Lake Wakatip Mail. QUEENSTOWN FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1899.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2278, 15 September 1899, Page 2

Lake Wakatip Mail. QUEENSTOWN FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1899.

The Federation movement is gradually becoming more and more prominent ir> t ; iis colony, which is at pre?-nt oat of the ring. The question is being discussed by some newspapers and occasional meetings of ardent supporters, whose doings are disseminated among the people. The subject, however, of joining with the Australian colonies, has very wide bearings of vital importance, and it is doubtful whether New Zealand, as a whole, would gain anything much by joining. The theories put forth by supporters of the Commonwealth Bill are various. It is argued that her trade with the Australian colonies will be greatly enhanced, that the national credit will be higher, and that loans will be possible at a lower interest, and when the debts are taken over Federal conversion on a grand scale will lessen the bunions of the Individual States ; and further that, with tne unification of all the colours, a id the increase in population of same we shall become the dominant power in the South Pacific. The concession of free-trade with Australia seems to be the main attraction put fortli in inducing New Zealand to federate. It is averred that the advantage of such ought to be doubly great, judging by the number of large British and other manufacturing firms which arc establishing works in Australia in anticipation of Federation making all the coutinonUl colonies one unrestricted market,

Such an argument tray be put forth, but it is a fact patent to every colonist that New 1 Zealand is a much favoured country for pro- 1 duetiveness of soil. It has one of the grandest climates in the world, and this is a factor of which Australia cannot boast. In a country like Australia that is subject to droughts there are bound to be articles which must be procured outside her own borders, aud New Zealand has always been the market and would continue to be whether she joined the union or not. We have, moreover, independent of Australia, one of the best markets with the United which alone can take all the produce that New Zealand can export. The distance that separates this and the Australian colonies is also a great obstacle in the way of Federation—one that cannot be overlooked. Considering her natural resources, New Zealand as a British possession, could almost remain as she is, and in the event of her shores being invaded by an enemy, she is bound to be protected whether federated or not. As previously remarked this question is only in its infancy, and before the people are asked to consider the advisability of joining the Commonwealth, they must be educated on it. Surprise is expressed at the inaction of our legislators on the question, but at the present juncture, being the closing session of the last Parliament, too much time would be occupied to go into it thoroughly. The 'N. Z. Times," Wellington, is advocating that provision be made for taking a plebiscite throughout the colony in March or April next, as so many issues are involved in a general election that the electors cannot then give any direction to the next Parliament as to what should be done, We, however, are fully convinced that the question will of itself force a way into the deliberations of the General Assembly at the next sitting in Wellington. The verdict of the Rennes court-martial has astounded the civilised world. For the five weeks the Court sat, the cables bearing on the case have been anxiously scanned and the attention of the whole civilised world has been riveted on Captain Dreyfus, the unfortunate victim of a tyrannical and rotten Government. From the time that Dreyfus was convicted and sent to bear the tortures of Devil's Island, some four years ago, bis supporters have stuck by him until the evidence brought against him has been exposed, as nothing but fraudulent from start to finish. The confessions of Count £sterhazy, Colonel Henry and Paty du Clam, who were the main witnesses at the first trial, have alone been such as to proclaim the undeniable innocence of an unduly tortured man. Esterhazy escaped out of the country and is now in London, Colonel Henry was found dead in prison, supposed to be murdered, and Paty du Clam is now within the prison cell. The French Government did their utmost to prevent the real issue leaking out, but such a glaring miscarriage of justice would no longer stand the severe criticism it was receiving, and a re-trial was ordered. From the outset of the trial it could be seen that wretched, dtspicable schemes would pervade the whole case. The president of the courtmartial was very bitter towards the prisoner, and his demeanour actuated the inferior officers to do all in their power to refute the unimpeachable evidence of Dreyfus' witnesses and counsel. An attempt was also made at the outset of the case to kill M. Labori, the ablest of accused's counsel. Dreyfus was found guilty "with extenuatiug circumstances " —whatever that means. It is unintelligible to everyone who is born in a civilised country ; the verdict is considered as a lasting disgrace to "La Belle France." M. Zola, who has fearlessly exposed the French Government's actions, denounces the trial as an execrable monument of human infamy and he declares that foreign powers possess proof of the baseness of four generals and that the tarnished honor of France must be cleared up prior to the great Exhibition. Dreyfus' detention in a fortress will of course not be anything like the torture he had to bear on that tropical Island. He will Dot be stripped of his rank, and will be allowed a deal more latitude during his confinement. Wesleyan Church services will be held on Sunday next as followsQueenstown, 11 a.m , MrG. M'Kenzie ; Skippers, 3 p.m., and Bullendale, 7 p.m., Rev. A. E. Stevens. We hear that the well-known Black family of vocalists, etc., intend in the course of a few weeks giving one or two of their popular concerts at Queenstown. Cburoh of England services for Sunday next:— 11a.m. Macetown; 3 p.m. Arrowtown; 7 p.m. Queenstown Rev A. D. Mitchell. Also 11 a.m., Queenstown. Gore has its Retailers' Association which comprises about 30 members (Mr James Boyne, president), including all the leading and many other houses of the borough. We understand that the Achilles Mine, Bullendale, which has been comparatively idle for some time, owing to severity of the winter, will shortly be in full swing again. The main shaft has been sunk to No. 6 level, and it is said the men will soon be busy getting out stone, and that crushing operations will be commenced shortly. The manager of the Moonlight, No 1 is cleaning out the company's race preparatory to a start for summer sluicing operations. It is reported that Moonlight No 2, which has suspended operations for some few months past, intend very shortly to call for tenders for completion of their extensive race. The frozen-rabbit sersonhas not yet been quite closed. Mr J. A. Gardner informs us that last week ha sent away over 2000, and a few are still coming in. The great drawback, as the warm weather increases, is the want of facilities for getting them to the freezing works in time. Messrs O'Meara and Co. report having sold on the 13th inst,, on behalf of the proprietor, Mr W. D. Super, that well-known hostelry, the Garstou Hotel, and 42 acres of laud, aud goodwill, furniture aud effects, as a going concern, at a very satisfactory figure, the purchaser being Mr Alex. M'Caughan of Queenstown. Mr Fraser's sheep, announced for sale by auction, were disposed of privately by Messrs O'Meara and Co. last Wednesday. The Hon. Hall Jones on Tuesday evening, in the House of Representatives delivered the annual Public Works Statement, a review of which will be given next issue. With regard to local appropriations the Mayor rc- ( ceived a wire fron MrFraser, member for . this district, stating £450 had been placed on the estimates for new police quarters at . Queenstown, £2OO for repairs to Queenstown jetty, besides several small votes affecting Queenstown. Iu this issue we publish the last of the present series of "Travels in Australasia," specially written for the Mail by Mr Alton C. Richards. We are glad to learn font , virions correspondents that these and other •jont*i ju'inns f rom the graphic pen of tiie decJi.ipi.ihed youtig author have been read with >:onsider»ble interest and pleasure ly our many readers. At last meeting of the Southland Acclim i- 1 tisation Society, Mr Donild Ross applied fcr a private license fjr netting trout n 1 Te Anau for hit nwa use and tor tour'sts. It was resolved to apply to Government ft power to issue netting licen es for the Tf Anau and other lakes. Notice of motion was given that in the Waianawa hares cease to be protected, as they are becoming a nuiwuoe.

Queen's weather has been with us daring the last few weeks with the exception of a slight break a week or so back. Tw© of Messrs Morgan, Cable and Co.'a boilermakers are making repairs to the P.S. Mountaineer's boiler. Often have residents heard from friends who visited Melbeurne and Sydney about the celebrated cyclorama of the battles of Yv aterloo Bnd Geddesburg, until their curiosity has been raised to a great extant by the descrijti >n of these o-debrated spectaculars. The Anglo-American Cyclorama Co. we hear, have decided to pay a flvine visit to New Zeahnd. They are J/pen b Jnvercarg.il next October, and it is on the cards that tiiey will Visit Queenstown during the conttst week, which will make the sights of the town douldy attractive to those likely to attend on that season. Most likely the first Cycloiama sent through by this company will be their No 2, descriptive of Nansen's Farthest North—" the land of the midnight sun." If go, onr readers no doubt will have the pleasuteof witnessing Professor Ansen, the celebrated aeronaut perform hie celebrated parachute ascent. The break up of the quadiille assembly, which has been holding meetings during the winter mouths, at Arthurs Point, took place last Iriday evening. It took the form of a social and danoe, and quite a large number came from the surrounding district. Messrs Scott and M'Arthur acted as M Dancing commenced at 7.30 p.m. and continued till the early hours. It consisted of songs, recitations and dances, which thus pretty well avoided all monotony. During the evening Messrs M'Bride, Kelly, M'Arthur, M'Cord, Denniston and Downy contributed songs, all of whioh were well received. Mr M'Bride's songs took well, especially " The Fisherman and his Child" and " Dady's Boy," which were both de* servedly ei:oired. Mr Kelly gave some comic songs exceedingly well. He seemed as much at home in the character of '• Young Australia " as Mickey straight from Ireland praiseing his Dublin hat. Mr Paton pleased the company with a recitation, " The Stowaway," and Mr Gumming followed in the same line with "The Shearers," which was equally well received. Though the ladiee took no part in the musical part of the programme they did not neglect their duty as caterers for the evening. A nice supply of refreshments was provided under the management of Mesdames Smith and M'Arthur. On the whole a very enjoyable time was spent and all seemed unwilling to break np.—Correspondent. Mr J. Kelly, a Riversdale resident, arrived by the steamer last Saturday night. At a private meeting of Government supporter! held at the Mountaineer hotel immediately afterwards, Mr Kelly was asked to come forward as a candidate in the Liberal interest. Mr Kelly made no promise on the matter, but we understand that if offered sufficient inducement he will consent to be nominated. We have not heard much of Mr Kelly at this end of the district, but the editor of the 'Cromwell Times,' who was a resident of Riversdale for many yean, speaks of him in the following terms"Mr Kelly is a well-known and highly respected resideut of Riversdale, Southland, where he has lived for many years. He has taken a prominent part in all progressive movements in his district, having been chairman of the Waimea Dairy Factory Company, and Lieutenant of the Riversdale Rifles, and a member of all tbe principal local instit*. tions. He is a gentleman of shrewd common sense and considerable ability. Tbe ' Southern Cross,' Invercargll, warn! the public against baying so-called silverplating mixtures from itinerant vendors. It says that such preparation! usually consist of a mercurial salt in solution, which, while easily producing an attractive surface, forms 1 an amalgam with the metal operated on which is destructive to the articles and quickly blackens them by oxidigation. These compounds are usually very poisonous and, being put up by irresponsible traders, are often sold without tbe necessary poison label. An electroplater at Invercargill has recently had submitted to him a number of articles partially destroyed by the stuff which contains a dangerous poison consisting of an acidulated solution of mercury. A French steamer, the Maroc, is due at the Blntf at the end of this week to load New Zealand produce for Australian ports. A correspondent of the 'Southland T'mes ' suggests that Southland merchants should, as a protest, show their disgnst with the French Government's action iu the courtmartial'* shameful finding in the Dreyfus case, by not giving a pound of cargo to the Maroc. The Auckland correspondent of 'Otago Daily Times ' thus refers to a memorial in connection with a late esteemed colonist, Dunedin's first Mayor and a member of the first N.Z. House of Representatives—the House of Parliament at that time (some 50 years ago) being at Auckland : —Another memorial in brass has been added to the new Church of St. Paul's, being a gift of the widow of the late William Mason, architect, of Messrs Masen and Wales, Dunedin. On it is inscribed: "In loving memory of William Mason, architect of old St. Paul's." The memorial was unveiled and solemnly dedicate 1 at Sunday morning's service. The Gore ' Standard ' Garston correspondent writes:—A meeting was convened by Mr Lea ou the evening of the 2nd inst., for the purpose of forming a cricket club. About £S was collected, and a club was formed, to be known as the Garston Cricket Club. Mr Fraser, M.H.R., was chosen president; Messrs Muirhead and W. D. Soper vicepresidents ; and the following gentlemen form a committee: Messrs W. S. Lea (chairman and secretary), A. Northcote, L. J. Jones, T. Muirhead, junr., W. Gordon, jun., and T. Cunningham. It is understood (says the Christchurch ' Press ') that the local grain merchants are in favour of a reduction of the weighs of sacks of wheat, and that the proposal of the Department of Agriculture to recommend the Railway Department to reckon 12 bags of 2001bs saoh to the ton meets with general approval. It will take two years, however, to effect the change, as next year's bags have already been ordered, and are of the same capacity as those objeoted to as being excetsivo. The Hon. J. G. Ward is reported to have left London on Saturday and is expected to the Bluff about the middle of next month. The local ' News' states that Invercargill, once one of the worst, is now one of the safest towns in the colony with regard to fire insurance. Mr C. E. Richards, another N.Z. Bank official (accountant) at Alexandra, has resigned his position to go into the sharebroking business in that town. A French journalist thus describes his impression of Dreyfus on his arrival at Rennes : —"Thin, but vigorous, and certainly not the bearing of a sick man—so much so that the legends of fainting fits that led us to suppose that the returning exile was in the last stages of some maladv seemed to be utterly unfounded. His shoulders are slightly round, ed, but his attitude is firm and reassuring. Though a sunburnt skin and a complexion that sailors call colonial, his cheek-bones appear prominently, his hair is cut short, and his beard, of a reddish hue, ends iu two points. The general tone of his complexion is that of a red-haired person growing grey. The a.ui; of his uose is white and prominent, standing out strikingly among his other features, while his eyes appear as two black dots behind the thick crystals of his glasses." J. Rowel I has Langshan cockerels for sale. Metsrs A. a.:d T. lng'is, Dunedin, announce that they are now shewing their first shipment or spring and summer goods. Dr Tarrant, Sydney, issues a notice concerning his new method of healing. Messrs J. and W. Stead, well known boot and e;-.oe maker*, Invercargill, insert a business notice calling attention at the same time to their novel system of accident insurance. Mesßrs O'Meara and Co. will submit at auction ou Monday, at their rooms, sundry arUoies.