Hawke's Bay Herald. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1879.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5302, 8 February 1879, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1879.

In discussing the nature of the measure which, would satisfactorily deal with, charitable aid and charitable institutions, the Otago Daily Times points out that there are three systems of maintenance \ which aro practicable and have the j authority of precedent — namely, direct support from the general revenue ; contribution from the revenue in the way of i subsidies to funds raised by private benevolence ; and the levying of special rates. Our Dunedin contemporary does not indicate which, of those systems is the most suitable to our circumstances in this colony, contenting himself with the reremark that all the systems mentioned have their advocates, and that there is much to be said for or against either. We think, however, that the only system i that will prove satisfactory is pretty nearly the one that now prevails, and ! that the legislation which is required is only such as will give power for enforcing it. We place little reliance upon the raising of funds by private benevolence. Of oourse such amounts as the charitably disposed may be induced to bestow are always acceptable, but it would be unwise, we think, tkat the maintenance of the sick or of the poor should be dependont on anything so precarious as the gifts of the benevolent. It is also unjust to the large-hearted in the community that they should be always drawn upon and the closefisted escape. The maini tenance of hospitals and of the destitute concerns the whole community, and therefore no system can be so equitable as that which makes each member of the community contribute his quota according to his means. This can be scarcely better effected than by one moiety of the funds being contributed out of local rates, and the other from the consolidated revenue of the colony. If the system were that of raising the funds by a special rate, it would fall entirely upon persons having rateable property, and many persons having very fair incomes ■would thus escape. If, on the other hand, the funds were to be derived entirely from the consolidated revenue holders of rateable property would not contribute their fair proportion. A union of the two modes of raising the J funds for charitable aid and hospitals ! seems the fairest. Endowments of land ' might perhaps be made for the maintenance of hospitals, but they should be general, for the benefit of all the | hospitals in the colony, and they ! should not be extensive. Obviously it is unjust that a hospital a m one district — where waste lands of the Crown are abuudant — should be richly endowed, j while others should have no endowment at all. The endowments, therefore, should all go into one fund and be appor- ■ tioned among the several hospitals. Large appropriations of lands for the purpose would, however, be scarcely desirable. On this point Sir George Grey very truly remarked last session that "it properly devolved upon each successive generation, as it came on, to do its duty to its fellows of the then existing generation ; and if those who are now living rendered it unnecessary for future generations to do their duty in that direction by shutting up the land from settlement, tying large tracts of land up in endowments let to tenants, they simply emasculated those who came after them. Therefore they should not make very extensive reserves. Let them reserve land as endowments for central hospitals, but they should not make reserves for all so-called charitable purposes,"

Lord Augustus Lof tvs, who is appointed Governor of New South Wales, was born in 1817, the fourth son of the second Marquis of Ely. He was appointed Ambassador at St. Petersburg in 1871. Two men, both named Whelan, were brought down last night from Taradale, charged with forcible entry into a house at Taradale. The men state that they purchased the place, but that is denied by Mr M'Donald, who sold it to the present occupier of the premises, on whose information the warrant for the arreßt of the Whelans was granted. The result of the performance by the Working Men's Dramatic Club last Tuesday evening was the net amount of £'30, which the club will forward to Mrs Kelsal. The club desire to thank the proprietors of the Theatre Eoyal for allowing the use of the theatre at half the usual price. The Stewart Family repeated their clever entertainment " Rainbow Revels " j last night at the Theatre Royal with the usual success. To-night an entire change of programme is announced, consisting , of another of the Stewarts' celebrated j pieces, "If; or, An Old Gem Re-set." It is by Mr Garnet Walch, the author of "Rainbow Revels," and consists of a large variety of characters, as well as the usual operatic selections, songs, duets, &c. "If " has had a most successful run in the South. In the Resident Magistrate's Court j yesterday morning, before R. Stuart, ' Esq., R.M., Denis O'Brien was charged with having, at Konini, on the 25th January, set fire to a certain dwellinghouse and stable in the possession of j John O'Brien, with intent to defraud ! the Standard Insurance Company and j the Union Insurance Company of New ' Zealand. Inspector Scully asked that the accused be remanded till that afternoon, when an inquiry into the late fire would be held. Remanded accordingly. Hatch v. Ben Smith, claim £11 ss. It ! appeared that in this case defendant had < confessed judgment, and asked that he be allowed to pay the amount within 14 days, with costs. Mr Lascelles, for plaintiff, asked His Worship to allow solicitors' fee and Mr Hatch's expenses. Judgment was given for plaintiff for amount claimed and all costs. — Williams v. Flanagan, claim of £1 2s 6d for I waterworks rate. Defendant did not appear, and judgment went by default for amount claimed, and costs 5s. — Blythe and Co. v. J. AUanach, claim £18 11s 6d, being the amount of a dishonored promissory nc^e* Defendant not appear-

ing, judgment was given by default, with costs. — Leach v. Macuamara, claim for £23 8s (3d. Mr Lascelles appeared for plaintiff, who stated that defendant had that morning paid him £3 on account. Judgment was given for £20 8s 6d, and costs £3 17s 9d. There was no other business. The Competitive Committee of the Spit and Napier Fire Brigades have decided to hold their annual competition on the 6th of March. There are a great many events and prizes to be contosted for. The principal event will be for the Brigade prize, which will no doubt attract tho attention of those who take an interest in our local brigades. We do not know exactly what the Brigade prize consists of, but we understand it will be something handsome. The contest will be between a team of eight men chosen from each brigade, who will go through the following: — Hose reel, small and large manual practices, throwing water with each over als feet bar ; the aggregate time of the three events to be the winning team. The team, which will represent the Spit Brigade are Messrs North, Riddle, Taylor, Smith, Bell, Watson, Janiieson, and Guilliard. Tho Napier team will be: — Messrs Gilbord, Yuill, Strange, Spence, Hartley, Morley, Holland, eighth man — Hartley or Clarke. Should the weather prove fine, we may anticipate to see some smart work, as both, brigades are practising early and late. It must be admitted that both brigades have made groat progross towards efficiency, as will be seen from the Fire Inspector's report. One or two local Fire Insurance Companies have promised prizes for the competition, and doubtless other gentlemen will follow their good example, in encouraging proficiency in firemen's duties. The quarterly meeting of the Pride of Hawke's Bay Lodge No. 91 1.0. G.T. (loyal), was held in the lodge-room, Port Ahuriri, last evening, when the following officers were installed by the Lodge Deputy, Bro. J. D. Mackay :— P.W.C.T., Bro. T. B. Harding, jun. ; W.C.T., W. J. Fulton; W.V.T., P. Hendrickson; W. Sec., E. C. Harding ; W.F.S., J. Hodgkinson; W.T., Sister Cameron ; W. Chap., F. Smith; W.M., H. King; W.1.G., J. M'Vicker ; W.0.G., D. Cameron ; W.R.H.S., Sister King. W.L.H.S., Sister Wilkie ; W.A.S., Bro. A. Campbell. The reports of tbe officers showed a steady increase in membership and funds. ,The Lodge numbers many good members among the sea-faring population ; it includes some of the original ten to whom the first 1.0. G.T. charter in Hawke's Bay was granted; and it has been distinguished from its institution for the unbroken harmony and good feeling prevailing among its members. We are requested to state that Father Henneberry will not commence his mission at Meanee until the 23rd instant. The commencement has been notified for the 16th, but Father Henneberry cannot reach here before the 23rd. We hear that Mr Waite, schoolmaster, of Waipawa, threatens the Waipawa Mail with an action for libel for substituting the word "stupid" instead of "obstinate" in its report of Mr Waite' s speech at tho meeting of householders at Waipawa. The Consolation Prizes, for all nonwinners at the -late Rifle Association meeting, will be fired for at the Tutaekuri range this afternoon at 3 o'clock. No less than twenty-five summonses for non-payment of the waterworks rate were setdownforhoaringattheßesidentMagistrate's Court yesterday. They were all, however, with the exception of two, settled before the opening of the Court, i The Right Reverend the Bishop of Waiapu mil hold Divine service on Sunday, 9th February, at Hastings, at 11 a.m, ; Clive, 3,30 p.m. ; and Havelock at j 7 p.m. On account of trnwoidable cause Mass will not be celebrated at Havelock next Sunday. A sensation was created in the Wellington R.M. Court on Monday during the hearing of the case Blundell Bros., proprietors of the Evening Post, v. J. P. Hydes, late manager of the Theatre Royal. Mr Hydes had run up a bill of nearly £40 for printing and advertising. Mr H. Blundell stated that when He threatened to sue for the recovery of the debt Hydes laughed in his face, said it was an excellent joke, and that as soon as the summons was issued against him he would file his schedule. Judgment was given for the amount and coslfcs. It is reported from Hokitika that the Union Bank there has been served 1 , with a writ at the instance of F. A. Leiarmont and Co., who claim £20,000 damages for an alleged breach of agreement with them.