THE MAYORALTY.

Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 67, 16 September 1889, Page 2

THE MAYORALTY.

Who is to be the next May or of Wellington ? This is a question to which tho ratepayers should devote their immediate attention to now that the Council eleotViiia aro over. It ia quite understood that the present Mayor, Mr. John foilthic, has determined not to seek '•e-'olection, and tho City must therefore find another Chief Magistrate. Anyone coming after Mr. Duthie will have a somewhat difficult task to perform, for he has been exemplary in attention to his official duties, and has discharged those of a social character in the most liberal mannor. Mr. T. K. Macdonald has naturally beon mentioned as a probablo candidate, but we believe he is not likely to enter the field this year, aa it is just possible hn may havo to bo absent from Wollington when tho election takes placo. We hope, however, that tho Mayoralty will not be allowed to go begging, or fall into unsuitable hands. The position is an honourable one, and the best class of citizens should aspire to it. Thore are plenty of citizens ablo and well qualified to maintain the dignity of tho office and the credit of the city, and steps should be taken in due time to induco ono of these to offer himself as a successor to Mr. Duthie. It must be borne in mind that noxt year is Ne'\v Zealand's Jubilee year, and to be Mayor of its capital at such a time should be esteemed an exceptional honour.

It haß often been asserted that Sir Harry Atkinson constitutes tho whole of the Govornment, butsuchstatementshavesenoraily come from the mouths of tho enemy, and fe* peoplo would have expected to hear them from tho hon. gentleman's own lips. On Saturday night tbo Premier waß speaking of the disorganisation of tho House to which Mr. liallanco had alluded, and ho plaintively added that no ono could feel that disorganisation more than he did t for the whole weight of it fell upon hirtt '' On the Government," interrupted Mr. Hutchison. "Upon me," said tho Premier in correction, " and when I apeak of myself I speak not of an individual but of the Government." To 6ay that tho whole House exploded with laughter is to mildly describe what followed. Sir Harry got out of the difficulty by stating that ho was pleased to boo his hon. friends amused, but anybody who knew anything about constitutional law must bo aware that whenovcr tho Premior spoko he spoke for the Government. The Hailway Employds Insurance Bill doo=i not, we learc, commend itself to the class it is dosignod to apply to. Sinco tho Bill was circulated innumerable communications havo boen received by members urging them not to agreo to it. There ia no intention of proceeding with the Bill this session. Tho Hailway Act Amendment Bill, which proposod to exempt Schools and Friondly Societies' Halls, waß thrown ont in Committee by progress being reported, on tho motion of Mr. Jones, by 29 to 20. Tho Promier immediately moved its re-oommittal, but this was lost on the voices. An attempt was made by Mr. Hamlin, on Saturday, to intercept supply with an amendment declining, " That in the opinion ot this House the next meeting of Parliament should be held in Dunedin, and it should be held early enough in the year to admit of members having an ample opportunity of visiting the Exhibition." Failing to catch tho Speaker's oye and having to givo way to Mr. Ballance, the member for Franklin South subsequently gave notico of the motion amidst loud laughter. The division on Mr. Ballance's amendment, affirming tho necessity for a dissolution in tho coming recess, was taken on the motion that the words of tho motion to go into Committeo ot Supply stand part of the question. Tho votes were givon as follows : — Ayes, 35 — Anaerson, Atkinson, Buchanan, Bruce, Carroll, Cowan, Dodson, Fergus, Fish, Hall, Hamlin, Harknosa, Hobbs, Humphreys, Izard, Jackson, Lawry, Macarthur, T. Mackenzie, M'Gregor, Mills, Mitohelaon, Moat, Monk, O'Conor, Ehodes, G. F. Bichardson, Koss, Eussoll, W. D. Stewart, Taipua, Tanner, E. Thompson, T. Thompson, Wilson. Noes, 30.— Ballance, Barron, Blako, Brown, Cadman, Dunoan, Feldwick, Fiaher, Fitohorbort, Fraser, Goldie, Grimmond, Hutchison, Joyco, Kelly, Keirr, Larnaoh, Loughrey, J. M'Kenzie, Moss, Parata, Perceval, E. Eiohardsoii, Saundors, Soddon, Smith, Taiwhanga, Taylor, Vorrall, Walker. Pairs.—For—Hodgkinson, Fulton, Marchant, Valentine, Allon, Graham, Ormond, Seymour, Scobio Mackenzie, Whyte, Pyke. Against -Turnbull, Grey, Buxton, Ward, Guinness, Jones, Reeves, Samuol, Fitchett, Lance, E. Eeeves. Strenuous efforts to secure tho discussion by tho House of the report on tho petition of MiSs Ida Prince wore made on Saturday by Mr. Fisher, who described the case as an extraordinary and unprecedented ono. Hia object was, however, thwartod by tho House deciding that the adjournment till this morning Bhould be "for Govornment business only." _Mr. E. Eoeve3 expressed his dotormination to obstruct tho Appropriation Bill until Miss Prince's griovanco was thoroughly investigated. The Promier offored that if, aftor the Government business had beon disposed of, members wore desirous of remaining to discuss tbe case, ho would aßßiat them in carrying out their purpose. The Promier informed the House this morning that the Railway Commissioners had written to tho Govornment to the offect that in thoir opinion they wore not absolutely justified by law in carrying exhibits to tho Dunedin Exhibition practically for nothing, aa had boen dono in all othor Exhibitions, and thoy had asked tho Governmont to montion tho matter to Parliament. The Governmont did not think it waa worth whilo to movo a resolution, but he (the Premior) had thought it right to mention the mattor, as ho believed Parliament was anxious that goods should be carried vory cheaply. As no advorao opinion was expressed, tho Promier said that he would convey to tho Commissioners tho desire of tho Houso that tho idea should be carried out. In answer to tho Hon. E. Richardson, tho Premior stated this morning that it was clearly intendod by the Railway Employds Insuranoe Bill to make deductions from the omployey salaries for tho purpose of creating the insurance fund. Tho scheme had been devised by the Railway Commisßioners, and the Govornment was in no way bound by it. Mr. Kerr said the railway employe's strongly objected to tho proposal. Tho Promier said tho Bill had boen circulated in order to ascertain what tho employda and the pnblic thought of it, and, aa he had already atatod, tho Govornmont wero in no way committed to it. On rising this afternoon tho House will adjourn for a fortnight, and in tho meantime Parliament will bo prorogued by proclamation. Parliamentary news and letters to the Editor will be found on the fourth pago to-day. Tho Government steamer Hinemoa loaves to-night for Nelson, conveying His Excellency tho Governor, who will tako up his residence there for some weeks. The steamer Wanaka, with the San Francisco mail, arrived in Wellington at 8.15 last night. The sonthern portion of the mail was sent down by the Grafton this morning. _Mr. Hialop's addresß to his late constituents is generally condemned by most of the leading journals in the South. The next sitting of tho Bankruptcy Court will be held at 10.30 o'clock on the 10th prox. Tho s.s. To Anau, from Melbonrno, with an English mail, arrived at tho Bluff at 6 p.m. yoßtorday. Tho Wollington portion of her mails will arrivo by the Takapuna on Thursday next. Tho local agents have boen advißed that the R.M.S. Arawa left Bio de Janeiro on the ovening of tho llth instant for London. Hor moat was in good condition. A private letter rocoived by to-day's mail from San Francisco, and written by a wellinformed correspondent, says :—": — " There is a very strong agitation on foot to adopt a policy of subsidising Amorican stcamehip linos as a measure of national defence against British aggressive policy, and this feeling has been intensified by the terms of tho latest Canadian Pacifio subsidy as embodied in tho Treasury minuto. A great representative conference on tho subject of stoamship subsidies and an Australian cable will bo held here on tho 29th instant. It is probable Congress will meet in October next, but that is uncertain. Ihavo no doubt tha Australian service will bo subsidised by Congress." Ono flaxmilling firm in tho Manawatu district laßfc week placod ono line of 100 tons of fibre, at -Sl9 per ton, on Wollington wharf. The steamer Hinemoa returned to Wellington at 5.45 p.m. yesterday, from the North, having visited tho various lighthouses and tho Macaulay, Curtis, Esperanoe, Kermadec, and Couvior Islands, tho particulars of which have already been telegraphed from Auckland. Hor last port of call was Onehunga, which Bhe loft on Saturday at 11.30 a.m. Tho following testimonial was presentod to Captain R. H. Brothers, of the b.s. Jubilee, on her arrival from Sydney this morning:— "We, tho undersigned, passengera from Sydney to Wellington, desire to convey to you our deep sense of the uniform courtesy shown to us by yourself and brother ofFicoia during the voyage. We desiro further to express our entire Batisfaction with tho accommodation, provision, and attendance that we have experienced while on board. To Mr. James Dean (chief steward), with his excellent staff of subordinates, we thus publicly tender our acknowledgment of the manner in whioh they havo ministered to our comfort. Wishing you, sir, and all under your command long life, prosperity, and happiness, we are yours respectfully— On behalf of the passengers, EOBT. C. GILSIOUR." We are informed that the concert in aid of the widow Barrett, which takes place at the Exchange Hall, on Wednesday evening next, is well under weigh, and that the committee are straining every nervo to make it a big success. A sixpenoe gilded to represent a halfsovereign was tendered to a Chinese storekeeper named Joe Horn, of Taranaki-street, on Saturday evening, by a European named Jco Hyama, alias Adams, in, payment for a paoket of cigarettes. The fraud, however, was qnickly discovered by the lynx-eyed Celestial, who handed over the m&n to Constable Cox, and Hyams -was this morning brought up at the Con rt and charged with uttering counterfeit coin. As the accused wished to consnlt a soiioitor. Mr. Eb. Baker, the Justice before whom the oose was called,' adjourned the matter \mtil to-morrow morning.

The total amount subscribed in Wellington by tho a|BUatod tradefs and the general pnblic in aid 01 the London dock strikers amounts to *82. This snm waß cabled to London on Saturday hat by Mr. Robert Seymour, Secretary of the Trades and Labour Council, through the Union Bank, which corporation generoualy charged only half rate of exchange. The other moiPty and the expense of tho cable message has been borne by tho Wellington Trades and Labour Council, thus leaving the net collections at the disposal of the London committee', Mr. Charles Evans writes to us in very strong terms regarding the conduct of certain larrikins who mobbed him, in Kaiwarra, on Friday evening last. The letter is too violently worded for insertion. Mr. Evans should communicate with the police. The widow and family (eight) of the late Captain Page, of the Fire Brigade, having been left in very indigent circumatances, a committee, consisting of Messrs. Webb, Tingey, and Cohen, has been formed to collect subscriptions for their benefit. A subscription list has been placed in the Evening Post publishing office. We have received from tho publishers, Brown, Thompson & Co., a copy of a book, or rather a brochure, entitled, " Murder Will Ont, or the Mystery of Kaiwarra," by J. Evison. Tho littlo volume, which is clothed in appropriately blood-red covors, and is extensively illustrated in rather a startling manner, gives a full and apparently faithful account of the circumstances connected with the murder and of the trial. We have no doubt it will have a ready sale: The price is Is. Mr. Edwin Jackson, ono of the two candidates nominated to fill the extraordinary vacancy in the Petono Borough Council, having withdrawn his name, the Returning Officer to-day officially declares Mr. Stephen Curtis, the remaining candidate, to bo duly elected. Tho many Now Zealand friends of Captain Anderson, of tho U.S.S. Tekapd, will learn with tho very deopest feelings of rogrot that another affliction has befallen him through the demise of his only surviving daughter, Mary Jano Anderson, a promising yonng lady of 20 years of age, who died of oonsuDiption in Sydney a littlo more than a week ago. Miss Anderson survived her sister, who died of the same fell disoase, only a few months ago. Tho body of tbe decoasod lady arrived from Sydney by tho U.S.S. Hauroto yesterday, and was to-day transhipped to tho a.n. Wairarapa, which sailed this afternoon for Dunedin, in whioh city the remains will be interred. Captain Anderson is at prosent in the Otago capital. Mr. John Kerr, M.H.R., who is returning to Nelson by tho s.s. Rotorua this ovenin?, takes with him 3000 American char and 1000 Loch Loyen trout, supplied by the Wellington Acclimatisation Society, from tbe Masterton hatchory. Tho fish are to be liberated I in Lake Rotorua, the head waters of the Buller Rivor, Mr. Kerr having undertaken to oonvey them overland from Neleon. The last appearance of Frank Lincoln, the American humourist, in the Exchango Hall on Saturday night attracted about as large a nnmber of Hefßons as did tho dnnonnaement of his initial entertainment in tho eamo place, some three weeks gone by. Evidently " custom doth not stale his infinite variety," as was testified by the continuous bursts of genuine laughter, which did not subside until Mr. Lincoln made his final bow, and bado "a kind good-night to all." The humourist's tour will take in tbo various towns (inoluding Auckland) on both coasts of this island. On Saturday last a meeting of lumpers and wharf labourers favourable to the formation of a local Union in the interests of those engaged in the callings indicated was held in the rooms of tho Seamen's Union, Queen's Chambers. Tho attendance was large, and Mr. Rob»rt Seymour, Seorotary of tho Trades and Labour Counoil, was elected to the chair. Tho mooting, which was convened under the au-picos of the Trades and Labour Council, decided to form a society under the namo of " The Wellington Lumperß* and Wharf Labourers' Association." Mr. Seymour was appointed secretary pro tern., and jt was further resolved that tho next meeting (of which notico is given by advortiaoment) should be held on Thursday next, whon the officers of the Association will bo appointed. It is intended to affiliate tho nowly-formed Union with tho various Seamen's and Lumpers' Unions throughout tho Australasian colonies. Tho Mungaroa School will be closed tho wholo of the preßent week in consequence of the death of Mr. Ladbrooke, secretary of tho rommittco and brother of tho teacher. The deceasod gentleman breathed his last in tho residence attached to tho school. As may bo soen by advertisement in another column, the members of tho Wellington Branch of tho Irish National Loaguo are requested to attend a meeting to be held this evoning in tho Marist Brothers' School, Boulcott-streot. A man named Fony, while employed this morning on tho hulk Annio and Jano taking in coal from a steamer alongside, mot with an accident. A basket of coal swinging against him knocked him off tho plank, and ho foil down the hold, a distanco of about 12ft. When taken up ho complained of being badly hurt, and it was thought advisable to send him to the Hospital. On arrival thoro hewas examined, and it was found that his injuries wore confined to a severe shaking and some bruises, no bonos being broken. Grosvenor, Chater & Co., the well-known papermakora of Cannon-street, have advised their Wellington agents, Charles St. Barbo & Co., that the threatened '' paper ring," about which several tolegrama appeared a month or two ago, came to nothing. It was a _ company or syndioate of several paper mills, situate ohiefly in Lancashire, whore tho cheaper sort of newspaper is made. Tho company, however, did not soe fit to float its shares, but announces its intention of doing so in October or Noirember next. Whatever comes of it, tho price of ordinary printing and writing papers will not bo affooted. The last of the series of concorts which are being given in Wesley Church schoolroom is announcod for to-morrow evening. Tho entertainment promises to be as successful as those preceding it, and, given a fine night, tho sohool building enlargement fund should be greatly benefited. Tho Auokland footballers wero ontertalned at dinner in the Club Hotol by tho Wellington Rugby Union on Saturday ovening. A rechcrcne spread was provided by Host Kennedy, and received fnll attontion. The chair was ocoupiod by Dr. Newman, M.H.R., and ono of tho Vice-P.-esidents of tho Union, and Dr. Gillon (another Vice-Proßidont), and Mr. G. Campbell acted as vice-chairman. After tho usnal loyal toasts had been honoured, the Chairman proposed tho health of "Our Visitors." and in doing so said he hoped that Auckland would not wait another Bix years before thoy again visited Wellington. He pointed out that when the North Island Trunk Railway was completed teams would bo able to travel between Auckland and Wellington in eight hoars. Ho regretted that the match had not been played on better ground, but on the wholo the game had been satisfactory both to players and spectators. Tho speaker concluded by referring to the good feeling with which the pamo had been played. Mr. O. Wells, captain of the Auckland Team, in replying, said that the illfooling which had arisen in 1886 had now passed over. A better stato of things now existed, and when Wellington visitod Auckland nex-t year they would receive a welcome as hearty and treatment as fair aa had been aocorded to his team by the people of tho Empire City. The Aucklandors had been fairly beaten, but had the weather been fine he felt that the play would havo been better. Mr. Wolls concluded by proposing the health of the Wellington Team. Mr. Nicholls, _ captain of the Wellington representatives, responding to tho toast, expressed tho opinion that if the ground had been hard the Auckland backs would have given the local men a merry timo of it, as he had to admit that the Boft ground was in favour of his forwards. Ho suggested that beforo a representative New Zealand team was sent Home, a match should take place in Wellington between the North and South Islands. Tho othor toasts were " The Umpireß and Referee," proposed by Mr. G. Campbell ; "Football," given by Dr. Gillon, and acknowledged by Mr. J. M. King; " The Press ;" and " The Ladias." During the evening several songs were given, Horr Mosch being at the piano. Somo rooitations were also contributed. At 11.30 o'clock " Anld Lang Syne" was sung, and the company dispersed. A concert is announced to be held at tho Opera House on Monday, tho 30th instant, for the pnrpose of raising money to pay off tho balanco due for the piano and to provide funds for the erection of a gymnasium in connection with Clyde- quay School. Several prominent amateurs havo promisod their assistance. Joh E. Lindbcrg, the cheap draper, wrong side of Cuba-street, wishes us to direct the ladies' special attention to tho extraordinary value in flannelettes, black cashmeres, and drees goods, advertised in to-day's -wanted column. We again call special attention to tho Rreat unreserved sale of drapery to bo conducted by Messrs. T. Kennedy Macdonald & Co. at the auction room, Exchange Buildings, to-morrow, commencing at 11 o'clock. As cverjr line will be for absolute disposal, heads of families should make a point of being present. The auction room will be open this erening to enable all to inspect the roods at thoir leisure.