Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1895 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FRANCHISE AND ELECTIONS.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 51, 28 August 1895, Page 2

Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1895 LOCAL GOVERNMENT FRANCHISE AND ELECTIONS.

The portion of the new Looal Government Bill relating to the eleotion of looal bodies and the qualification of -voters is.deoidedly objectionable, and will require the most strenuous resistance. It is vicious in both prinoiple and detail. The one-man-one-vote system is most unjust as applied to local government matters. As the Bill per. mits otrating for speoial areas, the operation of such a provision might deprive propertyowners — who would have to pay almost the whole of the money— from having any voiqe in the imposition of the rate. Property in any subdivision of a looal government district Bhould carry with it a vote in everything relating to that sub-division. Nor is it right or fair that the voting power of annual tenants or small property-holders should in local government districts be the same as that of large property-holders. Where property has to bear the burthen the voting power should be in proportion to the taxation levied. This prinoiple the Bill entirely fails to recognise. It will be neoessary to contend strenuously to secure suoh recognition before the measure is permitted to reach the Statute Book. The provision giving looal governing bodies only a biennial term of office, and requiring the whole of the members to retire simultaneously, is also highly objectionable, especially in regard to 'municipalities. It is most desirable that in all local governing bodies some continuity of offioe should be provided for, and sudden radical changes guarded againßt. The retirement of a certain proportion of the governing body every jrear is infinitely preferable to the 'retirement of the whole every seoond year, and really ensures muoh more completely the control of publio opinion over the governing body. It also ensures oontinnity of administrative aotion. The annual eleotiona suffice to show the feeling of tie constituencies on any burning question, while there is always preserved a oertain seotion of members acquainted with administrative details and routine affaira. It would seriously upset the working of saoh bodies if a complete change of parionnel every two years were rendered possible. By one-third retiring every year ample provision is made for the infusion of new blood, and for keeping ,the Counoil in touch with the ratepayers. We trust that the provisions of the Bill in respeot to the election and tenure of offioe of looal governing bodies will not be accepted by the Legislature. The enlargement of the Mnnioipal franchise by bestowing it on tenants by the year is not likely to meet with any serious opposition. As a matter of fact, most yearly tenants oan now obtain the privilege of becoming ratepayers by arrangement with their landlords, and the alteration in the law will not materially affect the existing position in regard. to the' matter. Any attempt, however, to introduce adult suffrage into the local government system will deserve the most unflinching opposition. The desires of the Government in this direotion are made pretty evident in this Byl, and, if eivon the smallest enoouragement, it is evident that Ministers would not hesitate to extend the pernioious system of universal snffrage, whioh has done so muoh to corrupt and degrade politioal life, to municipal and connty government. The portion of the Bill to which we have referred will demand tbe gravest consideration of looal bodies before the measure comes up for consideration by the Legislature, and -we trust that 'the majority of suoh bodies will protest in tbe strongest possible terms against the proposals embodied in the Bill to whioh wa have now directed attention.

The reply given by the Minister for Justioe yesterday to Mr. Duthie's question about the vaoant Judgeship was unsatisfactory— in faot, a mere equivocation. Ministers must be perfeotly aware that inconvenience is being caused to the publio by the aooumulation of work in the Supreme Court owing to there being no Beoond Judge. As they want formal complaint from the Bar, however, we trust the Bar will lose no time in gratifying them. That any representations will affect the aotion of the Government we do not, however, believe. The delay arises from politioal, or rather from Party oonBiderations. The latest rumour on the subject probably lias a substratum of truth. It is that Sir Patriok Buckley will take the Judgeship at the end of the session, and will be suooeeded in the Upper House and as Attorney-General by Sir Westby Peroeval, who in turn will be replaced as Agent-Gene-ral by either Mr. KeevosorMr.Seddon In the meantime, it might bo worth while for some member to follow the example of Mr. Seddnn in Juno, 1888, and interoept Supply by moving that " i 6 is inadvisable that the " Government should longer delay the " appointment of a Judge to fill the vacancy " oaused by the death of the lato Judge " Richmond " This, with tho alteration of tho Judge's name, is tbs motion whioh Mr Scddon moved and Supported by a very excellent speech , the arguments of which would be as applicable for use at the present time as tbey were then. We should like to heur Mr. Seddon in reply to his own speech Various items of Parliamentary news (inoluding last night's proceedings in reference to the Bank of New Zealand), the annual report of the New Zealand Farmers' Dairy Union, and letters to the Editor, will be found on the fourth page. The Hon. the Minister of Labour (Mr. W. P. Beeves) and his relative, Mr. Bobieson, have purchased Messrs. Newsham Bros.' fine leasehold property in the Awakino District, north of Mokan. The Minister of Edncation will be interviewad this evening at the Parliamentary Buildings by a deputation from tbe committees of the city schools in reference to religions instruction in schools. The annual balance-sheet of tbe Melrose Borough Council shows assets valned at .£417 6s 6d and liabilities amounting to .£lB2 18s Id. The Controller and Auditor-General has oertified to its correctness. A total of 6700 papers have been taken out for the first grade drawing examinations, whioh are to be held in the primary schools throughout the Wellington district next week. The Bishop of Wellington has forwarded to Mr. A. E. Waterson, the ex-Seoretary of the Hortionltural Sooiety, a cheque for £5, with the request that he may be placed on the list of life members of the Socioty. Dr. Wsllis has also oonsented to be a VioePresident of the Sooiety. It was stated at yesterday's meeting of the Trustees of the Benevolent Sooiety that tbe soup kitchen which was open until last week did not lighten tbe work of the Benevolent Institution. Tbe cable messages^whioh were received announcing the honours conferred npon the retirement of the Rosebery Government were erroneous in several respects. Tbe Bight Hon. Sir Henry Loch, G.U.8., the Kight Hon. Herbert Gardner, M.F., Mr. Sydney Stern, M.P., and Mr. James Williamson, M.P., were oreatod Barons — not Baronets, as oabled. The Baronets wero Mr. James Blyth, a Governor of the Royal Agricultural Sooiety ; Mr. William Agnew, Captain Naylor>Leyland, fcir Joseph Henals, Lord Mayor of London, and Mr. James Bell, Lord Provost of Glasgow. Knighthoods were conferred upon Mr. Arthur Arnold. Chairman of the London County Counoil ; Colonel E. T. Gourley, M.P. ; Mr. Clarence Smith, M.P. ; Mr. Frederick Howard. Dr. H. J. Littlejohn, Mr. Cowasjei Jebanghir, and Mr. James Low, Lord Provoßt of Dundee s while Sir Ralph Thompson, X.C.8., late Under-Seore-tary for War, and Sir Bernhard Samuelson, Bart., M.P., were sworn of the Privy Counoil. The Bight Hon. H. H. Fowler, M.P., wn.B mode a G. G.5.1,, and tbe Bight Hon. H. Campbell Bannerman a G.C.B. Tbe rank of X C.B. was conferred on Mr. Robert G iff on, C.B , of tbe Board of Trade Statistical Department ; Colonel V. D. Majendie, 0.8., Chief Inspeotor of Explosives; and Mr. Alfred Milner, C.B , Chairman of the Board of Inland Ke venue. Seventeen C.B.s were given, and Lords Houghton and Carrington received Earldoms. Wa are asked to state that James Bagnst, who was charged witb using obsoene language at the Magistrate's Court on Monday, is not an exprogsman. At the meeting of the Ednoation Board to-day, Mr. Froser drew attention to the statement made in the House by Mr. Hogg that the Wellington Technical School coat £2000 a year to maintain. The Chairman (Mr. J. E. Blair) said as a matter of faot tbe cost was only £855 14s, whioh inolnded the training of teaohers and pupil teaohers, and the continuous instrnotion of large numbers of children ooming in trom the primary sohools. The chief objeotion seemed to be with regard to outsiders, but the amount reoeived in fees returned a profit to the Board. Mr. Fraser thought this was a complete answer to tha statements. A trade display is to be made by the Amalgamated Sooiety of Carpenters and Joiners at the Eight Hours Demonstration. Of the engineers of the Union Steam Ship Company's fleet, Mr. J. Beed, of the Upolu, will join the Janet Nicol, while Mr. Paterson, late of tbe Port Melbourne, will replace Mr. Seed on the Upolu. Mr. Dunlop, second engineer of tho Takapuna, who hits been laid up ashore for several weeks past ia now able to get about again, and will, it is expected, resume duty in about a fortnight. The names of the writers of the prize essays and those deserving honourable mention in the 1 competition instituted by the j New Zealand Candle Company for children attending .public sohools in Wellington | appear in this issue. The essays have been judged by Mr. Maok, manager for the company, and Mr. Ohas. Wilson, editor of the New Zealand Mail. These gentlemen have awarded the first prize of £3 to JSellie M. Banks, aged 14, a pupil of the Thorndon Sohools the second prize of £2 to Dora Seymour, aged 11, of Clyde-quay School; and the third prise of £1 to Thomas B. Heffer, aged 10, of Thorndon Sohool. Special prizes are also awarded to Nellie Anderson, of Mount Cook Girls' Sohool, and George Banks, of Thorndon Sohool. Miss Anderson's essay wonld have reoeived the first prize had it not largely exoeeded the number of words allowed. The judges Btate that tho composition and handwriting were generally good, though in the composition there was a tendency towards abruptness, and an oooaslonal weakness in punctuation. The prize-winners will receive their rewards on application to the Seoretary of the New Zealand Candle Company, at Customhousequay. As the Huddart- Parker liner Anglian was delayed in leaving Auokland, having had to discharge and load a very heavy cargo at that port, she will not retch Wellington till Saturday, and sails South at 5 p.m. the same day. Her departure for Sydney via East Coast ports and Auokland has been altered to Friday, the 6th September. Cheap fares for Christohuroh Exhibition are advertised. The report to be presented at the third annual meeting of the Wellington Art Club this evening states that tbe progress made during tbe past year was not so marked as in each of the previons years, 'i his was ohiefly due, no doubt, to the apathy of a large number of the members. The quality of the work, however, was of a higher standard. It was considered advisable to postpone the annual exhibition until October, in order to fall in with the arrangements of kindred clubs. The thanks of the club are due to the New Zealand Times for giving a gold medal for a design for the Christmas Number of the New Zealand Mail. The two little children Frank and Harold Guise, remanded yesterday for the theft of seven fowls, valued at 18s, again came before Mr. Martin, S.M., this morning. They said they had been led into stealing the birdß by older boys. Their mother gave evidenoe that the elder boy, Frank, 9 years of age, was unoontrollablo. He was her child by adoption, bis own name being William E. Francis Gerard. His Worship sent Frank to the Burnham Industrial School, and dismissed the younger qbild, warning him that if he appeared again he would be sent to .tho same institution aa his brother. One first offender was fined for drunkenness. An application by William Carton for the variation of an order for the maintenance of his ohildren in an industrial aohool was refused. His Worship said that the question whether the obildren returned to their home depended upon what sort of home the parents would prepare for them. The oase of Ethel Turner, a girl 17 years of age, oharged by her father w>th being without any visible means of support, was adjourned by his Worship till Friday, to see whether any of the girl's friends will provide a home for her. In the oivil case of P. K. Watty, of Wellington, against P. F. Spillane, of Napier, a claim of £41 lla for valuation of stook-in-trode and other expenses, an application was granted, under oertain conditions, to transfer the hearing to Napier. Mr. Jardine appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Jelliooe made .the application on behalf of the defendant. On the re-hearing of the case H. B. Kennerly v. J. Lambert, a olaini of £3 10s, judgment was given for the plaintiff for 15a admitted (cab-hire), and ooßts, €s; and nonsuits were entered up on tbe other items (as .to money, claimed to have been lent). Mr. Dean appeared -for the plaintiff, and Mr. Young .for the defendant. The sixth annual ball of the ironmongers of Wellington was held last evening in Thomas Hall, which was desorated for the occasion by Mr. Judd, of Manners-street. About 70 couples were present. Minifies Band supplied the music, and the catering arrangements were oarried ont by Mr. T. Bowell, Cuba-street. The committee consisted of Messrs. E. Bonthome, C. Bridson, 0. Copeland, J. B. Oouil, A. G. Croll, J. Duthie, jun., W. G. Dnthie, S. J Dyer, P. F. Gardner, W-.P. Grainey, B. Hall, F. Markmann, L. E Masters, D M'Farlane, jTM'Farlane',' Jno. M'Neil, H. W. M'Kay, Jno. Mills, W. Morley,' K. M. Niool, B. Saymond, J. Smitton. J. D. Stoddart, A. G. Walker, B. H. WUson, and F. Young. Messrs. J. M'Farlane, W- Grainey, and E. Hall were directors of oeremonies. At yesterday 'a meeting of the Benevolent Trustees, it was reported that during the month 18 oases had been added to the recipients of relief, while .53 names had been rempved from the list., The Chairman added that it was satisfactory to find the number of oases decreasing. A girl named Helena Barnes, 14 years .of ! age, was oharged yesterday afternoon in the Magistrate's Court with living in the house of a reputed prostitute. Her father deposed that the girl was nnoontrojlable, fend had left his house. ; Her mother was dead . ,- Sergt. O'Malley snid that yesterday afternopn ac went to the house where the girl was supposed to be, but was not admitted nntil after a delay of 20 minutes. , He then found the girl oonoealed in an outhouse. His Worship sent her to the Bnrnham Industrial; School. The annual meeting of the Star Boating Club will take plaoe to-morrow night.

Apropos of the earthquake convulsions at Taupo that we have been reoently chronicling, there is some oonsolation in knowing that suoh disturbances are not confined to New Zealand. A letter from the well-known scientist Professor Giglloli, of the Boyal University Museum at Florence, under date 12th July, to a, gentleman in this oity, says : — " I should have written sooner had I not been greatly disturbed by the severe earthquake (an unheard-of event) whioh gave suoh a terrible shaking to Florence on the 18th May. My house was quite wreoked, and by a mere miraole I and my family were not killed. Furniture, walla, and two cellings oamodown as we were sitting at dinner. Then oame a fortnight of hard and dangerous labour, saying my books, furniture, *c, from the ruins. I have had to take a new house, but it will take some months yet before I am settled and in order again." The Trustees of the Benevolent Institution held their weekly meeting yesterday. There were present— The Bey. H. Van St&veren (Chairman), Messrs. O. E. W. Willeston, E. Mothos, G. H. Baylis, J. Collins, and F. Bradoy. Mrs. Grace Neill, Inspectress of Hospitals, Lunatic Asylums, and Charitable Aid, also attended. The Chairman and Mr. Bnylis wore 'appointed to sign the deed batweou the subscribers and the Trnsteos respecting the Unemployed Relief Fund. An application for aid from a man who had had his passage paid from the Wairarapa was declined. A question as, to onrrent rates of wages oamo before the Stipendiary Magistrate yesterday afternoon. A carpenter named Goo. Main sued a builder, S. Coleman, for ,£2s ss, wages alleged to Be due. The plaintiff was oneagod by the defendant, and it was verbally agreed that wages should be paid at the rate of 8s per day. Payment at this rate was offered after some days' services, when Main was dismissed. He refused to acoept the amount, and he now sued for payment at the rate of 10s a day, contending that this was the current rate of wages as determined 'by the Carpenters' Sooiety and the Builders' Association. Mr. Martin held that a onrrent rate of wages did not exist. It waß a pity there was not Bomo sort of organisation whioh bad power to fix the rate of wsges, but at present he must hold that the rate of wages was governed wholly by the market. Judgment was given for the plaintiff for £1 16s, ' without costs. Mr. Young appeared for tbe plaintiff and Mr. Haselden tor the defendant. The man Hallett, who was missing from Whangamoana on the 16th instant, ib said to have been found after Mr. Nathan left the camp. The information, however, has not yet been verified. A widow with two ohildren, who arrived from Napier by the Tarawera on Saturday, stated at the meeting of the Benevolent Trustees yesterday afternoon that she had been refused a house on tho ground that she was a widow, although ehe had offered to pay a month's rent in advance. It waß decided that the Seoretary should reoommend her suitable rooms. A case brought by the City Inspeotor of Nuieanoes (Mr. J. Doyle) against Joseph P. Wallace, for keeping his premises in C'our-tenay-plaoe in suoh a Btate as to oause a C' 'jo nuisanoe, came before the Stipendiary istrato this morning. The premises were let by a man named Thomas Walker to four tenants, the defendant being one of them. The prOßeontion alleged that the yard and the w.o-. at the back of this tenant's property belonged to the defendant, and evidenoe was given that tho premises were in a horribly filthy state. Walker stated that he had tried to make tho defendant keop the oloset dean And in working order. Mr. Hindmarßh, who appeared for Wallace, contended that the yard was open to the publio, and that the defendant was not responsible for the condition of the premises, as the other tenants, as well as men from a blaoksmith'u shop adjoining, used the oloset. His Worship' thought that Wallace was certainly responsible, but from the evidenoe there might be other persons responsible, and he therefore adjourned the case till Monday, in order to allow further informations to be laid. The information in Wallace's oase was laid under tbe City By-laws, and not nnder the Public Health Aot. The Amalgamated Sooiety of Carpenters and Joiners met last evening (Sir. W. H. Hale in the obair) and rasßed the following motion : -" That this meeting of the members of the Amalgamated Sdaiety of Carpenters and Joiners ' enter our strongest protest against the aotion shown by the Liberal Party in tUeir decided opposition to the Minister for Labour's Publio Tenders and Contraots Bill, and hereby assert that it is absolutely neoessary in the interests of Labour that the Bill should be at onoe passed ; and, moreover, we contend that many of our so called Labour representatives are wasting the time of the House by opposing Ministerial Bills iln order to support individual fads." At this week's meeting- of Court Sir William Jervois, A.0.F., it was stated that the tarm for the admission of members at the reduced initiation fee had almost expired. The Alhambra Gaiety Company appeared for tbe second time at the Criterion Theatre last night, when the prograramo of the previous evening was repeated. The bioyole feats of Messrs. Kflrr and Kingsley are exceedingly clever. Both appear to be as much at home on tbe maohine as on the stage, and to see them go through their performance is alone well worth the price of admission. Tho oompany will give another entertainment this evening. The anotion mart of Messrs. J. H. Bethune and Co. was crowded yeßterday at the sale of artißtio Japanese ware reoeired ex s.a Changsba direot from the Japanese Fine Art Depot, Yokohama. Every lot in the catalogue was disposed of at satisfactory prices, the sale lasting from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. His Excellency tae Governor and Lady Glasgow have intimated their intention 'of being present at the ball of the Port Nioholson Yacht Club, to be hold on the 27th September. A sooial gathering in connection with the Sons and Daughters of Temperanoe was hold last evening in the Division Room, Courtenay-plaoe. 'Various games wore indulged in, and the following contributed musical items : — Overture, flute and piano, Mr. and Miss Billmau ; songs, Bro. T. Cooper and Mrs. Luoas ; reoitation, Bro. D. Gain ; flute solo, Mr. F. Billman. Refreshments were supplied by Mr. Skinner. The Anti-Chinese League convenes a meeting of fruit and vegetable dealers, grocers, &Q., interested in the Chinese question, to be held at the Exobange Hall at 7 o'olock this evening. A general meeting of the League is to follow. The Committee of the Carnival and Fancy Fair, wliioh opens on Saturday, have scoured tbe aid of a number of members of the Amateur Operatio Sooiety. A large staff of workmen was engaged in decorating tbe Drillshed last evening. The rehearsal of the oroheatra for Mr. Maughan Barnett's Mnsioal Sooiety will not be held to-morrow night. Tbe uhorus will practise to-morrow, as usual, in the St. John's Schoolroom— the sopranos and altos ' at 7.30, and others at 8 o'olook punotttally. Tenders are invited by the Engineers to the Petone Borough Counoil for the formation of the stop-bank in connection with the drainage sdheme. The ninth annual sooial gathering of the Melrose Football Club is to be held at Thomas' Hall on Monday next. The annual meeting of the Karori Rifle Club ib convened for Saturday evening. The monthly social gathering of Druids takes place this evening at Thomas' Hall. It is notified that Mrs. H. B. Mason's assembly will for the. future be held weekly on Thursdays instead of fortnightly on Fridays. Job. E. I/indberg, . the cheap draper, Cubastreet, advertises further reductions tor to-mor-row s sale. Thoße interested in cycling should not omit to ccc tbe Collier Two-speed Cjole, now beinit ex. bibited in Wijlls-itretft, opposite the Umpire Hotel. Leaalnpf. English riders pronounce the Collier gear to be per/eof. The maohine Is light and easy as to running, and the alteration whioh can be made \n the'gearlug at a moment's notice enables steep inclines to be ascended with the greatest ease, 'The 'invention is tbe most im. portant which has been made in the cycling world lor years. W. P. Shortt will, sell to-morrow, fnrniture and sundries. Spring oleaning,is to the ordinary male ratepayer ft time of sore trial and tribulation. The best regulated household beoomes thoroughly, disorganised on this annnallyreourring oooasipn. Tbe smell of soapsuds pervades the dwelling, and cold dinners are the order.of the -day. It is with a feeling of relief, therefore, that wo announce that opr spring denning is over, and the warehouse isnowspiok and.Bpanto receive the lovely spring and sqmnier goods which are pouring into the Wholesale Family Dnrpary Warehouse, Te Aro House. It may be stated at onoe that these goods far exoeed anything '-that has ever been shown here. There is a rich treat in Btore for the ladieaof Wellington when they come po mapeot the exquisite now dress fabrios, the very tasteful- and elegant blouses and costumes, the brilliantly-designed Parisian millinery, and the bewildering display of novelties in cotton piece goods, whioh may now be seen at the Wholesale Family Drapery Warehouse, To Arp : House. It has been the' onstom in years past to inaugurate the .season with,*, grand promenade display of the'new goods: Tb'iswiU be done on the present .occasion, but on a scale ' far. surpassing J any previous effort. ,The entiri establishment will be devoted to ,this exhibition of the season's fashions, and jit is quite aaie i to promise the moßt brilliant idwplay tfe*t has- over been made at the .Wholesale' Family; Drapery Warehouse, Te jAro House.— Advt. -Without a. doubt one of the most magni.fioent displays of Eleotro-plate Goods ever shown in Wellington iB being made this week by Messrs. Wilkins A Field It oomprises a Complete Set of samples (amountin" to several hundred pounds) from one of the best and largest snanttfao.fcurers in Great Britain. As these goods, have been purchased at a heavy discount off English probes,' they will now be sold at fully 33 per oent. below tijeir intnnwo jvalue,,., Inspegtion is cordially invited, and we would reoommend intending purchasers ,to oaU.at an early date, so as to seoure the first seleotion. See the display in the window.— Advt.~ EnoiiTPTB v. iNfftmeMZA. — Now that the Oread enemy has again appeared among us, bringing with it 'death and disaster, it behoves us to lo6k around us for the best remedy tboounfceraot its ravages, tjomany oertain oure.s have been put before the pnblio, but none of them have stood the test like ColemwV-Enoalypte Extract. It immediately alleviates the most distressing symptoms, ib clears and' heat* the bronohial tubes, braces up and fortifies the'lungs; and acts like a^onio on. the nervoos system, and effects axapid cure.: This Extract carried off the highest award,at the Chicago Exposition,' 1893, beating nine competitors. Ask for Coleman's, and .take no other. Sold' everywhere. Wholesale agents— Sbariand and Co., Kempthorne, Prosser"* Co., and P. Hayman k Co.— AHvt. ' POBK sausages, 6d psr Ib/ made from grain-fed pork ; order early. Waidell Bros, and Co., 51 Willis-street.- Advt.