NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1263, 14 May 1896, Page 31

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Few Ministers on tour have made such a remarkable discovery as Mr Carruthers, Mr Reid's Minister of Lands, did tho other day. In his travels ho found some lovely agricultural land, all the way between Jerilderie and tho Murray, about 150 miles ; the best agricultural land in tho Riverina country. But it was all freehold for sheep walks. Settlement will have to buy all this land back again ; and settlement in those parts, as tho cable told us tho other day, is getting big and interesting.

Baron Loch has, of course, repliod to tho evidence at Pretoria, and every ono seems to be thoroughly satisfied with tho explanation. Still tho message has one ugly feature!. It makes the veteran say that he spoke to the Rand peoplo of tho folly of going to war with only 100!) rifles. This implies that if the Panders had had rifles enough his opinion and conduct might have been different, hot us hopo that he has been mi iroported.

Mr Ward deserves the thanks of tho wholo trading community for maintaining tho hold tho Income Tax Commissioner has got over their foreign rivals. That hold was not gripped without a good deal of trouble. Do we not remember how tho parties played the littlo drama of Colonel Slick and the coon ? Tho colonel at last, by dint of dodging, got his barrel on to tho coon, and the coon surrendering, the colonel gripped him. Mr Ward, being appealed to, has decided that the grip shall remain. Let the coon own up his profits every time, and all will be well.

3lr Wallace, the new chess champion of Now South Wales, is another proof, hardly so striking as was tho late Paul Morphy, but still strong, that chess-players are, like poets, born, not mado. He is only 2.'i, but he is champion of New South Wales. That, however, is nothing, for at 1H ho introduced himself to tho chess-players of Australia by winning the Queensland championship. That was in 1891, siiico when Mr Wallace has played many game 3, tho great bulk of which he has either won or drawn. Unlike most players, ho is very rapid, often making his replies instantaneously, and his end games are remarkable for their mathematical precision.

Mr Duthie last week fell into the same hole in which his leader has so often tumbled.

Ho tried to disarm criticism by declaring that the Government policy must bo carried on, though tho Government might be dismissed. In plain English Mr Duthie, like the others, drew his bullets, and went into action with "blank." For the rest Mr Duthie, who was as wild as ever about tho banking legislation, added nothing new to his political programme except that the Government claimed to have caused the revival of mining. Of course Mr Duthie knew very well that the Government use the revival as a proof that their policy docs not keep capital out of tho country—a very different thing indeed. A damaging admission, a repetition of unreasoning violence, and a quite unjustifiable misrepresentation, and thero you have Mr Duthie at the Opera House.

The increase of the private wealth of the Colony during the last five years is very satisfactory, nearly as much so as the increases in tho North displayed by the census returns. Tho RegistrarGeneral's estimate, based on the probate, gives an increaso of eleven millions during the period. Tho result is probably not exact; tho Registrar-General does not pretend to think that it is. But it is approximate, and based on very real evidence.

The census returns give an increaso of 40 percent, in the counties of Pohangina, Oroua and Kiwitea. The Rangitikei district was 10, Pahiatua 08, while Stratford reached an increase of 250 per cent. If does not look as if the country were stagnating, while tho towns grow. It was Mr Duthie who said so ; and politically Mr Duthie will say anything.

The census again throws glory over the Wellington district. This time wo sec the progress of the counties of Horowhenua and Wairarapa North; the first with an increaso of 1500 peoplo and 75 per cent., the second with close on 2000 and 40 per cent., a total of 3500 people for the two counties. Does this look liko stagnation of the country ? Perhaps Mr Duthie will explain. If that is tho kind of stagnation for which tho Government is responsible, tho more proof wo have of it tho better. To talk of stagnation, in fact, is simply misrepresentation.

Mr A. E. Rhodes, who is to contest tho Pareora seat —wo suppose it will not bo ono of those to be much altered by the Representation Commissioners —is well known in tho House of Representatives, having served there as member for Geraldino for two Parliaments, 1887 to 1893. He was a member of rather a restless turn, fond of calling for returns, staunch to his party (strict Conservative), ready always to join in the annual " lark" with which the lawyers (he is ono) used in those days to obstruct tho littlo Bills by which Sir Georgo Grey used to try to open to all good young men the profession of tho law and the way to tho Premiership. A little difliculty about some land scrip troubled the lion gentleman for a short time, for there was much flouting at him in the House and out of it. But when the thing was washed up Mr Rhodes was seen to have acted by inadvortenco of a very pardonable kind, so the matter passed away. It is hardly likely that ho will beat the sitting member.

Tho weak point in Lord Loch's defence, as we pointed out the other day, was that ho admitted he had told tho Uitlander deputation in Pretoria that ho had remonstrated with them on tho folly of relying on not more than 1000 rifles. Wo hoped that ho had been misreported. As the next thing that happened was the production of Mr Lionel Phillips' letterbook, in a letter in which ho declares that Lord Loch would certainly come to Johannesburg if the arms were 3000 rifles, wo seem to have a corroboration. It is, of course, possible that Mr Phillips misunderstood, but the position is rather ugly for Baron Loch.

"No criminal intention" is the ground of the verdict of acquittal in Lothaire's case. Ho captured a British subject of upright character and great influence ; he broke tho law in the trial and execution ; ho had no evidence fit to hang a dog upon. Tho second of these is murder in the first degree, morally and legally, as thus : When the law authorises killing it does so under conditions carefully laid down ; the Congo law authorises killing of men convicted of the offence vith which Stokes was charged after, firstly, trial by courtmartial with President and Registrar and members properly constituted ; and secondly, alter appeal to tho chief Court at fiotna. Lothaire's Court was not properly constituted, inasmuch as there was no registrar, and he himself acted as President; and prosecutor; and though Stokes claimed the right expressly allowed him of appeal to Boma, he hung him within 21 hours. Tho idea of excusing Lothairo for tins gross crime on the ground of absence of criminal intention is worse than absurd.

Mr Reid, of Now South Wales, lacks, we fear, ono of tho first requisites of the Premier's office, viz., consideration for tho people under his care. It is only want of that consideration which could induce a Premier to refuse to join in a perfectly proper attempt to obtain mercy for misguided peoplo from the Government they have outrage'!. Had Mr Reid been asked for sympathy with the object of the lieform Committee, his refusal would have been the right thing. His refusal to help to get mercy is tho refusal of something which, besides committing him to nothing, is in itself divine.

That tho tram service requires amendment in some way was felly recognised at the meeting of the Council on Thursday evening. Thero was Mr Dean's letter complaining that tho servico is useless to workmen, there is tho fact that every

rain shower sees the peoplo refused admission by scores to the crowded cars.

With the unfortunate diver Peart the expected has happened. If there is anything to bo read in faces, Peart himself had a very lively expectation of Insfate. Iu common with many who saw him before his dives, we noticed his very restless manner and the nervous look in his face. Poor soul! His were extraordinary powers : strength of will, courage almost superhuman, tremendous energy, a carefulness in details amounting to genius, an understanding of the specialties of his art which was almost inspiration. With such a combination of qualities Peart would have risen to eminence iu any station of life. That supplies the strongest of many arguments for putting a stop peremptorily to such dangerous and demoralising exhibitions.

The whirligig of time has placed a bond of union between Sir Robert Stout and Mr George Fisher, who are both running as hard as they can for the representation of Wellington. Time was when they reviled one another in good set terms. We give an example elsewhere this morning, from the Hansard report of a rather famous discussion ; the debate on the District Railways Bill, which shocked the conscience oi: New Zealand something mere than adecade ago. if the 1 elector.; of Wellington adopt Sir Robert's views about Mr Fisher", and Mr Fisher's views about Sir Robert, Parliament will be fain to do without either of these gentlemen for tho next three years.

Baron Loch was made Commissioner of Woods and Forests in order that his ingenuity and boldness might recover the vast aggegate of arrears of rent which had puzzled everyouo who had tried it. The combination was very successful, many arrears flowed to tho Treasury, and many properties were forfeited and resumed on all kinds of technical objections. The combination seems to have been at work with regard to the Transvaal. It will apparently be very seriously required for the benefit, of its owner during the next few weeks. The world admired Sir llartle Froro when ho openly annexed the Transvaal, even t hat portion of the world which cursed him. Hut for a pro-consul who degrades his oflico by winking at surreptitious plotters what can be said? At the present stage, nothing ; not fill the Baron has replied to the Phillips note-book.

In Christchurch and its suburbs tho census has, according to the ljijttdlon. Times, revealed the awkward fact that there are 2000 more females than males. Now as thero are more men born into tho world every year than women, this preponderance of 2000 women is suggestive. It suggests conclusively, not that tho number of shop-girls is unduly swelled —that is an effect, not a. cause—but that there is not enough outlet for tho young men of Canterbury as they grow up. Canterbury could easily carry a million of people;, and something over 120,000 is too largo for the Canterbury capacity. <'mild there bo stronger proof of tho fully of tho legislation which permitted land monopoly to ruin a grand district, or of the vital necessity for the legislation which seeks to enable that grand district to carry out its agricultural destiny by resuming monopolised es-tites for profitable sett lenient ?

Tho Uganda railway may not bo a factor in the Nile operation.; immediately. Put in the course of time, not distant, it will play a very important part as a base for expeditions on tho Equatorial Nile, heading towards Khartoum. On August Kith last a committee of tho House of Commons advised tho construction of the lino from Mombasa (tho port over against Zanzibar) to tho Victoria Nyun/.a, at a cost of a million and three-quarters, with a gauge of three feet. The Salisbury Government announced that they would press the work forward with all possible speed, and they are doing so. Wo may feel sure that when the serious fighting in the Soudan begins in the autumn good progress will have been made with the Uganda, railway at the other end of tho line.

Mr McKinley's prospects for tho Presidency may lie improving, but the McKinley Tariff will never have any prospect of resurrection even if Mr McKinloy serves two terms at tho White House. To alter the tariff tho friends of the dead McKinloy duties, must capture not only tho Presidency, but also both ileuses of Congress. That is an issue on which tho triple capture can be made in a country so disgusted as the United State. l ; is with this nightmare of the recent past.

"Hard on the Premier for joining tho Anglo-German syndicate;" vtas he? Let Captain Russell ask his now colleague Sir R. Stout whether ho had no connection with companies as solicitor when he was Premier and Attorney-General, and let him keep his denunciation of wrong until wrong is done. As for the officers who havo accepted service, the moral of tho story is not against them. Captain liussell's criticism of them is tyrannical and cowardly, because Captain Russell does not really believe that any public servant should be prevented from improving his! position in the world. The true moral of the story is that a public servico which is too mean to pay well for first-class scientific or technical knowledge deserves to be deprived of it. Captain Russell should denounce the practice •>!' all Governments, not the men who are tortunate enough to have their merit: recognised as they ought to be. The stoppage of tho advance from Mafeking is" evidence that the report of Karl Grey that IJuluwayo is ::.•• safe as Loudon is accepted by the military authorities. The second Mll abcio war may, therefore, be regarded as over.

A rather better light is thrown over tho ruins of the Australian banking crisis by the liquidator's report in the Mercantile Bank case, to tho effect that certain properties had appreciated .£70,000 on a total valuation of £98,000 ; having been disposed of for £IOB,OOO, in fact, Good properties which are depressed by the collapse of wild-eats always recover if time is given. This report of tho liquidator only tell 3 tho same story as is implied by tho increase all along the line of Australian exports. Wo congratulate Victoria as showing somo solid reason for hoping once again to deserve the title of Australia Felix. —-

Mr Sinclair's letter to the Victorian Department of Agriculture, that foreign competition last week drove English-killed beef down to lfd per Hi, will be regarded by timid people -by tho average of men that is to say—as the death warrant of the colonial export meat trade, it ought, on the contrary, to prove a salutary force strong enough to make the enlightened enterprise of the colonists break up the absurd concentration of supplies in London, and capture the great provincial markets.

Miss Nunneloy, who has by tho strength, brilliancy and remarkable vigour of her play—so well known and so vastly admired in this Colony—wrested the New South Wales Lawn Tennis Championship from its last holder, has given a, grand example to our rowing representatives. Miss Nunneloy has repaid tho admiration of New Zealauders by getting honour for Now Zealand. It is for the others to obtain admiration by winning the honours against all comers.

It was rather a startler to many to learn that it had been found necessary to put Daly into a double-sculler to get him into tho swing of his comrades in what we trust will bo tho winning boat. Hut the fact is that Daly was not put there to pickup the " swing" at all, but to become familiar with tho "slide" of tho crew. Mr Richardson, tho coach, is very particular on this point, Ho divides the use of tho slide into two systems—ono which catches tho water simultaneously with tho start of tho sliding seat, tho other which grips the water before tho slide is allowed to move. The latter system he had given to his crow. The fact that Daly picked it up so soon for tho double-scull expedient was, as the cablo has told us, very soon abandoned—is very satisfactory indeed. By proclaiming that tho new member is now at ono on ovory point with tho rest, it lets us hope that " our boys " may win tho great event.

From Dunedin comes the same tale, told by the census, of tho excess of women—which amounts in the southern city and its suburbs to over 2000. The women's organisations will, it is clear, have their -work cut out for somo time to come. While they are watching over the lot of these deserted ones, the young mon who havo hived oil' to seek their fortunes will bo making homes. When they get established they will bo ablo to remove the difliculty which at present is troublesome. But they will roquiro the continuance of tho Liberal policy of settlement and encouragement to agriculture and all industries.