MINISTERIAL ECONOMY.

Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 103, 29 October 1888, Page 2

MINISTERIAL ECONOMY.

''.»' i The members of the present Ministry hdve claimed, and in cortain quarters great credit for the reductions they made in their own salaries. With this view of their action we have been unable to concur, for while we fully admit ntbaU probably the present occupants of office get all /they are worth, or perhaps even more, we are convinced that it wonld bo more profitable to the colony to pay considerably higher salaries to better men. The reduction of Ministerial travelling expenses is another .retrenchment for which oredit is often claimed, and sometimes granted; but we are sceptical as to the reality of the savings, because we find the present Ministers travelling abont quite as much as their predecessors, although perhaps less usefully from a public point of view, and we doubt veryjmuch whether they travel more economisally. It would require a much more intimate knowledgo of the accounts of the colony, than any person not actually behind the scenes oan acquire', to determine absolutely the true oost to the colony of the Ministerial peregrinations There ia one other branch of Ministerial expenditure, however, on which some information can be obtained from careful observation, and when wo find that there is ab3oluto extravaganoe rather than any economy in regard to this branch, wo may woll be pardoned for doubts as to tho reality of the alleged savings in other directions. The particular branch to whioh we refer is that of Ministerial residences. There are at present four in Wellington. Throe are, wo believe, the property of the colony, but the fourth, that occupied by the Premier, is leased at a ront considerably in oxoes- of the legal Ministerial house allowance, and this, too, while the Tinikori-road residenoe is left totally unocenpicd. We fail to recognise this as an economical arrangement. The other two Ministerial residences are occupied respectively by tho Minister of Defence and the Minister of Lands. The Minister of Education, who lives in his own house, receives, wo beliovo, .£2OO by way of allowance for so doing, and the Colonial Seoretary and Minister of Publio Works draw similar sums, although they have not to pay anything like such sums as rent. It is aho stated, on what we believe to be good authority, that a similar house allowance is paid to the Attorney-General, who during almost the whole of tho recess lives in his own house iv Auckland, attending mainly to his own business and apparently concerning himself very little with either the Governmont of the colony or its legal business. If this be so the payment is, we think, withont precedent, and was certainly not contemplated when Parliament authorised these house allowances. The intention was dearly to grant them only to those Ministers who had to leave their own homes in other places in order to reside at the seat of Government It was novor contemplated that the house allowance should be used as an indirect method of augmenting a Ministerial salary, but that is apparently the way it is now applied by the present highly eaonomiaal administrators of the government of the colony. It is probably a fair example of that "retrenchment " policy whioh we have so frequently denounced as really a transparent sham.

Some sporting .notes by " Vigilant," held ovor from Saturday's budget, and two amusing extract articles — entitled, "A Wonderful Escape " and " ABullat Largo " —will be found on the fourth page of this issue. In reference to, the recent case in whioh some doubt arose as to the area of land whioh could be taken up by applicants, the Hon. Minister of Lands informs us that the maximum area of first and second class land whioh can be taken up on perpetual lease is a total of 2000 acres-, the maximum area of first class land being 640. The reason of the question arising at the land sale in Wellington was that it happened to bo the first occasion, since the passing of the Act of 1877, that an attempt was made to obtain the maximum area. Tho qnestion was never raised before. The New Zealand Shipping Company's R.M.S. Aorangi, from Plymouth, is expected at Hobart to-morrow. She then goes direct to Port Chalmers, and if she reaches there, as it is thought she will, on Friday next, her mails shonld be in Wellington on Sunday. The steamer Rotomahana with an English mail arrived at the Bluff from Melbourne at 7 this morning. The Wellington portion of her mails should arrive here by tho Takapuna on Wednesday next. Mr. T. Kennedy Macdonald addresses the ratepayers in the Exchange Hall at 8 o'clock this evening. Mr. Law, whoso name has reoenfily been prominent in connection with Bank of New Zealand matters, was formerly manager of the Bank at Waimate, Canterbury, from whence he was promoted to Newcastle, N.S.W., and subsequently to the managership of the branch at Adelaide. In future Captain Preeoo, R.M. a*. Napier, will hold a sitting of the Court at Woodvillo each month, vice Mr. Ward, of Wanganui. In order to enable Captain Preece to take the Woodville sitting, he has been relieved of the Wairoa district, which Mr. Booth, R.M. at Gisborne, will now visit monthly. The Under-Secretary for Justice (Mr. Haselden) left for tho South this afternoon with the objoot of inspecting the Courthouses in Otago. An adjournment until Monday next was granted to-day by Mr. Justice Riohraond in the case of Hareourt v. Whittem, Nicholson and Co., for the convenience of Mr. Jellicoe, who is absent at Wanganui. A telegram was received by Mr. James M'Kerrow, Surveyor-General, from Mr. C. W. Adams, Chief Surveyor of Otago, yesterday, stating that he had just returned from a visit to the great Sutherland Falls, near Milford Sound. Mr. Adams reports that the falls are 1904 ft. high, with a volume of water equal to the Bowen Falls, in Milford Sound ; that the water strikes a rooky precipioe twice in its descent, forming three leaps, thefirst being 815 ft high, the second 751 ft, and tho third 338 f t; that tho surroundings are grand and pioturesque and will add much to the natural attractious'of the oolony ; and that Mr. M'Kinnon, who was employed by tho surveyor, has found_ a practical pass from Lake Te Anau to Milford Sound. Mr. M'Kerrow expoots a full report from Mr. Adams about the end of the week. ' Mr. J. H. Whifcton, of Alicetown, Lower Hutt, was seizod with serious illness last night as he was returning to the railway station en route for his home, after having attended the evening service at.one of the city ohurohes. He happened to be near the station when the fit came on, and Guard Gough, noticing that he was in a serious condition, very thoughtfully improvised a couch for him in the guard's van, and on reaching Ngahauranga sent a telephone messago to Lower Hutt, asking that Dr. Wilford should be in attendance on arrival of the train at its destination. That gentleman answered the summons, and on examining Mr. Whitton, fonnd his ailment to be disease of one of the valves of the heart, and direoted tbat he should be allowed co remain in the van for some time. Eventually an express cart was prooured, in whioh the sufferer was oonveyed to hid home. This morning he was free from pain, but exceedingly weak. Dr. I Wilford, remained at his bedside till midnight. Mr. Whitton's constitution has suffered such a severe shock us to cause his relatives the greatest anxiety. The conduct of Guard Gough is warmly oommended by those who were on board the train and the friends of the suffering man, for at considerable personal inconvenience in the way of exposure to the weather and delay of tho housing of his train, he was unremitting in his attention. At the termination of the Senior Cnp match on Saturday, the members of the Midland Cricket Club adjourned to the Caledonian Hotel, where Mr. W. J. Salmon was presented with a beautiful silver cup and a first-class bat for having made the best average in batting last season. The cup was given by a member, and the bat was the gift of the club. Mr. M'Girr made the presentation, and after it had been suitably acknowledged Mr, Salmon's health was drank in bumpers. Judgment was given by Mr. Robinson, R.M., in the Magistrate's Court this morning in the oases brought by Mr. A. G. Johnson, Inspector of Nuisances, against a number of ratepayers who were charged with having failed to notify the City Surveyor that they had unlicensed water-closets npon their premises. Mr. Morrah, who appeared for 17 of the defendants, had, at the hearing of the cases, contended that the by-law nnder which the cases were brought was ultra vires. His Worship, in giving judgment, said that ho had referred to authorities, and was opinion that he must uphold the contention of the defence. He therefore dismissed the informations. Mr. Morrah asked for costs. The prosecutor (Mr. Johnson) objected, contending that it was not usual to grant costs against a publio officer, unless it was shown that cases bad been brought with malice. His Worship agreed to allow half fee in each case. Ihero were oight similar oases ag&in-t other ratepayers, two of whioh wero withdrawn, while his Woi>!iin di-i.iissed tho remainder in accordance with his pievior.s ruling. Mr. Fohnson gave notice of appeal against the lecision, which was allowed. A notice to members of the Congregational Social Institute in reference to a pionio on he 9th November appears in our advertising olumns. I

Nominations for the election of twjplay representatives of the Wellington iH&wct it the Anglican General *nod wilT 6a*iejeived by Mr. W. H." Qniek, Returning Dfficer, at the Diocesan Library, on Thura]ay, the 29th November. For some months past* it has been the :ustom in the various Wesleyan Churches of khis city to devote a certain portion of the Sunday morning service specially to the ahildren. Yesterday morning-. the Rev. MrBerry whilst speaking from the commandment "Thou shalt not steal," warned tho children against petty thefts, as for instance taking the flowers that had been laid on the graves at the cemetery, and when the mother went but of the room, 'stealing one of the tarts that had been pnt in the cupboard. Tho latter reference seemecLto Btrike home, especially to the boya. The rev. gentleman proceeding said that the greatest criminals in our gaols to-day commenced their crime with these little thefts, and he therefore exhorted the children to beware of the first wrong step, however small a matter it might appear to bit. Mr. G. H. Scales, Chairman of the Hutt Special Settlement Association, waited upon the Minister of Lands this morning, and informed tho hon. gentleman that {hat body hid accepted the conditions laid down by Government relative to the Maingatainoko Block. ' The Association will ttlke up about 4000 acres, the area to be inoluded in lines running north and south instead of east and west, as the intending settlers first desired. The price oi the land has been fixed at 35s per acre. Mr. Scales has just been over the block, and is very much pleased with what he saw. From the advertisements in English papers of the dates of departure of the dircot steamers for New Zealand, we notice that the Shaw, Savill and Albion Co.'s vessels are touching first at the North Island, making Auckland and Wellington their first port of call in turn ; while those of the New Zealand Shipping- Company sail in the first instance for the South Island, calling at Port Chalmers and Lyttelton alternately. Whether this is the result of arrangement or mere coincidence we aro unablo to learn. The case of Stupples v. Dransficld was once more called on in tho Court of Appeal this morning, before Jdr. Justice Richmond, but, in the absence of tho Chief Justice, it was further adjourned until Monday next. The last sitting of the Court of Appeal will thus, technically speaking, have extended over the full period of six months, having now boon adjourned from time to time up to the very day appointed for the next halfyearly sittiDg. Several of the firemen of the s.s. Selembria, which sailed on Saturday afternoon from this port, had a bit of a squabble on the wharf about half-past 3 o'clook, just before the vessel Bailed, and in the course of a scuffle which resulted from a warm argnment one of the number pitched oyer the wharf into the harbour. This inoident had one good effect, inasmuch as it diverted tho attention of the others from the unseemly brawl to the man in the water. A rescue was speedily effected, the immersed one suffering apparently little inconvonience from the impromptu wetting. The anniversary of the Newton Wesley Church was held yesterday. The attendance was very good, although slightly m.rred by the inclemency of the weathor. Tho Church was very tastefully decorated with flowers and texts, which reflected considerable credit on the young ladies who volunteered their services for the occasion. Tho usual tea and public meeting will be held to-morrow evening. The Medical Superintendent of tho Asylum asks us to acknowledge on his behalf the receipt of £1 4a for the reorcation, fund from "A Friend." We remind our readers of the farewell entertainment in connection with Miss Randoll's departure from Wellington, to be given this evening in Taranaki-street Wesley Schoolroom. Sovoral rinks wero played on the Wellington Bowling Club's green on Saturday after- , noon, tho weather being perfect for tho ! game. In the rink Messrs. R. Sloan, Lindsay, Lambert and Dransfield (skip) against Messrs Letham, Deacon, Elliott and Gray (skip), tho former won by 21 to 19. Messrs. Gasquoine, Whitehoiise, Flanagan and Maskell (skip), played Messrs. Reid, Ji M'Kerrow, Ballingei 1 and Flyger, (skip), and won two gameß by 21 to 3 and 21 to 7, and lost one by 9to 21. Messrs. M'Glashan, Edwin, Campbell, and Blair (skip) played Mossrs. Grady, G. Wilson, Blaokett, and Barron (skip), the former winning one by 21 to 13, 'and losing one by 12 to 14. In the course of the afternoon five new members were elected by_ ballot. The Vice-President' has given a prize of a painting, Mr. Flyger, silver saltcellars, Mr. Grady silver inkstand, and Mr. Campbell a pair of prize bowls, for competition durinor the season, for which entr.es will be reoeived up to, 10th November. It is probable that the trophies will be played for in pairs, which renders it necessary for all intending competitors to enter their names, so that they may be drawn for competition, The Cricketers Arms Hotel, Ingestrestroejb, has been purchased by Mr. Maurice Cronin, late of Wanganui ana West Coast. Messrs. Dwan Bros, effected the sale. Mr. Cronin took possession to-day. Owing to the inclement weather of yesterday, Gray's Band, who were to have given a concert in tho Basin Reserve in aid of the youth, Cornelius O'Driscoll, were forced to postpone their performance until Sunday next. The members of the Pioneer Baseball Club are steadily acquiring proficiency in the Amerioan national game, and an excellent game was played at Newtown Park on Satnrday afternoon. The competing teams were oaptained by Messrs. Henderson and Hynard, and the former's side won by 2G runs to 13. The prinoipal soorers on the winning Bide were— Henderson, 5 ; T. Mills, 4: H. Palmer. Bell, and Liddle, 2 each. For the losing team, Hynard and Soutt scored 3 runs each, and Kisaell and Chuck 2 each. Mr. Cyrus Webb acted as umpire. The fellow-employog of Mr. P. M. Poole, manager of the Wellington Meat Co.'a slaughter-yards at Ngahanranga, on Friday last presented him with a handsome marble dock as a token of their esteem, and in honour of his approaching marriage with Miss Lyons. The presentation was made by Mr. Walters, who took occasion to express tho high opinion whioh the company's employed entertained of the recipient, and tc congratulate him on the approaching auspicious event in his career. Mr. Poole made a suitable reply. The marriage, we understand, comes off on Wednesday next. A few weeks ago we mentioned that a number of members of the Star Boating Club had obtained permission from Mrs. William FitzGerald to show their respect for the memory of her late husband, who was captain of the club up to his death, by erecting a headstone over the grave. Since then enquiries have been made in the direotion of procuring a suitablo tombstone in New Zealand, but the article required is not obtainablo in the colony, and an order has been sent to one of the best firms of monumental masons in London for a Latin cross of white Italian marble, suitably inscribed. The tombstone, whioh was chosen by Mrs. Fitzgerald at tho request of the subscribers, is expected out by direct steamer in about three months time. A proposal to form a Bakers' Union will bo considered at a meeting of journeyman bakers to be held at Fraser's rooms, Man-ners-street, on Wednesday evening. The statement that Mr. F. Stevens, jun., was a delegate from the .Oriental Boating Club at the aquatio meeting on Friday was incorrect. Messrs. Smith and Mitchell, of Havelock, haye > purchased the little steam-launch belonging to tho steamer Selembria for £201 10s. The new ownors intond to run her between Havelook and Hahakipawa, and she appears to be a very suitable boat. A football match played upon 'skates is a novelty hitherto unwitnessed in Wellington, and the announcement that such an event is to be played at tho Columbia RinF this evening will probably attract a large audience. The teams chosen are as follows : — Columbia team— H. Marshall (captain), H. Crombie, T- Galloway, W. Southern, J. Steele, G. Wheeler, D. Barnett, W. Galloway, R. C. Renner. Mahakipawa team — W. Dixon (captain), E. Searle, C. Playle, E. Rotheram, E. Dunn, J. Johnson, J. Young. G. S. Hill, P. Blandell. The Columbia colours will be a red rosette, and their opponents will wear a white one. Mr. A. Steirart, an erstwhile member of the English football team, will aot as referee. Tho Maori, John Murray, who recently escaped from Addington Gaol and is still at large, was, it seems, only discharged from Lyttelton Gaol on 6th Ootober, after serving a sentenoe of five yeara' penal servitude for housebreaking in the North ißland. He reoeived a sentence of 12 months' hard labour at Masterton in June, 1881, for stealing from a dwelling ; and on 3rd June, 1882, he was sentenoed to three years' penal servitude for burglary. He is a North Island Maori, and his proper name is Pekamu Apurona. Writing of the late Mrs. John Gillies, the Otago Daily Times says :— " The deoeased lady, who was born in Glasgow in 1802, was the grandohild of a Frenoh Huguenot who emigrated to Scotland during the period of the persecutions. She was married in 1826 to Mr. John Gillies, of Rothesay, and with her husband and most of their ohildren arrived in Danedin in the ship Slams Castle in 1852. During her long residence here she gained the respect and esteem of all, and though after tho death of her husband, seventeen years ago, she lived a very retired lifo, her aid and assistance was often sought and freely given, and apart from her own family, the news of her death will be sorely felt by many others. Of her family of nine, the deceased lady is survived by four sons and three daughters. The sons are Mr. Justice Gillies (of Auckland), Mr. John L. Gillies (Seoretary of the Otago Harbour Board), the Rev. William Gillies (of I limarn), and Mr. James Gillies (of New South Wales); the daughters aro, Mrs. M'lndoe fSouth Dunedin), Mrs. Burnsido [Anderson's Bay), and Mrs. Farquhar M'Rae (Auckland). The deceased lady is survived dso by fifty-two grand-children and ten ?reat-grand-children. Juvenile pilfering, according to the Evening Star, iB very muoh on the incr.ase in luokland, and for one detected, a hundred )ffenders escape owing to the remarkableproicienoy possessed by these light-fingered roungatera. Judge Smith treated some 3ottle 6tealers to a substantial reward for ;heir misdeeds the other morning, when he >rdered one boy 14 days' imprisonment, and mother a birohing. The youth who was lentonced to the birching wept at the >rospect of such an infliction, but he nought he had been treated unfairly, betause a companion had been placed upon >robation for six months. He said he would lot havo cared much for his birching if the ither fellow had got his share, and he did i >; t-vi len'ly v ideratand the provisions of he L'ir=t offenders Probation Act. Tho Drapery and General Outfitting Company of New Zealand, the headquarters •f whioh are in Dunedin, has jnst deolared a ividend of 6t per cent, for the year, and aade provision for a bonus of 3$ per cent, to 11 onstomers on their purchases.

' In concluding a long and able article on the position of .the Bank of New Zealand the Auvrahuian of the.l3tb,.inst. says :— " The Bank of New Zealand, however, can preserve as brave a front as ever to the world, in spite of the mistakes of which, like the .colony, it has. been a, victim. The new. shares are being taken up in London, the reserve will soon bo larger than before, and its business will stand upon a more satisfactory footing. Nothing could better testify to the resources of New Zealand than the manner in which the Bank has recovered as soon as the unnecessary pressure upon it was removed. Any financial institution is liable under the best direction to be tried as by fire in a period of adversity ; that the Bank of New Zealand should have been tried in a fire seven times heated by mismanagement, and yet be sound and worthy Qf public* confidence', is' the best poasitje proof of the c elaßtioifcv of thecolony to'which it belongs. A similar polioy haa ruined Bonks in the Mother Conntry ; in this case it only means that the shareholders openly face their circumstances and honourably make a new departure. After providing for the losses, the Bank carries on its business under the best auspices, for it has officers who are alove suspicion, and whose judgnicnt can be relied upon. The present crisis, if wo can uae the word of a difficulty that is already overcome, will bo to the advantage', in the loiig run, both of the colony and the shareholders. "When the false value is removed from securities, we may , anticipate that the industries and commerce of New Zealand will become active in all their branches." While passing through Sydney recently, the Hon. George M'Lean was interviewed by an Evening Nows' reporter, and in the course of his remarks regarding the timber industry, he contended that if the various Australian Governments insisted upon levying a duty on Bawn timber, while admitting logs free, New Zealand would be forced to place an export duty on the unsawn artiolo, as he considered that it would never do for an industry like the timber trade to 6e crippled in that manner. With regard to tho future of this colony, he took a most hopeful view, summing up the position as follows :—" Thus, you see ; we are developing our resources, curtailing our expenditure—for which, I may add, we gained rather an unpleasant reputation— and in tho face of this we expect our old prosperity to return. This depression ha 3 not been an unmixed curse, for it has taught us lessons whioh otherwise we never would have learnt, and, above all, it has stopped for ever,, let us hope, the value of our agricultural land rising to a sum which prohibits legitimate farming." A few days ago a curious soeno was witnessed in Auckland, and oaused a temporary sensation. The Star of the 2oth thus describes it : -Yesterday afternoon a fracas occurred in Customs-street which caused a small crowd to congregate. Two wellknown girls set on to a man and oommenced to beat him. Of course he defended himself as best he could, but notwithstanding his efforts in that direction, bne of the girls proved such an adept with her fists that she knocked out one of his teeth. How the affair would have ended it is hard to tell, but the appearance upon the scene of Constable Rowles caused the combatants to dosist from further action. Probably -the closing fioene will take place at the PoliceCourt. A remarkable story of domestic affliction Comes from Taraumu, Hawke's Bay. A little lad named Westmoreland was drowned in a creek near his parents' house, and the body having been recovered, an inquest was held at tho house. While this was proceeding, says the Waipawa Mail, "Mrs. Westmoreland, who was just abont to give her evidence, screamed and ran away from the room. It appears she saw as she sat there her second eldest son go into the stockyard and lay hold of a horse's tail, and the horse immediately lashed out and kicked the lad fair in the chest. The poor mother ran to -him, and, with other assistance, the lad was oarried indoors. "When our informant loft, the lad was vomiting blood, and it is not known how tho aocident will terminate." ' Mr. V A . J. Vogan, now in , Auokland, has received private information, says the Star, that gold, said to be payable, has been discovered in Milne Bay, New Guinea. . Sudest, the island lately the subject of exciting telegrams re gold, is about 140 miles S.E. of South Cape.- Milne Bay lies abont 150deg. 20min. E. long., and lOdeg. 30min. S. lat. It is interesting to remark that the Silurian rocks (which the coaat wateroourses, by their debris, show form the major t part of the main backbone of New Guinea) hold the auriferous deposits at Sudest. Milne Bay, being just where gold should be found first, is where it has just been struok. As the climate is spoken well of by Captain Moresby and others (comparatively), and the natives are (also comparatively) harmless, Mr. Vogan thinks we may expecfthe New Zealand goldfields to grow from this point, • ' Robt. Gardner & Co. will sell to-morrow, house furnishing ironmongery, &c.

In no previous season have we been so perfeotly prepared for bnsiness in the millinery department. We have a competent and experienced saleswoman in charge. We havo a milliner of more than usual ability. We have all the latest fashions in trimmed and untrimmed hats, bonnets, &0., and a profusion of all the newest things in trimming, flowers, feathers, &c, just to hand, per steamer Tongariro, at the Wholesale Family Drapery Warehouse, Te Aro House. We have also reoeived a varied and choice assortment of children's muslin and fancy pmafo es, boys' white and oream serge, tunics aud blouses, infants' merino pelisses, with plush capes, infants' cream and white washing frocks, pelisseß, &o. ; a very pretty ohoice of cashmere and lace hoods, hats.&c., and an oitensivo variety of ladies' underclothing iii " Hibernia " and other, makes, at Te Aro House. Ladies should see our worked robe costumes, beautifully embroidered, with material for bodioe, 32s 6d to 79s 6d ; pongee silk costumes, smocked and deliciously trimmed, and also some exquisite tussore oostnmes, elaborately trimmed, not forgetting a charming variety of liberty silk costumes, smocked and pannolled, really beautiful goods, from 49s 6d to six guineas, at the Wholesale Family Drapery Warehouse, Te Aro House. — ApvT. , ' Baxter's Lung Prksbbveb has gained great popularity in this district as a speedy and effectual remedy in the treatment of Coughs, Colds, Bbonchitis, and other chost and throat oomplaints. — Advt.