Hawkes Bay Herald FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1887. FREEDOM OR LICENSE?

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7927, 16 December 1887, Page 2

Hawkes Bay Herald FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1887. FREEDOM OR LICENSE?

It has been said that Party Government is on its trial in the Australasian colonies, and, so far, the trial cannot be pronounced an unqualified success. The true principles of democracy are obscured by party cries calculated to tickle the ear and give some professional politician place and pay, and with this decadence of politics has come about a gradual lowering of the dignity of Parliament. . It was, we. believe, Washington who put a great truth in few words in the sententious aphorism that a nation is as well governed as it deserves to be. In other words tlie governing body of the nation, call it Parliament or by any other name, is a reflex of those who elect it. This is more particularly true of countries possessing a constitutional form ot government, though not altogether inapplicable to a pure autocracy, as by determined opposition even an autocrat may be turned from his course or deposed. Here, in these colonies, democracy has had a wider fling than in the older countries of Europe, and if it has resulted in a lower standard of morality and dignity among our representative men the cause must he looked for iv the impurity of the democratic spirit, or the lack of education in true political principles among many of those possessing tlie franchise. For ten years past it has been remarked of successive New Zealand Parliaments that, though there may be no falling-oil' in the ability of the leaders of the House, the ruck-and-run is composed of a decidedly inferior class of men compared with their predecessors. This, in its turn, tends to demoralise the leaders, who, to gain support, have to abandon tlieir professed principles and to compromise with tlieir consciences as best they can. The present Parliament is no exception to tlio rule. It has comparatively few debaters, but a large number of members who seem to reverse the old proverb and to think that speech, though it be a mere diarrhcca of empty words, is golden, and that silence is silvern. Tlie first eight weeks of the session were simply wasted in discreditable party and personal squabbles, in which political principles and gentlemanly conduct were thrown to the winds as if inconsistent with democratic institutions. Whole days are wasted in the most frivolous questions, and thp tiue dignity which should characterise the governing body of an embryo nation ia dragged in the mud to gratify some petty personal ambition, or, less worthy still, some mean spile.

In the absence of Argument undisguised I obstruction is resorted to, nnd the men j who are regarded as of most value to the Opposition are not the real debaters, who deal with a question on its merits and then leave it, but the mere talkers like the Seddons and Fishes, who possess veritable artesian wells of verbiage, ready to flew whenever the tap is turned on. Sir Julius Yogel, from whose antecedents better things might have been expected set the example, and his lieutenants have faithfully followed the same discreditable tactics. The New Zealand Parliament used to bear a high name among the Legislatures of Australasia for the dignity of its tone, the respect shown to the Speaker, and for the debating power displayed. But it is rapidly degenerating, aud if the downward course is not arrested ■we may soon see a round dozen or more members suspended, as was done in the New Soutii Wales Assembly the other night. In that Houso the cWrturc has been resorted to as the only means of getting the public business transacted, and Major Atkinson has intimated tbat his Ministry are considering the introduction of the same drastic measures in the New Zealand House of Representatives. We do not like the ehkiire. Itis aforeign invention, ill-adapted to English ideas of freedom of speech, but sentiment must give way when necessity forces the way. Freedom of speech, when it degenerates into license and obstruction, must be curbed, in the • interest of the governed. The country has to pay heavily for the license now exhibited. Not only are the sessions unnecessarily prolonged, which means a large expenditure in the maintenance of the legislative establishment at Wellington, but the waste of time which has. becomo the rule during the first two months or so wearies members who, when they afc last see a Chance of getting to work, rush through important measures without due consideration^and the result is crude and imperfect, if Tiot absolutely dangerous, legislation. , Parliamentary institutions are being brought into contempt, political larrikinism takes the place of the grave and becoming conduct which should mark those who would shape the future of this young country, and the banner of freedom of speech is held up to cover excess and license. In the interests of the colony this must be checked, and if there be no other way the cldtwre must be adopted.

On the fourth page will be found an article entitled " A Duel with Crossbows." The criminal business of the present Supreme Court sittings was all completed yesterday. Melville has been scratched for the Flying Handicap, and Deceiver for all engagements at the Takapau Jockey Club s meeting to be held on the 29th instant. Jurors 'who were ordered to be in attendance at the Supreme Court to-day will find in another column a notice to the etfect that they will not be required till Saturday morning. The Hastings case of criminal libel, Clayton v. George, was yesterday struck out, the Crown Prosecutor declining to go on with the case, and the complainant not putting in an appearance. The members of the Hawke's Bay Rifle Association will meet at the Criterion Hotel this evening, to «onsider arrangements in connection with holding the usual annual prize firing. At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Messrs E. Lyndon and J. C. M'Causland, J.P.s, James VVilliam Reid, for stealing a shirt hung upon a line to dry, was sentenced to seven days' .hard labor. The annual pupil teachers' examination commenced yesterday in the old Provincial Council Chambers. Over 30 teachers were present. Mr Fannin acted as supervisor. The examination will extend over three days. The decision in the compensation case of Williams v. the Minister for Public Works was given yesterday, claimant being awarded £500 for the land taken. Claimant and respondent pay their own costs, and tlie assessors get a fee of £10 - 10s each. , The prisoner Walkinshaw, who was yesterday sentenced to penal servitude for - -iorgoixroamoo o£-ji— woalthyiamilv. By the last San Franoisoo mail he received advices of his accession to a large property and good income, owing to the death of an elder brother. This will make the, sentence a double punishment. The following team will represent the Rovers Cricket Club in the cup match to be played with the Hastings Cricket Club to-morrow, at Farndon : — Cato, Childs, Davis, Harden, Hawkins, A. D. Kennedy, Patterson, Liddle, Newton, Percy, and Stubbs. Players are requested to be at the railway station in time for the 2 p.m. train. One of the " splendid " engines lately placed on- the Napier- Wood ville line, and known to the irreverent as " Canterbury cast-offs," was brought to a dead stop on Wednesday while trying to surmount the incline between Takapau and Kopua. After the stoppage the train was taken up in two pieces, and arrived at Ornlondville an hour later than according to time-table. Crime is usually regarded as the result of impecuniosity, but that this is not always the case follows from a statement made yesterday by Mr W. Miller, eaoler, in response to a question by the Chief Justice. From that statement it appears that the Government have provided Mr Miller with a safe to' hold cash and valuables, the property of prisoners, and sometimes he lias as much as £100 in bis charge. Sums over £5 have to be deposited in the bank. There was a full rehearsal at the Theatre Royal last evening of the cantata, "The Basket of Flowers," to be given this evening in connection with the industrial exhibition by the pupils of the several Sunday - schools. The' various pieces composing the cantata went well, Mr Stm-rock, the conductor, having his youthful charges well under control. The Rev. De Berdt Hovell will take the chair this evening, and the Rev, W, Baumber will road the 'descriptive portions of the cantata. Times and distances usually bother witnesses, In a case heard' at the Supreme Court yesterday several witnesses failed to get within cooey of an agreement as to the times at which they respectively saw a certain person, and when it came to distances matters got worse. Ot two witnesses ajked the distance between the Wairoa post-office and the school, one gave it as 300 yards and the other at half a chain, and the distance between two stores iv Wairoa was variously stated at from ten chains to half a mile. Our London correspondent writes :— The general opinion in England is that the Australians are in luck in getting .so smart a cruiser as the Orlando as tlieir flagship, in the place of the obsolete Nelson. ,lt is a case of ten-inch steel armour replacing nine-inch iron, and of 9000 horse-power taking the place of 6000 ; and as regards the question of types, a vessel of ISB7, steaming 18J knots, replacing one, built fifteen years ago, making at most 14 knots. This is certainly a case in which the old motto "Exchange is no robbery " may be suitably applied. The breaking up and distribution of prizes to the pupils of the Marist Brothers' school took place yesterday. A programme consisting of songs and recitations was gone through very creditably, Masters Jarman and Onn ningham's recitations being very well rendered. At the conclusion of the programme the prizes were distributed by Father Grogan. The names of Masters Henn, Barry, Grace, Cunningham (3), Brophy, Campbell, Lonergan, andFalvey were prominent in the sixth, fifth, and fourth standards, whilst those of Masters Hayden, O'Rourke, Grace, Pyne, Madigan, Milne, Macintosh, Higgins, Cullen, Jarman, and Tyne were distinguished in the lower standards. The_ industrial exhibition was well patronised last evening ; in fact at one time the the%tre was inconveniently crowded. There was a good display of magic lantern views by tlio Rev. C". L. Tuke, Mr Hawkins (iv the unavoidable absence of the Rev. de Berdt Hovell) officiating as reader. The views given were illustrative of "The Lifeboat" and one of G. R. Sims' thrilling poems, "The Signalbox." Both series of views elicited applause. Later in the evening, songs wero contributed by the Misses Mayson and others, Before the exhibition was closed for the evening Mr Welsman announced the fact of the cantata in connection with tho exhibition taking place tbis evening, and also that the exhibition would be open as usual. Australia imports bulk kauri timber from Auckland, and presumably pays for it and uses it as she pleases. This does not suit the "Liberals" of Auckland, who, like their fellows everywhere, believe in the force of " Everybody do as I like;" and theyare agitating forthe imposition of a stiff export duty on bulk timber to prevent Australia getting kauri trom us except when cut and shaped. What with import duties to prevent " foreigners " doing any work for us, and export duties to compel " foreigners " to ■ take from us work which thoy are to be

prevented from doing for themselves, the man who doubts the nearness of the millennium must lie a sceptic and a Tory indeed. His Honor the Chief Justice, by his charge yesterday to the Grand Jury, appears to think that the crime of forgery "continues to increase with the amount of education the public at large receive." If this were so it might be debatable whether " the public at large " should not be dealt with .as the Americans used to treat tlieir slaves, and he prevented from receiving education. The only difficulty in the way of that course would be a decision upon what constitutes " the public at large " and what the more privileged class (if lliere can be a class outside the public) to whom education should be permitted. Fortnnatejy, however, the question need not be discussed, as statistical returns teach not only that forgery has not increased proportionately with the spread of education, but that all forms of crime show a steady decrease as " the public at large " become educated. Shortly after 2 o'clock this morning the bell at the fire station rang out an alarm which speedily brought out a small concourse ol people into Hastings-street. The whistle of tlie night-watchman on duty had previously given warning, and just as the fire-bell began to ring tliere was a. good muster ot members of the brigade. The manual and hose reel were quickly got out and taken towards the butcher's shop of Mr Higgins, in Hastings-street, but before they had quite reached the spot the fire had been extinguished. The cause of the alarm was the ignition of a curtain in a room over Mr Higgins' shop, adjoining; the one in whicli the employes sleep. Night-watchman Forster first observed the flames and gave the alarm, and though by that time the frame work of the window had began to burn, the fire was entirely extinguished in less than five minutes. It is a matterfor congratulation that the discovery of the fire .was made at its incipience, and the night-watchmen and the constable on duty are to he commended for their promptitude of action, for had the lire got a hold there would have been serious loss of property. The Napier school committee met last evening, there being' present Messrs T. Sidey (in the chair), P. Glen, J. M'Aneny, T. W. Bear, J. M. Parker, and S. J. Freeman. Leave of absence was granted to Mr J. C. Fowler. The Board wrote asking the committee to appoint auditors, bufc it was decided to forward the accounts to the Board for audit, The committee resolved to grant an extra week's holiday to the children, as the mid-winter holidays were curtailed by that period. The sub-committee appointed to inquire into the charge of excessive flogging at the White-road school reported that the charge was not sustained by the evidence. It was decided to forward a copy of the report to the Board, and to aslc for an explanation as to why the charge was made. A special voto of thanks was passed to Mr A. B. Thomson for assistance kindly given in connection with costumes for the concert, and £6 6s was voted to defray the cost incurred by the committee for band music. It was decided to_ request the Mayor to distribute the prizes ou Wednesday next, and also to endeavor to obtain the use of the Theatre Royal for the distribution. The secretary to the industrial exhibition wrote asking the committee to proclaim a holiday this 1 (Friday) afternoon, to allow of the scholars visiting the exhibition. The request was granted and the committee adjourned, Mr Diok yesterday made an application to the Chief Justice in reference to two cases that had been dealt with. • In one a prisoner convicted of horse stealing had money when arrested, supposed to be part of the proceeds of selling the stolen horse, and in the other twa prisoners conyictee of defrauding Mr T. Waterworth by uttering a valueless cheque were also in possession of cash when arrested. Mr Disk applied for the Court to order that in the first case the money might be paid to the buyer of the horse which proved to be stolen, and in the second to Mr Waterworth. His Honor at first considered that in both cose 3 the money should be devoted towards paying the cost of the prosecution, but subsequently expressed the opinion that in Mr Waterworth' s ease the money found on the persons who swindled him might be given to him. Some discussion took place as to the Court's power to make an order, and as to whether any similar application had ever been made before. Mr Cotterill stated that he only remembered one instance, when application was made to Mr Justice Richmond, and he declined to make an order. His Honor said the point was an important one, and if there were precedents he would like to have them laid before him. Mr Dick obtained permistion to make another application to the Court. How profitable music-halls are is pretty' evident from the figures which were ~quntcd-ab the London-sessions reoently, in hearing an application for a license. The Pavilion made £10,000 in ten months, and the Alhambra has paid a dividend (46 per cent.) which made the mouths of every speculator water. All professional people admit that a music-hall is one of the best investments in London. Yet another quack doctor has been exposed. In_ Paris some months ago a medical swindler set up practice upon a gorgeous scale, and professed to cure hoarseness and all throat diseases by inhalation. A pretty actress, who had an engagement to fulfil, and suddenly, got an attack of hoarseness which interfered with her voice, resorted to hira in her extremity. , She inhaled according to instructions, and had well-nigh been relieved of throat and other troubles for ever. However, a regular physician was called in, and her life was saved. There is nothing more marvellous than the persistency with which people will resort to quacks. . A woman would never dream of submitting a "dress length" of silk to an unqualified dressmaker, yet she has often no hesitation in entrusting her life to a medical practitioner equally unqualified. The latest development in betting has been described in the London Telegraph. The other night, at 418 Kings- road, Chelsea, an extraordinary shaving match against time was decided, Teddy Wick, the champion barber, being backed to shave 50 persons in 60 minutes for £15 a-side. He actnally shaved 77 in 59min 53sec, and thus won the stakes. In the first quarter of an hour be disposed of 21 men ; in the second, 14 : in the third, 19 ; and in the last 14min 53sec he put on a "spurt" and finished off 23. The " spurt" was not of a sanguinary nature, and this is the marvellous feature of the performance, for the 77 subjects seemed to have escaped withont bruise or blood. As there are to be other competitions we might suggest that tlie first cut disqualifies, but that is a matter which may safely be left in tho hands of the " Queensberry " of the shavers, or whoever draws up tho rules. The champion shaver has issued a challenge to his brother barbers to shave a blindfold match. At a meeting ol the council of the ltoyal* Colonial Institute, the following resolution (of which a copy has been submitted to Her Majesty's Government) was adopted: — "The council of the Royal Oolonial Institute have heard with much satisfaction that the Australian colonies propose to equip an exploring expedition to the Antarctic regions. They are also informed that the Agent-General for Victoria has been instructed by his Government to make a proposal to her Majesty's Government that they should contribute towards the fund which is being raised for this purpose. The council earnestly hope that Her Majesty's Government will avail themselves of this admirable opportunity for sympathetic co-operation with the colonies in this noble scientific work, and accede to a request that will not only show that there exists between the Mother Country and the colonies a unanimity of feeling in the promotion of this and similar objects, but also that . the British spirit of enterprise is unaffected by changes ot latitude or clime." At a Caledonian Club dinner in Wellington Viscount Jouffray d' Albans, the newly-appointed French Consul, in responding to the toast of "Other Nations," spoke_ in unfeigned and enthusiastic admiration ot the resources of this colony. The Viscount, as the only representative of a foreign nation iv New Zealand, advanced the opinion that no other Australasian colony has such a brilliant future before it as our own. He expressed wa.un indignation at the slanders ot tho Loudon Standard and Financial News upon the colonial credit, and said that though lie had been in each of the continents he was not acquainted with any country which could boast of higher prospects. What he would recommend was the importation of skilled artisans and agriculturalists from the European Continent, not to compete witli the present colonists, but to teach them industries. He had shown the sincerity of his faith in the prospects of the colony by becoming a settler himself, for he had bought land, and he intended to invest further, with the object of introducing the very olass of immigrants of which he had spoken.