The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: TUESDAY, NOV. 23rd. THE GOVERNOR-GENERALSHIP OF SOUTH AFRICA.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVI, Issue 47, 23 November 1909, Page 4

The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: TUESDAY, NOV. 23rd. THE GOVERNOR-GENERALSHIP OF SOUTH AFRICA.

The su£(i>e«tioii tluit Mr Herbert Gladstone be iip]x>inte_l the first Governor-General of Jjederated South Africa awukenod vehement opposition among Imperialists both at Home and in .South Africa. The Daily Telegraph now announces that he lias accepted thy olliee. The Times lays down a .sound principle in maintaining Unit the iirst position in the great .solf-go\erninV dependencies of Britain should not be filled from members of the British Government. The Governor, like the sovereign, should be abo\e and outside of party ; and in making such appointments, the selection o( anyone identified with political opinions abnoxious to a large section oi the people concerned should be avoided. The Times particularly deprecates tin; appointment to such positions of "political failures or nonentities"--an innuendo largely due, no doubt, to party s[>it<;. Mr Herbert Gladstone., like other sons of famous fathers, suffers the disadvantage of comparison with a great model. But, while Governorships should not lie the | enpiisil s oi incapables, neither is it necessary that their holders should be men of masterful political ability. In the present ease it is not Mr Herbert Gladstone's want of ability, but the fact oi his being the son of the Gladstone who, after the battle of .Maj'.ba Hill, ivstoieil the lioers their independence, that renders him unlit, at tins early dale, to be head of the South African republic. To many Kii'iTish in Africa no appointment could be more odious than that of one bearing the name and inheriting the political traditions of the statesman whom they have been accustomed to look on as flic betrayer of li.e rii.ut:- oi tTieir countrymen. And many Imperialists in Britain and other parts of the empire still look on Gladstone in the same way. His regretable (hat i( should be so. but the feeling must be recognised. Older readers will remember the excitement over the disastrous battle of Majuba Hill in InSI, when General Col ley commanding- a force of about 3(io men was defeated by the Boers, the general himself being slain. At the time negotiations for the restoration of their independence to the Boers had already been' entered on. The Transvaal had been annexed by the Con' eervalive Government of Lord Beaconslield in 1877, the justification being the inability of the Boers to repel native attacks, and the insecurity to British interests caused by the disordered state of the Boer Itepublic. It seems to have been expected that the Boers would be ready to welcome British protection. But a vehement agitation, culminating in armed rising, against the action of the British soon followed. Mr Gladstone, oit coming to office in 1880, did not at onee proceed to reverse the action of his predecessors, though he had disapproval of it. But tho strenuous opposition of the Boers convinced hini that the annexation could only bo maintained by means inconsistent with all principles of Liberalism, and he decided to restore the Boers their freedom. And, having decided onj this, he would not allow the disaster at Majuba to alter his decision, in spite of the outcry raised as to (ho dishonour to Great Britain in yielding to the demands of a triumphant foe. Many would have been quite willing to treat liberally with the Boers after having inflicted on them a crushing defeat to wipe out the disgrace of Majuba ; but Mr Gladstone did not hold that a blunder could be atoned for by more bloodshed. Those not blinded by national animosity oti party feeling must allow that tho great Liberal leader here gave a signnl example of lofty moral courage. But there are many so blinded who still execrate the name of Gladstone for his South African policy. And it is yet too early a date to expect his son to be acceptable to the English in Africa. The present Government has nobly carried out Gladstone's principles of free government in according self-government to tho conquered Republics ; and the federation! of the various States is an aohieve-i p-o' t ' ich entitles it to lasting foam, it ia & pity that

eordftnt note should mar tho ation of the federation that unites Boer and Briton.

CIAJTIIA VAI.LEY ' Tho reply of tho Prime Minister t 0 the deputation last week was to those who have be nl urging the construction of tlie ril j|. way to Tuapoka Month, more esprrially as they felt they were not tfyiiijr to work a "white elephant" on t■» ii,,, shoulders of the taxpayers of ( | |( , country, and as they were prepared to guarantee -i per cent intenst j|. the cost. The li per cent eiiarantc,. is apparently in (lie hands of i),,. I'rimo Minister a I, in his opinion a line will not pay, {„, tells those who want it so, and fuses the line; if the line will pav, | tl , says tliere is no special virtue about guaranteeing the per cent, and lm icfuses the line in this case aho. '| her, is a ulorious unrerdtinly about il,<. ; per cent ynarantee business, and om never knows how it may he applied if the people are prepared to tec interest oil the cost of a Jim. then it seems to us there is lit lie oj,. jection to constructing a lim « I..TCever it is wanted. Jf the people cernccl lind the interest on the capita involved tliey have a very strong dcinand on the consideration of i|„, (Jovernment. The settlers and other, interested in this line, however, n<vd not be altogether downcast. They have the assurance of the Ministei ui Works that tlie line would open U |, one of the finest stretches oi roimiry lie lias seen, and that il could maintain n railway : and they ha\c t| l(j assurance of the Prime Miniver himself that "he had no doubt about ih,. ability of the line to pay I! per cent.'' With expressions like these from IV . sponsible Ministers who oppose t| i(l railway, wo should say the si*t have made their case uood. We rannot understand the Prime MinMi:-', liyures in regard to the distance o| the proposed line from other line*, but lie has piubalily been mi-iep.irli'd on the point, otherwise lie would havu been corrected at the time. If. however, the fact of distances. ~uch they exist in the (Tutlia Valley, are to be a bar to new railways, then there are some railways that should never have been authorised. There are very few new railways that oiler such'favourable prospects as the Uu. tlia Valley railway. There is a ->..4. in the shape of tho riwr endowments, etc., that provide interest io[ I nearly halt the cost. Sir .Joseph ml- [ vised the deputation to improve thu 1 river service, as the railway was nut likely to be taken tip in a hurry. Wo do not a;{ree with him in the lattec view. The River Board will certainly do what is possible to improve tho ri\or service, but it is ipie-tionahle whether the steamer service b- capable of the development to ; eope with tho increased output oi the district. The leagues have Lot tin-it answer for the present, l>ut ihev need no! be idle. If (he railwav wei.- rim. slructed to-morrow tlie-e would probably be a demand for a. over the river at. say, Clvdevale. Why not prefer tho requost for the linfe now. and let the railway wist 1 till tho more favourable opportunitv which will, we feel sure, conic, in due course.

Potato is reported In Live I ininli.' its appenram<; at Auckland, | A cable say* that iln- lii\t Australian destroyer is Id be laiiuvii-J ■ on JJee. J lth. The lion. Thus, Mackenzie left Wdlinn ton last evi■ 11i11l; . and " ill :irti\ii in Dunedin to to at lend tin; show to-morrow. Toko. Farmers' Chili's I Itli annua! show on Tuesday next. Knh'ii"- in sheep elasse.s close on Fridav lir-t, in other classes.on Monday.

■Messrs Ililt'lion Bros. aninllli 1 '■■ ■ tliat they an- lakinu uj> till tin 1 awM!'' of ltecember if arrangements a!">■ ;multi with them previous to seniluiL I '.

The Halehitlia 1). 11. School i- tliiyear sending forward six <•..i h li■ !.iiefor niatrieulation. live for -enior -■ bi>larships, live for senior rivii -ri'viiv. and one for junior Board s< ln<l;u-flip.

The attention of dairymen i- tlifn'ted to tl.e announcement in ti/w i-H'' in connect it >i) with llau-cn- IMiii'fli specific for milk fever, tin' v. tnilc-ak' aiu'nt lor which is Jlr \\. Kinder, of N.K. Yallev.

The concert commit Ice of tie; it lll ' I'. Society lias arranged a ) ejraniiae of special merit for show niirlit _■ 'l'|K3rd). By advt. in this i.-cie it will be s'ren that Duiiedin's be-t t.ilclit have been entrained and tru-t a bumper house will reward tin- romimtlee's enierpri'/.e. l'ro|!inmiiic< will '-'u issued shortly. The examinations for the junior ciy il service, and (he F.ducatimi bo.irtU senior scholarships, commenced i! tin: Balclutha District Seh....l yi-trf-<lay and will be continued this There are about. a dozen can Trial** for these exams. .Mr <>l the I'.ducatioii olVico is supervisor. 1 »■ junior scholarship exam, will !»' ' lC ' iiext. week. The niatrieulation '•xawination also begins next week in l'"' 1oil in.

The 01ms. Maurice an '' Vaudeville Company nave |rriWim«i' ces in Kaitangata on iVidnv anil >< lt nrday nights. The hall on botli nights, and a | l , ' l!t '- l >r< '' gramme was put forward and tlmi' 0 ' uglily enjoyed by the company is a strong combing 1 " 11 ' with plenty of. variety. M mmii' - Blanche Careili's singing \va J a tit" to listen to, while (iconic Sorhe k'P the audience in roars of laiuiitcr. I other members of the coiu|mn\ 1,1 quilted themselves wry most of their items beiuL: The company gave a sacred Ll ' on Sunday night. We n-veived from (lie jmini-r*' i>> Messrs Evans, 'Mill and Co.. ton, a copy of the iirst issue New Zealand timetable. 'lhiation, which will be issued mi'iithj> contains sunininriswl railway iiil"" 11 . ation and timetables, coastiin;" 1 deep-sea steamship fares, sh'-i llll » times, dates of sailing, and dist« nt< - tables lit nautical miles ; _ j regarding climate find tides <>t • : Zealand, and a tariff list ot ing hotels ani! boarding-houses m Dominion. The timetable wl information of great value to 'ln'tciir ist and public generally. It is jittra tively got up, and is published * tho nouiiuul of id,, wtfft,

| On' Thursday last the Edendale *" Dairy Factory took in close on 10,000 gallons of milk

Otago A. and P. Summer Show at Tahuna Park on Wednesday and Thursday. The Balclutha (Brass Bind, under Conductor Wood, gave a most enjoyable open-air concert in G'lyue street on Saturday evening.

A meeting in connection with the Boy Scouts movement will probably be held in Balclutha on Thursday, Dec. 2nd.

The entries in sheep, cattle, horses, and pigs at the Dunedin Show this week total 871, compared with 777 last year.

The Daily Telegraph announces that Mr Herbert Gladstone has no,-opted tne office of Governor-general of South Africa.

The Clutha County Council meets to-morrow : statutory meeting at noon for the election of chairman, and ordinary meeting thereafter. The P. and 0. steamer Mantua, at Malta, established wireless communis cation with the North Foreland (England), a distance of over 2000 miles"

The cost of installing telephone communication between Auckland and Rotorua is estimated at £7OOO, the annual interest and working expenses at £IOOO, and the revenue at £3OO avear.

The steamer Clyde brought down from Clydevale on Saturday about 25 stud sheep, Romneys and Border I.eioesters, belonging t Q ]\l r David Murray, for the Dunedin Show. Mi< Murray is also sending some halfdozen Shorthorn cattle for the show. ■

The annual Trinity College musical examinations, practical, in "connection with the Bal'olutha centre will commence at St. Mark's Hall on Tuesday. November 30th, at 11 a.m. There are about 16 candidates, and the examiner is Mr Henry St. George, of London.

■Messrs Saxton and Binns' timber nulls and yard, with 000 ft wharf, at Pyrmont, Sydney, have been destroyed by tire. The yards covered eight acres, of which the fire swept four. Mr Saxton estimates the loss at £70,-, 000, insurance covering only £20,000. Between 400 and 500 employees are thrown out of employment. Mr Alex. Henderson, junr., intimates by advt. in this issrue that he has opened an accommodation house at Kaka Point where board may be had at 30/ weekly and where casual visitors may rely on getting a good meal for 1/6; afternoon teas 6d. Mr Henderson has good stabling and traps will meet trains when desired.

The Union Coy'sf S.S. Takapuna picked up a deserted barque, the Ilippolas, near French Pass on Saturday afternoon, and after towing her to within threequarter of an hour's run of Picton she sank. The crew had previously been picked up by the steamer Elsie anil landed at Picton all well, the barque having struck Walker rock.

Despite the controversy which has raged in every part of the Dominion in regard to the licensing reform compromise. the amending bill will come clown before the House in a few days' time on the exact lines already indicated in the terms of the agreement. Counsel are at present engaged in working out details of the new Bill, Mr C. P. Skerrett (for the trade) collaborating wiih Mr A. S. Adams (for the No-license party) in uie preparation of the amending legislation. There is a proposal by the Napier Borough Council to exclude Chinese from the municipal baths. The Chinese Consul, Mr Hwang, interviewed, said that the presence of Chinese citizens in Napier was their right to participation in the municipal advantages to which thev as ratepayers contributed. No country in the world objected to privileges by all citizens, of whatever colour or condition, provided that they observed the law. Moreover, this touched the question of national politics. Mr Phillips, the member for Waitcmata, is asking for a return showing tlie cost to the Dominion of (1) the trip to England with the Prime Minister of the 'Solicitor-General, Dr Fitfliett : (2) the visit to England of Detective Cassells upon the occasiort oi the Prime Minister's attendance at 1 the Naval Defence Conference, the return to include travelling and all incidental expenses. He also desires a return showing the total cost to the Dominion of the attendance of the Prime Minister and his secretary, or secretaries, at the recent Naval Defence Conference in England, the return to inelude travelling, secretarial, and ali incidental expenses.

The United States Circuit Couri of Appeal, consisting of Missouri judges, has ordered that the Standard Oil Company, New Jersey, be dissolved as an illegal corporation. The Government's action was directed against the parent organisation .and 70 subsidiary branches for conspiracy and monopoly, restraining- trade in several States. The judgment enjoins the defendant company from paying dividends to the Standard Oil Company of V;w Jersey on such stock, or permitting any combination vote on such stock. The case will go to the United States Supreme Court. The judgment led to a selling movement on the New York Stock Exchange. Standard Oil certificates declined 12A points. Renter states that this is one of the most important and farreaching decisions given in a civil action in the American Courts.,

The popularity of the motor cat] was we'll demonstrated at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day, when no less than 266 cars were counted in the reserve. It is interesting to note the! popularity of the different makes of cars in the following list of cars! counted —viz., 32 Clement Talbots, 25 l)e Dions, ]6 Fiats, 14 Daimlers, 12 Napiers, 10 Argylls, 9 Minervas, 8 Barracqe, 7 Austins, 6 Siddeleys, 6 Ilumbers, G F.N.'s, 6 Mercedes, 6 Stars, 6De Ihetrichs, 6 Revers, 4 Rolls-Royces, 4 Renaults, 4 Browns, 3 Russells, .3 Braziers, 3 Alldays, 3 PanJiards, 3 Whites (steam), 2 Standards, 2De Larges, 2 Befsizes, 2 Vauxhalls, 2 Albions, 2 Tarrats, 2 Gregoires, 2 Lnfields, 2 Bolles ; whilst tho following makes were represented by one ear each—S.C.A.T., Riley, Oldsmobile, Adler, Ttala, Isotta, Crossley, Gladiator, Hotchkiss, Sims, Ford, Calthorpe, Deasey, Locomobile, and there were also present 32 Renault Tax- ,

The Grand Jury yesterday returned a True Bill in the case against W. J. Ka«j, of Warepu, for alleged sneop stealing. Mr liaulon is appearing for accused, and the case is now proceeding. xne gross old'age payments for the year were £336,(09, being an excess on mat -::r the piteous year of £11,560. Since w.j Act came into force £2,404,ois has i.jen paid away in pensions. L..ot ... the cost of pensions per head oi : tuv population was 6s lOd. The cost of administration for the year was £9098. Of this sum £3990 was paid to the Post Office for services rendered.

Concerning the new licensing propo- | sals, a member of the Ashburton Nolicense party informed a press representative that he was not by any means in accord with the proposed amendment in tho laws. "Should the proposed Bill become law in its present form," he said, "there will be an enormous secession from the -No-license party at the next poll, and ground that has been gained will be irretrievably lost to lis a party." He went on to say that the inclusion of the Dominion local option vote in the Bill would induce a number of voters to support tho No-license party, hut on the other hand it would result in a comparatively large number of moderates, who have formerly consistently supported the Nolicense party, withdrawing in favor of the trade.

According to tho Police Department's report, on March 31 last the fingerprint collection consisted of the impressions of 8718 offenders, being an increase of 1096 on the previous year. During the year 138 offenders, whose antecedents were unknown to the police of the district in which they were in custody, were, by means of their finger impressions, identified as previously convicted persons, showing an increase of 15 over last year. Ninetysix men were taken on the force during the year. Their nationalities and religions are as follows: —Nationalities : New Zealand-born, 37; Australians, 18; Irish, 20; English, 12; Scotch, 7; Tasmanian, 1; Manxman, 1. Religions: Church of England, 34 ; Roman Catholics, 32; Presbyterians, 22; Wesleyan, 1; Baptist, 1; Protestants, 4; Lutheran, 1; Congregationalist, 1. "I am agreeably surprised at the land tenure proposals," said Mr C. J. Parr, a prominent barrister and chairman of the Auckland Education Board, when interviewed on the land question. "Sir Joseph has conceded nearly everything that the Opposition has been asking for for years, and by doing so has once more stolen the coat from Mr Massev's back without even begging his pardon. The proposed new Land Bill is, in my opinion, the biggest act of political piracy that- has ever taken place in political history even in New Zealand. I doubt if even Mr Massey could frame another land policy now. Moreover, while this is so, it is gratifying to know that the Government has at last become converted, and it can now certainly be classed as the new freehold Government."

A farmer in the Blenheim district met the other day with an experience which he says opened his eyes widely as to the condition of the labor market (reports the 'Herald'). He was putting in his potato crop with a double furrow plough and wanted three men for planting. He thought there would be no difficulty about the matter. He drove into town and approached no less than six men standing about the street. Each one replied that he wanted work, and each one said that he wanted something different to jiotato planting, even at the eight shillings a day offered. The farmer had no little difficulty in getting the necessary hands. Among those who listened to this experience was a resident who related that on the previous day 'a Iv'g strapping man, about 25 years' of age, appeared at the back door and asked for a meal. The resident, in a charitable spirit, agreed to give him one, but expressed surprise that a man of his stamr> should have failed to obtain work. "I'm not going to work for 6s a day," said the stranger: "I wouldn't toil for anvo'ne under 95." "If that's the case." said the resident, "you get no bread and meat here. Off you go. 1 '

Some peculiar mistakes and mishaps sometimes take place in connection with letters and property dealt with by the Post Office. Extraordinary carelessness on the part of people posting letters or parcels is not, unhappily, uncommon, It is mentioned in the annual report of the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Department as illustrating how the Department is often blamed wrongfully for loss of articles passing through the post office that a postal packet containing six watches was wrongly delivered at a boardinghouse owing to the address being so badly written that it was believed to be intended for a person who resided there. While the packet was awaiting disposal at the boardinghouse a friend of the supposed addressee noticed it and re-addressed it to him, and it was only when the article was passing through the post office a second time, that the rightful owner was identified and delivery effected, after a delav of about five months. A letter, unregistered, from Christchurch to Wellington containing £425 in bank notes was discovered open in the post. A case occurred at Palmerston on June 24. 1908, of the abstraction of a letter from a posting-box by a starling. The occurrence was witnessed by a passer-by.