Lake Wakatip Mail. QUEENSTOWN, FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 1887.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 1587, 29 April 1887, Page 2

Lake Wakatip Mail. QUEENSTOWN, FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 1887.

Thb final sessior. of the present Parliament has now conmieni 1. but it would be extremely difficult to even guess at the date when the curtain will drop upon the last act. When the House was prorogued last year, it was generally understood that the members would be called together early iu 1887 to pass the Representation Bill, and this being done and the Estimates agreed uion, the dissolution would immediately take place. But during the recess Ministers have evidently changed their mind, b», in their wanderings to and fro over the colony, they have mentioned at least a dozen Bills which are necessary for the salvation of the colony. Pet haps the most ridiculous of these—for it cannot be called anything else—i 3 Mr Ballance's proposed Bill to amend the judicature system of the colony. Because a criminal unfortunately escaped the gallows which be so richly deserved, Mr BaIXANCB suggests that the House of Representatives (which would mean the Ministry iu office) should be endowed with power to interfere with our judges' decisions as giveu from the Supreme Court Bench. Surely this is the wildest scheme ever brought bciore a modern community. After every care has been taken to avoid the slightest suspicion, even to

pensions, of the judges being influenced by the | Ministers, our Wanganui Solon, with a Bill of perhaps three clauses, would undo all the legislation regarding our civil liberty that has been enacted from the Magna Charta down to the consolidating Bill passed by the N.Z. House of Representatives last session. From time immemorial British citizens have prided themselves above all things upon the integrity and uprightness of their judges, and no one has even dared to suggest that one of them could ever be tampered with. The greatest care is always supposed to be exercised in choosing the most able, learned and intelligent men for these posts, and when once selected their decisions are always supported by both the moral and physical strength of the State. Instead of these men, Mr Ballance would have himself and Sir Jcucs Vocel, with the assistance, perhaps, of some Under-Secretary, to decide matters of life and death, and questions involving not only enormous amounts of money, but, what is of more importance, the functions of the Crown as relating to its subjects. If this Bill ever sees the Government printing office, wr doubt whether it will be read a first time in the House; but should Mr Baixance press it to a division, we should hope, for the sake of the honor of our legislators, that he will go into the lobby by himself. The next item on the ministerial bill of fare is that of fenule suffrage. This is a broad question upon which very few people agree, and whilst some may admit of such a concession, it is a question which should be fairly well threshed out in the debates upon the Representation Bill. Protection v. Free-trade is likely to be a battlecry at the next elections, but surely the revision of the tarriff is not immediately needed, and as there is to be a second session this year, the question can well be left over until the voice of the people have declared their wishes on the matter. The lion. Mr RicHART>soN purposes bringing in a Bill (so we arc led to believe) for the purpose of establishing a non political (in name only we suppose) board of management for the railways. We hardly think, however, notwithstanding the manner in which our railway boards arc mismanaged, that this measure will become law. Sir R. molt talks very largely about resumption of lands, etc., but until the Crown can find purchasers for their own land, the Ministry need hardly bother about buying back that of their friends. As Mr Ross truly said at Roslyn, such a measure would have to be very carefully drafted, and then well debated before any experiment even could he tried, because it make an opening fur bribery and corruption to an enormous extent. Excepting the Representation Bill, we have touched upon the principal p-iint* in the minister; .1 programme, and if is added to this the usual sheaf of private Hills, consolidating Acts and several discussions upon Federation, colonial defences, the New Hebrides and other abstract questions, members have theii work cut out to return home under I four months hence. On the other hand, the majority I of members nr.y have sen;:? enough to s*>e that, I wi*h a general election close upon baud, the less ' legislation the better.

On Friday fortnight a ball and concert are to be given at Skippers Point in aid of the school. Mr O'Mcara requests us to call attention to the sale to-morrow cf Ah Quie's lankrupt stock of groceries, etc. The sheep inspector has an important notice to landowners to commence the destruction of rabbit? simultaneously on the 1-t proximo (Monday next). It is reported that dames Anderson, a station hand at Hawea, broke liia neck yesterday through a fall from a horse. The laying of the foundation stone of the new Masonic Hall, Arrowtown, on Saturday, was performed by the members of the Arrow Kilwinning Lodge, and the affair passed oil very satisfactorily. Michael Cunningham, previously a County roadman and latterly working on the Martin's Bay road, broke his leg on Monday whilst wrestling at Hayes Lake. Several men have been hard at work during the past week at the Lower Shotover, and it is stated that, urdess a fresh flood takes place, the overflow cm the flat will be turned into the old channel, aud the road made once more passable by to-morrow. In another column is an announcement that entertainments are to be held at Skippers Point and the Reefs next week. Apart from the object in view, we arc sure, from cur knowledge of the wellknown local talent which is to strut the stage, that thoroughly enjoyable evenings are in store for our 'ri rids of the Lppcr Shotover—that is, provided the clerk of th: weather smiles benignly. The tourist season is about over, and, as a ennsenuence, Mr J. F. Smith (Eichardt's Hotel Livery Stables) has had to discontinue running his coach between here and Lake Wanaka. The sen ice has also been a gnat convenience to many residents at both ends of the County, aud it is to be regretted that steps taken for regular postal communication fell through. We notice that Mr J. Salmond, the contractor, i« making progress with the new stables for the Harp of Erin Hotel. The building, when finished, will be a large and substantial one. It is on a stor.e foundation and cover 50 fret by 30 feet. The studs and ground plates are of re 1 birch and the boarding is of dressed pine. The building will contain li stalls, harness room and two loose boxe3, and above this is a large loft. In addition to these are two lo >se i-oxes attached to the new structure. The Dunedin Jockey Club have lodged an appeal ngainst Mr Carew's decision in the recent totalisator case, and it will come on before Mr Justice Williams in due course. The sheep and rabbit department of the Waitaki and Waihemo eornties is now administered by Inspector Fu liar ton and an assistant. News has been received that Mr W. J. Mullanv, at one time well known in Invercargillas chief clerk to Messrs Murray, Dalgleish and Co., and formerly of Queenstown, died recently in Melbourne. In an appeal case heard at New Plymouth on Wednesday, Mr Justice Ward ruled that a leasee under the perpetual leasing system can mortgage his house without acting contrary to the provisions of the Land Act —in fact, that a mortgage io ;:ot a transfer within the meaning of the Act. Time tries all things. The late Mr Mucandrew, although acknowledged to have been a most valued pioneer of the country, is not generally esteemed as a true patriot. The total r.:r'<unt subscribed and promised to the Memorial Fund :: only about £SOO. Mr Cairns has proposed that 10,000 memorial tokens lie struck, and. each subscriber receive one as a memento and acknowluig* ment of his-her subscription. It was resolved that the subscription lists be closed ou May 30. The Dunedin St(ir understands that the hishmen of Otago intend to present the Earl of Aberdeen, during his stay in Dunedin, with an address in recognition of his efforts in favor of HouiC Rule. Considerable preparations were nude at Auckland for giving the Earl and Countess a fitting reception, but contrary to general expectation they did not anive by the mail stetamer. During the last eighteen months 247 persons, described as small farmers, have arrived in the colony under the regulations with an acercgate capital of £24,423. The amount paid by the colony towards their passage money was £1915. Of these desirable immigrants IGO were from England, 79 from Scotland, and 8 from Ireland. Mr Beetham, R.M., vigorously denounces the Licensing Act as a piece cf bundling and inelTeclive legislation. The other day he stated from the Bench that the attention of the Legislature ought " to be called to the fact that as the law now stood, it was only necessary for a publican to tell his barkeeper not to seli liquor on Sunday, and then privately firder him to sell it, to set the law at defiance." The Wellington Evr.hig Post received 60S expressions of opinion as to the best means of locally commemorating the jubilee. The voting was as follows :—Home for the aged and needy, 3SO ; free public library and art gallery, 247 : free public library and art gallery combined with a gymnasium, 10 ; statue cf her Majesty, 5 ; statue of her Majesty with a drinking fountain. 1 ; a Victoria park, 1; cricket ground, 8; orphan home, 2; sailors' home, 3 ; market home, 2 ; choral hall, 1 ; new cemetery, 1 ; home for habitual drunkards 1 ; silver medal to voluuteer3, 1; bonus to civil servants, 1 ; home for civil servants, 1 ; statue of the Duke of Wellington, 1 ; exchange, towq ball and market, 1; free baths, 2; home for boys, l.

Among the bills printed in readiness for the session is the land acquisition measure which provides for the approhriation of private estates to the value of £SOOO annually on the basis of last Eroperty tax valuation. The land as acquired is to e treated on the perpetual lease system throu»h the medium of special settlements. A Dunedin professor calculates that if men were as big as they sometimes feel, there would be room in New Zealand for only two professors, three lawyers, two doctors and a reporter on an Auckland paper. The rest of us would be crowded into the eea and have to swim for it. The Lawrence Times is informed that the manager of a neighbouring station has during three weeks lately fed and otherwise accommodated no fewer than seventy swaggers. Is this not intolerable ? An extraordinary scene occurred at a meeting of the Invercargill Borough Council last week. The lorries of Cr Basstian, jnr., had been used to convcv some gas plant from the wharf to the gasworks, and ! when the account for the work came before tlu Council it was in another man's name. Cr M 'Donald referring to the matter, said he hoped there was not an " ali-ass" in question, when Cr Basstian jumped up and struck him. Cr Basstian apologised for what he had done, but Cr M'Donald refused to accept the apology, and it is expected be will seek his remedy at law. Timaru has decided on celebrating the Jubilee by erecting a handsome fountain in a central part of the town. A correspondent suggests that Dunedin might follow suit by erecting one in the Triangle, which should be named after the Queen. ! Mr Buckland, M.H.R., in addressing his constituents at Yl'aikouaiti last week, recommended the local bodies in the district to borrow under the Local Bodies Loans Act at once if they contemplated doing so) as he believed the Act would be repealed before long, as it entailed a large expense on the colony. Those who are in the habit of using phosphorised oats will require to be careful, when preparing poisoned grain, that they don't inhale the perfume. The Bruce Herald records the death of Mr J. Mortimer, of North Branch, through this cause. I Mr Mortimer, after preparing the phosphorised grain, left it in an outhouse, where he went subsequently in order to clean bis gun, and while thus [ engaged he noticed white fumes rising off the stuff, ! but paid no particular attention to the fact, not thinking it of any consequence. Some time afterwards ha felt very unwell, and after much vomiting | and great pain he died in about a couple of days. | The vomit was quite black and luminous in the I dark.

It i 9 estimated that the matter ejected in the recent volcanic eruption in New Zealand amounted to 5,000,000,000,000 cubic yards, veighiug in all P.. 000,000,000,000 tons -not quite a cubic mile—but it would take more than the national debt of England to excavate it. It would take a good workman 1,000,000 .years to shovel it into carts, yet it was all done in four hours. I.lr W. T. L. Travers challenged the Lyttelton Times a..d Dunedin S!ar (which papers have accused him of inconsistency in Ins recent remarks about the land granted to the Midland Railway Company) to prove their assertions. He declares the line he once advocated was not by the same route as the course of the Midland Railway he now condemns. Mr Travers docs not explain why he kept the knowledge he acquired years ago so long in the background, and only brought it forward at such a juncture as makes it appear as though be had some spite to gratify, or interest to serve by the revelation. An ex-Inspector of Fisheries writes to the Sydney Morning Herald pointing out that the rocks near (ireen Cape, the scene of the illtated Ly-ee-moon disaster, are highly charged with magnetism, and suggesting that this effects the compasses of vessels running close inshore The farmers in the English midland counties have decided upon a reduction in ihc wages of their farm labourers, owing, as they assert, to the great dopres>ion in trade. The men are to be reduced 2s a week. The ordinary labourers will now only receive 13s and waggoners 14s a week. The local paper has been requested by Mr Northcroft, who is acting R.M. at Wanganui, to discontinue giving him the title of "captain. - ' He entertains the opinion that the captaincy he holds \n the militia does not entitle him to use the word unless on actual duty or parade. He is of opinion that there is a great deal too much of this sham military business feoing on in the colony, and that in time we shall he as bad as the Yankees, with whom colonels and majors are almost as common as blackberries. The New Plymouth correspondent of the Lyttelton Times states that since his return from his last period of capitivity To Whiti has declined to give audience to any Europeans, pither officials or private people, and several parties of visitors to Taranaki who proceeded to Parihaka specially to interview the Maori prophet have had the privilege denied them. It is said that Te Whiti is mortified and humiliated by the utter collapse of his policy, and in repjy to requests from his people that he should address them on the matter, he states that his pipe is out and there can consem'entlv be no smoke.

The Auckland Evening Star has been permanently enlarged fronj four to eight pages, and in other respects its appearance very much improved. Drs Wright ..ud Anderson write to the Auckland papers that the alleged case of cure Ly faith at Purnell was accomplished by their prescriptions, and not by Mr Dov.ie's prayers. A well-attended meeting of citizens, presided over by Sir Georee Grey, was held at Auckland last week to arrange for the presentation of an address to Earl Aberdeen, and a draft address was agreed to. Sir George stated that he believed that lie was the first, in 1868, to advocate Home Rule for Ireland, which afterwards was taken up by the Irish Press. A rather astonishing but very budible incident occu.red recently in Court at Wanganui. A miserable "drunk," a foreigner, was brought before the Court and fined ss, with eosts, but having no money was about to be taken to gaol, when a gentleman stepped forward and paid the fine. He took the now sobered but nrnazed delinquent, and bought him a new suit of clothes, then a railway ticket to send him back to his home at Palmerston. Before parting at the station he put a five pound n"te into the foreigner's hand, and said. "There, take that; you are no doubt astonished at what I have done for you, but do you remember giving shelter to a poor man at your place at the Manawatu Gorge." Foreigner : "Yes." Strnngr;! :—"I am that man, and you will always find me ready to held you when you are in need." This may sound as ii culled from a ninepenny novel, but we arc assured (says a local paper) on the authority of an eye-witness that it was an incident in real life. The New Zealand Tabid concludes an article on the Imperial Institute with the sugg.-.stion that the first surplus of the Stout-Vogel Government be given to the object. This is a suggestion which the taxpayers of New Zealand would no doubt be exceedingly happy to see realised by a donation were it ever so small. At last meeting of the Tuapeka County Council, one of the members of that body made a suggestion <">f a similar character, namely, that a donation be giveu as soon as the Couueil was out cf debt. The cry in most quarters now-a-days is that nothing pays adequately. Wool growing and meat exportation are instanced, still the industries continue to expand ; and, after all, may not the same remark apply to mining, shipping and other interests. The favorably situated and well managed do well, and others rub along. Pioneers often loose their money and succumb, others step in and succeed. In many parts of California and New Mexico they adopt the snme system as in South Africa of shearing twice during the year, choosing suitable time, and practising it as a rule only where burr is not prevalent. The practise is found to answer well ; the second growth is marvellous. In some exposed districts the sheep after being shorn are smeared with some protective compound, and appear to suffer no inconvenience.—Exchange. Truth and Soberness.—What is the best family medicine in the world to regulate the bowels, purify the blood, remove costiveness and biliousness, aid digestion and stimulate the whole system ? Truth and soberness compell us to answer, American Co.'s Hop Bitters, being pure, perfect, and harmless. See