were noted and described,' and portions of their history given. Upwards ot' 60 exceptionally beautiful pictures' were shown by the lantern, each scono being illustrated. The following musical items were also given :—Duet, " He Shall Feed His Flock," Mrs Ward and Miss Grindrod; solo, "On Calvary's Brow," Miss Grindrod; "Calvary," Miss Jarvis; " Thou Didst not Leave," Mr C. B. Kinc Mr Aldridge, jun., assisted by Mr R. Norries, manipulated the lantern. Miss Lester acted as accompanist.

An excellent programme of the concert in the V.M.C.A. Rooms to-morrow evening, will be found in another column. Several well-known amateurs will take part and render some ehoiceMnstrumenoal and vocal items. This concert is given by Mr J, P. Hooton and the Beresford-atreet choir, and should be an enjoyable ono, Admission is by course ticket, or Is at the door.

Inspector Thompson, of Now Plymouth, has forwarded to the Auckland police a description of the body of a man found near Waitocara. The man is supposed to have been one of the crew ot the ecb'coner Christine, belonging to. Auckland and wrecked on the Taranaki coast. The body when found was decomposed beyond recognition, but there was an old wound a little above and behind the left ear, which Dr. Money states would in all probability have had .a silver plate on ib. A pair of elastic-side boots found on the body have been forwarded to Inspector Hickson, with a view of establishing the identity of tho deceased, if possible. The deceased was apparently between forty and fifty years of age, and about sft Bin high and of slight build.