THE TAIL-WAG-DOG POLICY.

Manawatu Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7956, 13 April 1904, Page 2

THE TAIL-WAG-DOG POLICY.

Candidly we are disappointed with the manner in which Mr Solomon Abrahams has opened the Mayoral campaign, and we imagine that many of his former supporters share the sentiment. The most definite thing about his address was its airy and expansive indefiniteness, and the manner in -which, he answered questions was so painfully equivocal that we are constrained to the opinion that Mr \brahams has lost that dash and confidence that were once characteristically his. " I lead, others may follow," used to be Mr Abrahams' motto. "If others lead, I may follow," is his new, innocuous doctrine. If ever Palmerston wanted the services of. a pushful, tactful, brainy man capable of "making up his mind" and taking a bold executive grip of things, that time is now. But Mr Abrahams talks weakly of " not pledging himself," and " allowing the majority to rule," and submitting things to a referendum, and oily indefinite platitudes of that description, For our part we are sick of the tail-wag-dog policy, and if that is the best our friend can offer, his place is afc the bottom of the poll. Grip, grit, and initiative are wanted in the new Mayor. Without that Vf& shall turn over the next municipal chapter and find nothing but the lamentable legend, "Stagnation continued."

Civil Court report and cable news will be found on our fourth page to-day.

The Municipal Band, will give a concert in the rotunda to-morrow night. It is understood that Mr Hurley will address the electors at the Lyceum Theatre on Monday evening. It is reported that Mr J. Bishop, the well-known blacksmith, has disposed of his business to Messrs Eouse and Hurrell.—Peilding correspondent. About an hour and a half was spent by the Borough Council last night in considering the annual specifications for tho various contracts. They were taken clause by clause and adopted with several minor alterations. Dr Van Slyke, of Wellington, eye> ear, nose, and throat specialist, may be consulted at tho Club Hotel, Palmerston, on Friday, 15th April.* A man named 33. "Whittaker, employed at Browning's coachbuilding factory, met with a painful accident yesterday. As a result of a band saw breaking, one of his fingers was nearly severed from the hand. Felix Tanner has been served with a writ by the Marine Department, ordering the detention of hia craft at Wanganui on the ground that it is unseaworthy. Tanner had a trial trip on the river yesterday and was well satisfied with the boat. In future the centre of Palmerston is to be made spick and span for Sundays The Council resolved last night, on the recommendation of the engineer, that the footways and water-tables in the Square and Main-street—to the Railway Station—be cleaned up after 10 o'clock on Saturday night. Free wheels, 12s 6d fitted ; repairs to any make of cycle at Clarkson's, Coleman Place.* A shareholder at the annual meeting of the Fending Gas Company, at Welhngtong, expressed the opinion that it would be a wise policy to do everything possible to encourage" cookery by gas He explained that machinery did not offer much of a market, because manufacturers preferred to settle at Palmerston North as a larger and more rapidly growing centre. Messrs W. Barton (of the White Eocks Station, Lower Wairarapa), C. Crawford, and L. Tnpp, of Wellington, did some successful deer-stalking at the end of last week in the White Eocks district, on the eastern side of Mount Boss. Eight very fine heads were secured, six being royals (12 points) one eleven points, and another fourteon points. Messrs Nathan Bros have now resolved to instal a plant for the dried milk process at Makino. One machine is capable of dealing with 700 gallons of milk per day, but only about 400 is obtainable at Makino-at present, though the offer of 10Jd per lb for Gutter fat might induce a larger supply. Apparently the ministers, of Dunedin recognise their inability' to reach the masses, as ft has been decided to institute a united open air mission under the auspices of the Council of Churches, extending over a week, in which clergymen of all denominations will take part. Tho first meeting will be held on Sunday night in the Octagon.

Good progress has been made with the work of running the auxiliary seveninch pipe from the intake to the reservoir. The embedded pipes have all heen unearthed and relaid, and as they have been found insufficient to complete the connection, a further supply was ordered from Australia. These are now to hand and are being carted to Fitzherbert.

Cr Bastin expressed the opinion, at the special meeting of the Council last n'ght, that the work of lighting' and extinguishing the street lamps was now too much for two men. Throe ought to be employed. The Mayor and other councillors appreciated the suggestion, which was adopted. The lighting arrangements will be let in one contract, as hitherto, but three men must bo emplowed instead of two. A misleading paragraph appeared in last evening's issue of the Standard, stating that the executive of the Beautification Association had agreed to carry out certain work in the' Square at a cost of £100; that the association had decided to donate £50.f0r that purpose, and that the Borough Council would be asked to provide the balance. No such resolution has been arrived at. The position is that the general committee of the Association will wait on the Council at the next meeting, announce its aims and objects, and make alternative requests for a subsidy to help forward its operations. At the special meeting of the Borough Couuncil last night, the following motion, moved according to notice by Cr Jack and seconded by Cr Armstrong was carried ;" That tho resolution on the minutes of August 18th last, to grant a building permit for the erection of a kitchen at the Central Hotel, in other material than brick, be rescinded." It was stated that the permit had never been applied for since it w^s granted. The Mayor thought some action should be taken to prevent the kind of thing objected to going on. Six business houses at Levin wore destroyed by a fire which broke out early yesterday morning. The fire spread from Hall's drapery shop to Clarkson's " Byko," Wilson's fruit shop, bmith's stables, James' bootmaker's shop, and Staveley's office. The premises of Jones ip'luinber) and Newman and Devine (butchers), were badJy scorched, and Wilson's furniture shop was considerably broken up, with a view to making a gap to prevent the tlarnes spreading. All goods of value were rescued.

Local anglers have been much exercised as to the date on which the nshinj? season closes. Ihe licenses issued by the Acclimation Society fix the close of the season at the 15th inst,, but the fisheries Conservation Act passed last session fixes the season as from Ist October to 80th April inclusive. The regulations under which the Society faxed the season were, however, made in beptember, whereas the Act was not passed until 18th November. The Act was not retrospective, and besides, it gives the Governor power to allow bocieties to restrict the season within the dates specified. Anglers will therefore understand that the fishing season will close this year on lath April.

The School Commissioners' grant of £63 16s 4d to the Paltuerston High School has beon handed over to the committee.

Just opened up, a very largn and choice lot of lamps, all marked at lowest prices, A. E. Clausen, Cuba street.*

The election ot committees for the various schools in this district will be held on Monday, 25th inst.

The 'Frisco mail is expected to arrire in Palmerston to-day (Wednesday), at mid-day, and will bo distributed over the counter during the afternoon.

At the inquest held at Kurovv on Monday on the body of a man found hi the Waitaki river, a verdict of found drowned was returned, tho body not being identified.

Exceptional bargains to be had in new season's linoleums. Remnants nt your own price at Pegden's.*

The Dunedin City Council proposes to carry on its own insurance for accident and fire, and also to ostabii-h a superannuation fund for all corporation employees.

A well-attended and useful practice of the Orchestral Society was held last evening in All Saints' Schoolroom. Several pieces of now music were put under rehearsal.

During the past quarter the D.O.A. had oil baud fifteen bankruptcies, two of which occurred during the term. The assets realised were £453 5s 6rl, and the sum of i.254 10s was paid in dividends. The administration costs were £37 lls 3d.

An important native meeting will be held up tho Wanganui river next wook, at which the Native Minister and the Premier will meet the Maoris assembled from tho -King Country, Hawko's Bay, Wnirarapa and elsewhere. Besides affairs of State, occasion will be raken for a revival of hakas and poi dunces on the old-time scale.

Tho Napier Chantablo Aid Board has decided to hold an inquiry into the circumstances iv which a boy named Williams, undor tho Board's control, was sent to the Industrial School. It now transpirps that there was absolutely no valid reason for sending the boy away, and the Minister is to be asked to cancel tho order of committal.

Yesterday the body of George Pawson was found dead in the bush near his sawmill at Weber. The deceased left the mill on Monday morning with a gun, and a gunshot wound was found in the centre of his chest. When he left the mill he said he was going to shoot pheasants. Pawaon was about 35 years of age and unmarried.

Tribune Blue Streak ladies'cycles £20, Clarkson's, Coleman Place.*

The monthly meeting of tho A. and P. Association will be held on Saturday: Two important notices of motion will come up for discussion. One of them, lodged by Mr M. Cohen, proposes that the annual subscription to the Association secure all privileges in connection with the Winter Show ; and the other to fix tho days of tho Spring Show for November 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.

The tin pannikin movement has spread to Taranaki. The News reports: ■• County Councillors had to "pay up" yesterday towards the Battleship New Zealand presentation. Some of the members, however, protested mildly against the frequency of these presentations. Quoth one: "Illuminated addresses for men going out of business, gold medals for everyone; it's getting too common.''

Shriek from the. Darineyirke Advocate ■:— If it were not for the persistent efforts of large landowners in tho Manawatu and . Rangitikei districts,, who largely constitute what is termed " the Colonial Executive," the Farmers' Union would have become defunct long ago, and this want of interest has been brought about mainly because the members are aware that the organisation is to be turned into a political engine to crush, if possible, the present Government. •

The London Star points out that the Tariff Reform song, "The John Bull Store," ot which Mr Fletcher Robinson, editor of the Daily Express, is the author, and in which occurs the Jine, " The Deutscher and the Yank we shall want no more," is produced by German handicraft, printed at a German esoablisbment in London, and published by a firm whose shares are mainly held by capitalists of German nationality.

A resident (says the Hawera Star) has just completed a week's test of tho butter-making capabilities of what he terms a "cottar's cow." For seven days the cow gave 3151b of milk, an average of 4£ gallons per day. The cream was skimmed off every 26 hours. The amount of butter made was 191b 14oz. The separator takes off about one-tenth more butter than the skimmer. The owner of this " cottar's cow " says he can therefore guarantee over 201b of butter per week from one cow. Ths test works out 6-3. This is surely a Taranaki record.

At the inquest on Owen Udy, which was held at: 8.30 yesterday morning by Mr Jamea, coroner, evidence was given to the effect that Cadwallader and de ceased left camp to cross the river for Greytown to go to CarCerton on Thurs day, about 12 Horses were seen on the edge of the river on Friday morning. One body was found on "Sunday, and was identified as that of Udy. The face was slightly bruised by stones and snags. A watch in a pocket stopped at 12.15. A verdict of accidentally drowned was returned. There is no sign of Cadwallader's 'body.

"I think a clause should be inserted making them keep down the grass in the main streets. It is like going into the bush, down some of the streets particularly Broad-street—what with docks and one thing or another," remarked Cr Haydon while the contractors' specifications were under discussion at the Council meeting last night.—The Mayor and Cr Bastiu pointed out the difficulty of keeping the grass down, either by machine or scythe, and the matter was left to the Engineer to deal with in the schedule.

The Borough Engineer reported to the Council last night " that the work of constructing the Main street storm water drain is now delayed for the want of the 18in pipes, and as there did not seem much prospect of obtaining.them at an early date I communicated with Auckland makers, with the result that 50 pipes are on hand and can be shipped at once, with 100 to follow in one week, and the balance within one month Th« total number ■of 18in pipes required is 330 to complete the work." Mr Jickell stated.that an extra cost of j£B would be involved by thia step.-The report was adopted.

Centaur cycles, famous since 1876, £20. New Zealand Agency, Clarkson's, Coleman Placed

" No bad debts to speak of, no prospectiye expenditure of any moment, incieasing business, and nothing whatever to prevent the company from having another vory prosperous year." Such is the position of the Feild'ing Gas Company, as set out by Mr J. M. Richardson, the Chairman of Directors, at the annual meeting of shareholders held in Wellington on Monday. The Chairman stated that the financial position was improved in every way, while there had been an increase in every department of the business. The progress had been satisfactory, considering that Feilding, though going ahead, was not doing so with the rapidity of its powerful neighbour, Palmerston North. Mr D. T, Stuart, in seconding the motion, said that the satisfactory position of the gas companies throughout the colony indicated that there was nothing to fear from the competition of electricity. Tho retiring directors, Messrs J. M. Eichardson and Allan Strang, were re-elected, and Messrs H. Kember and Son were re-elected auditors. A vote of thanks was accorded to the Manager and Secretary, Mr H Stunell, for the good work he had done during the past year.

The first selection of the season in French and English milinery is now on view at The Bon Marche.—Advt*

A man with very anxious looks For poultry farms searched through our books, We sold one—He smiles with the " choolf^ " The smile that won't come off. Brophy.*