THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 1893.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9269, 3 August 1893, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 1893.

At the termination of the CadinanRees trial we stated our opinion frankly and fully on all the circumstances that had been disclosed, and nothing that hi-; been said since then alters in the slightest degree the aspect of the case. It the matter had been allowed to remain where it was left at the termination of the trial, probably there would have been no outside interference. People would have expected a full inquiry by a Parliamentary Committee, in order that several points left obscure at the trial, as not being essential to a determination of the issues, such as the proceedings with regard to the valuation, would have been made. That has not been done, however. It has been evaded by an appeal being made to the electors of Auckland. Mr. Cadnian lias forced an appeal to us, who had no desire to bo brought into the business, and has caused all the turmoil and nuisance of a contested election. The appeal asks us to express approval of all that Mr. Cadman

done. If we elect him, we will be taken by the country to say that we think the judge and jury were wrong in saying that Mr. Cadman was not entitled to his expenses ; that we think it is right for a member of Parliament to buy native lands at a low price and sell them to settlers at a high price ; that we think a Native Minister may acquire native lands for himself while he is buying for the Crown on much less advantageous terms ; that we think members and Ministers, while buying native lands for speculative purposes are entitled to use their influence to have their friends appointed to value the land for taxation purposes. Every man who votes for Mr. Cadman will be lipid by Parliament and tincolony to affirm all these tilings.

Mr. Cadman came up here seeking for a verdict of full justification. He and his friends have spoken, for the most part, as if that, after all, could not be clone. Throughout, the motto has been, "No case ; abuse the other side.' Now, Mr. Cadman's business was to show that he was white ; not to prove that Mr. Rees was black. Yet Mr. Cadman's election campaign was begun by his partner, Mr. YV. C. Smith rising in his place in the House and raking up all that hi! could lay his hands on against Mr. Jveos. Mr. Smith himself lives in a glass house, as everybody knows, but that was no restraint. And these tactics have been continued up to the present. We are not concerned to defend Mr. Pees, nor shall we attempt to do so. lie is not a politician after our heart by any means. But the question for the electors of Auckland is : "Is Mr. Cadman blameless in buying native land while Native Minister?''

Had the blackening process as applied to Mr. Pees been attempted by men of our side of politics, we could have understood it. Hut they have stood out of the fray completely. Those who have abused Mr. Pees are the very men who brought him out as a candidate for Auckland, and elected him as their representative. Why did they not bring up all these things then? Nothing lias been said about Mr. Bees which did not happen several years ago. Everything was quite well known when he was a candidate for Auckland. Now, apparently, those who speak for the Liberal party "call him vile that was their garland."

And this brings us to another point which always seemed to us particularly strong. The party who ate now in office attained power by inscribing on their banner reform in all matters affecting land. If we were to take away from the Government party those who declare they are opposed to the freehold tenure, theSecldon Government could not stand for a day. From the Ministerial bench freeholders have been denounced as "social pests.' He was a very heinous kind of social pest who bought land from the natives and occupied it as a farm or as a sheep run. And as for the man who bought land from the natives at a low price, and sold it out to hard-working settlers at a high price — why, no words were strong enough to describe his diabolical criminality. And yet this is exactly what Mr. Cadman did. lie did what was open to no man who will record his vote on Friday. No one who carefully follows the steps taken in the purchase of Umutaoroa but must come to the, conclusion that the laud could not have been acquired on the same terms by any other two men than Cadman and Smith. That land they are now retailing at the rate of from £5 to £20 per acre. The Auckland electors are asked to give the whole proceeding, from beginning to end, the sanction of their emphatic approval.

Into the details brought out at the trial we need not enter. But it is clear that several natives claimed to be admitted into the grant under the Equitable Owners Act, that is to say, they claimed an interest in the land and a voice in whether or not it should be sold. We may say that the policy of the Government is that blocks should not be allowed to be dealt with by a few, but that all who have any title should bo acknowledged. But in the case of Umutaoroa, an agent appeared before the Court on behalf of Messrs. Cadman and Smith to oppose the application, so that those already in the certificate, who had made the arrangement with Messrs. Cadman and Smith, should be left alone with full power to sell. In such cases the Native Minister has often aided natives who he thought had a just claim. It must be remembered that the Native Minister occupies a very different position with regard to the Native Lands Court than he does with regard to any other Court. He is virtually himself the head of the Native Lands Court. He can appoint and dismiss judges, ami he can order courts to sit when and where he chooses. It was of no use to make any appeal to the Native Minister for aid

to prevent the sale of Umutaoroa. On this point Mr. Taipua, member for the Western Maori District, said in the House a few clays ago, "It was on record that threats had been held out to the native owners of that land that if they did not sell their title would be flooded by the inclusion of a larger number of natives. The natives had been under the impression that the land was being bought for the Crown." If anyone wants to see what a man of Liberal principles and of great experience thinks of the whole matter they have only to read the statement made by Sir George, Grey, in which he asserts that any land bought by the Native Minister must belong to the Crown.

Without question, Mr. Cad man lias been to blame. No verdict which we can give can alter the facts. Even our votes cannot whitewash him. The only effect of returning him would bo to blacken ourselves.

The Australian colonies are now coming to their senses—"sweet are the uses of adversity." The Federation Convention at Corowa has passed resolutions urging the colonial Parliaments to pass legislation at once assimilating the various tariffs, and to enter into a Customs Union to provide for "the free interchange of local produce.'' As for New Zealand, it would seem likely that she will on this question " get left." When Mr. Ward was in Australia at the Postal Convention he made it quite evident that he was anxious to join in any scheme for the modification of our at present hostile tariff. This position on his part; is not to bo wondered at. He is a commercial man, interested in the promotion of intercolonial trade. tie must see that if the Australian markets were open to us the benefit of the commerce would be considerably on our side, as they would take it large quantity of our natural products. The trade, indeed, would be mutually beneficial. We have no doubt that, if the Australian ports were open to us on fair terms, they would be nearly as good a market, to Auckland at all events, as London is now. The policy of the Australian Governments for some years past has been to restrict trade with New Zealand, and this colony has felt the deprivation very greatly. But Mr. Ward's colleagues are not in .sympathetic accord with him, and they have resolved that this colony shall not be represented at the approaching Federal Council at Hobart. The Sydney Morning Herald thinks that our abstention will facilitate the federation of the Australian colonies, and that our non-co-operation "doe-, not very much concern them." In all probability that is true enough. But, if the Australian colonies federate without us—if they adopt freetrade or something approaching to it amongst themselves, and keep us under the present hostile tariff, we shall suffer very greatly. It is very shortsighted policy for us not to take part in the Council at Hobart. We might, at all events, seek to obtain the advantages of the commercial union, if we could not see our way to join in political federation. However, so Mr. Seddon has determined.

The news regarding the action of the French in Siam is somewhat contradictory. While intelligence from Paris announces that the blockade has been raised and a final settlement has been arrived at, telegrams from Bangkok to the London press speak of afresh blockade having been ordered by Admiral Humann, and of an intended attack on the capital. It is probable, however, that the statement officially made in Pans is correct. Among the concessions wrung from Siam are that half the province of Luang Bra bang is to be handed over to France, that no Siamese force is to be maintained at Battombang, and that Siamese warships are to be excluded from the Mekhong. There can bo no doubt that the French have gained a, very substantial advantage at a trilling cost —a circumstance that will greatly aid the Governmenb in the- impending elections, as it was, of course, meant to do so from the first. The German press are again raising the bogey of Russian intrigue to break up the Triple Alliance, supplemented on this occasion by a charge against Italy of being secretly in the plot with Russia. One has heard this sort of thing so often before that it ceases to excite any alarm. The recent disgraceful proceedings in the House of Commons hive been, finally disposed of. The Premier and the leader of the Opposition having made an apology—why they should have made an apology, and what it was they apologised for, we aro not told— the Speaker, according to the phraseology of the Press Association message. " buried the recent incident in the House in a few wellchosen words." There everybody will be content to let it lie. The London unemployed are stated to number a hundred thousand. They have, or rather a number of agitators who claim to be the mouthpieces of this vast army of those out of work, have made an appeal to Mr. Gladstone, and threaten to "demonstrate" outside the residences of members of Parliament unless a favour able reply is received. At the Cowes Regatta the German Emperor's yacht, formerly known as the Thistle, won the Queen's Cup.

Yesterday the various foreign Consuls paid an official visit to Captain Sachs and the officer* of the Austrian warship Saida, ami were accorded the usual salute on leaving the vessel. To day His Worship the Mayor and the Town Clerk will return the visits paid them by Captain Sachs.

Sittings in Chambers and Banco were held at the Supreme Court yesterday before His Honor Mr. Justice Conolly in order to clear off arrears of business prior to His Honor's departure forUisborne, where he will probably be absent about a fortnight. Accompanied by his secretary, Mr. Colbeck, His Honor will leave for (iisborne to-day, and the sittings of the Supreme Court in that town will open on Monday next.

Amongst the passengers by the s.s. Mahinapua yesterday, from the South, was the Rev, L. M. Isitt, who was met and welcomed by some of the leaders of the temperance organisation?, on his advent to commence a prohibition crusade in Auckland. A reception meeting, in honour of the rev. gentleman, will be held this evening in the social hall of the Young Men's Christian Association, when the Women's Christian Temperance Union will provide the tea; after which short addresses of welcome will be given on behalf of the various temperance organisations, to which Mr. Isitt will reply. All abstainers are invited to be present on the occasion.

A number of the officers of the Austrian warship Saida have visited the Free Library and Art Gallery, and were chaperoned over them by the Town Clerk (Mr. P. A. Philips). They were shown the work of Professor llochstetter, who was one of the scientists on board the Austrian warship Novara, Commander Wallerst.orf, which visited Auckland in 1858. They were greatly pleased with the native carvings and curios in the corridors, and appeared much interested in everything relating to the history and social life of the Maoris.

In regard to the private meeting of the Auckland Presbytery, held on Tuesday night, at St. Andrew's Church, it transpires that there was nothing in the proceedings which required the secresy so solemnly .and rigidly enforced. There was a dispute between the Rev. Scott West and the Rev. A. Carrick on a small question, but after occupying the Presbytery for nearly an hour, it fizzled down to a very small point, and nothing was done with it. The other matter took somewhat of the form of a heresy hunt. Mr. Neil!, of the Thames, it appears, was brought under the notice of the Presbytery in respect to certain views which he was alleged to hold in regard to Theosophy. There was, however, no formulated charge, and nothing was done, although the Presbytery sat until nearly 11 o'clock.

With reference to the paragraph which appeared in yesterday's issue, a* to the manner in which electors had been struck ofi the roll, Mr. David Goklie writes to say that an error ha.- crept in as to what Iranspired in regard to himself. lie nay, he did not wr.te asking the Registrar to take him off the roll, but what occurred Has this:—"l received a notice, Valine that my property in Pitt-street, and for which I was registered to vote as a freeholder, wan insufficiently described. 1 took the notice to the Registrar, and ,vn* told that they knew nothing about the section specified I said very well, J am living in the house i.nd have continuously lived there for th« la.'t 1!) years, put me on for a residential qualification. To this he agreed,and wrote a memo, on the form which i had brought to him, cancelling the freehold qualification, which I signed, hut now I ij M ,j that the residential qualification i« not given, but I am place 1 on the new roll for the extended city electorate, for a freehold qualification in Surrey Hills, described j n the same way as the one objected to, tinresult being that in the present contest I shall be disfranchised." Another correspondent, writes to say that he finds his name struck off, and that of hi" son-in-law, and he has heard of others in tbs same position. Of course they will be deprived of votin» at the present election. Some of the citizens appear to be loth to pay the dog registration fee. though they delight to be the owner of a dog. There are, it seems, !)] dogs less registered on 31st .July than at the corresponding period of 1892. Mr. Garrard has atoned for this by showing an increase of dogs drowned, there being 12.1 dogs who have been " tanked " against 104 last year. The sitting at the Police Court yesterday lasted until half-past live. Three first offenders for drunkenness were fined os and costs, or. in default, '24 hours' imprisonment. John liotrun, for a breach of the railway by-laws, by allowing his cow to trespass on the line, was lined Is and costs. Joseph Williams was found guilty of the larceny of two glasses from the City Hotel, and sentenced to 4S hours' imprisonment. A young man named James Harvey was charged with having, since the'2oth of July, been an idle and disorderly person. Mr. W. J. Napier appeared for the accused. He showed that Harvey had adequate means of support, having a considerable sum <>t money in his possession, was a licensed member of Tattersall's. and had also a hawker's license from the City Council. His Worship dismissed the information. James Glover and Harry Smith, two re-spectably-dressed young men. were charged with having assaulted and robbed one Arthur Cottle. At the request of Mr. Cooper, the Bench adjourned the case until ten o'clock this morning, when counsel will decide whether they will call evidence for the defence. The following provisions of the Bankruptcy Act, ISO2, do not seem to be sufficiently known by some of the commercial community and others who have occasion

The following provisions of th« Bankruptcy Act, lSi)'2, do not seem to be sufficiently known by some of the commercial community and others who have occasion to come into contact officially with the Otlicial Assignee, utid their republication may bo of service to them : Subsection 3 of section 125 provide.* that a bankrupt shall apply for his discharge within four months of his adjudication ; failing this the Otlicial Assignee may apply to the judge to have the bankrupt committed for contempt of court. Subsection 12.'! of section 137 provides tint if a bankrupt obtains credit before getting his discharge without disclosing the fact that he is an undischarged bankrupt he shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanour.

In yesterday'.* issue appeared an obituary notice recording the death, "on August l.ac Mr. Kitchens" Dispensary,Shortland-street, of Allan McDonald," The friends of Mr, Allan McDonald, ex M.H.R., late of the East Coast, will be glad to learn that that gentleman is still in the land of the living, although an impression had got abroad that; lie was the Allan McDonald referred to. The writer of the obituary notice in the original draft had appended to the name of deceased the words, "late of C'oromandel," but in transcribing the notice again, he inadvertently omitted them, and thus led to the mi-impression referred to. The death notice, in its corrected form, appears in to-day's issue. Mr. Allan McDonald's name is a household word in Auckland, and yesterday his numerous friends in tin's oily, some oil whom had known him from boyhood, were gratified on learning that the belief as to his death had originated in a misapprehension, and had no foundation in fact.

Yesterday the Resident Magistrate, Mr. R. S. Bush, received by parcel a handsome silver salver from his friends in the Rotorua di-trict as a mark of the esteem and respect in which he is held in the East Coast district, where he has for fourteen years been Resident Magistrate. The ealver bens the following inscription :—" Presented to R. S. Bush, Esq., R.M., by his Rotorua friends as a mark of esteem on the occasion of hi* leaving the East Coast district, May, 1893."

Owing to the decline of the measles epidemic in the city and suburbs, the various schools are getting up their roll* again to the normal strength. Even the jubilee kindergarden lias felt the benefit of the change, there being a decided increase in the number of children attending. Notwithstanding the severe weather prevailing, and that these children are but indifferently clad, on Tuesday there were 40 in attendance. Somo of the medical men, it is stated, intend to sue the corporation for fees alleged to be due for reporting cases of measles. The City Council has decided to pay no further fees, and are prepared to defend any action which may be instituted. The town clerk has telegraphed to the lartre Southern corporations to ascertain how they successfully resisted such claims, and what steps they took. Meanwhile the suburban boroughs are watching events, and staving off payment of fees until they have profited by the legal experiences of the Auckland Corporation.

The annual foreign mission meeting in connection with the Presbytery of Auckland was to have been held at St. James's Hall last night, but such was the incessant/ downpour of rain during the evening, that as a natural sequence thcattendance was very small, only about twenty attending. It was decided to adjourn the meeting to October 4, the night after the next Presbytery meeting, as on that occasion country members of thd Presbytery would be able to be present, and it was hoped that the lapse of time would bring better weather. On the motion of the Rev. It. Scott West a vote of thanks was accorded to the Kev. A. H. Collins, Baptist minister, of Ponsonby, for attending that night. Mr. Collins, in reply, said that ho thanked them for their good wishes, and would be happy to be present, if possible, at the adjourned meeting. The meeting was then formally adjourned to October 4.

" 0.P.Q." writes a letter reviewing Mr. \Y. 11. DraUin's address at the Choral Hall on Sunday night on "Theosophy in connection with some social problems." He concludes:—" If Mr. I'raffin's lecture could only be published as an advertisement in your columns and circulated in pamphlet form, it would do more good than anything that has come before the public for a long time past, and with that hope I enclose a cheque for a small sum tc make a beginning.''

We hare to acknowledge receipt from the local manager, Mr. (has. V. Houghton, of a copy of the first edition of the Settlers' Guide to New Zealand, issued by the New Zealand Shipping Company. In the introductory remarks it is stated that the object of the Settlers' Guide is to present in the fewest words a practical and comprehensive survey of the essential facte with which the intending settler should he acquainted ; to give Home reliable data, compiled chiefly from the Government statistical records of the industrial and agricultural resources of the colony. Some representative opinions upon New Zealand nri given; hints to settlers, commencing with the injunction, "First acquire experience, then your land;" conditions on which Crown lands can be obtained ; climate, products, and prices. Interesting facts are given concerning the colony, its population, area, forests, wages, education system, and banking, ami a summary of principal events. The conditions under which passages to New Zealand at reduced rates will be granted are fully set out. A history is given of the New Zealand Shipping Company, and of the service of their direct mail steamers. The brochure will bo a boon to every intending emigrant) to this colony. It is printed and published by Waterlow and Sons, Limited, London Wall,

A friendly match *1 be fired on Saturday next between tliAuckland Navals ami Auckland City Gulls. The conditions are : Teams of ten mi, distances 400 ami f>oo yards, seven rouls at each distance, with two sighting sho. Teams asunder : —Auckland Navals : Lieutenants Littler Craig, Potty - Oflica McKoy, Fentofl Clarke, Seamen Little Nicholson, Smyth Clarke, Quelch, City Guards : Licuteng Oakes, Colour-Sergoat Taylor, Sergey Coleman, Dunn, PrUtes Cash, Con I > Fort, Hill, Parker, 'ierney, emerged Dunn, Jaggs. / . A correspondent vitcs to ask i? . legal for candidates to employ vot canvassing, and pay them for 110 ' u |', r^ Such payments are r»t legal, but W s « fc / i i ~,i ~f at soi t from appearances, a ;00d deal of • of thing is going on. A meeting of the nembers of l j Jord-8tr e etCongregaionalChur^. ster . a] ford-street Congregutonal i » IU S„; ~„,.:.,i last evening, in orde to select rf , . i i ■ i / if. I ne late successor to the Lev James I £,' dal , ce pastor. There wa* a good weftther< considering the incl.mcncy of iniatorial lour ministers haw furnish moefci ()f supply in »uccessnn, and a wSjfe the;l.urch andeongeg on . » ballot was taken, esult r> A g q{ of the K«v. George Burg/. late'of onion, and l 0 h . \ , kQ Brisbane, being cnoien.tr . *« .„„», the final (.election. l " Iptl Z ' ben bold last event..; fi«**l on elect np Mr. Burgess to the p/>™ t9 ' the P ,el,UM ' nary engagement bei.A 11 ' one year. The fourteenth of' 0 . 86 "?. 8 of popular concerts was given .M 10 <- lty . i ' last evening. Not ith.Ad.ng the inclement weather there was /<>rge attendance, the lower part of the hieing full lh« greatest enthusiasm by the audience, the numbe °* encores demanded being exception:*? large. the orchestral selections oy the eptotte orchestra undo tho leadership o*l r. A. 11. Hunter weij much appreciate Mrs. Kilgour was heaitf to advantage i her two numbers • I Heard a Voice "3d "Tell Mo. My Heart receiving a weltleserved encore for He Utter song. N. Horace Sobbing *j>>e "Tars Thar O'otho Ocean " and "iyten Of tho Earth." -V A. J. Tapper was lirfmo voice. lie gai "I Am Waiting and "l'h.ebe Deare,." both being enured. Mis- Freda Marion contributed fwo/ioim polos on eachocision being reeahed Miss Florence Hollow,- sang with great feeptanee " Sunshino.nd Rain ' and " Wit-per, audi Shall Ilea" both being out, plastically encored, iiss Clarice BrabaXi contributed two piao solos, which we» much appreciated, thauidienco insistm on un encore on each occasion. Mi--' Luby Clifford and Jes*> Glover gave relation*. both receiving mcores. Songs 'ere also :ontributed by Jr. C. Brown an General Mite, both gciiKbuicn being recall-