THE Bay of Plenty Times AND THAMES VALLEY WARDEN.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1887, 10 September 1885, Page 2

THE Bay of Plenty Times AND THAMES VALLEY WARDEN.

" The Spirit of the Times shall teach me *{&&$. — KING JOHN, ACT IV. THUESDAT, SEPTEMBER 10, 1885.

APPROACHING CLOSE OF SESSION.

"The slaughter of the innocents," as ,the abandoning of measures in Parliament is called, betokens that the end is not far off. Another ten days or a fortnight* at the farthest, will see most of the members turning their backs upon -Wellington. Not a few of them will return to their homes sadder, and, it is to be hoped, wiser men. But, whatever their feeling may be, the country will not be sorry to know that their political bickerings are brought to a termination. For the session has, as a whole, been a very barren one, in so far as the passing of any useful legislation is concerned. The Government were too weak to attempt pressing on their measures with vigour, and the Opposition, though powerful enough for the purposes of resistance and obstruction wer-e so lacking in cohesion that they could not undertake to form a stable administration, even if the Ministry had, resigned. The Government existed .purely on sufferance, and were therefore obliged either to withdraw their ''-bills or allow them to be so 1 mangled by the dissentients as to be materially altered in their form and character*-. Prom a House so constituted little .good could be expected, and i£?ni&yY' safely be asserted that,

since the introduction of responsible Gorernment, no meeting of Parliament has been so unproductive of benefit to the colony as the present one has proved to be. It would in fact have been in every sense of the word, better for the country and for the morale of the House, — would have saved the Treasury from a waste of money, and the industry of the country much loss of time, if, within a fortnight of the assembling of Parliament members had agreed: to paws the necessary estimates for carrying on public affairs, and resumed their usual avocations. It is for from being a pleasant thing either for ihem or their constituents to reflect that three months have been spent, and a •iarge esjoense incurred to little or no purpose, unless, indeed, it may be to demonstrate the unprofitableness of selfish political contentions. In apportioning the blame of an . unfruitful Session, with which all the members of the House are more or less chargeable, we are compelled to place the heavier division of it on the shoulders of the Opposition leaders. When assured, as they could not help being, very soon after Parliament met, that the Ministry were in a minority) in the House, their obvious duty wasi either to eject the G-overnment from ' office, and accept the responsibility of j finding them successors ; or, failing this, to patriotically abstain from mere obstruction, and aid the Cabinet in getting their measures passed in the least objectionable form. But they did neither. They were not courageous or self-denying enough to attempt the former course, and their loyalty to the country was not such as to constrain them to pursue the latter. The real truth is that those of them capable of leading shrunk from the task of forming an Administration which would have been imposed on them had they defeated the Government on a direct No-confidence motion ; because they knew that the would-be leaders could not be relied on for their support. Of these latter there was a considerable number, and this fact made the situation perplexing. It is reckoned there were at least twenty expectants of office in the Opposition ranks, and it was regarded as certain that, in the event of a change of Ministry, one-half of the disappointed ones would at once change sides. In other words, they would have forthwith aided in replacing the Stout- Vogel Ministry in office. Nor would the case have been greatly altered if the old leaders had stood aside and allowed the aspirants to the portfolios to come to the front. Indeed this policy was not only contemplated, but actually agreed upon. Besides, Sir George Gray, Major Atkinson, Mr Ormond, and Mr Bryce, were all prepared for self-effacement, and to support a Ministry composed of comparatively inexperienced men. That, however, did not improve the chances of the Opposition ; for so many even then deemed themselves qualified for and deserving office, that a Cabinet selected from their number had less promise of continued existence than one composed mainly of veterans. Thus the Opposition were powerful only for destruction; and from sheer insubordination, were devoid of the elements of stability. Being disqualified in consequence of the effective doing of that which the country required, they employed their strength in constantly embarrassing the Ministry, and so prevented them from doing it either. Still, the Ministry themselves must bear no small share of the blame of a wasted Session. Clearly they ought not to have continued to hold office merely on sufferance. There are times when this may be justifiable, but there are always limits beyond which the prolonging of such a state of matters becomes a reproach. It might have seemed to the members and supporters of tho Cabinet that, as there was no prospect of a stable , Ministry being placed in their room, their retaining office Was the only meang of preventing chaos. They may have thought that this furnished ! the only chance of the work of legislation being proceeded with. But, as a matter of fact, it was not proceeded with ; and, instead of being furthered it was only hindered by the course i they toot. Had the Ministry resigned in the early part of the Session when the Houae played ducks and drakes with their Customs tariff proposals, the record of business done would have been very different to-day to what it is. For the result of their resignation would have been their speedy return to office, and with such increased strength, that the remainder of the session would have been devoted to really useful work. But they, too, were devoid of courage and the necessary measure of self-denial. They were afraid to take this course lest, perchance, their successors might manage to retain office. Hence they elected to act as those who think that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, with the result that, while they have managed just to hold their ground, they have been able to do little or no good for the country. Tet withal, the Session will not be wholly lost if its very barrenness should have the effect of impressing more deeply on the minds of all parties in the House the conviction that personal considerations ought to give place to those which concern the public, and that patriotism in a statesman is the first of virtues.

■ ■ ■» ; Our suggestion concerning the advisability of endeavouring that Mr George Augustus Sala should reach the Lakes through this disieict has borne fruit. ] We are informed that some of our \ leading, 'citizens have communicated ]

with 'Captain McGregor, asking him to wait on Mr Sala directly he arrives in Auckland, and* endeavour to induce him to travel via Tauranga. Captain ! McGregor, we understand, will tender to Mr Sala the compliments of the Northern S.S. Co., and present him wish a free pass to and from tho Lakes. Ifc is to be hoped if he does visit our town arrangements may be made with him for giving us one of his celebrated lectures.

' A meeting of the provisional directors of the Tauranga Improvement Company -was * held yesterday at Messrs Paget and Hulme's I office. The number of shares at present ap~ ; plied for falling short of those required to warrant the directors making a commencement with the erection of the bathing establ ishment it is urgently requested that the > public will still further contribute towards j this laudable undertaking by sending 1 in their applications for shares without delay to the secretary and thus enable the directors to take every advantage' of the approachingi snmmer season. We commend the enter- « prise to every resident who has the interest , of the place at heart. « An inquest was held to-day over the fire which oceured at Mr Macpherdon's store, -at Matata, on Friday last. There was no 1 evidence to shown how the firo originated. 1 A piece of mischief was perpetrated yesr terday afternoon which might have been ati tended with very serious results. Somo t children in. the neighbourhood, in a spii-ib of : thoughtlessness no doubt, set fire to a portion of Mr Covlett'a fence, which, but for the r , timely interference of Mr Tanner might L have developed into a very serious conflagra- * tion. » This evening at the Mutual the programme r will be readings and recitations by members when it is to bo hoped a good attendance will shew up. The s.s. Omapere left Wellington yester- * day, Bth, at 5 p.m., and may be expected to l arrive here about Saturday afternoon. * A largely attended tang-i is going on at I Hairini over an influential and highly rel spected chief who died at Jlarapua lately. 1 The schooner Christinn, Captain Evanson, j berthed at the Victoria Wharf on Tuesday evening. She comes with a cargo of timber for Mr Brain, our local contractor, and is 3 loading up with superphosphate from the 3 Chemical Manure Company's works to the j order of Mr D. H. McKenzie, Auckland. r In Auckland on Friday a heavy hail storm j took placo. A Wellington correspondent writes, dull- . ness reigns supreme, there is absolutely nothing doing outside the proceedings of the 3 House. ■* General Booth says, by the year 1900, "the I Army " will number twenty million soldiers 3 and by that time too they would have their 3 worlds inter-national temple, the proceedings of which would, by means of telephone and ' other wires, be heard by fifty thousand - people at once. The prospect of twenty . million Salvationists parading the world to f the noise of big drums and hymns set to I comic song tunes is a maddening one for. the coming century ! Tauranga is not alone in her efforts to destroy small birds or singular in the matter of * having her farmers and gardeners injured by . these little pests. The Oamaru County Council a few days ago held a meeting at whioh the sparrow nuisance was thoroughly ' discussed, and it was decided to take steps to j distribute poisoned grain amongst settlers for I the destruction of small birds. At a meeting of the Board of Education, 3 Auckland, last week, a long and carefully j composed letter was read from the Howick School Committee, requesting the removal of * the head-master. His principal offence t being that he taught the childron that they l* were descended from monkeys. Mr George McCaul, whose primises abut j; on those of Mr Crowther, has expressed his v appreciation- of the services of tho fire brigade ■ for their successful efforts in saving his pro- ' perty at the recent fire, by presenting the ■ Superintendent with a cheque for five . guineas. E A meeting for the purpose of establishing j a jam faotory at Cambridge was held on « Thursday last in that town, when it was unanimously resolved to form a company for » the purpose of manufacturing jam, sauce, 1 pickles, and confectionery, tinning fruit, tinning honey, in all their several branches ; l and doing all things incidental to the making, storing, and Belling tho above mentioned 1 article. " In our last issue we published an adver- * tisement announcing that the Sparrow Club } was prepared to distribute poisoned wheat through a number of gentlemen whose names I appeared in the notice and that September 17th was tbe day set apart for poisoniug. I Professor Thomas, in hia report on the ' Girls' High School, makea use of the followi ing terse, and no doubt true remark. Speak- j ing of examinations in history he says : — [ " When young ladies discover their memories to have failed then they have instant re- > course to their imagination. The following advertisement appeared in a r recent issue of the Manchester Guardian. I As there are people in our district bearing , names similar to those advertised for, we insert the notice verbatim: — "Barton — Warbrick , — Smith. — Wanted, the Heir-at-law of EHen Barton, wife of Henry Barton, formerly of I Catforth, in Woodplumpton, near Preston, s Lancashire, who died about 1720. Ellen Barton, had three childrou, namely William Barton, Elizabeth, who married John War--1 brick, and Margery, who married William I Smith. William Barton had two children, . named Henry and Ellen, and Margery Smith , had a daughter named Ellen. Any persons ' who can trace descent through any of the above-named persona who were living about ' 1720 are requested to communicate at once ■ by letter addressed Solicitors, Manchester Guardian Office, Manchester." At Sheffield, a blacksmith named Honry Ibbotson was summoned for cruelty to a horse. The animal was taken to have its hoofs paired, and because it was a little 1 restless he struck it on tho nose with a hammer, and afterwards over tho legs, head, and body with an iron bar, cutting it and causing it to bleed in several places. The Bench fined the prisoner £i and costs or 27 days' imprisonment in default. Admiral -G-aliber, Minister of Marine, and M. Ferdinand de Lesseps, have both expressed their approval of an important project which has recently been submitted to the Public Works Office. This is no less an enterprise than the cutting of a canal through France, which connecting the English Channel with the Mediterranean, "would be of sufficient depth to allow of the passage of the largest ironclads. The canal, beginning at Havre, would pass through Rouen, Paris, Lyons, and Marseilles, the waters of tha Seine, Saone, and Bhone being utilised for the purpose. If such a scheme be regarded as feasible in France, the waters of the. Euphrates Valley might similarly be employed in connecting the Mediterranean with the Persian Gulf. Malabial Fkvee. — Malarial fevers, constipation, torpidity of the liver and kidneys, general debility, nervousness and neuralgic ailments yield readily to this groat diseaso conqueror, American Co's Hop Bitters. It repairs the ravages of disease by converting 'the food into .rich blood, and it gives new life and vigour to the aged and infirm. See

A letter appears in another column, by " Touchstone," to which attention is specially directed. Lucidly and entirely owing to good fortune we have for so far escaped from serious accidents since the introduction of bicyolea. But this record may ha at any time broken and an awaking 1 to the enormity of the danger may not be long 1 iv overtaking us. Owing to ita extreme noiiieledsneas foot passengers are entirely unaware of the approach of a bicycle , : Uutil it is almost upon them when a sudden start to the wrong side would bring about ah unpleasant, accident. Horses oaimofc understand theße strange " creatures," but no doubt will in time grow accustomed to their appearance} however^ it would not be asking too much of those bicyclists who at-^present ride; to either dismount altogethpr or else go very slowly past when thoy meet a shy team or an unmanageable horse. .* In tbe case Graff v. Parko, Palmerston North, a claim for £100 for illognlly acting as councillor, after supplying stationary to the Borough Council, judgement was given for the plaintiff for .€SO. The goods were supplied in the ordinary way of trade, and tho Bench held that this constituted a contract within the' meaning of the Act. The defendant gave notioe of appeal. The Native Department has issued instructions to all licensed interpreters ■ not in any way to interfere in native land transactions, or -witness documents referring thereto. Tho will be a great influx of new blood info various Auckland cricket clubs this season. The Auckland Cricket Club have about half-a-dozen new ,men who promise great things for the first eleven. A shipment of jackets, oaps, and sashea, made to order in. England for the club, has just arrived. The cargo of frbzen meat foy the Doi-ic, j some 4000 carcases, is already for shipment, as is also that for the Arawa of a like number, by the New Zealand Meat Freezing Company. The company is going on with the freezing of dairy produce, curing of bacon, &c. Tho freezing o f butter is also being attended to, and this article will be delivered during the summer months, cool and firm, daily." The Wellington Garrison Band competed in the band contest on Saturday evening, they played well but are not considered equal to either the O.iinaru or Dunedin bands. The Wellington Hospital enquiry commission has brought to light so far nothing sensational except to display gross abuse of discipline by some .of those in power, and place Dr Chilton 'in the unenviable position of a drunkard, and expose great extravagance in using the hospital's stores. Medical comforts iv particular. Messrs Turner and Buddie will sell this day at noon at their auction mart, the fees and dues of the Town Wharf for a period of six months, commencing 11th September, 1885. On Tuesday night the wind from the west was terrific and quite alarmed some of our nervous risidents; Reports this morning tell of houses shaking and chimneys swaying to and fro. No serious damage is, however, reported. The North German Gazette publishes a communication on the Sampan question, bised upon recently published a<;c 'Unts of the commerce of N«:w Ze<l-ind. A|-tudy of these reports, says the i;r'icle, should convince every impartial Englishman that the c'aim »f New Zealand to anntx Samoa is quite unjustifiable. It then gc-oi on to controvert the statement of the Pieraitr of New Zealand that the po ; stßsion of Samoa is nefressary for the Wilfaie of the colony, pointing out that the distance between tha New Zealand and Samnan groups is about 9'K) mi'os, -while the diacreponcy in size and ! opulation is so. gieat a* to prevent Saivoa fiom t:vt-r proving a dangeroua rival of New Zealand. It concludes by suggesting that the authorities of New Z-a)and could find enough to do in the further development of the resource* of that isUnd, find hints that the value of Samoa to New Zealand cannot be great enough to maUe it worth while to compromise the foreign r. Jations either of New Zealand hersalf or ol the Mother Country. The following may be of interest to those amongst us who ttrango to Bay, object to pay for money tha ridiculously small sum of 10 per cent. : —The Sel< ct Cotnmitt n e app'inted to coußuJec,.th.e question of advances on land, of which, Mr Mac*ndrow was Chairman, teporfc thatm their opinion the public oredit of New Ze:Vlattd might with advantage be applied towards eniUing settlers, on the security of thi-irland, to acquire advances at a comparatively low rate of interest. Such advances might be inado through the Land Transfer Department ia mms .rot exceeding £2000 to any one individual for any period not exceeding ten years, the rate of interest to be 4J per cent, jper nunum ; the amount of such advance not \o exceed ouehalf of the value aa fixed under the Property Assessment Act ; the mortgagor to be entitled to cancel the mortgage at aay time oo payment of principal and in tores t to date of cancellnti n. The amount advanced should bo paid iv Ni-w Zealan/1 Government debentures of not less than £1000 each, bearing interest at the rate of four per cent, per annum, with a currency of fifteeu years.