Talk of the Week.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 209, 11 September 1875, Page 13

Talk of the Week.

AVE understand that an Opposition caucus was held on Wednesday, at which twenty-three members were either present, or accounted for by letter. We are not enabled to state what transpired at the caucus beyond the general remaik, that it was unanimous m a resolution to oppose the Government Bill at all points.

Ix the Legislative Council on Thursday a longdiscussion arose in committee on the Wellington Harbor Reserves Sale Bill, and the debate was ultimately adjourned for a week, on the motion of Mr. Bonar, much to the disgust of the gentleman in charge of the Bill, Mr. Waterhouse, who was anxious that the matter should lie decided at once. By a large number of Councillors the principle of the Bill is objected to. Details were left out of the question, and hon. gentlemen who opposed the Bill directed their remarks solely to the fundamental principle that the reserve, which the Corporation asked for authority to purchase, should be wholly, or in part, vested in a harbor board for harbor purposes only. Unless some concession is made in this direction, it is very doubtful whether the Bill will pass its third reading.

We are glad to notice that after a debate of two hours the Legislative Council passed the second, reading of the River Pollution Bill, on a division of 16 to 11. After a careful perusal and study of the Bill, it seems to us that every proper care has been taken to protect existing interests by granting compensation in all cases where injury may be caused by mining operations for a period of six months from the declaring streams open to same. Frequent complaints have been made of the disregard of the. Legislative Council to the reasonable claims of the mining and agricultural interests, and it is a pleasing task to draw attention to the evident intention of the Council to treat this matter in a disinterested and liberal manner. The mining interest is one that requires every encouragement at the hand of the State, and the passing of this Bill is one of immediate and urgent necessity.

A resolution carried in the House of Representatives on W ednesday, on the motion of Mr. Williams, will commend itself to everyone. It was one which provided that decent care should be taken of the graves of those men who have fallen, fighting on the side of the pakelia, in the numerous wars with the natives that have occurred in this colony. Without desiring unnecessary posthumous attention for anyone, all. must agree that graves such as those mentioned deserve reverence, attention, respect, and decency. Their tenants fell in the discharge of duty. We may lament the wars that caused the loss of brave men’s lives • time may have proved that in more than one case the pakelia did not have absolute justice on liis side ; but that does not detract from the faithful memory in which those men should be held who laid down their lives at the order of the country that gave them birth, of the community they were bound to defend.

I iie Plan of Towns Bill bids fair to become law, haying on AY ednesday passed through committee in the Legislative Council, with slight An i nteresting discussion took place, Mr. Stokes and several other members objecting to the width of streets being absolutely fixed at the width proposed by the Bill. Mr. Stokes drew comparisons between the width, proposed for Now Zealand towns, and the width of Loudon streets, asserting that all the streets of that city, excepting Far-ringdon-strect, were less than a chain and a half, instancing King William-street, leading to London Bridge, which he knew was not more than a chain wide, and yet was sufficient for the traffic. Several other members disputed Mr. Stokes s assertion, and urged that even supposing the statements of the hon. gentleman to be true, still they should prefer to take the Boulevards of Paris as an example to copy in preference to London streets. The clause passed without amendment, and much regret was expressed that the provisions of the Bill could not be applied to private townships.

A correspondent of the New Zealand Times administers a rebuke to Air. Reader Wood. That gentleman not long since spoke of the oratory of a fellow-legislator as Wesleyan parsonish. This he did in disparagement. A correspondent now retorts that had Air. Wood cultivated the society of AVesleyans in his youth he would have done so to the improvement of his manners in his riper years. And we are not disinclined to agree with our correspondent. There is absolute impudence in a member of a body by no means renowned for its good sense speaking disparagingly of Wesleyan parsons. Indeed, we could with much 111010 justice perceive the force of a Wesleyan preacher rebuking another by telling him he resembled a member of the House of Representatives. There are not a few circumstances connected with the present condition of M.H.R.’s that would make the institution of such a comparison insulting to the preacher.

And AU. AVooil forgets, besides, that when he talks of a member of Parliament being like a parson he at once indulges in a pot-and-kettleism, for it is not so long since we saw Mr. Wood’s own eloquence described by a Southern contemporary as being more suited, to the. pulpit thau the parliament. He has, in fact, just the style of some fifth-rate pulpit orator, in whom the possession of unlimited conceit atones for the absence of common sense. Air. Wood, when speaking, always impresses a listener with the idea that Air. Wood, at least, is convinced that no one but Air Wood knows anything, about the question at issue. Beyond this his style is commonplace, his method as flat as the surface of a Dutch oven, and his manner as enlivening as that of a unite at a funeral. Air. Wood should not criticise oratory in others.

I in. use of the telegraph in a money crisis has been pointed, out by the Economist ■—When the American crisis of 18/3 occurred, it was much mitigated by the use of the telegraph, which instantly conveyed the news to London, so that assistance could be rendered at once, while news of that relief being on the way could also be telegraphed to New York. The telegraph probably reduced considerably the total amount of money required to be sent from England, compared with what would otherwise” have keen necessary, and the knowledge that relief would be given also stayed the panic. The same use was obviously found for the telegraph, though, on a smaller scale, in the case of the late crisis at Rio. “The intelligence l eceived within the last few days lias,’’ says the Economist, “already caused the despatch of some bullion to Rio, and more will follow by next mail, and meanwhile news that this relief will be given has no doubt been transmitted to that capital. Probably the telegraph is even more useful now than it was in the case of the New York panic, because the distances are so much greater. If there had been no telegraph, we should not probably have heard of the Brazilian crisis at all for a month after it broke out, and auother month would have been consumed in sending assistance, while that assistance must also have been sent very much in the dark without any knowledge of the real requirements of the Rio market, and it could not be known for another two months what the effect had been. Now. the event is known, and the relief sent v ithin a few days of the crisis, and the knowledge that relief is coming may also begin at once to act on the panic feeling. The economy thus arising to the great banks and merchants connected with Rio must be very great, while many of the worst evils of au a oo 1 ’ aVft ted and prolonged panic must be wholly prevented.”

Tasmanian papers to hand chronicle a youthful career in which industry and talent have already placed their possessor in an enviable position. A young gentleman-from the “tight little island,” Air. George Wilson Waterhouse, has succeeded in gaining, at the English University at which he now is, a scholarship, valued at £SO per annum, together with a special prize of £3 in books. There were only four quizes given, and five new scholarships. Three of these were for £3O, one for £SO, and one for £7O, so that AVaterhouse, who is only nineteen years of age, out of all the candidates, stood second on the whole list, very gratifying to his friends, to Tasmanians generally, and especially to the masters of Horton College, Ross. George AVilson AVaterhouse has paid for his education by the number or colonial scholarships he has won. His school career holds out the most encouraging inducement for even the poorest lad to persevere. It is thus traced by the Tasmanian papers. He first became known to the Press by winning from the Central School an exhibition from public to superior schools, \alued at a little more than £ll per annum, and tenable for four years. He then went to Horton College, Ross, and two years afterwards came down and won the exhibition from public to superior schools, valued at £2O per year, and tenable for four years. Two years after he presented himself for the A. A. Deg lee, came out at the head of the list, and won the gold medal. He then passed the matriculation examination for the Melbourne University ; and afterwards he attained the highest distinction that it is in the power of his native land to bestow, by carrying off twin honors—the Tasmanian Scholarship, valued at £2OO per year, and tenable for four years at a English University ; and the Gilchrist Scholarship, valued at £IOO, and tenable for three years. It is not stated for how many years the present .scholarship that young Waterhouse has won is tenable, but supposing that it lasts for three years, we find, on adding up the amounts of the various scholarships, that he has won in the aggregate £1386.

AVe have frequently had occasion to quote, from contemporary journals, approving remarks in reference to Captain Edwin’s weather signals. The JYew Zealand Herald, of the 27th idtimo, has a leading article on the subject, in which the importance of this branch of the public service is dwelt upon. It remarks : —“For nearly eighteen months, by the aid of the telegraph wires, assisted by the steady, quiet observations of experienced men, many ocean dangers have been averted, causing the wreck chart of the colony to have fewer of those ugly marks set against spots where vessels have been driven into the breakers by the violence of tempest, or have perished on a lee shore. Many a craft is now dancing merrily over the water, but which, for these storm warnings, would have been showing, their naked ribs on some inhospitable bit of coast lino or rocky beach.” After paying a compliment to the Marine Department generally, which it says is “ really very ably managed,” but which would he much better managed if the advice of practical and professional men were more frequently taken, the Herald summarises Captain Edwin’s report to the Commissioner of Customs, and refers to the extraordinary fact that Auckland is the only port in the colony which has not ac-

knowlcdged the general accuracy of the weather forecasts. On this subject it says : “Tile exception to these reports is one made by Captain William Ellis, Harbormaster for the port of Auckland, who says, ‘regarding the storm warnings forwarded by Commander Edwin to tlie Chairman of the Auckland Harbor Hoard, and from that gentleman to me, I beg most respectfully to state that not one in twenty lias been correct, and the very few that have, I have been invariably prepared for.’ Here is, figuratively, a back-hander to the system. ’The storm warnings have answered well at the Thames and Tauranga, which are in the province, as well as all other parts of the colony where they have been made use of, but Auckland is the exception. It may be that we shall have experienced observers who will be able to say why Auckland should be an exception to ail other ports of the colony in the matter of storms and changes of wind. It must lie satisfactory to learn that, omitting Auckland, the storm signals have proved of such great value to all the other ports of the colony.” Not to put too fine a point upon it, we may say that wo believe the Auckland Harbormaster replied at random. We do not believe that lie intentionally misstated facts ; but we suspect that lie trusted to his memory, which must lie defective. At all events, it would be interesting to compare his weather record with Captain Edwin’s telegrams. Wo think the Chairman of the Harbor Hoard at Auckland should explain, if possible, the private understanding between Captain Ellis and the Clerk of the Weather, which has taken Auckland out of the general law of storms and calms in operation on the New Zealand coast. Its publication would be hailed with satisfaction throughout the colony, but until that revelation lias been made we take leave to doubt the general accuracy of Captain Ellis’s report.

Some time ago we noticed in the West Coast newspapers a series of spiteful attacks upon District Judge Weston. They were intended to annoy, and they possibly did annoy, the gentleman against whom they were levelled. Hut we are pleased to say that a better spirit has latterly been evinced, and that the newspapers published in his district now bear testimony to the strict impartiality, intelligent administration of the law, and zeal in the public service displayed by Judge Weston. The West Coast Times of the 30tli August has an article on the increasing business in the District Court, and the manner in which it is conducted by the District Judge. “ Bankrupts especially,” it remarks, “find it no smooth sailing to pass through the troubled waters before Judge Weston, who has deemed it necessary, in some Northern districts, to suspend certificates, owing to the accounts which have been brought before him being of a suspicious and unsatisfactory nature. After a protracted sitting at Westport, and a lengthened detention through bad weather, Judge Weston returned to Hokitika on Saturday, and holds a court here to-day. He leaves again on Tuesday for Reefton, where, we notice, there is a larger share of business than usual, including criminal, civil, bankruptcy, and goldfields cases, which come on for hearing on the 6th proximo. Some years ago nothing w-as looked upon as a simpler process of whitewashing than passing through the Bankruptcy Court, and creditors were ready to accept any compromise for debts when once a declaration of insolvency was gazetted. We are happy to say the feeling in this respect is of late much altered, and creditors frequently urge that the estate should be placed in Court in the hope of ascertaining the true state of affairs, rather than accept a fictitious compromise. Besides the compulsion of having to pass through the more exacting' ordeal of the Court is frequently deterrent to illegitimate trading, and now that competition is keener, and profits naturally smaller than they were in the early days of the Coast, creditors are less willing, as they are less able, to afford to allow a suspicious trader to go scot free, or to accept whatever he may propose as a composition.” The Westport Times writes in a similar strain of Judge Weston, and alludes to a notable example in that town, where the District Judge gave a decided check to fraudulent bankruptcies. Commenting upon it, our Westport contemporary says : “ The case as it stands is not one of any special interest, except so far that it may serve to show mauy who, trading carelessly and incurring debt upon the happy-go-lucky principle of making every pound sterling earned do duty for two pounds’ worth of liability incurred, that it is best to pause in their career before trusting too implicitly to the chance of an easy ‘ whitewash.’ The District Court has a far higher function to fulfil than this, and the presiding Judge will uphold its dignity.”

Telegrams have appeared in more than one Northern journal, stating, as a result so far of the sittings of the committee on the improper issue of miners’ rights at Oliinemuri, that a Mr. Brissenden confessed to having surreptitiously obtained them in conjunction with a Mr. O’Halloran. The Thames Advertiser, commenting on this, says : —“ The fraud, as we have pointed out on several occasions, was cleverly contrived and planned, and was carried out in a bold and daring manner. It was meant to cheat honest men of their just claims, and was intended to secure, by corrupt means, that which could not be obtained legally and fairly. Certain ground was believed to be rich with gold, and, to secure the ground, thirty or forty miners’ rights were obtained in the manner stated by our telegrams from Wellington. Had the ground been as rich as was expected, there would have been endless litigation through this fraud, but the Government must not, by inaction, say that the offence is condoned by the poorness of the ground. The people expect, and will demand, a full investigation of the affair in a court of law. They will look to the Government to treat Mr. Brissenden in exactly the same manner as a miner would be treated if he walked into the Warden’s Court and stole public documents. •

We may say that we are surprised and pained to see Mr. OTlalloran’s name connected with the matter, because we really thought that he was clean-handed, and until we hear of some confirmation of Mr, Brisseuden’s statement, we shall be inclined to think that he has been dragged forward to save some one else, or that his name has been used as conniving at the fraud, without efficient reason. We hope to hear in a few days that the committee have reported in favor of handing over all further investigation to the police.”

We have before us the full reports from the Dunedin papers of the abolition meeting held lately in that city. Some remarkable incidents seem to have occurred there. Mr. 'Robert (fillies, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Otago Daily Times Printing Company, in speaking to a motion in favor of abolition, is reported to have quoted from a speech by Mr. dames Macandrcw, Superintendent of the province, and to show that lie was quoting accurately, ho exhibited a proof-slip from the Daily Times office, with the corrections made in Mr. Maeandtvw’s own handwriting. He explained how he had obtained this slip. He happened to be in the Daily Times office. (Oh, oh, and disapprobation.) He (Mr. Gillies) wished to explain that there was no breach of confidence in the matter. The speech had been printed and sent broadcast throughout the town. ’Ehe speech, he said, had been distributed throughout the town. A Mr. Isaac here exclaimed “How about the original from the Times !■ Is not that private property ? I say it is simply disgusting.” Further on in his speech (Mr. Gillies was asked, “ What about the Daily Times!” and to this he replied: “ One gentleman had asked him, ‘ What about the Daily Times!’ Of course there were people in this place who, like the Daily Times, could agitate one tiling to-day and another thing to-morrow ; whose opinions were so plastic that they would bend any way. (Oh, oh.) If they liked to bear that, let them do it ; but for his part, he was made of sterner stuff than that. He could form an opinion and stick to it. The opinions expressed in the Daily Times in reference to the Abolition Bill seemed to him to wear a remarkably clerical appearance. (Laughter.) Speaking on both sides, and acting on the grounds of expediency.” But the most remarkable occurrence of the meeting, perhaps, was the giving by Mr. Hallenstein, at one time M.H.lt. for Wakatipu, of the late Judge Gray’s opinions on abolition. Mr. Hallenstein is reported as having said :—“ He remembered well when the first news of the abolition question reached them at Queenstown, where he had been a resident for the last twelve years. Their late friend Mr. Wilson Gray was holding a sitting of the District Court there, and he remembered how earnestly, in the course of a conversation with him, the kind old Judge spoke upon the subject of the Abolition Bill. Mr. Gray said: —‘ If you abolish provincial institutions, you will take away the bulwark of your liberties. Provincial Councils stand between you and class legislation. (Applause.) The General Assembly will not for many years to come fairly reflect the opinions of the people, nor be a fair representation of the bulk of the population. Your choice will be narrowed down to those interested in getting possession of lame tracts of the country, and to political adventurers ; and the chance of justice being done to outlying districts will be but small.’ The influence of runholders in the Provincial Councils was gone. Wherever these had not been restricted by inferior legislation, wherever class legislation was not in the ascendant, provincial institutions had settled the people upon the lands under the deferred-payment system. It was well known to the runholders that as soon as the leases held by them fell in, the lauds which they now possessed would bo cut up into small runs, the same as was done in the Tuapeka and Wakatip districts. Then one man would not hold 150 miles of country. One might at present travel from the Lindis to Lake Wakatip, and see only a shepherd’s hut. If provincialism were continued, that state of things would cease. They might depend upon it that the institutions interested, as well as the runholders, would do all in their power to carry abolition. He considered that the loss of a portion of their money, by its being spent in Wellington, was a mere bagatelle as compared with the settlement of the people on the land. He hoped the meeting would express itself in unmistakeable terms, and say that they would not have the Abolition Bill passed that year. They should fight hard against it, and pay the expenses of their members to oppose it word by word, in order to prevent so great a constitutional change being perpetrated by a dying Parliament. He concluded by thanking the meeting for the attention with which they had listened to him. (Applause.)”