The Evening Star. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1902.

Evening Star, Issue 11661, 16 December 1902, Page 4

The Evening Star. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1902.

The Barton Ministry are marching resolutely to their doom. There Ominons is a Scottish epithet—“fey” linnacy. —which is used to describe ' the mental state of those hapless folk whom the gods, purposing speedily to destroy, have deprived of their wits by way of preliminary signal. Sir Edmund Burton and his colleagues are evidently “fey”—politically, of course. “Mad as a hatter” is a familiar, though somewhat mysterious phrase ;• for, as Calvcrley says, “why hatters as a race are road I never knew ” ; and the Federal Ministry are not unlikely to be known, during the brief remainder of their official existence, as the “ Mad Hatters’ Government.” Indeed, we should not he surprised to hear that Mr Reid had already hit upon this appropriate designation. It is a pretty little story, this business of. the six harmless and necessary hatters who arrived in Sydney about ten days ago ; felt hatters, imported, no doubt, to supply a felt 'want. Sir Edmund Barton, not content with “messing everything” (the phrase is Mr Reid’s) in connection with ordinary politics, did not fail to recognise a glorious opportunity for the display of abnormal stupidity, and promptly pounced upon the little hand of immigrant hatters—saluting them, much to their astonishment, as undesirable and prohibited people. He had nothing hnt Protectionist votes to look for: here, then, was a happy chance for him to prove his uncompromising and ultimate devotion to Protectionist principles: let the Commonwealth be protected from the perilous incursion of these six hatters. Australia could make its own hats (including the necessary dunces’ caps for the Ministry) : let the London hatters go back to Ixmdon or Jericho. Was there not an Immigration Restriction Act?—and did not section 3, subsection G, of that Act prohibit the landing of persons “under contract or agreement to perform manual “ labor within the Commonwealth ” ?—and did not Holy Writ declare somewhere. or other that you should always observe the letter of the law and let the spirit look after itself; True, the Act went on to say that this paragraph shall not apply to “workmen exempted by the Minister for “special skill required in Australia” : yes, but • these half-dozen hatters had not applied for an exemption; look ye there, look ye there! Would you have a Federal Prime Minister, who happens also to be a trained lawyer, and a faithful Protectionist, and a dependent on Labor votes, and the bead of a Government that is manifestly “fey”—would you have him take other than a rigid and ■ pedantic view of such a situation ? Would you have him display common sense rather than legal narrowness, large statesmanship rather than petty parochialism? Perish the ignoble thought! Away with the six audacious batters! In further illustration of the dauntless bearing of the illustrious pedanb-Minister, let us quote from an interview reported in a Sydney newspaper; “I shall .treat them as prohibited immigrants until I have evidence to the contrary. It is still open for them to apply under the exemption section.” Will you send them back to England! “I have nothing to do with that, but they shall not come into the Commonwealth so long as they are prohibited immigrants within, the meaning of the Act. I am bound by the law, and have no discretion.” Bub if the men tore up the contract, went to Hew Zealand, and returned, could they not land?

“No. Persons who have solemnly entered into a contract could not tear it up just to get bade here. 'They would be coming for the original purpose with which they left England'under contract.” If the contract is void cannot they eliter?

“ No, because by entering into that agreement they became prohibited persons. The ecu tract is null and unenforceable, and thus cannot be carried into effect, but it is operative insomuch as being parties to it makes them prohibited persons within tho Act,”

0 sapient Minister!—no longer shalb thou be called Edmund, but Daniel sbalt thou bo called! Wicked six hatters!

The Empire has marvelled and murmured; Imperialist newspapers have made unpleasantly suggestive remarks; possibly our dear Continental friends have sneered; and Mr Reid renders thanks to Heaven for delivering bis enemy into his hands with such gratifying thoroughness. The hatters have mode good their landing, but they had "first to ask for their exemption. That is Sir Daniel Barton’s triumph. Ridiculed as he is, “fey” though he may be, he still waves his precious Act over the heads of hatters and all other sorts and conditions of men, and cries exultantly: “I made them ask for their exemption; I wouldn’t have let them in without it; no, not for —Chamberlain; lama great pedant-Minis-ter—l am, I am, I am!”

“A Young Australian” ■ writes tb the ‘Argus’ as follows j—“l have not yet discovered any dining room in- America to equal those of some of the Sydney hotels at the price. In Sydney you get a firstclass dinner for 3s {say 75 cents), and it would cost you at least Idol 60c anywhere in America. .In fact, the shilling meal in Dunedin is the cheapest I'have ever sat down to, and I’ve been through America enough in the last twelve months to know that it can’t be equalled here.”

A Celestial was arrested by the police on a charge of attempting his own life yesterday, but on an investigation it was decided to charge the . Chinaman with lunacy. His attempt at suicide turned out to be nothing more desperate than tiUcmg a piece of ropo to bed with him. That was construed by an anxious wife to mean suicide, and John was accordingly faced with a charge of self-murder. He will probably ho consigned to Seaclifi. ITic City Police Court was presided over by Messrs W. Wills, W. ’Wood, and it Wilson, J.P.s. Esther Maud Montague was lined’ 5s or twenty-four hours, and William Kennedy was fined 10s or fortyeight hours . for drunkenness. The following fines were inflicted for truancy, on the application of Inspector Ryan :—Alexander Mathie and James Wildgoose, 10s and 5s each; Seth Uoyd, Wm. Wilson, T. Ritchie, Mrs Robert Potter, and L. Johnston, 5s on each of two charges. This was all the business.

The applications for the position of superintendent for the Dunedin Botanical Gardens and City reserves number ninetysix, and include applicants from England, Scotland, America, New South Wales, Victoria, other Australian colonies, and nearly ail parts of New, Zealand. The applicants include Mr J. Benbow, one of the gardeners employed by the late Duke of Edinburgh, who is now in the employ of the Earl of llchester, in charge of the Abbotsbuiy Castle gardens, near Dorchester, Dorset, England. These gardens ere said to bo the finest sub-tropical grounds in the British Isles. They cover a very large arei b which is planted with innumerable varieties of Continental, American, Japanese, Chinese, Australian, and Now Zealand plants, flowers, shrubbery, and trees. Mr J Gebbie, who bad charge of the Camara Gardens, also an applicant, and an exgardener of the Baroness Bnrdett-Coutts (nho is highly recommended) also aspires to the position. Numerous others, with equal, if not superior, fitness for the position, are included in the applications, and the difficulty before the Corporation, where there are so many good men to choose from, will be to select the best. .The applications are at present under the consideration of the Reserves Committee.

Ho permits to the Hjransvaal or Orange River Colony will be issued in future except at South African ports. The services of permit officers in New Zealand have consequently been dispensed with. Mr E. H. Carew, S.M., held a sitting of the Pensions Court this morning, when seven new claims were granted at £lB a year, twenty-three renewals at £lB, one renewal at £l3, and another renewal at £x7» Hie compensation Court, consisting of Messra E. H. Carew, S.M., J. Reid, and \\. emow, sat at the Magistrate’s Court this afternoon to hear the case of Moynihau v. the Otakia Drainage Board, a claim for compensation for the erection of a dam. Mr F. R- Chapman appeared for Moynihan, and Mr J. MacGregor for the Board. Evidence was previously taken at the Taieri. The case was proceeding when we went to press. The San Francisco mail is expected to reach Wellington to-morrow evening. The Rotomahana will be delayed to take on the conthem portions. • ■^ onor Mr Justice Williams, sitting in Chambers this afternoon, heard legal argument in a summons by the liquidators of the Kaitangata Railway and Coal Company for an order for the payment by Mr Walter Hislop, as administrator of the estate of the late W. J. M. Lamach, of the smu of £292 10s, as a contribution towards the payment of the debts of the company. From the affidavit filed in support of the application it appeared that the company went into liquidation, and that the assets were distributed. It wag supposed that there were no further claims to be made against the company, but when the distribution had bfcen made Mr Aitcheson made claims against the company for royalties. Litigation ensued, and the result was that a largo claim was established against the company. The object of the present proceedings was to obtain from Mr Lansach’s estate a refund of part of the sum which had been paid to the lato Mr Lantacb under the distribution. The question that was argued before His Honor was the preliminary one of whether Mr Hislop’s liability as administrator could be settled by summons from the winding up. Mr Woodhouse appeared in support of the summons, and contended that the provisions of sections 163 and 164 of the Companies Act of 1882 authorised the present procedure, Messrs Sim and James appeared for Mr Hisiop, and contended that the matter could not ho dealt with by summons under the winding up, and that the proper procedure was to bring a suit if the liquidators had any claim against the estate. His Honor reserved judgment.

A sale of work in connection with the Abbotsford Primitive Methodist Church will he opened by Mr D. Reid, 30LR., to-morrow evening. A musical programme will be rendered each evening. Photographs of children are made a specialty.by Mr Morris, photographer. Princes street. Charges, '2ls per dozen,-—(Advt.]

Members of Dunedin Gymnastic Club are requested to attend the funeral of their late clubmate, R. Kcrkham, to-morrow afternoon. An advertisement of interest to returned troopers and invalids from the colonel commanding the Otago military district appears in this issue.

Splendid assortment, of tea sets, dinner, sets, and nevr goods just opened, suitable for presents, at Montague’s Corner.—[Advt.] Mr Mauxais will deliver a lecture, ‘Some Mental Phenomena,’ in the Theosophical Rooms, Liverpool street, to-morrow qyening. A public trial of Keen and Millar's patent fire escape will bo held at the Crown Hotel to-morrow afternoon.

Tha Citizens’ Band will play in the Triangle to-morroy evening. Gresham and Boot, dentists, 63 Princes street (opposite Bible. Tract Depot).—[Advt.]

The annual distribution of prizes at tho high schools -will take place on Thursday, Tho boys’ school function will be held in the afternoon, the girls’ school occupying tho evening.

The s-s. Moerangi’s time-table has been specially altered for to-inorrow (Wednesday), to suit the convenience of patrons and judges for the Peninsula show at Portobello.

Hair nets in extra large sizes just landed at Handy’s Hairdressing Booms; also Christmas presents in choice variety for ladies and gentlemen.—[Advt,]

We have received from Messrs A- and W. M'Carthy an illustrated catalogue of their, guns, rifles, cartridges, etc. It is a handy publication of about 150 pages, and should prove acceptable to sportsmen and pleasureseekers at this period of the year. Received: Royal Insurance Company’s almanac for 1903.

Beal enjoyment for the holidays: a cycle tour. Buy a new or second-hand cycle, at the Anglo, 6 Princes street.—[Advt.] A notice of interest to teachers who purpose going away for tho holidays appears in our advertising columns. All salaries will be payable on tho Thursday morning. Tho s.s. Waiwcra will run from Henley to Taieri Mouth to-morrow and on Saturday. Commencing Monday next, she will run daily for a period. Passengers leave Dunedin by tho 8 a-m. train.

A district order to volunteers with reference to the funeral of the late Lieutenant Kerkham appears in our advertising columns. South Australia is admittedly one of the best wine-grape growing countries in the world. The wines—notably Yalumba wina made in South Australia now take a place in the forefront among the productions of the most successful European vineyards. They may he found in the wine-cellars of Royalty and of the British aristocracy, and they are largely recommended by doctors for medh dual purposes. They are undoubtedly sound wholesome wines.—[Advt,] ’ We have received a copy of the Mutual Life Chronicle for December. Alterations and additions to tho ordinary time-table for the railways in connection with the Christmas holidays will be found in our advertising columns. The Kaikorai School will break up on Thursday next at 2 pjn., not Wednesday, as advertised Jast nighi,

The forthcoming ,• volume ‘ Heather 1 and Ferri; Songs of Scotland and Maoriland,’ by J\ Liddell Kelly,- of the ‘ New Zealand Times,’ Wellington; Will bo an example of entirely native production, at most Of the poems have been written in Neilr Zealand; while the printing and bookbinding are being executed la Wellington. The book will, it .is said, fully equal in appearance any of the five-shilling volumes of . verse published , in Australia, while jho; leading matter ,in it will be more than double the quantity contained in. .thp average Australian vbluxne.- The price is Ba, post free to subscribers, arid Mr Kelly is acting as his-own publisher, Having declined a tempting .offer from a Home find of publishers, in order to have the work produced entirely in New Zealand. Not the least of the many inventions of this enlightened age for the amelioration of trouble arid > discomfort arc New Century Soft Rubber Hair Curlers., Now on sale throughout New Zealand.—[Advt.] The ‘ Weekly. Press ’ is this week published one day earlier, and will -be on sale on arrival of North express this evening. It is the Christmas reading number; and the illustrations include some fine pictures of the Gore A and P. show, departure of the Antarctic -relief ship Morning, > and the Lake Wakatipu fleet of steamers. There Is also issued, as a special supplement, a chromolithograph in ten colors, entitled ‘New Zealand* in South Africa.’ Further details with respect to this issue will bo found in an advertisement.

Muir and Hoodie's, new colored and plain Christmas Post Cards to be obtained from all booksellers, or wholesale from Muir and Hoodie. See that you get Muir and Hoodie’s. [Advt.] The Patients and Prisoners’ Aid Society hold their annual meeting in the T.M.C.A. Rooms, Moray place, to-morrow, at 4.30 p.m.

The break-up of the Arthur street School will take place oil Thursday, at 10 a.m. The Cavershom School breaks up bn the same day, at 2 p.m. Furniture, up to date in stylo and workmanship ; carpets and toilet ware. Henry Sanders, 86 George street.—[Advt.]

We have received from Mr W. A. Walton a calendar, blotter, and desk almanac issued by the Royal Exchange Assurance Company.