OUR LETTER HOME

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10300, 27 November 1896, Page 1 (Supplement)

OUR LETTER HOME

The general election for the House of Representatives takes place on the 4th of December, and consequently we are now in the thick of the electioneering campaign. All the elections take place on one day. The four principal citiesAuckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin—have each three mem-

bers. all the other constituencies are single electorates. Kather more than the ordinary confusion exists on the political battlefield. There is first the Government party, who are supported by the main part of the " Labour" vote. The Government supporters are not, however, so compact as at last election. During the last session, a number of those who had been elected as Ministerial supporters formed what was called "the left wing," and acted more or less independently of the Government. At the present time there are in the field a number of candidates who decline to bind themselves to the Government, and who assume the position of " Independent Liberals." It is certain that the Independent Liberals who are returned will not consider themselves bound to follow Mr. Seddon. The Premier, Mr. Seddon, and the Minister of Lands, Mr. McKenzie, have been speaking in various localities, defending their administration, and striving to put an attractive programme before the country. Captain Kussell, the leader of the Opposition, gave a powerful address a few days ago at Hastiugs, in Hawke's Bay. Several prominent members of the Opposition in last Parliament have not this time come forward as candidates, and to this extent the Opposition is weakened. There are, however, a number of candidates in the field who have achieved a political reputation in former Parliaments, and if these are elected the new House will be greatly improved. This Hon. Mr. Cadman, Minister of Mines, is a candidate for the Ohinemuri district, a gold fields constituency newly formed in the Upper Thames. He has delivered several speeches, but has confined himself chiefly to matters coming within the departments of which he has charge. The Premier, in some of his speeches, has declared that the Government has 110 intention of legislating T against property, but several of the measures which he introduced last session, and which he intends to bring forward again, would be exceedingly dangerous. He would re-introduce an Old Age Pensions Bill, which would need about £300,000 to fulfil its requirements. For this, 110 contributions would be taken from those persons who would receive the benefit. The whole amount necessary would be ' raised by extra taxation on land, in- 1 come, and the property of those who would receive no benefit from the tax. 1

The main issue of the election is greatly complicated by the agitation in reference to the liquor law. At present we have what is called "local option," that is, if the electors of any district declare by a majority of three-fifths that no license is to be issued within it, then the sale of liquor within that district is prohibited. Last session a Bill was brought in and was passed through the House of Representatives sanctioning the taking: of a poll on the subject of "national option," but it was thrown out in the Legislative Council. At the present election the electors are to be asked to vote on the three questions, whether j the licenses should "continue as' they are ; whether they should be reduced ; or whether they should be abolished in that particular district. For abolition of licenses a majority of three-fifths is required. The Prohibition party have been most active and zealous in their agitation, and have obtained pledges from a great many of the candidates. They have resolved, notwithstanding the critical position of the colony, to sink all other questions, and to vote only for men who will pledge themselves to prohibition by a bare majority of those who record their votes. On the other band, those interested in the trade are working hard to return men favourable to their views, and naturally they have adopted the tactics o! their opponents in sinking every issue but the one in which they are specially interested. It must be remembered that the law in New Zealand is rigorously one-person-one-vote. The qualification is restricted to residence, and every woman over 21 years of age has a vote. This wide extension of the suffrage makes it difficult to predict what will be the issue of the forthcoming election. We believe that it is certain that Ministers will be much weakened by the result, that they will find it difficult, if not impossible, to carry on the course of legislation to which they, have been urged by the extreme party amongst their supporters. The New Zealand Baptist Union held its annual meeting this year in Auckland, on the invitation of the Ponsonby Baptist Church (Rev. A. H. Collins, pastor). The session commenced 011 the 3rd instant, and lasted for a week, under the presidency of the Rev. Arthur Dewdney, of Oamaru. There were representatives present from all parts of the colony. A number of new ministerial members were welcomed to the Union, and also lay members. The statistics showed the number pf members of churches of Union, 3185 ; clear increase in year, 90; Sunday-school teachers, 583 ; scholars, 5055; Christian Endeavour Societies, 1545; members showing increase of 487 during year; number of churches, 28; seven new ministers during the year. The report of the New Zealand Baptist Foreign Missionary Society indicated great activity in foreign mission work. Nine European and four native missionaries employed in India by the Society. Five left last month for Calcutta—namely, Misses Bacon and Ings, Messrs. Barry, Takle, and Ings; and Mr. Charles North, 8.A., is in training as a medical missionary at the Otago University. £1729 had been raised for Indian missions during the year, being £564 in excess of the amount raised in any previous year. This included a special fund for Chandpore House of £547. There is a credit of. £500 of an emergency fund. The financial report of the Union showed expenditure at £356, the deficit, being £84, owing to extra grants to churches. The amount was at once subscribed and the deficit wiped out. The missionary luncheon in the Ponsonby Hall was presided over by His Worship the Mayor, who welcomed the visitors to the city, and attended by ministerial representatives of the various denominations. At one of the sessions a deputation of the Auckland Ministers' Association attended, and exchanged fraternal greetings. The Union passed unanimously a resolution in favour .of Prohibition, and recommended the members of the denomination to vote "No License," at the Local Option poll. The Rev. J. J. Coke, of Christchurch, was elected president for the ensuing year. , The session was remarkable for . the harmony and success which characterised the various meetings, ( . ' The impressive solemnity which took place on', the occasion of the consecration of the Rev. Father . Lenilian to the Roman Catholic .Bishopric at Auckland , is one, of course, having a primary

interest to the members of the Roman Catholic Church, but it is an. incident which in many .i oi: its features 'arid surroundings arrests the , attention of the community' of every denomination. Apart from the fact that that Church embraces a large proportion of our population, arid that 'everything' per-; taining to it .therefore has a public character, there is that in the great antiquity the';.; continuity, and the historic influence of the Church of Rome that is calculated to profoundly impress the mind.»As was eloquently pointed out by the preacher on the occasion, that Church has survived the most stupendous ■ changes in the 4 political ana social life of humanity, and in its resistance to the innovating tendencies of our own. times and of all times;, it presents .an example of unprecedented stability. The,consecration of a. ruler in such a church is 110 ordinary occur rence, and the 1 - solemn ritual, and the magnificent ceremonial in the consecration of the Right Reverend Dr. JLenihan as Catholic Bishop of Auckland, were in every way worthy of the occasion. To the eyes of Protestants who were present, who ; are accustomed to the simpler forms, of religious service and ceremonial, the symbolic character of the ritual appealed chiefly in its spectacular aspect; but to the devout Catholic, to whom every expression or movement speaks with a religious significance, the impression on the outer senses is intensified in the lessons it conveys to the soul. But taken altogether, the proceedings were characterised by an impressiveness that is rarely witnessed in Auckland. Indeed it is the first consecration of a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church that has taken place in the city, and only the second in the colony, so that it is not unreasonable that it should have been accompanied with the deepest interest, more especially to those of the same communion, to whom such an ecclesiastical ceremonial is likely to come but once in a lifetime. It was enhanced in its interest also by the fact that the right reverend prelate, who was the central figure in the proceedings, has been so long resident in our midst, and has so endeared himself to his fellow-colonists of every denomination, not only by his works .of charity among the orphans and . the poor, but by the geniality and kindliness of his disposition, and those other qualities that go to win popular favour. The elevation of Dr. Leniltan to the episcopate in Auckland is decidedly a popular appointment, and for many reasons, which need not be here specified, but which are known to all, his occupancy of the high position is certain to keep him in close touch with the affectionate sympathies of his people, and to be characterised, by earnest and faithful work in the execution of his high and religious duties. From the thoroughly cordial and friendly relations that always exist between the Roman Catholics and their

fellow-colonists in our city and district, we feel assured that we express the warm and sincere feelings of all when we congratulate the Catholics of the diocese on this popular and promising appointment, and when we say that the whole community unite in cordially wishing every happiness'and prosperity to the new Bishop. The annual exhibition under the auspices of the Auckland Provincial Agricultural and Pastoral Association took place this year in Potter's Paddock, oil the 13th and 14th November, The weather was favourable /md the attendance was large,.,especially on . the s&fentfehMitT tfafs larg}£ Everything passed off satisfactorily, the officers of the society having every detail well under control. The exhibition was of the . usual class of such

shows, consisting of all classes of farm stock, agricultural implements, carriages, etc., together with a well-filled horticultural section. Upon the whole the exhibition was very : evenly balanced, all the' sections being well stocked with high-class exhibits. In regard to numbers, all the sections showed a good ' advance upon last year's returns, save cattle, and the slight deficiency in this section was caused by pressing one large exhibitor last year into the position of a judge this year, and, of course, he did not exhibit in the section in which he was appointed to act as judge. Perhaps one of the most striking features of the exhibition, especially to those who were visitors to Auckland on that occasion from the southern parts of the colony, was the splendid display 'of citrus fruits._ On former occasions many varieties of these fruits locally grown have been placed on exhibition, but the display of 1890 eclipsed all previous efforts in this direction. Not only was the show noteworthy on account of the large number of exhibits, but for the variety of the fruit..,- Splendid lemons ..were largely in evidence, equal to the fruit grown in Italy and other parts of Southern Europe, but the great variety of eating oranges showed most unmistakably how. well within the orange growing climate is a large portion of the province of Auckland. One feature gave this display a purely home character, the exhibition of the foliage belonging to each variety, together with the fresh blossoms pertaining thereto. This feature to.ok away the appearance of a mere display of fruit, and showed that orange and lemon growing had taken root amongst, us, and that in 'future years it was one thing that could always be reckoned upon. Indeed, it gave this part of,the exhibition quite a semi-tropical character, and ! was ; a better testimony of the real character of a large portion of the North New Zealand climate than anything .-else could have been. -" Blood stock was not numerously represented, but the quality' was very -- good, and the chief prizetakers: in this division were Messrs. L. ,j D. Nathan, W. : D. Holgate, Roger Lupton, and Alison Brothers. In the. various classes of roadsters Messrs. Andrew Austin, J. T. Armstrong, E. H. Schnackenbertf, E. H. Kelly, George Hunter, William Lusk, R. H. Skipwith, J. R. Martin,' John Abbott, Dennis O'Rorke, were the principal prizetakers. In draught stock Messrs. W. and G. Winstone, ''Archibald Wallace, Gavin S. ; Wallace, William "Taylor, Kenneth.l' Morrison, William I.Taylor (who took champion prize in his class), E. Sarah, W. Gray, J. H. M. Carpenter, were prominent* j among' the 1 prizetakers. Cattle of various kinds j .were well represented, • and some splendid animals were shown. Mr. William Taylor took champion • prize y-by) his pedigree shorthorn ; bull Clydevale, and tho New Zealand Land Association' the champion;'prize for the best shorthorn cow or heifer. Messrs./iWiii.lvSharp, jun., and Wm. Sands took the champion prizes among the Ay rehires, while 'Mr. F. A. White and C. Day, carried off the champion prizes among, the ' pedigree Alderney in Jersey breed ofcattle. Sheep were ; in -large numbers, 'and splendid quality, the champion; prizetakers being Messrs. 0. J/Crago and F. It. Seddon, for Liucolns; the New-Zea-land Land Association, for Leicesters; Messrs. Woodward Bros. audvWi S. Allen the champion prizes for the Romney 'Marsh: 'Messrs. F. W. Burnett .and C. Day the cljampiou for the Shropshire variety.-; The as wine : |)vere; also very 'good,- but' far too few in numbers. - The ''champion; prize-takers for Berkshire? were Messrs. H. and J.

i Binstead and E. H. Kelly: arid for the ; Yorkshire breed Mr. A. V. Philips was 1 champion prize-taker. Looked at as a : whole, there can be no doubt that the show' just held was superior to anyone which had been previously held in 1 Auckland, and may thus be taken as an . evidence of the ' steady advance of agriculture amongst us. The Australian Cricketers arrived in Auckland from San Francisco 011 the sth of November, and opened their colonial ''"campaign against a local Eighteen on the 6th. The visitors won the toss, and batting first scored 162, Auckland following with 140. In their second essay the invaders. knocked together 233, and the local men at the conclusion of the third day had 111 to their 'credit for the loss of 11 wickets. From' this it will'be seen that the 'Australians had something the best of the deal, but they were certainly high in their praise of the display made by the Aucklanders, which was far and away beyond their expectations. The next match of the tour was opened at Wellington, , against an eighteen of that centre, on the 13th, and concluded on the 15th. Here again the visitors batted first, their innings realising 147, and the Wellingtonians responded with 124. As at Auckland, the Australians gave a better exposition in the second essay, the scoring-board when the innings closed showing 206, after which they dismissed fourteen of their eighteen opponents for 108 runs. Thus it is apparent that they had all the best of the game. On Wednesday, the 18th, the Australians played an eighteen at Southland. The weather was most unfavourable, and the match was played on a matting pitch. The local team batted first, for the small total of 52, as against which the foreigners compiled 178. Southland did little better in the second innings, only scoring 67, the Australians thus gaining the day by an innings and 169 runs. On Saturday, the 21st, the last provincial match of the tour was started at Otago, where a local fifteen was pitted against the famous eleven. The strangers batted first for 130, and the home fifteen replied with 144. The Australians only netted 95 in their second innings, and things looked none too promising for them, but their position evidently' placed them on their mettle, ■ and _by fine bowling and magnificent fielding they managed to get rid of the Otagoites for 64, thus winning the match by 17 runs. The concluding match of the tour, Australia v. a New Zealand fifteen, opened at Christchurch. yesterday (Thursday, 26th), and will be finished 011 Saturday. Great interest attaches to the result.