North Otago Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, JULY 22, 1890.

North Otago Times, Issue 778, 22 July 1890, Page 2

North Otago Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, J ULY 22, 1890.

Somktimuh, though not always, a pound of practice is worth a ton of theory. The settlement of land iti a comparatively young country is, however, a matter in connection with which it must be pre-eminently so. Jn New Zealand we have plenty of thoory about land settlement — of thai, indeed, there has nover been a dearth in this country. Of this wo do not complain ; in fact, it is a thing to rejoice at, or without thoory thete can [bo no practice. ]t is a commonplace iin philosophy that wo must have i thoughts and ideas concerning a thing before wo can attain to the thing itself. Even land settlement is not exempted from the operation of this law. Ln regard to that mafiter, howi ever, plain hard-headed colonists in towii and country occasionally feel that the colony could do with' a little less theory, and would be better for a little more practice — more especially if the practice gave expression to what was best in the theory. Happily a small instalment in this line of business in now promised us by the Government. For many years wo and others have insisted on the dosirableI ness of enabling men to get on to the land at less preliminary cost to themselves than is practicable oven under the perpetual lease system. Lt .>■ earns we cannot afford to give the land away for nothing, even to men ideally fitted to becomo first-rate settlors. At the same timo there are probably many men in the country who would do well for thcrnsolvcs and the colony if they could got on to tho land at onco without becoming immediately liable in any shape for payments to the Government. Wo have long felt this, and we have often KOt forth the fact in those columns ; and we havo therefore a real satisfaction in observing that tho difficulty is about to bo mefc in a practical manner. At any rate, at page 12 of the Financial Statement tho Government tell tho country that they are "of opinion that in bush districts, and whore drainage is needed, it would bo of material assistance to the settler of small means if the rent for the first two years could be postponed and distributed over tho rest of the term, both in the case of perpetual leaseholders and deferred-payment selectors." And it is added that " a Bill to give effect to those proposals will be introduced shortly." Here we havo a proposal which is at once business-like and in substantial accordance with the necessities of the case. It is assuredly liboral in its principle in tho highest degree, and yet th'ore are persons who accuse the Government of all kinds of illiberality, more especially in regard to the settlement of the land. Wo venture to say, however, that anything more liberal — and at tho samo time moro in keeping with common sense — than this proposal has never been brought forward in tho colony. Of course wo refer to tho principle of the thing. The Govornment could nob bo expected, in making the proposal for the first time, to suggest that its operation should be made as widely applicable, perhaps, as wo [and others should like to see it ; but we hope that when the Bill is before the House, the details way be made much moro comprehensive than , we can assume them to bo from what is said in tho Financial Statement. Mr Macarthur, the momber for Manawatu, told tho llouso the other day that lie bad in his prjyate business put

tho principle in operation on a much more extended scale as regards time exempted from payment, and had found ib \Vork excellently in practice. Then, instead of confining the proposal to bush lands, and lands in need of drainage, wo think it might with groat advantage be made applicable) at least to limited areas of all settlement land in all parts of the colony. When tho Government Bill is before the country wo shall bo in a position to discuss the matter much more fully, bat for tho present wo have said enough to show the essential liberality of tho mcixsuro, and to indicate the lines along which its operation might bo extended.

[ Thk ualo of Llio Station Peak runs, from .a colonial point of view, waa a success— all tho runs oH'oi'od havo boon taken up, ami at prices mucli in advanco ot what was expuctod. At one timo it wan said the land should not havo boon out up into areas of lesa than 5000 acres, and that tho u pasts wore too high. The aalo has proved that practical men— for those who havo takou up iho latid havo more or leas knowledge of iilieop farming— have not thought the areas too small nor tho upset too high ; for in tho iirat place ovory ruu has found a purchaser, and in the second place only two of them went at the upset. Tho toUl upset of tho eight runs waa LI O3I 14s, aud tho amount realised was L 1491) 15s, or L4CS) Is moie tliau tho upsets. It may bo questioned whether it will pay to givo such high rentals for land ot the character of Station Peak, but, aa wo said boforo, tho men who bought are in a position to know what tho land 18 worth to them. On the question of whothor Station Peak ia a better run than Kurow opinions differ ; but if wo are to judge by tho respective rentals obtained tlicro must bo a wide diffeionce in favor of tho former, for while the Station Peak small grazing runs, comprising an area of 20,000 acres, realised L 1499 15s, those of Kurow, comprising, if wo remember rightly, a larger area, aid not realise half that sum. The success which has attended the sale of tho Station Peak runs should rcmovo all difficulties from tho way of those who are petitioning for the cutting up of the Ben Lomond and Maorow henna runs. Wo can say that no difficulties will bo put in the way of thoie petitioning, and that when the time comes the runs will be dealt with in a way that the march of progress and tiic butter utilisation of the public estate demands. Reading matter appears on tho lirit page of this issue. Mr Boreham's letter will appear toiTwnow. There being no criminal busings* at the District Court to-day the attendance oi jiuois summoned will not be required. Mr ]'). G. Kerr, proprietor of tho Timaru Herald, will bo a candidate for the Tunarti scat, rendered vac-nut by the death of Mr Turnbull. The Now Zealand cable officer reports that tho steamer Adelaide, fiom Port .Darwin, arrived at Banjoowangi at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Nominations for tho Oamaru Courting Club's Champion Stake close this evening with tho lion, secretary (Mr G. G. Proctor) at the Globe Hotel at 9 o'clock. Tho missionary lecture which tho Rev. Mr Milno will deliver this ovening in St. Paul's Church will be ropeatod to-mono w evening in Cohunba Church. Tho Rev. Mr Bannorman will give explanations of tho lantern pictures. Tho attention of parents in the town is drawn to n notice in another column intimating that a number of poisonous lozenges wore accident ally dropped on the streot3, probably at the south end of the town. The lozenges contain bi-chloride of mercury, and are ot a greenish color. It school toachors cuition tho children attending school it will do much to lessen the risk of children picking up and eating the lozongos. Our own correspondent writes : It is to bo hoped that tho Government will bo satisfied now, after tho groat "competition for the Station Peak runs fchat thoro exist » a genuine demand for land. There arc still numbers of would-be settlers in this distiiot who are eagerly watching events in connection with the Den Lomond and Maerewhenu i runs. Another enthusiastic public meeting v as held at Diuitroon on Saturday evening, when the lcport of the committee was received, and their action in preparing and circulating for signature a petition to the Minister of Lands piayiug that rims 17, .'JOO, and .301 bo cut up for settlement was unanimously approved. A number of munch were added to the petition during tho ovening, and it will probably bo forwarded within a few days. The Rev. T. Spurgeon proached to a huge number of heat era in tho Baptist Chinch on Sunday. Members and adherents of ncai ly all tho deno'ninations were present. The preacher took for his text Matt, v., xx., and from this depicted tho character of tho I'lniriseo, who was not to be taken as an example or a model. Ho told his hearers not to rely on their good works for salvation, but to accept tho only means of attaining that end, and that was through the blood of Christ. The Scribes and Pharisees wore anxious to show their good works to the world, and by long prayers sought to prove their righteousness, but Christ had said that such righteousness as that of the Pharisee would not open tho way to overlasting life Mr Spurgeon continues his mission sermons this evening in tho Baptist Church. " Tho Watchman," a contributor to the " Catholic Times," dropped into the House the other ovening, and found tho graceful Mr Kerr — lie weighs a trifle over 20 Stoneon his esteemed legs orating about the proposed Dogs Registration Act. It is needloss to say that curs of every description received tho fullest justico at his hand. Mr Kerr, however, speaks of the canine race as '•datgs." There was, by tho way, a line wan// of unanimity amongst mo nbers roI regarding fcho pronunciation of this little 1 word dog — Mr Vet rail, for instaiicc, fired off a little speech lileo -a feu dtjoic relating to " ship. dags," while Mr Barton, who icjoices in a superb Oxford bleat, says "eloorgs," and anothor lion, member volunteered au interesting statement in a minor koy aboyt "dugs." The police received information yesterday morning that John .Johnston, landlord of tho Waitaki Bridgo Hotel, had hanged himself in n stable. Wm. E. Russell said ho was at tho Waitaki Bridge Hotel yesterday morning, and was called by tho stableman who informed him that Mr Johnston had hanged himself. Ho went to the stable and found tho body lying on the floor. Ho had evidently hanged himself with a pair of cart reiiu, the remains of which were on a beam overhead. Lifo was extinct. He removed tho body into a stall, and locked tho stable up. Doceasod might have been hanging about three quarters of an hour, as ho saw him about that time before tho occurrence. Tho body had been cut down by the stableman, Johnston had been drink heavily of late. An inquest will bo held. In his speeclji at Oamaru (says fcho Christchurch Press) Sir Robert jposed as tho friend of tho labor unions. But it has been shown that never in the history of New Zealand was so drastic a measure introduced for suppressing labor organisations as Sir Robort and his colleague Mr Buckley endeavored to get passed. We mean tho Threats and Molestation Bill. It was introduced in tho Couucil by Mr Buokley, and its second reading inovocl in the House by Sir Robert. Our readers will remember the Bill, for at tho last goncral election we published it in full, and drew Sir Robort's attention to it when ho was stumping iti Canterbury. It may be safely assorted that },iad it becotno law trade unions would have recoived a death blow. Among its provisious it was intended to bo enacted that anyono who would " ooorce another to quit any omployent, to bolong or not belong to any temporary or permanent association or

combination " was to be liable to three months' imprisonment with hard labor. The evident intention of the Bill was to stamp out trade unionism by tho strong arm of the law. That it is not how on tho Statuto book is not tho fault of Sir Robert and his liberal colleagues. Unionism has nothing to thank bis Government for. Tho unfortunate tinny with Sir Robert and his party is that, when out of office, they arc loud in Hieir proNstations of their friendship for tho working 1 classes, but when they get into power they Hing a diflercnt Bon;/. They should, however, remember that what in printed remains, and may be used 'to revive their sometimes too dormant memories. It may intoicst many of our readers to hear of the promotion of the following school teachers, as notified in tho Gazette : Mr Arthur Gittbrd, formerly assistant in the South School, at present in Wang.iuui, promoted to A 2 by length of service ; Mr George If. Simmers, of Nganaiu, to A 2 by inspector's marks ; Mr Daniel Ferguson, of Pukouri, to B2 by length of service and inspector's marks ; Mr libene^cr C. Howat, of Riverton, formerly arssistant in tho Middle School, to B2 by length of service and inspector's marks ; Mr Jam<>?, of Wellington Ili'^h School, formerly pupil teacher in the Middle School, to Ai by examination ; Mr David W. M. Burn, of Waitaki High School, to J33 by length of service ; Mr Richard James Barrett, of Cromwell, formerly assistant in the South School, to J)2 by inspector's marks ; Mr John Kelly, of Kurow, to D 2 by length of service ; Mr John 1), Burnard, of Waianakarua, to I>3 by length of service ; Miss Jessie Cairns, of tho Worth School, to 152 by inspector's marks; Miss Grace Fit/gerild, formerly of Waiareka, to 1)3 by length of service and inspector's marks ; Mr Alexander Goodall, formcly pupil teacher at Pukeuri, to D 3 by inspector's marks ; Mii.i Maty Heg.irty, of the South School, to D 3 by inspector-} marks ; Miss Bessie Symons, formerly pupil teacher iv tho South School, now in Auckland, to D 3 by inspector's marks; Miss Agnes Chalmer, formerly assistant in tho South School, now in Wangauui, to J)4 by inspector's marks.

Glknmninu and Douik would specially ask purcimtieia of Dres3 Goods to call at onco. Special purchases at desperate prices, just arrived, like of them never seen before, possibly never seen again. AU>o, another pile at last Saturd lys prices, will bfi shown to-day (Saturday). We know a lot are waitI ing further reductions all over th'j establish - ment. Tub truth, the wholi; truth, and NomiNC IiUT Tin: truth, that Sanderson's I .Sale positively closes at tor Saturday first. Roll tip and secure the remaining Bargains. No reasonable offer refused.— [Advjl\] Si:asovam,u auvioi;.— Buy your Waterproof Coats, Overcoats and warm Underclothing.it the Glasgow Clothing House OheapSale. Immense variety of reliable goods to choose from. Reduced price* and 2s in the £ for cash. Try our 50s suits to measure. No get away from it ; best value ever olfered in Uamar u. — W m . Wa ddku,. — [A i> vt. j Tiikbe can bo no doubt but that the goods which our Woollen Factory is turning out arc of urpassing excellence. Wo have .seen nothing, however, to equal the quality and finish of the Tweeds which have been manufactured to Mk Jamks GBMMKUiS special order. Those arc, indeed, par excellence : and uto made up in tho Latest Styles, Workmanship anil Fit being Guaianteed. — [Advt