The Daily Telegraph. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1886.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4735, 9 October 1886, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1886.

Tβ "Whiti has been sentenced to three months' imprisonment and to pay a fine of £60 for the foolish part be played in connection with the West Coast troubles. Everyone will be perfectly agreed that the punishment awarded Te Whiti is none to severe. His vagaries as a prophet, and the tora-foolery to which he has instigated his stupid followers, have forfeited anyfeelingS) of respect that might have been entertained for him as one having a grievance. Te Whiti has a grievance, and a substantial one, and we exceedingly regret his grievance should be lost sight of, swallowed up as it were, by his own folly. The West Coast prophet is not the only one of his race who labors under the conviction that he has been unjustly treated. We are sorry to think that the native policy of the present Government will tend to increase the number. If Mr Preeee's mission to the Maori meeting at Waipawa the other day is an indication of what is going oh all over the Island, then we have a revival of the worst features of what was hoped was a dead-and-gone administration of native affairs. Unfortunately for the Maoris Mr Ballance believes in the personal government of the natives by himself, because for the moment he happens to portfolio of Native Minister. Ho believes In visiting the natives in their pan, and discussing their private affairs with them ;' he believes in dropping the dignity and isolation of a Minister of the Crown, and listening to all that the Maoris may tell him as their " greatfather." Thus it is that we have thefoolishobservationsof comparatively obscure men and women reproduced in Parliamentary Papers as though idle conversations were of State moment. There is more good nature than astuteness in Mr Ballance's character, and it would not be surprising if his amiability were more often availed of by designing natives. His powers of perception should guard him against the acceptance of cunning flattery. No doubt Mr Ballance has been told that his Native Land Administration Act is an- admirable measure calculated to fulfil the requirements of settlement and to satisfy the demands of the Maoris. But who are the people who would talk such nonsense as that to him ? Would it not be the crowd of hungry hangers-on to the Native Department pfho see in the return to an old state of tliiijg'S a phance of the crumbs of office? Theie_ are _to be Cprnmjssioners for the administration of lands bought from the natives; there are to be land-purchasing Commissioners ; there are to be native committee men for the disposal of the land; there are to be fat commissions to bo picked up, and billets with big salaries ; there are inter-tribal feuds to be fomented; intrigues to be worked ; agents to be employed—in a word, money to be made, and private spites to be satisfied. And the dispenser of all the patronage in connection with the whole of these matters will be the Native Minister, yir Bryce found the department ie themiserablo conoitic?! in which we believe it wili be next year, and he swept f he Augean stable plean. Mr Ballance's policy is to edit !"«& the djri. Xt is ready to his hand. And can it be supposed fop a single moment that it will not breed trouble! . We have the of it already in Hawke-'s" Bay. "A petty chief C* * he name of Nopera has been induced under this neiv OJ , ""' of things to agree to the sale of his interest in abloct of land that has not passed through the Native Lands Court. It is not actually known that he has any_ interest in the land to dispose of. The opinion indeed has been expressed (hat when tho Court sits it will befound that lie has little or no interest there But what does that matter P As was stated in tho Houso during the debate on the NViti vo Lands Administration Act, the commissioners will have to justify their appointments, they must prove their energy. Then, if we may judgo of the futuro from what we know occurred in the past, men will be declared owners of land bocauso they havesold their interest in it to' tho Crown, as it could not be supposed for a moment that they would sell what they did not possess,

or that a Commissioner would buy improperly. Naturally the Maoris are excessively angry with this man Nopera, and they demand a sitting of the Native Lands Court to determine and cut off what interest it may be shown he possesses in the block. But is tiiere any prospect of an immediate sitting of the Court P No. If the old policy in all its glory is to be revived the plan would be for Nopera to sport his wealth, and to excite the cupidity of other natives ; for the ono who sells to act as the decoy duck to those who wish to keep their land. Five-and-twenty years ago this was called "potato planting," and from the golden seed sown a rich crop of trouble was harvested, the effect of which may now be seen in almost every cemetery in the North Island, and in the persons of Te Whiti and his companions imprisoned in Wellington.

On another page will be found by-law-No. 28, which has been rendered necessary by the decision of the E.M. in the case against the Salvation Array. The new Corporation by-law simply re-enacts in seventeen sections by-laws that were rendered invalid by the decision in question. Among those to be re-enacted is the processions by-law, which has been tho cause of so much trouble. The Corporation, in the action they have taken, will have the support of the law abiding and respectable portion of the community.

Mr J. W. Dodge, manager for Mr Wybert Reeve, arrived here this morning to make arrangements for his opening at the Theatro Royal on Saturday evening next, October 16. Mr Reeve brings with him a very strong and popular comedy and dramatic company, including such leading and firstclass artistes as Miss Lucia Harwood, Miss Emily Fitzroy, Miss Rose Vernon Paget, Miss Violet Ellicott, Miss May Graham, MiBrian Darley, Mr Henry Hoyte, Mr Arthur Lawrence, Mr George Forbes, Mr Kingston, and Mr F. G. Wilton. The repertoire comprises some of the best comedies and plays of modern times. The season, which will extend over six nig-hts, will be inaugurated with the charming comedy of " Impulse," which has been such a great success in Melbourne and Auckland, to he followed during the week by "Diplomacy," "Only Dust," "Dark Days," and "The Woman in White." Mr Reeve will also bring new scenery and stage appointments, and the dresses of the company are said to be very elegant, thoE-e worn by the ladies being really models of fashion. With such attractions as these, the season should prove a very profitable one. The price 3 will be 4s, 2s Od, and Is. The box plan will be opened about Thursday next at the usual place.

The Rev. P. H. Cornford gave a very interesting lecture last evening at the Port Presbyterian Church on " Missionary Life in Jamaica." The Rev. J. G-. Paterson was chairmnn, and briefly introduced the lecturer. Mr Cornford dealt at greatlength with the insurrection of the negroes in 1831. The lecture was agreeably varied by the choir, Miss Kraeft presiding at the harmonium, while the lecturer was very felicitous in telling humorous and pathetic anecdotes illustrative of his subject. The lecture was highly appreciated by all present."

The total entries for the A. and P. Society's show next week number &74 as against 603 in 1885, 557 in 1884, 461 in 1883, and 456 in 1882. The details of the entries are as follows: —Sheep, 239 (falling off of C 4 as compared with last year) ; cattle, 60; horses, 129; pigs, 6; implements, 31; buggies, 2; dairy produce, 27 (an increase of 10 as compared with last year); poultry, 18 ; dogs, 27 ; sundries, 29 ; and grain, 6. All the classes except those mentioned above are very similar as regards the number of entries to last year.

Our Waipawa correspondent telegraphs as follows:—"A public meeting was held at Kaikora last night, when it was decided it was not advisable to establish a town district by a large majority.—The Hon. Mr Ballance wired to Paora Ropiha, from Wairarapa, to-day, that he will be here next Tuesday."

Tomorrow morning , the subject of Mr Patoison's sermon will be, " Common Sense in Religion." In the afternoon Mr

Duncan Wright will address the children parents, and friends at 3 o'clock, and wil commence his mission by preaching , in St Paul's Church at 7 o'clock.

At the inquest at Wellington yesterday on the body of William .Elwin, who committed suicide by hanging on Thursday, evidence was given that a man named Burrows, who was lodging at JElwin's, saw him (Elwin) immediately after hanging himself, but refused to cut him down until the police arrived. Mrs Elwin said she called Burrows, who wont into the shed and after a long absence returned and said, "It's a case of pickles. Billy's done away with himself. He has hanged himself." Witness asked him to cut her husband down, but he would not, saying that he dare not touch him till the police saw him. Burrows then went away. Witness went our, and saw her husband kicking , , and went for Mr Haven, who cut him down. It was threequarters of an hour after she told Burrows to cut the body down till Mr Eaven came and cut the rope. Had the body been cut down when it was first seen probably the man would have lived. The Coroner said: "This is the most dreadful thing I ever heard of. It is most extraordinary that people will go on in that stupid way of seeing their fellows in positions of danger and not attempting to savo them till the police are sent for." The jury returned a verdict of temporary insanity, and passed a vote of censure on Burrows.

A day's journey from Napier either to the south or to the west will bring the traveller to a vastly different climate to that which he enjoys on tbe coast. At Woodville he can almost always reckon upon drenching rain, and in the Owlmoko country upon snow, and frost. Last Wednesday there was a fall of snow an inch in depth at Owhaoko, and, the wind being from the west, the disagreeable weather during the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club race meeting can be accounted for.

The Auckland Lumpers' Union has been wound up, and the funds (£220) are to be divided amongst the members.

Several of the Press Association agents in the colony have very eccentric notions as to what constitutes news, or items worth publishing. For instance, the agent in Auckland wired that an alligator had not been seen in the Waikato, and he concluded with the cheering intelligence, "the report is disbelieved." Not to be outdone, the agent at Dunedin informed us that a man or woman was not seen to dive into the waves at Long Beach. We would remind Press Association agents that we want facts not probabilities. That is to say, we want alligators not allegations (this is old, but still it is useful on this occasion). We want body not "lees" in drowning cnses. The agent at Wellington was expensive over the marks on the supposed murderer Oaffrey's body, and it will be a joy for ever for us to know the famous " strawberry mark on his arm" was not discovered. Another agent —at Woodville—sent a lengthy telegram to say it was raining over there. We had tons of water falling hero when we received it, and a very creditable thunderstorm went on neai-ly all day, but we didn't send expensive telegrams all over the country about it. We let the storm speak for itself, as it was able to do. We don't like being too officious. One thing we do observe—when the agent is a proprietor of a paper, his messages are crisp and to the point, but when " one of our staff" has the pen " he spreads himself." He has'nt got to pay for the luxury. —Feilding Star.

The following are to-day." mercury readings: -EussellGO, Auckland 62, Thames 63, Tauranga 58, Gisbourne 60, Napier 63, New Plymouth 58, Wellington 50, Wanganui 58, Blenheim 60, Nelson 62, Christchurch 53, Timaru 57, Dunedin 50, and Invercargill 52. It is raining over the greater part of the colony.

The Waikaremoana correspondent of the Wairoa Guardian says:—There has boon quite an exod#s of natives from here for Te Vv airoa to cry over the loss of their friends. Death has been rife among them during the past winter, especially the old folks, most of whom have been gathered to their fathers. The young people are sadly in want of a school among them, but the heads of the tribes refuse a school site, as they fear the encroachment of the white race. A number of natives belonging to Eotorua arrived at Ruatahuma a few weeks back, to beg to be allowed to settle there, as their own land was swallowed up during the late eruption. Sulphur appears to follow these people, as two of their party were wounded during the feu-de-joic fired in honor of their reception. One unfortunate received the charge, or wad full in his face.

The Commissioners on the Stark purchase met yesterday, and, we understand, arranged their order of business. ; It will be seen from an advertisement in anothor column that the Commissioners are to enter upon their enquiry on Monday next, and that they have cited Messrs H. M. Brewer and T. Seaman, and all other persons who may desire to offer evidence, to appear before thefa. There are no doubt persons who can give evidence; but who are not in any way desirous or anxious to put themselves forward, and those persons, we presume, will be duly summoned by the Commissioners. In connection with this matter, we understand that Mr Brewer, the Land Purchase Officer, has been notified by the Government that his resignation has been accepted. He is remaining in Auckland simply to Rive evidence before the Commission. Wo think that as regards Mr Brewer, who is an old. officer, the Government have acted most ungraciously. The matter of the purchase of the Stark propert}' T^ B taken out of Mr Brewer's hands entirely by the SlilL 5 of Public Works, arid yet, when the publiu outcry iCS , " ,1 ; not only did Ministers not defend their officer, but they thrp-jy the responsibility upon him. Mr Brewer sent in his resignation in conseouence" of the aspersions to which he was subjocteu, ? because the Government did nothing to defena 1,1?:., «nd the Government, by accepting his resignation, ,'.2: vo intimated that thoy consider him to blame. —N.Z. Herald.

Ai Christchurch yesterday the Grand Jury found a true bill in all the twelve forgevy eases against Hall.

At the R.JM. Court this morning, before G. A. PreGce, Esq., R.M., Alexander McClelland for drunkenness was fined 5s and costs. ' ' • - :

Mr Gladstone not only retires from tho Premiorship, but ceases to bo a man of " letters "—Home Rule and Homer in ono rude burial blent.—Bailjo,

The Rev. P. H. Cornford left for Christchurch to-day to take charge of the Baptist Church there, the pastor ofwhich, the Rev. Mr Dallaston, is incapacitated hy severe illness. The Spit congregation determined not_ to allow Mr Cornford to depart from their midst, even temporarily, without some expression of their kindly feeling towards him being shown. Advantage was therefore taken of his lecture at the Spit last night to present the rev. gentleman with a purse of sovereigns, the presentation being made in a neat little speech by Mr Maclintock. Mr Cornford, who was apparently much touched by the congregation's kindly feeling towards himself, briefly returned thanks, and hoped that his absence might be turned into a blessing for them and him.

Thursday's N.Z. Herald says: —Amongst the passengers by the Arawata yesterday, were Bishop Surer, of Nelson, who has been on a tour round the Islands. It has been arranged that one of the Bishops of the Anglican Church in New Zealand shall visit the Islands every year, and this year Bishop Suter has discharged the duty. He states that the eruption on the island of Niau-fu will be a severe loss to Tonga, as the cocoanuts grown on that island, now devastated by the volcanic outbreak, were the best produced in any part of the group.

This is how the Inangahua Herald concludes its report of a mining case in the local court: —"Mr Moynihan elicited a few more still dryer facts. (Tho reporter went out and had a drink and subsequent proceedings interested him no more.} "

John Livesy, commission ngent at Auckland has been arrested on the charge of forging a cheque for £200 on the Bank of New Zealand in the name of Frank William Foley. It is stated that the total amount Mr Foley has lost through the alleged forgeries is some £650. liivesy was brought up at the Resident Magistrate's Court at Auckland yesterday and remanded.

The gentlemen who went to Syduev with the shipment of cattle by the Wakatipu on the 15th September have returned, and are in very high spirits as to the future prospects of trade between Sydney and New Plymouth. It is understood that they are fully convinced that a market exists for every class of our produce There will be a very large demand for fat cattle during the winter time. This is most satisfactory, for during the winter time Taranaki cattle are in their best condition. The Auckland market at that time is generally glutted, and prices are low. It is also understood that a shipowner in Sydney contemplates putting on a special steamer for this trade. The steamer would carry about 300 cattle, and would make the Taranaki trade a speciality.—Taranaki Herald.

The Compensation Court, Wellington, has granted the plaintiff in the case of Drake v. the Wellington-Manawatu Kailway Company £600 as damages for taking the railway lino through his land near Johnson - ville.

The Bell, writing of Mr D. Wright, says : —" One of the most striking features in connection with his mission has been that the work has been performed, and with such rare success, by a layman. Before all other denominations the Presbyterian Church is unbending in its demand for a clergy educated on certain lines. Other denominations have various little side doors by which an intending teacher can slip into the pulpit, but the Presbyterian rigidly demands that the minister come through the wide door of the University. In the universal acceptance of Mr Wright's most valuable services we see a distinct blow At conventionalism, and it may be anticipated that henceforward the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand will avail itself more fully of agencies that have been so eminently successful in the religious machinery of other denominations. In any case Mr Duncan Wright Ims proved himself an able "and most successful evangelist, and it is to the honor of the clergy of the Church of Scotland that they have so earnestly seconded him in his work."

Mr Wakefield's paper says that the bottom seems to have fallen out of the revenue, and the Colonial Treasurer's estimates are nowhere.

The negotiations we referred to some time ago as being in progress for the dissolution of the partnership existing between Messrs Barraud and Bowerman have been completed, and the firm of Bowerman and Owen has been established. The Medical Hall, under the management of Mr Bowerman since 1860 has obtained the reputation of being one of the most reliable and conscientiously conducted dispensaries in the colony, while Mr Owen, during his two years' residence in Napier, has won the confidence of a very large connection. We believe it is proposed to considerably enlarge the sphere of operations of the new firm in the manufacturing chemistry department, and no doubt the good name possessed by the establishment during its twenty-five years' existence will be fully maintained in the future, and this alone will be a surety of its receiving liberal patronage.