THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 1888.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9129, 10 August 1888, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 1888.

The Harbours Act Amendment Bill' now before the Assembly, may be regarded as the prelude to a series of kindred measures of desperation intended to grapple with the consequences of the harbour-building mama of New Zealand. It only deals with the Thames, Waitara, New Plymouth, and Patea for the present ; on the presumption, we may assume, that, though their cases are far from being the worst, they are the most immediately urgent. In each of these the Bill proposes the suspension of the powers of the Harbour Board, and the vesting of the Governor with the same. The reason for this it is needless to explain. The Governor under this measure will have power to put in receivers, fix the harbour dues to be levied, and dispose of them as required, and primarily, of course, to pay to the creditors of the several harbours the interest due on their loans. It is the virtual assumption of the responsibilities of the harbours in question by the State, and may be regarded as foreshadowing the fate of most of the other harbours in the course of time. The measure further gives power to the Patea Harbour Board Ito borrow additional money to re- ; pair damages, and to the New Ply- ; mouth Harbour Board to borrow money to pay interest on its loans. We may be startled at this, but we shall get accustomed to such surprises by-and-oy, and if the Board has not the money to pay interest on the loans already raised, surely the handiest of all ways of getting it is by borrowing more. And accordingly this measure provides that "if, during any half year of the next four years the receipts of the New Plymouth Harbour Board, from the portion of land revenue payable to them from year to year under the provisions of section 17 of the New Plymouth Harbour Board Ordinance 1875, together with the balance of the Harbour Fund, after payment of all their other expenses, are insufficient to meet the amount of interest __ due or to become due for any such half-year on the loan already contracted by them, the said Board may borrow in such half-year, upon such terms as the Governor-in-Council shall approve, such sum or sums, not exceeding, however, a sum of pounds in any such half-year, as shall be required to make up the amount of interest due or to become due for the said half-year ; and may from time to time pledge or otherwise give security over the aforesaid portion of land revenue payable to them, for any moneys so borrowed, and for interest thereon. :,

There is an artless simplicity with an absence of ambiguity about this that is catching; but it is nothing to the brave faith that is exhibited that when this borrowing to pay interest comes to an end, something else will probably turn up. It cannot be said indeed that a wanton resort has been had to such an extraordinary course. The people of New Plymouth and its district have done their best. They have taxed their property to the lips ; they cannot possibly sbagger under further taxation. The proceeds of the land sales over a wide area have been given by the State to help them in their ambition to have a harbour ; for though nominally only a proportion of these proceeds was allotted them, it was found that after surveys and other necessary expenses, the Harbour Board absorbed the whole. And in this they have a grievance against the Government, inasmuch as by the changes in the land laws of the colony, lands can now be taken up without payment down, and so the land revenue of the Board has become a vanished quantity ; and because of this the people of that district claim that they are justified in looking to the Government to take over their burthens. Indeed, it will be by reasons of this or similar kind, no doubt, that ■justification will be found by all other Harbour Boards, and so the State will

lot only have to take these burthens or ts back, but be abused for having }>gJ! tself the cause of the misfortunes of th arbour Boards. However vanish J is this land revenue of the New pC mouth Harbour Board confessedly V it is made the basis of another ati ! ind though the New Plymouth people ire fond of complaining that their Ha'/ bour Land Revenue has been annihi" lated by the misconduct of the ture, that same non - existent ~|*ar.fi revenue is to be made the basis fo further loan to pay their interest. {!■ is said that ex vikilo nik'd fit [~,. ' warrant them that out of their n<-,- ? ' tive of land revenue, by the the Government and on the faith r* the State, a goodly sum will be rai=e<t Such is the condition of one harbour enterprise and such the remarkable remedy to be applied by legislation. ' We have said it is the beginning. anr i only treated first because it is the rr*oVurgent. We shall no: enumerate in £ tail the circumstances of other harV/jr? which v.-ill all be to the front iu ri'-» time. But we shall rer>-r to one othfr at the other end of the colony \\\{ v .\ appears to be about next in need of th"a motherly care of the Legislature, Th; Otago Harbour Board is not complain incr. But its faith is great fend itAria!sore. It has a liability of £:37/.m) a . year for interest alone, and its working expenses are £18.000 : or a total ot £55,000 a-year, and its gross income jj £39.600, showing a deficit of £1.0,4,-,' Still, with great courage the Boar} canyon, and apparently their hearts would be happy ii it were not for bothered with the interest. Tiity require £18,500 to pay in two montlis for interest ; and they have at last reckoning less than £1000 to meet it. • ■■'. thev have a claim against the iv,' vernment for land taken, to the v,. ;- of £4.500. which it appears i!,ey have not the slightest chance of t'vttins. and which if they did would hn\n item of capital made available for \^\-[ :: \ interest. But that is nothing now ■ Il0 * at least so questionable as noMac a fresh loan to pay interest. Ho.iv^. r the Otago Harbour Beard are in Lop,.! of being able to sell their dredge, an,[ so make up the money required. For they have the biggest dredge, they >~ in the whole world. It cost'them son':* £00.000. and they are willing to let it 1.0 a "dead bargain." hi halt price—in fact, no reasonable offer ret used. Th-y are in hopes of getting an offer from Melbourne ; and it may be prayed that if they are disappointed they may have some other goods and chattels, or cranes or barges, or chains, or something on which they can " raise the wind ;' for Harbour Boards don't need to be too particular these times. However, it is not to be imagined for a moment that the Otago Harbour Board are going to allow tiieuiM-:ve.s to drift on the rooks without having resort to that "refuge of the destitute' Harbour Board-, the Government of the country : but in the present condition of finance what can the Government give but its sympathy and it.? blessing • Nor are the Harbour boards very unreasonable in their demand;. They only want to be able to pay tiit-> interest in October, and don't mind particularly if they can only stave on the evil day any way. Ac'?ordin?!v their ambitions now extend no iuri.v-i than to s>e permitted to borrow—to borrow to pay their interest. They only ask that they may be authorial by a bill passed through Farliameiit to raise an overdraft at the Flank to the amount of one-half year's revenue. Surely that is not too much to ask. Six months" revenue would be lie;;-riy £20,000, and that would pay their merest in October, and leave a couple of thousand pounds to the good. It might be asked how they are to carry on for six months without revenue, and what they are to do when the interest comes due again 1 But that is of no importance. Sorrow is soon enough when it comes;: sufficient unto the day is t\ie evil thereof : and if the Otago Harbour Board can only sell some of their thing.-, or borrow half-a-year's revenue in advance from the Bank to pay their interest in October, they will be happy men. What is it all coming to is a question that arises unpleasantly in the mind ; this borrowing to pay interest cannot always continue : and one cannot hide from his eye the vision of the melancholy procession of the Harbour Boards coming up in the near distance to cast themselves in the all-embraeim arms of the Government of the country

The objects of those Southern inemlxr. who are moving: in the direction of the establishment or '"Labour Settlement s ;'" are not to be confounded with those of the supporters of Village Settlement. Excellent they no doubt are in some respects, and probably they are more adapted to the circumstances of tiie South Island than they would be in the North.. They are intended primarily to absorb the unemployed, by removing them from the cities and towns to the country, and to the neighbourhood or those who may be enabled to give them employment ; and these settlements are intended apparently to be on the basis of giving mere homes to these labourers by providing them witii from live to ten acres of land. 'I his : ; so far good ; it removes the men from destitution, and enables them to obtain steady employment without being under the necessity of pay in? rents for their residence. But palpably it is intended to perpetuate their con dition as labourers and wages men. am however desirable this may be in tu3 interests of landowners and farmers in the several districts, it is certainly no: framed on lilies intended to permanently benefit these labouring men : > !U ' their families in the manner contemplated by the Village Settlement scheme. There is something in die spirit of colonial life that does not take kindly to the idea of any man or class of men being , consigned to a continuous life of hired toil: and though no doubt such a state may be fitted to some peopl*?. ll is more genial to the colonial nature to think of working men being places in a position in which they may nvrrf themselves and their children to independence. In the scheme of Laboui Settlements, it is proposed to purchase lands for the purpose: indicating that it is not in contemplation to place these settlers in any other position than n> adjuncts to properties already acquired and settled, in which they are intended to be as cotters or dependant workers continuously, in the sense so frequent.} and graphically described by Sir George Grey as "serfs." We observe that oar district members have not attacned themselves to this movement, u'iiicl) seems to be confined to representatives from the South, who no noub. in this give expression to the sentiments prevalent in their part ot the country, where extensive estates are the i rule. It is generally conceded that North Auckland seems expressly « e " signed for small settlement, and * e question whether this Southern jctea would receive much favour among Us - While, therefore, we have nothing w urge against our Southern | ell0 *" colonists adopting the method or sowing the unemployed difficulty manner most consonant with tn particular circumstances, we trust tir the feelings of the North will stana loyally by the principle of the Viiiaw Settlements, which has commendw itself to the public opinion, as m° l • adapted to the circumstances ° Northern Auckland, than any otnw scheme of settlement ever before pr posed for the settlement in the county of the humbler and less wealthy classes of the community.

Lord Salisbury, in the course of ,a speech a t the Mansion House, in responding to the Sit of Her Majesty's Ministers, referred to )h'. situation at home and abroad in sanguine terms. He regarded the closer union of Germany and Russia as a guarantee of the continuance of peace. W hilo, however the speech of the Premier of England'may be accepted as an indication that the European situation is less threatening:, than it was some time ago, the news which roaches us from Paris and Berlin is of a less favourable character. Serious Communist riots have occurred in the former city, re suiting in the police usinjj their revolvers with disastrous effect, while the leading journal in the latter city breathes anything hut a pacific spirit. From Valparaiso comes news of a terrific gale, resulting in seven shipwrecks and the loss of twenty-four lives.

The telegraph authorities have received advice:? that both cables between Shanghai and Nagasaki are interrupted. Telegrams for Japan can be forwarded via Corea at an extra rate or per mail leaving Shanghai at 1 p.m. on Saturday, the 11th inst.

p is notified by the officer in charge of the Telegraph Office that mails for Mauritius will close at Aden about noon tomorrow.

The Supreme Court yesterday Avas occupied with proceedings under the Divorce anJ Matrimonial Causes Act. In the case Humphreys v. Humphreys, petition for rule ?ii.«i for dissolution of marriage on the ground of the wife's adultery, which had been heard at a previous sitting of the roust, Mr. Justice Gillies delivered judgment, granting the rule. In the case L'atnpton v. Campton, in which a decree ht-i had been granted in April last, the rule was made absolute, and in the case Henderson v. Henderson, petition for decree nisi for dissolution of marriage, the decree was granted, after hearing evidence. The respondent in this case was in Court during part, of the hearing, but did not give evidence, or take any part in the proceedings.

Heavy rain fell yesterday afternoon, accompanied by thunder and lightning. Hitherto the winter has been unusually mild, ami the temperature has been high. Trees are coming into bud and blossom, and it is feared that after they have mn.de some progress a nipping frost will come, which wiii seriously damage the fruit crop.

The remains of the late Mr. Albin Martin sje to be buried at Panmure. The funeral will leave the residence of the deceased gentleman at two p.m. to-day. Members L f the Society of Arts ami other persons in-:crt-sted in art. and desirous of paying a last tribute of respect to one who was so ci-.-ervedly looked up to in all art matters, a:t requested to meet at the Society of Arts Room, Ait Gallery Buildings, this afternoon ,-,: a quarter-past one, when carriage;? will be in attendance to convey them to the funeral. Mr. Jamieson, of Wellesley-street, has charge of the funeral arrangements.

Referring to the reference to credit and iii.-t.Munt terms in our yesterday's issue we emitted to state that they apply purely to tin- drapery or soft goods business through- .. it New Zealand. Different terms are in •,.:v t in Auckland in connection with the ■_"r very, ironmongery, and wine and spirit ::,; k , -. the necessity for equally long terms i-i these trades, through quicker ''turnover," not existing.

The Mayor, Mr. A. E. Devore, has given notice that he will move at the next meeting ol the City Council—" (1) That a comrr.ktee be appointed to advise the Council in electing books for the Reference Library and Lending Library : (•_') that such committee be nine in number, and be appointed for three years : (3) that vacancies occurring in such commitree from time to time be rilled by gentlemen to be nominated bv this Council."

The usual meeting of the Newmarket Borough Council was held last evening. Mr. Spooner, the member elected to till the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. W. C. Rose, made the statutory declaration, and took his seat at the Council table. The proceedings were of a routine character.

A Christchurch telegram of yesterday says:—Last night a cottage owned and occupied by J. Boothman was burned down. Insurances : House £175, and furniture £50, in the Victoria Office. Nothing was saved.

A meeting of the Committee of the Auckland West Kindergarten and Creche took place at their room?. Howe-street, on Wednesday. There was a large attendance of ladies. Mrs. Peacock in the chair. The Working Committee, which has hitherto been composed of the president, hon. treasurer, and hon. secretary, was enlarged to rive members by the admission of Mrs. L>;ddy and Mrs. Hayr. It was resolved that the Kindergarten and Cri-che be opened on Monday, loth instant. Notice of the same will be seen in the advertising columns of thi~ paper. A vote of thanks was passed to Messrs. Ambury and English for a promised daily supply of milk, to the Chinese of Arch Hill for a promised supply of vegetables, and to the following gentlemen for donations received in kind. viz. :— Messrs. McArthur, McMillan and Co., for roll of matting: W. and G. Winstone, half-ton coal: A. Clark and Son. 21 yards window blinds; J. \\". Henderson, rope;, for swings ; B lyian and Tantield, crockery ware : Mr. Wake, tinning boiler ; Milne and Choyce, drapery: Sharland and Co., 12 feeding bottles : Mr. Mcßride, piece of calico ; Mr. Gray, parcel of drapery ; Mr. Fairweather, sucks of lime: Earle and Montgomery. parcel of groceries.

A lecture on i: The Life and Labours of the Rev. Adoniram Judson" was delivered yesterday evening at the Baptist Tabernacle by the Rev. T. Spurgeon, in connec ti'»n with Dr. Judson's centenary. In the absonce of Mr. Buddie, Mr. C. E. Button w.'i- voted to the chair. Mr Spurgevn detailed the missionary labours of Dr. J'Ki-u'i, hi< sufferings and his triumphs, and the success -which he achieved in his work. The lecturer gained much applause for the manner in which he read a number of verses referring to the first Mrs. Judson, whose heroism wits sublime, and whose devotion was undying. Judson's great work, the compilation of the Burman Bible, was mentioned. The lecture was very interesting throughout, and on the motion of the Rev. J. L). (jilmore, a cordial vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Spurgeon.

A rash is setting in to the new Mahakipwa diggings, near Picton. Twenty-five [M.-.H-ngers were booked in one day. All the gold which has yet been found is very '-'jar.-..-, and contains fragments of quartz. It i= said that' a 14-ounce nugget has been found. A correspondent of an exchange writes:—"Diggers are pouring in from and the Buller. There is going to k a big rush, and there are many of us "lixious to prove our claims and secure as ttuch ground as possible where our boxes <*>"*? set in the left branch. I have been told that they have got good gold outside the bush, and Mr. Cullen is letting his land r .n reasonable terms to prospectors. The quartz reefs : Opinions are divided on tho I do not think there is a reef about of any size ; and I think it most probable, from the formation of the country, that the gold has come out of leaders. The ■whole country is full of leaders, and the whole country is one mass of broken-off' rocks, and the action of the elements and earthquakes has shaken and washed the gold towards the creeks. I think there are about 300 miners on or about the field at present, and there is ciuite likely- to be double that number before three months' time, as many have pegged out, and are for their brothers, fathers, Xmsins, aunts, &c."

There are few ministers of the present 'Jay who can produce such a record as the Kev. Richard Roberts, an ex President of ">& \\ esleyan Conference, England. Mr. Koberts is the superintendent minister of one of the largest Wesleyan churches in London, and when asking permission to become a supernumerary this year, gave a few facts in support of his application. We had been a Wesleyan minister for forty three years, and during that period there liai been only five Sundays on which he *ad not preached. Two of these Sundays *' f;r e spent on the Continent, where he did sot know the language. He was silent on J Wo others in consequence of deaths in his family. So that during a period of fortywee years Mr. Roberts had only been presented from preaching on one Sunday by personal illness. It was stated that he had leached 300 times, and travelled on an Hire more than 20,000 miles every year ' "is ministry, or a total of 860,000 miles Mr r> u and deliv ered over 12,000 sermons. wiVl Kobertß is a Welshman, but preaches }/: e^ua facility in English and in Welsh. hU 4?.! - ,0 nty has been well sustained, and 1).- lL s ' V '■ e ; S ,ve t,een '" sucn request that 'and lilh'L , i ev f>" city and bQvfn "* Eu £- u, dud biuidreds of villages.

" The Wellington papers," says our special correspondent, " note the coincidence of the death of Mr. Albin Martin following so close on that of Mr. W. Boetham (the father of the hon. member for Wairarapa), both artists being well known in art circles, both advanced in years, and neither dependent on art for subsistence. Mr. Beetham was a schoolfellow of Tennyson, the poet laureate, and his last picture was a portrait of Sir Julius Vogel."

The gale and heavy downpour of rain that fell upon the city last evening had its effect in considerably thinning the attendance at the various skating rinks in the city ; still there was a very good number of skaters at Columbia, Eureka, and Caledonian, although the spectators were very few at all of them. At the Columbia rink there was a polo match between teams of live players each representing the Eureka and Columbia rinks, resulting : Columbia, •2; Eureka, 1. The game was hard fought throughout, and one of the best we have seen in the city. At Ponsonby there were comparatively few, and at Parnell it was an "off night. , ' During the winter rinking seems to have taken the place of dancing in a great measure, and while the established "At Homes" have managed to hold their own, there has been a sensible and marked diminution of the number of casual and contingent dances during the season.

The, Brisbane police magistrate strongly condemns the practice among shopkeepers of hanging their wares outside the shop. A woman was brought before him charged with stealing a pair of trousers. After the draper had finished his examination-in-chief, Mr. Piunock asked him : "Now, Mr. Bell, how much do you make by keeping clothes hanging outside your shop ?" " I don't know," ananswered the draper. "Do you make anything?'" " Yes, your worship." Thenthe P.M. began : " For the sake of making a few dollars you put the Government to tho expense of keeping this woman in gaol. It's not honest." After defendant had pleaded jjuilty and been sentenced to two months' imprisonment, his worship resumed his lecture, and said, "It wa? only the other dny that a gentleman of high standing asked me why 1 did not dismiss all these cases. Of course I can't do that: there's the law to be observed ; but I do think it a most shameful thing."

The following intimations are from Lloyd's Weekly of June 24 and July 1 :— Altred Searing, left London in the Leander for New Zealand in IST-, and has not been heard of since. His anxious parents inquire, .lames Warner, of Hanford, left Gravesend in the Atalanta for New Zealand, 1878, and was last heard of in ISS'2 at Canterbury. His parents desire tidings. Kate Wilkic left England with her husband 13 years ago, and was last heard of at Palmerston North, New Zealand in ISSG. Her mother is anxious concerning her. William McLeod is anxiously sought by his mother, who last heard of him at Auckland in 1885. Jane Church (nee Corney) is sought by her mother, who last heard of her going from Auckland to New South Wales nineteen years ago.

Several bridges in the Geraldine County, including one which ha- 'ost about £14,000, have been reported unsafe by the County Engineer. The Council has no funds in hand to repair them, and have resolved, owing to existing , depression, to close them, if tiiis is necessary, to save them from liability for accidents, rather than strike a county rate

During the recent cold weather passengers overland from Sydney to Brisbane had a novel experience. A train passed through nearly 1(50 miles of country which was entirely hidden in snow. Houses, fences, yards, &c., were alike covered, and not a spot of black soil was anywhere visible. A passenger who had driven IS miles across country to join the train reported that the snow in some places lay to the depth of 18 inches. At townships on the line children were seen enjoying themselves in rolling gigantic snowballs, and the passengers at the various stopping places made good use of the time at their disposal by organising snow lights, which afforded much amusement, and reminded them of their school days in the old country. To those who then saw snow for the first time the changed aspect of the country presented an appearance that they are never likely to fo;get, and which they may not probably witness again in the colonies. The snow was lost sight of after passing Glen Innes.

The grand dramatic and musical entertainment, in aid of the funds of Epiphany Church, comes off this evening at eight o'clock in St. James , Hall, as announced by advertisement. It will consist of three parts, viz., the Bardell v. Pickwick trial .-cene, a musical interlude, and the fame "Turn Him Out."' The rehearsals have gone off satisfactorily, the performers are well up in their respective roles, and everything bids fair for a thoroughly successful and enjoyable entertainment. The colossal head-gear of Mesdames Cluppins and Bardell, and the marvellous " get-up " of Pickwick and Winkle are alone worth a visit to see. We wish the promoters a packed house to-night.

A curious phenomenon occurred on Mr. M'Dougall's farm, about 15 miles from Coleraine, Victoria, on the 12th ult. A heavy shower of rain fell, and directly afterwards a basinful of small live fish, varying from 2 to 4 inches in length, were picked off' the ground. It is somewhat singular that this is the second shower of fish that has been experienced at Mr. M'Dougall's farm during the last three years.

In Brisbane the old practice is maintained of firing a time gun at noon. The gun is fired from Spring Hill, in the centre of the city. Complaint is made that at present the report is a nuisance, shaking houses so as to damage their structure, frightening horses, and especially disturbing any person wiio is ill. In the houses near, windows have to be kept open in all weathers to prevent their being broken by the concussion. Surely, in these days, when a good timekeeper can be purchased for a few shillings such a practice is a remnant of barbarism.

Mr. Cunard, advance agent of "Hans the Boatman' , Company, arrived in Auckland yesterday, in order to make the necessary arrangements for the opening of the company at Abbott's Opera House. Tho company, it may be stated, have been appearing with great success in the South.

There was but one case on the chargesheet at the Police Court yesterday morning, and this was one of drunkenness, against a well-known and hardened character. On the certificate of a medical man that the defendant was not in a fit state to attend Court, a remand for a week for medical treatment was asked for, and granted.

The number of seats already booked at Wildmarfs for the opera season of "The Pirates of Penzance" is quite unprecedented, and the club will have the pleasure of a full house every evening. .Judging from the interest taken by the public in the coming performance, it is probable the club will decide to continue the season several nights longer. The scenery is now quite complete, and reflects great credit on the scenic artist, Mr. N. Thornton. Arrangements are being made by the energetic business manager for late trams and 'buses to all parts, and we have no doubt the Ferry Company will run a boat to leave as soon as the opera is over.

In reference to the advertisement of the Eden Terrace Highway Board about their waterworks, Mr. R. Fronde advertises that he is prepared to lay pipes, having been duly licensed.

A paper on "The Depression, Its Cause and Cure," will be read this evening in St. Stephen's Church, Ponsonby, by the Rev. I). W. Runciman, M.A.