ESTABLISHED 1875. THE MANAWATU DAILY TIMES The Oldest Manawatu Journal. Published Every Morning. FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 1904. THE TOTALISATOR.

Manawatu Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7958, 15 April 1904, Page 2

ESTABLISHED 1875. THE MANAWATU DAILY TIMES The Oldest Manawatu Journal. Published Every Morning. FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 1904. THE TOTALISATOR.

Some of our contemporaries are going into hysterics about the amount of money—some odd hundreds of thousands—which they allege was spent in gambling at Easter time, and many profound editorials have been expended, mostly in a pessimistic vein, calculated to prove that the people of the Colony are hastening " to the infernal bow- wows." There are so many aspects of the totalisator question that they can hardly be even touched upon in the short compass of a newspaper article ; but this much is certain, that big tote figures argue prosperity, not adversity, and should teach optimism and not provoke tears. The fact that £16,000 was pat through the machine on the first day at Feilding, in comparison with £10,000 at Auckland and £18,000 at Christchurch, is an indication not of the greater depravity of the people in this locality, but a confirmation of the ascertained fact that the -west coast of the North Island is the richest patch of agricultural territory carrying the most prosperous people in the southern hemisphere. There are evils inseparably connected with the totalisator as there must be with any

system which provides for snatching fortuitous gain out of one man's pocket and placing it in that of another ; but the tote is essentially a " clean sport" medium, and within legitimate limits would help instead of hindering tho sport of horseracing.

Caesar Seddon is going about the country telling people that he intends doing away with the tote. On the liquor question he favours moderation, but in regard to the tote he is a prohibitionist, " a howling fanatic," the advocate of the killcure. He does not condescend to give reasons. As Sir Oracle, ho shouts: "Out damned spot!" and he professes to expect his tail in th-3 House to take up the refrain. But as the alternative of "the machine" is not a cessation of gambling, but :i recrudescence of noisy gentleman with bag?, the Premier's kill-euro is no better than any other prohibibition concoction. Caesar Seddon has the real remedy in his hands, but he is afraid to use it in case it might spill over and burn his fingers. The real remedy is not prohibition, but regulation; but any attempt at regulation would lead to political friction, and there's the rub. Through political influence, licenses have been granted by James Carroll, the Minister for Manuwaru, to scores of alleged racing clubs which never should have had them, and when Carroll was in doubt Seddon poohpoohed the qualm and went nap. If Seddon were as game as he perenially accuses himself of being, he would issue an edict lifting the licenses from half the racing clubs in the colony. Instead of 365 racs meetings in the year, or theroabouts, there would be only 180 odd, and the occupation of the spieler, guesser, and pave"booky" would be partially eclipsed, and a whole host of wastrels would find their way into goal or have to hustle legitimately for a living. At tho same time a mob of weedy district gee-gees would be relegated to appropriate obscurity, and a quantity of useless horse ticks and leeches would be called out to battle in the fields for bread. Large quantities of oats would be turned into oatmeal for export, instead of being converted into hoofs and hair. We should get less racing and better, and the sport we did get would be superior all round. But any such heroic measure as this would court political disaster, and Caesar Seddon knows it. So he contents himself with platitudes about abolishing the tote and cleansing the augean stable. But those who know know better.

A service is to be held at the residence of the late Miss Isabella Manson, Feilding, on Friday next, at which all her friends are invited to bo present.

Eight new pupils were admitted to College-street school during this week, and two were withdrawn. Accounts totalling £364 17s 5d were passed for payment at the-meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board yesterday. During the past month there were five deaths at the Hospital. This is an unusually high percentage, but one of the deaths was the result of a railway accident. All Saint's Sunday School teachers and scholars are at present actively engaged preparing for a winter bazaar, to be held on the 27ch instant, in aid of mission work. Last week's gale rnado its presence felt at College-street school. A blueguru was uprooted, the pipe over the sewer at the corner of the lawn was displaced, and three window panes were smashed. Wo lead, others follow. We have only one price, the lowest. Cycles in good order from £2, Clarkson's, Coleman Place* The passengers on the Taviuni were detained an hour in the Auckland harbour yesterday while the Health Officer and another man, by elaborate tests, satisfied themselves that a few spots on an unfortunate individual were harmless. The Invercargill Bavough Council called tenders for a new Town Hall and Theatre, stipulating that the price should be not more than £16,000. All the tenders exceeded that amount, and none was in consequence accepted. The morning express from Wellington yesterday was about twenty minutes late. An axle of the mail car became heated near Levin, and the mails had to be transferred to another carriage. The Liberal and Labour Federationists of Auckland are now joining in the protest against yellow labour for South Africa. A. public indignation meeting has been arranged for a near date. Passing pedestrians halted in the Square last night to listen to the band. The rotunda was occupied by the Municipal Band, and an enjoyable programme was creditably performed. "He has several mouths to feed and has a pious landlord."—Quaint remark by the medical officer, recommending the local Hospital Board to I grant relief to a man. ■ j Improved arrangements, coming into effect to-morrow, have been effected in I the Terrace End bus service by Mr E. Stevenson. In future two 'buses will run, one for Terrace End and one for the hospital. Particulars will be found in another column. " Next month I shall have a facer for you, gentlemen, an absolutely bad account of JE112," remarked Mr Rutherford at the meeting^ of the Hospital Board yesterday. The account was incurred by an old man suffering from an incurable disease. : ' Have you seen A. E. Clausen's Is table? It is simply a marvel-that's the verdict of those who have seen it. Invitations to all.* At the inquest on George Pawson, sawmiller, who was found shot, at Weber, the jury returned a verdict that deceased was killed by the accidental discharge of a fe un. The deceased was very popular in the district and his untimely death was greately deplored. The new sale yards at Hastings, which were opened on Tuesday in the presence of a representative gathering of farmers were designed by Mr L. G. West, of Palmerston. The Napier papers praise the yards very highly for their durability and convenience. While driving along the Tautuku beach, in the Catlin's district, near Dunedin, Inspector Goyen and Canon Mayne were overtaken by a tidal wave and washed out of their buggy. Tbe sea smashed the buggy to pieces, and it was a miracle the occupants were not carried out to sea by the backwash. £1 deposit arid £1 monthly will buy a second-hand bicycle in good order at Clarkson's.* A. Armstrong, a member of the Second Now Zealand Contingent, was found in a crying stato at Wellington yesterday. Death was apparently caused by chlordync. The deceased left a letter savin" he intended to commit suicide. °

An enthusiastic meeting on Wednesday night, the Mayor presiding, advocated the severance of the Stratford district from the control of tho Taranaki Hospital Board. A resolution was accordingly unanimously adopted desiring legislation to.be obtained. A systematic agitation is to be organised.

Some slight excitement was caused in the Napier streets on Wednesday night by the outcries of a drunk while being arrested by the police. A large crowd lent sympathy to the man and incited him to resist but he was eventualy lodged for the night, and with threo demon. stratiyo youths. Parrell the man in question got six months while the youths were1 remanded.

The Hospital Board recently wrote to the Minister for Public Health suggesting amendments to the Loanß to Local Bodies Act, making it possible for monoy to be borrowed under the statute for the erection of contagious diseases hospitals. At the meeting of the 'Board yesterday a letter from the Minister (Mr Seddon) was read. He agreed with the suggestion, and promised to see what could be done when Parliament meets.

During his recent trip to Featherston the Premier visited the Tauherenikau races, and was met by some of the stewards of the club. The Premier, in the oourse of an interview, said it was thought, jocularly, that the tote would be done away with this year. This was a staggering statement, especially as com. ing from Mr Seddon, who upon being ' weighed on the official machine immediately afterwards scaled 2Ost 31b.

The judge's notes on the recent Band Contest, an original poem " Bobs is Going Away," and market reports will be found on our back page this morning.

Mr Hurley will address the burgossss in the Lyceum Thrcatre, Main-sttvet, on Monday next.

The harvest festival of St Poter's Church, Terrace End, will be celebrated to-night.

Exceptional bargains to ba had in now season's linoleums. Eoinnants at Your own price at Pegden's.*

The proposed infectious diseases hospital will be, according to the sketch plan prepared, a one-storied building. Two wards of 85 fcot each (male and female) are provided for, allowing for four bedrf each. The centre of tho building contains tho nursos' quarters, 12ft _by 10ft. Adequate ventilation is provided, each ward containing 8,000 cubic feet of air, and every bed 200 cubic feet.

A young man querulously complained to a Wellington Magistrate yosterdny that he considered it hard luck that ho should get "lumbered" for drunkenness immediately after arrival in the Empire City. "Why, your Worship," he expostulated, " I was two months in Auckland—drunk the whole time—and never got run in." Then again, the Wellington liquor was "Oh such muck"! " Three months' hard," quoth the pitiless beak

The case of F. W. Richmond v. Robert Sutton, claim £10 12s 6d, was heard before M> A. D. Thomson, S.M., .yesterday. The claim was for £10, the price of a bull, und grazing at Is per week. Tho bull was purchased by defendant from plaintiff and returned, it being alleged that it was diseised. Defendant put in a counter-claim for £55, allegeding that his herd had suffered through the condition of tho bull. After several witnesses had boon examined the c.sse was adjourned till next Tuesday.

Centaur cycles, famous since 1876, fitted with freewheel and two Bowden rim brakes, j620. Clarkson's, Coleman Place. Tribune Blue Streak ladies' cycles, ,820. Clarkson's.* *

Th» final ordinary meeting of the College-street School Committee, prior to the annual election, was held last night. In reply to Mr Rutherford, the secretary stated there was a sum of .£3O in hand after meeting expenses. Allowing for current expenses, there would be a balance in hand of about JGIB. The finances.had been put in this satisfactory condition by the receipt of £34 13g 9d, the ordinary quarter's capitation, and the special Government grant of 9d per pupil.

How many of the emigrants who Bet out for some promised land beyond the seas, flushed with hope and revelling in airy dreams of the glorious future, live to see their roseate vision fulfilled ? During the past month three pioneers came before the Charitable Aid officer (Mr F. Aisher) praying for help. One was an Irishman, 71 years of age, who came out in the colony in 1851—in the first flush of robust manhood. Another was an Engiishman of 58, and the last a yonng; Canadian. "Drink is the cause of the trouble," reported Mr Aishcr on two of the cases.

The Rev. C. C. Harper presided over the meeting of the College street School Committee last night, and there were present—Bey. I. Jolly, Messrs W. Eutherfurd, R. Goodger, F. Hall, P. Carville, T. Hall, and C. Brown (secretary). The acting headmaster, Mr N. Fribcrg, reported that tbere was no room in the school cupboards and offices to store the appliances now in regular uso. A shed was urgently needed. On the motion of Mr Rutherfurd, seconded by liev. I Jolly, it was resolved to arrange for the erection of a storeroom as desirod. It was also decided, on the proposition of Mr Ruttaerfurd, secondod by Mr Brown, to authorise the Visiting Committee to have the main entrance tarred and sanded.

Mr, William Park proceeded to Weihngfco by last night's express', bearing with him the petition to the Minister o"f Agriculture, praying that the proposal to establish abattoirs tnay be vetoed. The' petition is considered the most weighty thing of its kind which has ever emanated from Palmerston North, and contains the names of the majority of the business men of the town, as well as practically all the doctors, chemists, and butchers, and, niosfc important of all, five Borough Councillors, viz., Crs Haydon, Tolley, Armstrong, Jack, and Johnßton. Mr Park will personally present the petition, and will explain that if further names are required, it will be possible to obtain the signatures of at 90 per cent of the electors.

A man said business was his line, We showed him several which were fine Now he keeps smiling all the time— The smile that won't come off. Brophy.*