The Evening Star THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1902.

Evening Star, Issue 11692, 25 September 1902, Page 4

The Evening Star THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1902.

Tbs proceedings in the House of Representatives, yesterday would

The seem to indicate that the Referendum, Referendum Bill is likely to become law this session. The second reading-was passed by a large majority, and tlmActing-Premier intimated

that with the view of meeting the objections raised last year in the Legislative Council which led to- the rejection of the Bill, it was intended to insert a proviso in /committee to the effect of excluding from subjects to be referred to a poll of the electors any matters relating to the constitution of either House of the General Assembly. The Council, naturally enough, regard with marked disfavor the proposal that the question of making that body elective should be submitted to the Referendum, believing that, in all probability, it would be affirmed, and thus the present members would practically be signing their own death warrant. The Government are evidently determined to stick to the main principles of the Bill, and not to grant the initiative to the people; but amendments in this direction are certain to be moved in committee, and will be supported by a section of the Ministerialists. Sir William Bussell was one of the few members who voted against the second reading, declaring that such a measure would Lave a tendency to undesirable legislation. Mr James Allen, whilst approving of the principle, objected to the machinery as being of too restrictive a character, especially referring to subsection 4 of clause 4, which provides that if a resolution Is passed by both Houses in favor of submitting to the Referendum any legislative proposal (other than a Bill) then such proposal shall be referred to the vote of the electors. Under this enactment it is sufficiently clear that no proposal which has not the sympathy of the Government would have a chance of being submitted to the Referendum. Ministers with their majority could always defeat or block a resolution to this effect. On the other hand, in regard to policy measures introduced in the House, and unfavorably regarded by the Council, they could use the Referendum as a means of forcing these through. Under the plea of giving more power directly to the people, the Bill in its present form would manifestly strengthen the Government. The main object ostensibly is to secure the passing of Ministerial Bills in regard to which the two Houses disagree. A Bill is to be deemed to be rejected whenever, during any session of Parliament, it has been passed by one House and transmitted to the other, and such other House fails to notify its concurrence therein or with amendments which are not acceptable. On the occurrence of a second . rejection in the next succeeding session, the Bill is to be deemed to be a “ rejected Bill ” within the meaning of the Act, and shall be referred to the vote of all the electors. In the case of Government Bills introduced by Message from the Governor, the Act operates automatically, and the rejected Bill has to be submitted to the Referendum without further action; but any other Bills can only be so submitted if the House i of Representatives so resolves. With respect. to any other proposal other than a Bill duly submitted to the Referendum, if such proposal be approved the Government are required, within ten days from the commencement of the next ensuing session of Parliament, to introduce a Bill giving effect thereto. Any Bill or other legislative proposal, if rejected on the Referendum, ia not to be again submitted for a period of three years, unless at least 10 per cent, of all the electors bn the electoral rolls so request by petition to Parliament. Nothing in the Act is to apply to any Bill or legislative proposal which deals with the construction or maintenance of public works of a purely local character, or with parliamentary procedure, or which the House of Representatives by resolution' declares to be a matter of urgency, nor to any local or private Bill. The Bill proposes to modify or repeal the Constitution Act and all other Acts that are in any way in conflict therewith, in so far as such conflict exists, but not further or otherwise; but nothing is to operate or to be construed to affect such provisions of the Constitution Act which it is not competent for Parliament to alter. The Bill to amend the Local Bodies’ Loans Act, 1901, introduced by the An Important Acting-Premier, which was Hcacnre. read a second time pro forma and referred to the Public Accounts Committee, has been reported to the House from the Committee with an additional danse to the effect that the words “goldfield revenue,” where used in section 2 of the Local Bodies’ Goldfidds Public Works and Loans Act, 1901, shall include gold duty. The principal Ait (1901) contains elaborate provisions for raising loans by local bodies, and empowers the Government to grant loans from the Treasury to such bodies fo- certain purposes. It is to be presumed that local governing bodies have mode themselves acquainted with the operative douses of the Act, and are therefore in a position to understand the scope and effect of the proposed amendments, which are mainly by way of addition and extension. Every special rate made as security for a loan ia to be so calculated as to yield (if necessary) 10 per cent. more, than the annual or other charges. Eveiy such special rate is to be made over an area having continuous boundaries, and all the property within that area is to be liable to the special rate, including property which, after the special rate is made, becomes rateable property within the meaning of the Rating Act, 1834. In addition to the several purposes for which Part IL of the principal Act applies to boroughs as provided in section 80 of that Act, the said part is to apply to boroughs having a less population at the time of the last preceding census than 2,000, for the purpose of making streets within the borough, but'the Colonial Treasurer is not to lend to any borough in any year for that purpose more than £2,000. In all cases where Part IL applies to boroughs, the Treasurer may agree to lend to (he Council a sum not exceeding the amounts specified in each of two successive years. When at any time a loan has been applied for or granted under the principal Act it is discovered that any of the proceedings prior to the granting were irregular or defective the Governor-in-Council may validate such proceedings. The merger of any area over which a special rate is made as security for a loan is not to affect the rate, which is to continue to be charged on the whole area, and be levied and recovered accordingly. Sections 120 to 153 and the fiftfrechedule to the Municipal Corporations Act, 1900 (reJating to spedal Joaaal, mo repealed, but

power of* recovery" of a py bidder ,6f'ft.de-t ben tore or coupon issued thereunder; and all proceedings commented-''prior y to the' passing of the present measure may ibe completed. With respect to special loons', raued under any enactment repealed by the principal Act or by this Bill, the following, provisions are to apply Any Sinking Fund Commissioners appointed are to be'deemed, to have been appointed under the principal Act, and in the case of special, loans raised under the Act of 18S6 the additional powers' of sale of the public work or undertaking: conferred by section 66 of that Act,, and tha other provisions relating to such sale, arc to continue to apply. The Rev. Dr Torrey, in the course of bis address last evening, said that if the wickedest man or woman in Dunedin came into that hall and accepted Jesus as his or her personal Saviour, that man or woman’s sins would be blotted out by God, and his or her record would be as white in Qod’s sight os that of the purest man or woman in the room. The voting at Palmerston North in connection with the. Bible-in-sohools plebiscite is practically complete. The result shows that 2,155 persons recorded their votes—--1,923 ip favor of the introduction of the Bible into the schools, 215 against; informal, 15; refused to vote, 125; no papers returned, 45. The North-east Valley Mutual, Improvement Society held their final meeting for the session at the Baptist Church-on Tuesday evening. Mr Q. Calder was'in the chair. The business of the evening was the reading of the society's journal Borne of the articles.read showed that the writers Eessed considerable ability. The editor’s ing article, which reviewed the work of the session just concluded, was favorably received, and the editor, Mr Oliver P. Williams, was congratulated on the manner hj: which he had filled the position and for the excellent journal provided. The whole of the articles were the work of members <-f the society. The meeting terminated after a hearty vote of thanks had been accorded the editor, on the motion of Mr J. M. Callaghan. A special general meeting of members of the Otago Liberal Federation was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Stuart street, last evening. There was a good attendance, including several ladies. Mr W. Wilkinson occupied the chair. It was decided to select Messrs Arnold, Chisholm, and Millar as candidate for the City at the G-.ne-pledged themselves to endeavor to secure the return of the gentlemen named. The was instructed to wire to Messrs Arno id and Millar informing them that they bad been selected, in conjunction with Mr Chisholm, as the Liberal Federation’s ticicet. Mrs Helen Temple Brigham lectured last evening in the Psychological Hall on the philosophy of Spiritualism. She held that Spiritualism was not antagonistic to Christianity; it endorsed the teachings of Jesus, and of the golden rule he gave of love, iney must cultivate lives of purity, love, and _ charity. The lecturer described ;he passing of the spirit at death, showing it to be harai.ess, and a time of joy rather than of sorrow. During the evening Miss ynsbam read a poem, and Mrs Bingham improvised some verses from subjects chosen by the audience.

At the monthly meeting of the Chamber ot Commerce yesterday afternoon (Mr C. w. Kattray presiding) it was reported that a sub-committee appointed to consider the Shipping and Seamen’s Bill had written to tne City members recommending the addition of a clause making the signing of bills oi lading by representatives of the masters ana owners binding, and strongly tuning ZXX of l aseTt X' a clause dealing P i f ge j° f , cargo ' 1116 Cit y members had replied to draft a danse, as suggested, that . ther ® was D 0 likelihood of toe measure going through this session. Sit down!” roared Dr Torrey at one stage of his address last night, and a sWtlcd look went round from face to face jV s “dwM#- His next words expLmed the mystery. - Sit down: if anyone Iff?.*? fa ! nt let her Taint. Sit down, that htt.e girl there. I am going to make this point, and he made it. A woman had fa.nted, and the Doctor was objecting toanv display of idle curiosity on the part of any of his audience. He adjured them to sit quite still and give him their whole attention as the unfortunate one was carried our, and then he told them he had never seen an audience behave better ia his life. They certainly well under control. Though at first sight there appears to 1 e no connection between the fine arts and dredging, there Is no valid reason why the two should not sometimes be associated. One of the chief characteristics of the creai live artist is tha imaginative faculty, and sure.y this is not altogether wanting in the mining promoter and investor. At last night’s meeting of the Fourteen-mile Beach G.D. Company the wall of the Stock Exchange lobby, in which the meeting was held, was enriched by a mural decoration drawn by the mover of au amendment, who sought to illustrate his argument by a cross section of the River Molyneux at summer and winter levels, the location of the gold being also indicated Unlucky omen 1 An amendment urged in such a fashion could have but faint hopes, and, following the example of its mover, it also “went to the wall, ’ being defeated by an overwhelming majority.

A meeting of delegates from the various City bands was held in the Coffee Palace last night for the purpose of considering the major’s suggestion re holding a monster band • fete in the Gardens on the 9th of November, and also as to the advisability of resuscitating the Bands’ Association. Sub-committees were appointed to go into details and to submit reports at a later date There was no meeting of the Dock Trust yesterday afternoon, the only members present being Messrs Thomson (acting-chair-man) and Dodds.

■ This is th© eighteenth day of the sou’wester. Such a long spell in September is very uncommon. As a gale, it seems to be now blown out, but the occasional squalls to-day were pretty stiff out of the shelter, and a heavy sea is running on the coast, as witnessed by the fact that the new and powerful s.s. Aparima took twenty-six hours to make the passage - from Lyttelton to Port Chalmers. The damage reported inland is mostly in the way of deayiog farming operations, killing lambs, and rotting early-sown seed- This is serious enough. It is a consolation, however, to know that no widespread destruction is debited to the actual force of the wind; and our railways and telegraphs are all in full swine, trifling local repairs at once made enabling these services to go on as usual. If the sickly will cheer up and lay up in the meantime, and the hale will recall our fine winter and look 'forward vo a bright summer, instead of growling about present weather inflictions, which mb due primarily to the bad condition of the City streets, plenty of reasons may be found for thankfulness that we live in a wholesome climate that is far more endurable and kinder than the softer climates of low latitudes.

The Southern portion of the San Francisco ma.il leaves Wellington by the Mokoia at six o’clock to-night. In the case Eliza Metcalf r. Mary Young (of Tuapeka Flat), executrix of the will of the late John Young, heard at the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon, claim £l9 10s for board and lodging, judgment was given for the defendant with costs. j ™, S ? nby T >. G ? ld Dredge Company sued William Richard Cook (Invercaroilll for--£SO for allotment money on shares. Mr Holmes appeared for the plaintiff comfor. , wbom judgment was given by default with costs. J The Lyttelton fishermen, it would seem are steadily decreasing in numbers as the fish become . less plentiful. "Ten or twelve years ago," stated a fisher with sixteen years’ experience to a ‘Press’ representative, “ there were from twenty-five to thirty .boats at the port. Most of the men have knocked off at one time'or another/ Some of them are Working on the wharves and two or three are employed on the dredee, which has spoiled fishing more than anything 1 else by sending shoals of; mnd drifting up and down the harbor, so as to cover quantities of the fish feed. If the dredge were used only six months in the. year it would he quite enough to keep the' harbor clear, and we would benefit."

ducks J4mea Grayr Bay.' -They wjß; come before Chhri n*Bt Z ZZ' zx ' the Court today, before Mt F... B. Catew, ' S.M.,’ Catherine Stevenson was fined for being drunk', hr default hj rijveignt hbdrs* imprisonment; Jane E. Ixiugh (for whom Mr Baron appeared) applied fof 1 k' separation order against her husband, James Lous?h, under the Married Persona Summary Separation Act, 1896. After hearing the evidence of both .parties His Worship; dismissed: the case. Thomas Faithful, charged with dhobeying an order for the maintenance of his child, an inmate of the Industrial School, was fined 40s and costs. ' A; ' - .On and after.to-dny (Thursday) telegrams for transmission after 9 p.m. must be presented at the telegraph entrance in Bond street. - ■ ': -: Just arrived, a shipment .of choice dinner and tea sets, suitable for presents. Montague’s Comer.-r-fAdvt.}. A meeting of contractors who tendered for alterations to the Post Office, Dunedin, is called for to-morrow evening at the Builders’ Booms, No. 5 Liverpool street, at eight i o’clock. ‘ Mr Hendy announces that he has now opened his new ladies’ rooms above shop in Princes street; hairdressing and hair work of every description.—[Advt.] The Otago -Anglers’ Association hold their annua] meeting in the Victoria Hall tonight at 7.15, , ■ - Call or write for new season’s Anglo-Special and Humber cycles; best value. Anglo, Princes stre^.—{Advt,] Owing to the inclemency of the weather the Opoho Cricket Club have postponed their opening day to October 4. Photographs of children are made a specialty by-Mr Morris, photographer. Princes street. Charges. 21s per dozen.-—T Advt.] Startling Bargain.—We shall offer to-mor-row and until sold a parcel of colonial tweed youths’ sac suits, long trousers—size 13, 12s; 2J, 13s 6d. W. and E. Scott.—[Advt.] Gresham and Boot, dentists, 63 Princes street (opposite Bible, Tract Depot).—[Advt.] The annual meeting of the Raikorai Football Ground Company, Limited, will bo;,held to-morrow evening. A job lot of boys’ superior colonial school suits will be offered this week at 7s lid, 8s lid; must be cleared to make room for new stock; also odd knickers, 3s 9d; odd vests, 3s 6d. N 2a. Clothing Factory, Octagon.— [Advt.] The Dunedin Horticultural Society’s spring show will be held on Wednesday, October 1, in the Garrison Hall. Henry Sanders, 86 George street, is showing an unusually large variety of bedroom furniture, floor coverings, and furnishings.— [Advt.]