Hawke's Bay Herald TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 1868. WHITEWASHING MADE EASY.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 936, 21 April 1868, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 1868. WHITEWASHING MADE EASY.

THE-TTeb'fdr and Creditor Act of last session, so far as we can yet understand its operation, would appear to have been framed to protect the houest and struggling, but unfortunate debtor, against the oppressive measures of some hard hearted creditor. That there are such debtors we do not deny, but we have seldom seen them ; the majority of cases that come before us are of a somewhat different character — cases in which the party requiring protection is the creditor,' too often the victim of extravagant, unscrupulous, aud unprincipled debtors. As the law stands, however, the debtor — honest or dishonest, unfortunate or otherwise—has it all his own way. He has simply to make a declaration that he cauuofc pay his debts, get it filed by the Registrar of the Supreme Court, and protection- against arrest or process of any kind is at once granted him by law. Not only so, but he is allowed to retain household furniture to the value of £25. True, he has the ordeal to pass through of a meeting of creditors aud au application to the court for his discharge, but such meetiugs are uot generally very serious affairs, and the insolveut, meanwhile, is free from the unpleasantness of having duns or bailiffs calling upon him, or the uncomfortable prospect of spending a few weeks in durance vile. We may be told that legislation in i this direction is demanded by the philanthropic spirit of the age — that imprisonment for debt is a relic of a barbarous age, &c. This, we apprehend, would be poor consolation to the four uufortunate' butchers or the half-dozen milliners whose names we lately saw upon the schedule of au iusolveut, aud who are not likely ever to see a farthing of their mouey. But, grauting that this is the proper course of legislation, we can see very well how good will result from it. It will stop the present system of indiscriminate credit, which has ruined mauy — sellers' as well as buyers — and is likely to ruin many more if it be not speedily curtailed. These remarks are headed " Whitewashing made easy," for so wo regard the operation of the new Act. Creditors should, as their only safeguard, attend all meetiugs, whether in or out of court ; and, while carefully guarding against severity in the case of a debtor who had been rendered bankrupt by unforeseen circumstances, should exercise the utmost vigilance in watching the progress of au iusoiveucy which had been brought about by recklessness or want of principle.

7 facture of soap and candles is almost a necessary adjunct to the production of tallow, and, as an industry, will be highly useful as well as fully appreciated. Divine Service will be conducted at Clive and West Clive, next Sunday, by the Bishop of Waiapu. St. George's Day. — Thursday, next, being St. George's day, will be observed as a holiday at the Banks. Annual Licensing Day. — The annual licensing meeting will be held this day, in the Resident Magistrate's Court. Rain,— The fall last week was equal to if inches. Its effects are already visible in improved feed all over the country. Last evening a few showers fell, with an appearance of more. Renata, we are informed, purposes erecting a toll-gate upon the road through his property at Omahu; and Tareha, in the exercise of his seigniorial rights, intends making a thoroughfare for himself and people through Torr's paddock. Meetings or Creditohs. — Two meetings took place on Saturday — in the estates of J. J. Fells and of William Hudson. For the former, Mr. H. E. Webb was appointed trustee ; for the latter, Mr. W. R. Robinson. In both cases the days were named for a final hearing. Assembly Balls. — Invitations have been, or are about to be, issued for a series of monthly assembly balls, to be held during the winter season — the first to be on the 30th inst., in the Council Chamber. President, His Honor D. McLean ; stewards — Capt. Wray, Messrs. J. B. Brathwaite, A. S. Birch, G. E. G. Richardson. The Address to the Prince. — With reference to the letter of an Irishman which appeared in last Herald, we are requested to state that the writer proceeds upon a totally erroneous assumption — the shamrock, so far from left out, being, in fact, a conspicuous object in the decorative design. The late Captain Blair. — Upon the arrival of the Ahuriri we made every inquiry as to the report that had come overland of Capt. Blair and four of his crew having been discovered on some uninhabited island. We regret, however, that we could hear nothing in confirmation of the rumour— no one, seemingly, having heard it before. The Shilling Legs op "Mutton have caused quite a sensation in the neighboring provinces, our paragraph upon the subject having " gone the rounds " of the colonial press. The leg of mutton cart, we perceive, has been transformed into a commodious two-horse spring waggon ; while the primitive tin trumpet has given way to a bonafide bugle, the calls of which may be heard far and near. In no case, we believe, has the supply been yet equal to the demand. The Toll Gate. — The Government has declined during the present lesseeship, to act upon the 10th clause of the Act, which .permits of compounding for tolls by a half yearly payment ; so that milkmen and all other persons requiring to go through daily are taxed to the extent of £18. 15s. per annum for the privilege of travelling over roads, one half of which ai-e in a state of natui'e, and the other half quite unfit for traffic after a few hours of rain. Artesian Sinking, Napier. — During Saturday and j'esterday, little has been done beyond cleaning out. The pipes were cleaned out on Saturday night ; but, yesterday, were found to be filled to the height of 40 feet. Thejabor thus caused is prodigious. The driving cannot go on afc the depth the sinking now is, without the pipe being clear, and to do this seems almost impossible. However, perseverance overcomes many difficulties, and it may do so in this case. Yesterday, the pipe was driven just half an inch, involving no fewer than 200 blows of the monkey! Mr. W. F. Smith will sell, to-morrow, Wednesday, at the Meanee yards, store and fat cattle &c. Lease of Runs. — On Thursday next, the Commissioner of Crown Lands will lease by auction a number of runs, as enumerated.