The Evening Star THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1901.

Evening Star, Issue 11658, 19 September 1901, Page 4

The Evening Star THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1901.

We regret that the suggestion made in Montreal that the Duke of A Lost Cornwall should represent Opportunity, the King and British race at President M’Kinley’s funeral has not been carried out. The idea should have been acted upon, and we arc at one with the London ‘ Times ’ when it said “ that such a decision would afford the nation the deepest gratification.” There never has been, and there never will he perhaps, a more appropriate and suitable opportunity for tho English authorities—with it horn we assume the decision rests —to show the reality of our sympathy and mutual interest with the American people than at this hour. And we feel more convinced than ever, after reading the chief reason assigned for non-compliance with the public’s de-ire, that an unfortunate blunder has been made. According to the cable messages, “ Die chief reason against the Duke of “ Cornwall’s attending President M'Kinley’s “ funeral was the undesirableness of tempting the Anarchists to a fresh attack.” Surely there never was so lamentable an excuse. Is the person of the Duke more free from an Anarchist’s bullet in ' Ottawa or Montreal than in Washington or Can - ton ? Does not such an excuse or explanation savor too much of the personal danger element?—and if so, have Kings and Princes, Emperors and Presidents the moral right to ask for these sureties when a great national service might be otherwise rendered? We have previously quoted the late King Humbert’s remark (and it is worth repetition) that the chances of being murdered are part of the monarchy business. No ono expects or desires the needless running of risks, but they should not be so magnified—as they are in Europe at the present time—as to make the individuals most concerned appear in a state of ludicrous panic. There is something very much akin to laughter in the “armed camp” arrangements along the lino of route of the Czar and Czaritza in their travels. Not a million Cossacks saved Alexander from the Nihilist’s bomb, and not all the elaborate and panic-created attentions of France could save their guest if one Czolgosz were looking for him. This the late martyred President of America knew. He would not have thousands of bodyguards between him and his people. The assassin can evade all these if he so desires; and if there he anv logical Anarchists left we may be certain that the scare they have created is viewed* by them as a concession to their own import ance. We can only repeat our regret that sober statesmen should have become so confused that their sense of proportion has become distorted, and an opportunity for rendering an important service to the Empire lost. The heir to the Throne of the mightiest Empire following in the funeral cortege of the plain President of the greatest Republic would have established a precedent that would have done more for the best interests of the two nations than anything the world has yet known. The pity of it is that England could not rise to the occasion.

I* bom the report of the monthly meeting of the Society for the I’roThc Women tection of Women and Chiland Children, dren, held on Monday, it is clear that there is much need for such a society in Dunedin, and that this organisation is doing good work. No one will rfegret more than the members themselves that there should be any necessity for their organisation. It is a satire upon our too-frequently belauded twentieth (it was the nineteenth a few months ago) .century civilisation that men and women exist in all cities and all lands—even those so comparatively free from crime as our own—to whom Nature was unkind at birth in omitting to endow them with the attributes of reason. The acts of these people too often denote the ungovernable fury of the beast. Children bitten and kicked and starved by those who gave them birth; women whom men have promised to love and cherish horribly wronged; human ingenuity and cunning bent to the development of some more refined instrument of torture—these are facts too common even here in Dunedin. The monthly report submitted on Monday is said by the society to be “a fair index of the society’s work.

“A paternity case had been arranged with- “ exit resort to the courts. A mother had. “been provided withlmeans of living where “ a son was able but unwilling to bear his “ share. Protection was being secured for “ a young wife constantly beaten and bitten “by her husband. Temporary protection “ had been secured for a young- child from “ the neglect of its drunken mother, who “ had beaten and bitten it in her drinking “ bouts.’ 1 A gruesome record, truly, and one that ought not to be made in any genuinely civilised community. But, fortunately, we may plead in mitigation that we are still very far- from approaching the ideal in life and conduct. The society refer to what they term “miscarriages of justice, 11 and affirm that their work is considerably increased in the wrong direction by what we can only term—having a due regard to the law of libel—those eccentricities of unpaid judicial wisdom. As long as J.P.s are ready to be talked into dismissing vulgar ruffians with or without a paltry fine, and as long as there are legal quibbles in the way of punishing a pair of human fiends whose sole excuse is that they have been drinking, then for so long will the society have reasonable grounds for their complaint. It is difficult to suggest a remedy for this phase of the question, owing to no plan having yet been discovered for imparting brains to those whom Mature in the. beginning overlooked; but we can at least urge upon the community at large the claims of a society which is trying to remedy the oversights of Nature and the mistakes of the Bench, and to ameliorate the lot of the young and cruelly wronged.

Tine caucus of the Ministerial party held on Tuesday appears to have Present!- discussed several questions of meats. importance and interest. The official report does not afford much information, beyond what is formal, as to the proceedings; but from wbat has been gathered by our parliamentary reporter it would appear that considerable differences of opinion were expressed on certain points. The Premier, according to his custom, culled his adherents together in order to obtain the, sanction of the party to what he had previously determined on, and was not pleased at meeting with considerable objections and expressions of independent opinion on the part of members ordinarily subservient to his will. Very lit'le seems to have, been definitely settled, but Mr Seddon is enabled now to see how the land lies, and can shape his course accordingly. He may be expected to submit to another caucus at a later period of the session proposals more distinct in character, and. with his usual sagacious tactics, will make effective provision that these proposals shall be adopted. No one better under-tands how to deal with followers who evince a disposition to lie shaky in their loyalty, if not absolutely recalcitrant. He has their measure to a man, and it is not to be anticipated that he will have any practical difficulty in making them amenable to his designs. The right honorable gentleman has evidently fully made up. his mind to be present at the Coronation next year in the dignified position of a Privy Councillor; but be does not at all favor the idea of giving up the reins of power in New Zealand tor the nece-scry few months of absence. Possibly enough he has a keen recollection of the not altogether satisfactory conditions which prevailed in the Jubilee year, oning to the indiscretions of certain of bis colleagues. Most of all. however. 1m cm:ccivab’y apprehends possible danger to himself politically from losing his grip on the House, which he might not easily be enabled to regain. Some such considerations must c rtainly influence him in desiring to upset the whole parliamentary arrangements of the year, and place the Government in a state of hybernation until the sun of his presence shall again shine on the Colony. He would like the session of 1902 to be over and done with before he leaves for Cordon, so that there may be no risk of any parliamentary imbroglio later in the year, just precedent to the General Election. The carrying of this proposal into effect would no doubt suit Mr (Seddon ; but beyond question it would be very inconvenient to members of both brandies of the Legislature, and would interfere materially with the proper transaction of the business of the country, since Parliament, meeting so soon after the termination of the year, would not be in possession of the necessary information as to finance and general conditions. Such legislation as might be effected would be very much in the dark, and much mischief might even unconsciously be done. Our contention is that there is no necessity whatever for altering the time for the meeting of Parliament. Let the Premier by all means accept the invitation of the Colonial Office and attend the Coronation, subsequently meeting the Secretary of State and his brother Premiers in conference, as is intended ; but let him leave the Leadership of the House and of the Government to Sir Joseph Ward, who is in every respect competent to perform the duties, and may be depended upon to do so with ability, energy, and tact. The interests of the Ministry, the party, or the country are not at all likely to suffer under Sir Joseph as Acting Premier. The probabilities aro that they would be beneficially affected rather than otherwise. Another subject of grave import discussed by the caucus was that of the ocean mail services. The Premier and Post-master-General, it is understood, favored the continuance of the San Francisco service, which notoriously is insisted upon bv the Auckland representatives in the House. Many Southern members on both sides strongly object to the agreement with Messrs Spreckels. which has not so far worked satisfactorily, and is objectionable owing to the vessels being under the American flag, and the service subject, consequently, to the navigation law’s of the United Stales, which arc intentionally hostile to British shipping interests. There con, indeed, be hardly a question'but that the Vancouver route Is the more suitable for Notv Zealand, and under the arrangements now being made through Mr James Mills the service would be in every respect advantageous to this Colony. The Premier, we are pleased to note, expressed the opinion that every effort should be. made to enable the Colony to avail itself of the Federal mail service by inducing the P. and 0. and the Orient lines to make New Zealand ports their last ports of call. Keen discussion may bo expected in the House when the mail services are under consideration, and wb certainly hope that one result will be the abandonment by New Zealand once and for all of the San Fxuncisco route.

In the grocers 1 industrial dispute, considered at the Conciliation Board yesterday, 194 town and country grocers were cited to appear. Several Chinese were included in the reference, but they did not put in an appearance. A report from the city engineer on the public baths question was read at last night's meeting of the City Council. Mr Rogers reported that the proposal to establish baths at the present time is premature, and could not be satisfactorily dealt with until the City had a better water supply. First-class baths would involve an expenditure of from £B,OOO to £IO,OOO. The report was referred to the General Committee for consideration. The monthly meeting of the Charitable Aid Board, held this afternoon, was attended by Messrs R. Chisholm (in the chair), P. Miller, Jas. Smith, John Mill, and D. A. M‘Lachlan. An apology for absence was received from Mr R. Mitchell. The following claims were passed for payment:—Benevolent Institution, £6OO (for the month); Female Refuge.' £5 (month); and the South Dunedin Industrial School, £56 17s 6cl (for the quarter ending September). This afternoon’s meeting of the Hospital Board was attended by Messrs R .Chisholm (chairman), P. Miller, Jas. Smith, D. A. M Laculan, and J no. ■ Mill. The hospital claim for the month (£450) was passed for payment. The statement of accounts for the year ended March 51 last, which had been passed by the Auditor-General, was laid on the table. It showed that the contributions of local bodies amounted to £2,946 £s 3d, and the Government subsidy to £2,770 9s 7d, giving a total of £5,716 9s lOd. Referring to the discontinuance of morning sittings of the House, the ‘Lyttelton Times. 1 says:—“ What is wanted is a little common sense and forbearance in tho arrangement and discussion of business. If the party element were removed from politics the House could do more work in one montu Jhan it now does in four; and surely, even with things as they are, members can exercise sufficient restraint upon themselves to prevent the deplorable waste of time that has disgraced former Parliaments. If the abandonment of the morning sittings should be followed by a return to the bad old ways, the electors will have another ground for complaint against our present system of government.” Two more Port Chalmers old identities —Mrs Sarah Perry and Mr David Law—have passed away and the flags at Port Chalmers were half-mast to-day as a mark of respect. Mr David Law was formerly a member of the firm of Murray, Law, .’•enelaus, and Stephens, proprietors of the floating dock at Port Chalmers, and for many years took an active part in municipal affairs and school matters, and was one of the first directors in the local Gas Company. He also took an active interest in the Presbyterian Church, being one of the elders and treasurer. For a considerable time be had been confined to his house*, suffering from an incurable complaint, which had a fatal termination this morning. He leaves a widow, but no family, to mourn his loss. Mrs Perry, with her late busband, was one of the first settlers at Sawyers Bay. Disposing of the property some years since to the late Mr George Dodson for a stud farm, Mr and Mrs Perry removed to Port Chalmers. The deceased lady leaves no family. . The tenth annual reunion of the A.O.F. was held in the Choral Hall last evening. D.C.R. Bro. J. Hope presided, and was supported by D.S.C.R. Bro. W. Black, D.T. Bro. Mactie, D.S. Bro. Woodlands, and P.D.C.R. Bro. Geddes. The D.C.R., in his opening remarks, welcomed the sister and brother visitors from Courts Munro and Robin Hood. The concert part of the programme was opened by a musical trio by Bro. Bruton and sons, the same performers contributing a similar item after the supper adjournment. Songs were rendered by (Misses Duff (‘Loch Lomond 1 ), Miss Jarvis, Bros. Jarvis (‘ Friar of orders grey'), Wilkins (‘ Rocked in the cradle of the deep ’), Haig (‘Empire volunteers'), and S. White; Bros. Wilkins and White having to respond in encores. Bro. Berkett received an endue for a recitation entitled ‘Lascar.’ After the concert the hall was cleared for dancing, when the hall was well filled. Dancing was kept up till an early hour, the music being supplied by Bro. M v . Himmel, who also acted as accompanist in the early part of the evening. Tho catering was entrusted to Mr Kroon. The annual entertainment in connection wi hj the Cargill road Wesleyan Young People’s Winter Club W’as held last evening. The Rev. T. G. Brooke occupied tho chair, and in spite of the wintry night there was a good attendance. Exercises with the dumb-bells, wands, and clubs were given by the girls, whilst the boys gave a display on the parallel bars, and also went through rod and dumb-bell exercises. In addition to these, solos were given by Misses Palmer, Cook, and Swan, Messrs Low and Brebner, a duet by Miss Cook and Mr Low, and a recitation by Miss W. Lewis. During the evening the chairman, on behalf of the girls, presented Miss Smith (who has had charge of the girls’ club) with a purse, whilst Mr J. Nagle received a walking-stick from the members of tho Boys’ Club. The following prizes were also presented:—Miss B. Slater first and Miss Myall second amongst the girls, and T. Rosevear first and W. Nagle second amongst the boys. Miss Palmer accompanied the singers, and Mrs A. MTndoo played for the exercises. ..Additional light on the M‘Govern-Drake elopement case is furnisned by the ‘New Zealand Times’:—“The prosecutor hJs made a statement to the police that a short time back he was induced to make over a considerable amount of landed property to his wife. An old lady, who was in the habit of drawing a considerable sum from the Public Trustee as an annuity, resided with the prosecutor and his wife in Wellington. Having succeeded in securing the deeds from her husband, the wife is alleged to have induced their boarder to hand over her interest in the estates from which her revenue was derived to her (prosecutor’s wife) on the shadowy pretext that efforts would be made to induce the Lord Mayor of London to secure to the old lady a considerable amount of property in Auckland. In the meantime the prosecutor’s wife seems to have conceived an affinity for a wharf laborer, and to have dallied with the latter on the terms of closest intimacy. The story is that the woman kept this gentleman liberally supplied with pocket money, which lie has occupied himself in spending on a lavish scale during the last few weeks. The final upshot of the whole matter was that the prosecutor, returning to his place of residence one evening, found it a home no longer, advantage having been taken of his absence not only to remove the household goods, but, the whole of his personal effects as well.”

i r^lc . ?, tl , mec^n " of tho Dunedin Amateur Club will be held on Saturday evening. His Worship tho Mayor was among those who attended the funeral of Mr A, J. Bums yesterday. Don’t miss Laidlaw and Gray’s great sale of Ritchie’s stock, now on. Great bargains.—[Advt.] The annual meeting of tho Hendloy Cricket Club will bo held in the Central Hotel tomorrow, at 8 p.m. The latest book! ‘Queen Victoria: Her Life and Times ’ —the history of a glorious reign—is given away by all grocers with 61b of the famous "Book Gift” tea.—[.Advt.] Wo acknowledge receipt of the University Review’ and the ‘Young Man’s Magazine ’ for September. Judging by the many stylish head-dresses seen amongst the audience at ‘ Carmen,’ Mr Hendy, hairdresser, must have booked a number of appointments.—[Advt.] The New Zealand Drug Company, Limited, pay an interim dividend for the half-year on the 20th inst., at the rate of 7 per. cent, per annum. M‘Donald Bros., tweed merchants, Manse street (next Valentine, auctioneer), have just opened a large stock of tweeds, overcoats, shirts, etc. * A single suit length at wholesale price. Mr John 11‘Donald (late merchant tailor, of George and Princes streets), sole manager.—[Advt.] Prank Hyams, of 14 Princes street, has come forward with a new departure in order to clear the balance of his stock with as little delay as possible. It consist's of a 20s and 40s window display. An inspection of these windows is necessary to understand the marvellous bargains offered.—[Advt.]

Mr MLean gives a performance in the Arcade this evening. The principal item will be a heavy weight lifting competition for men 10st and under. Mr Morris, photographer, Princes street, Dunedin, finds it is not generally known that his is one guinea per dozen for cabinet portraits of children. Any extra charges are for vignettes, groups, large mounts, also the various methods of printing.—[Advt.]