MANAWATU EVENING STANDARD AND POHANGINA GAZETTE. GUARANTEED LARGEST CIRCULATION IN THE DISTRICT. THE COMMONWEALTH BILL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 6698, 17 May 1900, Page 2

MANAWATU EVENING STANDARD AND POHANGINA GAZETTE. GUARANTEED LARGEST CIRCULATION IN THE DISTRICT. THE COMMONWEALTH BILL.

It has fallen to the lot of comparatively few men to hold the office of Secretary for the Colonies during a period of such vital importance to the younger members 'of the British Empire as lias characterised the Ministerial career of the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain. Almost at the outset he presided over the ceremonies connected with the Queen's Jubilee, then he virtually declared war against the Transvaal on a colonial question, and now it has devolved upon him to introduce to the British House of Commons a measure which to use his own phrase, " gives birth to a new nation." Since the famous Home Eule Bill, so eloquently advocated by Mr Gladstone, no legislative proposal has soared so high in the realm of importance as that which will confer upon Australia, and perhaps one day upon New Zealand, the status ot a Commonwealth. The details of this measure have been, for weeks, the subject of the closest examination by the political leaders of England, and therefore the occasion of its official introduction into Parliament demanded that the representative of the Government, to whose care it was entrusted should not only do justice to its immense historical importance, but that he should give a clear and explicit statement as to the attitude of the Government upon certain points on which differences of opinion had arisen between the Federal delegates and those who looked at the Bill from an Imperial more than a colonial point of view. So far as one could judge from the summary of Mr Chamberlain's speech cabled to us, Mr Chamberlain seems to have generally dealt with the large principles involved in the most liberal and broadminded manner. All those things which only affected Australia he unreservedly left to the Australians, ungrudgingly conceding them the right to say under what form of Commonwealth they would live. He even held out the olive branch to New Zealand, and had he not felt satisfied that the Bill, as it stands at present, is sufficiently generous to this colony, he would have felt disposed to ask the House of Commons to grant her requests, made through the AgentGeneral, as a reward for the loyalty i shown towards the Empire. On one point, however, the delegates do not seem to have been able to convince him) and that is in connection with the establishment of a Colonial Court of Appeal; but if we are not very ' greatly mistaken, it will be much /more difficult to convince the 'Australian people that his new scheme orfcappointing an Australian Lord of Apjpeal .will be anything Kke adequate compensation for refusing to a portion of the Bill which thet so unanindously endorsed. Equally difficult will it be to bring them to see wh^roin their jproposal was likely to jeopardise the of the Empirej *but the majority of them will be ratherless disposed than ever, if this be the strong^ against the judicial clausefeof ■4fee-B|J( B to yield to the prejudices o£fl|e Jfoxne, Government. Mr Chamberlain {fiaa agkefl them to view his amendment «E"fcM|s?irifc of co-operation ancLjnfl^of

there is every indication that the question will resolve itself into a party fight, for the delegates, having failed to get all they wanted out of the Government, have gone over to the Opposition; but this is calculated to do their cause more harm than good, for, if Mr Chamberlain •finds that Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman is going to fight on party lines, he will do tho same, with the result 'that many members will vote at their leader's call to do that which in their better judgment they feel should have been left with the Australian people.

Fourth Page.—Eeports of the welcome social to the Eev C. C. Harper, and the meeting of the Terrace End School Committee, war news, etc., will be found on our fourth page to-day.

Parliament.—lt has been decided by Cabinet to convene Parliament for despatch of business for the 21st or 22nd June. Out of Work.—Mrs Esses has still on her books a number of men, including farm hands, in want of employment. Personal.—Mr John Mowlem has been appointed Sanitary Inspector for the Masterton Borough. There were over thirty applicants for the position. Alteration.—The social in aid of the funds of St. Peter's Church, will be held in the Lyceum Theatre on 23rd May, as the Foresters' Hall is not available for that date. j Lucky.—The i! 1000 prize in the Eight Hours' Art Union at Melbourne U^^drawn by a lad named William residing I Litigation.—iV^^e^^^S^(pkitika, i has, at the instance of Mr Hiller/serve3~ the Grey Education Board with notice of a writ for £800 damages through his children not being admitted to the Grey High School. Fiee.—About ten o'clock last night the fire bell in Coleman Place was rung. The first impression was that Mafeking had been relieved, but it proved to be nothing more than a chimney on fire in Lombard-street.

Astronomy.—Last evening Mr F. Mowlem took advantage of the fine night to let a number of people look at the moon and stars through his fine telescope, in consideration for which they made a small contribution to the Indian Famine Fund.

Hospital. — The matron of the Hospital has requested us to mention that gifts of old linen will be most thankfully received, as the present supply has almost run out. Any parcels left at either the Secretary's office, or at the Hospital, will be suitably acknowledged.

New Offices.—Mr Geo. Melrose, Land and Commission Agent, has taken offices in Mr W. Rawlins' premises, Main-street, where he will for the future transact his business. Mr Melrose has a large list of properties to select from.

Monument.—Mr G. M. Snelson is now sending out circulars to the Maoris of the Manawatu, requesting contributions towards the cost of the monument about to be erected in the Squaro. About £30 is in hand, and only another £30 is required before the order can be sent home.

Hon John McKenzie.—The Mininster of Lands yesterday telegraphed to the Hon J. G. Ward that he had a very good night, and felt a little better in the morning; tho trouble was still going on, though not so severely as before.

A Stkp Down.—From a private letter received by a Wellington resident from South Afrcca it appears that Captain John Rose, who resigned from one of the New Zealand contingents, is now serving as a private in the Diamond Fields Horse.

Promoted.—From a private letter received in Napier we learn that Lieutenant Berry, who went in charge of the first Hawke's Bay Rough-riders' Contingent to South Africa, has been promoted to a senior lieutenancy. He is on his way to Bhodesia with the New Zealanders.

The Plague.—lt should be interesting to those contemplating a trip to the Old Country via Australia to learn that they will not be quarantined at Melbourne, Adelaide, or Albany, there being merely a medical inspection by a port surgeon, who after satisfying himself that there is no case of illness on board, allows pratique to passengers, who may land immediately such is granted.

Sims Eeeves. — Her Majesty tho Queen has, on the recommendation of Mr Balfour, as First Lord of tho Treasury, approved of the grant of a Civil List pension of £100 a year to Mr Sims Eeeves. Mr Balfour, in forwarding his announcement of the Queen's pleasure to Mr Sims Eeeves, informed him that the grant had been made in recognition of his eminence as a singer. Mr Eeeves' financial resources have been in a crippled state for some long time past, and he has been seriously ill for months past. He is now 81 years of age.

Hugu Williams. — The following coincidence is too remarkable not to be noticed, and is vouched for by reliable local authorities in Liverpool. More than two hundred years ago (says the Liverpool Mercury, which has unearthed the story), on December sth, 1664, a boat crossing the Menia Strait with 81 passengers on board, founded. Only one man escaped death, and his namo was Hugh Williams. On December sth, 1780, another vessel sank in the same place, and all were drowned but one man, named Hugh Williams. On December sth, 1820, a boat laden with thirty people sank in the same spot. The sole surviyor once more was Hugh Williams.

A New Barley. —We have been shewn by Messrs Barraud and Abraham a sample of a new barley called " Black Barley." As can be judged by the name the grain is quite black ; it possesses the same characteristics as Cape Barley, but the husk is particularly thin and it is most adapted for " meal " ; the whole of the berry being practically of use. The beard of the barley is very strong thus affording protection against birds and yet on threshing the berries come out quite clean from husk, etc. It is most prolific and stands weather well. The meal has been proved to be of great value for pig feed. "We have seen a sample of the meal and it certainly is very g'bod. Messrs Barraud and Abraham anticipate,, a keen demand for this Black Barley as* they consider it most suitable for this district

The Unpaid.—Many stories are told in regard te the fantastic aetions&Af Justices of the Peace, says the Gj&§L mouth Star, and the following will i$S its own. The occurrence took plajSg at Kuoiara some time ago. Two juices of the peace were sitting, one being very deaf. An ordinary disputed debt?'case came on. The deaf justice could not catch what was going. When tlijß evidence was concluded, the "helping" justice turned to his colleague to ®k his opinion about one particular' itemaii the bill, and was nearly paralysed M the reply, " Oh, give him a month; Idon't like his appearance." !The justicef then intimated that the Bench would adjourn to consider the decision, and from, the loud talk heard from the rt>om itwas evident that the deaf justice was fein* made to hear and given a bit of advice as to the advisability of not sitting' again,

■ Advice.—Writing in the Clarion|%he leading British Socialist journal, >Mv William Eansted, a gentleman of independence and a traveller, who recen&y visited this colony says :— " When the war is over, from all parts of the world people will be flocking to Johannesburg. Heaven knows what they will do when when they manage to get there. There's only one city to go to, and that will be filled by its old inhabitants. Plenty of them were out of work before j the war br^ke out, and they will be lucky lif they all find employment when work .starts again. Emigrants cannot take up land and live on it. The-^eountry is about the most barren and iiihospitable spot I ever put_ my foot in. ISew Zealand js a paradise compared to ft, or, in. deed, compared to any other British

Education.—The Wanganui Education Board meets on Monday next. \ The Cause.—A man who had received a pension in Eketahuna had his applica« tions for a renewal rejected on Monday because it was proved he had lived with his present wife fifteen years without being married. Moral: Get married as soon at possible, or live in single bliss. Post Office.—The member for Palmerston - interviewed the Postmaster. General yesterday about a new Post Office at Palmeraton, and pointed out the urgent necessity for a proper brick building. Mr Ward promised to make inquiries, and seemed favorably disposed towards the proposal. Magistrates.—The vacancies in the magistracy formerly filled by Mr Poynton, at Inyercargill, the late Mr Booth at Gisborne, and Mr Dalgleish, at Naseby, have been filled by the transfer of Mr Northcroft, S.M., from Wairarapa to Waikato, and Mr McCarthy, S.M., to ! Invercargill, and the appointment of Mr ' W. P. James, clerk of the Court at Wellington, to Wairarapa, and Mr W. A. Barton, clerk of tho Court at Gisborne' ' to Gisborne, Mr F. J. Burgess, clerk of the Auckland Court, to Clyde, and Mr McEnis, clerk of the Kumara Court, to Naseby. Price of Oats.—This season's prices for grain have been disappointing, the quantity of oats harvested has been very large and tho outlet small. Farmers are not inclined to accept merchants' assurances, that the values expected by the former are impossible. We have today seen a letter from a firm at Napier proving conclusively that oats are being delivered at the Spit at Is lOd per bushel. Napier forms one of the very few outlets for those districts, and to compete at Is lOd at the Spit, the mer"Sfcarit who intends to pay his way and not do business for love or quixotic motives, must buy his oats at Is 6i-d here when a small profit will result. Should prices drop, as expected, in the South Island, oats here will be below Is 6d. We noticed at a meeting of Ttangitikei farmers it was thought that | better prices would be got for their grain if they struck out for themselves and tried other markets, the South African one being specially fancied. We would advise farmers to act with caution; we I happen to know that one well known firm in this district engaged space for South Africa and as a result of exhaustive enquiries as to state of the markets at the various grain centres of Africa, decided not to ship at the last moment, and managed to get freed from their engagements for space. Mail Case.— Per Whakatane, at Park's Book Depot—Pearson's, Cassell's, Windsor, Strand, Boys' and Girls' I Own, Sunday Strand, Weldon's Home Dressmaker, Leach's Dressmaker, &c, for February; Princess Novelette 56, Lady's Own Novelette 49, Snap Shots 19, newest books by most popular authors.—Advt. Improve on this it you can! Superior English blankets, single bed size, 9/9; double bed size, 14/9; extra large double bed size, 17/9. See our window display of English and Colonial Blankets, all bought before the recent advance in price, of which our customers get the full benefit at the Bon Marche.—Advt. Every other day they are bringing the children, and some of them are all India rubber on springs. We took on 6 the other day with a terrier pup thrown in. Not a few have come that have been abandoned and given up as hopeless by other photographers. We take them all. Also give entire satisfaction. Please bring them along to Billens, next Pearce's Land Mart.—Advt. When delivering his farewell address to the Fifth Contingent in Wellington, the Premier said with their departure New Zealand would have 2000 men in the field, and he was sure that one and all of them would do their duty well and prove themselves a credit to their country. His words were received with warm applause, as well they should. We also know of another matter that deserves the warmest praise from the community, and that is Sykes' Cura Cough. A certain remedy. All Chemists and storekeepers.