THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, JULY 26, 1888.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9116, 26 July 1888, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, JULY 26, 1888.

The local annual meeting of the shareholders of the Loan and Mercantile Agency Company held yesterday, following the precedent of previous years,

presents a glowing picture of progress in that remarkable and successful institution. The magnitude of its transactions, the rapidity of its growth, and its unvarying prosperity, despite the heavy clouds that have been resting over at least a portion of the scene of its operations, give it a prominence and a distinction that must make it the envy of shareholders in almost all other enterprises in the colony ) but it is only fair to other institutions to say that it is mainly because its operations extend throughout other scenes, and those very differently circumstanced, that >it has presented such a record of success. No doubt prudent management, both here and elsewhere, has had much to do with this success ; but the flow of English capital into the neighbouring colonies, and the impulse which this has given, as well as all the other elements in the great "boom" across the water, are "of course to be very largely credited for this result. All the same it is satisfactory to see that at least one institution,which owns New Zealand as its birthplace, has not only continued to yield so satisfactory dividends, but has assumed colossal proportions that place it side by side with the greatest commercial enterprises of the world. But our object at present is not the superfluous work of laudation of an enterprise that tells so plainly its own story of success, as to refer to some of the suggestive and valuable thoughts conveyed in the speech of the chairman. Dr. Campbell, in dealing with the interests that make a country prosperous and great, adduces an illustration from England that will be startling to many wno are accustomed to regard British manufacture as the principal factor in the progress and wealth of the British Islands. He shows that the agricultural production of the United Kingdom is nearly as great as the production of its manufactures all taken together. "It is double the production of all its looms, three times : that of its ironworks, and four times that of its .mines. When we consider that this is the condition of things in a country that is par excellence the great factory of the world, it must be admitted that Dr. Campbell has made out a good case for the paramount claims of agriculture ; and when he applies his conclusions to a young country situated as ours is, his argument is irresistible. If Great Britain, with the largest factory system, and the greatest commerce of all the nations of the world, derives almost as much of its wealth from the products fof the soil as from all its mines and "factories taken together, we have indeed furnished.to us a reason for . bending our principal efforts to the exploiting of that source of wealth which we have so to our hands, and so unlimited in extent. We believe Dr. Campbell's words will , find an echo in thousands of minds, when in speaking of how little the Government has done for developing the greatest source of our future wealth he says, "It is not by retrenchment alone that true prosperity can be brought back to the colony, and I think I am justified in saying that as yet the Government has made no movement nor shown any sign of grappling with the difficulty, and seizing the . only remedy which can bring us permanent relief. The one and only remedy is the extended occupation of the soil, by placing practical farmers on our country lands, by a system of assisted immigration, and money being, advanced as is now in operation in America and Canada. Railway logrolling, opening up country— the same description ,as we already have millions of acres opened up, and available for settlementis simply a criminal waste, of money, only adding to our existing burthen of indebtedness, and not yielding any return to relieve us from it. That money expended in the manner I have named would speedily change the whole aspect of the colony." These are weighty words, and their force is in that they are so true ; and they are intensified in the force of their application •by the incident which occurred last night in Parliament when the Minister of Lands, in replying to a question,. expressed himself as quite satisfied with what has been done, and consoled himself in the thought that there seems quite sufficient demand for small farms. Dr. Campbell speaks of immigration of practical settlers from abroad into the colony, but the Government does not even see the wisdom of offering effective inducements for staying the departure of such settlers from the country. " Let them go," said the Premier ; and in the meantime we see the very class which is required drifting away by hundreds in every departing steamer. The country has indeed been brought to the verge of ruin by misgovernment, but the negligence which at the present hour is doing nothing to stop the loss of this valuable element in our population is the most culpable form of the misgovernment with which the fortunes of this country have been blighted. It is of course idle to lament the many millions which have been spent on public works which were supposed to be capable of advancing the country to a high stage of prosperity, and to think with regret what a very small proportion of the amount, if applied :to the practical and efficient assistance or settlement, would have been sufficient to have. converted millions of acres of what is still wilderness, into smiling homesteads. That is passed now ; but when we see the minds of Ministers and legislators still turning in the same direction, bent on spending the last dregs of the borrowed millions in a similar way, and seeming to have no apprehension of the necessity of taking any definite steps for increasing the settlement of the people on the lands of the country, we feel almost as if, in some way, as a judicial • punishment of the colony for its misdeeds, our rulers had been stricken with political blindness. The work of retrenchment is indeed a great and salutary duty; and the country has demanded it even more than the Legislature ; but no one can be so short-sighted as to suppose that retrenchment of itself can restore life to the colony, or give a stimulus to progress; and the narrowness of idea which has confined all effort to retrenching, and ignored everything else, falls far short indeed of the statesmanship that is demanded for such a crisis of affairs. We can hardly think it possible that any intelligent citizen in the colony will not endorse the words of Dr. Campbell : "We may retrench here a little, and there a great deal, but after all the colony will only be a little less or a little more in debt; but it will have remained as to progress in statu quo, and it will not have advanced in material prosperity ; and I confidently assert that it cannot, and won't advance, until it has fallen back on the only true source of wealth to all nations, that which proceeds from the occupation and cultivation of the soil."

Every right-minded citizen will cordially rejoice at the exemplary punishment yesterday inflicted by Dr. Giles in connection with the intolerable nuisance under which Fonsonby and the districts surrounding have been suffering. It was the heaviest penalty that could be imposed, but it certainly falls far short of what was deserved ; for that any persons should have wilfully subjected a whole community to so much suffering and injury, exhibits a reck-

lessness of others' interests and feelings that constitutes a wanton tyranny. Such an incident only goes to show what one man might be capable of doing to another or to many others, if he only had his way. One resident swore that to the best of his belief the poisonous effluvium from this nuisance was the cause of his daughter's death; and we do not hesitate to say ? that the man must be very callous to the claims of humanity, and very indifferent to the reproaches of his own conscience, and to the respect and good-will of his fellow-citizens, who can have an easy mind under such a serious charge. Had this offence been committed inadvertently, it might have had some excuse ; but deliberately was it perpetrated, and persistently continued, until the culprits were directly face to face with the arm of the law. The case was a flagrant and very scandalous one, and the insolent disregard of others exhibited a very repulsive form of selfishness that precludes any sympathy for the offenders 1 in the imposition of the highest" penalty which' could be imposed, and which was all too little for the deservings. But there is an aspect of this case that does not seem to have been brought to the front in this enquiry. We have heard of the people for miles around this slaughterhouse and its filthy surroundings being sickened by the typhoid-producing stench ; but what of the customers of these slaughtermen, whose voice has not been heard ? For there can hardly be a doubt that meat warm and quivering in the midst of such a poison-laden atmosphere, must ; have become i contaminated, and possibly been the means of disseminating sickness, if not death, to the consumers. Is it so that meat borne from the midst of such reeking filth has been vended and consumed in the city, and canned and exported to London 1 Will there be no inquiry as to whether the morbid conditions surrounding the slaughterhouse may not have been conveyed to the beef and mutton in poison germs that may result in typhoid to consumers who have never smelt the " black putrid mass of abomination, accumulated refuse of a slaughterhouse putrified," as forcibly described by Dr. Stockwell: the stench of which gave the > city Health »Officer violent headache. " Will 'this officer supplement his evidence by telling us whether the morbific influence of that" putrid mass" may not have been communicated to the meat dressed :in such an atmosphere, and through it to the consumers. " Decayed entrails from animals, and filth from slaughtered beasts," as graphically described by the City Sanitary Inspector, has this nidus of poison germs been confined in its results to the Ponsonby people who sickened or died from it? Or, has it had a wider range, and have the proprietors of this delectable establishment added to their criminal indifference to the sufferings of the community even more culpable indifference to the health iof their own customers 1 These are questions that should be answered in connection with an offence that is inadequately punished by a fine of twenty pounds. We have all been in perplexity as to the unaccountable spread of typhoid during the past summer. If such reckless disregard of others, as shown in this case, is at all general, the seeming absence of specific local cause for sickness may no j longer <' be a mystery ; and we have no longer any reason for doubting why typhoid is found in sporadic cases everywhere.

, Our cable messages this morning contain a number of important items of news. The second reading of the Parnell Commission Bill has been carried. The opposition to which it has been subjected has created the suspicion that Mr. Parnell desires to shirk inquiry. The visit of the Emperor of Germany to the Czar is said to be devoid of political significance. Turkey has put a stop to the erection of fortresses on the Tigris. ;

The annual meeting of the city Kindergarten and Creche was held last evening in the school-room, High-street, the Mayor, Mr. A. E. Devore, presiding. A report, of the proceedings is published in another column. "■

A somewhat peculiar case came before the Supreme Court in Banco Sittings yesterday. It was an application by Leo Medo, phrenological lecturer, for, a writ of injunction against Mr. Clendon, R.M., of Whangarei, and George Lor me, who was plaintiff in an action against the applicant. Mr. J. R. Reed, of.Kawakawa, Bay of Islands, appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Theo. Cooper for the defence. The case itself turned on the question of whether or not the summons was a nullity. A decision was given for the defendants.

The no notorious "Ponsonby Nuisances " were before the Resident Magistrate, Dr. Giles, yesterday, when the highest penalties were inflicted on the defendants.

' A Melbourne correspondent of a Southern paper, referring to Richard Birnie, essayist and barrister-at-law, says :—"He has been for years a well-known character in town, and for some 20 years has been the writer of the weekly essay in the Australasian. He was per se the most erudite man in Melbourne, and in his younger days was the associate and congener of Dickens, Browning, Thackeray, 1 the Arnolds, and most of the literary celebrities of the time. But, alas ! on the verge of 80 his reason has given way, and he is now an inmate of the Kew Asylum, taken there last week by a few friends. He was in his way certainly the most remarkable man in the city. Gifted with marvellous memory, au courant with every movement of the last 50 years, widely-read and erudite, his conversation was an education in itself. His weekly essays in the Australasian were much ap predated, and have been published in book form."

Mr. Neville Roff, Ellerslie, informs us that the kiwi caught) at Ellerslie the other day belonged to him. It was caught at Waitakerei about five weeks ago, and Mr. Roff was keeping it in confinement at his residence, but the door of its enclosure having been accidentally left open, the bird escaped, for which he is very sorry. At the meeting of the Ratepayers Association, last evening, a letter was received from the Auditor-General, in reply to a letter sent him from the association, asking under what Act he passed the item of £8666 in the Auckland city accounts for compensation to property-owners in Hobson-street, in which he stated that the local auditor had not drawn his attention to the matter, and there was nothing to show that the money had been spent illegally. That the wise or foolish expenditure of such moneys is in the discretion of the Council, and not of the audit. That as the sum is very large, and if the ratepayers thought it was illegally spent, the proper remedy would have been to move for an injunction in the Supreme Court to restrain the work proceeding.

At the Onehunga Resident Mrgistrate's Court yesterday, before Drs. W. R. Erson and W. G. Scott, J.P.'s,, John Aspan, of Awitu, was charged with assaulting his wife. Defendant pleaded guilty. The complainant not being anxious to press the charge, the Bench bound accused to keep the pence for twelve months in his own recognizance of £20, and to pay costs 30s. Civil cases : Morton v. Smith, claim £6, on an 1.0. U. ; judgment for plaintiff with costs. Quin v. Salter, claim 10s, for goods supplied ; judgment for plaintiff.

The unemployed difficulty is cropping up in New Plymouth, and the Mayor has been interviewed by men out of work, who ask for temporary employment. As the News puts itTemporary employment, however, is not what is wanted ; it does not meet the case. The men obtained temporary employment before at small wages, but it only put off tho evil day, and now they are in as straitened circumstances as ever. What is wanted, we believe, is to extend Mr. Balance's village settlements system, and thereby induce people to cultivate the soil. Had Mr. Ballance's system not been carried out the labour market would be much more congested than it is at present, and even the erstwhile opponents of that system are now constrained to admit that) it has proved a great success.

A novel and attractive exhibition has been opened by Mr. Goodson in connection with his new premises, late Montague's Fancy Bazaar. The exhibition ,is in the premises adjoining the bazaar, the entrance to which is through a long passage, lighted by coloured fairy lights, and decorated with fans, butterflies, and other Japanese paper wares. The vista is very elegant, and is set off to advantage by a mirror at the end of the show-room, which reflects back the lights in the passage. " The interior is a perfect Japanese fair. The main background is. composed of folding and fire screens of artistic workmanship. Then, displayed advantageously along the tables and through the room, are curious umbrellas, lacquer-ware, fans, puzzle-boxes, and a great diversity of other articles. A visit to the bazaar in the daytime is highly interesting, but at night it is doubly attractive.*

The Police Court was occupied till a late hour last evening hearing a charge which had been brought from the Wade of alleged insulting language by Mary Mcintosh to Thomas Rretschmar, on the 10th-i instant. Mr. G. N. Brassey appeared for the prosecution and Mr. W. J. Napier for the defence. After a large amount of evidence had been taken, the Bench dismissed the case.

The opera " Pirates of Penzance" is being carefully rehearsed by the ladies and gentlemen who are to take part in its proauction at the Opera House next month. Some of the principal characters have been allotted as follows; Mabel, Mrs. Cooper; Ruth, Miss Knight; Major-General, Mr. C. Chambers; Frederick, Mr. A. L. Edwards; Sergeant of Police, Mr.' P. C. Hamerton. The rehearsals, which are // under the direction of Mr. W. Findlay ;§J Wilson, are well attended, and the public - performances of the opera should prove most successful. At Mr. D. G. MacDonnell's office yesterday, the first general meeting was held of the shareholders of the Askham-Molloy ■ Gold Extraction Company. There was a quorum i present, and Mr. J. L. Wilson occupied the >.■ chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed, and the announcement convening the meeting was read. The first busi- ! ness was the election of directors to replace three who had resigned, and Messrs. J. H. Keep, James Macky, and Ralph, were chosen to fill the vacancies. Mr. J. M. Chambers stated that all the necessary apparatus '" was in first-class order, and that he was willing to conduct the ©perations with the full force of the plant for a week, and then furnish a report to the directors giving details of the results. Mr. Hales spoke in high terms of the efficiency of the plant, and expressed a conviction that the company's operations Y would be an unqualified success. It ~ was • decided that work should be started at the 1 Thames on Monday with the full power of the plant. . «

At the ordinary meeting of the Auckland Athenaeum this evening, Mr. G.B. Lilly will read a paper on "Ancient and Modern Sports, or Muscle and Intellect." The paper will not be a long one, but it will bring under review the prominent national pastimes of • various countries from their earliest recorded dates, and will deal with modern field sports, t as affecting the physical welfare of those who .'a take part in them. As a lively discussion is ' expected on some of the views put forward, ; . , it will be well if members, ana .the friends ;. f they are privileged to introduce, will attend i , punctually at eight o'clock. . 1 The residents • of Parnell are • holding a series of dances this season. It will be seen by advertisement that the second of these is to be held next Tuesday in the Parnell •. < Hall. . An enjoyable evening to those who attend may be anticipated. Mr. Salmon, the spirited manager of the %■' Columbia Skating Rink, has, with his accustomed liberality, arranged for a special entertainment this evening on behalf of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. As an unusually attractive programme has been prepared, including blind man's buff and a three-legged race, the public will no doubt evince their sympathy with this de- , . serving society by filling the house to over- '. flowing." lis# Messrs. Tonks and Co. will hold a large sale of new season's teas to-day, ex s.s. Taiyuan, direct from Foochow-foo, at their mart, commencing t'c eleven a.m.

Mr. briel Lewis holds a large sale of English i.nd colonial made furniture at his mart to-day. ' V ! . M

An interim dividend of threepence per share '-5has been declared in the New Zealand Accident Insurance Company, which will be payable to shareholders on and after the Ist proximo.

The attention of skaters is directed to an announcement in another column by- the manager of the Columbia Rink, notifying that the grand carnival, which. was to have been held on Monday next, 30th instant, has been unavoidably postponed till Wednesday, August 1. . A special lecture in connection with the Orange institution will be delivered by the Grand Master (the Rev. C. Ward) this evening in the Franklin Road Church on " The Uncrowned Monarch, Oliver Cromwell." The Newton Band. will be in attendance. Orangemen will appear in regalia. The City Council call for tenders for drainage works in Cook-street, and for kerbingand channelling in Custom-street East.