THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 1891.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8472, 24 January 1891, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 1891.

Sic H. Atkinson has resigned, and has been appointed Speaker of the Legislative Council. Whether a politician who has been so long a party leader is exactly the best man for a post which requires above all things strict impartiality may well be doubted. Whether a man who has been noted for making vigorous use of his " hobnailed boots " is precisely the man for president of an Upper Chamber such as the Legislative Council of New Zealand may also be matter of dispute. But at any rate he has been appointed, and no doubt will endeavour conscientiously to do his duty. It is not denied that Sir H. Atkinson, notwithstanding his many years in office, is comparatively a poor man, and that lie is not in a pecuniary position which would enable him to maintain that station in society to which his long services and great ability .justly entitle him. In one way, the fact is greatly to his credit. There cannot be a doubt that if Sir H. Atkinson had not been actuated by a high sense of honour he might have enriched himself without any dishonest act. He might easily, in collusion with other men, have engaged in speculations which would have procured him ample wealth. But he has had a higher and nobler ambition than merely to enrich himself, and he deserves the fullest meed of praise for disinterestedness and integrity. But is it not a discreditable fact that a man with the record of Sir Harry Atkinson should be obliged to delay his resignation of the office of Premier until some appointment could be found into which he could be shunted, in order to give him a decent livelihood ? Would it not be much better to follow the example of Great Britain, and frankly acknowledge that after a man has served the Crown as a Minister for a few years he should be entitled to a pension if his private means do _ not suffice to enable him to retire with a sufficient income to sustain a proper position in the community? Can any one doubt that if an ex-Minister of this colony had to apply to the Charitable Aid Board, or even to send the hat round amongst his friends as the late Mr. Cobden had to do three times, such a spectacle would be a disgrace to the colony ? The public '. give a very small salary now to Minister:-, considering the position, they have to keep up. A Minister is expected to . live in a certain style ; he must keep an ; establishment of servants. It must be • almost impossible for him to save any- I thing out of his salary, without acquir- - ing a character tor meanness which ; would be fatal to his reputation. No '. man, except, a lawyer, can follow his i profession or business while he is a Minister of the Crown. And even as , an ex - Minister, his attendance in Parliament must seriously interfere 1 with the successful prosecution of busi- ] ness. It follows, then, that we must , either restrict our choice of Ministers ; to wealthy men, or, under the present '. system, submit them to the humiliation ' of jobbing for a place, or of retiring 1 into actual poverty. An Australian 1 colony, the wealthiest of the group, 1 seems quite content that its ablest ' political leader should be constantly in ( pecuniary difficulties that are notorious, i There are men who, subjected even to ; these trials, resist the temptations to 1 which they must of necessity be ex- < posed. But such men are rare, and we £ very much doubt whether the growth s of public opinion in these days will ] favour the formation of such characters, $ They are rather the survivors of a past i epoch, than tiie product of these latter I days. € If an Act were passed providing that £ any man who had been a minister of the a Crown for five, or seven, or ten years r altogether, should be entitled to a pen- i sion of five hundred a-year, on making c a declaration that his private means I were not sufficient to support him in a r suitable way, there would be no excuse c for such arrangements as we have just c witnessed. Every business man knows 5 there is no real economy in underpaying b men who are in positions of great trust, u When you give a man the disposal of ] 'r

hundreds of thousands, or as in the case of the Colonial Treasurer, millions of money, it is the height of folly to put him in such straits that he shall be tempted to league with importers or contractors. (Suppose that Sir H. Atkinson had been as little scrupulous as are many business men of good repute, and on the eve of some of his financial statements had given a hint to a firm of wealthy importers that the duty would be raised on certain articles, does anybody suppose that he might not have obtained thousands, without anyone being the wiser, but at the cost of the revenue ? These things are done in other countries, and if the present system is continued, they will, some day or other, be done here. We have put our argument solely on the selfish ground, but there is another, and a higher view of the question. Here is a man who has devoted all the best years of his life to the public service, who has risked his life, both on the battlefield and in the House of Representatives, by his arduous labours, and who is now totally unfitted for the battle of life. We do not say is it generous, but is it just, that such a man should be compelled to take even a light and not very laborious office for the sake of a living ? Is this the way such services ought to be rewarded? The duties of President of the Legislative Council are not very onerous ; to a man in good health, they would probaby be rather a pleasant occupation ; but to a man in Sir H. Atkinson's state they will be irksome, and perhaps may be dangerous. And there are so few such posts that if another Premier had to retire it _ would be difficult to find one to put him in. The only proper way is to give a decent, but not an extravagant, pension. The pension system was at one time carried too far in New Zealand, and we are not yet done with the evil effects of our recklessness, but in such a case as this a pension would be an economy. No doubt there is a good deal to be said on the other side if a man were to receive a pension after being, say, seven years a. Minister, many would struggle above all things, not to do faithful public service, not to maintain their record for rectitude and independence, but above all things to cling to office to make up their time. Then, again, it might be urged that many men devote themselves to public office who, because they are not sufficiently supple, or sufficiently clever at intriguing, do not get into office. They render valuable public services undoubtedly, but they do not earn the salary of a Minister nor qualify themselves for a pension. But a spectacle like this we have had lately is to be avoided above all things. Sir Harry Atkinson had to keep hold on office till he had a safe retreat, and in his doing so the country has suffered. To mention one trifle, he knew at the last election that he was about to retire, yet he stood for Egmont. The objector his return, in his own mind, was, not that lie might discharge the duties of a member in the new Parliament, but that he might make sure of the position of Speaker of the Legislative Council. It is rather a sorry spectacle, and not a | very dignified exit from political life.

Quern dei% vult perdere prius dementat ! Whoever has advised Miss Arnaboldi not to put in an appearance before the Commissioners appointed by the Governor to investigate her charges against the Medical Superintendent of the Hospital, has certainly done so contrary to her interests and the interest of the public. We have already expressed our opinion as to the constitution of the tribunal, and to that we adhere. To ask two officials, themselves heads of departments, to adjudicate in a complaint made by a subordinate against another official, himself the head of a large establishment, with fairness and impartiality, is to ask too much of human nature. It is often said that there is no fairer tribunal than a military or naval court-martial. And so it may be as between subordinate officials, or men of nearly equal rank. But whoever has seen a court-martial judging a case between a private soldier or sailor, or a non-commissioned officer against his commander, must be convinced that nothing like an impartial judgment is ever to be hoped for. " What in the captain's but a choleric word in the poor soldier is rank blasphemy." So it was in Shakespere's time, and so it will be as long as the world lasts. _ But it is one thing to recognise this fact, and quite another to refuse to plead before such a tribunal. There is an amount of evidence which, taken in public in a free country like this no tribunal, however constituted, can afford to resist. Nothing can be so bad, so prejudiced, so stupid as the Hospital Board itself, yet even it was obliged to yield to the pressure of public opinion. And now, when the authority appealed to has appointed a commission, we find the complainant proposes to let judgment go by default! Of course the Commission will in such a case be bound to declare the charges unfounded. And if Miss Arnaboldi and her advisers think that, under such circumstances, an appeal to the House of Representatives will do any good, they are_ miserably mistaken. That House will be too much occupied in party struggles to give the case any thought, or if they do, they will very naturally refuse to reverse the judgment of the Commissioners. The common sense of the public will pronounce against Miss Arnaboldi; if she really has evidence to support her charges, now is the time to bring it forward. If, then a flagrantly unjust decision should be given, then an appeal to Parliament would be justifiable. But to cast such an insult upon these two gentlemen, as to assume that their judgment must of necessity be against all the weight of evidence, by refusing to appear before them, will simply convince the public that there was no evidence that would stand investigation and cross-examination. The advice not to appear before the Commission may have been given under the idea that it would bring fame to someone to initiate a row in the House of Representatives. It may do so, but the Auckland Hospital will be sacrificed.

The new House of Representatives have not made a good beginning. They had to elect a Speaker. Two men were nominatedthe Hon. W. Kolleston and Major Steward, and the House by 36 to 29 have chosen the latter. Mr. Kolleston would have made a good Speaker. He.is a man of high education and liberal culture, belonging to a family which has produced more than one man of eminence in letters. He has been for many years in the House, and has been a Minister of the Crown. Never was there against his honour a breath of accusation. The same can scarcely be said of Major Steward. He has never shown anything like the ability displayed by Mr. Rolleston, and was altogether on a very much lower level. In 1886 a committee of the House of Representatives was appointed to examine into some accusations made against Major Steward in connection with commission obtained by him for negotiating the sale of debentures issued in connection with that specimen of legislation The District Railways Purchasing Act, 1885. The committee reported on the subject, and the report concluded as follows : — " That your committee are of opinion that, while Mr. Steward has avoided any technical breach of the Disqualification Act, they unanimously regard the transactions referred to as calculated seriously to

reflect upon and impugn imteerifT! any member of Parliament 1 n l y ° therein, and to give rise, as has K ged the case in this instance, to *, ■uscandal. That it may fairly £ bllc sumed that, had the Government 3 f" directly with the companies, the am? or the commission might have k nt saved to the colony. That it is g v^ [ to be regretted that neither Mr Ste\ y nor Sir Julius Vogel, as appears . their respective evidence, recoen any impropriety in a member of p" hament acting as a paid agent in m *l' ing a sale to the Government." uhave no desire to rake up matt against a gentleman who has been •f* pointed to the high office of Speaker & the House of Representatives, but ti report of which we have given ano tion undoubtedly asserted that th committee had found that Mai Steward had been guilty of condnS for which he deserved censure. H : " election, however, as Speaker show* that he has the confidence and esteen of a large number of the members of' the House. His election also show that the Ballance party are strone and have now with them the conf' dence of success that carries all waverers.

It is not likely that anything certain will be ascertained as to the cause of the unfortunate fire on board of the ship Leading Wind. It is quite certain that there is no such thing as " spo n . taneous combustion" amongst flax • but, at _ the same time, it would appear that a little fire getting amongst flax k excessively dangerous, and that when it takes hold the fire is exceedingly difficult to extinguish. The same te be said with respect to all fibres, [ lx the present instance, a carter taking a load to the ship may have been smoking and a spark have fallen from his pip,';'. or perhaps a spark from the don!;•-,.' engine may have got into the ] lo ki. When a vessel is loading at night sparks will be seen rising from the donkey-engine, and flying whithersoever the wind blows them. The same tiling happens during the day, only the sparks are not visible. A spark might easily in this way get amongst the flax and smoulder for days, being covered up by the bales afterwards put in the hold.

Our cablegrams this morning state that a battle is imminent in Chili. Lord Salisbury warns the public that the Home Rule agitation is not yet dead. There are said to be a hundred thousand unemployed in London., The Anglo-Portuguese dispute in Africa is likely to be settled. Lord Salisbury is considering a scheme by which Great Britain, for certain cash and territorial considerations, would obtain free access north and south of the Zambesi and possession of Delagoa Bay. The En»! lish press condemn the Coroner for holding a secret inquest into the circumstances attending the death of the Duke of Bedford. An explosion in a Russian coalpit resulted in the death of one hundred miners.

The HERAiiD Monthly Summary, for trans mission per R.M.s.s. Alameda, will be published on Monday morning next, 26th instant. The mail for newspapers will close on the same day at half-past eleven a.m. ,

Mr. J. Dempster, who erected the Cusel's gold-saving plant at Karangakake, and who was sent out for that purpose, has received an order from the company to return home forthwith, as his » rvice< would be required in erecting a '..-.. somewhere else. • In obedience to the -.j in. structions, Mr. Dempster will proceed 0:1 Monday by the mail steamer, but what his future destination is to be he has no idea Mr. Dempster was sent out bytheCassel's Company to erect their plant in Karancahake. He never approved of the site, but in the face of almost insuperable difficulties he erected his plant on the face of a precipice, and it has demonstrated the superiority of the process of the company in dealing with refractory ores. During his residence in Ohinemuri Mr. Dempster has been held in the highest esteem, and the advice which he occasionally rendered the prospectors and others has proved of great advantage to them. His hurried departure took his friends by surprise, but Mr. Dempster says that his health has greatly improved since his arrival in New Zealand, and that he will never forget the friendships he has formed here. Mr. Dempster leaves by the mail steamer on Monday, to report himself in Glasgow to the company, from whom he will take his orders.

We are glad to hear that Mr. John lieConnell, the manager of the Cassel process of gold-saving at Karangahake, who met with a severe accident recently, is progressing favourably. It will be recollected that he was thrown from his horse while riding from Karangahake to Paeroa on Tuesday week, and when found he was lying in an insensible condition in the Mackaytowu creek. He was brought on to the Karangahake Hotel, where he was assiduously attended by Dr. Cooper, who found that in addition to external injuries Mr. McConijell was suffering from severe concussion of the braiu. After resting for two days, the patient recovered consciousness, and he was then removed to his residence on the Crown mine, to which he was carried on a stretcher. The noises of the hotel proved unbearable to him, although everything was done to keep matters as quiet as possible by Mr. Kelly, but since his removal to his own home Mr. McConnell is progressing very favourably. He is now able to move about, although unable to attend to his ordinary duties. It will take time to recover from the severe shock which Mr. McConnell has sustained, and the doctor enjoins the most absolute quiet in the meantime. At the Thames Police Court yesterday morning, Samuel Howard, licensee of the All Nations' Hotel, was charged with having on Sunday last supplied liquor to other than bona Jide travellers. Defendant pleaded guilty, but explained that be was absent from the premises at the time. During his absence two men had called for dinner, and it not being ready, they asked the girl for a drink, who served them, not thinking it was a contravention of the Act. Mr. Northcroft said this practically amounted to a plea of not guilty. Sergeant Gillies explained that defendant had come to him after the information had been laid, and said he would plead guilty in order to save the expense of subpoenaing the witnesses, which accounted for them not being present. His Worship finally adjourned the case until next Monday for the production of the necessary witnesses. We arc glad to hear that the health of Sir George Grey continues to improve, and it is probable "that, about the middle of next week, he will leave for Okoroire, en route for Rotorua, where he will spend several weeks in a drier and more bracing atmosphere. The local directors of the Waihi Goldmining Company (Limited) are in receipt of a cablegram from the directors in London, stating that all the new issue of shares apportioned to the English shareholders have been taken up. The same cable authorises the construction of an additional

20 head of stampers, which, when completed, will make a total of 50 head available, and will largely increase the yield ot bullion from this mine. The present issue of Cleave's Auckland Directory is a very elaborate volume, got up with great taste and skill. It is the third year of its . issue, and each year has been an improvement on the other. A very elaborate plan of the city of Auckland occupies a prominent position in the opening pages, and the directory itself appears to us to be accurate in all its details, and the information given with regard to , Masonic, benefit and other societies, is °*

great value. The other detailed information is carefully and accurately compile*' The work is a valuable one for general reference, and we are pleased to notice that its advertising pages are liberally patronised.

' Our Te Aroha correspondent telegraphs: —" Te Aroha is crowded with tourists, the hotels and private boardinghouses being kept quite busy." The case Bridges v. Nutfc and Collier, balance of contract money £22 2s 4d in re spect of the Presbyterian Church, One hunga, was heard at" the Resident Magis trate's Court yesterday. Dr. Giles reserve his decision. Mr. S. Hesketh appeared lot the plaintiff and Dr. Laishley for the defendants.

In regard to the presentation of an album , m j s s Janet Achurch on the conclusion of 1" New Zealand season of the company, ae may mention that the covers of the album were composed of 560 pieces of wood, a beaut fnl piece of work by Mr. W. Norrie, cabimaker, of Shortland-street. The binding i,d leather-work was by Bowring and Lusher, and the photos of the members of the company, and of Baby (Harrington, which were taken by Mr. Hanna, were very successful. There were no fewer than 150 f-hotosof New. Zealand scenery by Burton gro-i ' A beautiful view of Taupo, as it . vaS painted by Mr. Sbeelo, was also included in the album. The presentation was u thoroughly representative ono, and we "have no doubt it will in after years be highly valued by the recipients as a souvenir of their visit to New Zealand. Mr. Thomas Carless, carpenter, Huntly, writes us a long letter about the timbering of the drive in which the late accident occurred. In the circumstances, we cannot print it.

There was an unusually large amount of business placed before the Board of Education i!>t their regular meeting yesterday, but the larger proportion of it was of a detail character, which was readily disposed of. A number of tenders for painting and repairs were accepted, and a large number of applications from country districts were granted. Plans for a truant school in Chapel-street were submitted, but the estimate was considered too high, and the matter was referred back to the architect to pieparo plans for an iron building. A report of the proceedings appears in mother column. One of the industries which is steadily expanding is that, of jam-making and the 1 reserving of fruit. The other day we paid i visit to the factory of Mr. R. Furness, ruit preserver, Beach Road, Official Bay. Jr. Furness is busily engaged preserving trawherries, gooseberries, raspberries, limns, black currant, peaches, and apples, [ad the various classes of jams. Owing to he extension of this industry the country rehardists have benefited by the hardenis of prices for fruit. This season the hat crop has been scarce, and Mr. Furness bis tour, i it necessary to purchase some of is supplies from the South. The fruit is tpt in earthen jars, and it is a pity tat they have to be obtained from [unedin and Kngland, when we have some i the finest clays in the vicinity of iickland. During the last six months ,\. Furness has trebled his previous outtit, the result being to give employment rt only to men but to a goodly numder of c:';? and boys, in regard to whom there is 4'av's a difficulty of getting suitable emp*»ynent. A new machine has been obianed for cutting apples for making jeHj; ami new engine, boilers, and fruit pan. Mr. Furness is bringing into use a j-v.-nt tin for jam (a local patent by Havey). The tin is hermetically sealed, ant yet the lid can be readily taken off wihout the trouble of cutting the tin. It apiears that a goodly quantity of Southern jans are being placed upon the Southern market, but the local article produced by Mi. Furness will hold its own against the Southern product. By patronising local iniustry the people keep money in circulation in trie district, and help to provide suitable employment for our young people. The jams prepared by Mr. Furness are attaining a deservedly high reputation, ' \nii in flavour they are all that could be 'esired, as those testing them will ascertain | ir themselves.

Mr. J. Potts, proprietor of the Times bet ton, died at Chrictchurch yesterday :jiu apoplexy.

,Ast evening Mr. E. T. Smith pave a *'es of poetic recitals, which were inter--p<-sed with musical selections, and formed in ntertainment of a most enjoyable charactr. Mr. Glover presided. There was a pooiattendance. Mr. Smith pave about a doze, recitals. All of them were capitally done whether descriptive, humourous, or path tic bat some were of special excellence Ifae humourous sketch (original) of "The Concert in R—The Young' Man /ho Always Kept his Engagement," be?'" the audience in roars of laughter, and •was enthusiastically applauded, In response to a recall Mr. Smith gave "The Rash Man." Another excellent one was he humorous fecture by a Welshman on "A Poem," and Mr. Smith had to give another of a somevhafc similar character. "Little Joe, the Shoeblack." " The Soldier's Sentence," and "'The Vagabonds: the Down Grade of Prink," were also heartily applauded. Mrs. Marcroft, Mis? Walker, and Messrs. Dryland and Kilpatrick contributed solos, and the Messrs. McKean a flute solo. Tfe National Anthem brought the entertaiummt to a close. Mr. Smith said he believed in good wholesome recreation, for the peojle on Saturday night, and had endeavoured to provide it. He agreed with the clergyuan who said that if philanthropic people dd not provide good amusements the devil vould provide bad ones, and that was the reisou on Saturday afternoon he played crickit with the boys. He (Mr. Smith), as was his custom elsewhere on Saturday, would give to-night a recital, and by request it would be Goujrh's oration, "For the Sake of Others." On Sunday afternoon Mr. Smith will deliver, in the City Hall, at .3 o'clock, Dr. Talmage's celebrated sermon, " Who Slew All These?'' Owing to the success of Mr. Smith's recitals, the committee havt secured his services for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday even* fogs of next wetk.

The Harvey Minstrel Burlesque Company open at tie Opera House on Monday. The Southern press speak in very favourable terms of the company and their entertainment.

Burns' anniversary will be celebrated on Monday evening in St. George's Hall, when an interesting programme of sonj;S and recitations will be given. The skirl of the bagpipes will be heard as usual, the champion piper of Waipu, -Mr. McCrae, having come down specially to take part in the celebration. The "Great chieftain o' the pucHin' race" will also receive the prominence and attention due to the national iliih. The chair will be occupied by Mr. James Stewart, C.E.

Louis Kossuth is understood to have been reduced to actual want by the recent loss of his fortune.

Tenders invited for hot water supply to Waikato District Hospital.

The Auckland Gas Company's annual meeting will take place on 2nd February, at '-'p.m.

Meeting of committee of management of Freemasons' Hall on Thursday next, at 8 o'clock.

The eighth excursion of the Auckland Fishing Club will take place today by the Tainui at one o'clock.

Hamilton swimming races have been postponed to Friday, February 20.

The Do™ Registrar notifies that dogs not registered in city forthwith will be destroyed.

-Meeting of Try Fluke Gold Mining Company will be held on Friday, January 30, at noon, at company's office.

We beg to acknowledge the receipt of two guineas from Mrs. Coombes, Hobson-street, to the Rev. W. Tebbs' Testimonial Fund.

The Sunday afternoon address at the Young Men's Christian Association Rooms to-morrow, by Mr. C. E. Button, on "Christ 85 a Social Reformer," is of great importance. Some interesting facts not generally known will be 'Drought out.

The annual Sunday-school picnic in connection with St. Sepulchre's Sunday-school takes place to-day (Saturday), at Lake Takapuna. The ferry steamer Britannia leaves the wharf at half-past one, returning *> oalf-past six. • > will be seen by advertisement elsewhere that tenders for the supply of coal and fresh provisions to H.M.'s ships at Wellington and Auckland for twelve months, from Ist April, ■> ! 'l, will be received bv the Commanding Ufhcer of H. M.S. Curacoa, at Auckland, until noon on Tuesday, 24th February, 1891. "he usual ecclesiastical notices will be [?unrl in the eighth page. At the Congregational Church, Newton, Rev. IT. J. Lewis v ''l in the evening give a discourse on, "In darkest England and the Way Out; or General Booth's New Gospel." Celebration services of New Zealand Wesleyan Metho"'st Churches at Birkenhead to-morrow, when Rev. W. Lee will preach. Elder Has-v-fc of the Seventh Day Adventists, will conduct his last service to-morrow night, !" Maelcclvie-street Church, owing to leaving by the mail steamer for America. J he attention of our readers in the Ponsonby district is specially drawn to an -duo ational announcement by Mr. T. Harle « u es, principal of the Educational Chambers * n « Business College, Queen-street. Mr. «ues lias decided, in addition to carrying on ," e , V'*en-street College, to open the Pon- '?>' Hall as a school on Monday, February -««• An efficient staff of teachers is ensued, and the whole work of the school will «* controlled by the principal-