THE REMOUNTS SCANDAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 243, 13 October 1902, Page 4

THE REMOUNTS SCANDAL.

For a second time the War Office has signally failed either to clear its reputation or .to satisfy public feeling in the matter of the Army Remounts. The first inquiry was forced upon the Government almost solely by the courage and pertinacity of Sir Blundell Maple, who showed conclusively that the difference between the purchase prices and sale price of the horses shipped on Government order to the Cape left a large margin —from £30 to £2<i per horse —to be divided between contractors and middlemen, in spite of considerable discouragement from the Government the House finally appointed committee of four to investig-ate the Hemounts Department. Unfortunately, the chairman of the committee was Sir Charles Welby, an assistant un-der-secretary of State at the War OfiVce, a second member of the commit-

tee is a near relative of Mr Brodriefc, the official head of the War Office, a third was a notoriously docile Conservative member, and only one, Mr Charles Hobhouse, could by any stretch of imagination, be described as an independent critic. Prom such a committee only one kind of report could toe expected. The War Office was generally exonerated on ' the usual grounds that the war had been so much bigger than was anticipated, and that if the department had broken down it was not the.fault of anybody in particular. But a vague and uncomfortable impression ' was left that the real point of the charges liad been altogether evaded, and that there was only too much reason to believe that the neglect of the departmental officials had cost the nation many millions. A second series of charges of a more personal nature than the first, involving a colonel and other officers, then necessitated the appointment of a second commission; but according to the "Times" the only result ha* been to whitewash the War Office once more. The British burea\icracv seems almost impregnable; but little improvement can be anticipated in the management of either army or navy till War Office and Admiralty are made more directly responsible to the taxpayers whose "money they waste and whose confidence they so often betray.

The following is Captain Ed-win's weather forecast for Auckland for 24 hours from 9 a.m. this day:—"Gale from between north-east and north and west after 16 hours from now, glass fall, tides increase. There are indications that the weather will be warmer, -with rain."

. Troopei* Stanley Wilson, who has been in a very critical state in the Hospital for some weeks past, was this afternoon reported to be improving, and the doctors are hopeful.

The Huddart Parker steamer Elingamite arrived from .Sydney early this morning, with a large numiber of passengers, and a considerable quanity of cargo for this port. The steamer experienced beautifully fine weather throughout, in fact it was the smoothest weather passage the officers of the vessel have experienced for years, and the portholes were kept \ open the whole "way across. Amongst the passengers was the Rev. ,Dr. Wilson (Bishop of Melanesia), who is returning from London after successfully negotiating for the construction1 of a new- mission schooner for work on the Melanesian Mission. On Sunday • last Divine service was conducted "on board by his lordship.

When laying the foundation stone of a new Anglican Sunday school, at Sydenham, yesterday afternoon, Sir John Hall said that* Sunday schools were specially desirable and- necessary hi. New Zealand. Although an excellent system of secular teaching ■was provided it was, to his mind, a lamentable, fact that the Word of God and the very name of God were not heard in the public schools. Children passed through many years of teaching- without having any of the truths or practical lessons of Christianity taught them. Dean Harper, who spoke later on, said that a movement was on foot to endeavour to have simple Bible reading in public schools and the reciting- of the Lord's Prayer at the commencement at the day's work. Mr T. Hutchison, S.M., held an inquest on Saturday afternoon at EpiSom touching the dearth of Alfred Olney, a newly-born infant. Dr. Lindsay deposed that the birth of the child was premature, and explained the cause of death. A verdict was returned accordingly.

. The 'following is the state of His Majesty's prison, Auckland, for the week ending 11th October:—On remand2; r awaiting trial, 12; sentenced to peoal servitude (life), 3; hard labour, 164; default of bail, 4; debtors, 1; received during the week, 22; discharged, 20; total in prison, 171 males, 15 females. . .

The Mount Ros'kill Water Supply Board has decided to conclude four years' arrangement to obtain water from the Manukau Water Trust, and will shortly invite tenders for laying the necessary pipes. Mr Metcali'e is the engineer engaged.

A wooden building and content-s at Ellerslie, owned by Mr Thomas Austin, and occupied by him in connection with his boiling-down business, was destroyed by fire early on Saturday morning. At 5 o'clock on the previous evening a fire had been lighted under the boilers, and it is supposed that the building . caughtfire from sparks from this fire. The loss ,1s estimated .at ifispp, and there is no insurance.

What might have been a fatal drowiiing accident occurred on Saturday last at the Birkdale. Wharf. Mr Hammond, of Birkdale, and family were at the wharf in the afternoon fishing. They observed that one of the planks had been removed, and felt anxious about the safety of the children. About a quarter of an hour after this they heard a splash in the water, and observed that a little girl was missing. Mr Hammond divested himself of his coat and hat and jumped in, and soon rescued the child and brought her to land. A few minutes later the child would have been drowned. It is time that the Harbour Board attended to this danger, which it is said has existed for some considerable time. There is no life-saving apparatus near the place.

The fortieth annual report, of the Australian Alliance Assurance Company was presented to the shareholders of the company at their Melbourne offices on the 30th September. ■ The financial statements and balance-sheet for the year ending 31st August, 1902, were submitted, and showed that amount at the credit of profit and loss account, including1 amount brought forward fronn last year, was £31,298 3/10. This was allocated as follows: —Dividend at the rate of 2/6 per share (in adddition to the 2/(5 per share interim dividend), leaving a balance of £18,798 3/10 at credit of profit and loss, to be carried forward to next year's account. The retiring directors, 'Air C. W. Chapman and the Bon. Duncan Gillies, were unanimously re-file'cted, and a vote of thanks .to the directors and staff concluded the proceedings. Mr Chas. E. Palmer is the district agent for the company at., Auckland.

The death of an infant named Olive, Myrtle Ladbrook, a 14-months-old child, has been reported to the police. The child had been boarded out with Mrs Agnes Whitcomb, of Wellingtonstreet, under the Infants' Life Protection Act, and had been attended by Dr. Bayntun, who states that it received every care and attentin. Mr <<resham, coroner, was holding1 an inquest this aftei-noon.

■ Strange stories which- reached Ballarat a few weeks ago (says a Melbourne paper of last Tuesday) from the Skipton district, about the extremely hot condition into which the caves on the summit of Mount Elephant were alleged to have got, were revived to-day by the circulation of. reporte that rumblings had been heard in the vicinity of the mount* and that on Friday evening last fire was noticed on the top. These circumstances, at was stated, had so alarmed some of the inhabitants that they were leaving- the place. Inquiries quite failed to produce any direct evidence in regard to the alleged occurrences, and it seemed that the persons who brought the reports to Ballarat had merely been "toid by someone else that they haa been told," etc. It is therefore probable that the fire seen on Friday night, and associated with a volcanic eruption, was nothing more than the lighting of some bushes by some person in the neighbourhood.

The Mayor of Onehunga invites the householders and ratepayers to be present, in the Public Hall to-morrow evening in connection with the proposed district high school, Onehuhga. Sir/Maurice (XRorke, M.H.R., the member for Manukau, will address

the meeting.

A meeting of creditors in the estatf of Adam B. Millar, bankrupt,/ wa* held in the office of the- Official Assignee this morning, Mr.J. Lawson presiding.. The bankrupt's statement, as already published, was read, when it was- -decided that, as tha bankruptcy was .the, result of pure misfortune, the Official Assignee should facilitate bankrupt's digcharge. The liabilities amounted to £2:29 4/V and there were no assets.,,

, Archdeacon Calder told 'his copgre* gation yesterday that since the introduction of the Cathedral Psalter a falling off in -the heartiness of the singing among, the congregation had been apparent, partly, no doubt, through timidity and partly; through the use of the chants, >which! were difficult without previous practice. To remedy this he intended to try the ' experiment of distributing the adult members -of the choir among .the congregation, and if -the result were a success this practicu would be repeated once a month.

Archdeacon ■Calder made ah earn* est appeal in all Saints' Church yesterday morning on behalf of ther Mission to the Maoris, in accordance with his pastoral letter, which was read in all the Anglican churches of the diocese yesterday. ■ The pastoral pointed out that ia pursuance of the warning given by the Church Missionary, Society twenty, years ago their, support. " which has been annually; reduced, by £200, would, this year cease altogether. It was therefore necessary that the local,effort should be proportionately increased. The archdeacon stated that a sum of £84$ would be needed, from the New Zealand churches' this year, and £2200 per annum for the future. In response to the appeal for a definite promise St. Mark's Church, Remuera, had promised £50, and the Papakura Valley £30. The Maoris themselves were making liberal sacrifices. The vestry of All Saints' would have the question under consideration at its nest meeting.

Mrs W. 3. Connell, wife of the head teacher of the Whangarei .school, died in child-birth this ■morning. . ._

The Guard of Honour ball takea place on Wednesday next in tha Hibernian Hall, Wellington-street. New wool delaines 10$ d, l/2i,'l/6*, to 2/11. Smith, and Caughey Dress Department.—Advt. ' v

Ex s.s. Star of Australia: Special line of iron bedsteads, fall double sizes, only 28/6 spot cash.—Tonsoa Garlick Co.—Ad