Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, MAY 15, 1890.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXIV, Issue 114, 15 May 1890, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. THURSDAY, MAY 15, 1890.

Mr Ballance addressod his constituents at Wanganui last week, when hia speech was far rnoro moderate, and, wo may ? dd, sensible, thaii that delivered at Napier shortly after the oloso of the last session. It does not appear from his utterances on this occasion that the Opposition intend to take any definite stand in the forthcoming session beyond generally eriticiaing tho measures introduced by tho Government ; in fact, his speech seems to bear out) the general impression that the session will bo an exceptionally short one, which is further confirmed by a recent telegram from the Wellington correspondent of the Press, who, in speaking of the Cabinet meeting held last Thursday, says : — " It appears to be understood that an Amended Charitable Aid Bill, a Criminal Code Bill, a Bankruptcy Bill, and some others that were not proceeded with last session, form a portion of the Government programme. Nothing, however, is positively known as to what Bills the Government may think proper to revive. Some of them will be brought forwai'd for discussion on the general principle involved in them. None of these, so far as I can leai'n, will be likely to excite a strong party contest, although the dinerence of opinion in regard to them may bo considerable." The measures mentioned above can scarcely be called policy Bills, and indeed, bo far as a " policy " is concerned, it seems likely that that of the Government will be to go on just as they are now doing until after the' general election. This appears to be the view taken by Mr Ballance, who said : — " It was believed that next session would be short. Whether it was or not, the Opposition would nofc delay business, and if the Government had no policy, the sooner they went to the country the better, so that they might fight out their principles on the hustings." This assurance that " the Opposition would not delay business " would be satisfactory if Mr Ballance were in a position to make good his assertion, but those from whogo memories the proceedings of tho last session have nofc yet faded, will be of opinion that he ie not able to speak for the Opposition. Nominally their leader, he possessed not the slightest control over them ; there was no discipline whatever in their ranks, and private members rose ono aftor anobher, and brought forward resolutions — witness Mr Moss' on the Property Assessment Bill — which the Government could not do otherwise than accept as uo-coufidenco motions although no one was responsible for the action that might follow in the event of thoir being carried. There is auofchor declaration of Mr Ballanco's which is satisfactory so far as it goes, but would be much more bo did tho party of which he is the appointed head possess any organisation and really recognise him as their leader. It is »b follows : — " With respect to borrowing, he thought they should etop borrowing entirely for a time. " Now, as the Government are precisely of tho same opinion, this particular principlo is not likely to bo taken up as a battle ory on the hustings, whoro Mr Ballance looks for the issues between the ins and the outs fco be fought out. Mr Ballance is evidently not a disciple of Henry George's with respect to the single tax, as " he could not Bee that it was practicable. " Those who want to see the property tax abolished will not find a champion in tho leader of the Opposition, at all events ndt_ yefc, for "he did not think that the time had come for the substitution of a land and income tax for the property tax," but in this latter he thinks that agricultural implements and machinery should be exempted up to £2000, and moreover he would make tho tax a graduated ono. This is a proposal of lavge importance, and one on which he and the present Government are not likely to agree, but with this exception there does not appear i at present to be much at issue between them, and unless there are more explicit declarations on both sides — which in all probability there > will be— tho fighfc at the hustings is likely to be rather one over the individual merits of the candidates than tho policies they respectively

represent. Should that be the case the electors will have a moi'e difficult;, and indeed a more responsible, task than usual before them, It is easy to decide between two distinct policies ; it is not so easy to select the men who may be entrusted to exercise wisdom and discretion in making their choice wheu questions arise upon which their constitncnts havo nob pronounced judgment. Very careful indeed will the electors havo to bo if they are called upon to record their votes uu.de r such conditions. Paving reason to believe that a Isrgn number of our renders were gn-aUy interested hi the oxtraofc wo recently publish 'd from the letver addressed to the Czar by that nobln wo m a u Maria Tshorbrivoka, we print to-day on the fourth page tho full text aa it appeared in The. Times, We understand that Mr Richmond HureU house inte *d.i being ft candidate at the forthcoming gotiaral election for the Buner electorate, which includes Weßtp->rt, the Lyell, he whole of the Buller Vailey, Co Hngtvuod, Takaka, Riwaka, Ngatimoti, Thorpe, and tho Sherry and Tadtnor distriots. It is also atated that Mr Phillips junr,, of tha Tadmor, will come forward for tho Waimea-Pioton electorate, which includes, on this side of the range, Wakapuaka, thn whole of the Waimeaa on the other Bide of the Wairoa and Waimea rivera. the RTouteres, Motueka, Neudorf, and Motupiko. Mr Jickell, C.E., who was selected by the City Council from the applicants for the position of City Surveyor, arrived from Auckland this morning, and has, we understand, fully confirmed the favourable impression created by his testimonials, A meeting- of the Council will be held to-morrow to make the appointment. An interesting service was held at the Cathedral last night, and was numerously attended, and letters were received from several expressing their regret that they were prevented by the prevailing epidemic from being present. The gathering was o£ those who had been confirmed by Bishop Suter in Christ Church, either in the old church or the present Cathedral. The ser vice commenced with the hymn " Christians seek not yet repose," followed by an address preparing the way for the solemn repatition of the Confession led by the Bishop. *' Rook of Ages '' was then suog; Revelations ii was read by the Rev J. P. Kempthorne as a lesson, followed by the Dem Misercatur and the Creed. After an impressive interval for silent prayer and the renewal of the Baptismal and Confirmation Vows, another address was given on the motto, Psalm 8-I '7, " They go from strength to strength until they appear before God in Zion." The hymn "My G-od accept ray heart this day" was sung, and a final exhortation delivered, in which the Bishop pointed out the ample resources of spiritual strength available for all willing to use them. There were several representatives of the first confirmation held by Bishop Suter on December Bth, 1867, the first name on the list of those presented on that date being that of Lady Forbes, lately deceased. A glance at the list shows the very transient stay of resis dents in Nelson, very few of the malo candidates being now in the province. Not a few, however, of the early candidates are now heads of families here and elsewhere. A similar service will be held next week in All Saints' Church, Two inquests were held yesterday at the Travellers' Rest Hotel before Dr Boor, Cor ncr, upon fires that occurred during the j first week in last month by which the houses of Christian Schwass at Waimea Weat, and Henry Schwass at Redwood's Valley were destroyed. With regard to the first the jury brought in a verdict that there was no evidence to show how the fire originated. In connection with the second, there were suspicious circumstances, one witness stating that, although, the house was supposed to be empty, the owner being at Takaka at the time, he heard someone moving about in it while it was on fire. It also came out in evidence that the outbuildings were burnt a little before midnight on Sunday the 6th April, and the house at five o'clock on the following morning. The jury found that the place was wilfully set on fire by some person or persons unknown. The house of Christian Schwass wasinsuredin the Colonial office for £100. Henry Schwass' house was insured for £100, the stable for £75, and the furniture for £35 in the same office. Air Harley watcked the proceedings on. behalf of the Insurance Association, The usual weekly practice of th c Harmonic Sooiety will not be held this evening. Tub annual general meeting of j?the Chess Club was held lust night in the Institute, when several new members were elected. It was decided to open the season next Wednesday evening. The Royal Roller Riuk will be open this evening, when the Bijou Band will be in attendance. At the Distriofc Court this morning William Lewin was fined 40a for not answering to his name as a juror. A committee meeting of the Poultry: Bird, and Dog Association will bo held at 730 this evening. The Help Myself Society will give an entertainment in the V.M.C.A. Hall this evening at 7.30. Messrs Sharp & Sons report sel ing at their fortnightly sale on tha 30th April, culled merino ewes at 23 63 ; prims fat ewes at 10s; leading horse at £5 10a. At a speoial sale on the Bth May, fat sheep at 10s ; good 3tore cross bred wethers at 7a 6d ; also store ewei from 7a to 7s 3d ; prime ewes in lamb ad 9a 6d ; culled lambs at 8s 33 (stores) ; merino ewes at 3s Gd ; horse for £9 ; old pony. 15a. At their stock sale yesterday, crossbred sheep, hardly fat, at 83 Cd : 1 pen at li 6i ; merino ewes at 3s 6d On the Gfcli May they hold a clearance Bale at Mrs Stratford's, and sold store bred lambs afc 3s 7d, and mixed store sheep not prime quality from 4s Gd to 5s ; aged farm mare £8 10s ; horse £10 ss.— They further report the sale of 20 head of fat cattle at from 15s to 17s (id per lOOlbs. There is a good demand for good ewes in lamb and fat stock, and a rising market is looked for. The R. M. S. Mariposa, with the English mails to the 19th April, left San Francisco for Auckland on the 3rd inst. (contract date), The R3I.S. Zealandia, with colonial mails of the 23rd April, arrived at San Francises from Auckland on.^the 10th inst. (contract date), Five hundred men's woollen comforter 8 three yards long will be slaughtered at 9d each, worth 2s 6d, at the Auckland Clothing and Drapery Co.'b siale. — Advt, We have received this day 150lbs more best Berlin Wool, & and 8 ply. all colours, will b 8 cleared at 2/11 per lb*' usually sold at 8/6, at the Auckland Clothing & Drapery Co's Sale.