North Otago Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1894.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8123, 7 November 1894, Page 2

North Otago Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1894.

We havo frequently written against tho policy of tho present Government, and our strictures fmvo gonorally been mado whon their actions have shown more than a desire to launch out into prodigility, and holding that tho taxpayers of this country cannot stand increased burdens wo woro thus amply justiiied in anything wo may havo written. It may bo consolatory to thoso who support tho Mm* istry through thick and thin to say that the general policy of tho Ministry is good, and if thoy cao take any consolation out of this opinion wo must say they aro easily pleased, for tho policy is one that it takes no prophet to say will land tho colony in a muddlo before their term of oflico has expired. No extravagant Governmontcan hopo to rule this colony with success. If a business man is extravagant ho comes to grief, that is if his extravagance carries his expenditure boyond tho capacity of his revenue to meet. So with tho Government. Wo fjnd thorn increasing what might bo termed their post obits, and playing high jinks with whatever money thoy c<m lay thoir hands on, and as if to put tho coping stone on thoir boldness in carrying on a policy of oxtravaganco Mr Ward keeps tho Jliuo* moa lying in Wellington harbor with a full head of steam on waiting till Parliament prorogues to carry him to the Bluff. Wo would havo no special objection to Mr Ward travelling in this ro^al stylo if tho colony could afford it, but tho fact that that gentleman had to mako a raid on tho purses of tho land-tax payers four or five months boforo tho regular time should suroly bo sufiiciont ovidonco to him that thero is not too much money in tho public chest, and that a policy of caution and not a policy of inflated oxtraraganco should bo followed. What necessity was thero for using tho Hinomoa so that one man might travol to the Bluff ? Suroly the private affairs of one individual should not bo sujHciont oxcuso for calling into requisition tho most expensive rcsouroo of tho Stato to carry him to a point that could bo oasily , reached by other means. A special train from Christchurch to Invorcargill would bo cheap compared with this royal mothod j of travelling. Wo find that tho Uinomoa after landing tho Colonial Treasurer returned to Lyttolton, probably to tako in coals sufiiciont to enable her to proceed to Wellington to bring down tho Honorable John M'Kenzle, Ministor for Lands. If the colony woro not on its fmanoial last legs this sorb of thing might bo received m a mothod Ministers have of keeping Captain Fairchild and his crow from turning rusty, bub under tho circum* stances it; appears to bo a pretty expensive way tho Ministry havo of keeping the ofticora and crow of tho Hinomoa from becoming crusted with the oxido of iron. Wo fool grieved that wo should have to find faulb with tho manner in which Messrs Ward and M'Konaio got rid of tho money of tho country, bub as Mr M'Konzie would havo taken a keen delight in pointing out tho gross extravagance of a political oppononb who had acted in tho same way as ho has done, he cannot reasonably object if we point out that ho is much worso than thoso who preceded him in this respect.

Wo fIF.O glad to learn that W. Newlantls, son of Mr «J» Newlands, of Mahono, who was successful in the recent Otago University examination, is making rapid progress towards obtaining his degree, and is one of the most promising of students. The railway cheap excursion tieket 1 } to Christchurch show and races may be obtained at tho railway station up to Thursday, the Bth November, available for return to the 20th. In our previous issues the date was given as tho Oth iust., instead of tho Bth. Wo are informed by an Oamaru resident, who has made a trip around a pretty extensive portion of tho district, that tho crops are looking remarkably well, and tho grass, notwithstanding the lengthened spell of dry weather, is holding out better than was expected. Tho new Rating Act provides that " vrhoro any rates remain unpaid after six months from tho date on which tho same first became recoverable from some person, sucb ratca shall, together with an additional charge of 10 pov centum of tho amount thereof, bo recoverable from any person liable to pay the same,"

It is alinosb unnecessary to draw tho attention of tho good people of Hnmpdcn and tho district suriounding to tho fact that I u musical and dramatic entertainment will be given in tho Atherucuin Hall, Hampden on Friday night first. Miss rtoss is a host in herself, and sho will have tho assistance of a largo number of first-class amateurs. The entertainment will bo one of the best ever given in Hampdou, and a full home in assured^ Tho following arrangements will be observed at the local office on tho Prince of Wales' Birthday : Post Office — A close holiday will bo obsorved. Mails for despatch will bo closed at 9 p.m. on Thursday, Bth November, and h counter delivery of letters will be made from Bto 8. .'J0 p.m. Telegraph Office —Hours of attendance, 9 to 10 a.m. and 7 to 8 p.m. Telephone Exchange — Open as usual. Tho entries for tho Agricultural Show this year will largely exceed in number any of the shows of oven four or five years back. In Ayishircs Rogerson and Fleming, James Gemmell, Thos. Stevenson, Peter Walker, Robt. Brand, and Ireland Bros. (Goodwood) have liberal entries, and the show of sheep will be tho best and largest that has ever been seen on the giounds. The dairy produce sections have also brought out an exceedingly large number of competitors. " The favorites never wiu," so it is said, and tho results of tho Melbourne and New Zealand Cups go a long way to prove this Impulse was an outsider for the latter, and Patron was very seldom spoken of for the former. Tho unexpected again happens, and the bookmakers are, as usual, on the right side of the hodge. It is most remarkable how often they are there. Tho public invariably occupy standing room on the wrong side. Mayoral election matters are getting rather sultry in Dunedin. During tho delivery of an address by Mr IT. S. Fish there was somo interruption chiefly by M r Martin and Mr Geddes, both of whom wero making remarks which wero inaudible to tho reporters. The former Mr Fish advised "to go to and roll his beer about," and to Mr Ueddes ho said "Oh, bo quiet, you old donkey." Tho report does not say whether Mr Martin went and rolled his beer about, or whether Mr Geddes accepted tho injunction of Mr Fish in a spirit that would impress one with a beliof in its applicability. We fear this story is not now. We find it in The Optician : A worthy old .Scot and his wifo purohassd somo goods in a shop in P tho other diy. As they wero turning to leave, tho old gentleman addrewd tho assistant thus : "Do ye come frao Germany 'I" "Na, na," replied ho, "I was born in P , and all my folks before me. " Weel," replied the old one, as he edged out of tho door, "ye may be proud o' yoursel', my laddie, for as faur as I can see ye'ro the only hame-ma.de article in the whole shop." Tho London correspondent of the Birminghum Gazette tells a good story about Mr Oswald, Q.C. , who is to tho Chancery Division what Mr Frank Lockwood is to the Common Law side—a sort of chartered libertine in the matter of joking in court. The other day a man who rejoiced in tho name of John Milton brought an action to restrain a nuisance to his private house by smoke and noise. Mr Oswald was against him, and commenced his cross examination. " Well, Milton, I suppose you found your paradise lost ?" " Yes, sir," responded the witness with tho poet's name, " and I have como here to get it icgaiued," which he did. Somo time ago a discussion took place by tho AtheiKUum Committee relative to the retention or stopping of a paper to which soveralof the membersof theCommitteo took exception owing to the nature of the matter it contained. The question came to a vote, and a majority of the Committee carried a motion that the paper in question be retained on tho list. This i.s to bo regretted, for notwithstanding the merits that the Committee see in the paper it also contains some thing* that are not lit to be bo<m by young peoplo, and that will not even bear repeating amongst those grown up. If a majority of the Committee must have the paper let thorn keep it amongst themselves, and on no account put it on the tables where the young may see it. The issue of the paper of the 20th October contains an advertisement that is positively disgusting in its indecency, and we hope tho Committee will at once take aotion to burn tho papers as they reach the institute, if they contain this advertisement. The coucort in aid of the funds of the Middle School, which comes off in the Public Hall to-night, lias, we are glad to say, every prospect of turning out an unqualified success Few peoplo in town can be unawaro of the fact that the schoolchildren have constituted themselves canvassers for tho sale of tickets, and there is every indication that their young efforts j will bo rewarded with a bumper house. The musical part of the entertainment is far above the average provided at the common order of school concert, mauy of our leading vocalists and instrumentalists having given a great deal of time and labor to its preparation under the ablo direction of Mr Tow.sey, whoso connection with the allUir is beginning to bo understood as a guarantee of excellence, We trust that tho committee will bo placed in a state of modest allluencc by tho financial results of their venture, and advise all, whether interested in the school or not, not to miss the opportunity afforded of enjoying a real musical evening. The concert will commenco at 8 sharp, punctuality being one of the leading features. Jamks Gcmmull iuvites inspection of his first HUinmor consignment of Scotch and English suitings, coatings, and trouserings, ex Pakeha, A choice selection of oxolusivo novelties ; also Oamaru and other Colonial goods of tho best quality. This Establishment has long been noted for the first-class character of its productions, Suits from 7Cs upwards. Waterproof overcoats to order and ready mado at lowest current rates.— James Grmmell, Thames Street, Oamaru.