OUR LETTER HOME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8283, 16 June 1890, Page 9

OUR LETTER HOME.

a r.rMOUft has been current in the colony within the last few days, that j lis Excellency the Governor (the Earl p f Onslow) is about to resign his office mid return to England. The report has no substantial basis, and the Ministers ~y i hey know nothing of any such intuition. The Earl of Onslow's resignation would be greatly regretted throughput the colony. lie has shown himself t,t he possessed of a thorough knowjcclG'C of the duties of his office ; he has •maintained his position without having ]~■.(! any friction with his responsible advisers ; and whenever himself and the Countess of Onslow have come in conl;u>t with the people, they have created ;1 favourable impression by their courtly and affability. The Legislative Council and the House of Representatives meet at Wellington on the 19th instant. (Since last session, Sir Harry Atkinson lias not been in a good state of health, and there j- considerable doubt as to whether he v -ill be able to discharge the duties of Premier and leader of the House if .Representatives. The present colleagues of Sir Harry Atkinson, however , jii-iont as administrators, have not been able to relieve him of the labour if getting the Government measures trough the House of Representatives, po that lie has had to do more than his fair share of work. This lie cannot continue, so that it seems impossible to avoid a change. It was at one time thought that Sir Harry might resign before the House met : but that idea, if ever entertained, has been abandoned. The Premier will meet the House, and within a few days afterwards will deliver the Financial Statement. Immediately thereafter it will be determined what is to be done. If the Premier determines to keep in cilice, the session will be made as short and as easy as possible. There will be no attempt at borrowing, and no large aires will be introduced. The present is the last session of the present 3louse; and the new House will be elected by completely altered electorates, and with 70 European members instead of 95. In these circumstances only necessary business will i..-> undertaken. in the event of Sir Harry Atkinson being compelled to send in his resignation a change will have to be made in the Ministry, i: is thought that Sir "Harry would advise 1 is Excellency to send for the Hon. Mr. Mitchelin, who is the senior Minister, and ask him to form a Cabinet. If Mr. Mitchrlson undertook the task, which is doubtful, he would in all probability rmleavour to get the aid of Mr. Bryce pr Sir John Hall. It may be that the LompHcation resulting from Sir Harry's resignation will issue in an immediate dissolution, a general election as soon as possible by the new constituencies, ami a second session during the present year. During the past month two Ministers have addressed their constituents. The Hon. Mr. Fergus, Minister of Public Works, spoke at Queenstown on May £2. and as Ministers had just before been in conference at Wellington, and the session was close at hand, it was thought that he would utter the sentiments of the Cabinet, and state the Ministerial programme. His speech, however, was a surprise to the colony, and it is reported that it was a surprise to his colleagues. He spoke as if the Governl tent contemplated the issuing of debentures in the colony for various purposes, and altogether as if they pr .posed large measures for the ensuing session. It is reported at Wellington that Ministers are so much disappointed at Mr. Fergus's speech, and ac the chorus of disapproval that it lias raised throughout the country, that in all likelihood he will have to retire. On June 11, Mr. Richardson, Minister of .Lands, addressed his constituents, and in concluding he thus summarised the policy of the Government: —" Speakin? broadly, the policy of the Government is a policy of settlement and propress, of common sense and prudence, a policy of paying its way, of pausing in respect of railways, and ci pushing Dii roads—a policy that can be pursued without borrowing." Among the measures which will be brought forward next session will be one for reorganising the defence force. A small paid force will be organised, and around this will be grouped the volunteers. On the 26th of May, the Queen's Birthday was celebrated throughout the colony in the usual way. In Auckland the" volunteers turned out, and tired feii-de-joie. _ The annual exhibition of the Auckland Society of Arts was opened on the 22nd ultimo, and the season proved a successful one. It was opened by a conversazione, at which the president (Mr. E. A. Mackechnie) delivered the inaugural address, which was of an exhaustive character. The Society requested Mr. Christie Murray, the wellknown lecturer and novelist, who is himself an artist, to say a few words on the subject of art before the president declared the exhibition open. That gentlela;, a kindly acceded to the request, unci delivered a neat speech, which was well received. Mr. Murray was most emphatic in his eulogy of New Zealand Ecenery, and its relation to native art, as the following passage from his speech show's :—"I may say for your comfort, it comfort be needed, you have the knowledge that in New Zealand the artist is born into the painter's paradise of the whole world. Here you have lake, mountain, forest, plain, and the lovely grandeur of the sea-shore in one splendid ensemble. There are lakes as delightful elsewhere ; mountains more majestic,forests as richly coloured, plains more vast, and the sea-shore as mournfully splendid, but nowhere in the world outside of New Zealand do ▼ou find these various beauties so crowded together. This, I think, you may venture to take a travellers -word for." There were 200 pictures, oil and water-colours, and over 300 works in all. Proportionally there was a larger number of water-colours th\n in previous years, and a greater display in all branches of art The exhibition was the best in quality and quantity yet held. One of the features was the greater number Df figure-pieces. There was a strong representation of Southern artists, among them being Miss Wimpriss, Miss Stoddart, Messrs. Moultray, J. Gibb W. M. Oibb, Barraud, de Forrest, Beetham, Cooper, &c. Mr. Moultray contributed three paintings depicting historical scenes during the troublous times of the Maori war, the principal being "The Skirmish near Handlers Woolshed> Nukumaru," and 'I he lietreat to the Clearing at Moturoa. The former incident is now associated with what is known as lhe Rusden Libel Case." The Auckland artists also made a highly creditable display. Miss Dobson, a new accession to 'artistic talent in Auckland, made her first appearance as an exhibitor, after six years' absence from Auckland, during which she has been studying art in England and on the Continent, She contributed in oils, pastel, charcoal and modelling. Among the other leading artists were Messrs. E. W. Dayton, 1. h. Druminond, F. Wright, C. Bloomfield, T. Ball, &c. The School of Art prize competitions in various branches of art elicited a goodly list of competitors from various parts of the colony, and the free-hand drawing competition for the public schools brought in 1500 entries. The society is doing excellent service in the promotion of art. __ Hitherto there has not been in New Zealand any institution for imparting to the blind -knowledge of reading and

| writing, and of those handicrafts which it is found that blind persons can pursue. Blind persons have been few, and as there is no great city in the colony, there has been no convenient place. Of late, Mr. Tighe, who is a teacher of the blind, has-been travelling in the colony and teaching blind persons. This good work has been promoted chiefly by Bishop Cowie, of Auckland. It has been determined now, however, to establish an institution in this city. About £150 remained of a surplus from the Jubillee celebrations, and it was resolved to give that to the purpose. Mr. John Abbott lias devoted himself enthusiastically to raising subscriptions, and has obtained about £1000. The working of the San Francisco Service, and its benefits to the colony of New Zealand, were shown by the results of the operations for the year ending on 31st December last. The full original subsidy was paid to the end of November, us the, new arrangement did not take effect till then. Yet the year's returns show receipts to the amount of £30,307 2s 5d against an expenditure of £27,394 Bs, thus exhibiting a surplus of £2012 lis 3d in aid of the general revenue of the colony. This is satis factory enough, but the new arrangement, if it had been in operation during the whole year, would have shown a. far larger surplus of £8527. The subsidy would only have been £11,250 and the other charges £5518, in all £1G,7(58. > Against this the postages posted in New Zealand (£16,050) and the share received from London (£:»2-l5) make up the surplus above noted. Contrast these figures with those of the direct service of the New Zealand Shipping Company. The company received (in payment by weight for the mails carried) £'10,G07 3s •Id, and (in bonuses) £5577 13s -id. The interprovincial distribution and other charges were £3000, bringing up the total cost to £20,480 16s Bd. The receipts were only £15,189 Os 2d, leaving a deficiency of £5291 l(>s Scl to be borne by the consolidated revenue. Thus the San Francisco line is carried on at a large profit, while the direct line entails a large loss. As a mail service there can be no comparison between the two lines. No one lias ever pretended that any possible service can, in this respect, beat that via San Francisco. The only plea for a subsidy to the direct line was its usefulness in carrying frozen meat and other produce to London. The subsidy now received by this line is by a payment per pound weight for all mail matter which it conveys. To attempt, by the discontinuance of the American line, to force a greater weight of mail matter for carriage by the direct line would be injurious to all ami must lead to a very considerable portion of our letters coining by way of Australia. The Victorian or New South Wales Governments would in that case receive the largest share of the Ocean postage. We "should be cut off from America, or, what is most likely, have to be content with a branch line either from Samoa or Sydney. Our outlay would be less, but our income would suffer in more than the same proportion. New /ueulanders would still pay the postage, but it would go to other Governments instead of to their own. The whole question is to be brought up for consideration in the approaching session. The light thrown upon it by the last years returns cannot fail favourably to affect the continuance of the San Francisco service as by far the best and cheapest mail line for the colony. This, too, apart from the undoubted benefit, present and prospective, of being jn continued direct communication with the United States, and through them, having an alternative line with the whole world.

The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court were commenced before His Honor Mr. Justice Conolly on the 2nd inst. The calendar was a short one of ten charges, but some of these were of a more grave nature than usual, including charges of horse and cattle stealing, and breaking and entering, and there was one charge of unnatural offence. The evidence in several of the cases of horse and cattle stealing failed to satisfy the jury, and the persons charged were acquitted, but in the case of Hemmingway, the man charged with unnatural oiience, a conviction was obtained, and he was sentenced to penal servitude for life. The severity of this sentence, has been much commented on. Edmund George was convicted on a charge of having carnal knowledge of a child under the age of 14 years. The case was brought under a statute passed last year making the age at which a girl could give consent to 14 years. The civil sittings of_ the Court were opened on the 9th inst., but most of the cases set down for - hearing were either settled out-of Court or postponed. None of them were of any public importance except one in which a brewer sought to enforce a covenant of agreement by which the defendant was bound to procure all the supplies for his hotel from the plaintiff The question at issue is a nice one, and j after the case had been heard at j considerable length it was postponed ; until July, in order that the defendant raisrht amend his statement of defence. Maoriland lias just achieved a big victory in the athletic arena against the chosen of Australasia. On 31st May, an intercolonial championship series of contests for amateurs took place at Sydney. The competitors numbered 85 iii all,' New South Wales having 21 representatives, New Zealand 10, and Queensland four. In the eleven events in which they competed, the New Zealanders put up the splendid record of 7 wins, 4 seconds, and 2 thirds. The team was chosen from all parts of this colony, the majority of its members being Canterbury man, Auckland, Napier, Dunedin, and lnvercargill furnishing one "rep." each. The prizes are gold medals, suitably inscribed. The results are given in detail elsewhere. The team earned great praise in Australia by their meritorious achievements. During the month a dramatic company, under the management of Mr. Harry St. Maur, an English comedian who has been acting for some time in the colonies, have played a season at Abbotts Opera House, Mr. St. Maur himself acting the principal parts, with Miss Florence Seymour as the leading lady. The company produced " Jim the Penman/' Justin McCarthy's line comedy "The Candidate," Robert Buchanan's dramatisation of Olniet's "The Ironmaster," and other plays of lesser merit. The event of the greatest significance, however, during the season, was the production in Auckland, for the first time on any stage, of a play written by the eminent English journalist and novelist Mr. David Christie Murray, during his tour in New Zealand. The drama, which is in three acts, is entitled "Chums." It is the story of the love which an honourable man bears for a woman whose wealth prevents him from declaring his affection, and also of his love for his protege and "chum," a little boy, who afterwards saves his life by receiving m his own arm a bullet intended for his friend, and fired by the villain who flourishes throughout the piece until baffled and put to flight in the last act. There is no particular novelty in the plot, but the dialogue is good. The scene is laid in Otago. " Chums ' was produced for the first time on the 4th instant, at the Opera House, and was received with the greatest enthusiasm by a very large audience, amongst whom was Sir George Grey. Mr. Murray, who was called before the curtain, delivered a brief speech, when he said that he would count it worthy of remembrance that he was the first

English man of letters to produce a new play before a colonial audience. The sole right to play "Chums" throughout the world has been purchased by .Mr. St. Maur. At present the Opera llouse is occupied by Williamson, Garner, and Miisgrovc's Royal Comic Opera Company, who opened their season on the 9th instant, with Cellier and Stephenson's "Dorothy." Their repertoire also includes " The Yeoman of the Guard," "Princess Ida," "The Mikado," "La Mascotte" and " Patience." The prima donna is Miss Clara Merivale, who only recently arrived in the colonies. The English novelist, Mr. D. Christie Murray, who is touring the colonies, recently visited Auckland and gave three lectures here m the City Hall, before good audiences. The first was delivered on the 22nd May, when Mi-. Murray spoke of his journalistic experiences, and told some entertaining stories of his life as a reporter, and also as a travelling correspondent. In his subSequent lectures, he spoke of the qualifications of a novelist, and of what he had seen as a war correspondent.