THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 1893.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9271, 5 August 1893, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 1893.

Two prominent members of the Liberal party—Messrs. (Jadman and ltees— contested a seat for Auckland, when the former was declared the winner by a large majority. There were GOO') persons on the roll, and about 3000 votes were recorded, showing a considerable abstention from voting, which, in the circumstances, was, perhaps, not to be wondered at. The election took place to decide a sporting challenge in the House of Representatives. Mr. Roes, on his side, showed throughout the contest a decided superiority so far as public sneaking was concerned, but otherwise the electoral advantages were on the other side. Mr. Cad man had the strong support of the Government, who mustered all their friends, and threw Mr. Rees overboard altogether. Several of Mr. Cadman's most active managers and canvassers were gentlemen who are usually in Government employment. Apparently, also, Mr. (Jadman was far more abundantly supplied with "the sinewsot war," as every vehicle in town seemed pressed into tho service yesterday to bring up voters to the poll. The contest was fought on the "You're another" principle. When it was urged that Mr. Cadman had done wrong by being concerned in purchases of native land while he was acting as Native Minister, the retort made was, that Mr. Rees's history in connection with such transactions was worse than Mr. ('adman's, and that the latter was the lesser evil of the two. This style of argument is not very satisfactory, considering that an appeal was made on Mr. Cadman's recent action while Native Minister, but it had to sutlice. Mr. Cadman is entitled to claim that the Liberal party of Auckland has condoned all his actions, and now present him to the House completely cleansed — as far as they can fleet that process. They have also affirmed that a Native Ministerif that Native Minister is of the right colour—may purchase land from the natives. We thought that Mr. Cadman did not act frankly from the first. It was common talk in the lobbies during last session that the Native Minister had been concerned in native land transactions, and it would have been the proper course for Mr. Cadman, who knew what was being said, then to have made a statement to the House of the circumstances, I and asked the judgment of the members. That would have been the proper course for a person in his position. He did not do so, but waited for the chance of an action for libel. He made very little oat of that, but he has now had a splendid revenge over his adversary, who has, by his rash acceptance of a challenge, lost his position as Chairman of Committees and member 1 for Auckland City. Mr. Cadman is now one of the mem- 1 bers for Auckland, and we have no ! desire to prompt any proceeding which , may diminish his usefulness. The Opposition have shown 110 disposition, ' throughout this business, to make it a j party matter, and to espouse the cause 1 of Mr. Rees. Mr. Cadman is no longer 1 Native Minister, and in all probability the Government will not be disposed to rake the dealings with Umutaoroa up 1 again. It would be satisfactory, however, to have the whole facts elicited as j to how the natives were influenced, as < to the appointment of the valuator, as to the mysterious changes in the valua- i tion. Whether anything is done to 1 clear up these matters rests with Mr. J Cadman himself. ( Most of the Liberal legislation of last j session is being amended this session. : Amongst the measures to be superseded 1 and improved, or otherwise, is the Shops and Shop Assistants Act. In the measure now in operation, it was enacted that every shop assistant should have a half holiday on some working day in each week. This has not been found to work well, because the question is at once raised, 011 which day is the half-holiday to be given. It is felt to be a nuisance that some shops should be shut on the Wednesday afternoon and others on the Saturday. And so there is a clause in the new Bill enacting : —"All shops in a city, borough, or town district, except coffee-houses, restaurants, and eating houses, shall be closed in each week on the afternoon of Saturday, at the hour of one of the clock." But then power is given to City or Borough Councils to change the day, and to declare on which working day of the week the shops shall close at one o'clock, but it is enacted that the same day shall be so appointed in respect of all classes of shops. Here comes in the awkward part of the business. For some classes of shops it is most convenient to close on the afternoon of Saturday; for others that is ] the most important day on which to i keep open. The shops in some localities £ do little business on Saturday after' j

noon, while in other places by far tho most business is clone on Saturday afternoon and evening . For instance, there is not much business in Queen-street on a Saturday afternoon, and most of the shopkeepers can conveniently make that their clay for closing. In Karangaliape Road, 011 the other hand, the great volume of trade is 011 Saturday afternoon and evening, and to close the shops on that day must seriously injure a great many poor people. But if another day were chosen it would be very inconvenient. How would Queenstreet-. look if the holiday were on Wednesday or Thursday and that day happened to be mail day, with a great many strangers in town for a few hours, and all business peremptorily stopped, by an inspector being stationed at each shop door? And we think it wrong that the duty of settling the day should in any way be thrown on the City Council. The members of that body are not elected to deal with this kind of social legislation. It is undesirable that it should be a consideration for any ratepayer when he comes to select a representative of his ward in the Council, whether the. man wili vote for a Wednesday or a Saturday compulsory shopclosing. It will inevitably be made a feature in Council elections: for to some shopkeepers, to be compelled to close on Saturday afternoon, will be to render their business unprofitable. We should, however, recommend to all City and Borough Councils not to meddle with the Act if it becomes law. Thus I Saturday will be impel ative, and those persons aggrieved will have to blame tho Ministry and the Legislature. It is laid down in the Hill that, if any shopkeeper shall employ any person for more than half an hour after the prescribed time of closing, ho shall be liable to a penalty of £5. If he does not close sharp at the statutory hour, he is liable to a tine of £5. The enforcement of the Act is left with inspectors of factories, and the number of these officials will have to be considerably increased. As a matter of fact, the colony is now in a curious position. Complaints are heard from every quarter that the police are so short-handed, especially in the detective branch, that they cannot deal etlectively with crime Robberies are frequent, and very many remain undetected. The chief officer in the districts have made frequent representations to headquarters that the force is inadequate, but the Government will do nothing. All this time they are multiplying inspectors and labour agents all over the colony. Three or four men will be required in Auckland to see that this Act for compulsory closing of shops is carried out.

The Registrar of Friendly Societies— an abstract of whose annual report we published a few days agorepeats this year all that he lias said for many years past about the dangerous position of some of the societies. In many cases the present rates of contribution are not. adequate to secure, the benefits. But still tho societies go on, setting at defiance the conclusions of actuarial science. In some clubs, which show a serious deficiency, things can only go on by an increase of contributions, or by the introduction of new members. lbadds :—" As the. latter method is not capable of indefinite extension, the burden, although transferred to other shoulders, cannot be got rid of, and the greater the number of claims that, are paid in full, the greater the average deficiency per member surviving.'' It seems rather strange that in these days, when tin; Government regulate everything, and interfere with everything, they should refuse to touch this subject, which so closely affects the welfare of a large number of the working classes. It would be. very easy for the Government to pass a law that no society which does not satisfy actuarial requirements shall be registered as a Friendly Society to carry on operations in the colony. Such a measure would be quite in conformity with the whole tenor of the Government policy, and it would be far more defensible than some of the Bills which the Government have passed or are trying to pass.

The Siamese incident may now be said to bo closed. The English and French Governments have come to an amicable agreement in regard to their respective interests in the East, and the captain of H.M.s. Pallas has received an apology from the French captain who rudely ordered him to take his ship out of the limit of the blockade, the apology having been made at the instance of Rear-Admiral Humann. Two very disastrous tires ate reported, one from Poland and the other from Port Louis in the Mauritius. At the latter place two hundred houses wero destroyed. The conflagration in Poland was caused by lightning, and 700 families have been rendered homeless. Great distress exists among tho silver miners in Colorado, thrown out of work by tho closing of the mines owing to the silver crisis, and thousands of them are said to be starving. The revolution in Nicaragua has come to an end, and a general amnesty has been proclaimed. The rebels in the Argentine have killed the vice-governor of Santa Fe. Negotiations are proceeding for 11 settlement of the miners' strike 111 England. Tho capital of the Bank of New South Wales is to be increased by the issue of 37,50U now shares of £20 each.

TneHi.KAM) Monthly Summary, for transmission by the next outward San Francisco mail, will bo published next Friday morning. Those desirous of forwarding tho summary to their friends in Europe, America, etc., will have ample time to do so, as tho newspaper mail closes on Saturday next, at halfpast eleven a.m., up to which hour orders for mailing the summary will also be received at tho Publishing Office, Queen-street. This mail will be due in London 011 Wednesday, 13th September.

The now member for the Thames, Mr. James McGowan, is in town, and leaves for Wellington on Monday, to assume his Parliamentary duties. During yesterday Mr. McGowan was cordially congratulated by his many friends in Auckland on his election to a seat in the House.

As showing the strides which the trade in kauri gum and fkx, bet ween this colony and the United States has made during the past few years, it may be pointed out that the fine iron barque, Clan Ferguson, was cleared at the Customs yesterday for New York, with a large cargo of kauri gum and flax, while two vessels—the barque Wallace B. Flint,and thebarqucntine, Abiel Abbot — are now berthed at the Queen-street Wharf, and will load up lor Now York during tho next month. Owing to the extremely wet weather which has prevailed here for some time past, the work of getting in consignments of gum from theout-distvicts has been one of extreme difficulty, the roads being in such a state that the gum has had to bo sent in to tho various townships by packhorses ; so that the local merchants have boon handicapped to a great extent in fulfilling their engagements in loading vessels. Notwithstanding this, however, vessels have boen got away promptly to time, and there is 110 doubt that the vessels that are now on tho berth will be despatched with full cargoes within their charter period.

With reference to the caso of the man Harvey, before the Police Court on the '2nd inst., the Municipal authorities state that Harvey was the holder of a hawker's license, which was for one month only, and that it expired on the 10th of last month.

Recently, an appeal was made through the columns of the Herald, to the benevolent public, 011 behalf of the poor fund of he Auckland Helping Hand Mission. The appeal has resulted in the receipt of over £35 in cash and goods, besides donations of parcels of clothing, etc. A list of the donors and contributors ha.* been forwarded to us for publication by Mr. George Dent, on behalf of the executive commit but the announcement of the result of tho appeal will be sufficient for all practical purposes.

In the Arch hill case of assault, Chun Loy v. McNair and Carter, heard in (.lie Police Court Inst week, tho time for taking the Ist stops in appealing has now elapsed ; without such steps being taken. No appeal therefore can now take place. The tino against McNair, increased from £2 to £5 Is at Mr. O'Meagher's request, in order to enable an appeal on McN iir's behalf, and also the costs payable by McXair, we learn, have been paid into Court.

Early yesterday morning Mr. John Bigelow, sen., the well-known shipbuilder, died at his residence, Dune din-street, I'onsonby, after a short illness. Tiio immediate cause of death is stated to have been heart disease. The deceased had always enjoyed excellent health, but had been recently attended by Dr. Ivenderdino for a complication of ailments. Mr. Bigelow has been a resident of this city for a good number of years, and though not taking a very active part in public matters was an earnest and sincere worker in the temperance cause. He was also a strong adherent of the Baptist Church, and for a loinr time had been connected with the Ponsonby Church, of which he was an energetic member, and was highly respected, not only amongst them, but with all with whom he was daily brought in contact. At the time of his death Mr Bigelow was just over 7years of age, and le.ives a widow and grownup family to mourn his 10-=s. The funeral leaves his late residence for the Symondsstreet Cemetery to-morrow afternoon. During yesterday the ll igs on the vessels in harbour were at half-mast as a token of to spect to his memory.

It appears that the quantity of tobacco stolen from the premises of Mr. <■. Ileid, grocer, Vincent - street, on Wednesday night was 4()lb of tobacco. His impression is that the front door of tho shop was opened by means of a skeleton key, as it was found open in the morning, and the lock did not appear to have been tampered with. A meeting of the Auckland Institute will he held on Monday evening, when Professor F. 1). Brown will deliver a popular lecture 011 the " Liquefaction of Gases.'' During his recent visit to England, Professor Brown was enabled to attend the wellknown led urea of Professor On war, at the Royal Institution, at which, with the aid of apparatus and machinery costing several thousand pounds, Professor war liquefied atmospheric air and other gases, exhibiting them to the audience in a liquid form. Professor Brown proposes to treat of the liquefaction of i-es generally, and will fully explain the method followed by Professor Dowar and other experimenters. The lecture will be illustrated with experiments, which will show the properties of condensed gases, but the costly nature of the apparatus required will put it out of the power of the lecturer to actually produce liquid oxygen or air in the presence of the audience. We are sure that the lecture will prove most interesting to the members of the Institute and the genera! public.

Tho marriage of Mr. John Met'aw, nf Fencourt, Cambridge, to Miss Fanny Buckland, tho daughter of Mr. AI f red Dnckland, of this city, tool: place on Wednesd ay lust at tho resilience of tho bride's sister, .Mr-'. If. T. Gorrio, Diucarron, Epsom. The ceremony was performed at three p.m. by the lev. .Scott West. The bride was given away by her father, and looked charming in grey sill;, with grey had and feathers to match. The bridesmaids, Miss Edith Banks and the Misses Blanche and Nora Gorrio, all nieces of the bride, were prettily attired in cream nun's veiling, with silk sashe-* and hats to match. Mr. Herbert Bailey acted as best man. The bri le's present.s were costly and numerous, and the bridegroom presented each bridesmaid with a handsome gold bangle. After champagne and cake ha 1 been partaken of, Mr. .). Jf. Upton, in a few well chosen remarks, proposed health and happiness to the bri lo and bridegroom, to which toast Mr. Met'aw suitably replied. Mr. William McLaughlin, in proposing the health of Mr. Alfred Buckland. made a short and most humourous speech, to which that gentleman responded. The ta-k of proposing the toast of the ladies fell to Mr. Frank Hull, who did the part to perfection in a fluent style, to which Mr. Herbert Bailey was called oil to reply. Mr. MeC'aw then called on 'he company to till their classes and drink the health of the Rev. Scott West and Mrs. West in bump its, to which toast the officiating gentleman 111 a few kindly remarks repHe I, and in doing so proposed the health of the lio-t and hostess, Mr. and Mrs. H. T. Gorrie, to which Mr. (lorrie responded. The happy couple then left on their honeymoon trip to the South, amid the hearty cheers and good wishes of a large assemblage of relatives and friends.

La«t evening; a man fell down in a lit on the fringe of the great crowd in front of the City Ball awaiting the declaration of the result of the poll. The police took him in hand, and the crowd being under the impression that they were going to "run him in," commenced boohooing and groaning The man ha-, through his fits, been in the hands of the police before, and they knew exactly what to do in his case, which was more than the spectators did.

At a late hour last night a married man named Win. Henderson was accidentally run over by a cart in Alexandra-street, and owing to his having sustained internal injuries, was taken to the District Hospital for treatment.

Elsewhere will be found a notification of the dates on which tho medical staff of the St. John Ambulance Association, will commence their lectures to the nursing classes. Dr. Dawson also announces special instruction to those male members who passed in tirst aid last year, and desiro to go up for first re-examination this year.

The programme of the Rev. L. M. Isitt's prohibition campaign in Auckland will be found elsewhere. Tho opening meeting jvill be held in the Opera House to-morrow tvening, at 8.15, when he will lecture on "The Relationship of ;he Church to the Liquor Traffic." On Monday evening a torch-light procession will leave Ponsonby Reservoir at 7 o'clock for tho City Hall, (where Mr. I-itt will lecture on the burning question "The Direct Veto." Three bands and vanloads of children will accompany tho procession, and all abstainers are invited to join. It- is understood that questions will be answered by Mr. Isitb on this occasion.

The monthly meeting of the Waitomata County Council was held yesterday. A detailed report of the proceedings appears in another column.

There was a large attendance at the Opera House last, evening, when " Kindred Souls" was played for the last time. Amongst, those present were the members of the Waikafo Football team. To-night will be staged for the first time in Auckland the farcical and whimsical comedy entitled "Tlie Winning Hazard," which is quite as amusing and mirth-provoking as its predecessors.

A lecture was given by the Rev. O. MaeMurray, A., at the Young Men's Christ ian Association Rooms last evening. Notwithstanding the downpour of rain, there was a very large attendance. Mr. J. L. Wilson presided. Canon Mac Murray's. lecture, which was an interesting one, was illustrated with lime light views, showing the recent discoveries made in the Holy Land. The views, which gave much satisfaction, were shown by Mr. Herbert H. Smith, by the aid of a powerful oxy-hydrogon lantern. Some musical selections were also given, Mr. (J. Aickin proposed a vote of thanks, which was carried by acclamation.

At the open meeting of tho Theosophical Society, last night, Mr. Beard gave an address upon "The Nature of Man and Consciousness." Many questions wero asked by tho audience and replied to by the lecturer. In spite of counter-attrac-tions and threatening weather, there was the usual good attendance.

Tho fifth of tho series of Saturday night entertainments in the City Hall will bo given this evening in tho presence of the Waikato and Auckland Football Teams. A capital programme has been arranged.

The St. Sepulchre's conversazione. As You Like it," is to be repeated 011 Thursday evening next, the proceeds to be devoted in aid of tho Hospital harmonium fund.

As will be seen by reference to our advertising columns the Suburban Popular Concert Company are commencing on Tuesday evening next, a series of people's weekly concerts, to be held in the Foresters' Hall, Newton. These concerts ought to become popular on account of tho high standard of excellence which the management intend to maintain. Tho full programme of Tuesday's concert appears elsewhere.