SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 1893. MOB LAW AND MINORITY RULE.

Evening Post, Volume XLVI, Issue 43, 19 August 1893, Page 2

SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 1893. MOB LAW AND MINORITY RULE.

In agreeing to the second reading of tho Licensing Bill the Honse of Representatives has sanctioned tho introduction of a principle which is not only new to our institutions of government, but is really far more revolntionary than that embodiod in the Womanhood Suffrage, or any of tlio other constitnt'oual amendments which have been suggested of late years by oven tho most advanced Liberals. Well might Mr. O'Conob rejoice, for the principle of the Direct Veto is the principle of the Referendum, by which he desires to destroy Representative, Party, and Parliamentary Uovornmont, substituting therefor a system of mob law iv a disguise of tespeciabilily whioh would soon bo shuffled off, revealing tho hideous form it clothes. That not a single member of the Honse showed any appreciation of tho constitutional impropriety and danger of the principle of tho Licensing Bill, by dividing tho House against it, is a humiliating fiict, pregnant with fatal significance. What the Hou3o did last night ia like tho lotting out of water— no ono can tell where the mischief will extend to or end. Tho principle of direct yoto will soon be applied to othor things than the control of the liquor traffic, and it will gradually sip and nndermino tho entire system of Representative Parliamentary Control and responsible administration. Only owa before has this vile deuce of tho plebisoitum been resorted to in New Zealand — in Otago, many years ago, by Mr. MacandeeW, iv regard to the control of tho gold fields of that province — and then its dangerous and unconstitutional character was forcibly denounced by statesmen who then graced our Parliament, but who have passed out of ken without leaving any successors qualified to wear their cloaks. Wo have done our duty in protesting against tho introduction of this new principle of government, or rather this reversion to a primitive type of tho most pernicions character, which has entailed on every country iv which it has been applied to government humiliation and degradation far greater than tbo liquor traffic, even in its most unbridled form, has over wrought or is capable of creating The House of Reprosontatives, however, in its unwisdom, has accoptcd tho principle as applied to the rognlation of tho liquor trade, and wo must bow to its decision. The only thing now to bo dono is to mako tho best of tho situation, and ceasing to kick against the pricks in regard to tho principle, ondeavonr to mako tho best of the details, so tlii»t thoro may bo as liltlo injury as possible done under tho irresponsible sanction of the direot vote in this particular case. We by no means admit the right of a majority to in all cases coerco or rule tho consciences or conduot of tho minority. Religious persecution — every persecution of race or creed which has ever disgraced humanity — would be justifiable and defens-iblo by such a doctrine if onoo admitted ; but if numbers are to rule in regulating tho habit 3of tho cominanity in regard to what they shall cat, drink, or avoid, then suroly every consideration of justico requires that the majority Bhall be a real ono. The fundamental principle of tho Direct Veto is tho rule of the majority, bnt its advocates, with adinitable lnconsistencv, seek under piofessions of spurious Liberalism to npply it so as to place the control they ask for in the hands of a minority. They object to and resist even tho mild suggestion that at least onehalf tho people concerned shall bo required to express an qpiuion on tho subject boforo the other half is coerced into a certain linn of conduct. We trust that tho Premier will stand firm in what is the best provision in a meusuro the leading principle of which is ladically bad, and will continuo to insist that no direct vote shall be operative unless at least one-half of those concerned in tho matter at issue, and entitled to express an opinion on it.' vote. It is surely a sufficient concession to Prohibition fanatio3 that a clear majority of those concerned is not to bo required beforo thoir desire 3 can bo enforced. It should purely satisfy tho most unreasonable that three-fifths of half of tho community should bo able to coerco and dictate to tbo rcniuiningsovon-tenths of the entire body. Such a provision docs not secure the rule of the majority j it practically places tho power of control in tho hands of a small niinority. This is not Liberalism. To call it so is to prostitute the name. It is pure tyranny and injustice. Yet even this does not satisfy Sir Robert Stout and his friends. Thoy aro not content that threo men out of every ten shall rule the wholo if five out of the ten vote, but they want to placo absolute power in tho hands of ouc or two out of the ten, or in those of a fraction of the several tens who havo votes, if perchance tho great majority should objcot to vote at all. If tho majority are to rule, tlion provision should be made to seoure an expression of opinion from overy person entitled to express one, co as to ensnre that a majority really approves of ivhat is proposed to be done. A serious penalty should be attached to not voting, or tho vote should be taken through tbo Post Offico, by voting-papers sent to eaoh elector, which he should be oompelled, under penalty, to return filled up. 'ihon tho rule of tho majority could be established. What Sir JfOBERT Stout really contends for, however, is the rule of tho minority — to onablo an active minority of faddists or enthusiasts to dictate to a possibly apathotic majurity. This, we again assert, is not Liberalism. Nor is tho proposal of tho Bill consistent with Liberal principles, or with the supremaoy of the will of tho majority. A measure which will allow threo persons to diotato to .seven cannot be so. At best the proposal of tho Bill is a compromise, and, t like most compromises, utterly indefensible in principle, and in many ways objectionable, but it is possibly tho best means now practically available to minimise tho cyils of a radically bad system based on vicious principles. Ministers would have ooon justified by every consideration of right and equity in going much further than they have done to protect the majority from tho minority, but as they have not chosen to do so, wo trnst that thoy will at least Le firm as adamant in maintaining tho ooinpromise they have proposed. If they yield one iota, they will provo thornselves utterly unworthy of tho position thoy occupy. Tho country will, wo are convinced, approve of their remaining firm and steadfast in resisting tho demands of Sir RjßErt Stout ; and if tho country is appealed to. Sir Robert will assuredly find that on this matter at least a majority of the elestors of tho colony will speak with no uncertain sound.

We cannot, of court c, 6ay whether Mr. Fisher was sincere or not in his professed desire for the printing of the oorrospondenco connected with his retirement from tho Atkinson Ministry. There is no accountingfortastea. Few men in Mr. Fisher's position would like that correspondence recalled to public recollection, or rendered easy of public access. Mr. Fisher, however, is not to be jndged bj any ordinary standard, and, as wo have said, tastes differ. It is quite certain, however, that when be moved for tho printing of this correspondence the other day the House did not bcliove in the sincerity of his profifiaions. It was this unbelief whioh led a majority to docido upon taking him at his word, and printing what he asked for. A numbrr of members wisely objected to allowing Mr. Fisher any pretenoe for posing as a martyr; or representing himself as the victim of Ministerial persecution, whioh had refused him tho opportunity of submitting the whole of the correspondence in question to the judgment of his constituents. There oan be no doubt that ho would have been able to mako a good deal of political capital out of uuob % refusal had it

been insisted up.m He could lm o used tho undisclosed concspondonco to much piirposo had it remained undisclosed. What use he will lv.ike of it now UiH (he v.hoto of the olucial corii'spoudoncc is t >bo pnhlishcd remains to be seen Connected with (he aubjoct there is probably eorrespondoneo ex'ant which, although nou-oilicial, would not to without intetc-t or devoid of instruction it it too could bo published

Wo <|iiHe asic» with tho proposal to make lieensmj di-»tuels coteiiusnoua with the elee'or.il ili-.lrK.ts, but tluro is one difficulty which will arise from tho arrangement under tlta Direct Veto pi ovisionn, which does not seem yet to havo been noticed. Tho electoral districts aro subject to poriodical re adjustment of bonndarioa, and this rearrangement will not bo coincident with thi tiicnuiul licen«in<» polls. Licensed houses in one electoral district might almost immediately after the Prohibition poll find themselves transferred to another electoral district, in « Inch tho vote had been entirely d ff rent from that in tho district they were originally situated in. The right" of licensees might bo most seriously affected by such a. transfer. Some provision for thoir protection in such cases should bo made. Two columns of Parliamentary matter aro printed on our fourth page The Hincmoa left on the excursion to the Pclorus Sound after tho House rose this morning. Thcro wore about 40 in the parly, including a number of Indies. A concession has been made to the Education Bonrd by tho Manawatu Railway Company by tho* adoption ol tariff regulations for the i=sno of what if termed " Teachers' Satnrd ly Season 1 iclcots," the same ng arc in foivc on the Government lino. Under this ■.jslem any teacher in the Bo.ird'a employ is euc.OVd to attend the Saturday classes at th'j Technical School, or tho Bingins classes, by takius* ont a railway ticket, a.ailiblo for one quarter, nt a cost of 20» for Saturday rt turn, or 30-. making it n\ niUMo for Friday and Piituniny. '1 ho cost is the same in all ea*e», irrespective of distance, Int tho amount is to bo tefiimlod by tho Education Board if a teacher m.ikes 75 per oent. of the postiblo attendance at tho classes. Tho case of Hamilton v. Harden and Crawford «as concluded in tho Supreme Couit befoio Mr Justice Richmond jesterdly afternoon It was an action brought to decide whether the covenant enterod into between Miss Crawford, owner of tho To Aro Hotel, and tho plaintiff, to take beer from him and his snecefFors in business, w.is "binding upon Mis? Crawford's tenant, tho drfeiuliint Harden. Hi* Honour reserved hi- dueision. The Superintendent of tho Home for Iho Aged Needy desires to thank Mrs. Pynsont for a framed picture, and Mesdimcs Mason and Medley for books and periodicals, for the use of Iho innmtoa. The syndicate represented by Mr. Hnrbcrt Cbobter has decided lo defer for a time the erection of a dairy faotory in the Hntt Valley, owing to tho present unsettled stato of tho butler market at Homo. The Council of tho Wellington Acclimatization Society met last night. A report was received from tho curator of the fishponds, Masterton, that 1,162,750 trout ova had been taken during last season, and that orders had been received for 242,000. It was decided to open the feufcon for trout fishing on tho 15th September and closo it on 15th April, the rofrnlatioiis of previous years to remain in foice. Tho Council proposes to clock sevoial stieanis in the Foitj Mile Bush, and :.l<o pkoo 2uO.OJU in tho We-,t C'oa-t rivora between Wiuknnae nr.il liingitikii. and 100,000 in the Hull ami other fniall liters about Wellington It is also the intention of the Society to liberate red deer on tho mountain ranges in the Wainui and Weit Const dKtiiLtJ, a.d to obtain, if pob-iblo, a further shipment of tho black Tiunmninu opossum for Wjiiini and Orongorouno liillrf. Mr. Martin. K.W., hoard tho ciiminal cases in the Magistrate's Court to-d.iy, and punished two first offenders for rirunkemiers. John M'Gregor, an aged man w ho=o appearance would have offered a splendid study to an netor unib.tiou-i of pl»i.>ing Kij» Van Winkle, was brought up as a ro^ue and vagabond by Constablo Murdoch, who fouud h.m this morning m a tradesman's yard. Ho was described by tho polico as being in a deplorably filthy condition. Four provions convictions for vagrancy being; proved against him, ho whs sent to gaol for 12 months, with hard labour. Georpo Fredlv. Parsons again appeared on summons on n complaint preferred by the Taxation Department for not having furnished a return ol his income. Mr. Campbell, Chief Clerk of the Tax Dopirtnieut, said tho def.cud.iut had since yesterday furnished a return by which it uppoarcd ho was exempt fioni ta\aUnn on account of his iucoino not reaching tho minimum of .£2OO per annum. His Worship said defendant should have sent in a return notwithstanding that ho was oiompt, and ho imposed a fine of Ss, i\ ith £1 Ss solicitor's fee. Many of onr readers know Mr Yon Mcycrn personally, i.nd a ntill 1 irjri-r mi nber nro acquainted w th ln» =kill «i ii |>oitrait-j>iiiiter. After a rrttidcnLo nf -oiuo 18 -ears m Wellington Mr. Yon Mcycrii ha- f..llen noon oi! times. He is now an mm it"> of the Hospital, and is likelj to rcmuin there for a long time, if indeed ho is ever able to icsume the practice of his art. In tho meantime his wifo and four children are reduced to great straits, *nd aro practicnlly dependent on any^aid which friends may bo inclined to render them. A subscription list hns been placed in our publishing offico, and contributions will be acknowledged in onr columns A few days ago a man named John Brown presented himsvlf at the Polico Station and urged tho polico to do turn him for lunacy. Two doctors subsequently examined him, and declined to certify that- he was insnrm, so ho w.vs discharged. Hi own shortly afterwards turned up at Waugnnui, whero ho renewed his application, this lime with ruccoss, as ho was brought down to the Mount View Asylum last night. Tho yacht Woka lias changed hand?, Mr. A. A. Sluart-Mcnteath having sold her to Mr. W. H. M'Clcland and party. Somo time ago the Wellington Accliuialisation Society received from Auckland a number of rainbow trout, and from them 9000 ova have been obtaiuod. Tho river in which ihe ova are to bo placed has not \ot been selected. An employe of tho Union Steam Ship Company named John Cnrrnn fell down tho hold of the Grafton yesterday— Borne 20 feet— and received an ugly gash on the head, but no more serious lnjnr}-. Messrs. F. Bradoy and Pcareo, Justices, on Thursdaj- fined a man named Edward Benton 20.5. with 7s costs, or in default throe days' imprisonment, for disturbing the Church of England congregation at Pahautanui hist Sunday. Sir. J. P. Cogan, late of the Otarama, is now second ofllcer of Iho Ruahine, and Mr. Terry, who was an apprentico last voyage, has been promoted to the rank of fifth officer. Mr. Martin, R.M., yesterday renewed the pawnbroker's license ot John Griffiths for twelvo mentlis. Tho art union in connection with tho Poultry Association was drawn last night by Messrs. J. Dickie and W. Fuller. An advertisement in another column givos the winning numbers. The Palmer Dramatic Company repeated "Hans, tho Boatman," in tho Opera House last night lo an excellent andience. Tho comedy will again bo ptajed this evouing, which is to be tho last appearance of the company at present. Tho fifth annual reunion of tho employs of Messis. Stewart and Co , timber merchants, took plieo at the Primings Theatre lost evening, and proved a most fncccssful and enjoyable affair. Tho ball wascrowdod, and the visitors included Messrs. J. and C. Stewart and J Hutcbon (members of the firm), and a number of leading master builders '! ho first portion of the entertainmont was a concert, presided over by Mr Hutchen. Songs wore given by Messrs. K. P. Johnson, W. D. Lyon, W. Haybittlo, H. Cole, fJ. H. Munt, G. Parsons, and J. Koe, and Missss Parsons, Curtice, and Birch ; recita'ions by Messrs. Hajbittlo and A. Ballinprall ; a Highland Flinir was danced in oastumo by Mr. D. Colder, accompanied by Mr. D. Campbell on tho bagpipes; and iv selection was played by an orchestra. A danco took place afterwards, to capital musio suppl cd by Minifio's String Band, Mr. F. \V. Cole acting as MC. Ref reshinonts wore supplied by Rowell and Son, Cuba stroot. Tho Coinmitteo- which consisted of Messrs. I W. D. Lyon, J. Hewlett, W. Hearn, F. W. Cole, H. Rodgers, A . Bowden, .1 . Uoo, W. Bennett, and ii. IJ. Moivbrny— is to bo congratulated on the Riiccet-8 attending tho gathering. Christchnrch i 3 soon to have another theatie. Plans have just been finished by Mr. Duval. the well-known Timaru architect, for the Christohnrch Freothonght /"ssociation, which intends commencing theorection Uiottly of a compact theatre on a site adjacent to tho corner of Manchester and Heroford-strcots, and closo to Latimersquaro. Iho now thoatro will be almost similar to the ono in Tima.ru, which is such a favourite of travelling companies, and is intended to seat about 1000 people. Judging from the plans, the comfort ot patrons will be studied. The buildiug is expeoted to tako four months to complete. Tho Manawatn Times of Thursday says : Yesterday, Mr. T. Edwards, of Sandon, mot with an accident which, had it not been for the extraordinary sagaoity of a small dog, -.rpuld in all probability have been attended with fatal eonsoquoncos. While driving a vehicle containing sheopskins along the road, the trap was capsized, and Mr. Edwards was buried beneath tho skins. When discovered, he was in an unoonsoious stato, having then boeu in his awkward fix for some three hours. Mr. Edwards owes his life to the sagacity of a small dog. After tho vehicle was capsized tho animal, in its persistent endeavours to reaoh its master, scratched away a track under tho skins to his faoo, and tho ohannel thus formed onabled a supply of air to reaoh him.' Hod it not been for this fact, Mr. Edwards must undoubtedly have been suffocated. Tho Wellington Rifles held a company parade last night, under Capt. A. Do B. Brandon and t ieut. W. Dutbio. Tho company was exercised in guard-mounting and sentry duties by the Captain, and put through tho manual and sword-bayonet exorcises by the several non-commissioned officers. Befo c being dismissed, tho company was reminded -of the Governmoat parade next Friday, and also that it would be the last of the 'musketry course for the year. Two new members were elected. The performance given in tho Exchange Hall last evening, for the benefit of Mr. Harry Cowan, the comedian, was largely attended. The items consisted of songs, step, dances, inatrnmontal selections, and gymnastic feats, tho contributors being Mossra. H., Co wan, W. Cranby, J. O'aselini, V. Thornhill, J. Washington, G. Leslie, j! Reid, Cranloy Bros , B. Week*, P Smith, W. Lynne, and Le Borte Bros. Tho entertoinment was a very successful one.

A meeting of tho creditors of Richard Cnmloy, who was until la'oly a constablo iv cllmgton, was held in Dunedin a few clajs a-;(>. Iho lanUiupt was unable to be p. cent. The liabilities were showy. to l>o XlSllsTd, the assets, consisting of furnituro, being \ allied at A2Q. A report was received from tho Assignee at AVollington to the effect that tho debtor had had to resign from the Polico Force, and that the bost chance the creditors had of getting anything was to pass a resolution recommending Ins discharge by the Couit and hU reinstatement iv tho Forcn. The bankrupt, in his examination at AVollington, deposed that ho was JJ2O in dubt when ho wa 5 mar led, four years ago, and when ho joiimd the Polico iorco afterwarda ho was .£1.5 in dell. Ills pay was .610 10s a month, and it co,t him .£2 a week to live. His wife had boen ill. Ho wns paying heavy interost to nioiioy-londei-3 for money borrowed. T. c meeting resolved to rocommond tho Court to grant an immediate discharge, provided the bankrupt pays a dividend of 10s in the £ '• Skipped by tho Light of tho Moon," tho comedy of G. R. Sims' with whioh the Gour-lay-Walton season is to open on Monday, is replete with most Indicrous situations. In it Messrs. (lonrlay and Walton assume tho rules of Obadi.ih Dingle and Felix Crackle, two London cleiks who n.ro ont for a holiday. Thoy lead thoir wives to bnliovo that thoy aro sjoing to jj n a camp of thy Young Moii'h Christian Association at tho Ulo of Wight, whoroas they betaVo themselves to tho fashionable watering - place of Biightnn. Here thoy indulge in all sorts of holiday pranks, and get into many scrapes. Dinglo conceives the idea of writing to his wife, making a oonfidant of a friend of his in tho Isle of Wight, to whom he encloses tho letter fo- the post, in order that his wifo may Btill bcliCNo him on tho sanctimonious racket. He encloses what ho supposes to be a photograph of a meeting of tho 1 onng Men's Christian Association, but his friend Craeklo discovers soon after the lottor has been Eo'tod that a photograph of a celebrate.! illet-daucor has been sent instead. Many complications ensuo, and tho happy climax is reached on tho arrival of the wives of tho holiday - makers at Brighton. Tho men "'skip l.y tho light of tho moon" several times, and arc discovered finally on a garden wall with their wives on ono Mdo and a bull-dog on the other. Our Northern contompoiaries ppsak warmly of tho merits of tho piece. The residence of Mr. G W. Dutton, stationer, Aurora-lerrace, was broken into 3'esterday afternoon, in the absence of his family, aud a quantity of clothingabstractcd. Tho thiof got in by raising the catch of a front window, and ransacked several of the rooms. Late last night a rann giving tho name of Aloxander Ihsa was arrested for drmikenness, and Detective Campbell noticed that ho woro a frood pair of trousers, \> hich did not at all tally with tho shockingly bad co.it be had on Campbell said nothing nt tho time, but this morning ho brought Mr. Duttou to the fetation, with tlio result that the trousers Ross was wearing were identified as having boen stolen from hisresideneo yesterday. Ross was then charged beforo Mr. Martin, R.M., in the Jliiffistr.atj's Court, with breaking and enterir<r and lar.'eny. Ho pleaded Guilty, and wns remanded till Tuosdiy no\t. Tho dcor which it ia proposd to liberate on the Wainui ranges aro to be taken from tho Wairarapa. Noil Rasmuasen was charged in tho Magistrate's Court to-day, beforo Mr. Martin, Ii M., with cruelty to a horso. Throe wir. nesses swore that when thoy examined the horse thero wore two eoros on each of its thouldcis and various bleeding wounds on its withers and back.nonoof tho sores being smaller than v half-crown piece. His Worship said ho had very grave doubts whether ho ouirht not to sond tho defendant— whom to designate a brute would bo to libel diimb animals— to jraol for two months, but tor the Fiko of his wifo and children he would impose a fino instead of imprisonment Detendunt would bo fined £5, together with 2Cs cost", and would be allowed ten woeks in which to pay. The Treasurer of the East Cliristchurch Football Clnb, in forwarding to tho New Zoalaud Rugby Union a contribution of £1 Is towards tho fund for providing tl»e mementos ff-iven to tho membol* of tho New Zealand Football team, spe.iks ot tho presontition as emph.isiz ng " tho appreciation of the New Zealand public for Iho manner in which the team so ably uphold tho prestige of New Zealand in tho national win f erg,iuie, in its matches with tho oistor colonies." Tho annual meeting of St. Paul's Cricket Club was hold last night, Mr. C. Titdall in .tho chair. Tho annual report showed that la«t soassn tho clnb played 10 matches, winning 0. Mr. C. L. Gardiner, who purchased a pitch and presented it to the club, was given a hearty vote of thanks. The bftlnnec-sheot showed a satisfactory credit balance. Tho following were elected offici>boarers for the ensiling year : -Captain, C. 'lisdall; Vice-Captain, D. FUher, ; Secretary and Treaiuier, Ii Ramsay (re-elected) ; Management Committoo— Tisdall, Ramsay, Fisher, Ingrain, Sutherland, Twiss. and Ben/oni ; Match Committoo, Tisdall, Fislior. and Sutherland. Twenty-one new members wore elected. The membership has now increased to over GO. Tho Odlfcllows' Hall, Lower Ilntt, was well filled last night on tho occasion of the tableaux vivunta by a numboi of ladies and gentlemon. Tho entertainment was a thorough success. Tho tableaux woro sustained by Mrs. Pnrdy, Mrs. T. M. Wilford, Muses Lean, Hector, Bodmin, Messrs. (i. Pearce, R. J. Todd, M. P. Bunny, and Drs. Purdy and Whitehead. Mr. Wilford con-t-ibnted a coster song, and Dr. Pnrdy gave an exhibition of conjuring. Mr. Gnuter was at tho piano. The varions friendly societies in Wellington have decided to hold another demonstration thisypir, to take placo on 9th November, and all lodges, courts, and tents are requested by advertisement to appoint two delegates each to attend a meeting to bo hold in tho Ifochabito Hall, on Thursday evening, 31st inst., in connection with tlio movement. A chort sen ire in conneotion with the Girls' Friendly Society will bo held at Sr. Mark's on Tuesday. After the service, I-ady Glasgow will present the prizes in the schoolroom. Our readers .are reminded of the entertainment to bo given by tho Garrison Band to-morrow on tho Thorndon Esplanade. A concert and dance in aid of the funds of the Kilbiruio Cricket Clnb will be held in tho Kilbirnio Hall on Monday oveningr. Tin- eini|iolniff pigeois in tn. lnj's ilviiiir mutches from Nu|>ier nwl \Vnn«nDui nro to ne exhibited ro-ni«ut in Sir. T. J. I.eijbtn i's window, Jlo'cMvoi (li-stiuor. To-inehr mil lm flip last opportunity nt vnr(Mtisinif iriofjs ol Jno. Yoniip'sironinoiienrv simp STrum^i s.streer. ai he learei for Melbourne, lnimciliitelr. Ii ig;iiiis are promised as tho outer of the cM'iiuifr. Tho Tlinrndon Wraioyiin Snonnv School will eilournto its ]9th anniversary to-morrow. Tho IJ<'V. J. G. Chapinnii. a former nist r of Hi" church, will prench in tho ovpniuff. Tho fiuiil nrnotice of thr clii'dron wns boM lnnt ni"l,t. mil was vpry successful. Th* children hnv» b»on oirefuliy trained, andnsthov will be unsifted bj n imrabor or friendn nn<l a lnrjre orchestra, a treat is in store for thoftenhi attend. Edward AniloMon. ebma find pl~si morelinnr. Willi<.str«bt. cdls n'ti-ntion in our nclverti«ine oltiniTisto extensira Fuipinoutn of npwe»n(U|(i hind ppr rec»nr nrrivnls m new and beiutiful desitriis, at prices to suit everyone. As will ba uoticvl br K. Hannah .t Oo.'n ndTprtisemntit in onr Wvitcd column, tl cv sire ■ ffprne real huff w< 01-!ined slippers at startling prices, to e'ear shipment. Tbo Official As '(rnco invites traders for <be purchnsn of the Rtock.in-tr.ido of T. 11. Coltman. An orua-jist n r. qmred for St. Ilnrk'g, Wellington. The Roy. .T. Crowes announces the hours, ft c, at winch he inuy be met for heml-roadintr, pbrenologic.il charts, and coiismltation us to electric ticitmonfc of chronic dn°fi es, nmi nlioro his Manual of Pbronolojy 1)l"t, *c., mny bo obtained The open-air meetiiiK of the Prohibition Loiriis wll lx> he'd to-iujlit as usual. Particulars aie ad\ertised. The onl<r of services at St. Peter's Churcli for to niorron is advertised. At tbcWcslejan Churches, to-morrow, sprncpß will b" conducted ns fall' w .—Wesley Church, Tnrcimiki-Btreot, mornin?. Rev. .T..T. Lewis ; evenniK, Kov T. G.Carr. 51. loswortli-«troot,morninfr, llov. C. Dilliiston ; evening, Kcv. J. G. Chupman. Trinity Church. Kewlown, inormnir, I!ov. T. Q. CaiT, evoiiinn, Xcv J. J. Lewis. The Rer. J. J.Lewia' subjoct atTnnitv Church, Newlown. to-morrow evening, will be "The Bib'o and tho Huniau Heart." Tho services, to-morrow, in tho Primitive Methodist Churches will be co 'ducted n* follow — Sydney-street, 11, Rev. C. K. Ward; 6 30, Rev. S. Riru*tt. Wubb-'t eot, 11, Hey. S, Barnett; 030, Mr. C. M. Lukd Nii-.vtowu, IJ, Hr. J. EoitU ;G. 30, Key C. E. Ward. ' ' At the Temioj Coiiffrezatiounl Church, to-mor-row. Her. G. J. Allou, B.A , will projeh in the tnnrninir and evening. Tho services at tho Coiirtonay-nlaco Conitre^ati mnl Church, tn-morrow, will lie conducted by the R.-v. \V. Powell. Evening subject • "Au Old Picture of Sooioty." At tho Church of Christ, Dixou-strcet, to-nior-iow, tbespiuues will be conducted by Mr. A. P. Turner. Tho subjuct is advertised. At the Viviiui-streot Baptist Church, to-morrow, the sort ices will bo conducted by the Rev J G Hurra} in tho morning, nnd tbe Rev. C. J>nl)a«t«» in tho evening. Tho evening terinon will bo the second of tbo lenes on " The Pearl of Pnmblet." A Gospel meeting will bo Leld as usual in Kewtowu Hnll, liiddtfoxl-titrcat,' to-morrow evening at 7 o'clock. Mr. Hinrnan will preach ia tho Gospel Hall, Herbert-Mr et, to-uiorrow evening at 7. At the Sociological Association to-morrow oventog, Uioro will be a lecturs by tbo President.