THE Bay of Plenty Times.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 2600, 6 March 1891, Page 2

THE Bay of Plenty Times.

THAMES VALLEY WARDEN. ' i rt« apmt o' urn I nnas snau ivdua ma sytmd » — Kiig Johfl, Act it. __^ FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 1891. Holiday's are, of course, very nice tilings, except to people who get more of them than is good for them j of which class of unemployed we have in our midst too many examples, unfortunately. The law which, attempting to reduce this holiday giving to a system, has left it to take any course which Tom, Dick or Harry, clad; with a little brief authority, may select, is, like almost every New Zealand Act, an example of the crudity aud absurdity of New Zealand legislators and their ways. Perhaps after being amended half a dozen times it may be workable, without inflicting injury and unduly restricting the liberty of the subject.. As the law at present stands, any municipality may do whatever seems good in its own eyes, without any consideration for the circumstances aud interests of many of its constituents, all of whose interests it professes to represent. It is quite conceivable how this power could be easily abused. In a community consisting of several distinct civic centres, lick Auckland, say, there might be a different day appointed by the Municipal Council in each case. Auckland might choose Monday ; Parnell, Tuesday ; Newton, Wednesday ; Newmarket, Thursday ; Devonport, Friday ; and Northcote and Birkenhead, content themselves with the Act, and take Saturday. What a fine conglomeration that would be ; and it is just the sort of mixture which the " Act " suggests. In framing the Act its authors evidently doubted their own ability to select the proper day, and got rid of the responsibility by leaving it an open question ; thereby recognising the unmistakable fact that all people are not of the same way of thinking, or of working, in regard to holidays. If the Act be thus viewed, it ought to be seen, and understood, that what the enactment really seeks to attain is a weekly holiday, irrespective of the particular day. It is only deficient, if deficient it be, in this tliat it does not specifically give to employers and employed, or, at least, to the latter, the option of selecting the day mentioned in the act, — Saturday, should it be a fiiore suitable day in particular cases, than the day which the Municipal, Council , may have proclaimed. Had this been done not very much couldhave been said against it, excepting this : that to make it apply only to girls is invidious ; and anakes it appear as if the Act^was a thoroughly one sided affair^ in ordsf prevent female employment. But is it impossible for Municipal Councils to deal with the act in a fair spirit ? Seeing; it allows a choice, why should the Councils not allow a choice also 1 Could tbiy not, and should v t]iey not, in their wisdom, best consult the interests of their constituents by allowing any workers affected by the Act to abide by the day , mentioned in the Act — Saturday, upon I satisfactory evidence that it is more suitable than the day the Council has namecl ? and could this option not be advertised ? We cannot see what possible objection there should be to this course. It would most secure the attainment of the intention of the Act j which obviously is to give a half holiday at the most convenient time. It would be no more difficult to see I to its proper carrying out, in regard to the option, than it is to see that all children or a school age who do not attend the board schools, attend others, or are otherwise efficiently taught. Any other spirit than this would be thoroughly at variance 1 wsth the spirit of freedom, and would, were it carried generally into effect, bring us back to the dark ages, and to going to bed at the sound of the Curfew bell, under threat of pains and penalties. That the administration of the Act here, in not allowing of the option of Saturday, in lieu of Thursday, is prejudicial to us, and intolerant to our employees, we have already shown. We cannot suppose that it is the wish of the Council, or any of its members, that such should be the case ; and we therefore trust that the Council will take this matter into re-consideration, and give efiect to the Act in the spirit of it ; which we take to be the giving of the option of Saturday, as the half holiday time, to such as would be best suited by that day. It ought to be borne in mind that the intention of the Act is a kindly one, and that if preventible inconvenience and loss is caused by the manner in which the Act is applied, the spirit of the Act will have been departed from. [Since the above was in print we have been informed , by th,e police that, by a clause in the Act, printing offices can employ female labour up till 430 p.m. : and that the police had been under a mistake in giving us notice. So, now, in this case we can say "all's well that ends well."] v .;■■■■• . '■- VMr E. I£. Mulgan was offered by the Board of Education at Fiji the appointment of head master at a salary of £300 a year for 3 years. W& understand Mr Mulgan declined the appointment on account of the climate. v > ' • \ It will be seen front oar telegraphic news that Dr Forbes has been appointed Medical Officer at Tonga. Apropos of a letter which appeared some time ago in this Journal, the following from the Auckland Herald may be interesting to our readers, and rather" awkard to **RainGruage" : — The rainfall on Saturday afternoon* and evening was of a phenomenal character. We are unformed by Mr Cheeseman, of the Museum, that the rainfall foe the 24 hours ending at half past-nine o'clock on Sunday morning was 4*02 inches, being ! the heaviest fall in 24 hours since February 11 th, 1866, when 6-35 inches were recorded. ! A furthor amount of *58 inches fell on Sunday. The total rainfall &o far for the month is now 9*02 inches. /We hearlthatMr Wayfce of Kelaton is soon to leave foi^ England. aft enclosure opposite the brewery may be seen^he nucleus of a flock of sheep that may one 1 day increase to each an extent that Nelson Bros, may be induced to start freezing works near Tauranga. Parsons sometimes get answers they don't! expect, even from children. A Rockhamp- 1 ton one was questioning' a Sunday school class about the parable of the good Samaritan who fell among thieves on the way from Jerusalem to Jericho, Bringing the story to a point, ha asked, "Now, why did the Priest and Lerite pass by on the other side?" A scholar held ont his haDd. "Well, my boy, why did the Priest and Levite pass by on the other side?" "Please sir, I know," said the lad "because the man was already robbed." t^Te heaAthat Master Peroy Emerson is recovering rapidly from bis accident under the care of Dr Bullen. His leg hag knitted nicely and is perfeotly straight.

i A Skoojo> Fatheb Daice*. — There is a new "Father Danrien" in Japan. He is a French priest named Testivuide, who first became interested in the lepers through the case of a poor Japanese woman whom he tended when she was abandoned by her husband, and was left blind and miserable in a species of hut above the, wheel of an old ricemill. Touched by the wretch9iae*s of this woman,- Father Testivuidehirefl aliibtise^ekr the village of Grotemba, some distance from Yokohama, at the foot of the_Ejj|yjqns Mountains, and converted it into a leper hospital. Since then he has established a regular leper settlement on land Detween the mountains of Hakone and Fujiyama; ■ Mr Lundon notifies that he will hold an important sale of dairy cowa at . Moraing:»ide on Thursday, t9th inst. , The qows, are \yeil bred&nd known; t$ be the best in the district; Key. Father Grilsenan will hold Mass st Te Puke next Sunday at 9 a.m. It was expected last night that the s. s. Chelmsfocd would have called on her way to Auckland, but she must have gone straight on as she has not yet put in an appearance. She has all the witnesses for the two libel cases on board. Wexsall attention to the advertisement of Messrs Mann ie Co, appearing in our present iasue, and in doing so express our gratification at this reappearanoo of aji old iriend as aßjindfcation of a return of the energy and enterprise which in former years distinguished the firm, and established for our port a name as one where settlers could be supplied as cheaply as in Auckland. A wedding that was attracting immense interest in Paris (Mobile) was to have been celebrated at the end of November last. The bride elect was Nellie Branham, a celebrated dwarf of that place, and the groom a leading society man oi Quincy(lll.). SheisJwentythree years of age and 22in high, having a faultless form and winning ways. The prospective groom is sft 9in tall and twbnty-on» years of age, and'his little sweetneart can barejly touch his hand as they walk along the street, presenting a curious sight. The y oung man's parents . strongly object to the marriage. [ '■;,{ '- '"■■ >/Mx James Bodell to-day received the following repljrto his letter to the^Jnion Steam Ship Company (a copy of which was published by us at the time :—- '/Dear Sir, — I am in receiptfofyour favtoi* of 12th inst., forwarding a petition of theprincipal residents of Tauranga that your port should be made a regular calling port for our smaller steamers. We are conferring with our Auckland Manager (Mf; Bendergon)regai>dirig this, and, al-, though weekly calls are out of the question, he Thrill probably arrange that the "Australia" will make regular calls on her Southward trip train Auckland to Wellington, and this I understand is the connection most desired. As regards calling Northwards, we shall do all we can to make our cargo; steamers call regular. We are always pleased to sei\d/a! boa tin when there is any inducement, but lam sorry to say that this i» very seldom the case. Sours faithfully, D Mills, for Managing Director,*'^ -' ' *S r. v ,/k : ■■**'- :> '" The MounfrMaunganui ©on&inNßoard advertises that sub-sections Nos. 2, 7, 8. 9 and 10 at the Mount are still open for lease. It is rumoured that Col. Fraaer's petition against Mr. W. S. Allen iaf infernal, and not likely to be gone onmth^^t - \ j* „f % ■ Mr W. S. Allen is expected to "meet the electors at Katikati next week. Miss Amy Vaughan and troupe will give an entertainment at the Public Hall on March 17th. f ; vThe sis. Chau is expected here this evening from the South. /. ? , St. Peter' 4 Presbyterian Church. The subject df the'forenoon and evening sermons is *' The (j»rigin and Function of Evil." All are iniu^J^. — Alexander MaoLennan* Mr L. Anson, who is well known in new«paper circles in the colonies, has (writes the London correspondent of the Auckland JAerald) been enlightening the manufacturers in the midlands and north pi England in regard to some peculiarities' of the Australasian trade. He points out to them, in the colu'ranß of the leading provincial journal in England, that manufacturers commit a great error in not dealing with colonial merchants and buyers direct. The London middleman, he holds, could be advantageously eliminated, as he only monopolises profits which should go to the manufacturer, while, in many instances the colonists are charged exorbitant prices. Reference is made to thd absurdity of relying- on the colonists not detecting defects of manufacture or errors of taste in the goods shipped to them. The aggressive activity of continental manufacturers is emphasised, and Englishmen are warned that it is imperative they should pay more attention to the Australasian market if they wish to retain a dominant position. Principals are arged to visit the colonies themselvefe or appoint qualified and experienced representatives with long colonial experience to act as their travellers. Mr Ansoii declares it is useless to try and work New Zealand from an Australian centre, and he advises manufacturers to : appoint two representatives in New Zealand— one to woik the North and'the other the ? S6uth Island. Mr Anson is under engagement to read a. paper before the Manchester Chamber of Commerce shortly. Yea 2 you can get all jpxi, want at Garlick and CranweU's in the way of House Furniture and all kinds of Furnishings ; Kensington Square Tapestry and Brussels Carpets, Linoleum, Oil Cloths, Matting, Iron Bedsteads, Xedding of all. kinds, Toilet Ware, Curtains, Blankets, Sheets, Quilts, Art Muslins, Curtains of the newest kinds, Drawing, Dining, and bedroom. Furniture, cheap and good, their own manufacture, They hql4 (unasked iovy - flattering testimonial^ for their safe and careful packing. All postal orders attended to by one of the firm* and goods are very carefully selected for" country customers. Furnish your house from G-arlick and Cranwell, City, Furniture Warehouse, Queen St., Auckland, / ; :JL '; "Rough gs Catabsh" oorraQta o.ft'ensifß odours at once Complete cure of wqrst chronic cases; also unequalled as gargle' for diphth>jia, gore throat, foul breath, ■ = "Rouqhonltch" cures skin humors, erup tions, ring- worm tetter, salt rheum, frosted feet chilblains, itch, ivy poison, barber's itch. As a general fertiliser applicable to ; most soils, common salt is often valuable. It has been used as a manure over 2,000 years. The general properties of salt for agricultural purposes are thus described by' a- [recent writer : — " 1. In small quantities it promotes decomposition of the animal and vegetable matters contained in all cultivated soils. 2. In small proportions i^ acts as a direct plant food. 3. When applied to fallows it has tho power of destroying noxious insects, slugs, and weeds. 5. It possesses stimulating powers on growing plants. 5. It has the power of preserving the juices of plants, and soils on which they grow, from the effects of sudden transitions in the temperature of the atmosphere. 6. |t incfeasea the power of certain soils for absorbing moisture trcin tbe atmosphere. Nine bushels of salt per acre, distributed broadcast, is about right. Wheat, oats, oaf ley, and rye do better when saltdfeftsed, as it strengthens the straw, increases the yield, and protects the grain from attacks of mildew and other parasltfc | diseases." ; "Bouefflos J^ATS."— Clears out rats, mice roaches, flies, ante, bed-bugs, insects, skunks, jack-rabits, sparrows, gophers. At chemist, and druggists. ''BxraHU-PATBA." — Quick, complte cure of all annoying Kidney, Bladder, and Urinary; Deases. At chemists and druggists! Kempthorse, Prosaer aad Co., Agents, Aucklana.