Evening Post. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1882.

Evening Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 39, 5 September 1882, Page 2

Evening Post. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1882.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM. '♦ ' Local Government Reform as a party cry, or political stalking-horse, appears to be well-nigh at its last gasp. Local Government Reform as a distinct and detailed polioy, seems on the eve of becoming an accomplished fact. Two of the five Bills which embody the Local Government polioy of tho present Govemment-'-the Rating Bill and the Road Boards Bill— have already passed the Lower House, and the other three — the Counties Amendment, Roads and Bridges Construction, and Crown and Native Land Rating Bills — are so far advanced that it is not unreasonable to anticipate that they too will be carried without material amendment. The career of this policy form* a very remarkabli circum.

stance in our political history. It was three years ago that Major Atkdjbon in his Financial Statement, delivered in the second session of 1879, declared his conviction that the separation of local from general finance was an essential condition of the colony's finnnmal soundness, and announced his intention of bringing down a scheme of local finance in the ensuing session. The session of 1880, however, found ample occupation in dealing with the Property Tax and. Beer Duty, Electoral Reform, Native Affairs, some Consolidation Bills, the various Royal Commissions reports, ' and the annual want-of -confidence debate, so that Local Government Reform was left out in the cold, the Bills not being even touched. The following year, however, introduced quite a new phase. The two Bills in which the Government policy on this head was then formulated were introduced early in the session, and the Government prepared tc go on with them in the usual course. But during the intervening recess it had struck tho Opposition leaders — who then, as now, were plural in number and singular only in their method of leadership — that this question properly handled might prove a useful lever to heave the Government off the Ministerial benches. Tho cue had been given by Mr. Osmond, who, in the preceding session, when speaking in support of the Government on the no-confidence motion, had uttered a bitter lament over lost Provincialism, and a sad wail of remorse over his own part in killing that valuable system. Such views went straight to the heart of Mr. Macandbew and other enthusiasts, who have always looked on Provincialism as the embodiment of all that is good and holy in politics, and its opponents as the most malignant of iconoclasts. Even Sir Geoeqe Geey was moved to more amicable feelings toward his inveterato political foe, and was disposed to allow a certain celebrated and deeply-resented antiGeey philippic delivered by Mr. Obmond a few years before to pass into comfortable oblivion, with so encouraging a prospect of utilising his erstwhile revller. It was arranged that Local Government Reform should be the cry of the coming session, when it was thought that several Provincialiats, then generally supporting the Government, might be induced to join in the crusade. The scheme flourished bravely. Ministers could not bring down a single measure without being promptly mot with the declaration that Local Government Reform would settle the matter at once, and render unnecessary the particular measure before the House. It was so with Hospital Maintenance, Charitable Aid, Licensing, Gaming ' and Lotteries, and a host of other subjects. " Give us good local government," shouted the Opposition and their allies, "and then the local bodies can manage all these matters much better than a central authority." At last Major Atkinson moved the Crown and Native Lands Rating Bill, and then the blow was struck. Mr. Obmond moved a direct motion of want of confidence, on the ground that Ministers' Local Government Policy waa unsatisfactory ¦ The result did not come up to anticipation. Mr. Maoandbew, Mr. MoNTOOMKBY, and even Sir Geoeoe Geey, eagerly followed Mr. Obmond in the lobby, but not so the expected reinforcement of Provincialists from the Ministerial ranks. Mr. Readee Wood changed sides once more, but that was all. The rest of the party treated the motion on itt real and not its ostensible purport. They voted on it as a no-confidence motion, and the Government scored a victory by a majority of four. But the policy was doomed for that session. Several staunch Ministerialists had hinted pretty plainly that while they would vote to keep their side in office, they were not prepared to swallow the Bills. Accordingly those measures wero dropped for the session and tho Representation Bill subsequently proved a fully sufficient battle-ground to exercise the legislative pugnacity. With the session of 1881 departed also the Parliament of 1879, and a general election followed. If any idea had been entertained that the crucial test of strength in the session preceding tho election would be also that of the ballot-box, it proved woefully erroneous. Nobody seemed to care a pin about the matter during the election, and the new members came to Wellington "free as the mountain air" in regard to their action on that point. During the first three months of the session the Government had their hands quite full with consolidating their party and keeping the House amused with routine work, while the Opposition found abundant occupation in the weekly election and deposition of their leaders, in proparing little surprises of a disagreeablo kind for the Government, and in planning "catch divisions," to be taken at every possible opportunity. But now at last the hour has come. Major Atkinson has "bided his time" to some purpose, and he is now pulling through his Bills with a swiftness which almost takos one's breath away. If he goes on in the same style he will have the other three Bills up to the Legislative Council in about two days' time, and there does not appear any valid reason why he should not be ablo to get them all on the Statute Book before the prorogation. It will naturally "bo asked — How has so remarkable a change come about in the attitude of the House on this question? We shall endeavour to answer that question on another day.

Captain Morris gave notice at to-day's sitting of Parliament of his intention to ask the Government to-mcrrow what steps they purpose to take in connection with the case of James Farrell, ex-deteotive, of the Thames. A question asked by Sir John Hall in the House to-day elicited the information that the probable oost of printing the papers ordered in connection with the Brogden oase would be about .£SOO. Mr. Dick stated that this sum would be placed on the Supplementary Estimates. In the Legislative Council yesterday Mr. Chamberlin asked the Premier, " If it is the intention of the Government to prohibit the importation and sale of oertain Yankee novelties in the form of toy pistols?" Mr. Oliver said tho Government had no information on the subject. Mr. Hutchison has tabled the following notioe of motion for Thursday :— " (1) That, in the opinion of this House, the Customs duties upon tea and ooffee are impolitic and unjast, as pressing unduly on the masses of the people; beside being a oharge, in many cases, amounting to 100 per cent, upon those commodities, the consumption of which should be encouraged as tending to the promotion of sober and eoonotnio habits (2) It ia therefore desirable that those duties should be repealed, and thia House reoommend the Government to mak« arrangements for so doing in the next session of Parliament. (3) That a land-tax on a progreeiive scale be substituted therefor- This tax to be levied on all l«nds alienated from the State, and held, in case of agricultural land, in any quantity over 200 aores, and in the, case of pastoral land, in any quantity over 2000 acres." After the whole of the questions had been disposed of in the Honse of Representativas to-aay, Mr. Montgomery enquired when the Public Works Estimates would be brought down. Major Atkinson, in replying, stated that they oould not be submitted until the Loan Bills vhad been disposed of. These Billa had been held baok until the report of the Beleot Committee on apeoial rates for local works had been received. That report having been presented to-day, the Loan Hills would be further proceeded with to-morrow, while the Government hoped to get through the Looal Government Bills to-day. The Amnesty Bill and several Bills reoeived from the Legislative Council would be aho gone on with to-morrow, he hoped ; and on Thursday the Publio Works Estimates would bo submitted with a view of the session o'osing praotioally on Friday. Mr. Seddon said v there had boon any delay in connection with the report of the committee in question, the Colonial Treasurer was responsible for it. Major Atkinson moved the adjournment of the Honse, to enable the member for Kumara to substantiate his allegation, liv. Seddon thereupon said the hon. gentleman had delayed bringing down his proposals to the oommittee in regard to the tubject until tho very last moment. Mr. Conolly, tho chairman of the committee, denied that there had been any needless delay is the matter. If there had been, it was due entirely to the anxiety felt by every member of the oommittee that the matter should not be hastily considered. Mr. Maoandrew, a member of the oommittee, followed in a similar strain, after whioh the disou&sion wa9 allowed to drop. The Wellington correspondent of the Dunedin Morning Herald writes :— " The numerous friends of Mr. M. W. Green will be gratified to learn that he has acoepted the position of travelling leoturer for the Mutual Aesuranoe Company. In future the member for Dnnedin East will be engaged in taking lives instead of in saving souls." We learn that the Phoenix Goldmining Company, Terawhiti, have pegged out a freah lease of the vacant ground between the Golden Crown and Albion Company'siolaims. The company intend to put on men at once to prospect, and it is expeoted there should be no difficulty in p:oking up the lode, as the ground is in the oentra of two claims whose prospecta are considered encouraging. The Chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board— Mr. W. V. Jackson— returned to ?Wellington latt evening by the Wftkatipv.

An extraordinary general meeting of the shareholders of the Wellington and Man*.watu Railway Company was held at the offices, Lambton Quay, at noon to-day, for the purpose of confirming certain resolutions passed at a meeting on the 2nd nit. In the abstnee of the Chairman, Mr. G. V. Shannon presided. Mr. Shannon moved the adoption of the resolutions. The motion was seoonded by Mr. £. W. Mills, and unanimously agreed to. The Chairman said that b fore parting he should like to say a few words in reference to the operations of the company. The Reclamation Bill had become law, and the company were now the possessors of 20 aorea of valnable land, the position of whioh oould be seen on referring to the map lying on the table. Contracts had been let amounting to over .£57,000, aid the eucoefs'ul tenderers had commenced, or were about to commence, carrying cut the work, so that the shareholders could look forward to the various contracts progressing rapidly. It would be within the recollection of shareholders that at their first meeting a turn of £4,000 had been voted toward the preliminary expenses of the undertaking, of that amount only .£621 19a (including a bonus of JBIOO to Mr. Andrews) ha 3 been expended— a fact whioh ho thought must prove very gratifying to those who had invested in the concern. He believed euch a result was unexampled in this colony ; but it was to be attributed to the earnest manner in which the preset had been taken up by the people of the distriot, neither time nor m >ney b -ing spared in the desire to bring it to a successful issue. The meeting then terminated. A somewhat interesting case was decided at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday morning by Mr. Hardcastle. About four months ago, on Messrs. Zohrab, Newman and Co shifting their premises from John-ston-street to the Quay, anauotion was held, at which some of their old stook was got rid of. Plaintiff (J. Hyams) stated that at this sale he bonght e'ght one dozen pound tins of pepper at Is 3d a dozen, a cample of which, shown to him before the sale, being of good medium quality. On examining his bargain afterwards phintiff found that the pepper was worthless. It was contended for the defence that the goods sold at the auction were disposed of "with all faults," an ingenious phrase which, like charity, is seemlnjjly intended to oover a multitude of sins. Plaintiff alleged that he went to the defendants to remonstrate with them, but was ordered off the premises. Ho thereupon sued defendants for £2 12a 6d, partly for money laid out and partly for loss of sale, plaintiff contending that had the pepper been good he could have sold it at 6s a dozen. After hearing the evidence, his Worship delivered judgment for the defendants. The case of John Tully v. the Hon. John Martin, to reoover damages, nominally sst down at £5000, for alleged negligence in allowing soab-icfeoted sheep to trespass on defendant's land, and thns infect the plaintiff's sheep, again ocoupied the attention of his Honour the Chief Justice and a speoial jury in the Supreme Court this morning. Mr. W. T. L. Travers. with whom was Mr. Gray, appeared for the plaintiff, »nd Mr. Izard, with whom was Mr. £. Shaw, for the defendant. Five witnesses out of the 14 to be examined were heard yesterday, and this morning ethers were oalled to corroborate tho statement made by the a uDsd for the plaintiff that the sheep owned by the defendant were diseased, and that they gave the infection to the flook owned by plaintiff. A lively aocount of a aide scene whioh ooourred during the recent visit of the deputation from the Ratepayers' Keform Assooiatirn to the City Council was given by Mr. Petheriok at a meeting of the Association hist evening. Summoning him to ft side room apart from the rest of the d putation, by one of the Corporation messenger', Connoillor Allen said—" I want to toll you, 'If anyone aoonses that young man that is apipninted as inspector for the Wainui-o-mata tunnel, sayng that he is an inexperienced person, they tell a lie.'" This having evoked a somewhat inoredulous laugh from • the members of the Association present, jMr. Petheri k assured them that he was .giving them the words just as they were nttered. He (Mr. Potheriok) was bo surprised that he thought it was his duty to tell them. "I told Councillor Allen," continued Mr. Petherick, " it win reported that the person appointed was inexperienced." "He has fourteen years' experience," retorted Ccunoillor Allen. "But he didn't name whero,' ' said Mr. Petherick to the members of the association, all breathless to hear the upshot of the scene. " I tell you," continued Councillor Allen, " that heis as steady and respeotable a young man as is to be found in New Zealand, and he is my fod, and anybody who saya he is not fit to be plaoed over those works is a liar." Councillor Allen brought the interview to an abrupt conclusion by reproaching Petheriok for having anything to do with the asßooiation. " And it was for this," said the orator pathetically, as he resumed his seat, " that I was called into the clerk's office away from tho deputation, to bo thus insulted in the presence of three olerks, and with the gas only half turned on !" Considerable exoitement was oauscd on Lambton Quay about 9 o'olook last evening by the loud shrieking of a female. The tramway-oar had just passed the City Bnffe't at a good speed, and it was thought by persons who were in the vioinity at the time that a woman had boen run over. The oar was almost hutintly brought to a standstill, and a number of men hurried aoroes to it for the pnrpoao of hearing what had happened. It appears that one of the passengers, a young woman, made several attempts to jump off the carriage while in motion, which, however, were frustrated by the guard. On passing the City BurKt she made anothnr effort to regain terra firma, and this- time suocoeded in eluding the grasp of the young man in oharge. In jumping off she misoaloulatcd her distance, and fell heavily, to the ground, sustaining a severe shook, whioh, however, did' not prevent her from getting on her feet again and running aoroßß the street uttering fhriek after shriek. In a moment she was lost to view, and as her name and whereabout 3 are unknown, the extent of her injuries cannot be ascertained. It is believed, however, they are not very serious. At a meeting of the Mungaroa Licensing Committee, held at the Upper Hutton Monday, Mr. Baylus oooupied the chair. Mr. Shortt applied for permission to transfer the lioense ot tho Criterion Hotel to Mr. H. Long. The application was refused on the ground that Mr. Long was not a married man. * A similar application by Mr. Hamoriohin regard to the Pahautanui Hotel, Mr. Mullins being the intended new landlord, was dealt with in like manner, the reason for the refusal being that objections had been made as. to the manner in which the house had been conducted under a permit license. The Committed resolved that all the hotels in the district should be provided with flre escapes, and the clerk was in struoted to write publicans to that effeot. This was all the business transacted. The damage sustained by Mr. Thomas' Prioe by the destruction by fire of his saw mills at Carterton on the morning of the let instant, is estimated at £300. It is believed that the fire wai caused by a spark being carried into the shed from some slabs whioh were' being burned about forty yards from the mill. Mr. Prioe is said to have been the last person to leave the shed on the previous evening, at whioh time the only fire visible is stated to have been the one where the Blabs were being burned. The firs is not supposed to be the work of an inoendiary. The mill was not insure^. At a meeting of the members of the Taita Cricket ' Club, held Saturday night, the Seoretary read a report, from whioh it appeared that the olub had a fair balanoe on hand to start tha coming season. Out of 18 matohes played during the past season the olub had won 16. The olub bat was won by \V. Cndby, with an average ot 131 runs (17 matches), W. Weloh being second -with an average of 11 J rnns (14 matohea). Besides the bat given by the blub for the highest average scorer, there are two bats to be given by private members — one for the highest individual score, and one for the best bowling. The following officers were eleoted : — President, Mr. W. Beethatn; captain, W. Cudby -, seoretary, W. Brown } treasurer, G. i Welch; committee, J. Judd, W. Weloh, W; Bußaell, and J. Mabony. A vote of thanks to Mr. W. Welch, for presiding, terminated tho proooedinga. Following is a oorreoted list of the New South Wales football team who are visiting Mew Zealand :— Messrs. £. J. Raper (Captain and Manager), Graham, Richmond, it. lhallon, H. FUgg, BaylißS, Walker, W. Flynn, M'Olatohie, Barry, Menn.R. Hill, Hawkins, Howard, Addison, Jennings, Cameron, and Buzacott Mr. Raper is captain of the University Club, and is said to be a very fine player. The match will be played « Wellington on Saturday, the 16th instant. An incorrect impression, founded on the mistaken reading of a letter received in Wellington, has got abroad that six of the team are Queensland men. The oorreot reading of the lot! or in question is that only six of the present team played in the recent match.' In reference to the error which we recent'y pointed out in the New Zealand Bradshaw for the current month we may state that the proprietors of the publication have since issued to all their subscribers » corrected sheet, together with a note to the offset that the previous mistake ooouned through th* Railway Department having failed to send notice of the alterations about to be made. A correspondent writes ever the signature of " A Mother of Eight Children ":—"" :— " Am I to understand by report in to-night's Post, Dr. Hutohison's leoture, that .the present stato of leprosy in Hawaii ia especially due to clumsy vaccination f If so, what guarantee have we against this scourge, as our offspring are by law oompelled to bo ncoi-

The annul inspection of city lohoola was commenced yesterday by the School Inspector, Mr. Lee. The Hansard printers have petitioned Parliament to consider the following grievance 3 nnder whioh they represent themselves as labouring :— let. The price paid for Hansard composition is totally inadequate to the length of time they are compelled to work. 2nd. They wo only engaged daring the Bitting of Parliament in •aoh year, and therefore contend that the Government should pay their passage to and from Wellington, as otherwise those who have come from other plaoes will be seriously ont of pooket. During the month of Au?nst, IEB2, the rainfall at Wellington Observatory was 779 inohea on 19 daya; Wellington fiesarvoir, 800 on 18 ; at Petoni, 4*31 on 18 days ; Upper Hntt, 528 on 17 days : Eimntaka Summit, 13-01 on 23 daya. On the 14th, 240 inches fell at Wellington Observatory, 225 at the Reservoir, and 2 11 at the Summit, but only 1-12 at Petoni, and 1 20 at Upper Hntt. From the Provisional Meteorologioal Retnrnsfor August, received by t r.Heotor,we find that for Anokland the mean temperature was 52 deg. about tin average for the same month in previous year, thp maximum in the shade was 62 9, minimum 35 6 ; total rainfall 312 inohe?, 1 64 less than the average. For Wellington, mean temperature 46 7, about one deg under the average, maximum 60*1, minimum 36 ; total rainfall 7 79, 2-46 inohes in excess of average. For Dunedin the mean temperature 43 3, about the average, maximnm 60, minimum 33 ; total rainfall 1 C 9, or nearly two inches leas than tbe usual average for that month. Mr. Jamea Carroll has purchased from the trustee in Paeooo & Co.'b eatato their halfshare in the Clarendon Hotel, Palmertton North. Mr. Carroll ia now the sole proprietor of tbat hotel, and aa he has mad* extensive alterations, it is said to be among the beat houses on the West Coast. The D Battery of Artillery is reminded by advertisement in another column that the parade this evening will be held in the Armed Constabulary drillshed. Mount Cook, when a competition in gun-drill will tike place between oandidatea for promotion. Another large house greeted the seventh production of " The World " at the Theatre Royal last night, the stalls and pit being particularly well filled. The performance was quite as gocd as those whioh previously took place, and Mr Bland Holt, Mr. Donglas, and Miss Watt-Tanner were frequently applauded. To-morrow evening will be the last production of " The World." It will be seen in our advertising colmnna that the General Committee of the Wellington Poultry, Pigeon, Canary, and Dog Show meet this evening. The servioes of a committee of sixteen tradesmen and others have been scoured, and from information received there is every probability of the show being a deoidod success. Ihe show will take place on or about the 6th or 7th prox., and the schedule of prices will in a day or two be before the public. A very enjoyable concert was given at the Beobabite Hall last evening by the choir of the Primitive Methodist Church, Webb* street, and was well attended. The first part of the entertainment consisted of the singing of a pretty and poetioal little cantata, composed by Wm. Youens, with words by the late Baohel Moorcock, entitled " Nature's concert The cantata, whioh is to be found in the fourth volume of "The Chorister," comprises a number of verier, eulogistic of nature's muaio, for the ohoir, which interpreted the parts entrusted to its care with great fidelity, as also a oouple of tenor solos, creditably sung by Messrs. Hitohens and •Munt, tha last-named gentleman gaining great applause for his singing of the oouplet commencing "The wide world is the orohestra of nature's music-hall." The second part of the entertainment comprised a selection of glees, songs, and duet?, oreditably sung by members of the ohoir. 'Jhe following ladies and gentlemen contributed songs during the evening:— Mrs. Spencer, Mrs. Coe, whose dear soprano voice was particularly admired, Miss A. Hill, and Messrs. Munt, Morell, Biilman, and Lett. Mr. Bedford presided at the piano. There will be an open lodge metting in connection with the Temple of Peace Lodge, Kaiwarra, held in the schoolroom to-morrow evening, at 8 o'clock. The public are invited to attend, and it it expeoted a pleasant evening will be spent. Attention is direoted to the concert to be given this evening in the St. Mark's Echoolroom, Sussex Square. Passengers from San Franoieoo report the death of Frank Gardiner, erstwhile bushranger in Australia Latterly (says the Sydney News) Frank Gardiner had sunk very low, was out of his saloon in Paoifiastreet, and lived by "bnmming" on the benevolent. He died a paupsr inmate of ono of the hospitals. The departed knight of tho roads will, perhaps, be remembered here aB much for his release having been the prime cause of the former downfall of Sir Henry (then Mr.) Parkes as for his own bushrasging exploits. The Borough Counoil of Feilding has decided to strike a penny rate for the local Kbrary Mr. Munro, draper, of Cuba-street, finds his present premise* entirely inadequate for the growing trade, and a contract has been let to Mr. J. Eanaon for the ereotion of a larger and more suitable building at the corner of Cuba and Ingestre streets. Mr. Eanson has the work well in hand, and expeots to complete it in about a month from date. The new premises have a froDtage of 27 feet to Cuba-street and 42 feet to Inges-tre-street, and will oontain two stones. When completed the building will prove an ornament to the part of tha oity in whioh it is situated. Mr. J. James, of Nelson, is the successful tenderer for the stock of book debts in the assigned estate of Wm. Webley, musfoseller, &o. Tho price waß about .£650. Messrs. Goorgeson and Co., tailors, Ac, Willis-street, advertise in another ocildmu cheap suits of tweeds. To-morrow Mrs. Criohton is announoed to make her first show of spring and summer millinery — a pieoe of information that will probably be of interest to the ladies. Messrs. laery & Campbell will hold their Usual market sale to-morrow. Messrs. Croskery & Co. will sell to* morrow, fruit produce, <fee. Messrs. Hasell & Co. will sell to-morrow, at the Hntt, horses, oowb, Ac Mr. H. H. Lang will Bell to-morrow, wool, hides, sheepskins, tallow, potatoes, Ac Messrs. Palmer & Aldrich will sell tomorrow, oilmen's stores, beer, brandy, <fco. The residents in Newtown and Adelaideroad shonld travel by the tram-cars and see the grand exhibition of new spring goods at To Arb House — Adtt. The residents in Thorndon and adjacent localities should travel by the tram- oars, and inspect the latest and most fashionable novelties in ladies' attire for the spring at To Aro Hotue.— Advt. - There will ba three speoial show days during this week at T« Aro House, on Thuriday, Friday, and Saturday.— Adtt. If you wish to see the largest, ohoioeit, and best-seleoted stook of dress fabrics, pay an early visit to Te Aro House.— Adtt. If you wish to see an elegant andreoh'rohe "■election of the most charming fashions in Parisian and English millinery, call early at Te Aro House.— Adtt. If you wish to purohase laces, now so very fashionable, yon will find an immense assortment of every make, shade, and quality at Te Aro House.— Adtt. The windows of Te Aro House will be illuminated on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening! from 6 to 10 p.m. — Advt. Graves & Flsmino's Sali still continues. Saturday and during week they will sell 5000 yds embroidery at Id per yard. 9000 yds lace from 6d per dozen j also, a great variety of new fabrics for evening wear, all shades; also, manufacturers' stock wool tweeds, Is 4|d, Is 6d, Is 9d, 2s per yardsplendid value. Mothers should come and bny them for their boya ; they are Belling like ripe cherries at Graves & Fleming's Great Sale, Corner House, Te Aro.— Adtt. Pbdbstrianism is rapidly becoming an American bobby, that, like all of its crochets, will be ridden to death It is, however, absorbing public attention and exciting scientific interest by developing the fcroe of muscular power, and demonstrating the scone of human, phyeioal endurance. Great as v the recorded oapaoity of such heroes as the Westons, O Learys, Hugheses, and others, much more can be accomplished in the way of peripa'etio exercise, and if such distances have already been overoome in incredibly short periods of time, what may not be aohieved after the system has been in* vigorated by Udolfho Wolm's Schiidak Aromatic Schnapps.— Adtt.