Cromwell Argus AND NORTHEH GOLDFIELDS GAZETTE. Cromwell: Tuesday, May, 28, '95. NOTES

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXVII, Issue 1362, 28 May 1895, Page 4

Cromwell Argus AND NORTHEH GOLDFIELDS GAZETTE. Cromwell: Tuesday, May, 28, '95. NOTES

We have, oa a previous occasion, alluded to the probability of a change in the form of our local government system; and more particularly so in our last issue. The question is almost certain to be discussed during the coming session ; but whether anything definite in the way of legislation will then result it would be difficult to say. The extension of local government control in the shape of enlarged districts, will, doubtless, command considerable support, on the ground that there is a pretty generally conceived opinion that our local governing bodies are too numerous at present, and that a concentration of control would economise in administration expenses, and insure better government. Mr Guiness, it will be seen in our local columns, has stated that he believes it is the intention of Government to legislate for the mergeance of all boroughs with a population under 4000 into the counties. This, however, need only be taken as evidence of the disposition of Government to do something in the direction indicated. The extension, if it takes place at all, i 3 just as likely to extend the boundaries of counties considerably beyond their present limits. Whether the establishment of provincial councils would prove better governing bodies than the existing borough and county councils, time and experience alone could prove. Certainly, if we are to take the extended control in licensing matters as an example, the verdict, we are sure, would be for allowing matters to remain in static quo. The latest Licensing Act has certainly done away with a vast array of little governing bodies, but it has, at the same time, called into existence a set of very cumbrous governing bodies, which are even more expensive than all the old ones put together, and, perhaps, less useful and effective. The experience of the licensing extension is just as likely as not to prove the experience of extended local government.

Closely connected wiih the subject matter of the foregoing note is the question of the extension of the municipal franchise. There is every reason to believe that the new local government measure will include a material alteration in the representation. It will be sought, so it is said, to give a vote to every householder irrespective of whether he is a ratepayer or not, and it is still further possible that an attempt may be made to give all residents of 12 months standing, of 21 years and over, a vote. Now, as it has been pointed out time and again, local government representation is quite a different thing from parliamentary representatiou. The former is nothing more nor less than a trust created for the disbursement of the ratepayers' moneys contributed in the shape of rates for expenditure on public works within given boundaries, for the wellbeing, health, personal comfort and convenience of the contributors. That being so, those who supply the sinews of war, and they alone, have the right to say whom they shall appoint to the trust. Parliamentary representation on the contrary is amenable to a much wider scope of influence. Its cost is contributed to by every resident, indirectly of courso in many cases, and both directly and indirectly by others. But all who live in any country contribute to that country's government, and consequently for this reason alone (though there are others), they have, according to the ethics of manhood suffrage, an equal voice in sending representatives to Parliament. There is not the slightest analogystherefore, between the two forms of representation. But it would appear that such an analogy is not unlikely to be set up, and it behoves Municipal bodies, therefore, to give the closest attention to any measure which tends in the direction mentioned. To emphasise the importance of watchfulness, it might be well to bear in mind what the effect of Municipal manhood suffrage might be on property. Candidates could be returned to office pledged to heavy expenditures on unnecessary public works, by electors who have not a penny to pay in the shape of rates, while the burden of ; such expenditure would fall on ratepayers. If Municipal bodies fail in their duty in this respect, then it will devolve upon the ratepayers themselves to take action to conserve their rights.

The finding of the Education Board in the charges brought by the late Waiareka Schoolmaster, Mr P. B. Fraskk, against the Inspector, Mr Goyen, is anything but satisfactory. We must say that we quite agree with one of the members of the Board Mr M'Gregor, when he intimated it as his opinion that the Board was not a proper or competent tribunal, and that the proper party to decide the charges was a magistrate. There are too many influences at work in a body constituted as the Otago Education Board is of conflicting interests and opinions, to expect it to possess the true judicial minds necessary in such a case. The elements of personal friendship or antagonism among the members, party feeling for or against each other, sympathy for one or other party to the case, and the.lack of the trained faculty to judge, all furnish arguments in favor of Mr M'Gregor's contention that a magistrate and not the Board should have judged the case. The report itself bears evidence [of this, too, on its very face. It is vaguely indefinite, halting in its opinion and transparently afraid of pronouncing judgment against

the Inspector. There is too evident a desire, too, to take credit for a stray pronouncement in the teacher's favor as an equivalent for dealing easily with the Inspector's alleged shortcomings. The report, as a matter of fact, is no report at allIt glosses over but does not decide the questions at issue. Either MrFraserwas or he was not correct in the charges made against Mr Goyen ; and as the Board undertook to judge these charges on their merits it should have done so by either wholly condemning or exonerating their Inspector. The impression left on the minds of those who carefully peruse the report must, even if they superficially analyse it, be that, in the particular inspection of his school complained of, Mr Fraser did not receive that consideration and justness which every teacher is entitled to. It is a matter of vital moment to teachers that they should receive both justice and consideration at the hands of inspectors, but we fear that the lesson taught by the Board's report under discussion is not conducive to the rendering of same. Public opinion, however, has now been directed to the matter and this, together with the proposed setting up of Teachers' Appeal Courts, may do much to remedy an evil which, it is said, has been evidenced in more than one school in the colony.

The retirement of Mr J. N. Wood, S.M., and Warden for the Dunstan goldfields, removes a very old landmark of the gold fields' courts. His forty-five years' service has been marked with uniform carefulness and ability, and he leaves the bench amid the generally expressed regrets, both of the members of the bar and the public. Dealing more particularly with that portion of his long service, which is comprised in the past seven years while he was located in this district, we feel it our duty to add a word or two in tribute to his worth. We think we will only be voicing the general opinion of those who, during the time named, had occasion to come in contact with Mr Wood on the bench, when we say that both a» a Magistrate and as a Warden he has filled these positions creditably to himself and satisfactorily to the public. It is pleasing to know that as a reward of meritorious services Mr Wood will have the equivalent of two and a half years' full pay as retiring compensation, a sum which, though falling far short of that which other and more fortunate Government officers of much less length of service are enjoying, will still be of some material comfort and assistance to him in the evening of his life. It is to be hoped that though removed from the bustle of business duties, Mr Wood may long be spared to exert in a private capacity, that influence for good, which was so marked a feature in his public career.

It is to be regretted, we think, that the loan proposals of Mr W. G. Stronach met with such indifferent support at the last meeting of the County Council. This rewret is heightened by the dangerous condition of the Bannockburn bridge, which is quite unfit for safe traffic. Reference to our local columns to-day will prove this, and we fear that any temporary expedient, which may be availed of to maintain traffic for the six or eight months which must elapse before the promised grant from Government of L6OO is in hand, will not render the bridge any less dangerous than it has been for months past. Both life and property are daily at stake, while the Council is waiting for a problematical grant—which, after it is received, will fall short of the sum required to erect a wooden bridge by LI 50, and of an iron one by LBSO. It is a pity the Council, in its wisdom or otherwise, has failed to see that the County Engineer's recommendation to build an iron bridge at Baunockburn would in the end prove the cheapest. We suppose that the requirements of the Alexandra and O'Oonnell bridges, though not so pressing, will yet have to be faced in the near future, in which case we see no alternative but a loan, except it be a dim hope that current revenue may become elastic enough to furnish the necessary wherewithal. But in view of Cr Stronach's allusion to forfeited runs and -decreasing revenue, we are inclined to think that the County will be forced to borrow in the end.

Parliament is summoned to meet on June 20. Mr Wm. Marsh contemplates starting a paper at Wyudham. Bishop Moran died on Wednesday evening at a quarter to six o'clock. A nugget weighing 1960z (says a Perth telegram) has beeu discovered at Marble Bar. We call attention to Mr Solomon's auction sale which takes place to-morrow forenoon. The terms and conditions of tbo Cromwell Derby for 1895 are advertised in this issue. Owing to the break in the telegraph communication, we did uoi receive our Dunedin message List night. Bank of Zealand directors reduce the salaries Oi alt officers—including their o-vn, the auditors', a.i i he president'* —receiving over £2OO, oy 10 per cent. Mr Guinness, M.H..tf., says be believes it is the intention of the Government to merge all Boroughs under 4000 population iuoo the County jurisdiction. The itiverton Star considers Mr Rawson, S.M., is possessed of a keen iusight, a judicial mind, a discriminating judgment, and above all an. innate sense of justice which peculiarly fi hj m for his higli and important office. At last meeting of the Laud Boaru in the applioauon tor occupation license of Charles Waide, Jan., 99 acres, Tutu*, Run 236, consideration defei red for ranger'.report; Robert Gray, 100 acres, Parras, Run 236p, 50 acres—granted at Is per acre, to be laid off so as to interfere as little as possible with proper access to back couutry, due provision also to be made for water supply. The New Zealand Times has been ininformed by Mr T- W. Kirk, the Government Biologist, tint while he was in the south one lot of 87 bags of rye was put up for sale, but did not find a purchaser. Arrangements were then made for the seed to be put through the seed-cleaning machinery, whict resulted in its being reduced to 20 bags of pure seed. The effect of sowing the 87 bags in their original state may be very easily imagined. One grievous burden of Australian mining is the cost of dynamite. It is made foi 4d a pound in Germany and other parts of EuJope. as well as in America, where it is retailed at 6d ; but in Australia, where the price is controlled by a convention, it varies only between Is 8d and Is 10d. This is an outrage. The consumption in Australia must be at least 2000 tous a year, which, in round numbers, costs a quarter million sterling too much.— Bulletin. Referring to the big art union to get rid of the Globo Estates of the Bank of New Zealand, a Welliugton correspondent of a contemporary waxes facetious thus :—Put a £1 in the slot and watch the figures. First prize—A fully equipped sheep run, guaranteed to support 127 rabbiters all the year round. 2nd prize—A magmficient block of swamp country in the Waikato, with enormous water privileges. A prize for every investor, the lowest being a full share in the State Bank, with a call of £3 6s 8d due upon it. A iN'evis correspondent calls our attention to the paragraph which appeared iu our last issue, re the schoolmistress residing in the schoolhouse, and explains that it would be advantageous for her to do ao for this reason, —viz , that bad weather could not prevent her preseuce at school, and the children at both ends of the district could then rely upon school being held. As it has been iu the past, the end where the teacher resided kuew in bad weather whether school would be held or not, but those at the opposite end did not, and frequently came to school, only to find it would not be held that day. The recent rise in the price of wheat (says the Dunedin Star) is the chief topic iu commercial circles. Fair samples that a fortnight ago were difficult to place at anything above half a crown a bushel are now readdy saleable at 3s, and we have authority for the statement that values even yet have an upward tendency. Present indications, indeed, seem to encourage growers in the hope that the days of unprofitable prices are to be succeeded by better times for farmers and all concerned. In any case the rise now reported is a big thing in itself, and we hear of at least two very profitable speculations, one by a local trader. The Auckland Women's Political League have adopted unanimously the followiug resolution, and decided to communicate with the whole of the women's political leagues throughout the colony with a view to getting them to adopt and forward it to the Premier, so that the action of the societies may be simultaneous: "That iu the opinion of (name of society) it is absolutely necessary for the good government of the people that all laws relating to the immoral conduct of women should be so altered and framed as to inslude both sexes ; and that more extended powers be given to stipendiary magistrates and the police for suppression of immoral houses and for the arrest and prosecution of persons found therein." The morning journal (says the Wellington correspondent of the Daily Times) is Minis tor ia I ; the evening paper is not. The Ministerial journal says:—"The public accounts for the last quarter of the year have not been published because they are not yet audited." To which the evening paper rejoins thus :—" The public accounts for each year are usually audited and published within three weeks or so of the close of the financial period to which this relates. The statement that the accounts for the March quarter, which completes the year, are not yet audited is incorrect. There has been unusual delay on this occasion in auditing them as several questions have arisen between the Treasury and the Auditor-general relating to the details. Everything was, however, finally adjusted, and the accounts certified to by the Auditor general on Thursday morning last." Speaking at Wellington on May 23rd at the inspection of the Naval Brigade, Colonel Fox said that the events of the past six months had placed an entirely different aspect on matters connected with the defence of the colonies. There were now within easy distance of the colony 100,000 armed fighting men who might at any time be launched against Australasia. It was, therefore, of the utmost importance that the defences and forts should be in a state of efficiency, in order that the warships of the Empire might be able to retire to their shelter to refit, provision, coal, or obtain war material, and to use them as a base of operations. Without such shelter and such base, warships must be crippled should they have to defend the colony from attack in time of war. With them their efficiency would be greatly increased. It therefore behoved the authorities to do all they could to place the defences and volunteers in a state of efficiency.

The Timaru Herald says that on Tuesday night, the 21st inst,, a horse bolted into a house at Kensington while the inmates were sitting at the flee. In entering it broke two tables, and then rushed into the bedroom, broke the toilet stand and ware; then got between a large double bed aud the wall, breaking the plaster, aud smashed the iron bedstead to pieces. It then pluuged uutil it got out of the bed, aud kicked aud smashed the remainder of the furniture in the room ; then got into a passage, smashed all round, breaking pictures, etc., and finally gettiug out galloped away. It is doubtful whether it can be identified or not, as the night was very dark, and the people left it sole oueupaut white it was in. Damage is calculated to oe £l2, aud the owner of the horse is being anxiously inquired for to settle tlie account. Says the European Mail: "It will be remembered tn.it a short ume ago Louis Bertrand, trie man who was convicted many years .140, ueioie lie i.ue Sir Alfred •Stephen, for .11; uiur.i ;i o. Kidder in dyduey, was lioeidt/eil tYoui prison on condition that ik: lefb uiie colony. It seems tiiat bis exile w.O o.i.y u j oe united to ttie life of the iat« (Juki Jus ice, of course, bad a great voice 1.1 ae convict's liberation. Bertrand cam.- 1,0 L10.1U0.1, and, it is said, nas come iu„o . through the death of souid ie.ai,ives s.uce bis incarceration, aud it is aUo said oiiat he now proposes to lecutM to rfya.iey. This is nardly likely, uiwevor, notwithstanding that he manitai.is iiis i.i.ioeeuoe of tue charge for wuicli lie suffered 29 years' unprisooment, aud that a good many people stiii believe 111 n<s innocence He is uow 111 Paris, living comfortably under an assumed name, and am 'Ug people vvh 1 have no idea whatever of liis past." The Department of Agriculture (live stock branch) is sending out the following circular to persons mtetested:—"l am directed by the Hon. the Minister of Agriculture to inform you that the Government have decided to assist in an experimental shipment or shipments of suitable horses to lest tlie dome markets. The offer is, that half the freight (which will not include cost of fodder or attendance) will be guaranteed, and should the shipment not realise sufficient to cover total cost, including freight, insurance, fodder, and commission on sales, the Government wid, ou receipt of the accouut sales with full particulars, through the Agent-Generii, oe piepared to make up the deficiency to ihe extent as above stated. The conditions are that tlie horses are valued and approved ot prior to shipment and consist ol a proportion of upstanding harness, hunter, and heavy draught geldings, not exceeding six years of age." l'e Whiti, the Maori prophet, and Premier iSeddou, fell foul of one another at Parihaka, according to a Press Association telegram which states :—" The prophet objected to the Premier's puerile remarks, saying that a man with gray hairs should talk as a man, not as a boy. He urged that the Government was dilatory iu dealing with matters affecting the natives; the Premier replyiug that the world was not made in a day. Te Whiti retorted that if the Maoris waited for the Government's seen day period they would all be dead before the seventh day came to hand. The Maoris had been taught by their forefathers to extend a welcome to strangers, but the late treatment they had received had done much to impair these courteous feeliugs. The proceedings were warm right through, i'e Whiti taking off his coat at one particularly hot portion of his remarks, and throwing it on the ground. Luncheon brought about a better state of feeling, and after that there were hakas and other amusements." Mr W. Harker writes to the Christchurch Press: —"l leave for a short visit for Home next month on business of my own. Whilst at Home I intend to form a syndicate with ample capital to establish a line of steamers to carry Home alive our sheep, cattle, horses, pigs, and poultry in about 32 days. They will be stall fed for a fortnight before embarkation, on similar food to that to be used on the voyage. They will be bought outright and paid tor whea put on board the steamer. The syndicate will take all risks and distribute the cargo to the best advantage. Twenty years ago, when I retired from business in London, my overturn was at the rate of five millions sterling per annum (my banker's pass book for 1874-75 is, Sir, at your service to verify this, which I mention solely that your readers may understand that the writer is a man who speaks from experience and knowledge), aud within 18 months the steamers shall be running, carrying all our produce at little over current rates, and realising more than double the present ruling prices in London for the grower. Copper, silver, tin, wheat, kerosene, etc., etc., the cable daily informs us, are rising in value, aud the ' boom ' is already surging on our shores."