North Otago Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING WEDNESDAY. MAY 31, 1893.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 7888, 31 May 1893, Page 2

North Otago Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING WEDNESDAY. MAY 31, 1893.

Thk address of tho Minister for Lands at Palmerston on Friday last was more moderate, and, wo will also say, more statesmanlike, than either the Premier's at Napier or that of tho Minister of .Education at Dune-din. It was, in fact, studiously moderate, and as the other two just mentioned were also less turbulent, if wo may so express it, than many previous ministerial utterances, it looks as if our mastors intended a new departure. Mr Seddon said they were going to create no further k alarm, and as tho performance of Mr Reeves at Dunedin was much moro diverting than alarming, and the more recent address of tho Lands Minister as mild as the weather at tho timo of its dolivory, we may almost conclude that they have entered into a conspiracy to keep tho peace. This is so far satisfactory. It is always pleasant to mark improvement, and especially to bohold signs of repentance in the ministerial mind. Wo do not think any set of politicians in New Zealand over played tho braggadocio's part with such comical audacity as the present Ministers. The manner in which they have takoti credit to themselves for stopping the exodus, roviving trade, and producing surpluses is now a standing joke. They scarcely allowed anything even to tho llifler of the Universe. Were not Mossrs Ballance, Seddon, and Co. the gods and godlings of this particular part of tho lower world 1 So at least their bragging seemed to say. Hut they have of late changed their tune considerably. They now actually admit that the late Government had something to do vri'h the inauguration of tho selfreliant policy, and Mr Reeves went the length of saying that their finance had been of some benefit to tho colony, though wo notice that tho Piemier is still tossing up his cap and vigorously hurrahing for his 'own set. In one of hie West Coast harangues the other day ho pointed to the full Treasury as a proof of tho wisdom of Mr Ballance's finance Our readers know that tho present Government's surpluses come direct from tho finance of Sir Harry Atkinson. It is, in a word, on his finance that the Government have been working, as Mr Reeves practically admitted when he said that the new taxation had only beou in force for about six months. We have again and again pointed out that tho property tax would have yielded as much as tho land and income tax, and as the latter hascontributed only a trifle to the present largo .surplus, it is ridiculous to claim the said surplus as tho result of the financial arrangements of tho late Treasurer. Even Mr .Seddon must sooner or later come to see the folly of such a claim. And after all it is not such a rory difficult thing to clap on taxation enough to produce a surplus. Tho genuine natural financier is moro anxious to reduce than to increaso tho public burdens, and the present Government may rest assured that the country will not much longer suffer itself to bo taxed in order to provide employment for the crowds pouring in from tho other side. Tho co-operative system adopted by Mr Seddon is a good or a bad thing just as it j is managed. If tho honorable gentleman's action causes it to bo circulated throughout Australia tint the Now Zealand Govornmont is providing work at rattling wages for all and sundry ho will soon havo a formidable unemployed difficulty on his hands. But wo aro digressing from our proper theme — tho address of the Minister of Lands. Mr MKenzie is, we say, to bo congratulated on the moderate tone in which he spoke of the Government and their achievements generally, and if ho endeavored, as no doubt ho did, to sot his own legislative and administrativo doings in tUo host possiblo light, it was not in an offensively boastful manner. 'He is ovidently doing his best to promote settlement, though it is to be feared that in his eagerness to get the land occupied an unusually large number of failures will result. This, wo should say, is especially apt to bo the case under the Homestead Association systoin, JJut we havo no wiBh to forebodo ovll. II is particularly gratifying to find that the village settlements aro in a fairly thriving condition. Settlement on the whole has received a decided stimulus from the present Government. But it would not do to buy moro Choviot estates. Mr M'Konzio defends ffao purchase, and tells how careful ho and his colleagues wovo fco ascertain the value of the property. Even, however, if it had been got cheap, and this is very doubtful, it is not a legitimate way of promoting settlement. It was never intended to acquire largo tracts of country in that way, and thoro might bo the same kind of statutory regulation to provont a repetition of what w,o cannot but consider a mistake. Thoro is ainplo provision for acquiring land under tho Land for bettleuunt A.ctj but tht repuixhwa of

estates ought to bo gone about with the greatest caution in any case. We doubt if thore is ho much need for acquiring land as tho Government allege, and it is quite certain that so long as they are not armed with power to tako it wherovcr it may bo required, whether the owners are willing to sell or not, it will be as easy for settlers to buy at first hand, as tltey could no doubt do bo in most cases on reasonable terms. In the course of his address Mr M'Kensrio foil foul of Mv Justice Conolly, and walked into him, to uho a familiar phrase, in splendid stylo. Whether tho offonco of tho judge warranted such an explosion 'of virtuous indignation we are not quite prepared to pay. Thore can be little doubt that ho spoke unadvisedly with his lips at New Plymouth. As tho Government were only doing their plain imperative duty when they sent an official to Taranaki to investigate tho alleged dummyism, the remarks of his Hanor seemed to be utterly uncalled for, if not a direct interferonco with tho cause of justice. It is of the utmost importance that tho gi\>ss dishonesty too frequently practised by im'n in respectable positions in connection with tho acquisition of land should bo sUmpcd out, and if Mr Justice Conolly mado himself a special p'eader for dummyism, as Mr M'Kenzio alleged, and as his own remarks seemed to imply, ho richly deserved tho dressing down ho received. Mr M'Kenzio will doubtless bo fiercely assailed for speaking as ho did, but thcro can bo no question as to tho impropriety of his Honor's denunciation of tho Government for doing what thoy were simply bound to do for tho protection of tho public interests, and if tho Minister for Lands has erred in, so to spoak, taking the law into his own hands, the provocation which ho rccoived will, wo suspect, get him an easy pardon. Tho honorable gentleman was not more communicative than his colleagues as to tho future policy of tho Government. We knew already that thoy have some intention of dealing with tho tax on improvements, and Mr M'Kenzie said that they " would bo prepared when the proper time came, to submit to Parliament proposals which would enable the affairs of the colony to be carried on without revcrling to tho old system of "borrowing." What this means we cannot say, if indeed it means anything more than a bid for votes on a pretended non-borrowing policy. It is perfectly certain that the G<n eminent will either have to taper off the public works in a very summary f.iihion, or borrow in some way or other. Mr M'Kenzio knows this as well as anybody. The people are not such fools as to submit to bo taxed for the construction of railways and other works, and such works cannot of course bo carried on without money. To say that the colony can carry on public works on anything like tho present scale out of surpluses is simply to hoodwink the public. If borrowing is to stop, tho public works must also stop, although it may suit tho Government in view of the coming general election to talk big about what tho country can do, under great Liberal party management, on its own resources.

Mails for Australian Colonies only, via Sydney, per Taruwcia, close at Russell at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, the 31st instant. The drill of the Kurow Contingent of the North Otago Mounted Rifles taken place in Delargy's Hall on Friday night, at 8 o'clock. Last week four guns in a day and a-half's shooting at Hakatcramca, bagged 90 hares, a number of rabbits, and several pukakis. The shooting was interrupted by the wot weather. A picked team horn the Athletic Football Club will play all-comers on the Old Cricket (jround to-morrow, play commencing at 3 o'clock. All players arc requested to put in an appearance. The letters of "XXX" and "A Disappointed Member" appear on the 1st page of this issue. These letters have been in type for several days, but owing to pressure on our space had been crowded out. The New Zealand and Australian Laud Company have several small dairy farms on Ardgowan for sale. There is a demand for this class of land at the present time, and Mr Mnepherson, Totara, will supply all information. The demand from Australia for first-class New Zealand sheep still continues. Mi <J. Reid, of Klderslie, has sold 100 2-tooth Lincoln sheep, through the N3W Zealand Loan and Mercantile) Company, Christchuroli, to a New South Wa'les breeder. We have received a copy of the fir.st public issue of Hard Cash, a magazine of finance and politics. The paper deals trenchantly with the "reconstructed" financial institutions in Australia, and it lias a good deal to say about the banks that are still solvent and doing business. The road race of the North Otago Cycling Club (previously postponed) takes place tomot row, starting from the Post Office at 3 p.m. Several of the competitors arc in tip top fettle, and intend to break the amateur iccord for tho same distance. In addition to the Club's prize, Mr G. M. Procter will give a couple of trophies, so that there will be some inducement for fast timc8. On and after Wednesday, the 7th Juno, tlicie will be open for sale or selection, citlici for cash, for occupation with light of pm chase, or for lease in perpetuity 4997 acres of Crown land in the Canterbury land district. The Crown Lands Ofl'jco at Cluistchurch has issued plana to railway stations and post offices, and full particulars can be obtained from the office. A meeting of householders was held at Glenavy on Monday evening, for the purpose of electing a school committee for tho ensuing year. Seventeen householders were nominated. On a ballot being taken the following were declared duly elected, viz. : Messrs P. J. Murphy, (j. Adlam, K., Kutt, J. Gray, J. Stevenson, H, (Jdoy, and J. Koiniedy, At a ooinmitUe meeting held subsequently, Mr P. J. Murphy was elected chairman and Mr J. Gray lion, secretary and treasurer. It appears that Mr B. M. Smith, M.H.R, for New Plymouth, was the party who elevated Mr Seddon to tho Premiership. He said, when addressing his constituents on Monday night, that ho wired ai follows to Mr Seddon: "Don't give way to any person Tour right is to be leader of the people and the House" Mr E. M. Smith is the gentleman who is known to fanio through the size of tho cabbages and turnips Taranaki can produco, he having on divers occasions flouri&hod bunches of these esculents in tho faces of members of the House of Representatives. Mr Richard Craig, who^ was for eleven veara stationmaster and postmaster at Herbeit, and who died on the 12th inst., had \m life insured in tho Government office for L'200, and thisamount, together with bonuses added, was paid over to tho widow yesterday. Mrs Craig desires tq thank the Dopaitincnt for their promptitude in settling her olaun, and it maybe mentioned that the proofs in connection therewith only reached tho head office on the 25th inst. Tho funeral of Mr Craig, which was very largely attended by tho sorrowing settlers and people of Herbert, took place last Sunday foitnight, the Rev. MrNichol, of Hampden, officiating. At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Major Keddell, R.M., the following civil cases wore heart] : J. L. Allan v. Tlios. Lester, claim Lll 15s Judgment by default for amount claimed with 30s costs. Mathow Clydesdale v. Alfred Avcry, claim 10s. The plaintiff said a witness that ho had subpoenaed had failed to put in an appearance, and he would like an adjournment. The dofendant said he Mould not stand in tho way of the plaint if\'n effort to prove his claim, although ho had oout in frog) Tapui to ftttari tho Court.

An adjournment till Tuesday next wft« granted.

J. D. Pbrrkt, artiHt, of Duncdin, being-# now on short visit to Oainaru, is prepared to give a few Icbsomb iu landscape pointing from nature.— Address, Star and fiart«r Hotel, or Vallange, Christie and Co., nuctioncers. The Toes street Butchery lias again boon opened under its old and efficient management, and Mr David Dunn hopes that his old customer! will again favor him with their patronago, as ho is quite competent to cuter for all their wants in this home. Daviw Ddnw, Proprietor. Basket and Mat Manufactory.— Oamaru may now boast of a real baskot and mat shop. Clothes Baskets, Nursery nnd Easy Chairs, Baby Cots, and any kind of Basket Work lequired made on the premised. Buy off the maker direct, and sava the middle man's profits. Our mats are well known to* wear out any imported article. Our speciality Ladies' Afternoon Toa Tables. — Arthur Warren, Tee* street (close to Mr Whito, grocer.) The attention of business men, farmers, and others, who require a really roliablo Suit, i« directed to a largo consignment of Puio, Hound, Cheviot Tweeds, suitable for winter wear, ex Oterama and Taiimi, ju»b iu rived, at Jambs Gemmkia's Tailoring and Outfitting Establishment, Thames street. This establishment has long been noted for the first-class character of its productions, and this season gentlemen will have large ranges of Oamaru, Mosgicl, Koslyn, and other colonial makes to select from, also English (taods in Suitings, Coatings, and Trouserings, the best that can be procured. (Suits from 70s upwards.