North Otago Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1891.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 7271, 20 October 1891, Page 2

North Otago Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1891.

Thk moat noticeable thing in the banquet proceedings nt Palmerston on Friday evening was tho great prominence given by tho speakers to tho criticism to which the Government in general, and the Minister for Lands in particular, had been subjected by what they wore pleased to call tho Tory Press. Our eo-called Liberals are wonderfully sensitive to anything like adverse remark on the part of tho newspapers. The Atkinson Government were criticised by the Ballanco organs in much the same way as the present Ministry are criticised by tho Opposition journals, but Sir Harry and his colleagues did nob go aboub the country uttering weak complaints about the manner in which they were attacked. Mr Ballance admitted that he had himself " planted a good many thorns;" then why raise such a lamentation on the subject? It was, to be sure, introduced by Mi* J. If. M. Fraser, tho gentleman, if we mistake not, who deserted his labor clients (so at least they alleged), bub the readiness, nob to say eagerness, with which

ib was taken up anrl descanted on showed that it filled a largo plivco in their minds. Wo are glad, however, to know that Mr Ballanco's opinion is that a Government which is afraid of tho cri.icism of the Press is unworthy of its position. In this wo aro in perfect accord with tho honorahlo gentleman, nnd if he and his colleagues would only hold their tongueg on tho matter, instead of indulging in complaints and lamentation*, tho public would no doubt hold them in higher respect. Before passing from this subject wo may say that Air M'Kenzio, whoso case was particularly bemoaned, brought a good deal of severe criticism on himself by his own outrageous conduct. But Sir Kobort Stout surely reduced complaint to tho point of absurdity when ho referred to the ephemeral wibticisims of " Civis" in tho Otago Witness. Wo confess we do not often read " Civis," though we could scarcely hnvo believed, had not Sir Robert Stout said so, that he would have stooped so low as to deride Mr M'Konzie'a birth. None but a lowbred fellow would oast such an insult as that at his fcllowman, and Mr M'Kenzie is to be admired rather than laughed at for having risen by his own exertions from the position, as he himself expressed it at the banquet, of a humble shepherd to be Minister of Lands and tho butt of " Civis." Still, thoro was something, to say the least, undignified in an ox-Premier making so much of such a very insignificant matter. Coming to tho political substance of tho speeches, it must) be said that when tho banquet was over tho situation remained unchanged. No new light had been thrown on the work of tho session. The Piamier iruido a good speech, as he always does whon ho ' as time to prepare, though it was of courso very one-sided and anything but fair to his oppononts. But this is only ono result of tho wretched spiiit in which party government is carried on in the colony. The one party tries to say as much as possible in its own favor, and as much as possible to the disadvantage of the other, and wo aro sorry to say that the " possible" includes what is not strictly true. l>ut it was to no purpose to say, as Mr Ballanco did, that tho importance of their change in the incidence of taxation has yet to be roalised, or to claim that they wore earnest and sincere in effecting it. The sincorest people are not always tho safest when thoy got the management of affairs in their hands, and we suspect that ignorance of the ultimate effects of the g^duatod land tax applies as much to tho Premier himself and his colleagues, as to those who, on public grounds of expediency, sincerely opposed the measure. Mr Ballanco would have us believe that largo cst'ites are tho cause of the depression. Tt would just bo as reasonablo to say that they were tho cause of the phenomenal prosperity which the country enjoyed a few years ago. " Why is it," ho askod, " that your great central district, Dunediu, seems over to have a cloud of depression resting there ? I say it because the work of settlement has not progressed ns vigorously as it ought to have done, and because tho subdivision of the lands has not gono on as it ought to have doneinayoung country." Now the fact is that Otago is as closely settled as any district in the colony, so that Mr Ballance's causes of the exceptional depression complained of by tho Dunedin traders cannot bo the true ones The real cause, or causes, of the Dunedin depression are to be found in the collapse of tho goldfields and the public works policy. It was Gabriel's and Sir Julius Vogel that built — at least extended — Dunedin, and when the yield of the goldfields and the colonial loans failed, it was bound to be seriously affected. The fact is that it was built too large, and that it will have to reduce itself to suit its altered circumstances, for nob only does tho escort bring down comparatively small quantities of the precious metal — not only has tho Works Department ceased to spend huge sums weekly in tho district — but tho city has lost much of its distributing trade. At ono time it distributed all ovor tho colony, bub now oven the smaller towns in Ofcago, Oamaru and Tnvercargill, import a greab proportion of their merchandise direct from Home, or other foroign marts. Mr Ballanco either did not know this, or politically kept it in the background. As to his threats about swamping tho Legislative Council with greab Liberal party supporters, or, if need were, abolishing ib — that was, to use a highly polite expression, all bunkum. It will notbegi/ento Mr Ballanco to perform such prodigies, Jt is only fair that tho party should be allowed to make a number of nominations if the country shows itself in favor of their legislation, but in the meantime the Upper Chamber will no doubt be preserved from the threatened outrage, should ib be attempted, by his Excellency tho Governor. As to Mr M'Kenzie's utterances, we shall reserve what we have to say thereon till he has addressed his constituents, which he is to do in a few days. In tho other speeches there was nothing worthy of note, except Sir Robert Stout's advico to stop drinking and smoking, two practices which send a lot of money out of the colony and do a vast amount of injury to the people. Thortj is no question as to the evil effects of drink, but few suspect the degree in which smoking lowers energy and injures the health. Theso two things aro oven worse than party Government.

The Gazette contains a list of rural lauds open for selection at Kurow, Moeralti, and Otepopo. Acceptances for the Palmorston races close to-morrow with the honorary secrotaiy (Mr J. T. Gwynne) at 7.30 p.m. The Gazette just to hand contains now regulations for tho inspection and examination of public schools. Tho porcentago of passes at the Kurow School this year is 89. The report in a highly favorablo one Members of tho Early Closing Association are uotifiod that all outstanding subscriptions are to bo paid to Mr Thos. Williamson bofore tho 30th iustaut.

Mr Kennedy Smith, second Assistant at the South School, has resigned his appointment, and loaves for Western Australia today ThoHO who intend to exhibit salt Imtlor at the forthcoming nhow aro requostnd to send in their exhibits lo the secrctaty, at the Show Ground, on Thursday first, atcr 1 p.m. As the Governor will bo in Oamavu on tho occasion of the show, one of our local merchants has intimited to tho N.O.A. and P. Association hin willingness to entertain him whilo in Oam int. Yesterday an inquest was hold on tho body of James Bare bofore Mr IT. A, Stratford, District Coroner. Mr Jas. de Clifford was choien foreman of tho jury. After taking evirieno", a verdict that deceased committed suicide whilo in n state «if tempornry insanity was returned. Mails for Australian Colonies, also India, China, Japan, and Settlements, via Sydney ; and for tho United Kingdom and Europe (for spooially addressed correspondence), via Brindisi, close at Wellington, per Jubilee, on Thursday, tho 22nd instant, and arc due in London on tho 9th December. ) Bishop French, of England, who died recently in Arabia, was known as "that many tongued man of Lahore," for he could pi each in English, Persian, Hindustani, Pushto, Hindei, Tamil and Punjabi, and was an eminent scholar in Hebrow, Arabic, Syi iiic, (ireck and Latin. Tho New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company have received tho following cablegram from their London office, dated lOlh instant: "Tallow -There is a fair doinand. Fine mutton is worth 28s, and good beef 26a 9d per cwt. Frozen Moats— Mutton market has a downward tendency. Beef market dull. New Zealand beef, hindquarters, worth 3gd per lb. Other quotations unchanged." Tho Secretary to tho North Otago Agricultural Association (Mr John Church) received tho following letter from Lord Onslow's privato secretary, tho Hon. Rivera* dale Wallrond : " Government House, Christchurch, 16th Octobor, 1891. -I am desired by His Excellency tho Governor to say that he and Lady Onslow have much pleasure in accepting your kind invitation for the 19th and 20th November.— Yours truly, Rivkrsdalk WamjBond." The Akarman-Canaris combination closed a successful season last night, when the Public Hall was well patronised. During their stay here tho company have delighted their audiences, and doubtless such a good company will have a succcsssful tour in the southern portion of this island. It is tho intention of tho combination to return to Oamaru at some future date, and we fool Huro all theatre-goers will give them the heartiest of recoptions. The Victorian Railway Commissioners have presented their report for the year. There nre now 2703 miles of railways open for traffic, constructed at an average cost of L13.133 per milo. Tho total cost is over L36.OOO.OO0. Tho revenue for the year was L3,291,567, the working expenses L2.310.045 (or 7O 1 O5 per cent), and as LI, 320,031 was requi-ed for interest tho net Io«s was L332.116. The commissioners blame newly opened lines in scattered country districts, for tho deficiency, and point out that they have L6,000,l)00 invested in lines which aro not 20 months old. After one of the most important events at the sports of the Mounted Rifles on Saturday had been decided — that of judging the handsomest trooper— a trooper, mounted on « grey horso, who had evidently been tittivating himself up a bit for tho occasion, came late on the field. Tho fact that ho was late did not deter him from presenting himself for judgment, and he planted himRelf down before tho lady judges with a formal salute and a serious countenance. Ho did not obtain the first prize, but it is expected when his better-half is told of his rashness a more serious aspect of the mattor will be presented to hia notioo. A writer in the London Lancet directs attention to tho fact that tho most recent remedy for alcoholism is petroleum or parraffin oil, to which the notice of the St. Petersburg medical authorities was called by an accident. It appears that a laboring man, who had been drinking heavily for four days and nights, entered, in a complete state of intoxication, a grocer's shop. Unnoticed by tho shopkeeper, ho staggered up to an open cask of petroleum, and began di inking from it. With difficulty he wai dragged away from tho cask, and, seeing tho largo quantity of petroleum ho imbibed, it was expected that he would fall down senseless and bo seriously ill. Instead of this, however, it i? related that tho petroleum had cured him of all the ill effects of over-drinking, tho nausea, unsteadiness of gait and headache disappearing as if by magic. In facl, it is stated he left tho shop sober, and quite another man. Here is an instance, and only a type of many others that might bo cited, of how tho members of our Liberal Government aro sacrificing the interests of the countiy to Kiopitiatc the agitators of the labor unions. Ir Seddon (writes tho Hokitika correspondent of the Kuinara Times) appointed Mr Thos. Daly, a well-known contractor, as overseer of somo concrete culverts on which a number of unemployed were at work. No bettor or more experienced man could be appointed for tho work. But last week a Mr Boase was sent from Greymouth to take his place. Tho only qualification this man possesses is that he has been secretary of a labor union, and during tho strike he managed to stir up no end of strife. If tho principle is to obtain in this colony that a man is to receive a fat billet because ho has made plenty of noiso during the strike, and that tho labor party required sops to be kept faithful to tho Ministry, then it is no wonder that emigration to the other colonies keops on increasing. Appointments of this kind da not tend to increase our faith in the existing institutions. Tho Grey River Argus of Wednosday last says : The Rosamond commenced to load coal yesterday afternoon, after having been lying idly alongside tho wharf since Friday last. This was not duo to any want of coal, but to the difficulty of knowing where to place a cargo of " black diamonds," all tho principal dopots in tho colony apparently being full. This state of things is one of tho legacies of the strike, and in all probability tho colony is destined to suffer from it for some time to come. Instead of Shaw, Siivill Company and the Now Zealand Shipping Company using Now Zealand coal, as they did formerly, they were compelled to resort to tho plan of bringing coal from Home by means of cargo steamers. They object to entering into any coal contract? in this colony ami subject themselves to tho dangers of a strike clause. Last weok thero were afloat in Wellington harb>r 8000 tons of coal, not in hulks, but in the bottoms that brought them out. Of this lot 3000 tons camo direct from Cardiff, 3000 from Nowcastle, the balanco being from Grey- < mouth and Westport. It is to all these we must look for an explanation of a boat like tho Rosamond lying empty alongside the wharf for four days. Just now, when popular feeling is running down tho Upper House, it may convoy a lesson lo reflect how much bettor it would have been for the various Labor Unions if they hid a superior body to act as a steadier to them and prevent them rushing to find disaster in the great labor strike. About 60 members of the Oatnaru aud other football clubs assembled in Kahanga Club room last evening to bid farewell to Mr Wm. Gronfoll, and also to present him with a purse of sovereigns Dr de Lautour, president of the Oamaru Football Club, made the presentation, and in doing so spoke of the assistance Mr Grenfell had rendered to football, and said his duty that evening was pleasing yet sorrowful, for whilo making tho presentation of the purse of sovereigns ho had at tho same time to bid him farewell. Footballors and othera would regret Mr Grenfell's departure from amongst them, and they had all boon pleaied to seo that Mr Grenfell had been chosen to represont Otago in tho in,terprovinoial football match, in which ho had performed to creditably to

himself, the team, and the district, Ho wished him ovory succoss in the new country ho was going to, and hoped that the puiae just presented to him would novor bo empty. Thoso present then sang vigorously "Forho's a jolly good fellow." Mr Grenfell, who wos greeted most enthusiastically, «aU tint ho was quite unable to find words to oxpre-s his feelings on this occasion. Perhaps ho could talk better about football t!»,ui any other topic. Ho remembered when a email boy being taken to the foothill Hold, and sometimes oven allowed to join in a game with his cldcis. ' Even then it was It m ambition, as it ever had been since, to get to tho top of tho tree, and ho was very g'ad to huvo been able creditably to represent the district in tho intcrprovincial tnaMi. Kvory foot bailer shnukl be ambition*, and tliiiik more of the dub than of his own distinction, and it would bo his greatest pleasure when in a country whore footballing was almost impossible, to road tho reports o r tho Oamaru Football Club matches, and to hear of its continued success. In conclusion, Mr Grenfell wished tho members, one and all, a very heartfelt farewell. Mr H. J. Biker, captain of the O.F.<!. , presented Mr Urenfell with tho inteipiovincial cap, given by tho Otago Rugby Union, ami a'so read the following tclo nun from Mr J. R. Montgomery, captain of tho 0,111'U. team : •' Best wishes to Grenfoll from Dunedin boys," Mr Baker regretted the departure of so capable a member of tho Club, and wished him every »uccess in his new sphere of life. Mr Grenfell suitably replied. Mr Clayton, on behalf of tho Excoleior Football Club, spoke highly of Mr Grentell's conduct as a footballer, and as a private citizen, and ho remarked that footballers might well emulate tho example he had sot. Songs wero sung by Messrs Murdoch, Forons, Gifford, Howat, Piper, Laurcnson, and H. Grenfell. A vote of thanks to Dr do Lautour, tho chairman, was uuanitnously passed, and the proceedings terminated with the singing of '• Auld Lang Syne." Niniau Hyslop and Co.'s "Imperial ' Teas when once tried will bo always used. They aro strong and flavory.

Gentlemen should havo ittlo difficulty in electing their winter suits and overcoats this season at James Gemmeli.'s Tailoring Establishment, tho variety of reliable and fashionable first-class woollen and worsted suitings, overcoatings, and stylish trouserings being very extensive. Gents' suits to older from 70s upwards. Waterproof overcoats at lowest rates. How an Obstinate Cough was Cured. — An aged lady of my acquaintance was for many years troubled with a chronic cough, so severe that she seldom had an hours' quiet leep. After spending all her subBtanco in modicino, she was persuaded to try B .{tor's Lung Preserver, which, undo Gods blessing, soon cured her. Rev. d. Se lars. — Vido "hook for Every Homo. Baxter's Anti-Nouralgio Pills are a positiv° cure for Neuralgia. Price, la 6d per box. Post free for 19 stamps.