Mataura Ensign GORE: FRIDAY, MAY 3, 1893. THE FAIR RENT BILL.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 17, 3 May 1895, Page 4

Mataura Ensign GORE : FRIDAY, MAY 3, 1893. THE FAIR RENT BILL.

The Minister of Lands is engaged with the preparation of the Fair Bent Bill with which he has threatened the country. As a preliminary step— though, probably, not very material or important, in his view— he has sent a circular on the ' subject to all local public bodies. When read to the Knapdale Eoad Board, it did not meet with much approval. It was characterised by Mr McQueen as a most J extraordinary document. No doubt extraordinary men like those who make up our autocratic Government, are not likely to descend to the common-place ideas of , plodding men, who have made their way to success in their business by plodding j in the ruts of self-denying hard work and straight, honest dealing in their business transactions. Men who will swear to their hurt and change not, whose word is as good as their bond, cannot be expected to have much patience with any proposal to break through contracts that have been deliberately entered into, whenever they discover the bargain they made is not so profitable as they expected. That is exactly what a 80-called Fair Eont Bill proposes to legalise. If a man has leased a farm for a term of years, and finds that he cannot pay his rent and get the profit that he expected, he can take steps to have the contract altered. Reasonable landowners like merchants, in hard times will be disposed to deal leniently with their debtors, and help thorn to tide over temporary difficulties. But it is alto-

gether a different thing when it is proposed to legalise a method of breaking a oontraot at the instance of one of the parties to it. If, at the present time, we apply the standard that is proposed to measure a fair rent, namely, "such a rent as the tenant can fairly make from the land," the rent at the present time would, probably, in some cases, amount to nothing, or a good deal less. If the leaseholder is to be freed from paying rent because the markets are low, it would be about as reasonable that when he made a loss in working his farm, the landlord should make it up to him. The proposed Bill sets aside that whioh in every civilised country has been upheld by law as the most binding — the force of a legal contract. In factr, it will render useless any contract to pay rent. The only power that will be left to the landowner will be to keep his land in his own possession, or, if he hands it over to another to use it, he must take whatever a Court, at the time, will adjudge to be a " fair rent." Even the power of the landowner to keep the land to use it himself is an uncertainty, for, at any time, it may be taken from thim on the plea of being required for settlement. Our Government evidently aims at an autocratic supremacy, such as no British colony or people has ever submitted to. Having succeeded in muzzling members of the Houß3 of Representative*, and, in one way or another, constraining them to yield to whatever the Government chooses to propose, the Government revels in castine to the winds everything that stands in the way of asserting itself as the supreme master of the country and of the people in it. Their own loudlyvaunted professions of self-reliance and non-borrowing they hare outrageously defied ; the sacredness of Crown grants and of legal contracts they try to set aside ; the personal liberty of all classes over whom they can extend their sway, they openly disregard ; and by the free expenditure of public money, in the way of works for the unemployed, and the beßtowal of honors and offices on those who are of the right color, they are evidently hoping to make their possession of power lasting. All this will fail in its purpose. The community may be i blinded by folly for a time, but it will awake and assert its freedom and its com* mon-sense.

Mr Robert MoNab, M.H.R., baa kindly consented to give a lecture before the members of the Knapdale Literary Sooiety, on Friday evening next, 10th inst. A Wellington telegram states that Mr Donne, the local traffic manager of the Government railways (formerly stationmaster at (lore) and his son have both been suc-cessfully-treated with anti toxin for diphtheria by Dr Anson» The new income-tax return papers, particularly those required to be filled by business men, are the cause of much dissatisfaction, not beoause they are much more inquisitorial than hitherto, but that they will involve much trouble in compilation. j At the Olufcha Council meeting last Friday, tenders were received for contract No. 616 (formation, culverts, etc, on ro?d in Clinton and Waipahi ridings), and that of Messrs Taylor find Robertson for L 34 was j accepted ; the Engineer to spend the avail* able surplus of L 6 in continuation of the work. The Pomahaka settlers applied for a rebate of rates, claiming that they should only pay rates from January to this year, but the Counoil agreed that the demand for rates should be adhered to. A meeting of creditors in the estate of Alfred G, B. Godby. of Gore, joarnalist, was held on Tuesday afternoon, in, the local court* house, before Mr Bout, deputy Assignee. Three creditors were present. The bankrupt's statement showed that the claims of his creditors, none of whom were secured, amounted to L 192 23 7d (J. Murdoch, L7O), and bis assets were valued at L 5, tho value of some articles of fnrnilure. After debtor had been examined, it was resolved, on the motion of Messrs Dewar and Brewer, to recommend him for immediate discharge. 1 Otago Daily Times' correspondent :— " In the railway carriage, travelling from Invercargill to Biverton to attend the Assessment Court, Mr Campbell strongly asserted that the value put on the Pomahaka estate by Mr Hawkins was its fall value. There is not the slightest doubt that L 2 per acre ia the full value of the estate, notwithstanding (as Mr Campbell pnfc it) tbe assertions of the j Hon. John McKenzle to tbe contrary. Probably Mr Campbell may have some difficulty ?n reconciling the two statements when face to face with his chief. I know nothing of the Gaelic language ; but, though it may contain adjectives galore, I doubt if there will be .-a sufficient number to express the Hon. John's opinion of his faithless henchman." The directors of the Southland Frozen Meat Company have decided to tako action against Messers Nelson Brothers (Limited) for L 30.000 damages for breach of contract. The claim is based on the allegation that, after having entered into an agreement with the company not to compete in Southlan in tbe freezing business with them, Nelson Bros, were directly conceded in the establishment ! of the Ocean Beach Freezing Works at tbe Bluff. Sir Robert Stout has been retained by the plaintiffs and the case will be heard at Inveroargill. The quarterly meeting of Gore Wesleyan Circuit was held in the Church on Tuesday afternoon. The Key. Mr Tinsley presided. The roll of members showed a nett increase of two— three having been received, and one (the late Mr Wm. Macandrew, of Waipahi) removed by death. The quarterly balancesheet was received : it showed a slight deficiency, which, however, would be met when all the contributions bad been forwarded. Messrs J. C.Turner, D. Dewar, and E. G. Macpherson were added to the Hat of Society Stewards. A circular from the Foreign Mission Board, Sydney, soliciting the cooperation of the Wesleyan Sunday-schools throughout the colony, as well as in Australi.*, towards purchasing the schooner Meda, in aid of the f artherance of mission work in New Britain and New Guinea, was received, and the claims of the Board favorably referred to the local Sunday-school. The minister expressed his desire, if it were practicable to hold a series of special evangelistic servicea throughout the circuit. It was reported that during the quarter a branch ot the Christian Endeavor Sooiety had been formed in connection with the church ; also that patisfactory progress had been made in the local Sunday-school, The meeting then closed. — la the evening a largely attended meeting of ladies was held in the church, when arrangements for the anniversary soiree, to be held on Wednesday, 15th inst., were put in train. A special meeting of the Gore Borough Council wa9 held on Wednesday evening, and attended by the Mayor (Mr T. H. Brawer) and Councillors Carmody, Poppelwell, Gibbs, Philp and Kennedy, the Mayor said the meeting bad been culled beoause it was deemed advisable, before the Council proceeded to raiss money for the construction of the bridge, to come undor the Local Bodies Act 1886. On the motion of Councillors Carmody and Philp it was decided to adopt the Act in question generally ; and on the motion of Councillors Poppelwell and Gibbs, the necessary advertising was ordered to be proceeded with, the Council to meet to confirm the previous resolution on June 3. The Mayor mentioned (hat the Finance Committee were taking steps to get everything ship-shape for " financing " the bridge. The Town Clerk <vas authorised to get three tracings of the bridge plan from the engineer (Mr Howorth), for the benefit of tenderers, and to ascertain tho whereabouts of other copies already supplied. This was all the business,' j

The residents of Oroydoa who have been privileged to " sit under " the Rev. H. J. Lewia met on Thursday efening last, in the School, and decided to take steps to suitably recognise their appreciation of Mr Lewis' services at a social to be held this evening. Captain Chappie, who has been in charge of the Gore corp9 of the Salvation Army for the past cix months, has received his march* ing orders. His new field of labor has not yet been revealed to him. Captain Chappie's removal will be regretted by not a few out* side the ranks of bis soldiers. Martin Wellbrock, a former resident of Gore, has been in trouble again, and found it necessary to seek the Assignee's protection—* liabilities LlB5 16s 6i ; assets (furniture, LlO ; half interest in cow, Vz 10s) Ll2 10a. Losses on wool and skin dealing, by are, flood, and sickness proved too much for Mr Wellbrock, and under the circumstances a discharge was recommended by the creditors at a meeting at Tapanui last Fiiday. We learn that MrM. B. Bree, rabbit agent at Gore, who received notice that his services would ba dispensed with at the end of last month, has on strong representations of the injustice of such a course being made, been reinstated in his position. This news will be hailed with satisfaction by Mr Bree'a many well-wishers in the district, Who will trust that before long suitable recognition of his services will be made by his appointment to the inspectorship of the district he has worked so long. Mr James Hay, an old and well-known settler at Waikaka Valley, experienced on unfortunate loss on the 20th ult., when a stack of oaten sheaves on his farm was destroyed by fire. The fire was noticed in its inoipient stage, at about 8 o'clock in the evening, and it appeared to break out near the roof of tbe staok ; but all efforts to quell the flames were futile, How the fire was caused is a mystery. The stack was thatched and fenced off three days previously, and during the interval nobody had been near it, so far as Mr Hay is aware, There were about 18 tons of sheaves in the stack, which Mr Hay valued at L3O, and it was not inaured. Tbe cable tells of further important gold diecoveries in Australia. Another big find is reported near the Eastern Gift, Coolgardie. The discovery is of a reef of ironstona forma* tion, with thouaands of tons of stone in sight;. Some taken from a depth of 4ft bristles with gold, Good alluvial is also found in tbe same locality. A new rußh is reported near Lawleaacue district, where fair alluvial gold is being obtained. Water and provisions are, however, very scarce. The rich reef reported near German Town, New South Wales, is estimated to yiel 1 40oz to the ton. The reef is 2ft wide. A St, Bernard dog owned by Mr John M'Laren, clerk, North-east Valley, is said to have attacked two lads on Monday evening, under circumstances thus detailed :— George White, a son of Mr J. E. White, and about sixteen years of age, had just got off a car when he heard Cook, who is younger, ecreaming, and immediately the dog attacked White, biting through his wrist, tearing hie coat and vest to ribbons, and disfiguring hia face. He eventually gob away in a fainting condition. The other lad, Cook, was more severely hurt, a couple of pieces being bitten oat of his arm, and when he wa9 picked up he was carried to a chemist and afterwards to a doctor for treatment, The C.I.M. young ladies, who gave such interesting addresses at Gore on Wednesday evening, repeated them last night at Mataura, to the pleasure of a large and sympathetic audience. To-day they will travel to Kelao, where they will speak three evenings— to-night, Saturday, and Monday. The addresses at Kelso are being particularly looked forward to with interest, as it was from there that Mr Malcolm, brother of the local schoolmaster, " went out 11 to China, about a year ago. There's nothing can beat the fact of a man or woman having " gone out " from a place, in order to kindle local enthusiasm. At least, so say the G.l.M.'a themselves-— and they ought to know. The Ministerial party have effectually captured the * New Zealand Times,' which will in future be published with unswerving and undeviating regard to the political welfare of the Premier and hia merry men, Some 4000 shares, hitherto unallotted, have been successfully placed among members of the Government and their friends, including 1000 shares to a director of the Bank of New Zealand and 600 to a prominent member of the civil service. The •Times 'may now be said to be, as to its proprietary, the most remarkable paper in this hemisphere, and the most astonishing ex* ample of political journalistic enterprise, and all beoause the editor of the ' Post ' refused to say how he got the Fox correspondence, and the • Times ' editor said he did the right thing in so refusing. Otama Items. — Thenaw school committee consists of Messrs John Bruce (chairman), B. L. Christiß (eeoretary), D. Mnßain, John McKay, R. McCallum, R. H. Kennedy and John Favel.— There waa a trial of Messrs P, and D. Duncan's apring*tooth oultivator on Mr A. Stewart's farm on Monday. Neighboring farmers turned out well, and were pleased to see tbe way in which the implement did its work, and expressed themselves as satis* tied that the cultivator would be a ÜBef ul adjunct to farm work,— Mr W, Eraser, M.H.R., has written for the use of the Otama Hall on 18th May, when we may expect a political address. —At the annual meeting of the Band of Hope and Blue Ribbon Society, held last week, the following committee was elected : — President and secretary, Rev. P« Bamaay ; committee— Misses Robertson (2), O'Hara (2), and M'Boin, Messrs Dodds, Robertson, and Young. The Hon. J. G, Ward, speaking at the Colonial Institute, said prohibition had not worked well in the districts in which it had been tried in New Zealand, He emphasised the great excess of exports over imports in New Zealand, and advised more immigration. He was confident the colonies would soon regain the times of prosperity which prevailed prior to the boom. Speaking of women's franchise, he said it had been a great success. If the future proved that a mistake had been made in framing the social laws at present ruling in New Zealand, the common sense of the people would correct them. The people themselves wonld not allow the country to suffer, and they had no desire to smash up things which were at present successful. Though the colony possessed all the elements of separation, it would warmly adhere to Great BribaiD, on the grounds of affection and commercial interests, The Bishop of Salisbury, whp has returned from his tour through New Zealand and Australia, also spoke. He said New Zealand was a most comfortable country for the poor man, but the accumulation ©f wealtn was discouraged. "In China, the attainment of the most exalted rank ia equally open to the poorest as well as the richest man in tbe land," said one of the 0.1.M. ladies to an Ensign representative, " The mandarins, who form the bulk of the aristocracy, do not have their offices and positions handed them as a hereditary gift. On the contrary, the mandarins are often sprung from the lowest class of society. The students are the aristocrats. Generally every family, no matter how lowly their circumstances, contrives to make one of their sons— they select the most intelligent— a student. He, as soon as he attains the dignity of studentship, lets his nails grow long— l have seen such nails growing six inches over the end of the fingers which are a sign of great importance. He never does any work, but is quite imperious in manner to the rest of the household, whom he holda in submission, and, whenever he goes about, is carried in a sedan chair. In the province where we were located rice was the staple food, and ie and tea the principal products. Potatoes, bread, butter and milk, beef and mutton are unknown ; pork and fowl t'aey deem delicacies. Cattle are only used as beasts of burthen. It was a common superstition with the people that we went among tfyem to steal their eyes, to make a decoction from , whioh we would drink, in order that our eyes would attain to the same color as theirs."

Out of 1 1 apDlicants for tbe position of mistress of Wyndham school, Miss M. Hamilton waß selected by tbe committee. At tbe Warden's Court, Wyndham, 'on Tuesday, James Knight was granted a prospecting claim on the Mataura river between Gofe and Maudeville. The first important football match of the season took place at Invercargill on Wednesday, when the I.F.C. and Star drew, the game being in the former's favor. There was a rush foe sawmill areas at Invercargill Land Office yesterday— 32 sp. plicants for four sections, each of 70.) acres. The successful men were James Calder, John Campbell, John Timpany, and Arch. Shaw. " This ia one of those things which should not be forced upon a district, and unless a sufficient number are interested, nothing but loss and disappointment can ensue,"— Waikaka Valley correspondent of • Witness,' in regard to the proposed dairy factory,The quantity of grain carried over tho Southland section of the railways last week was the largest on resord for some years— namely, 48,662 sacks ; and that for the previous week was also large, 39,614 sacks. The poll for Waimumu Boad Board was held at Mataura, yesterday, with tbe follow* | ing result :— John Barry, 51 ; Alex. Keir, 43 ; R. T. Coomer, 38 ; Edwin Townshend and Robert Me Bride, 37 ; A. W. Morris, jun,, 31 ; John Graham, 14. The first six were declared duly elected. At Wednesday's meeting of tbe Otago Land Board, Btock-inspector Hassnll for* warded an application by Mr A. M'Kay for a grazing right over section 2, block 13, Greenvalc, of which consideration was deferred.—Mr Jameß Mair applied for a crazing lease over section 13, town of Wnikoikoi, which the Board declined. The steamship Perthshire, now at Bluff, bas on board 160 head Queensland live cattle for the London market. This is the largest cargo of live stock yet sent Home from the colonies in one bottom. They are very large*B?zed cattle, not very young, and were in the pink of condition when put on board at Townßville some three weeks ago. A Dunedin telegram received yesterday afternoon states that Edward Williamson, 15 years of age, whose parents reside at South Dunedin, was killed at Burt's foundry during the luncheon hour. Deceased, with otber boys, was playing with a crane in the yard, when the jib fell, crushing in his chest. Poath was instantaneous, The left leg of a boy named Lsaiie Degoid was also broken. There was a capital attendance at tbe weekly meeting of the Gore Literary and Debating Sooiety on Tuesday evening last, when Mr King gave a piper on " Payohioal Research," which is referred to elsewhere in this issue. Next Tuesday evening Mr Drum* mond gives a paper on Diokem' " Kale of Two Cities " and the essayists following on May 14 and 21 are Mr George Brett on 11 Beoreation " and Mr R. MoNab, M.E.R., on •• College Life in New Zealaud," There was only one case at the Wyndham S.M. Court on Tuesday last— John Walk, engineer. Fortroße, v. George Crosbie, Sen.— Claim, L 5 89, for repairs to engine and boiler. Mr P. T. Finn for defendant.— The plaintiff eaid he had bsen engaged by the defendant to carry out tbe work claimed for. —Defendant denied liability. His sons were owners of tbe machinery, and carried on the work as Crosbie Bros. Had referred the plaintiff to them when he spoke about the work to be done. — Judgment was given by Mr Bawson, S.M., for defendant, with coata LI Is, As Mr Edwards, the ex-champion chess player of New Zealand, was passing through Gore on Monday last, arrangements were made by some of the local players to meet him in a friendly game. At 7 p.m. Messrs Mnlvey, Domigan, Clayton, and Buchanan met Mr Edwards, and tbe four sets ot cbessmen having been procured a very enjoyable evening was spent. The following were the results :— Messrs Domigan and Edwards, three games ; Mr Edwatds winning two, and Mr Domigan one. Messrs Mulvey and Edwards, one game ; a very hard fight, lasting nearly three hours— won by Mr Edwards. Messrs Edwards and Buchanan, two games; the first being drawn, the second won by Me Edwards, Messrs Clayton and Edwards, two games ; the first being won by Mr Clayton, the second by Mr Edwards. As all the games between the various players were carried on all at once, Mr Edwards played well ; and, of course, no odds were given. We understand that sorrily a chess club will bo formed in Gore, Eat, Drink, and be Merry.— That is all very well, and no doubt, in moderation, eating, drinking, and merriment are very good things. But can any one of us— oven the best of us— trust himself to be invari* ably moderate ? No, indeed I We are all apt to go just a little beyond the mark, and then come headaohea and regrets. At Buoh times we can appreciate a friend— one who will stand by us and put us right ; and such a friend we invariably find in Holloway's Fills, They did not fail our fathers at amilar crises, and they do not fail Ua. It is no fiction but a well-known fact, that Holloway's Fills are a certain cure for headaches, biliousness, and all similar troubles.