Evening Post. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1894. THE PREMIER'S FACTS AND FIGURES.

Evening Post, Volume XLVII, Issue 41, 17 February 1894, Page 2

Evening Post. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1894. THE PREMIER'S FACTS AND FIGURES.

• Why the Premier should have gone to Joxton to discourse on the tightness of money and to inveigh against the Banks is as incomprehensible aB most of his speech must have been to tho audience it was addressed to. Mr. Sbddon attempting to deal with figures presents almost as ungainly a .figure as a hippopotamus gambolling on a mountain-top. Ho floundors about terribly. Not himself understanding what he is talking about, it is no wonder that ho fails to greatly -enlighten his hearers. There is not muoh ¦worthy of serious oriticism in Mr. Skddon's -speech. A running commentary will meet -all the requirements of the case. He thinks -there is no reasonable cause for depression, yet he in almost the same breath admits -that although the population has increased "the exports have decreased. It is true "that 8j millions of exports is very largo for the population, but some time ago a smaller population' produced considerably larger exports. There is thus less money now to divido amongst a larger population "than thore used to be. To any ordinary "mind this would account for a certain measure of depression. Then, again, the "population has inoreased by 10,000, but very few of these have become producers. The Premier says the oolony has been able, -without any groat inconvenience, to find work for these It might be nearer the •truth to say that at the expense of considerable sacrifice the permanent settlers of "the colony havo had to support, by finding 'work or food, a considerable number of people whose presence is only a burthen. Mr. Sbddon tries to make out a case against tho banks, although he is forced to admit -.that during the year thoy have brought .£112,717 into the colony in excess of what they 'have sent out of it. As we showed the 1 other <9&y, if the comparison were extended over a dangor period the amount would be very muoh Hmjijer. Ho complains, however, that in the Hast six months of tho year the export of specie exceeded the import. In other words ihistcomplaint is that the banks having during tfhe .first half of the year imported more anoney than they oonld actually find profitable employment for, but with the prudent propose of averting such a oribis here as arose in Australia, and having succeeded in Maintaining confidence, have since exported ((portion of the excess of specie in their harnis. We fail to see anything to complain of in this. Does Mr. Seddon imagine that every sovereign brought into the colony should* bo earmarked for future circulation in New Zealand only ? It would seem so. The absurdity of such a contention is manifest. Money is like water. It will persist in finding its own level. The banks, having taken extraordinary precautions to strengthen themselves against a possible emergency, cannot bo blamed if they fail to continuo the precautions when the danger no longer exists. An wo pointed out the other day, tho Australian banks doing business in New Zealand have during the last two years and a half increased tho amount of foreign capital they employ in New Zealand by j?560,000. Clearly, therefore, the banks are not responsible for any depression or tightness of money, by any reduction in their power to assist trade. The fact is. and Mr. Seddon knows it perfeotly well, that there is a plethora of money in the colony, but it is stagnant. The Government, of which Mr. Seddon is the head, has, by its avowed orusado against capital, by its constant threats l of another turn of the Borew, by its absurd 1 scheme of borrowing oheap money to relend -to settlers, and by its evident design of ultimately establishing a State Bank, to prepare the publio mind for which was one of Mr. Sbddon s objects last night, entirely shaken the faith of capitalists in New Zealand as a profitable or safe field for investment. Those who have money take good care to keep it in liquid form, and all speculation is dead. Mr. Sbddon is quite mistaken if he thinks the ocousation of sly borrowing made in tho colony and abroad refers only or mainly to the conversion operations. It has a muoh wider application. We have more than once pointed out instances of sly borrowing, apart altogether from conversions. His assertion that many public writers seem to consider the Sinking Fund represents coin in hand is iimply a grotesquely unwarranted assertion. There

are few, if any, publio critics of the Ministerial finance who are not infinitely better informed on questions of finance generally than Mr. Seddon is, or is capable of becoming. His assertion that the ''Government has not borrowed on the rfy, or in any other way, and did not intend to do so," would be good if only it were true. Better still would be tho statement that " the present Government had effected a saving of .£55,000 in interest through their loan conversions" if it could be accepted not merely as literally true, but as true in the sense it evidently is intended to convey. But better than all would bo the statement as to the " simply impregnable " position of the colony, if it could be accepted in simple faith. But if we turn to the public accounts and examine these statements by the light there given, the feeling of satisfaction and complacency they would naturally tend to produce disappears. The Ballance Government took office in January, 1891 For the financial year ending 31st March, 1891, the item interest and sinking fund stood at .£1,858,253. Deducting tho .£55,000 which Mr. Seddon says has since been saved by conversions, the present expenditure on interost and sinking fund should be .£1,803,253. It cannot be more if tho.colony has not since 1891 '" borrowed on the sly or in any other way." The Appropriations for the year 1893-4, however, show the charge for this item to be now .£1,901,098, or .£98,445 in excess of tho sum it should be, if Mr. Seddon's statements are correct. The sum represents 4 per cent, interest on When the Premier next addresses the people of the colony perhaps he will condescend to explain how the large additional charge for interest has arisen " without borrowing." Allowing the saving of claimed, it yet remains an incontrovertible fact that the colony is paying a much larger sum for interest now " than it did throe years ago. It unfortunately happens that all Mr. Seddon's figures, like his alleged facts, have to be taken with a reservation. They are brought forward to suit a purpose without much regard to their accuracy. The Manawatu air seems to have an espeoially inspiring effect upon him. Some of his figures last night at Foxton deserve to stand beside his statement made at Feilding some time ago as to his political heirship to Mr. "Ballance. It is to be regretted that being once more in tho Manawatu district he did not attempt to vindicate tho oit-challenged statement in question. He has often enough been twitted with its falsehood, but neither he nor his organs have dared utter a word in defence. Unless he can vindicate his truthfulness upon the Feilding platform, he has no right to expect oredence for his assertions under similar circumstances elsewhere. Mr. Seddon's defence of the Lee Smith appointment, and his references to the Licensing question, call for no special remark.

The Premier's apeeoh at Foxton, an account of the Fire Brigado's gathering, sporting news, and correspondence, will be found on our fourth page. Tho Minister of Justice has informed the deputation which waited upon him on Thursday that he sees no reason to interfere with tho sentence of wo montha' imprisonment passed on William Stuart, second engineer of the Waikato, on the charge of drunkenness and disobedience of orders. Mr. Cadnmn says ho has no power to grant a rehearing of the oase. The s.s. Ruahino took 613 tons of dairy produce from tho colony. The amount shipped at the various ports was as follows i —Auckland, 21 tons of cheese, 20 tons of butter; Lyttolton, 3 tons of cheese, 29 tons of butter; Dunedin, 224 tons of cheese, 24 tons of butter ; Wellington, 86 tons of cheese and 206 tons of butter. The funeral of Mr. E. W. Morrah took place this morning. The procession included 15 carriages. Mossrs. W. H. Morrah and H. Morrah (90ns) and Mr. Paul Hunter (son-in-law) were chief mourners. A number of beautiful wreaths, including several from the local Btaff of the Bank of Australasia, wore placed on the coffin. Tho interment took place at the Karorl Cemetery, and the last rites of tho Church of England were porformed by Archdeacon Stock and the Rev. W. C. Waters. Mr. M'Dermott, of the Kaiwaiwai School, whose appointment by tho Education Board to the teachership of the Kilbirnie School led to the resignation of the School Committee, who desired that their own nominee Bhould havo the position, has now been instructed to esatune charge o£ the school. Tho resolutions which were passed at the recent conference of Temperance bodies, as to voting for no license and supporting candidates for the Licensing Committee pledged to the maximum reduction, were approved by the Executive of the Prohibition League at a mooting held last night. The course of action to be taken in the coining olections was discussed, and sub-committees were appointed to make the necessary arrangements. Several ratepayers attended at the Borough Council office at Petone last night, to form a committee to work in connection with the poll for tho drainage loan next Thursday. The roll was gone through, and it was seen that if the loan was to bo carried every available voter must be.brought to tho poll. There are a great number of absentees, whose votes must neoessarily under the present Apt connt against the proposal. Strong hopes, however, were expressed that with tho people's united efforts tho poll wonld be carried. Offers pf conveyances to run free of charge on the day of tho poll were'received from Mr. Bailey, Mr. Oxenham, and the Mayor, and thankfully accepted, and it is hoped that similar offers will be reoeived by the Committee. A circular is to be issued by the Mayor to the ratepayers soliciting support to the drainage proposals, and a -vigorous canvass will be mode by the Committee. In the Magistrate's Court to-day, Robert Lord appeared before Mr. Martin, R.M., on the dual charge of having been drunk at 12.30 this moaning and having used filthy language on the Queen's Wharf. The case was a most aggravated one. the language being uttorod within the hearing of Captain Jainos, master of tbo ship Auckland, and his wife. The prisoner was fined 5s for drunkenness, and was sent to gaol for a month's hard labour on the charge of using obscene language. A first offender was dealt with for having been drunk. James M'Guire, a young man, was brought up charged with beinfr drunk and disorderly, and with resisting Constable Qnirke. The prisoner disturbed the Fire Brigade social at Bowie's Hall last night, and assaulted a Corporation carter. Ho was sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment. Stephen Gordon, on remand, charged with having been illegally on promises in Boulcott-street on Wednesday, was sent to gaol for 14 days with hard labour. The annual meeting of the Garrison Band was held last night at Bowley's Rooms, Cuba-street, Bandmaster Herd presiiing. The report and balance-sheet disclosed a good state of affairs. The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows :— General Committee, Bandmaster Herd, Sergeant M'Donald, Corporal Goodohild, Bandsmen Fountain, Sinclair, Atkinßon, and White; Secretary, Bandsman White (reelected) ; Treasurer, Sergeant M'Donald (reelected) ; Librarian, Bandsman Brogan. It was decided to procure new uniforms. At the close of the meeting a hearty vote of thanks was carriod to the outgoing Committee, the Seoretary, Treasurer, and Librarian coming in for a speoial meed of praise. Mrs. Catherine Lawrie, a resident of New* town, was brought before tho R M. in the Magistrate's Court this morning on remand, chargod with having attempted her own life on Monday last, by drinking a solution of the heads of wax matches in water. Mr. T. Young appeared for the defence. Dr. Alexander said he was called upon on Monday • afternoon to attend the accused, whom he found lying upon aEofa in her house. Mrs. Condor, a neighbour, who was in attendance on the patient, informed him that Mrs. Lawrie had told her she had had a quarrel with her husband, and in consequence drank a solution of phosphorus and water. The defendant declined to answer any question witness put to her. Remedies were applied by the doctor, who subse mently ordered her removal to the Hospital, from whioh she was discharged as cured on Thursday. The defendant was highly hysterical when witness first saw her, and was tearing her hair. He saw some match-wicks in a glass on a tablo in tho room. Mrs. Whitcombe, a friend of the accused, stated that on Monday she was called in to see Mrs. Lawrie. who informed her ehe had swallowed a decoction of wax match heads. Witness administered an emetic, and telephoned for Dr. Alexander. The Lawries, so far as she was aware, lived happily together, and witness knew of no reason for defendant attempting herlifo. Latterly Mrs. Lawrie had complained of Revere headaches. Mrs. Condor, another neighbour, gave corroborative evidence. Maggie Turley, aged eleven years, a neico who resided with the defendant, stated that she was sent for 3d worth of matches by her aunt, who said she wanted them to light the fires with on Monday. Witness purchased them, and gave them to her annt, who was lying down with a bad head. So far as witness knew her uncle and aunt had no quarrel last Monday. Constible Carroll gave unimportant evidence. Mr. Young having addressed the Court for the defence, the accused, who reserved- her defence, was committed for trial, and was allowed bail in one surety of .£3O, the husband in addition being required to enter into a bond for a similar amount. The s.s. Manapouri, from Melbourne via Bluff, and s.s. Waihora, from Sydney via Auckland and Fast Coast, will on their arrival at Lyttelton on Tuesday tranship passengers and oargo, roturning by the route they will have come. The Manapouri, before returning to Melbourne, will be docked at Port Chalmers, and sails from there on the 25th. There was a fair attendance of visitor's and membors at St. John's Lodge, 1.0. G.T., last evening. It was decided to visit the Star of Wellington Lodge next Thursday. The city lodges are invited for next Friday evening, when a singing competition will take place, in which all the members are to take part. The Distriot Lodge notified a meeting re the licensing election. Several songs and recitations wero rendered. The Committeo of the Wellington Horticultural Society met last night and made final arrangements for the show on Wednesday and Thursday next. The following additional speoial prizes were allotted :—For the best centre decoration for table, .£1 Is, given by Mr. A. de B. Brandon, and for the bost shower bonqnet, prize value .£1 Is, given by the D.I.C. The prizes offered for this show amount to over £60, and competition will bo very keen in some classes. Any contributions in kind towards the refreshments for the garden party proposed to be held in the Hospital grounds on next Wednesday afternoon will be gratefully received and acknowledged by the Matron. Messrs. Baker Bros.' report tho following sales: —Revan-street, 31 x 85, with six rooms, Mr. Gray, .£300; Arthur-street, 31 x 74, with six rooms, .£325 ; Wellesley Block, lots 32, 33, 34, Block B, 102 x 100, Mr. Bryant, £446.

The resignation of the Manakau School Committee, on account of a difficulty with the headmaster regarding the paddocking of the children's horses in the grounds attached to the lobool. has been reoeived by the Secretary of the Education Board. In presenting the long service medals to the members of the Municipal Fire Brigade last evening, Councillor Harris alluded to the fact that three members of one family —Messrs. H., W , and J. Jenkins - were amongst the recipients, each of whom had done inestimable servioe during his connection with the Brigade. Councillor Harris congratulated the brothers on this fact on handing over the medals. An exceedingly painful scene was witnessed in the Magistrate's Court this afternoon on Mrs. Lawrie being committed for trial. The unfortunate woman, on hearing the determination of the Kesident Magistrate to commit her, fell into a swoon, and it was some considerable time before the female friends who acoompanied her oould restore her to consciousness. Mrs. Lawrie, on her recovery, obtained bail, and left the Court in the company of her husband and lady friends. The following passengers have booked by the P. and 0. S. N. Company through the local agents, Messrs. Johnston & Co. :—Per s.s. Himalaya, leaving Melbourne 10th February—Mr, and Miss Kirkcaldie, Miss Johnston, Mr. and Mrß. C J. Johnston, Mr. Harold Johnston, and Misses L. and A. Johnston. Per Parramatta, from Melbourne, 24th February—Messrs. Sydney Fry, J. Wood, M. Campbell. Per Britannia, leaving Melbourne, 10th March—Mrs. Ling, Mr. Ling, and Miss Ling. Per Australia, from Melbourne, 7th April—Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Abraham and two children, Mrs. Ballance, Miss O'Brien, Mr. and Mrs Jellicoe. The Drainage Engineer, in a report to the City Council, cays that there is evidently some misapprehension regarding the ventilation of the outfall sewer atKilbirnie, regarding 1 which a protest was recently made by Kilbirnie residents. There is no intention of having open ventilators along the sewer at intervals of five chains, but there will be closed means of access at abont that distance, so designed as not to occasion any nuisance to the residents in the neighbourhood. We are requested by Mrs. Jessie Fulton, who recently colleoted funds to send a destitute family to Sydney, to publish the following letter. The family sailed in the Hauroto on Thursday :—" Wellington, 14th February, 1894. To Mrs. J. Fulton, Cambridge.terraoe, Wellington. Dear MadamIt is out of my power to find words to express my gratitude for the truly Christian and charitable manner in which you have alleviated the sufferings of myself and family, and for the labour you ha>. c devoted and time spent in gathering together an amount sufficient to pay our fares to Sydney, and to keep us for a time after our arrival. While thanking you from the bottom of my heart, I am sure it will please you to know that your visits have always left a good influence upon us, causing us to feel confident that a new and happier life lies before us. May God bless you and prosper you in tho good work you are so devoted to, and believe me to remain, yours most respectfully, R. Gascoiqne Hebden." Mr. Ashcroft, Coroner, and a jnry of whioh Mr. St. Clair Jounnax was foreman, held an inquest at the Tramway Hotel, Adelaide* road, yesterday afternoon, as to the cause of tho death of Albert Edward Olsen, tho 18 month old son of a single girl, who had left the deceased in the charge of Mrs. Eliza Singleton, King-street, for some months past. Tho particulars attending tho death of tho deceased appeared in yesterday's Post. He was laft by his foßter mother on a stool in a closet, a few minutes subsequent to which he was found suffocated in tho pan. Dr. Alexander, who was called in after death, was examined, and gave it as hiß opinion that no child even for a moment should bo left in the position the deoeased had been in. Mrs. Singleton was oallod.but her evidence throw no additional light on the circumstances attending the death of the deceased. Witness reoeived 8s per week from tho mother of the deceased, and on the day of the ohild's death Miss Olsen had paid witness £o arrears for the boy's maintenance Witness was still owed £i 5s arrears, which the putative fathor had promised to pay. Witness was greatly attached to deoeased, and laßt Christmas, when Miss Olsen was deujrous of sending the child to her friends at Eketahuna, witness begged her to permit the boy to remain with her. The jury rotnrnod a. verdiot of Accidental Death, and added a rider to the effect that the case should aot as a warning to mothers. We have to acknowledge receipt of the first number of the Christian Outlook, a new family paper published at Dunedin, with which is incorporated the New Zealand Presbyterian. The " Garden of Eden" Exhibition opened at the Criterion Theatre this afternoon, and has already oausod much wonderment amongst visitors. The first general meeting of the newlyformed Friendly Societies Jubilee Orphanage Society is called by advertisement in another column. The meeting will be open to all members of Friendly Sooieties, and the objeots of the Society will be fully explained. A meeting of the Oriental Football Club is advertised for Friday evening. Dr. Kennedy, of London (author of Cancer Curable "), is expected to arrive in Wellington from Dunedin on Monday, and will dolivor a series of lectures in Thomas' Hall. Entries for the Amateur Athletic Club's meeting close at the Occidental Hotel at 9 p.m. to-day. The annual meeting of the Melrose Football Club will be held on Tuesday evening. Tenders ore invited for the supply of leggings for the Petone Naval artillery. Miss King advertises that she baa remored to premises opposite the Occidental Hotel. The order of services at St, Peter's Church for to-morrow is advertisod. At tho Wesleyan Churches, to-morrow, semoes will be conducted as follow: —Wesley Church, Tarannki-street, 11, Eev. E. J. Murray; 6.30, Rev. J. J. Lewis. Molesworth-street, 11, Eev. J. J. Lewis; 6.30, Mr. J. A. Crump. Trinity Church, Newtown, 11, Mr. J. A. Crump; 6.30, Eev. E. J. Murray. Anniversary services will be held at the Tara-naki-street Wesleyan Church to-morrow, wheii musical selections will he given by a choir of 600 voices and instrumentalists, Mr. Billman conducting. The services in the Webb-street Primitive Methodist Church, to-morrow, will oe conducted in the morning by Mr. J. Clement, and in the evening by the Eev. S. Barnett. Tho othor services of the^.M. churches are advertised. At St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Terrace, to-morrow, the services will bo conducted by Eev. W. H. Burnett in the morning, and in the evening by Eev. W. j; Dean, At the Terrace Congregational Church, tomorrow, the Eev. G. J. Allen, 8.A., will preach morning and evening.At the Courtenay-place Congregational Church, to.-morrow, Mr. S. Costall will preach in the morning, and the Hey. W, M. Fe}\ in the evening. At the Free Methodist Church, Courtenay-place, to-morrow, the morning service will be conducted by the Eev. J. Wrigley, the Eev. H. B. Bedstone trking the evening service. At the Vivian-street Baptist Church, to-morrow, Mi-. K. S. Gray will preach in the morning and the Eev. C. Dallaston in the ovening. Evening subject: " The Sceptics Question Answered." At the Church of Christ, Dixon-street, tomorrow evening, Mr. A. F. Turner will preach. Subject, " Tho Healing of the Paralytic." The subject of the sermon to be preached at tho Catholic Apostolic Church, Webb-Btreet, tomorrow evening, will be " The Fall and the Eegeneration—the Glory of the Kingdom." Lectures in connection with tho Forward Movement will bo delivered at tho Bechabite Hall, Manners-street, to-morrow, by Mr. W. A. Evans. Subjects —Morning, " Studies in the Parables — The Power of Persißtent Prayer"; eveniinr, " Evolution and Christianity." Mr. C. H. Hinman will preach in the Gospel Hall, Herbert - street, to-morrow evening, at 7 o'clock. Mr. Eussell will deliver a lecture at the Ballance Hall to-morrow evening, at 7.30 o'clock.