THE ART OF EVASION

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 16, 19 July 1905, Page 6

THE ART OF EVASION

Since tlie session began Mr. Duthie has asked some very pertinent questions of tho Government, and" has received no answer. Amongst other things ho asked for information ais to the extra hours during the last two years at which by order of Ministers telegraphic offices lvave been kept open, a return of the cost to the public incidental to the Premier's recent visit to the South Island, and within certain dates, and particulars of platform and other committals as to public works made -by Ministers within the last three months. ' Ho' also moved for the presentation of an address to tlie Governor asking for copies of despatches on the precedence question. Failing to get an answer, he tabled a question on Friday asking why the answers were not forthcoming, and suggesting that the Premier should explain for the guidance of the House the extent to which members are now permitted to get similar legitimate information upon public business. The Premier's repJy> given to-day, was a brief one. He said : "The motions referred to are of a debatable character, and are unusual; somo are incapable of being given, others lead to a wrong assumption as to fact."

Tho hearing of the case in which E. J. Riddiford r,nd othera (contractors and their employees) are changed with having cut timber on the Forest Reserve at Orongorougo, was lesumed in the Magistrate's Court this afternoon. Mr. Skerrett, who appeared) for the defence, contended that thore was no proof that Mr. Riddiford had ordered that State timber should bo cut. The cutting was done by contractors, and Mr. Riddiford had no control over them. There was sufficient timber on Mr. Riddiford's land to supply all his requirements, and no instructions had been given to the contractors to go upon the State reserve to obtain a supply of posts. The Crown had a civil remedy, and it was unfair to proceed against defendants if they had acted in ignorance. Mr. Riddiford had time and again asked that the boundaries of the forest reserve should bo defined, but that hod not been done. In conclusion, Mr. Skerrett urged that there had been no wilful trespass by any of tho defendants. Evidence was being heard as- we weot-toJ press, ,

A police officer in Wellington, who knew Butler well, is confident that the man James Wharton, who was hanged at Brisbane on Monday for tbe murder of Wm. Munday, was really Butler, the Dunedin criminal. Butler, he informs us, was a well educated man, and 'was for some years a school teacher. He i was a fluent speaker, and wielded a facile pen, and was well acquainted with the political history of this colony. The officer from whom we have obtained this information has read very carefully the letter which the condemned man wrote to a prominent freethought advocate before the execution, and he states that the expressions which it contained are jusfc what he would expect Butler to use. In the case of May Prbuse v. Sarah •Beadnall, heard in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, judgment was given for the amount paid into Court (£1 ss) without costs. The amount of the claim was £9 3s. At a rehearsal by the Garrison Band on Monday evening Corporal J. A. Donaldson was presented with the Volunteer Long Service medal. In making the presentation, Lieutenant Herd spoke in terms of praise of the abilities of the recipient. A sale of books was held by Messrs. J, H. Bethune and Co. yesterday afternoon. The highest prices realised were as follows: — Duruy's "History of Rome," £4; Duruy's "History of Greece," £2 16s; Dickens's Works (Temple edition), £2 7s 6d ; "Manners and Customs of tho New Zealandei's," £1 7s j "Diefferbach's Travels," £1 3s. Mr. William Allan, Chairman of the Technical Education Board', Mr. T. G. Macarthy, Captains" Crawshaw and Grainger, Dr. Agnes Bennett, and the members of the New Zealand Football Team arrived from Sydney by the Moeraki at 2 o'clock this afternoon. In connection ■vroh the sale of tho Ait-ken-streot property next Wednesday by Messrs. Georgo Thomas and Co., a novel and interesting advertisement calling attention to relative values of city properties appears in our auction columns. Mr. W. F. Shortt will sell on Friday next, on tho premises, No. 55, Wobb-. street, the contents of a 9-roomed hous.e. Particulars advertised.