NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9496, 27 April 1894, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Sir George Grey has been made a member of the Privy Council, an ancienb and distinguished body, membership of which is a coveted honour, conferring rank, precedence, and titular dignitiy. The duties of a privy-councillor are defined by the oath of office as follows :—(1) To advise the Queen to the best of his cunning and discretion; (2) to advise lor the Queen's honour and good of the public, withoub partiality through affection, love, need, doubt, or dread; (3) to keep the Queen's counsel secret; (4) to avoid corruption; (5) to help and strengthen the execution of what shall bo resolved (6) to withstand all persons who would attempb the contrary and (7) to observe, keep, and do all thab a good and true counsellor ought bo do to his sovereign. In olden times the Council exercised great powers, bub nowadays ib has no regular duties at all, and is merely kept as a force in reserve, aparb from the working elements

of the Constitution. of the Council are the following ex J V Governors in addition to Sir cJSg"* l -Lord Carrington, Lord j£* H« Robinson, Sir G.Bowen, and Sir 7 H ' Ferguson. The Earl* of Jersey J"? Kintore are also members. - f

Who is to be the next Bishop of «r a ; ' This has been the great question^ ? the Church people of the dii 00 " since the resignation of Bishop Staan°T take up work in Persia, and though a „,'? -of the Synod, specially cozened , settle the matter, was held on Wedneick the question still remains unanswered a motion, to be carried by the Synod musk have a majority in both orders, and'there fore the proposition, "That the Synod d* now proceed to the election of a Bishop was lost, as there was a majority of one in the clerical order against it, though th« laity voted, in its favour. The diocese will, therefore, be without a head until the ordinary meeting of the Synod in Septe m ber next. There seems to be a considerable amount of feeling displayed in the selection of the new Bishop throughout the district and the local papers have for some time past been teeming with letters upon the subject; but, although there is always con siderable danger of exceptional interest in these matters culminating in some uQseemly wrangle, almost anything is batter than that dull and listless apathy which is a certain indication of decay.

Impressed no doubt by the success of the recent appointments of colonial clergy to Australian sees, the Church people of Waiapu appear determined not to go far from homo for their Bishop. As yet only two names have been mentioned -namely, the Ven. William Leonard Williams, A., Archdeacon of Waiapu, and the Very Rev. De Berdb Hovell, the Dean of St. John's Cathedral, Napier. Each of these gentlemen has strong support throughout the diocese, and each has claims which cannot be ignored. The Archdeacon, appointed as far back as 1862, naturally knows the spheres of episcopal duty from one end to the other, and has had great experience. His family is said to be a very wealthy one, and to have immense influence in certain quarters. The Dean on the other hand is certainly one of the most distinguished colonial ecclesiastics; he is also an able preacher, and a man fully abreast of the thought and aspirations of the times. His great influence is in the large centres of population, and he is especially popular in Napier. His name was suggested for the Wellington Bishopric, and there is now said to be a general feeling of regret that the appointment was not conferred upon him. Whatever may be the ultimate result it is to be hoped that the selection may be made "decently and in order."

The Japanese appear to be imbibing too much civilisation, and to be following close upon European methods. Foreign powers for some years past have claimed the right to deal with criminals of their own nationality on Japanese soil, so Europeans can hardly grumble when a Japanese commander lays claim to a similar privilege ; but when the captain of one of Japan's men-of-war threatens to blow an American flagship out of the water It is turning the tables with a vengeance. Under such a threat, near forty years ago, an American commodore ran the gauntlet of Japanese batteries, and so opened up that unknown country to the civilisation of the West. And now a Japanese commodore feela strong enough to return the menace. His ships were lying off Honolulu when a subject of the Mikado claimed protection. He had been arrested for some delinquency, but escaped and swam to the vessel. The authorities of Honolulu appealed to the United States Admiral. That th© latter interfered wo are not distinctly told. Anyhow, the Japanese commander sent a message that should the Admiral pay him a visit, he might remain half-an-hour—un-noticed apparently; if at the end of that time he did not go " the American flagship ; would be blown out of the water."

The Australian aborigines are rapidly passing out of existence, notwithstanding the fact that the days when the life of a native was not considered worth protecting are now past. Now the New South Wales Government spend an average of about £15,000 a year for the comfort of the blacks, but the rude upsetting of their ancient life by the partial adoption of European customs continues to have its deadly effect. The census returns of the aboriginal population of the colony showed that during the twelve months ended on loth October las: there was a decrease of 230 in the number of full-bloods and an increase of 136 halfcastes, or a net decrease of 94. The total now stood a? 7255 as against 7349 in 1892. In Victoria, where the total number of aborigines was 73*2, the sums voted by Parliament on behalf of the aborigines for the current year was £5600, or £7 13s per head, against an actual expenditure of £15,253 14s Id, or £2 2s per head, in New South Wales last year. On the last day of the year 1614 aborigines were being supported by the board. Of this number 727 were children, and of the remainder two were over the estimated age of 90 years, 16 over 80, 72 over 70, 212 over 60, 180 over 50, and 405 between 20 and 40. Of the total, 453 were classed as too old and feeble to earn a living for themselves, 17 as blind, 54 sick or recently sick, and 46 crippled or of weak intellect.

In the House of Commons the Eight Hours' Bill has been read a second time by a majority of 87. It is not a Government measure, but it is understood that a majority of the Cabinet approve of it. There is considerable difference of opinion as to its effect on British trade, which has now to contend against a severe and increasing competition on the part of foreign countries, where the rate of wages is much less, and the hours of labour greater than in England. The coal mine owners in particular are strongly opposed to the measure, which they declare will deal a death-blow to the coal industry in Great Britain. Even among the working classes themselves there is not complete accord in regard to the Bill, a section of them fearing thah it will lead to a reduction of wages. The Coxey army of vagrants in Amorica is giving the authorities a good deal of trouble. Iu is evident that unless the movement is speedily stamped out serious disturbances will ensue. Negotiations are proceeding between the Treaty Powers in regard to Samoa. Lord Bosebery, in a speech to the Liberal Party, dwelt at length on the necessity of maintaining the unity of the Empire, and the supremacy of the British flag.