MR. SCOBIE MACKENZIE'S SPEECH.

Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 63, 12 September 1887, Page 2

MR. SCOBIE MACKENZIE'S SPEECH.

Judging from the telegraphic summary, which, however, is rather " mixed " in places, Mr. Soobie Mackenzie seema to have brought a very heavy indictment against the Government, and against the Premier in particular. Mr. Mackenzie is a most incisive speaker, and has a most telling way of putting his facts before his hearers. He entered Parliament favourably disposed towards the present Ministry, and is a thorough Liberal. That he has been forced into the position of one of _ the principal assailants of the Government is due to their own action rather than to any change on his part. He, like a great many others, has been obligad to refuse to march further through Coventry with the ragged Ministerial regiment. Nothing could be moro cutting than Mr. Mackenzie's exposure of the Premier's attitude on the education question, and we believe that he has also hit on a very shrewd explanation of the causes of Sir Robert Stout's apparent inconsistancy on so many other points. The Government would give a great deal, no doubt, to be able to keep Mr. Mackenzie out of the House, but this thoy are not likely to be able to accomplish. With a view, however, of putting him to all tho trouble and expense possible, it seems tho Premier has accredited to tho electors of Mount Ida an Opposition candidate in the person of a Mr. Hodge, a lawyer, we bolieve, bnt one not particularly woll known in the profession. Mr. Hodge, if wo romember aright, opposed Mr. Larnach at the last general election, and this time he was going to stand for Dunedin Central, but rotired iv favour of Dr. Fitchett. Ho is a red-hot Protectionist and a good deal of an agitator. It will probably be some time before he achieves a seat in the House. On our fourth page to-day will be found reports of Mr. Menteath's speech at the Opera House, of Mr. Scobie Mackenzie's speech at Mount Ida, and of the Otago v. Canterbury football match, in addition to a letter to the Editor on the subject of the Wairarapa election. Mr. Fraser informs us that Sir Julius Vogel will deliver an address to the electors of Wellington on Monday evening next. As the Opera Honso is engaged, Sir Julius will probably speak in the Theatre Royal. The Hon. Sir William Fitzherbert is expected to arrive by the San Francisco mail steamer, due in Auckland on Thursday, and will probably reach here op Saturday next. Sir George Grey, who returned to Wpl»lington from the South last week, is in a feeble state of health, and lms been obliged to remain within doors for several days. Sir George, who is suffering from overwork, the result of his stumping tour through the colony, is anxious to address the people of Wellington on the political situation, and hopes to appear before them within the next fortnight. The R.M.S. Aorangi having left Hobart at 4 p.m. on Thursday, should arrive in Wellington early this evening if she meets with favourable weather. She brings 115 passengers for New Zealand and 3055 tons of cargo. $*Rom this port sho proceeds to Auckland on Thups4ay pt Friday. Wo are glad to learn that Archdeacon Stock was better to-day, and expscts £0 be able to leave for the North fco-inoryow. A sitting of the Banoo Court will be held on Wednesday next. It is probable jbhat Mr. Travers, counsel for the defendant, will then move lor a new trial of Woodger v. Dugdale, judgment in whioh was recently given for the plaintiff. Tho half-yearly law examination will oommence in tbo Supremo Courthouse on the 19th instant, this day weok. The Exeter Theatre Royal, tho scene of tho fearful catastrophe of last week, was quite a new building, having only been opened on the 13th Octobor last year. On 9th August, Mr, Gilbert Elliott, the lessee, was inviting applications from provincial managers for the production of Q. ]}. Sims' "The Romany Rye," the play which was being acted when the calamity took place. Some of the questions askod at Mr. Menteath's meeting on Saturday evening wereproductive of amusement. One elector, who only obtained a hearing with great difficulty, provoked a roar of laughter by asking the candidate whether he bad not asserted iv his pamphlet that working men ought to limit the number of their offspring. Mr. Menteath referred the querist to the pamphlet for his reply. That gentleman, however, endoayoured to address the meeting on the subject,- until squelohed by a suggestion from the Chairman that he should engagethe hall on his own account for another occasion. Another elector taxed the candidate severoly for a statement in the same brochure that it was to bo feared that some of the village settlers were the refuse of our towns. Mr. Menteath said he had been informed on good authority that such was the ease, and if he was mistaken he owed the settlers an apology ; but ho considered that any man who would accept the insulting conditions of the Village Settlement Regulations was open to suspicion — (applauso and hisses) — seeing that lard could bo obtained throughout the colony on perpetual lenses, which were leases only in name. The Government had not dared to impose such conditions on any other olass of settlors — (A voice: " That doesn't make them rofuse.")— but had given all other settlers the privilege of acquiring the freehold of their sections. (Crjes of "I Bay no," and chorus of " No.") Explaining hiß vote in referonco to tho Wellington Uniyersfty College question, Mr. Menteath said he had supported the granting of a sito, but had opposad tho vote of .£ISOO a year. His reason for doing sp wasthat the time was rapidly coming when it must be decided where the University of New Zealand was to be, and as Chrietchnrch, Auokland, and Dunedin already possessed sites, and Wellington was the place most naturally fitted for tho University, he thought it only fair that this city should bo placed on an equal footing with other places before the question came up for discussion. Tho case of Mackay Bros. v. the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company, a claim of .£1152 as damages for alleged injury to a farm of 713 acros near Paikakariki by tho construction of the railway line, was commenced in the Conipcnc£,tio.n Court this , morning before Mr. Justice Richmond and Messrs. J. R. George and J. C. M'Kerrow. Mr. Chapman appears for the claimants and Mr. Travers for the company. The case had not concluded when we went to press. Mr. John Young, who served his apprenticeship at the Lion Foundry, and who has beon an active member of tho Poneke Football Club from its formation, has Beoured the appointment of assistant refrigeiatingj engineer on the s.s. Arawa. Mr. young left ' with the yeßsel on Saturday. We regret having to record the doath of Mrs. E. J. Hill, v/hifih took place yesterday ! evening at her residence, Mcin r ßtroet, New- '. town, after a. short illness, ni the .early age \ of 25 years. Mrs. Hjll was attacked .with pleurisy in an acute form some three weeks ago, and in spite of every attention gradually succumbed to the complaint. Much sympathy ia felt for Mr. Hill in his sudden beroavement. One of the deceased lady'B sisters ia the wife of Mr. F. W. Haybittle, of the firm of Thomas & Co. Mrs, Hill had only completed the second year of her married life, and leaves one son. In reference to Mr. E. F. Western's complaint of want of courtesy on the part of at least one of the assistants at the free concerts, we are requested by Mr. Copithorno, the chief of the staff, to say that if Mr. Western will communicate direot with the Rev. Mr. Isitt, any legitimate ground of complaint which he may have will be at once removed. The people attending the concerts have themselves to blame a good deal for any annoyance they suffer, as they rush into the building in a most disorderly manner as soon as the doors are opened. On Saturday night Mr. Copithorne bad to address the crowd, begging it to preserve order and refrain from pushing and struggling. Lieut-Colonel Butts and Lieut-Colonel Bailey have consented to aot as judges of the bayonet competition by the Wellington Garrison Volunteers on the 3rd proximo. We are requested to state that monthly tram tickets at 5s each will be issued to pupils attending the Girls' High School, on application at the Tramway's office. The boxing match between Murphy and Fake takes place at the Opera House this evening. The Majeroni season in this city will be under the special patronage of his Excellency the Governor and suite. The ceremony of opening the new Girl's High School at Thorndon will take place to-morrow afternoon at 3 o'clock, his Excellency the Governor officiating. Pupils, parents, and friends aro invited to be present. John Young, ironmonger, to-day inserts as an advertisement the result of his latest nail competition, which closed on Saturday. It is a curious coincidence that Mr. C. Dry den, who in this contest was the only competitor who guessed the exact nnmber, has oeen a prize-winner in every competition Mr. Young has held. The quarterly meeting of the Johnsonville Licensing Committee was held on Saturday at the Town Board Office. There were present — Messrs. Bryant (in the ohair), Bonld, and Cook. The only business transacted was the confirming of the transfer of the Railway Hotel from Walter Walsh to James Woods. The Mohawk Minstrels make their debut , at the Opera Honse to-morrow evening.

Mr. Menteath made rather a happy hit, in reply to the objections to the election of lawyers to Parliament, in the course of his address on Saturday evening. It had, he said, struck him as rather strange that candidates who were supporting a Government the Premier of which was a lawyer, and which numbered three lawyers in its composition, should find fault with another man who was in opposition simply because he happened to be a lawyer. After all he (Mr. Menteath) could adopt the plea of Midshipman Fasy, that "he was bnt a little one," and if it was objectionable to be a lawyer, surely the greater the reputation the worse must be the man, and in that case Sir Robert must be of all others the worßt. The Bally caused a great deal of amusement. Lieut. -Colonel Butts and Mr. John Collins were the presiding justices at today's sitting of the Magistrate's Court. Two first offenders were punished for drunkenness in the usual manner. Charles Natusch was fined 10s with 7s costs for having allowed the chimney of his house te take fire. Crawford Greaves paid a fine of 5s with 7s costs for having driven a vehicle in the city without lights. Walter Page, who was proved to have committed an indecent act in Sydney-street on the 31st ult., was sentenced to 24 hours' imprisonment. A fine of 10s with 9s costs was recorded against John Searle for having infringed tho New Zealand Railway bye-!awß on the 31st ult. by getting on a train at Kaiwarra while it was in motion. Mr. Bacon, who secured the contract_ for the erection of a new schoolhouse at Paikakariki, has commenced operations. The building will be large enough to accommodate 60 children, and will be a vast improvement on the present schoolhouse. A small boy named Leslie Colley was summoned in mistake to tho Magistrate's Court to-day to answer for the vagrant proclivities of his father's cow. The error was not discovered until the case had been partly gone into, and on the charge being dismissed, Sergeant Morice intimated that a fresh information would be laid against the real owner. Tho adjourned annual meeting of the Surrey Cricket Olub was held on Friday night, in Courtenay-place. Thirty-seven members wero prosent, and the chair was taken by Mr. Rosers. Seven new members were proposed and elected. On account of the absence of the secretary, no balance-sheet was submitted, and it was arranged to postpone tho consideration of the accounts until the next meeting. The following officers for the ensuing season were elected :— Captain, Mr. T. Emeny: managing committee, Messrs. Morrin, Malcolm.-^uid Campbell; match committee JVleaers. Emeny, Edwards, and Morrin ; delegates to the Association, Messrs. Cottrell, Cate, and Morrin; secretary, Mr. Cottrell; treasurer, Mr. Cate. Before the meeting closed the chairman presented Mr, J. Edwarda with an album given by Mr. Ashor for tho best bowling average of the season. Mr. Cate announced his intention of giving a trophy for the best bowling averago of next season. Tho two praotice pairs ordered by the Star Boating Club from Fuller and Buckeridge, of Melbourne, were brought to Wellington by tho Maroroa on Saturday. The opinion of several experts who have seen them is that equally good boats could have been built in Wellington for the same amount of money as they have cost the olub. The Theatre Royal was crowded on Saturday night, when the twelfth of the Rev. L. M. Isitt'B working men's free ooncerts was given. The following programme was carried out :— Fantasia, "The pride of England" (H. Round), encored, Garrison Band; song, "Elienor," Mr. Munt; piano solo, with a clothes brush, " Carnival de Venise " (by special request),^noored, Mr. Lachlan ; rocitation, "The stowaway," Mr. W. J. Haybittle; song, "Eileen Alannah," Miss Williams ; piano solo, " The last rose of summer," Mrs. Palmer; song, "True till death," Mr. Ellison; song, "Two childrdn" (Behrend), Miss Newton: reoitation, "Tho mice" (encore, "Tho yarn of tho Nancy Bell"), Mr. Helliwell; song, "The blacksmith's son," Mr. Todd ; duet, "Excelsior," Miss^tandell and Rev. L. M. ilsitt; song, "The railway porter," Mr. D. J. Duff. Mrs. Palmer presided at tho pianoforte. The Rev. Mr Isitt stated that probably two more free concerts would be given, | and the one on Saturday next would' be by the Harmonic Sooiety. Tjie rey. gentlem&n delivered a short address upon temperanc.ei The third annual general meeting of the Upper ftutt institute waa held at their rooms on Saturday night. The ropjort and i balanoe-shoet whicfi were presented Bhowed that the sooiety is in «, fairly flourishing condition. The following offioe-bearors were eleoted for tho ongoing year i-*-Mr. John Barton, President; Mr, J. Hurley, VicePresidont and Treasurer; Mr. Q. W. Schwartz, Secretary;* Mr. J. B. Unsworth, Auditor; and Messrs. Makin, Woodmass, and Rouse, membors of Committee. A cordial vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Schwartz for his liberality in granting rooms f ent f yee, The Petone Publip Baths, which are now in course of .erection, 'are expected to be finished jn timo for tho c#mmenc,ement of tho present bathing setsoo. The' work is being carried oat by Mr. Edwin Jackson as a private speculation, and will no doubt bo fully appreciated by the residents of the district. Plans and specifications of the boathouse which tho Wellington Bowing Club intend to ereot shortly have been prepared by Mr. Mitoholl, architect, and will be submitted for the approval of a committee at a meeting to be held this evening, The shed, whioh will be about 30ft x 60ft, will be erected on piles at tho outer end of the reclamation made at the bottom of Cuba-street. When tho City Council's reclamation scheme is completed, |the fanifdirig. together with the S, tar Boating Club's shld wili be sjjjfted to 'a "piece of reclaimed land to the~Sastward of the mole. The "Wellington Club's boathousp is estimated to cost about j6150, and tenders for its ereotion aro to be invited in a few days, so that the building may be ready for occupation early in the season. Tha club now numbers 70 members, and a considerable increase I* expected whenrthe shed is up. The present committee are determined to push the club ahead, and if they are only assisted by tho members snooess will attend their efforts. It may be mentioned that the plans and specifications of the shed hare been prer pared by Mr, Mitchell fre*a of charge. Tho officers and members of tbo Loyal Rose of Sharon Lodge of Oddfellows are requested by advertisement elsewhere to attend the funeral of the wife of Bro. J. Brown, whioh ttkea place at tho Upper Hutt to-morrow afternoon. A dance was held at the Volunteer Drillshed on Saturday evening in aid of the instrument fund of the Garrjson Band. The attendance was limited. The musj/} was supplied by several members of the band. Wo would remind our readers of the lecture to be given this evening by the Rey. H. H. Driver, at the Vivian-street Baptist Church, at 8 o'clock, on " The Lonely Glory of the Bible," Recitations will also be given by Messrs. R, W, Brown and G. N. Liddal. The Majeronis opened at Napier on Saturday evening in "Jealousy" to a orowded house. MesßH, Deacon and Co report the following Reefton returns of amalgam for week ending 10th inst,, viz. (—Globe, 3150z5 ; Progress, 90ozs j Big Biver, 1940zs retorted gold from 180 tone. In the course of a lecturo reoeutly del ivered by Dr. Barry, Primate of Australia, he said : There was reason to believe that the conflict of capital and labour in Amorica would assume an exasperated character, and with that wonderful accumulation of wealth in private hands, and the organisation of labour there was undoubtedly coming — and that before long — a very terrible strugglo_ which all Americans said would shake sooiety at its very base, and American? seemed to look forward to it with very great and very reasonable apprehension. The Advocate says that an almost miraculous escape from BuddiSn doath oconrrod to a well-known resident of Rangitikei at the ' Marton borough southern boundary on Friday afternoon. He was driving to Crofton, and his trap was rnn into by the 1.39 train from Wanganui at Henderson's Crossing. The cow-catcher caught the near wheel of the trap, and trap, horse, and driver were sent flying in the twinkling of ¦ an eye. Tjio horse and 'driyor eßcappd nninjured, but the" trap was 'smashed 'to I "smithereens." Had the accident occurred a sinajl fraction 6f a second sooner, the drijrer' and' horse 'would almost certainly have been kjlj'ed.' *ll ' l ' ' ' We see by the Marlborough Express that Mr. J, E. Read, the Blenheim agent for the New Zealand Shipping Co., has given instructions to Mr. W. Douslin to prepare plans for an office to be bnilt next the National Bank. Two Auckland cyclists, Messrs. Buchanan and Walker, intend to make the overland trip to Wellington on their maobines in the approaching summer. Quite a township has sprung up at the Woitaki North railway station, known as Glenavy. The Lyttelton Times says that a fine hotel has been erected there, and there is now a general produce store, bakery, and blacksmith's Bhop. A school will shortly be erected, and fully 40 children will be in attendance as soon as it is opened. A number of geotions in the township have been bnilt upon, and a number of others are announced to be sold at Waimate on 16th September. Altogether, it would seem as if a revival in trade and agricmture were taking place in the Waitaki North district. The many friends of Mr. W. Swainson will (sajß the Manawatu Times of Friday) regret to learn of his death, which occurred at his residence Rangitikei-road this morning. Deceased was one of the pioneers of this district, and was well known to a large circle, and widely esteemed for his many good qualities. He was aged 62, and leaves a widow and a family of twelve. Deceased was a member of the order of Freemasons and a Past Master of tho Tongariro Lod^e. He frequently assisted in tho ceremonies at the local United Manawatu Lodge, and the impressive manner in which he rendered the ritual was greatly appreciated by the brethren. Deceased also held the war medal medal given for active service in 1857. With regard to the story that has bfen circulated concerning Sergeant-Major Bezar having been assaulted while drilling the volunteers at Featherston, we are informed (says the Wairarapa Star of Friday) that the assault arose out of a very trivial circumstance. It eeems that Mrs. Harrington, the assailant, was living apart from her husband, and on one occasion she Became the subject of some jocular remarks. These were carried to her by the local Paul Pry of the village, and Mr. Bezar was signalled cut for vengeance. On the Evening of the assault the woman was escorted to the door of the drill-room by a wall-tnown resident, v.-ho appears to have urged Her on to the attack: Mr. Bezar promptly took steps to '¦vindicate himself by legal process, but found that Mrs. Harrington, escorted by a J.P., had fled the scene. It is understood, however, that more will be heard of the matter. '

The police authorities received intelligence this afternoon that a man was killed this morning while falling bush at Manukan, on the Manawatu Railway line. The body is being taken to Otaki, but no other particulars of the occurrence are to hand. A report has reached Springfield, says the Christchnrch Press, that a man named Jamea Teague, working- at Browning's Pass for the contractors who are driving the tunnel, has bad an unpleasant experience by engulphment in a snow avalanche, which in a large mass came down the mountain side. His comrades at once set to work to release him, but had to call in the aid of an intelligent dog to better define the whereabontß of the buried man by scent, and he was then soon located and released, in an unconscious state, after ten hours' interment. Restoratives, hot blankets, and hand-rubbing were applied with success, and Teague seems none the worse for his adventure and narrow escape from death. We hear that the Bnowfall has been very heavy on these dividing ranges lately, bat the contractors are making good progress with their work. Allan Whitfield, of the Pharmacy, Willisstreet, has an advertisement elsewhere calling attention to the merits of hiß corn solvent as a remedy for the most obstinate corns and bunions He also announces his receipt of a large shipment of drugs, chemicals, and patent medicines. To-morrow, at 2 o'clock, Messrs. J. H. Bethune & Co. will sell by public auction, at their rooms, Featherston-street, the lease for 42 years of a number of the finest building sites for private residences in the city of Wellington, situated at Thorndon, and commanding a magnificent view of the harbour, having frontages to Tinakori-road and Thprndon-quay ; aIBO, in the eßtato of J. P. Shilds (deceased), by order of R. C. Hamertoo, Esq., Public Trustee, valuable frehold sections, township of Martinborough ; after which the same firm will dispose of a quantity of superior household furniture, removed ior convenience of sale, including drawingroom and diningroom suites, 100 and occasional tables, carpets, bedsteads, chests drawers, superior walnut piano, by Appert and Co., Berlin, Austrian bentwood chairs, pictures, crockeryware, &c. Messrs. Sidey & Co. will sell to-morrow, at E. Reeves & Co.'s rooms, produce.

Our spring and summer fashions, just reoeived by the steamers Doric and Tongariro, are now on view at tho Wholesale Family Drapery Warehouse, To Aro House. It is no idle saying that our importations for the present season are on a large scale ; that the choice is very extensive ; that the taste manifested cannot be surpassed, if equalled ; and that owing to the exceptional qualifications and keenness in buying of our sDeoial representative in the Home markota, the pricos will be lower than in any previons season at To Aro House, Ladies in want of dress fabrics, of any and every description, will find here a variety that cannot he had elsewhere, while we have the additional attraction of firstclass droHsraaking O n the premises. Our millinery.room contains the ohoicest styles from the most eminent Parisian artistes, while we are also showing all the latost outcomes of fashion in walking, visiting, and evening costumes, with an equal display of taste and a largo variety of the most fashionable mantles, at Te Aro House. It is impossible to enumerate all the novelties now on view, but we would re^ speotfully solicit an early visit of inspoo. tion, when it will be found that for firstolasH selcotion, immense variety, and actual wholesale prices, there is no place superior, if equal, to the Wholesale Family Drapery Warehouse, Te Aro House, — Advt. If you have a Cough, aon't neglect it, but purchase at onoe a bottle of Baxter's Lung Preserver. It is pleasant to the palate, and its effeot is magical. Try it and prove it. — Advt We recommend our friends to buy their drapery and olothing at Lindberg's removng sale, wrong side of Cuba-street.— Advt.