THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 1891.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8470, 22 January 1891, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 1891.

We hear but little now in New Zealand of the strike about which afew months ago we were all convulsed. Only a few faint echoes are heard of the conflict. Occasionally we are told of conflicts arising between unionists and non-unionists, and we see now and then that meetings have been held of employers' associations. But although the active conflict is over we cannot imagine that a permanent peace is secured. When two nations finish a war there is no reason why the peace made should not be permanent, and each people settle down within their own borders to the pursuits of agriculture and trade. But in regard to the classes and interests lately in active

conflict 110 such permanent peace is possible without mutual satisfaction and a good state of feeling, as they are daily and hourly in contact and intermingled. And evidently no such permanent

peace is contemplated. We have no doubt that if we could reach the real and genuine feeling of the working men it would be found that they had no disposition for another strike. Many of them must have suffered severely ; many of them must have lost positions which they will never regain in life. But it appears certain that the leaders of the unions are preparing for another struggle. They believe that their defeat on the last occasion was simply because there was a mass of labour outside the unions, and that if that mass could be incorporated, and so be made obedient to the leaders, victory would be sure. We believe they are quite wrong in this anticipation. It is pretty clear also that the unions mean to occupy the political ground. They showed their strength at the polls, and they were aided by the stupidity and selfishness of our politicians, which left everything at their mercy. In all probability we shall see in the present session a posse of labour Bills, which will go far beyond justice or sound political economy, and so will be injurious to the country, and principally injurious in the long run to the working man. We can scarcely augur peace when we find prominent politicians thrusting themselves in between the j men and their employers, and endeavouring to hector the Union Company— telegraphing indignantly on behalf of the men who voluntarily left their employment, and who endeavoured to boycott the company and destroy its business, " Are these men to be boycotted V' By these politicians taking this tone, it would appear that, if possible, political measures will be taken against employers. If it is thought that political influence and power can be gained by such measures, there are plenty of men in Parliament who will not consider whether they are just or right.

On the other hand, the employers all over the world are combining in defence of their interests. In England, powerful federations have been formed ; in Australia, measures of .the same nature have been taken ; and in New Zealand we have Employers' Associations in all the large centres of population. If in the next strike the unions are better organised, so, it will be found, are the employers. The unions have not dropped the claim which is made by all these bodies, that unionists shall not work alongside non-unionists, and the employers are not likely to concede this. There is also one way, outside of their organisations, in which employers will be found prepared. If the men raise a conflict—if they, as they did last time, rush away from their work without a grievance, without attempting to make terms or to state terms, many employers will simply " shut down" or greatly curtail their operations. They will decline the battle. They will withdraw their capital. At the present time they are very careful about embarking in new enterprises. They are keeping themselves ready to almost stop at the sign of a conflict in Australia, which may be taken up here.

The annual meeting of the Auckland Employers' Association was held yes-

[ terday, and the speech of the Presi- | dent, Mr. McMillan, stated the principles upon which the Association ■is founded. It must be admitted that the employers have all along been more careful and considerate than the other side. Their motto has been " Defence, not Defiance." There has been nothing like aggression. They have not attempted to make any political movement. How are we to account for this difference of action on one side and the other? Simply in this way. During the whole time of the strike, employers and capitalists were referred to by those who assumed to speak in the name of the unionists, as bloated tyrants who sought to grind the utmost out of the working man, and as enemies to be fought at every turn. It has been much the same in the political straggle. All employers of labour, all persons possessing capital, have now arrayed against them a political party. The other side have not adopted this tone. Some of the employers were greatly tried. Some were materially injured, and probably some were ruined by the strike, but whatever particular members may have felt, the associations as bodies have always held to the point that capital and labour have a common interest, and that in regard to any difference between employers and employed, an endeavour should be made to settle it by mutual agreement. They have not asked for anything like class legislation.

[ But we do not despair, even in this I case, of good coming out of evil. It is quite possible that the union leaders, looking at the disastrous results of the late conflict, and at the fact that employers are federated and otherwise well prepared, may change their tone. It is possible that instead of being eager for strikes, displaying a great anxiety to " call out" men while they have no adequate resources to support them, they may co-operate in the establishment of some Court before which all trade disputes may be placed. Above all, working men should be suspicious of place-hunting politicians who will profess to be eager to do something for them. These men are purely selfish in their action, and will desert the cause of the working man whenever they can get a job for themselves. In these colonies, all men have equal opportunities. Anything like class legislation will tend to array one class against another, will hinder the progress of the country, and will be injurious to the interests of all.

We have no doubt at all that Aristotle's treatise on the Constitution of Athens, which has been lost for somewhere about 2250 years, will contain something well worth the study of New Zealand politicians. We have been retrograding since then in the science of politics. The world has to mourn over many great books which have been lost, but probably no loss has been so much lamented as those books of Aris-

totle. For centuries, all Europe and a part of Asia was in absolute intellectual slavery to the great philosopher. He was believed as implicitly as if he had been inspired. Then came a revolt but latterly his fame has revived. The history of his works, and how thej came to be preserved, is quite an in teresting history. We are told thai whilst the philosopher distributed his other property to his surviving family he left the more precious bequest of his writings to Theophrastus, his favourite disciple and successor in the Lyceum, By Theophrastus they were bequeathed with his own library, to Neleus 01 Scepsis, by whom they were conveyec from Greece into Asia Minor to the city of Scepsis, where he resided. The heirs of Neleus, to whom they next descended were private individuals, not philoso pliers by profession, who were onlj anxious for the safe custody of theii literary treasure. The magnificence oi kings had then begun to display itseli in the collection of libraries, and works of genius were sought out with ar eager and lavish curiosity. It was s taste happy for the cause of literature, to which, perhaps, the example ol Alexander's noble fondness for every thing connected with intellectual energy had principally led. Aristotle himself, indeed, is said to have beer the first to form a library. He was tin first, probably, to form one on an ex tensive scale. The Scepsians, into whose hands his -works had now fallen, fearful of the literary rapacity of tin Kings of Per tram os, resorted to the selfish expedient of secreting the writings under ground. The volumes re mained in_ this concealment until at length their very existence seems to have been forgotten, and they would thus have been lost to the world, but for the accidental discovery of them after the lapse of 130 years. His philosophy had been traditionally propagated, for we hear of Peripatetics at this time. Portions indeed of his works must doubtless have continued in circulation among the disciples at the Lyceum, serving in some measure as a record of the principles of the sect A Peripatetic philosopher, Apeliicon ol reos, whom Strabo, however, character ises as a lover of books rather than a lover of science, purchased the recovered volumes, and effectually re trieved them for the world. He employed several copyists in transcribing them, himself superintending the task, Unfortunately much was irreparably lost, the writings being mouldered with the dampness of the place in which they had been so long deposited. In addition to these damaees of time, they were now further impaired by misdirected endeavours to restore the I effaced text of the author. The works of Aristotle, or rather the copies of them thus obtained were conveyed by Apellicon to Athens, their proper home, though no longer perfect in the text or such exactly as the author had left them. Here this collection oi them remained until the spoliation oi the city by Scylla, who besieged Athens in 8(j B.C. The library of Apeliicon was a tempting object of plunder to the Romans, who were now awakened to the value of literature, and Aristotle's works were accordingly carried awaj to Rome among the other rich spoils At Komethey experienced a better for tune. Tyranio, a learned Greek, whe had been a prisoner of war to Lucullus and was then enjoying the freedon granted to him as a resident at Rome was the principal instrument of theii future publication. Obtaining access to the library of Scylla, in which the works of Aristotle had been placed, he made additional copies of the writings Such is the account given of how the works of Aristotle which we now have were preserved. Three different cata logues of his writings have come dowr to us, which show that we have only t portion of the result of his incessant

activity in every department of thought. How this papyrus has been preserved, or where, we are not informed, but will learn by the mail. We presume that no doubt is entertained of its genuineness, or the authorities of the British Museum would not have given £3000 for it. No doubt it will be deciphered and published as soon as possible.

The members c? the have got theimsel/es into an awkwarf mess by their presumption in setting to initiate tariff legislation in the gujj of wharf charges. A McKinley tariff ? above their powers. They aspired \ introduce protecdve duties for th benefit of a firm and to call them h the lying name :>f harbour C harc2 There is no gettng out of that fh chairman openly avowed that the oh ject of altering the scale of wharf charges on certainnrticles "was to promote local industy," and to prevent as far as possible, ships coming to the harbour with certain cargo. We were told that the Boar< were only acting aany merchant wculd do in granting favours to a good customer. It i 3 | pity that members oi the Board do not see the difference between their position dealing with public money for a specific purpose, and that of a private person Suppose one of tlem were to import 100 gallons of spirit and were to be told that lie had to pay 14s a gallon duty while Messrs. L. D. Nathan and Co., who at the same time iirported 500 gallons would only be charged 7s a gallon duty' what would he say ? Yet the Government could say that they were simply favouring their best customer. The Board still talk in anabsurd way about their duty being to encourage "this or that industry. We defy them to show us anything in the Act under which they proceed empowering them to make by-laws with any su<h motive. All by. la .vs must be approve! by the Governor-in-Council, ana we hive no doubt that if the Governor's attention had been called to the avowed motive of the recent changeswhich hsve been attempted to be made, he would have at once disallowed the by-law. The Harbour Act seems to us to prohibit such action on the part of a Board. The 110 th section of the Harbours Ac*, is as follows " Harbour dues shall le made by by-laws in the manner provided by this Act, and after the commencement of this Act all dues shall be chargeable equally to all persons in respect of the same description of ships, the same description of voyage, and the same description of goods." Unless there were something under all this, we are quite sure that the Chairman would see that what the Board have to do is simply to make a charge for the use of the wharf for landing the goods. They have nothing to do with favouring this or that firm. The Chairman now talks about the necessity of increasing the wharfage charges. There is not the least necessity for doing so. They can easily reduce their expenditure.

Our cable messages this morning are of a varied character. The Indian rising has not yet been quelled. Financial difficulties are expected to arise in consequence of the revolution in Chili. Affairs in Samoa art in a satisfactory condition. Mr. Parnel has convened a meeting of the Irish party King Kalakaua is reported to be dying i San Francisco. The situation in his kinp dom is critical. General Booth is highl' pleased at the success of his appeal ft funds to assist his emigration scheme. Tie railway strike in Scotland has caused a ha of half-a-million. There is no prospect ;i i settlement.

Among the visitors in town is Mr. foulton, late of the firm of Poulton and Son, photographic publishers, London. Ovinoto his recent retirement from bushes?, Mr. Poulton is touring the coloniei for pleasure. Having done the whole d th» Australian colonies, New Zealand, ani the South Sea Islands, he intends leaviie by the outgoing mail steamer for 'Frisco", devoting the whole of the year to travel in the United States before going to England, which he hopes to reach by (Jhristmaj. Mr. Poulton expresses himself as grearlypleased with all the colonies, but especially with New Zealand, as having all the resources which should create a permanent prosperity. He states that after all that has been said and written in the mother country respecting the cdonies in these Southern seas the British public are in pitiable ignorance concerting them, and have no conception of their progress and , resources. Mr. Poulton expresses his belief thatv in a few years, a? the English people become better inforued about the colonies, the stream of emigration, or at least a portion of it, will set towards out 1 shores, as in no other colony which he has visited, do the best features cf English life seem to be so faithfully reproduced. The Rev. J. M&cky, of Otahuhu, is now seriously ill, and is not expected to recover. An interesting argument on a point of law as to the lien of a solicitor over deeds in hi.

possession was heard yesterday in the Supreme Court before Air. Justice Conolly. Mr. Mackechnie was solicitor for the Kaihu Valley Railway Company, and incurred certain costs and expenses in securing the titles for the Company. The Company mortgaged to the Crown, and expended the £47,000 borrowed, making no provision for the solicitor's costs, and the Crown baring foreclosed now requires Mr. Mackechnie to surrender the deeds which he holds as security for his costs. Mr. Mackechnie refuses, and hence the action. A report of the proceedings appears in another column.

The Minister for Lands for South Australia was to have left Adelaide on the 17th inst. for the purpose of inspecting the homestead block system. During the past year the Costley Training Institution has gone on in its path of quiet usefulness. A number of lads are apprenticed out at trades, others are being boarded and attend the public school, and every effort is made tofit them for becoming useful members of society. The annual meeting takes place this evening at halfpast seven, when the report and balancesheet will be presented, addresses given, and musical selections rendered. The building will be open for inspection at seven o'clock, and a cordial invitation to be present is given to all friends and wellwishers.

It is stated that when the Hospital Court of Enquiry is duly constituted, its labours are not likely to be very prolonged. From the rumours current it appears that those instrumental in bringing about the enquiry, have no intention of tendering evidence before the present Commissioners. It is also stated that legal opinion lias been taken on the matter, and that is to the effect that they cannot be compelled to give evidence.

On Tuesday afternoon Mr. A. C. Whitney was presented by the employes of the Colonial Ammunition Company, Limited, with a handsome black marble clock on the occasion of hie approaching: marriage. Tha clock was subscribed for by the whole of the employes here as a mark of the respect ana esteem they have for Mr. Whitney, the manager of the Auckland Branch of tha Company. After a few short and appropriate remarks from Mr. W. Eraser, the chief engineer of the works, the presentation was made by Mr. K. Teutenberg, a n( Mr. Whitney responded. Thanking all for the kindly feeling shown, and expressing his high estimation of their present to him. The clock bore an inscription of the > good wishes entertained for the future happiness and prosperity of the bride and bridegroom. Meetings of licensed victuallers in City North and City East wards have been held this week, with a view of comine to some understanding as to the licensing " ticket" to be supported by the trade. The meetings have been confined to th» trade, but it is understood that the " ticket of last year is regarded with favour, with the exception of the name of Mr. Winks, and that it is contemplated to replace hi 3 name by that of Mr. Charles Hesketh. Th« causes of dissatisfaction with Mr. Winks have not transpired. The annual picnic of the Guard of Honour Society attached to St.. Patrick's Cathedral was held yesterday, at Mrs. Terry's gardens, Northcote, and proved most enjoyable. The weather was all that could be desired for tha outing, and the various sports incident to such gatherings were freely indulged in. In the evening there was singing and dancing in the hall, an( * Rev. Dr. Egan and Mr. Montague enlivened the company by their talented efforts. The Very Rev. Father Hackett) and the Mar Brothers were amongst the guests.

Our Thames correspondent telegraphed set night: —" A fashionable wedding took ,19c© at St. George's Church to-day, the lontracting parties being Mr. A. Buchanan, solicitor, of Auckland, and Miss M. E. »dams, M.A., the eldest daughter of Mr. ;ames Adams, master of the Thames High Ichool. The ceremony was performed by tie Rev. Dr. O'Callaghan, assisted by the ]ev. Mr. Bates, of Trinity Church, North Siore. The happy couple afterwards left fr Te Aroha to spend the honeymoon." The third of the series of Mr. E. T. Smith's recitals of Cough's orations was |iven in the City Hall. Dr. Knight pre,(]ed. As on the previous night the body if the hall was crowded, and the passages Iso tilled. The police insisted on the passes being cleared, and a number of people ad to be turned away from the stalls' enranee. There was also a well-filled dress :rcle, and the audience was the largest ihich Mr. Smith has yet addressed. His jcital was as successful as its predecessors, id the magnetism generated by a crowded id sympathetic audience had its effect on ie reciter in increasinghisdramaticforceand •rvour. The illustrative incidents—holding child over the rapids of Niagara—Gough's rat speech —the prairie on fire—were illingly delivered and heartily applauded, he choir, under the condi\ctorship of Mr. ■ouskill. rendered some musical selections, bout fifty pledges were taken at the close f the meeting. To-night Mr. Smith will ive an original lecture, entitled "An Inirview with a Fiend,'' which will be illus-,-ated by incidents within his own personal xperience. The choir will also give musial selections. To-morrow (Friday) night he entertainment will be in the nature of 'oetical Recitals and a general literary enertainment, and will give scope for the xercise of the dramatic talent which Mr. jmith undoubtedly possesses.

A man named Henry John Phillips was rrested yesterday by Detective Ede on a h*rge of uttering a forged cheque for £12 Os, purporting to bo drawn by George iOrim, of Kuaotunu. It appears it was ;ivtn to Mr. Endean, of the Waitetnata lotil.

Infective Hughes arrested two women .•e-tfday, Mary Barry, alias "Bennett, and \nn» Robertson, on a charge of having no /bib'* means of support.

It vill be observed by advertisement in inothr column that Messrs. L. D. Nathan and Go. have increased their already extensiv business by purchasing the wine and sirit portion of the trade of Messrs. Hancck and Co. We understand that the deat:;of the late Mr. S. Jagger, combined with the increasing trade of the brewery busiess of the firm, has influenced this disptal of this valuable branch of the Duress, and it i* a matter of general congraolation of those interested that the trarjfer has been made into such good hauls.

Tiere is at the present time in Auckland ono of the finest collections of coins we seen for some time past. They are Indin, Persian, etc., some of them going back to j period before the Christian era. There i? nso a complete collection of the Jubilee cons. The metal of the coins is valued at £loo,and the whole collection, made by a pijnt.lwnan now in Auckland, is valued at £300. The collection will probably be taken ta Auitralia for disposal to the Museum there. Those who take an interest in numismatics would do well to call in at the office of Mr. W. R. Cook, A.M.P. Buildings, whjre they are now on view.

Purins his visit to the North, Colonel Hume.Crtimissionerof Police, inspected the police station at Kawakawa, accompanied by Inspector McGovern, of Russell, and also visited the?tations at Mangonui and Whangarou.

A eoir.plinentary benefit to Mrs. Edmomies will be given this evening, in the Forester's Hill, Newton, under the patronage of the Caedonian Society. The concert will be underthe directorship of Mr. J. H. I'hilpott.

The Railway Department, Wellington, invite tenders fir the supply and delivery of .oal for the New Zealand railways.

A special geieral meeting of the Auckland Amateur Swinmiug Club will be held in the Y.M.C.A. Rootis, on Monday next, at halfpast seven.

The following amounts were received at our publishing office yesterday towards the Huntly relief fund .J. L. Wilson, £2 2s; \V. S. Wilson, £2 2s; M. L. Butt, £1 ; Ellen Browning, Epsom, £1.

Mr. Guy will run a special 'bus to Lower Remuera, Victoria Avenue, to-day. leaving Queen-street at two p.m., and returning from Remuera at six o'clock.

We have to acknowledge the receipt of £1 Is from Mis. Adam Cairns for the Rev. W. Tebbs' testimonial fund.

The yacht Camellia is advertised for sale on Tuesday next, by Messrs. Digby Tonks and Co., and is on view on and after Saturday, between Watermen's Steps and Graving Dock.

Those in search of novelty will have their taste gratified by a visit to St. Matthew's .Schoolroom this evening, when Mr. W. H. I)raitin will exhibit his unique entertainment of thought-reading. The performance will be preceded by a short concert, commencing at eight v . Hi., when selections will be given by Mesdames Morrin, Tebbs, and Stevens, Messrs. Tapper, Maitland, and Holloway ; r,he .Misses Chew and others ; accompanist, Mr. A. Wiseman.