Hawke's Bay Herald. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1879.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5531, 6 November 1879, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1879.

THE COST OF LOAN RAISING-. liiis now just a fortnight since Mr Watcrliousc, from his scat in tho Lcgiirlative Council, moved for a return showing the cost of raising colonial lomis. In doing so lie g&ve some 'particulars which lie kad already ascertained, and from his speech, as published in Hansard, we learn that some years ago the cost of raising the lonus was something Kke £ per cent upon the amount borrowed* which included (lie amount paid, according to ordinary custom, to the brokers in connection with forwarding applications 'to the loan. Ho believed ke was right $i\ stating th&t th.6 large teaft Negotiated titfottgk Si* WMfem Fitzhcrbert cost something Under £ percent ; but if honorable members would look at \M return lately placed upon*, tile table giving parlieUkrs &s to the cost of the last loan, they would see that the cost had been 1;V per cent, so that the amount had tripled in the course of a very few years. Further, he observed that, whereas three or four years ago a commission of Is Gd in the £100 was paid to the Crown Agpiits, these gentlemen now received 4s per cent-, or more than threefold the amount wiWck had been deemed Suffieiehlfc ti'Aiy three or four years a^o, There was the usual payment o£ 5s per cent to brokers, who we* v e the medium of forwarding applications for bonds; and there was another item, the most peculiar item that he had over seen in connection with these loans i— '- Sept. 4,' 187g.— F. A. Sci4m#eeujV commission at 5 pc* Ocilfc for services as brokot- Up to time of obtaining official quotation of tho 10-40 £8,500,000 loan, £8750 ; additional brokerage, at £ per cent on the £200,000 applied for as agreed, £3599 15 15s 0. These charges make a total OS £11,339 15s Gd, Why this large sum was paid to Mr Serimgoour was a puzzle to Mr Waterhouse. Mr Scrimgcour was, he said* it, respectable broker, and a member of a firm largely connected with syndicates, but that the last Now Zealand loan was not mainly raised through. Mr Sorting" cour, he (Mr Waterhbuse) know, for he happened to be in London at the time, and was in a position to state that the work was mainly done by the Bank of Is T cw Zealand. He had also learnt how the South Australian loans were liegociated» A broker, even higher" in his pro 1 fossiou than Mi 1 Scrimgeour, was employed in connection with the floating of those loans. This gentleman was Mr Marshall, of the firm of Marshall and Williams, brokers to the Bank of England. Mr Marshall charged f font £50 to £100 for his services, which were of precisely the same character as those for which Mr Scrimgcour received £i i,300. The South Australian Agent-General explained that brokers uudertook such services, not beause of the mere remuneration they receivod, but because their employment in such a capacity was a marked compliment— a tribute to their worth and standing which was highly valued.

Mr Waterliouse did not single anyone out for condemnation, but the tenor of his remarks evidently pointed to Sir Julius Vogel as the one Who is responsible for this waste of public money. If South Australia can get for £100 the same services for which we last year paid £11,300, there is evidently something wrong in connection with the raising of our loans. The responsible party should be called upon for an explanation of the anomaly, and in future care should be taken not to leave these matters in the hands of men who can throw thousands away, where tens would do just as well.

In consequence of the starting of the Weekly Courier the monthly mail summary Avill in future be published in that paper instead of the Hehalb. Tomorrow's Courier will contain the summary for the outgoing San Francisco mail, and may be had at the Herald office, in wrapper ready for posting.

As we stated would be the case, the Borough Council has decided to adopt Mr Peppercorne's levels. This cool defiance of the plainly-expressed wishes of the public will probably be remembered when the Councillors who have by their votes carried the resolution again seek election at the hands of the ratepayers.

Yesterday afternoon an alarm of fire was raised. A crowd of people rushing in the direction of the Beach road indicated the locality, and it was found that a house owned by Mr J. Ashton, and occupied by Mr T. Hill, waiter at the Criterion, was in flames. The fire was confined to the roof, aud many willing hands were quickly at work getting out the furniture, which was all saved. The fire engines were soon On the spot, aud the hand-engine was quickly manned, but the hose burst at starting, and considerable delay resulted. In the meantime Messrs llobson, Gilberd, Yotille, and others dashed buckets of water over the roof, and prevented a rapid spread of the fire. At last the i>ose was attached to the manual engine, steam was got up in the steam-engine, atfd the high-pressure water supply was available. With several hose playing on the fire the flames were quickly subdued. The roof was in great part destroyed, and the house will lave to be re-papered and renovated, but the damage will probably not exceed £30. Mr Ashton was iusurcd in the National Office for £160. The cause of the fire is a mystery. There was no fire in the kitchen for several hours previous to the outbreak, and the most probable hypothesis is that a spark from some other chimney set the shingle on fire,

Our Wellington telegrams announce a new phase of the Repudiation agitation^ It appears that a charge similar to thUt preferred recently againlt M^c fein^dss 1% to bo made against Mr g'dtt'6n, M.H.R. -^at least We So gather from the report : 6f the Parliamentary proceedings and our correspondent's message. It is probably in connection with this ease £Mt ft number of natives recently left Napier fdi- AYellington, to bo examined before the Native Affairs Committee.

Councillor Swan raised a hearty laugh at. the Borough Council meeting last evening in fefei'ehce to a petition presented for the erection of a lamppost. Speaking of the large nuuJiele of, alg-iiA-Jtiii'os attached to tlio petition, ho said fchd't thousands of persons could bo got to sign a document so long as it was not a promissory note or a subscription list.

A baker hi town, who has \ioen .trying Hour from the Onga Onga tnill for the last six months; informs Us that it. is \ln'<3'(\abtpflLy,, e'd'uaij if hot superior to Adelaide flour, and which entirely dispenses with the latter if sufficient wheat wore grown in the province to supply the demand. As an instance of how this would affect tho district we may mention that the baker above indicated sends some £30 per week out of tl& pi ; ovintie for ; fl'oiin ',- There are eleven entries for the hurdlerace at the Friendly 'Societies' Fete bh Mdnday. nekt; as conipared tvitk tw"6 last ( vo&v. Seven competitors have given in their names for the open handicap, for which, there \v*>re tidily tsVo l^st year. '^kV.Ltiyal Orange Lodge, No. 5, celebrated the fifth of November by a social tea 'ahdjball held at the Protestant Hall. The tea was provided by Mr J. T. Johnson, in excellent style, and received full justice at the hands of the guests, who numbered About fifty. , The Mil afterwards , wfts mo¥'e largely attended, about thii-V.y-ilvo couples "footing-it" to a band under Mr Garry's conductorship.

It is stated that Mrs Bennett ha§ purchased Mr Hickav's interest in the Eaikora HoteL The price is said to have Been £1000.

The Waipawa County Council uieets to-day.

liVe Pi4t anniversary of the Loyal Hastings Lodge, 1.0.0.F., M.U., was celebrated at Goodwin's Hall, Hastings, last Monday evening. The room, was handsomely decorated with evergreens and flowers, obtained from Ml' Sturm's mtrsery. At 7 tMbCk about thirty members fcH ctawll .to ah excellent supper'} provided .by , Mt J-. T. Johnson, of JNTapier. The chaii 1 was occupied by E. H. GriggiP.G-.M., supported on his right by tl\e .Secretary of the Lodge, 11; Sqiner-vi-116, ai\d oil his left by the presiding braced Bi 1 0. Love. After the usual loyal toasts, Mr Wellwood, proposed, . " The Loyal Hastings L6dge;" . He U\i\ lie was glad t6 ( licar IMt tile Lodge liad made gddd alid was now in a safe monetary position. t The principles of the Order were such as would induce every, person having .the interest, of, tfy.e community at heart to Join it; and it would afford him much pleasure to become a hi'emuer. The Secretary, Mr Somervillc, in replying, stated that when the Lodge was first opened it consisted of only five members, but now, notwithstanding the depression felt throughout the whole colony* they numbered 25 members, and several settlers had promised td join their I'ilnks. Owing to the Lodge being recently started they were 1 called On to bear the first expenses, but notwithstanding that they had a large siirplus in hand. ..Bro. Love proposed "Kindred Societies," and in doing so' expressed regret at a recent misunderstanding which had arisen between the Oddfellows and Foresters in Napier, but he hoped that a better feeling would prevail. After the dinner". A Ball tdi3k place, which was attended by about 40 couple, who heartily enjoyed themte elves.

Sergeaut O'Malley stated to Mr Kenny yesterday morning, in reply to an enquiry, that Inspector Scully had received niunor; Oils complaints , respecting the bad be* haviour of boys ill jN.dpier'; sdme of whom bdmmitte'd p6tty thefts, sttch as stealing oggs, &c. His "Worship stated that he also had received a number of complaints about tho " carryings on" of boys in the town. The police and the magistrate may possibly do something to alleviate the evil— the one by arresting two or three of ilio young scamps, and the other by ordering the administration of a souud whipping in each case;

Our Wairoa c'o^r'espbiidenfc) writing yes= le'rday, speaks in glowing terms of the appearance of the country in that district. "I must say," he remarks, "that we in Wairoa have not yet much cause to complain of the ways of Providence, for while it may be true that a little more rain would be highly beneficial, the country on all sides is in splendid condition, feed in most places ' being knee deep, and even our usually barren looking hills are as green as those of the Emerald Isle itself."

Messrs Routledge, Kennedy, and Cd» yesterday sold the publican's booth for the Friendly Societies' Fete for £14 10s, Mr E. Ashton being the purchaser.

At Messrs Banner and Liddle's sale of Mr Kelly's stock, held on the premises, at Hastings, yesterday, there was a fair attendance of buyers and the prices realised were very satisfactory. From our advertising columns it will be seen that the sale will bo continued at the same hour and place to-day, as owing to the large number of lots it was not possible to conclude the sale yesterday.

The following interesting biographical paragraph regarding the late Colonial Treasurer of New Zealand is taken from the North of Ireland Advertiser : — ■" The County of Antrim can boast of having been the birthplace of many men who made their mark in the ages in which they flourished, and in the present day not a few of her sons are among the most rising men of their generation. The late Colonial Treasurer of New Zealand is the son of a respectable farmer, Mr Samuel Ballance, of Ballypitmave, near Glenavy. He was educated at the Model School of Belfast, and afterwards served some time to the hardware business. In 1866 he emigrated to New Zealand, and on arriving at Auckland joined the staff of one of the papers of that city. Being possessed of more than ordinary abilities, and having considerable literary taste, he very soon made himself a name in connection with the Press, and in no long time lie »vas appointed editor of the paper. There agaiu his talents brought him to the front, and at the general election he was returned as one of the members of the Legislative Assembly. From that time to the present the course of the Hon. John Ballance hss been one of onward progress. [It was at Wanganui, not at Auckland, that Mr Ballance first came into notice as a journalist and politician.]

The London papers recently announced that, owing to au accident in the machineroom, the extra double number of the Illustrated London News, advertised to appear on Wednesday, Avould be unavoidably postponed until Thrusday. As a matter of fact, the " accident " was not a mechanical one, but a literary one, the proprietor cancelling several thousands of printed copies rather than allow the publication of an article by one of the editors, reflecting as he conceived, with ill-timed severity and offensiveness on the family of the Prince Imperial. Instantly on persuing the article Mr Ingram ordered " stop press " — a sacrifice of over £2000 to a delicacy of feeling and generosity of sentiment which do him credit.

A short time ago a poor .flslierman, while digging woi'nis for bait neai' an old hospital at Bti Mart's; T?lBi ; ida; M diig. tip An old brass kettle which, upon examination, ho found c6ntamecV£!2BQ.in gold coin, r .hicli raises' him : above. tne fishing business". ..; l,f j:er the colliery eJcp'losiott fo iiaiit;frij in July Ist, the searchers discovered in the pockets of the dead men isix keys for opening the safety lamps, made by the colliers themselves by filing down ordinary house-keySj or by twisting two wire ilails together in a peculiar way ; live tobacco poucli.es, and hali-a-dozcii lots of matcl'les'.

A project has been mooted for connecting Spain with the African continent by moans of a tunnel beneath the Strait of Gibraltar^ running from Algcsirafj dh the Spanish side; tp.it pditlt lidtwe'cn Tdiigiers And CdUri-. 'The distance across tlie'seabed is nine, lmles^witlj. ineliixo oj lin 100 at ciid, diid a level bottom in the intermediate six or seven miles. The greatest depth of water at any point in the course is 3,000 feet ; and as it is proposed to leave a thickness of 300 feet of roof in the vault of the tunnel, the deepest point of the latter, would be" 3,300 feet Below tile level 61 the itea.

Tile following story is told b ! y & correspondent,, of me London Spectator :j— "A youAg fo* : toinjielfj aliout eight ninth's ohli took A great fancy to a small brush, of Indian workmanship, lying on the drawing-room table". . It Mel been. punished more than once for jumping itm tile table and taking & On one occasion tho little dog was left alo^ne in the room accident^. On my return it jumped to greet me as usual, and I said, ' Have you been a good little dog while you hare "been left alone?.' ImmedkleW.lt pt\^ its tail be.tween it's legs anc] sluiik 6ft intid Ail adjoining robin, alid brought back the little brush in its mouth from where it had hidden it. I was much struck with what appeared to_ me a remarkable instance of a dog .pbsseliWg i conscience, and a month afterwards, finding it again alone in the room,. I asked the same question, .while. patting it... At. once I saw. -it had been up to spmo mischief, JSois with the same h?ok o£ sMnlb It walked slowly to ( 6ne yf thO Windows, where it lay down, with its nose pointing to a letter bitten and torn to shreds. On a third occasion, it showed me where it had strewn a number of little tickets about the floor, for doing which it had been reproved previously. I cannot account for these facts cJccept by supposing the dog mttst hate a conscience.'

TM Brussels correspondent of tho Tall Mall Gazette writes. = — The rbpepted threats against. tlie lite df tlie King of fclle •Belgians mitst in great part be attributed k> the intemperate and misleading language of tlie clerical journal?. They assign to tlie King a jpower altogether contrar,f to 1 aiid aliovp; the Constitution, as if it depended oii him to. prevent laws regularly A'oted by both Chambers from coming into operation by withholding his signature.' Boside.s Van Hanimc, tile Jesuit father Ni'cbjai, a mttn about Se 1 verity ycatls did, and librarian in tho Jesuits' College, St. Michael, lias been arrested. Van Hararae asserts that he was instructed by Nicolai to get the placards written, and to pay 50 francs for this . " good work." A certain Asselbergbs, to whom he offered the 50 francs for writing four copies of a placard to be posted at the Boyal Palace, the r lWn Hall, the palace of Justice, and the Church of St. Catherine) informed the police of tho affair. Van Hamme has also declared that the placards on the church of Laeken aud the Palace of Justice wore placed there by a, member of the Society ( of St. 3£avier. The" ne\v placard is written in such good French that it cannot be admitted that Vail Hamme is 1 tho autlioi.' of iti