Grey River Argus and Blackball News PUBLISHED DAILY WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23rd.

Grey River Argus, 23 November 1910, Page 4

Grey River Argus and Blackball News PUBLISHED DAILY WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23rd.

Jt is not in Britain alone that great political and economic changes are •pending. While the British people ' are engaged in a' strenuous strug-gle against the .long-endured tyranny of the House of Lords - and the class that it .upholds, the American people arc casting around for a suitable instrument by which" to wrest justice

for the people from organised capital, which has succeeded in enslaving- the people by the power of wealth. Having possesed itself of the bulk of the natural resources of the:;country, organised capital captured the Senate and most of the great organs of public opinion. By means of high tariffs — and there has been a succession of high tariffs for the last quarter of a century— the price of everything that is necessary to the life of the people has been raised to an .extent that' is simply extortion. While wages are fairly high, 'the prices of commodities are. so ruinous that the great majority of the people are mever far removed from poverty. With one interregnum, the Republicans have enjoyed a long lease of power, and in. . their case unchecked power has engendered what it very seldom fails to' do under .similar, circunjstan'ces always. ; - Human nature is pretty much the same everywhere and amongst all classes. If the landlords of England in the course of the last century managed to relieve themselves of most of the burdens of taxation and place them on the backs of the people, they only, did what the rich "sons of freedom" of Ain•eric.i did to their fellow-countrymen by means of. high tariffs. In each case a particular class exploited the people in the most shameless way. We were forcibly reminded of this the other day by a cable message which announced that a .movement is on foot in America with the object of recreating an' American mercantile marine. There is no such sign of American national vigour in existence now. ' The United States has built up a very fine navy for war purposes, but it has ,no mercantile marine to protect. Yet, before the great Civil War/America's fleet of trading vessels was only ;surpassed by that of Britain. One of thfi commonest sights of the- time in all the chief ports of the world was to see the Union Jack and the ' Stars and Stripes alongside each other. But the great war brought the evils of Protection 011 the country in an accentuated form, one of the first industries to suffer being that of shipbuilding. What High Protection failed to kill, was accomplished by the war arid such vessels as the Alabama, and very soon not a vestigo I was left of the once powerful commercial navy of America. To-day J America has no foreign-going fleet, henc c the Draconian and unfair legislation that is resorted to in order to protect her coastal shipping trade. This attempt to create a new. merI -untile fleet is the fust business ihI diicaition that) peo.p% a*e ; xeady to take advantage of the recent rupture ; in the Republican party to re-open an old channel for the industry and enterprise of the energetic American people. The recent remarkable de'fe<it of the Republican Party by the Democrats and the dethronement of Bosse Cannon and Al3rich :show that the people have at last become fully alive to the iniquitous side of the once fairly pure national . party. The younger men of the Party, animated by generous and patriotic impulses, known as th c "Insurgents," rebelled agramst the corrupt powers that ruled the Party. The break is one that even the fiery energy and national popularity of ex-President Roosevelt is unable to heal. The mystery is that he could have ever hoped to restore anything- like unanimity in a party in which- the chief elements were so antagonistic. Mr Rob's evelt's platform declarations, either as "Prel sident or "since, have ever been on the. side of fair- dealing- v and against firaft in -every shape. While that boomed the cause -of the- Insurgents if was a deadly thrust 'against the OH Guard, the very- incarnation of all the corruption that . the party 'had ■developed during its protracted lease of unchecked • power.' If the once great Republican- Party saved the power and character- of the American nation in a great, trying, and 'tragic crisis 1 ,' it has since almost neutralised th-it great service by handing the. supposed free and independent people bound hand and foot over to the tender mercies of organised and triumphant capital and the so-called "system" so • rathJessly exposed by Millionaire Lawson * in Everybody's Magazine. Now that the Democratic Party control the situation, one- of the first things to be brought about is an honest tariff, one 'that will giv 2 the poorer '*& chance to exist. "President Taft promised .a reasonable tariff, one that would , reduce the cost of living; but when it emerged- from the Senate; the Payne tariiF was worse than the Mc'Kinley one. It was higher instead of lower. As with so many tariffs' before dt since the Civil War, th c masses were bled aad the classes rejoiced. It has been the cruel tariffs of America that have bee^n solely responsible : for the 'discontent, 'the poverty, aid the hosts of unemployed th'-at fill the land. One of the most .'extraordinary poli'tdcal. 'developments of the age is the octo-pus-like way that organised capital ,has enmeshed the educated people of America in such a way that they are finding it terribly hard work to break o^t_of the net. But now that the people have become fully alive to the danger of the situation, there will soon probably be. a chance -of the Yankee Millionaires and the British Lords condoling with each other and mingling- their tears over the degenerate times that respect (neither hereditary claims non surreptitiously acquired millions. ...-■'

The Government seem to have g-one to a great deal of troupe to very little purpose over the Greymouth Native Reserves Bill. While, it would be perhaps unfair to doubt their good intentions, a g:ood many will ask an all seriousness whether it wasY worth while laying such a measure N before Pariament. It is true that the Native owners will possess a, power that they "did not have before if the Ball sEould" become law. The' owners of three-fourths of the value of the.-re-serve of the 500 acres axe at liberty

to sell the reserve if they choose to do so ; but from the way that the property is divided amongst the Native owners— one family being entitled to the greater portion — .and from what we ire led to believe are the views of the Uxu family there does not seem to be much hope that they would agree to a sale. Without the assent of Mr Uru the measure would be as so much waste paper

to the lessees. 'As regards the churches and schools, the Bill is a piece of bad luck for them. Their existing right.to a pepper-^coxn rental would disappear after two years, when the properties" (if not bought) would be subject to the same conditions as <;hose of -ordinary- '■ lessees— that- is a 21 years' lease at a rental of 5 per cent on the unimproved value. The only advantage is that the Public Trustee will Have soothing to do with \h'e valuation, which must'be accords ing- to the district valuation roll. As \he 21 years' lease Is retained,- it is hard to see how the yearnings of the lessees are to be satisfied. If the term cannot be extended to 63 years, or some lesser" term it is hard to see what is to be gained by going on with the Bill. Now that it is before us, we have some idea why Mr Guinness expressed such reluctance to disclose Government secrets. We are sorry that we are unable to compliment the Government on their attempt to settle the Greymouth Native leases' quesiom.

The annual meeting of the Grey County Council for the election of Chairman will be held at noon to-day. Mr J. Ryall is the favoured candidate fox the .position.

What's up Jack? Picked up a puncture? Something gone wrong with the works! I'll bet you don't ride one of Wade's Achilles Cycles. Isn't it up to you? •

The miners at Blackball for some time past have been complaining of the very small pays owing to the scarcity of orders, whicn no doubt have gone to Australia.

Mr H. S. King, M.1.E.E., electrical and mechanical engineer, i s at present on a visit to rhe Coast. He is the Home representative for British made bicycles. , .

Ngahere has suffered another loss lately. First the Railway Station was removed half a mile away towards town', now one of the pioneer sawmills of the district has been removed to the south of Hokitika.

The township of Waiuta is steadily growing and- a 1 great deal of the bush has been felled of late. Th c cairpenters in the locality are kept busy on. new- buildings A fine new boarding house has just recently been finished on the main, street.

The main road between Brunner and Stillwater i s still slipping away. It is understood -that the Public Works Department intend putting a concrete wall round the bend which wall mean a great deal more expenditure than was at first anticipated.

Mir A. Aynesiey, confectioner, of Taiinui Street, is mow prepared 'to supply Ice Creams at all hours of the day and night. Only the best of confectionary made on the premises. — Advt. -

With the spell of dry^ warm weather during the last week the roads are already loosening- and the first breeze will raise clouds of dust. A water cart now would save pounds later, not to mention the prevention of the discomforts of a dust bath.

The owners of the Lauderdale are taking- full advantage of the fine weather to ..get all the 'timber ' ashore which is being disposed of very quickly: At low water the stern of the yes-

sel is high and dry.

Good reliable motor car s for journeys can always be hired from Hurley's Motor Garage, Boundary Street.

For a serviceable bike- bride one of Harley's ' Raleighs "hey run rings round their rivals and rarely require repairs. V

A grand plain and fancy dress ball, under the auspices of the United Football Club, will be held in 'the club's pavilion to-night. Excellent prizes for best fancy costumes. Gent s 3s; ladies a plate.— Advt.

The new Waverley Hotel (Mr_ Robert RusselHs) has a local caireer w-orth recorling. It was built by Arthur Russellj during -the time of the Mayi>ralty of Alf. pßussell and "Bob" Rus.sellsnow runs it. ".Who said Russell? .^-wc. all' did!"

The iFiery Cross '" and Hopeful Claims, Boatmans, situate between jTust-in-Tdihe and Welcome, Caplestbh, are for :sale by tender "which will' be

received, till 3rd December. Additional informa'tfion appears in our advertising columns but full particulars with plan may be seen .at the office , of tihis paper.

The management of the Thomas and Mcßeath store regret that they will be* "unable. vto>e~open on 'Thursday as advertised. Owing to the great number of bargains that require marking down also £2000 worth of' Christmas drapery it will be Saturday before business can begin. On sharp at 9 o' clock a- m th^y will open with a bang— be ready! Advt.' i/ , - :."■■■ ■

Tie return from the Pactolus is 23 ozs 3dwt for 113 hours.

. Switzerland receives /nearly £6,000.---000 per annum from its visitors, while, •twice that amount is spent every year in Italy. .. . . y ; •

A long 'train load of timber trucks \i from Ofcira line was "delayed for some i considerable time the other afternoon , by one truck 'capsizing on the line through \the timber chains getting loose. The engine driver very quickly brought the train to ■ a standstill but it took quite an hour to clear the line , and in consequence all the passenger ' trains were late in reaching 'their fdes'tinations.

How's 'tihat Umpire? A sixer? When v you strike the ball with a Bussey's or Gunn and Moore Bat is always goes the limit. Wade sells the above bats. . , ■

On the Hokitifca 'bowling; gxeea the holders of the Morton •Feathers. Messrs J. Downey, A. Benjamin, .A. B. King, and J. N. iNalder .(skip.), were somewhat easily defeated by the challenging rink, Messrs G. Anderson A. Andrews. G. MacMillan, and J. H. Wilson (skip.), the scores being 18 to 10.

Dorothy Hamilton/ the inf am and younger daughter of Mr and Mrs James Auld, of Reefton, succumbed to pneumonia on Monday afternoon/ The child scalded herself a few days ago, but appeared -to have completely recovered from tibe shock, and was progressing- favourably when pneumonia^ set in. ■

The Australian railways are getting on. ..They established wireless communication the other day between the two ends of the Sydney-Melbourne express. When will our New Zealand expresses follow suit? Some jokers say it's unnecessary; better to get off and run along to the otiher 'end if you, want to speak to anyone.

J. Truscott, the well known family_ grocer, has just landed a large shipment of goods suitable for the Christmas season. His brand of fresh butter is recognised to be the best in the town, and he is reailing it at Is per lb. New potatoes and green peas arrive weekly, besides a large quantity of local grown. The good housewife will find everything of the best quality at J. Truscott's.

The choice selection of solid silver jewel cases, sweet, dishes, serviette rings, cards and cigarette cases, man icure sets, button hooks, photo frames fine cut • glas and silver scent a-nd toilet bottles and ornaments, chaste designs in hair .brushes, mirrors and combs, etc IsVan interesting .feature of the fine display of presentation goods at Gilbert Bros up to 'date establishment in. Tainui. Street. ...

Towards the dose of last week there was some excitement in the mining markeit lowing- fbo Jreparts (that the. Waihi had struck a new reef in previous unexplored ground. The shares responded quickly to 'this, and arose rapidly by about 10s, but later, as the assay values were found to be low, -the shares relapsed the quojtatrion s at the time of writing being buyers £5 19s 6d sellers £6 Is 6d.

Rimu last Saturday evening, owing ; to the disappearance of a young- man named George Winter, who had got lost in the bush. He went out into the bush to' look for cattle at midday, and not having returned up Itill a late hour, a search-party went after him. Next morning about eleven, however. Winter found himself on the Ross Road, and returned to his home little ! the worse for his experience of a night in the "bush-

A meeting" of the Committee of the ' Reef ton Jockey Clvb v was held at the Club Room the other evening, Mr * Blackmore being voted, to the chair. It was decided to engage Mr James and staff to run 'the totalisator at the Club's Summer and Autumn Meetings at a commission of one and aquarter per cent. A deputation was received from the Trotting Club with a view of arranging the " term s upon which the services of the R.J.C. caretaker could be had to keep the trotting track in order. It was resolved, that the Trotting Club pay seven shillings per week to the end of April to the R.J.C. and 'that tihe caretaker be under the control of the. R.J.C.^Ground . Committee.' " >x> • " ! -''

(pearly 'two-thirds of the crime in London iis perpetrated between, two p.m. on Saturdays and nine a.m. on. Mondays.

Glasgow's cleansing department reports an income of £4849 ]ast year from waste and scraps collected from the rubbish.

X-xays are being used for. the ■ treat ment of consumption in London hospitals. They make possible the location -of the exact spot where the disease is most active.

Something of a stir was caused in

Mr J. Colvdn, M.P., has a promising performer in Merchantman, who should with ordinary luck, win plenty of: races for the popular- West Coast sportsman.

The revival of 'the Government gram to public libraries (a sum of £3, 000 for distribution pro rata) is notified in the Government of the 10th inst. The\graift begins on 3rd February next year, and applications with : statutory declaration must be made on or before 27th January.

Says the ICumara Times the County Chairman, Mr J. A. Murdoch, received a telegram authorising ■the undertaking of twenty works in the County, of an aggregate vaßie of £4.293

A Wellington young lady, Miss Eileen Shannon, who i s an enthusiastic and intrepid motorist, carried off second honours in 'the motor-driv-ing competition at the recent Palmerston Show. •'

In a few years a barmaid will be worth her weight in fine gold to the hotelkeepers of New Zealand. For the edict is groing: forth : <Nq New Barmaids after the Liquor Act comes into force.

Mr R. Slater has decided to oppose Mr J. A. McCullough for the position of workers' representative on the Arbitration Court. Mr Slater previously held the position from the inception of the Court until, the last election when he was defeated by Mr McCullouffh.

It is considered not unlikely -that new islands "have been thrown up somewhere in the South Pacific in the great submarine earthquake reported from Sydney Observatory. Had the 'qualca happened on land, it might have been as fearful a disaster as the great 'Frisco shake.