The Daily Telegraph. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1887.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4832, 4 February 1887, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1887.

Referring to the report that the Premier is likely to proceed to London, the Christohurch Press says that the Conference, it is announced, -will assemble in London on April sth—a fortnight later than at first intended—and may be expected to keep in. session for several weeks. At tho earliest a representative from New Zealand could not reach this colony on his return before the end of May, and the chances are that he ■would be delayed beyond that date. Even if Parliament were not , to meet before the beginning of June it would obviously be exceedingly inconvenient for the head of the Government to be absent just at the time when Ministers are supposed to be busily engaged in the task of preparing for the session. For some weeks before the assembling , of Parliament inspired announcements are constantly being made that Ministers are working night and day over their policy Bills, and that the most anxious consultations are continually being held regarding these Bills. If the Premier is absent in England instead of in his place in Wellington he can take no share in deliberations which may have an important bearing on the future of the Ministry. If the Premier and his colleagues think they can afford to dispense with such preparation for the session, then they must abido by the consequences. That is their business, and they must be left to settle it for themselves in I their own way. If any disaster follows, Ministers will have themselves entiroly to blume, because they must know quite well that both Parliament and the public look upon the Conference as of no importance whatever. It would appear, however, that the Premier's projected visit to England will have even more important consequences than those we have hinted at. If Parliament were to meet at the usual date he might be able to return in time to take part in the discussions on the policy prepared by his colleagues. But if he keeps the promise he made to the House last session he will not even have that privilege. Members were assured that, for various reasons, they would be called together in April. That meant that the House was to assemble for the transaction of business as early in that month as possible. It is now understood that Ministers do not intend to keep that promise, the Premier's probable visit to England being the excuse. If this is the case they will deserve very grave censure when the Parliament meets. There are many urgent reasons why the House should assemble at the earliest possible date. The finances are in an admittedly unsatisfactory position. The Treasurer's estimates of revenue are not being realised by a large sum, and, notwithstanding the supposed efforts in the direction of economy, it is expected that there will be a serious deficit at the end of the year. .■ Members should be called together, and invited to deal with this question at the v.cry commencement of the financial year. There jr no reason in the world why the accounts not be closed in a week after the financial year ends, and the Houso could, without any difficulty, be called together for the despatch of business during the following week. Then again there is the Representation Bill to be disposed of. That measure is sure to give rise to a long and acrimonious struggle, as all previous Representation Bills have done. If the meeting •of the House is delayed till the usual time, it is more than probable that much urgent business will be neglected. Parliament cannot prolong its sittings beyond the first days in August, because it expires by effluxion of time about that date. If the incidence of taxation, ifcjie Representation Bill, the reform of the Legislative Council, and other matters have to be diseased and settled, it is imperatively necessary tiiiat the House should meet at the earliest possible date. If j the meeting; of the Hpuse is delayed till <3ie usual date, it will be in the power of a determined minority to obstruct the whole business of the cession, and with a Representation Bill on hand this is very likely to happen. No valid excuse can bo put forward for postponing tho meeting beyond the middle of April. If the calling together of the Parliament is delayed for five or six weeks simply in order to allow the Premier to attend the Conference in London, the step will be very warmly and very properly resented.

The Rey. D,e Berdt Hovell leaves for Tarawera'onßfonday. Many will regret to know that the !cause .of $ifi trip m the continued illness of Mr Hov.elj's ..eldest son. • " Sleepy Hollow " never does anything in a hurry. One of the Nelson papers ite almanac for ISB7 on the 'Mb, of last month. The Queen's assent to a number of Acts of Parliament passed last session by tne New Zealand Assembly is gazetted. ; I'he appearance of the clouds yesterday n-ave hopes .of a rainfall, but beyond a slight fall in the iermpei-ftturo we had no ot&r symptom of the welcome change that has been experienced in Hie Soutu. " In consequence of the demand which has arisen in England for tinnsd meats, the Gear Company and the Meat Preserving Company are making arrangements for large shipments of their manufactures. Every inch' of ttpaco on board the I Rimutakn. which can be devoted to cargo of ttye Jaud will be taken advantage of. TherFnenph worship Scorpion left Auckland yesterday for Tahiti. Detective Campbell will obwin xbc I'&f reward proscribed by fhe Act for tii*3 < jpturo of the escaped convict Orabhee. Mr J. D. Ormond and Mr W. C. Smith will bo nominated by tlie united Councils of ilio Waipawa and Patangata Counties to represent tboso bodies ontholfapier Harbor J?u»rd. s - - 1( -; ••

The Maoris are noted weather" prophets from the cultivation of habits of observation. They notice where waterfowjl build their nests, and how a bird alights on the ground; the first will show whcthor there will be a wet or a dry summer ; and the other if there is going to be rain. The Petane natives are now engaged in making preparations for a big , flood, which, they say, will occur at the end of this , month. Eats have given them this forecast. Ths animals have been closely watched, and in consequence due precautions are being taken. There has been no flood of any moment in Hawke's Bay since 1879. The four native prisoners who were »r----rested on the charge of murdering- Noko and his wife were brought up at the K.M. Court, Gisbome, yesterday, and remanded for eight days. At the inquest a verdict of wilful murder against some person orporsons unknown was returned. A great deal of evidence was given in the enquiry which connected somo of the prisoners with the deed. A reward of £25 is offered for information leudiiig to the apprehension of the murderers. Mr Harry Power, whose happy face is so well known in Napier, is one of those evergreen and genial comedians who is always heartily greeted on whatever stage he may appear. His first visit hero was ten years ago iv company with Mins Lydia Howard, and some three years since he was with the Polks. Prior to coming to New Zealand on this last trip he was at Brisbane, but the company broke up, and it is with somo of the members of it with whom he is now tere. Misfortunes never come singly., The scenic artist broko down, and another of the company, one of the principal actors, is laid up. But in spite of it all Mr Power's pluck is pulling the company along. The pantomime last night showed now difficulties can be overcome, the audience being quite unable to, detect that there were any obstacles behind the curtain. The piece ran smoothly, and both songs and dances were encored. The performance will be repeated this evening for Mr Harry Power's benefit, when we hope to see a good house roward him for his efforts. To-morrow a treat is promised to the children, a matinee being announced.

A story of a sad death and of a very plucky attempted rescue comes from Kaipara. It appears that -whilst the Johann Brodersen, the vessel which brought the ostriches to New Zealand from South Africa, was lying off the Heads, a boat tied astern somehow got adrift. The ebbing tide was fast taking the boat away; when a seaman jumped overboard and attempted to reach her. He had gone a hundred yards or so, and had nearly reached the boat, when, his comrades on the vessel saw him struggle in the water with some unseen foe and disappear, no more to bo seen. There was little doubt that a shark had taken him, but in the face of this another sailor, whose name had not transpired, sprang overboard to the first seaman. Nothing was, however, to be seen of the poor fellow, and hia plucky would-be rescuer after swimming half a mile got into the boat. The Pride of Hawke's Bay Lodge, 1.0.G-.T., last evening installed the following office-bearers:—P.G.T., Bro. James Constable ; - G.T., Bro. R. Hogan; V.T., Sister Rowe; Secretary, Bro. H. C. LeBas; F. Secretary, Bro. Butwell; Treasurer, Sister C. Oamoron; Chaplain, Sister J. Parr; Marshal, Bro. D. Cameron ; O.G-., Bro. Morrison; I.Gk, Bro. Brown; A. Secretary, Bro. K. Cameron ; . D. Marshal, Sister Fcavoy; R.H.S., Sister E. Austin; L.H.S., Sister A. Parr. Bro. W. D. Pulton was elected Lodge Deputy for the ensuing twelve months. A somewhat curious case, believed to be tho first of its land in the colonies, will come on for hearing at the April sittings of the Supreme Court at Wellington. It will be remembered that, some 12 months ago, Christopher Cross was charged by the directors of the Wanganui Heads Railway Company with tho embezzlement of a portion of their funds while secretary to the company. Thomas Harley, of Nelson, and brother-in-law to Cross, however, settled with the company, and obtained a release by paying the directors the sum of £300. In the face of this agreement, hoVever, the directors iuformed Harley that unless another £300 was forthcoming, they would prosecute Cross. Mr Harley declined to pay the additional £300, and the case went to trial. On hearing the evidence the Chief Justice dismissed the case, saying that the acceptance of £300 by the directors showed that they treated the matter in quite a civil form, and he could not say that a Board of Directors, with a solicitor for chairman, would be parties to the compounding of a felony. Mr Harley now intends to sue the directors for breach of contract in prosecuting . Cross after accepting the £300. Eight writs are being issued tne case. In Westport there are 12 hotelkeepers, 11 drapers, and 11 grocers. There are 361 residences in the borough, 12 unoccupied buildings, and 523 unoccupied sections, 148 of which are partially improved. Half of them are held by absentees. A serious coach accident on the Kai-iwi Hill, ten miles from "Wanganui, occurred at 4 o'clock yesterday morning. Mr Ross, coach proprietor, was returning with a four-horse coach, full of passengers, from the big sale , at Moore and Carrie's estate, and. on rounding a sharp turn in the road at the top of a steep cutting, the coach leaders collided with the horses of an approaching buggy, with the result that the former backed the coach over the declivity. The coach separated into three sections before reaching , the bottom of the gully, some parts of the coach being knocked into splinters. Of the passengers Captain Abbot is believed to be badly injured, and he was taken to the Kai-iwi Hotel. All the others were brought to town by train. Mr Piercy. an up-river settler, got two ribs and his collar-bone broken. Mr Allom (of the Thames) sustained a severe scalp wound. Messrs Cowper and Shaw were much shaken and 'bruised. Messrs Fraser,(Rangitikei), Knight (Napier), Livingstone (Hawera), Pent (Wanganui), "and Wallis (Napier) were uninjured. It cannot be denied that after nine years' ■working the Act has failed to reconcile the opponents of the secular principle. On the one side, the Protestant Bible reading party, on the other side the Roman Catholic party are thundering against it. Not a session passes without a bill embodying the views of one or other of these sections being introduced in the legislature, and last session a bill authorising Bible reading in public schools passed a second reading in the Legislative Council by 20 to 17, but was refected on third reading. So long as a chronic sense of .injustice prevails in the communitythis agitation will continue, and it is certainly the duty of Parliament to satisfy, as far as can be done without injury to the State; the conscientious scruples of even a substantial minority. We (Auckland Star) have never had any doubt that a large majority of the Protestant population would favor the reading in our schools of selected passages from the Bible, such as are authorised in tho provinco of Ontario, Canada, if it were not for the fear which was expressed in the Rev. Mr M'Kenzie's motion at the Otago Synod, that a concession cannot be made to the Bible reading party without an equal amount of consider: ation being given to the conscientious scruples of the Roman Catholics. The following gentlemen have been nominated for jfche three Napier seats on the Harbor Board;— Mesers J. W. Neal, J. C. M'Vay, H. C. Robjohus, S, Camel}, H. P. Cohen, and Captain J. Campbell. The Rifle Volunteers paraded last evening for company drill, . Lieutenant King in command. The company was put through the manual and firing exercises by Sergeants Teychenne and Nicholson. DrillInstructor Nelson then took charge, and kept the men at bayonet exercise for about half-an-hour, detailing the latest alteration made in this drill. It is now laid down tha.£ when the men come to the " charge on about" they musj;" beat the attack" with the foot. The Drill-In-structor then treated the company to the different formations into line. We extract the following novel cure for the codlin moth trouble from the Waikato Times: —" Any of our readers who have a larger quantity of apples than are required for domestic use, should apply to Mr Jarrett, of Cambridge West, who has lately perfected a cider-making machine. We learn he has purchased a 4-horse-power engine from the Auckland Agricultural Company, and intends contracting to make cider in any part of the Waikato. We would recommend any of our friends who may bo troubled with the codlin moth to give this liiefhbd of getting rid of the pest a trial. Of course it would not exterminate them, but it would no doubt kill thousands i that would .otherwise remain to breed." , Rather an exceptional case came up at the bankruptcy sittings of the Supreme Court at Dunedin yesterday. The case should have been the public examination of a bankrupt, but it appeared that though the debtor had readily availed himself of the services pf tho Official Assignee so far as those were necessary to afford him the protection of the bankruptcy laws, as soon as he became bankrupt he declined to proceed further, and refused to appear before the Assignee to be questioned. The creditors ■worp anxious to get back some property that .was hpjd by the debtor's mother-in-law, anE asked juje Judge to examine the bankrupt. The debtor", juowey'er, .did not attend, the Court in obedience tt>' the summons served on him, but steps' are

likely to be taken to compel hjmto do so at the next sittings. The following applications for letters patent have been gazetted:—-A. ~W. Reid, Ngaire, for a patent vibrating. sifting apparatus for dressing , any description of seeds;C.G.P. Dβ Laval, M.A., Stockholm, for (pi}, improved centrifugal apparatus, Jhat can be operated by hand, for separating substsincesof different gravities; such as milk and cream.;, 3'. an<j E, TV".' Parnoll, Liverpool, for Miiprovements in the ta'Cftjajiegt.of auriferous and argentiferous sulphide of apijinpny ores, to obtain gold, silver, and antimony tj^rpfrflja; H. Message, .diriatchurch,. for a wishing machine, intended,to be used with portable boilers or "fixed coppers; J. E. Hn-yes and VV. H. Edwards, Wellington, for . jnents in cooling chambers; H, Hughes, "Wpljiftgtim, forimprovements in machniery for ipa,per-b,a£s 5 |f .Bratley, Wellingtonj for priyays |or coni&jningr njatdjies and .owier^'ihlitte^; :j". Bartos, Wftimate, for chaft , bag Mer; TV*. Hooker, Wellington'; for, a gas injector for mixing air and gae'to 'any re<jujred quality, ■ ;<. ■ ; w-*. ■:• -■■■*■''"

There was no business at tho R.M; Court this morning. , . '

Tho following are to-day's mercury readings:—Russell 7<J, Auckland 76, Thames 74, Tauranga 77, Gisborne 69, Napier 09, New Plymouth 67, Wanganui 72, Wellington 71, Blenheim G9, Nelson 66, Hokitika 62, Christchurch 64, Timaru 67, Dunedin 61, Invcrcsrgill 62, Bluff 60. There has been a very appreciable fall in the temperature throughout the colony.

The case of Regina v. Hoodlcy, in the matter of the telephone instrument destroyed at the late fire, suggests the question whether a subscriber to tho Exchange would be liable if tho instrument were to l - e> destroyed during a thunderstorm or an earthquake P

The contract for the first section of the Kaihu Valley (Auckland) railway has been signed.

A presentation of a purse of sovereigns was made yesterday at Gisborno on behalf of tho principal business men and settlers to Mr Matthewm, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, on leaving for a six months' trip to England for his health.

A large number of friends assembled"yesterday at Gisborne to take leave of Mr Bright, manager of tho New Zealand" Loan and Mercautilo Agency Company, on his removal to Auckland.

The Weslcyau Ministers attending the Confereuco at Auckland left for their homes yesterday by the Te Anau.

Wolfe's Schnapps is held in high esteem by medical men, as it it the purest stimulant and tonic in the world.

We recommend Wolfe's-Schnapps to our readers as an uncquallod medicinal beverage.

Employ that celebrated tonic Woifb's Schxatps to restore the organs of digestion, &c. Be sure and obtain Wolfe's.