The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: FRIDAY, AUGUST 4. MR T. E. TAYLOR.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 9, 4 August 1911, Page 4

The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: FRIDAY, AUGUST 4. MR T. E. TAYLOR.

By the premature death of Mr Taylor the Dominion loses one of its ablest public men unci most zealous social reformers. The general interest and sympathy shown during his brief illness, and the tributes oi admiration and regret which his death has called forth from men of all shades of political opinion, are the, best testimony to the strength of his personality, his sincerity and zeal for public good, A man of Mr Taylor's eager, masterful temperament cannot go through lift) without making enemies ; he was indeed a born fighter, instinctively delighting in the storm and stress of conflict whether the wrongs to be denounced and overcome were social, ecconomic or political. He may be open to the charge or over-bitterness in personal attack, but ho did the country good service in lighting against the insidious approach of tammanyism and political corruption, and preserving political life from stagnation. An ardent democrat and keen social reformer, Mr Taylor possessed many of the qualities of the popular leader. But his anti-militarism and the extreme bitterness he showed in attacking Mr Seddon cost him his seat at the elections of 18951 and 15)05. In Parliament he held the first position as an able and brilliant debater, being unrivalled in readiness of repartee and in powers of sarcasm and denunciation. Both in the House and on the platform as a temperance orator he spoke with a force of conviction that carried his audience with him. It may be thought that his strength lay in destructive criticism rather than in constructive statemanship. But his comparatively short Parliamentary career scarcely gave him opportunity for the display of constructive powers. For he stood aloof from party, maintaining the difficult standpoint of a purely independent politician. And that as such he could win three elections is striking evidence to the force of his personality. His record as Mayor during his few months of office, show that he was far from being merely a critic of oHier men's workv and> justify *he belief tha# [had he been spared to to fill higher positions he might have accomplished much for Ins Country's good. Mr Taylor died in harness, ana there can bo little doubt that his life was shortensed by his unremitting activity for the nublio good. His /temperament was too ardent for his bodily .strength and during the last few months, though ill and suffering, he persisted

ill attending to every detail of his duties as Mayor, ami undertaking a great amount of work in connection with his road construction scheme. Ho was full of schemes for the ment of the lot of the poor, and tiio preventing of insunatnrv and morally unhealthy conditions—plans which it is sad that his premature death have cut short. Much as there is to udmire in his career it may be said that nothing in his life became him more than the leaving of it. He must have felt it hard to be cut off in the mi<tt of his unfinished plans mid at a critical hour in the great contest against the liquor traffic in which lie had taken so sUenuous a part. Yet he ultereel no word of repining, but showed a fortitude under suffering, & though tfulneas for others, and a cheerful courage beyond all praise. Thi- loss to the no-license cause amy well seem irreparable. But perhaps the memory of the dead leader may be as potent as his living voice, and those who honour his unselfish exertions for moral good, may combine in striving to give him the monument he would have most prized—the curryh:if of National Prohibition. One can scarcely fancy so strenuous a spirit as resting for long, but rather us still carrying on the work he had at heart, for in Browning's words he was : One who never turned his back, hut marched breast forward, Never doubted clouds would break, Never dreamed, though right were wor.-ted, wrong would triumph, Held we fall to rise, are baffled to light better, Sleep to wake. No at noontide in the bustle of man's worktirnc, Greet the unseen with a cheer. Bid him forward, breast and back as o'ther should lie, 'Strive and thrive !" cry, "Speed, fight on, fare ever, There as here." PROPOSED HARBOUR RATING. The chairman of the Otago Harbour Board has, once or twice recently thrown out hints of a proposal to lev\| a rate on the country and other districts within the hartiour district area in order to make a free port. It is an alluring picture certainly, a free port for Otago, but it is possible to pay too much for even a very good thins;, and before the people of the country districts of Otago will take kindly to a rate they will not only require' to know what the present amount is to be, but also what it is to be in the future. In other words, what is to ba the direct cost to the ratepayers, present and future, of making Otago a free port. Unfortunately, the representation of the country districts is so infmitismal that the rale once inaugurated the ratepayers will have very little say in it in future, lo connection with country representation on the Harbour Board, and in order to pave the way for a friendly reception to a small rate—only a very small one—(to begin with), We notice references to the cost to the Board of the election of country representatives, and to the fact that the expenses of the representative of the Counties of Bruce, Clutha, Tuapeka, and Maniototo (Mr J. K. Keenan, of Tuapeka Mouth) amount to £(> per meeting, which, as meetings are held at least twice a month, mean at least £l5O a year. We presume the Board consider this amount reasonable and warranted by law, otherwise it would not be paid. But these two matters have nothing to do with a proposal for rating country districts, though they may bo advanced with a certain plausability to that end. The country districts never asked to lie included in the Harbour District, nor did they ask to have a representative on the Harbour Board. Both were thrust upon them, and because they took it "lying down," it is now suggested they should pay a little rateto < start with—to malic Otago Harbour a free port. It may be a good thing, probably is, to make Otago a free port, but the end by which it is proposed to be brought about is one more turn of the screw in putting more taxation on tc; the land, and relieving other forms of wealth from their share of this particular burden. It is for the country ratepayers, and their representatives on local bodies, to consider the position, and bo ready to answer with a yea or nay when the time comes. Already Clutha County Council has expressed itself strongly again* th« proposal,

There is a crisis in New South Wales politics and parliament has been prorogued till August 23rd. We have received a subscription form from the T. E. Taylor Memorial Fund Committee, and the form lies at the Leader Office for any persons desirous of subscribing to the fund. At a meeting of the Education Board! this week, Mr J. K. Menzie.sj for somij years recently the Board's head relieving teacher, was appointed headmaster at North-East Harbour. Mr Asher-Shee has received the sum of £7120 and costs as compensation from the British Admiralty for the clismissal of his son from Osborne Naval College. It will be remembered that this young cadet was a victim of some most objectionable "ragging." Mr Bottoinley, the English M.P. and company promotor has failed in his appeal and will now take the case to the Lords. The judgment against Mr Bottoinley was for £50,000 allegedly obtained from a' man for investment in worthless shares. Mr Fisher, tho Commonwealth Prime Minister, says Mr Stead's interview with him published in the Review of Reviews is "grotesque." Mr Stead's interview credited Mr Fisher with an idea of holding aloof if Britain went into a war which Australia did not consider justified. Mr James McLay, presently headmaster at Livingstone, has been appointed by transfer headmaster at Warepa school, and enters upon his duties in a week or two. Mr McLay, who is well and favourably known in this district, is classified B, and is very highly spoken of a* a teacher. The transfer was made a,t the request of the Warepa Committee. At the Balclutha Literary Society's) meeting on Wednesday night, a very debate on the subject of Imperial Federation, was indulged in. Mr Lopdell, supported by Mr Darling, argued that Imperial Federation was desirable, and Mr R. R. Stewart, with Mr Hutton as his seconder, spoke on the negative side. The by-election for the Christchurch North seat will take place about August 18th. The candidates announced are the Rev. L. M. Isitt (Prohibition) and Mr J. D. Hall (Opposition). The Government is not to put up a candidate. "We are going to leave the matter alone." is the way Sir James Carroll puts it. One of the features of the Winter Show in Dunedin this week was Mr J. D. Willock's "farmer's bay." This was somewhat on the lines shown at recent Clutha shows, and was singled out for special mention by His Excellency the Governor and other speakers at the opening function. Both the Dunedin papers give Mr Willocks great prasie in their reports. Some of the newly enrolled Territorials in the North have been giving trouble. On being ordered to parade for medial examination at Petone they paraded the streets for an hour before the appointed time, shouting and banging tins. At the defence depot they jeered at the Sergt-Major, throwing mud, and generally making themselves obnoxious. It was only after.the Ser-geant-Major had "dealt with" one of the mud-slingers that the examination could be proceeded with, and then only under difficulties. The Education Board has approved of the plans and has decided to make application to the Government for the erection of technical buildings at Balclutha and Milton. The former is a twocookerv room and laboratory. The cost will be about £9OO. The Milton building is the same with a classroom in addition, and the cost will '-.e about £I4OO. The Balclutha plans provide for a class-room being added ill the immediate future. The building here will be on the vacant corner section triangular to the school {.'round, and the Milton buildings on til" school ground. A delightful evening was given in the Early Settlers Hall, Dunedin, on Wednesday evening by the Hon. Thos. Mackenzie in aid of the funds of the Kaikorai Presbyterian Church. It was a series of limelight and kinematograph views of New Zealand. It comprised views of the West Coast Sounds, the mountain passes, glaciers, volcanoes, hot springs, geysers, the lVaitoma caves, etc., and speaking with some knowledge of moving picture shows, it can truthfully be said that from a scenic standpoint there is nothing to equal in beauty and interest these views of New Zealand. The large audience enthusiastically cheered every picture, and few of them, probably, believed before that it was possible to screen such exquisite views of the land we live in. There was a muster of 12 or 13 at the typewriting and shorthand classes on Wednesday evening. Shorthand books were at the disposal of pupils, and also three Smith Premiers, and a Monarch ; another is still to arrive. The dressmaking class will start on Monday evening, and the wool-sorting class on Wednesday evening. We commend this latter class to the favourable consideration «f farmers, farmers' sons, and others interested, and hope to see a large muster on Wednesday evening. A few names are already in, but as time is limited it has been decided to open on the night mentioned in the hope that a strong class will assemble Mr Danskin is willing to start a veterinary class if a reasonable number enrol. A few more are still required to enrol for the cookery class. At the close of his speech in the Address-in-reply debate on Tuesday, Mr Massey said : " Before I finish with the Address-in-reply, Mr Speaker, I would like to refer to a personal matter. During last session—in the heat of debate—the fiercest debate that probably the House has seen for the last 20 years—l referred to a statement that had been made to me some years previously with regard to the late Mr T. E. Taylor. I need not recount the circumstances. I intended to deal with the subject when I went to Chris tfchureh some weeks ago to address a Public meeting, but I had not the opportunity there. I wish to say now that I withdraw the statement unreservedly, and T regret that it was made." Mr Massey's announcement was received with hearty applause Mr Fowlds, who followed Mr Massey, said he was very pleased to hear the statement made. It was a right thing, and the matter was now cleared up tod done with.

I Out of a total of 77 householders in the proposed Owaka Town District, 67 have signed tho petition in favour of it. The local Amateur Dramatic Co. will stage "Tho Ticket of Leave Man" in the Oddfellows' Hall on August 9th and 10th. P»,oeecds are to be given to Balclutha Brass Band. During the hearing of a case of alleged breach of award in Wellington, when a witness was giving evidence as to his working hours, Mr E. G. Jellicoe remarked: "It is a wonder they work at all." Dr McArthur, S.M.: "I understand they don't want to work on Saturdays." To the witness: "Is that a fact?" The witness: "We are trying to get that." Dr McArthur: "Yes, no work on Saturday; no work on Sunday. The next thing we will hear is a half-holiday on Friday!" A contract has been let for raising the clock-tower of the Timaru Post Office, as the present dials are invisible from most of the business portions of the borough, as well as from the wharves. The present dials are six feet in diameter, but the new ones will be seven feet six inches in diameter, and will be fixed 30 fet higher from the ground. In all probability a set of chimes will be installed after the tower has been raised. "It is very strange," remarked Mr J. W. M'Ewan, chairman of the AVellington Charitable Aid Board Committee, "that tradesmen are being helped out to New Zealand, while here we are called upon to assist one to Australia." He referred to the case of a bricklayer who applied to the committee for assistance to enable him to get to Sydney, where there was plenty of work for bricklayers. The committee granted the relief asked for conditionally on the passage money being regarded as a loan, to be repaid within three months.