The Evening Star FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9. 1910.

Evening Star, Issue 14534, 9 December 1910, Page 4

The Evening Star FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9. 1910.

TitK respective gains of the Covernmont and the Op:>o?i!:r:o in ih-i TIIO Homo Home elections continue ElSCtior.3. to he pretty i-veil (tin: Conservatives having a trifling advantage) ; and. unless the coun'.y results make an appreciable difference, the new Parliament, as regards political complexion, will be very similar to the old. Jn thai case, inter.'sting questions are sure to arise regarding the practical inferences to be drawn from tbo returns, and hints of impending controversy on this point are already noticeable in the utterances of prominent Unionists. Such consitleiations. however, may suitably be postponed for a few days. On both sides, indeed, there has been an excess of confident and premature comment. Perhaps tho most noticeable instince of this tendency is the 'Daily Chronicle's' quite unwarrantable statement that the failure of the Opposition to win the election is being transformed into a Conservative rout. Some of the latest returns possess ii teie;-ting features. Cardiff has gone over to the Unionists, w bo; will probably consider the capture of this important Welsh constituency to be ono of then* most valuable gains. | In 1906 the Liberals carried the seat by a majority of 3,005 votes; in January last by 1,555 ; and now they are in a minority of 290. It may be that the recent riots in South Wales have had something to do with this striking change. The now member, Lord Ninian Stuart, is a brother of tho Marquis of Bute, whose personal and proprietary interests at Cardiff aro very extensive. Lord Ninian is only twentyseven years of age, but hs is four years older than Lord Wolmer (sou and hear of tho Earl of Selborne, the distinguished exHigh Commission3r in South Africa), who I has won the? Newton (Lancashire) seat ior the Unionists. The. Liberals may bo partly consoled for the loss of Cardiff by I their recapture pi Radnorshire, which I went over to tha.Qtb.ej side in January. 1 Tho Newton result" "liiie—St. Helens and represents a loss to tho cause o: Labor, which appears to be doing sane too well in the Norfi, though its record in | the South ia better. Many people -who j do not agree with all his opinions will be glad to hear that Mr Will Crooks has rcgainel his seat, but he had to fight very hard for it, only securing a lead of 256 in 'a' tot.il poll of 16,268. The Labor party

(or / peihaps rather the Extreme Radicals)' easily won tho Bow division of the Tower Hamlets, where the objections entertained by a section oi the Liberals in reference to Mr Lansbury's candidature were prc> sumably removed.- The redoubtable, if erratic, Lord Charles Beresford goe3 back for Portsmouth, and carries his** Unionist colleague with him (though the majorities have fallen), and both tho Plymouth seats have been wrested from tho Government party. That very capable Minister, Mr Sydney Buxton, has greatly increased his lead at Poplar, while 5,586 of the 6,774 electors who votel at SJ. George's, Hanover square, favored Mr Alfred Lyttclton, who was Colonial. Secretary in Mi" Balfour's Government and kept wickets in tho first test match played in England; On the other hand, tho Unionists only just managed to save Milo End by two votes, though, the personal popularity throughout tho City of the heir to the Burnham barony, who is the real director of the policy of th.it great organ—tho 'Daily Telegraph'—is beyond question. No scats in ScolhiuJ appear to have changed hands, but the cablo announces tho surprising and possibly significant fact that thcro is "'a general reduction of the Liberal majorities" in that part of tho kingdom. Tho recent activity of Lord Rosebery and other Unionist oiators would seem to have been not altogether futile.

Tho Act under which the International Harvester Company get permission to trade in New Zealand, certain rebates being granted to other importers by way of balance, expired this ycir, but has been renewed till 1912. The fact may have escaped attention in the mass of parliamentary business towards the close of the session. Linoleums and floorcloths have this year risen in price, and importers seem to be irritated over the action of tho Customs Department in charging duty on the rise between the time -tho articles aro invoiced and the dote of shipment. There appears to be an \idea that the department, to secure the f extra duty, ha» invoked some old and forgotten Act. Tho Hon. T. Mackenzie, tho Minister for Customs, says that this is entirely a mistake; that tho law is perfectly clear on the point, section 56 of the Customs Duties Amendment Act of 1907 providing that that course is to bo pursued. The- report of Mr Furkcrt, District Engineer of Public Works, on tho scheme to improve and extend the St. Clair esplanade was received by the Ocean Beach Domain Board at their meeting yesterday afternoon, and was approved on the motion of Mr Hodges, seconded by Mr Burnett. The chaiiman (Mr Hancock) mentioned that eventually tho swimming area of the St. Clair baths would have to be extended and tho batheis' dressing accommodation incKitinil, a matter in which Mr Bridger miygosted the Government be asked to contribute part of the cost. A resolution was passed tlt.it. tho Board approach tho Hon. J. A. Millar, on his next- visit to Dunedin, to ask that the Murine Department assist in a scheme for the improvement of tho Sandhills. The secretary (Mr Johnson) reported a, bank balance of £94 2s lid. According to the 'Southland Times,' the. Hon. Thomas Mackenzie (Minister of Agriculture) is negotiating for the purchase of p, property at Haveloek, and should he tcko up his residence there he will become a candidate for tho Hawke's Bay seat in the Government interest at the General Election next year. A Hawera message states that Leonard Russell, the young man who attempted suicid-5 yesterday by cutting bis throat with a razor, died in the hospital last night. Although applications for the position of town clerk at a salary of £6OO a year have now been advertised for in tho principal papers "in the Dominion for the past week, none have yet come to hand. They close on the 11th of next month.

Cr Tapper has given notice- to move tt Wednesday night's meeting of the City Council—"That the following resolution of the Council of 3rd of March, 1908 Iwhich was then canied on the motion of Cv Cole) be rescinded :—' That through tickets he issued for use between the Post Otiieo and St. Clair and vice versa at the undermentioned rates:—Cirds of fifteen for 2s 6d, and cards of thirty for ss,' and that in place of giving tramway concessions to two termini only the following concession*, bo issued throughout tlte service as from the Ist of .January. 1911 •.—Fifty three penny .sections for Bs. fifty twopenny sections l'.ir (j.i, and fifty one-penny tactions for 3i 3d ; tickets to he available for one month only from date of issue, and for sections ;;;>ecil\ed on ticket only. or. alternatively, any portion of a ticket unused to be allowed for at half-price upon the holder thereof applying for a new ticket." Cxii'jc Lau-'i', whose left arm was badly cnii-,!i:vl on (lie Ouerrfs wharf. Wellingtiou. ia'.l .Monday, died in the hoGpita.l today, lie was carrying some, flour out of a, shed when ho was jammed between a parsing lorry and some packing esses, and thrown under a vehicle.—Proic.s Association.

A.s irivim; some idea of the increasing popuk-vifv of the < h;y.-ai:lhomum, it may b<! mentioned that ore Dinvdin nurseryman has ','ot rid of over 3,C00 plants this .searon. j'':o train which left Dune-din for Clyde ;;'■ ".-If) yrstmd'iy morning came to a stand-c-till in tlio afternoon whem two uiiu-s tlii. sid'j of Alexandra, the CTigino and fc.'.n fl-i-_>«i)i!s lring derailed owing to a pile of '.'i::v;:t iieing washed on to thr liack by a watM'i'.po'.it.' Th" track was damaged for :i.i>(ini '.r el'.iin. and a-half. Two of the turned over, hut no damage was dene to t'r:i> rnl!iii>_ - stock, and none of the nine ptrnwrii suffered any injury. Tliay were talcu on by conveyance. A train with a hrenk-dowTi gang loft town latst ni'.'ht. and pot. to the spot this morning, and lh* men ai. once started to mil- mat tore to lights. It was found necessary to construct a, shoLt diversion, and by that means thiii dav's train would get through to Clyde. A coach ran from Clyde this morning an far as the. derailment. At a meotinir yesterday afternoon of the .SI. Claii- Improvement Association (Mr J. 11. Walker presiding) it wa.s. decided to invito Mr Leslie H.'Reynolds to eubmit a scheme for the permanent improvement of the beach, and especially en the practicability or otherwise of reconstructing the old eeplanade. A very strong opinion was expressed—the report of Mr Fiurkert notwithstanding—that the erection of groins was a menace, nob an assistance, to the permanence of the beach. In tho Magistrate's Court at Wellington to-dav Edwin Zohrab, manager of the Wellintrton Steam Ferry Company, was fined £25 on a charge of shipping goods from the tramp 6tea,mer Neptuno. The charge of evading Customs duties was withdrawn. Counsel explained that the defendant did not know when he bought the goods that tho duty had not been paid. He made no inquiries', assuming that the goods were the property of tho man who cold them.

His Honor Mr Justice Williams held a sitting in Bankruptcy to-day to consider n, petition by P. Haymaii and Co. to have Robert Coghill, of Dunedm and Goie, skating rink proprietor, adjudicated a bankrupt. Mr Statham appeared in support of the petition, there being no appearance on the other tide. Evidence was given, by Max Cohn, attorney for the petitioning creditor, to the effect that Coghill was indebted to P. Ifayman and Co. in the snm of £3B 17s 9d, for the payment of which there was no security. R. P. Ward, clerk to the Magistrate's Court, gave evidence as to a distress ■warrant in the case of P. llayman and Co. v. Robert Coghill having been levied, and returned nulla bona. His Honor made an order adjudicating Coghill a bankrupt. Sir IX C Cameron, jitn., Mayor of St. Kilda, has locoived word from Wellington that tie name of the new post office in the borough is to be St. Kilda. Both Duncdin magistrates were out of town to-day. Mr Widdoweon was engaged 'at MosgieT hearing eome twenty-eight cases in connection with Taieri drainage rating, in addition to ordinary court business. Mr Bartholomew was attending to magisterial dutiqsia.tho coantrj. -?.-, 4 >;--i.

For a satisfactory line of furniture at reasonable price visit Sanders's Furnishing House, 175 Georjre street—[Advt.] Tho directors of the May-Oatway Syndicate notify that they have declared a further dividend oE 15 per cent.—3s per share. Our aim in portrait photography is to keep ahead. Wo do keep ahead, and we intend to keep ahead all ths time. Tho Atom Photo Company have moderate charges only. Telephone- 965.—[Advt.J In consequence of the continued dry season and the possibility of shortage in tho water supply, His Worship the Mayor has issued instructions to the heads of all Corporation departments to be sparse with the use of water, and also to reduce the street watering to a minimum. The watering of gardens by hose or other means, and watering of yards, buildings, etc., is to be discontinued. Tho very latest and most up-to-date photo S'cture is the " artist's proof portrait," by orris photo, Princes street. Call and seo specimens. Telephone 859.—[Advt.l We acknowledge with thanks a calendar from the New Zealand Insurance Company. A glass of Speight's beer at lunch and ■upper is better than all the tea iu China.— [Advt.l Eighteen miles by water for oue sbillius. Sao Waikana's time-tablo to-day.—[Advt.l Garden party, "Tolcarne," Maori Hill, 3 p.m., Saturday (Koslyu Baptist Church). Tickets (including tea) Is, children 6d. Also, sale of work, Clnistmas tree, otc, etc.— [Advt.]