THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 1888.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9141, 24 August 1888, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 1888.

The rejection of the Harbour Act Amendment Bill by the House of Representatives is not by any means to be regarded as the solution of the very grave question of harbour liabilities. There are those in the Assembly who regard it as having intensified the gravity of that question, and assume that the rejection of the measure portends either inevitable repudiation or the adding of these liabilities to the indebtedness of the colony. This is quite as groundless as the assumption that rejecting that measure and putting the question out of sight for the moment are the solving of the difficulty. The Legislature, while not guaranteeing those liabilitiessave in the specific cases of Westport and Greymouth—at the same time gave to the various Harbour Boards the authority on which alone those liabilities have been incurred ; and while not at all called upon to accept the pecuniary obligations, it is distinctly bound to supplement that legislation by such further legislation as may be requisite to compel the Harbour Boards, or in their default, the districts in whose names they have been acting, to fulfil their engagements. The method proposed in the recently rejected measure, dealing with the four most urgent cases, may not have been the best that could have been devised ; indeed, in so far as it proposed to enable one Board . to borrow further in order to pay interest; and more especially in as far as it intended to put the Government in the place of the Harbour Boards, thus virtually assuming their responsibilities, the measure was very highly objectionable. But this question of the difficulties present to, or impending over, a large proportion of the Harbour Boards of the colony, will have to be fairly faced, and settled with firmness. in speaking to the Bill the Premier did not hesitate to imply that the liabilities of the repudiating Harbour Boards would devolve on the colony ; and all through the debate this idea seemed uppermost in the minds of many members that, in default of the Boards meeting their liabilities, the colony must be saddled with the burthen. Now, what does this mean ? It means that people who are entirely guiltless | of any complicity in these extravagant ! desires of some local bodies to have harbours where Nature warred against such ambitions, should have to pay increased taxation to relieve those who wilfully, and in spite of all warnings and denunciations, went determinedly forward insisting on the right to tax themselves to carry out their own desires. The argument used was that, if a district through its constituted local authorities wanted any public work, and was willing to incur the obligation *»■><! iy «jr *oT-it,nobodv had anv right to interfere. Unfortunately, the argument was lazily and recklessly allowed, and now we have these districts claiming that the people generally throughout the colony should put their hands in their pockets and pay for these pleasures. The thing is a simple wrong, that neither Legislature nor Government is entitled to perpetrate. It may seem harsh and unneighbourly, but it is simply fair that the districts which wilfully and deliberately went into these liabilities should be compelled to tax themselves to the utmost capabilities of the private property within them, so as to satisfy their obligations to the full. For this is the course that will be necessary to the whole people, if these liabilities are heaped up on the colony, and if the payment of the public interest become a strain on the colony. Should it come to pass that the floating population drift away, the necessity would be simply imperative that every bit of property in the • colony* would be taxed up to the hilt. It is no use saying it could not bear this, and it could not bear that. It would have to bear it, however disastrous it might prove to the value of property. This is what every owner of any property in the colony should fairly contemplate as an ultimate contingency ; and, on a smaller scale, that is the position that should be faced at once by the residents and property holders in any district which has gone into liabilities of an embarrassing kind for its own private benefit. The Legislature has no right to lift that burden off its shoulders and place it on the shoulders of others ; and to recognise any other right or principle may be very good-natured, but it would be very unjust! Unfortunately for the colony, a very large portion of the liabilities of these smaller harbours is to the colony itself, „ but that does not in the least degree affect the question. In looking at the list of the liabilities of the minor Harbour Boards and other local bodies, we find that they are principally for moneys advanced by the Post-office and the Government Assurance fund.

and in smaller degree by the On missioners of the Public Debts SinS fund and the Public Trust Office 8 each of these cases the moneys & trust funds not belonging to the Stat 6 but to those persons who entrus'tw! them tor safe keeping to th» n ov ment or the State officials. Whether > was not discreditable administration I part with these trust funds on suS rotten securities may well be an tioned. The State of course is bouS to make them good, but neither i n m.; • case any more than in the case of th foreign creditor has the Legislature Z the Government any right to accent on the part of the whole body 5 the people liabilities which indivi dual districts have recklessly incurred Such free and easy legislation or admin* istration may win popularity i th those districts that are relieved but it would be a gross and wanton 'wrons inflicted on the rest of the people of the colony, for the-perpetration of which any Government ought to be impeached Indeed, looking at the long list of these miserable little loans, from a few h Un . dreds up to many thousands, and all" taken from trust funds placed in the hands of the Government for safety it is impossible to repress the convie tion that the trust funds of the peo> ! e have been used by successive Govern! ments for purposes of public corrupt tion ; and that loans of trust funds were a more handy means of influencing votes than the distribution of public works, inasmuch as they could be (riven on the sly, without being called in question on the floor of the Assembly To suggest that these loans so given' should be rolled over on the peonle of the colony, and that the general public should be called on to make good the trust funds so versed, should excite the indignant remonstrance of every independent colonist; and we do not hesitate to say that both in the case of obligations to the foreign creditor' and obligations to the various trust funds with which administrations have been playing fast and loose, the Legislature, instead of relieving the districts and saddling the colony, should imperatively compel the districts to tax themselves to the utmost limits required to meet their engagements. In order to help the cause of those Harbour Boards whose case was under consideration, the Premier, in movin* the second reading of this Bill, said that he "did not like the look of some of the larger Boards ; ;; and lie made specific reference to that of Auckland. He need not distress himself about Auckland. We have ourselves severely criticised the administration of the Auckland Harbour, and it was to these remarks, apparently, that the Premier made reference. But it was in allusion to administration only that our remarks were directed. As to the solvency of the Auckland Harbour, or the sufficiency of its endowments, or its ability to ultimately meet all its obligations we never ventured even a suspicion. And with regard to the other large harbours of the colony, however their administration may be criticised or censured, there are no grounds to fear for their solvency. We some weeks ago commented adversely on the administration of the Ota go Harbour, adducing figures and statements that had come under our notice. We have pleasure in saying that our statements have been fully met by the Otago Daily Times, in a very temperate and courteous article on the subject, from which it appears that 'the £39,600 appealing to us as " gross income : ' was the net revenue from dues and rents, the actual gross income of last year having been £46,500. In the statement, also, on which we based our remarks the works from loan, proceeding at the Heads, and nearly finished, appear' to have been included in ordinary working expenses, whereas, as explained by our contemporary, the working expenses payable from revenue are only £7200 ; so that instead of a deficit of £15,400 in revenue there would have been a credit balance to revenue of £2800. Our contemporary admits to the position of the Board beinsr "a pretty tight one, : ' as we have ourselves shown that of the Auckland Harbour Board to be ; but the course which the larger harbours have available is exemplified in the Otago Harbour Board at once increasing its dues by an amount calculated to yield £3750 a-year. With such elasticity as the trade' and resources of the larger harbours show, any temporary difficulties can he at any time overcome, and their position need not be considered in any provision for the embarrassed little harbours of the colony. But not only for the public credit, but in fairness to the great body of the people of the colony who are guiltless of the mad recklessness with which these various Harbour Boards have rushed into liabilities that were denounced by many at the time as being wholly unjustifiable, we trust that any legislation on the subject will only be in the direction of compelling these bodies to fulfil their obligations and with this object giving them, or the other local authorities of the district, power of local taxation to the utmost limit that may be found necessary.

TilE interesting annual event of the presentation of diplomas to graduates of the New Zealand University took place yesterday at the Choral Hall and though the attendance of the public was not so large as it might have been, we cannot accept this as an indication 'of the value which attaches to the institution in the public mind. For it is mainly the personal friends and connections .- of the neophytes W»<? initiated into the order of the cultured, that may be expected to gather around on such occasions ; and unless there is something special to add eclat to the proceedings the event passes off as an ordinary tiling. But the occasion was properly availed of by the Rev. Mr. Bruce, who took the place of the Chancellor of the University, to discourse on the ration d'etre of the University, and to lay down some wholesome views as to its nature and objects in a community such as ours. It is a fact that there is a prevalent idea among the unreflecting that a University is for the few, and that consequently its usefulness is circumscribed. But it is intended not only to embrace within its scope all human learning, but to permeate* in its influence throughout the universal community : and we believe that our University is not only the apex of our educational system, without which that would be stunted and incomplete, but it has the effect of raising education generally towards its own level, ana stimulating it from the humblest school upwards. More than this, we are singularly fortunate in the fact that our University Professors have thoroughly caught the spirit of our colonial institutions, and seek not only to make advances towards the masses, so as to cu - fuse as widelv as possible the influence and benefits 'of the University, but to give a practical turn to the education imparted, which comports _ with tne character of a people which is practice and utilitarian if anything. it m| seem strange that Mr. Bruce snouw have deemed it necessary so empirically to assert that there is but oik University in New Zealand. But it » necessary. We have heard men-inw i ligent men, men who ought tOi» known better, rail at the ateur dity of our having four Universities u New Zealand. Even Ministers or urn Crown are not exempt from the *e* ness, so that although it may seem « insult to the intelligence or some, it<w seem necessary to repeat that T lie Vprs ;. versity colleges are not U^ven,

He- but teaching colleges of the SJ University of New Zealand, and as our University College is the only one of them all that is dependent on Parliamentary grant, those vlio are calling out for the suppression of University expenditure are demand-. ; n <r not the suppression of the University, but the suppression only of the Auckland branch of our University system- Mr. Upton laid his finger on the real defect in our 'manner of educating the people when he alluded to the chasm existing between primary and University _ education; -and _in which is found in a chaotic condition oar so-called secondary system of education without having any relation to ►it her- Mr. Uptons idea is that topping primary teaching proper at 3 ;i earlier ace, the secondary endownts should take up the education of the meritorious, and con--luA them on either by technical education to entrance on their life work, or by preparatory study in a Grammar School introduce them to the University. 'There would be reason in this in comparison with the precious muddle'which exists in our primary ;. iiools giving secondary instruction in their higher standards, and our secondary school giving primary education in the lower forms, while vested interests in both resent the intrusion of reformers and declare that " education must not be touched." At the present time the University seems to be alone that in our educational system which is exercising its proper functions without misapprehension or confusion ; and if the inferior stages leading up to it were only properly arranged, there is no doubt that its usefulness would be manifold increased.

Accokdixu to a custom that is endeavouring to establish itself in this colony, and which is becoming sometiling of a nuisance at the annual meetings held for the purpose of conferring University degrees, there was an exhibition yesterday at the Choral Hall of disgraceful misconduct on the part of some undergraduates and schoolboys who assembled- in the building for the purpose of creating adisturbance. We say " for the purpose," for of course it is done in a servile and contemptible imitation of a practice indulged in the Mother Country on the occurrence of similar University ceremonials. If there is one thing more than another from which the spirit of colonial life is exempt, it is from submission to conventionalism : and if there is any one thing more than another for which the true independent spirit of colonialism has contempt it is the aping of society manners. Yet because theseyoung colonials have been told that i: is fashionable at home, to break loose from restraint and be rowdy, when University degrees are being conferred, they deem it their duty to act as larrikins. It is a species of snobbery that is singularly contemptible, for the circumstances are entirely different, young people in this country being habituated to a freedom in all their relations of life, that gives no excuse to a breaking forth in noise, on an occasion which at home is seized on as an opportunity by students for ludicrously resenting the awe and dignity and formal decorum that invest tutors and proctors and bulldogs, and all other of the paraphernalia of University life. If there was anything natural or spontaneous in such an outbreak at a colonial ceremonial of the kind, people would say, " Well, boys will be boys," and would overlook it. But when it is in their case unnatural, conventional, and merely because people have told them that it is done at home on such occasions, there is something so meanly imitative and so low in it, that we should like to see a lad caught and well birched for it; not because of the disturbance caused, but for not showing more of the true colonial spirit of manly independence. We trust that the incident will not be forgotten when the ceremonial next comes round, and that a few policemen will be placed among the boys, and that if such a discreditable scene occurs again, the perceptions of some of the lads will be quickened as to what is due to the circumstances, in the way in which a boy's perceptions are best quickened ; and that the University authorities here, and at every other centre in New Zealand, will peremptorily, and for all time, put down this base imitation of a not very creditable performance which has been tolerated beyond its age at ; Home. Life is too practical in these j colonies for the perpetration of shams. ;

The annexation of Massowah by Italy has given rise to strained relations between that country and France, which ire causing some uneasiness on the Continent at the present time. In France there is great* irritation at the tone of Sienor Crispi's Note on the subject, and it is believed that Germany is endeavouring to foment a quarrrel between the two countries. The Italian Premier is now on a visit to Prince Bismarck in connection with the difficulty. News from Cabul reports that Ishak Khan, cousin of the Ameer, and, next to him, the most powerful man in 'the country, has rebelled, not for the first time. He is the Governor of Afghan-Turkestan, and has the character of ability and great determination. He has under his command a large fanatical army, which is said to be devoted to his person. According to the Freeman's Journal, a most unlikely authority, the proprietor, editor, and publisher of the London Time* will, in the action for libel brought by Mr. Parnell against that journal, plead ignorance of the author of the series of articles on Parnellwn and Crime. The assumption of the Freeman's Journal that the name of the MTiter is only known to the manager of the Times is absurd. He is an Irish barrister, whose name has been frequently mentioned ; n the public prints. It is quite conceivable, however, that he has only eonfided the name of the person who supplied him with the "arnell letters to the manager of the Times. _ The City Council held a special meeting to committee last night to consider the proposals of municipal retrenchment recently made by the Finance Committee. Only a portion of the committee's report had been considered when the meeting adjourned, but several reductions were made, including the curtailing of the Mayor's salary from £300 to £200, and dispensing *ith the services of the Waterworks Superlr'tending Engineer, etc. A report of the Meeting appears elsewhere.

A special meeting of the Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday in reference |°Mr. Vaile's proposal to lease the Waikito railway to run it on his scheme. In ™« absence of the president (Mr. J. Buchanan) Mr. J. Milne presided. Resolutions in favour of the scheme were adopted, and they were telegraphed to the Hon. Mr. -htehelson, to Sir George Grey, and Mr. iwcock.

At the annual presentation of diplomas a t the Choral Hall yesterday considerable disorder was caused by a number of Un -erjrraduates and schoolboys who were congregated in the gallery. These lads had Anthem a number of Chinese "squeak--1 S! whilst one had a flute, another a conand a third an alarm clock. When ,' e chairman and others ascended the plat- ? m > they were received with a boisterous fnionstration, and at the beginning of the airman's remarks the alarm clock comfenced a ringing which lasted for several mutes, the boys shouting and interjecting arious remarks, whilst the " squeakers " ,0 added to the volume of noise which greeted Mr. Bruce. Grains of corn were th p,y .. thrown about, to the annoyance of J* ladies and gentlemen downstairs. Mr. ail- Qi wlien ne rose to speak, protested c amst the disorder, but in vain. C«t copy 0 " The Balance-sheets of the £ °ny rom 1832 to 1888," a Parliamentary j. per compiled by the Auditor-General has AuM, presented by the Committee of the «cM and p olitical Financial Reform Assouan to the Public Library.

On Wednesday last a number of Waikato chiefs, including Taonui, * and Hitiri te Paerata arrived from Wellington, where they have -been staying for some time in connection with the native measures before Parliament. They return to the Waikato to-day.

The Newton Schools Committee held their ordinary monthly meeting last Monday evening. Present: Messrs. T. McMaster (chairman), J. Jenkin (treasurer), J. M. White, Thomas Hobson, and W. Service. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. J. Davies, Karangahape Road, was elected member of committee in place of Mr. C. B. King, who, having left the district, tendered his resignation. The average attendances during July were—Newton East: 666 ; number on roll, 817. Newton West: 408 ; number on roll, 540. This school had been examined during July by Mr. W. H. Airey, School Inspector. Percentage of passes, 84. The results were considered satisfactory. A parent residing in the district, and having children attending Newton West School, wrote informing the committee of a grievance to lay before the committee. The head-master's report also dealt with the case. The ground of complaint was that the head-master did not supply complainant's children with school requisites— viz., copy-books, pens, pencils, &c, free of cost. As he declined to pay for them, the children were minus these requisites, and could not go on with their school duties. The committee informed the father of the children that the remedy was in his own hands; that if he refused to purchase these materials, he could not justly suppose that others would provide necessary items, which he, though able, was unwilling to obtain for his own children. A letter was received from E. Withy. Esq., M.H.R., in answer to one soliciting his influence in behalf of a resolution passed by the Committee at a previous meeting, " That the Education Act be not interfered with, but more economically administered." ! Mr. Withy said he would like to see primary, secondary, and Uuivcrsity education linked more closely together, and every opportunity given by scholarships to the poorest, who prove their capacity to pass through all, at a minimum cost. He did not agree with the Committee on the question of school age, but free, secular, and compulsory education had his fullest sympathy. In reply to a communication received from the City Schools Committee, desiring the co-operation of the Committee with regard to a resolution passed by them as follows : —"That all pupils who have passed the sixth standard, and are over age, shall be no longer eligible to remain in the schools in this district." After some discussion, it was resolved, " That we so far fall in with the wishes of the City Schools Committee re over-age pupils who have passed standard six, as to refuse admittance to all such outside of our district, but do not see our way clear to dismiss those already attending."

The Government of New South Wales have had struck a bronze medal commemorative of the Centennial, which they have sent to the public institutions throughout the colonies. On the one side the medal contains a figure of Britannia, with the date of the foundation of the colony, and on the other a cross with the stars of the constellation on it, and the legend " Orta recens, quam pura nitos " —" Recently born, how bright thou shinest :" or, perhaps, more colloquially, " What a wonderful child you are for your age !"

Yesterday evening a woman named Mrs. A. Mahoney was arrested by Constable Hobson on a charge of setting fire to a house in Parnell. It seems? the woman and her husband own a cottage in Clyde-street, Parnell, but it has been unoccupied for some time, as they were both living at Waikomiti. Mrs. Mahoney, it is understood, came down to town the day before yesterday, and stayed with a neighbour. Yesterday afternoon a man noticed something wrong in the cottage, and on breaking in found a heap of blazing rags saturated with kerosene lying on the mantelpiece. The building had caught lire, but the discovery was made in time to prevent any serious damage being done. The cottage was insured for £100, and mortgaged for the same sum.

The idea that education will prevent our growing youth from becoming criminals, is rapidly being dispelled. It is everywhere being recognised that children must be taught to do as well as to know, otherwise their knowledge will not be a, very safe preventative against their going adrift. Under the heading " A Chief Source of Crime," the following reference to the question occurs in a copy of the New York Tribune to hand by the mail—"Neither Sundayschool nor day-school training, nor even temperance, are fullest safeguards against criminality. The most common fact about convicts seems to be that they were never taught habits of industry. This is the case with nine-tenths of those in the Eastern Penitentiary of Pennsylvania, while quite a large proportion received a ' good common schooling,' and about one-fifth were abstainers from drink. Of 1500 at Joliet, in Illinois, 1087 were fairly educated; 129 were college graduates, 413 classed as intemperates, 784 moderate drinkers, 317 total abstainers. Of 668 admitted last year, two-thirds have no trade. Evidently, it is time to give the hands more to do in our schools than merely turning over books and using pencils and pens."

The recent decision of the House anent the 'Frisco services by no means contents the Lyttelton Times, which says:—"As things have come about, the Direct service men won an easy and overwhelming victory, and then with the prize actually in their grasp, allowed it to be filched from them. We seldom remember anytning so comical. The cool audacity of the Premier and his Auckl ind friends was'remarkable enough, but the abject silliness of the other side was extraordinary." It concludes by saying that the result is a " barren expression of opinion against the San Francisco service as at present constituted, and a nine months' interval given to the Aucklanders to make preparations for fighting again with better fortune. Need we forecast the manner in which this valuable breathing space will be employed."

Some real retrenchment is now being carried out on the Foxton-New Plymouth section, says an exchange. Each gang of platelayers has been reduced by one, and each gang has now two more miles to look after. Thus between Foxton and Palmer - ston, instead of there being four gangs having six miles to attend to, three now do eight miles each. The saving in platelayers alone is estimated at £4000 a year. The question naturally arises, why was this retrenchment not carried out sooner? If it is possible now, it must have been months and years ago, when the apparent unnecessarily heavy staff was being maintained.

A lecture, to men only, delivered in Wellington on a recent Sunday evening by the Rev. J. Berry, has been published in the form of a tract. The lecture contains much wholesome advice, and Mr. Berry has shown considerable courage in the manner in which he has dealt with his subject.

In yesterday's paper we published a letter signed " A Grumbler," in which the writer complained bitterly of the quality of the butter supplied by the dairy farmers. Mr. Reynolds, the well-known maker of butter, lias sent to our office a specimen of the article he turns out, which he believes will convince even "A Grumbler" that butter of the very best quality is made and sold here, and that no one need to use an inferior article. "A Grumbler" can have the butter by calling for it during to-.

day. Mr. E. E. Bilbrough leaves for Wellington by the Wanaka to-day in order to meet Mr. Cook, of the great firm of tourist conductors. Mr. Cook will reach Wellington on Monday, and he and Mr. Bilbrough will interview Ministers in connection with the railway arrangements, and also Mr. Mills, the manager of the Union Company, as to the steamboat traffic. There can be no question that the extension of Cook's tourist arrangements to New Zealand will be greatly to the advantage of the colony. At the Newton Congregational Church last night the fifth of the winter evening entertainments in connection with the church took the form of a series of readings by Rev. H. J. Lewis, who chose as his subject Dickens' Christmas carol " Scrooge." Several breaks were made in the reading, during which musical selections were rendered in a pleasing manner by some young ladies. Mr. Lewis read in a very careful manner, and fully brought out the different expressions of feeling given by Ebenezer Scmoge during his intercourse with the various ghosts. At the conclusion of the entertainment a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Lewie.

The ordinary weekly meeting of the Athenseum took place last evening. ' In the absence of Mr. Galbraith, Mr. Lilly read a paper discussing the question, " Is it desirable to educate children in New Zealand for the professions ?" Mr. Lilly discussed successively the claims of the Church, the Bar, medicine, engineering, and architecture, and spoke strongly on the poor prospects, hard work, and bad pay of the clergy of all ranks. He thought the combination of the work of lawyer and banister in New Zealand had lowered the dignity of the profession, and commented on the fact that there were 34 doctors competing often in an undignified way. Mr. Lilly recommended the professions of engineer and architect as better suited to the wants of the colony, but considered that the community should be protected against incompetent men. Dr. Girdler advocated improved ideas on the study of commerce as a better outlet for the energies of educated boys. That parents should be made to understand that it was an injury to their sons to train them to the medical profession unless they could maintain them for the first few years of their practice. Mr. Cranwell thought children were overeducated and unfitted for useful work. Mr. Graham considered that you could not give a child too much instruction, as whatever he had to do he would do better for being well taught, and contended that four out of five lawyers in Auckland were honourable men and necessary to society. Mr. Bell thought the professions not overcrowded. The fault was that we had not adapted our arrangements to the circumstances in which we are, and the aims of life were low ; respect was not paid to the dignity of labour ; respect for woman was being diminished, owing to the fact that she "was coming into competition with man in the ordinary business of life; that religion suffered from the making a profession of the church ; that the simplification of legal transfers had been defeated by the charges of lawyers ; and that we had much to learn from the simpler ideas which prevail in China' and Peru ; and that in the new era the result of labour-saving machines would be that man would need to labour only three or four hours a day, and lead a higher intellectual life. Mr. Blomfield cited cases of famous men who had forced their way into professions from very small beginnings. Mr. Lilly contended that women should be technically educated as well as men, and should be trained to all the professions ; that gentility was the curse of the colony, and was crowding the towns. It was announced by the president that tho next meeting would be hold next Friday, and would be a social meeting to meet and bid farewell to Mr. and Mrs. Lilly, who were leaving shortly for Sydney.

We have been requested by the representatives of the shipping companies to state certain facts in answer to the letter of " Mercator," in yesterday's issue. They say that Auckland shippers have received every attention at the, hands of the companies in the past, and that tonnage has been provided in many cases at considerable cost for the convenience of local shippers. The general demand for tonnage is just now in excess of the supply, and it is consequently impossible to undertake the duty of providing " store ships" for accumulating cargo, such storage being a matter which should receive attention in the way of provision of export sheds by the wharf authorities. Auckland is, in regard to comparative inducement offered, as well treated as the Southern ports by the carrying lines.

In the Invercargill Supreme Court recently, a local barrister made a most astounding proposition to a jury. The case was one in which the house of a bachelor at Longridge had been broken into and robbed, and from the evidence it appeared that there were a number of other bachelors in the neighbourhood. Counsel said there were also many eligible girls in the district, and pointed out thatdf the bachelors would only get married they would not be compelled to leave their homes unattended to when they went to their daily labours. He dilated strongly on this point, and suggested that the jury should give these bachelors a wholesome lesson by acquitting the prisoner ! Strange to say, the jury disregarded this ingenious appeal, and the prisoners were convicted.

The Christehurch Telegraph predicts a disastrous day of reckoning for Melbourne on account of the numbers of new banks there which are mixed up with land speculations. It says only the older banks are doing a sound business, and as an example of the new banks quotes the "Centennial Land Bank, Limited." Its authorised capital is £1,000,000 sterling; paid-up, £52,000 ; revenue fund, £10,000. It will give 6i per cent, on deposits of two, three, or five years' duration, and 5 per cent, per annum " on the minimum monthly balance at credit" of depositors.

A social dance was held at the Catholic Institute last night in aid of the funds of St. Patrick's Presbytery. The whole affair was got up by the ladies of the congregation, and they made ample provision for the comfort of their guests, the tables being liberally served with all the viands of the season. There was a large attendance, and Messrs. Martin and Flynn proved very efficient M.C.'s when their services were required. The hall was very neatly decorated for the occasion, and all present seemed to enjoy themselves thoroughly. One of those interesting entertainments in connection with St. Matthew's Church, took place in the schoolroom last night, and there was a crowded audience to enjoy the programme. The opening piece was the comedietta "A Quiet Family." Dr. Dawson made a feature of the part of Mr. Barnaby Bibbs, and Mr. J. H. Cooper created a good deal of amusement as Benjamin Bibbs. Mrs. and Miss Dawson, Miss Halstead, and Mrs. Williamson, also contributed largely in their respective parts to the success of the farce. In an interlude which followed song? were given by Mrs. Tebbs, Mr. Kell, and Mrs. Barnett, and a recitation was given by Mr. J. Martin. The popular farce, "Turn Him Out," concluded a most amusing perormance.

" The last Scramble," as the Wellington Press calls the Public Works Statement, is found by that paper to be most unsatisfactory, first on account of the Otago Central vote, and second because of the scandalously extravagant and wasteful exSenditure on roads and bridges. On the tago Central it says:—"A grosser inconsistency could hardly be imagined. Can it for a moment be contended that the Otago Central Railway is a work of an immediately reproductive character ? . . . Yet this is the railway on which the Minister of Public Works proposes to spend £35,000 out of the scanty remnant of the loan, after having expressed the distinct opinion of the Government that there should be no expenditure on any but immediately reproductive works. The plain truth is that this vote of £35,000 is a continuation of the vicious and dishonest system of distributing the loan funds, not to equip the country with necessary or desirable public works, but to procure political support. It is sheer Vogelism, the worst kind of Vogelism, and by resorting to it the Atkinson Ministry entirely identify themselves with that foul rdgime."

Mr. Graves Aickin's many friends and customers will be glad to find that he is now in his old place at the Queen-street Pharmacy.

People should not complain about the prices of boots now, as Garrett Brothers have made reductions of from 20 to 30 per cent. Their new price list is a wonder.

Gas and coke consumers are notified that Monday next is the last day upon which full discount can be allowed on their accounts.

The Devonport Lawn Tennis Club dance will be held m the, Trinity Church Schoolroom to-night. .......

The City Council call for fresh tenders for a plunger-rod to "B" engine at the waterworks. Details will be found in another column.

This evening Pastor Spurgeon will lecture on " The Apostle of Burmah " at the Grafton Road VVesleyan Church. The lecture will be illustrated by a portrait and a map.

In our columns will be found an advertisement stating that Mr. Slesinger, the wellknown veterinary surgeon, from Dunedin, is now staying at Luks' Victoria Hotel for a few days, and will be glad to receive orders for his famous horse, cattle, and dog medicines.

Great disappointment lias been expressed by many who, owing to the shortness of the season, were unable to hear the opera. The Pirates of Penzance," as produced by the Auckland Amateur Opera Club ; and, in response to numerous requests, the committee have decided to give a final performance to-morrow evening. The box plan has been opened at Wildman's. Stall tickets can be purchased either at the Box Office or at Partridge's.