The Daily Telegraph. FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 1883.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3589, 12 January 1883, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 1883.

Under the heading "A Story from a Blue-Book," the Pall Mall Budget has a very "rough" article on New Zealand. The story is compiled from Sir Arthur Gordon's'despatch to the Home Government on the Parihaka expedition. In this issue we shall give our readers the story as told by the PallMallßudget, and on another occasion we shall give a very different story based on the same facts from a New Zealand point of view. Our contemporary says : —" Te Whiti, as we know, is the Mr Parnell of the West Coast of the North Island, who has got himself into trouble by recommending his tribe to keep a grip of their holdings. The Blue-book issued a day or two ago gives us the story, not as a member of the Aborigines Protection Society would tell it, but as"it appears to no less official a person than Sir Arthur Gordon, tho Governor. The Governor, to begin with, expresses grave doubts whether To Whiti's friends have not a reasonable right of possession in the disputed lands. Ho doubts whether all the West Coast natives wore legally dispossessed ; Avhcther the connivance of successive Governments did not constitute a bar to the enforcement at this time of day to the confiscation; and whether that enforcement is not both inequitable and dangerous. ''Ever since I have possessed any real information on the subject," says the Governor, " I have considered the right of the Crown to dispose absolutely of these hinds to be questionable, and the position of the Government, consequently, a false one." Nine-tenths, however, of the governing race in New Zealand took the other view; the survey was made, sales were made, and blocks of land were reserved for the natives. The natives of course, did not understand what had been done. They had been accustomed to cultivate at will on any part of the land, and they continued to clear and juaut on different sites, sometimes, apparently, in ignorance whether they were, or were not, within the limits of sections advertised for sale or actually sold: and sometimes, no doubt, as a denial of the right of the Crown to enforce in 1881 tho confiscation of 18G5. In spite of these difficulties it was hoped for some time that, although Te Whiti and his followers would not openly or formally consent to accept the reserves assigned to them, they would in the end tacitly acquiesce in the arrangements made. In this hope Sir Arthur Gordon left his post, and went on busines to his old dominions in Fiji. No sooner was his back turned than things began to go wrong. An old chief in a tipsy fit used some hiccupping menaces about the whites. Natives interfered with the cutting of wood on land occupied by them but claimed by the Crown. To Whiti made a speech, which " conveyed the impression" that he meant to encourage his followers in resorting to violence in defence of their pretensions. Such trifles were unpleasant, no doubt, but the same things had happened before. However, two or three hours before the Governor's return from his Fiji trip the Administrator issued a proclamation calling on Te Whiti and his friends to signify their acceptance of the reserves, and intimating that if they did not the whole of the lands occupied by them would be forfeited. On this rapid proceeding Sir Arthur Gordon makes two remarks. One is that he fails to sec any adequate explanation of the sudden decision of the Government or any proof of the urgency which rendered it necessary to act in the" absence of the Governor. The other remark is that, even if it were true that the natives "were trespassing in an illegal manner"' on the land, and that it had become necessary to show " that the statute law of the colony must be observed," he should not the less have deprecated a resort to force. "If the law has been broken, it is to the law that recourse should be had in the first instance to redress the wrong; aud it is only when that has proved itself inefficient to do so that the employment of military aid is permissible." Instead of that, what happened was that military force was employed, hundreds of persons were arrested in an arbitrary manner, private personal property was confiscated, aud dwellings and other elements of cultivation were destroyed. Such measures appeared to Sir Arthur Gordon, as they will to most Englishmen, "unhappy methods of teaching that 'the statute law of the colony must take its course.' " This violent and high-handed step was open to another objection. It was exceedingly likely to load to a general native war throughout the colony. That this result was avoided, and that it lias been found possible to arrest some 1,500 persons without resistance, is due, in the Governor's opinion, to the forbearance shown by To Whiti himself, and to his influence over the minds of his followers. The whole proclamation, in short, had appered to the Governor, as he says very roundly, to embody an injudicious policy, to contain disputable statements, and to aimounce an inequitable intention. What is deplorable is that the great bulk of opinion m the colony was iv favor of what had been done, and if the Governor had chosen to dismiss Ministers of whose policy he thought so exceedingly ill ho could not have found others to" take their plate on opposite principles. Our colonists arc very fine fellows, no doubt, and they are perfectly at liberty to do as they please in their own country. But if they" think that their kinsmen at home are prouder of them or fonder of them for such exploits as these they arc very much mistaken,"

The Hospital management scheme at Auckland, a telegram informs us, is not receiving much public support, there being a tear lest the Government should withdraw from the matter when the plan is iv full working order. We do not know the nature ot the scheme adopted for the Auckland Hospital, but from the fact that the Colonial UnderSecretary has been advertising for an assistant surgeon for that institution we opine that it is partly supported by public subscription, but completely under the management of the Government. Some such arrangement would have been enforced here

had it not been for the prompt action that defeated the scheme. No one will be surprised to hear that the public of Auckland place no confidence in the stability of Government proposals. One of the motives that actuated those who stood out against handing over our local hospital to the Government was the fear that when, by Ministerial or Under-Secretarial bungling, the institution should be thrown into a state of confusion and left penniless, the people woidd be told to take it over again, and do the best they could, or a bill would be introduced to capsize all that had been done before. The Government have shown a wretched incapacity to deal with the hospitals and charitable institutions of the colony, and if Ministers in their respective departments have shown an equal amount of ignorance and shiftiness as the Hon. Mr Dick has in his dealings with the Napier Hospital the strongest imagination would fail to picture the muddle everything must be in.

There was a clean charge-sheet presented in the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning. The old Committee of the Hospital were to have met this afternoon, but as Mr J. A. Smith was the only member present there was no meeting. A sitting of the Native Lands Court will be held at" Waipawa on the 31st instant, under the presidency of Chief Judge Macdonald, and not on the 25th, as erroneously stated by a contemporary. Mr G. Heslop desires us to mention that he has not nominated Tidal Wave for the Poverty Bay races, and cannot account for the horse's name appearing in the published list otherwise than that some person has taken it upon him to have it placed there without consulting the owner. In our "notabilia" last evening it was erroneously announced that a complimentary ball and concert would be tendered to Mr T. R. Gilpin on Wednesday evening next, It should have read "a complimentary ballad concert" We regret the mistake, and take the earliest opportunity afforded us to correct it. The Wano-anui Chronicle devotes a leader to the subject of Mr Milner Stephen's alleged healing powers, in the course of which our contemporary remarks in all apparent seriousness: — '' We have no reason i for believing that Mr Stephen is possessed of v devil" —(theitalicsareours.) " Possessed of a devil " ! Only fancy an intelligent newsi paper editor being the parent of such unmitigated twaddle, and at this period of the world's existence too. Mr Douglas Hamilton had his old Merino ram shorn the other day, when the fleece weighed in the grease no less than 20 : Hbs, beintr a few days under eleven months' growth. This would be equal to 221bs for twelve months' growth. It speaks more lughly for this clip that tho sheep had neither been housed, clothed, nor received any other treatment than that of the ordinary paddock sheep. Wo have never heard of any heavier fleece from a Merino ram. The half-yearly election of officers for the Rose of Sharon Tent, 1.0. R., Waipawa, was held last evening in the Rechabito Hall, Waipawa. The following were elected to the various offices:—Oß., Bro. George Ward; D.R., Bro. E. Oakenfull; Treasurer. Bro. Thomas Hobson; Secretary, Bro. E, Phillips: OS., Bro. F. Shanly, junr. : L., Bro. Ben Cosgrove; Guardian, Bro. T. English. Dr. Alex. Todd was reappointed lodge surgeon for the cm-rout year. Cotswolds are becoming fashionable amongst Hawke's Bay sheepfarmers. _ On hill runs these sheep are found to clip as heavy a fleece as the Lincoln cross, to retain their' wool better, and to be in every way more kindly and satisfactory. So far as value of fleece is concerned the Cotswold cross realises quite as high a price us probably goes out of New Zealand as cross-bred wool. Cotswolds were first introduced into Hawke's Bay by Mr J. D. Canning, and the principal flocks of that breed now are Colonel Hoi-rick's, Rev. S. Williams', Messrs Nairn Bros., and Mr G. D. Hamilton's. A very successful tea and public meetingwas held at Kaikora on Wednesday evening in aid of the local Methodist Church. The tea was spread in the public school-room, and was partaken of by fully one hundred persons. The tables were presided over by Mesdames Simmons. Sebley, Steven, Hicks, Mcrrylees, Gibson, Hood, and Miss Clarke. After tea a public meeting was held, when addresses were given by the Revs. Perry, Douglas, and Burnett, The proceedings were interspersed by music, excellently rendered by the choir, under Mr Mcrrylees' leadership, Miss Clarke presiding at the organ. The arrival of Mr Spackman, the new organist of St, John's, it is hoped, will revive the energies of musical circles. At one time Napier rather prided itself upon the possession of no little musical talent and ability. We have had Choral, Musical, Harmonic, and Philharmonic. Societies within the memories of younger persons than the oldest inhabitant. * It is said that Mr Spackman has a peculiar faculty for gathering together lovers of the harmonious. Let us hope that he will discover the "lost chord," and reproduce it again from the ranks of a musical society resuscitated by his efforts. In spite of there being iw money in the Municipal exchequer we notice that the kerbing of unused footpaths is being proceeded with as though the work can be paid for. Some time ago we understood that the engineer had received instructions to undertake no new works, and to employ as little labor as possible. We believe the number of Corporation laborers has been somewhat reduced ; but why go to needless expense in tittivating around Clive Square ? Of course this footpathing and kerbing give a finished appearance to the roadways, and assist surface drainage, but as there is not a penny piece to pay for the work it is simply folly "to incur the liability. A meeting of the Rifle Volunteers was held last evening in the old Provincial Council Chamber, Captain Blythe presiding, for the purpose of considering the new Volunteer regulations now in force. The chairman expressed his opinion that the regulations were not unreasonable, as was generally supposed, but on the contrary, if properly carried out, would secure greator efficiency and esprit de corps. Several volunteers protested strong!}' against the new regidations, especially those portions having reference to parade. In reply, Captain Blythe pointed out that thirty-six parades" could be held, or three in each month, and surely a member could manage to attend twelve of these. Captain Blythe added that if the men wished to re-organise the corps the three officers were quite willing to resign. After a lengthy discussion it was decided to adjourn the meeting until next Thursday evening. The Wellington Post says:—A third petition for dissolution of marriage appears on the list to be presented at the sitting of the Supreme Court in divorce and matrimonial causes jurisdiction, at the end of this mouth, viz.—that of Maynard v. Maynurd and Hori Mokai. The petitioner, John Mavnard, a butcher, residing at Gladstone road, Gisborne, states that he married the respondent, Catherine Hoko, widow, at Gisborne, on the 25th of October, ISGG, and there were issue to the marriage two children both of whom are now dead. He alleges that on or about the sth of June, 1877, and on other days between that date and the present time the respondent had committed adultly with the co-respondent, Hori Mokai, at Tologa Bay, having lived with him during the past four years, and had two children. The West Coast Times tells the following little story of some Kumara men : —'' Rather an amusing circumstance happened at Kumara shortly after the arrival of the .Minister of Public Works at that place. The Minister, his under-secretary, Mr Seddon, M.H.R., Mr Martin, and the county chairman arrived about 2 p.m. at Spiudeler's Hotel, where they lunched. Shortly afterwards His Worship the Mayor of Kumara, andfour members of the Borough Council, entered the hotel for the purpose, presumedly, of meeting the Minister. However, they did not get, or could not get an interview, whereupon one of the deputation moved, another seconded, and it was carried without dissent, that liquid refreshment be partaken of at the Hon. Mr Johnston's expense. Five drinks were ordered and swallowed, aud Mr Spindeler was requested to 'put them down' or ' stick them up' to the Minister of Public Works, whioh the innocent Spindeler accordingly did. But it is one thing to charge for drinks, and another to get the money. When the bill came to be paid, the eager eye of the UnderSecretary discovered the intrusive halfcrown, and asked what it meant, Mr

Spindeler informed him that the mayor and council had been drinking the Minister's health. The wrathful secretary thereupon drew his pen through the item, and requested Mr Spindeler to tell the Council to be good enough to drink at their own expense. The only dissatisfied person is Mr Spindeler." Mr Archibald Forbes has recently delivered two of his lectures before Nelson audiences. The Colomst remarks that to those who expected to listen to a brilliant lecturer, Mr Forbes has proved a disappointment, but others who simply looked for an interesting story appear to have been well incased, whilst many seem satisfied with the mere fact of having viewed and listened to a man who has seen so much of warfare, who has associated with so many historic personages, and who tells of ss many personal exploits of daring and valor. One of the features of the new opera at the new Savoy Theatre in London will be the application of the electric light upon the stage. The chorus ladies, representing fairies, will wear incandescent lamps iv their hair. Another theatre endeavored a short time back to put on an "electriclight "bullet," and the plans were so far completed as to warrant tho erection of the machinery; but it was found that the incandescent lamps were not powerful enough, and the insurance company objected to naked lights being used. The Savoy mnnagement, with their experience of electric lighting, have, however, beeu able to overcome the difficulties attending Swan's system, and, by covering the cou-ducting-wircs with silk of the same color as the ladies' dresses, the arrangements are rendered invisible to the spectator, and a sufficiently strong current can be obtained direct from the generators to make the nature of the decoration palpable even in the limelight. It was at first suggested that each lady should carry a small " accumulator," weighing about 41b., upon her back. It is not a satisfactory thing to know (says the Army and Navy Gazette) that the deaths of many of the officers and men who have succumbed to wounds received iv action in Egypt have been due to one cause —starvation. "In many instances,'' writes a medical officer, "I know that the unfortunate fellows were left in the most helpless state. I endeavored by every means in my power to obtain nourislunent for them, but none had been provided—at the front. The system became weakened; bloodpoisoning set in ; and the poor fellows' lives had been sacrificed at the shrine of the god, 'Mismanagement.' If ever a Minister had reason to feel thoroughly ashamed of his administration, that man is the Right Honorable Hugh Guilders, Secretary of State for War. The tales I could tell you after a few weeks' experiences in Egypt would make the blood of the British taxpayer boil." The Army and Navy Gazette adds: —"We have it on the authority of a cavalry officer now at Cairo that of tho horses lost by Jjthe British cavalry during the campaign, nearly all fell victims to starvation, or exhaustion resulting thereupon." It is proposed to start iv England a limited liability company in order to establish, organise, and manage, on a Christian basis, with a conscience clause, self- supporting pub - he day schools for boys, intermediate in grade between the inspected elementary schools and public schools of the highest class. There are two classes of schools, within the general description of intermediate schools, which it is intended to establish, classes that may he briefly described as " lower," and "higher " intermediate schools. Thelower school would furnish its education at the rate of £2 to £3 per term, and the higher school at the rate of £3 to £5 per term for the ordinary course, according to the special class or locality to be provided for, there being in either case three terms a year. The ages of the scholars would, in the lower school, be generally from seven or eight to fourteen or fifteen, while in the higher school the scholars would naturally leave at a later age. It is proposed to establish hi the first place only one school of each class. The necessary capital is to be raised by forming a limited liability company, with power to issue £5 shares, in the first instance, to the extent of some £10,000 or £15,000, but with provision for ultimately increasing it by further issues to £50,000 or £100,000, as occasion may require. An American who has lately been travelling in the Soudan gives in a private letter (the St. James's Gazette says) "an interesting account of an interview he states he lately had with the False Prophet. The impression left on his mind by the interview was that the Prophet is no more ' false' than many other prophets who enjoy a character for respectability aud are held in high estimation. So far as he was able to judge, the Prophet whom it is the fashion to designate as false is really, as he expresses it, a ' genuine! article.' The Prophet seemed to be quite well aware of all that lias been lately going on, not only in Egypt, but also iv England, aud ventured on the prediction that Mr Gladstone had iv the Egyptian question 'so hard a nut to crack that he would break his teeth over it.' The prophet also predicted that which has since come to pass, namely, that to Baker Pasha would be entrusted the task of reorganising the Egyptian army. This prospect appeared to give the prophet great satisfaction. - I am ready,' he exclaimed with emotion, ' if need be, to meet Baker Pasha in single combat; but I would infinitely prefer an hour's quiet talk with him on religious subjects generally. He is a man of no mean order; and between us both we could, I feel confident, speedily place the world upon a sound millennial footing.'" A curious scene was witnessed the other day in Newark, United States. It seems that a certain storekeeper had an electric light hung over the door of his shop. Tho wire conveying the electricity to the lamp hung outside the building, and was connected in a round-about fashion with some iron posts, to which was attached a fence. Unfortunately, the covering of the wires was worn away, and the electric fluid passed into the fence. A well-known citizen passing by happened to lean against the fence, unaware that it had become a battery, and in a moment he " uttered a wild whoop and danced round the pavement," while his hat rolled into the gutter. These unusal vagaries attracted the attention of the passersby. One, in spite of explanations, declared it was '' disgraceful to see an old man drunk in the streets," and another ran oi. for a policeman. Meanwhile, some of the crowd seized the fence to test the truth of the story, which they found only too true. The policeman arrived amidst a scene of confusion, and thought the affair was a fight. At this point a number of men whose character could not be doubted interfered, and vouched for the truth of the citizen's statement. The policeman gingerly touched the fence with his club, and '' that self-same moment the club went whirling around at the end of his electrifie4 arm," while the crowd scattered on all sides to avoid contact with it. Fortunately, an electrician who happened to be about explained the mystery, and the current was turned off. Such a scene as that which happened in tho "Birdcage" at Newwarket previousto the commencement of racing on Thursday, says Truth, was never before witnessed on a racecourse. Martini aud Narcissa were telegraphed as starters for tho Subscription Stakes, and Wood, the jockey, was, iv his scarlet jacket and cap, ready for orders. Buthe came in for a "wigging" instead from the Dowager Duchess of Montrose, who followed him across the enclosed, ejaculating in a loud voice, " How dare you weigh contrary to my orders ? You knew that we had decided not to run any horses to-day ! We will not endure such abuse as we have been subjected to in tho papers!" Turning upon Sherrard, her trainer, who came up at the moment, tho duchess " read the Riot Act" to him in similar terms, and, bursting into a paroxysm of tears, fairly broke down. Leaning forward on the rail wliich provides a passage for the jockeys and trainers to the weigh-ing-room, her grace cried piteously; whereupon Sir George Chefcwynd came to the rescue, and conducted the duchess into one of the open saddling-stalls, away from the public gaze. On recovering composure the lady insisted upon Martini's number being taken down; but on being informed by one of the stewaids that such a step would be to necessitate their fining Mr Cravrfurd £50 the horse was allowed to start. His success added fuel to the flame, as did the subsequent defeat of other Bedford Lodge favourites that day. When on Friday Macheath was bowled over by Apriana, the contrast in Mr Crawford's and Mr Holdsworth's popularity was shown by such a hurricane of cheering as might have been heard at Sefton Lodge, on the other side of Newmarket, where the Duchess of Montrose passed that clay in retirement in« stead of visiting the heath.

A mine has been found in the mountain near Salsburg, Austria, which gives indications of having boen occupied and abandoned at least two thousand years ago. It contains a large and confused mass of timbers, which were used for support, and a number of miners' implements. The timbers were notched and sharpened, and were subject to an inundation, and left in confused heaps. The implements were mainly wooden shovels, axe handles, &c. Among the relics, also, was a basket made of untamied raw hide, a piece of doth -woven of coarse wool, the fibre of which is very even, and still iv good preservation, and a torch bound together with flax fibre. The probabilities arc that the ancient saltminers were overtaken by the flooding of the mine, as ununified bodies have been discovered. The find seems to have belonged to the pre-Romau times, as the axe-handles were evidently used for bronze axes, specimens of which have been found upon the surface of the mountain. The relics are of a high order, the basket being superior even to some that were used in the early historic tunes. Of the many complaints in which Lcetopcptiue has shown most prompt and decided success none have been more quickly relieved than the various forms of headache, including nervous and sick headache, which distressing complaints are in nine cases out of ten, due to inactive or sluggish liver, with constipated bowels. Lactopeptine can be obtained in handy bottles, with full instructions enclosed, of Professor Moore, Waipawa.—[Advt.]