NOTES ON THE NEWS OF THE WEEK.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1367, 12 May 1898, Page 35

NOTES ON THE NEWS OF THE WEEK.

Not a day too soon is a municipal abattoir being established for Duneabattoirs din. The report of Mr J. A . Grilruth, of the live stock dunedin. branch of the Department of Agriculture, is conclusive as to the insanitary condition of the slaughterhouses in the neighbourhood *of the city. Mr GHlruth says that four of the five slaughterhouses inspected are, generally speaking, in a most dilapidated state. The wooden wells are coated with the congealed blood of years, the uneven and broken floors are almost impossible to partially cleanse, and the buildings are entirely unfitted for the purpose to which they are put. As a rule the water supply is good ; but drainage, one of the most important elements of a properly arranged slaughterhouse —if not the most important—does noiSfekist, or is of a very primitive description. • These four places, says Mr Gilruth, are not in the least degree suited for the purpose of slaughtering stock for human consumption. He concludes his report with the suggestive remark that he cannot too strongly condemn the disgusting spectacle to be seen near the slaughterhouses of grovelling pigs and screeching gulls wallowing amongst and tearing about the reeking and at all times putrefying offal and refuse. There has been an unexpected and very unfortunate dulay in the opening of the Danedin City Council's abattoir, but this difficulty is in a fair way of being overcome. In view of the disclosures in Mr Gilruth's report the Council has resolved that it will " issue a warning to all butchers carrying on business or selling or supplying meat in Dunedin that the Council will treat as a ground for refusing licenses the selling of meat killed or dressed at any one of the slaughterhouses mentioned in the report of Mr Gilruth, and will revoke the license issued to any butcher who shall be found selling such meat." In the course of discussion the Mayor said that no private interests should be allowed to come between the Council and its efforts to place the inspaction of the meat supplied to the city on a proper basis.

for

At Masterton on Tuesday night the

Premier had " almost a record demonstration." " The result (of the reception in the Town Hall) was from every point of view a success, and

ME, SEDDON AT MASTERTON.

the party is to be congratulated." These are not our words, but those of the Masterton Opposition paper. That journal also compliments Mr Seddon on taking a course "marked by common-sense," and admits that in his reception there was " no lack of enthusiastic helpers who laboured to make the celebration as enjoyable as possible." In fine the Premier made such a triumphal progress in that district that even Oppositionists, could scarce forbear a cheer. The event is specially interesting, however, as indicating what sort of levers critics are sometimes by. Mr Seddon promised new postal buildings for the town, doubtless because he saw that they were needed, and he gave a favourable response to certain representations in connection with the Technical School which •is said to be "certain to create a very favourable impression." It seems, then, that a Minister has only to promise new buildings to "create a favourable impression." If Mr Seddon had only gone to Masterton earlier and promised the town a new post office or some additions to the school, he could have disabled thac sort of criticism which, however loud and vicious at ordinary times, is deferentially complimentary when there is a chance of a few pounds being spent in the district.

Insufficiency of money, prolonged Cuban

resistance, and ominous threats of American interference recently prompted the Spanish

THE WAK.

Government to grant self-government to Cuba. Under the scheme proposed the Cubans elect part of the governing body, the other members being officials, and the combination thus formed would have control of local taxation and the distribution of Imperial taxes, and enjoy other powers, including (within specified limits) that of fixing fiscal dues. Confident in their ability to repel the loyalists, the insurgents scornfully refused - this offer. The pro-Spanish party accepted it, however, and it appears from this morning's cable messages that General Blanco, commander, has gone through the farce of opening the " Congress" subsequently elected. The statement that great enthusiasm was shown in response to the Qjtieen Regent's appeal for the defence of the Fatherland is traceable to the fact that the "Congress" is composed of Spaniards and Spanish partisans, the insurgent party having refused to elect members to it. A sharp contrast to the great ceteaaony with which the "Congress"

was opened is represented in the information that Havana is suffering the worst effects of a besieged citadel, beef being worth eight shillings per pound there. Evidently the American blockade has been quite successful enough to justify the withdrawal of the squadron for use at Puerto Eico. In the United States the non-receipt ofJnews from Admiral Dewey, who commanded the attack on the Philippines, is causing anxiety, and is perhaps due to the cutting of the H nigkong-Manila cable. A similar feeling is also prompted by doubts as to the whereabouts of the Spanish squadron from Capo Verde, which was reported to be at Culiz a day or two ago. The latest report is that the squadron is likely to intercept the American battleship Oregon in the vicinity of the Barbadoes. This latter report is particularly significant. It meaus, if it is true, that the Spaniards have secretly got their squadron into the debatable waters of the Caribbean Sea, where a great naval battle may be fought at any time.

The little rebellion of Mioris in the far

north which threatened to requiro armed force for its settlement has happily been stopped in deference to good counsel. Many another native

THE MAORI TROUBLE ENDED.

trouble has ended in the same way, but this one promised to precipitate a sharp conflict, the Maoris having armed themselves to enforce their demands that the dog-tax should not be collected arid that they should be permitted to live in the old Maori way. Ministers wisely took prompt

measures to avoid any such conclusion. They mustered soldiery with a view to showing the natives how the law was backed, and expeditiously mobilised those forces in the disaffected region. The effect of this and of Mr Hone Heke's valuable mediation has been to put a sudden end to the rebellion. The protesting leaders have submitter', and those who have given themselves up is Hone Tuia himself, the prime mover in the agitation. There appears to be reason for supposing, however, that all the party's arms and ammunition havenotyet been handed in to Colonel Newall, and if that suspicion should prove to be correct the duty still lies before the forces of compelling a complete surrender of all such munitions. That will probably prove an easy task now that the leaders have been got into custody, but it should bo faithfully performed, if only to reassure I the white settlers in the vicinity. i T#E nuisances of the city are materially and offensively added to in

HOBSORS OF ORIENTAL BAY.

Oriental Pay. Probably there is not a more largely frequented resort for pedestrians on Sunday afternoon than j the "round the rocks" road

which is also part of the favouiite cycling route. Yet it is a placa which cannot be patronised without incurring annoyance. Yesterday, for instance, the most conspicuous spots in che shore of the bay were given up to crowds\>f boys andyouths who were bathing there as naked &s they were bora, Everyoaa who passed

that way was ostentatiously given a free and full view of these young fellows' bodies within a few yards of the road. This is not an unusual occurrence. It happens every day. That such a thing is tolerated is simply scandalous, and ordinary decency requires that it should be stopped at once. Tae road aiong Oriental Bay and on to Point Jerningham is already unpleasant enough in all conscience. Bead dogs are met with at disgustingly short intervaL?, and the place is used as a dumping ground by people who have fish offal or other refuse to g;it rid of. To bad smells, bad sights need not be added, however, and we hope precautions will at once be taken to prevent that pretty bay being made a public bathing place for the naked and unashamed.

Satisfaction will bo generally felt with

the decision of the Cabinet to ask Parliament to pass a Bill reforming the law affecting . coalmine owners' liability for compensation to their em-

NEW COAL- , mines : legislation.

ployees. The Brunner oraployees' suit the other day showed (according to the ruling of the Chief Justice) the ne-'eseify for such a reform, lb indicated that in the case of a mining disaster the owners must either prove what the cause of the accident was, and that it was not due to negligence on their pirt, or pay heavy damages. The unfairness of this is plain. lb means that the owners are called ou to prove what, in nine cises out of ten, there is no earthly possibility of proving. The Government has taken the advice of tho

Wellington Chamber of Commerce and decided to bring the law within reason. The proposal for amending legislation is, we believe, to relieve owners from much of the present onus of proof and to regulate, on the lines of recent Imperial legislation, the amount recoverable in daimges. Subject to such objection as the details of tin pc'iemo may prompt, fhU appears to be ace -ptabio. The sensible and practical precaution is, as we have previously argued, an insurance scheme. But the fact that such a plan is not in operation need not, and should not, be regarded as a reason why owners should be puc at an expensive and unjustifiable disadvantage.

The report to be presented at the fortyninth annual meeting of this

THE A.M.P. SOCIETY.

most successful institution is before us, and amply repays a careful perusal. The ever-

increasing popularity of the Society is shown by the large amount of new business wii'.ten from year to year. That for last year amounts to no less than 12,442 policies insuring fcv J 33,157.404 with a new annual premium revenue of .£107,262, and, after deducting the void business, leaves a larger net increase to the total business in force than has been effected in any year since 1893 The accumulated funds have been increased by £751,038 as the profit of the year's work, and now stand at .£14,479,578, which is invested in the soundest and mostpro6table securities. The in vestment of such larga mm B&tuiy

ally calls for extreme care, and judging from the balance-sheet it would appear that nothing is wanting in this respect, and that the distribution of the assets would satisfy the most fastidious critic. The prudence and foresight exhibited by the board in deciding in 1893 to reduce by degrees the rate of interest for valuation purposes to per cent, has had the effect of materially increasing the stability of the Society, and it must be gratifying to the policyholders to be assured by the actuary that there appears every reason to anticipate a marked increase in the bonuses for future years, as the result of this action. That the rate of interest realised on the funds has slightly decreased was to be expected, but it is compensated for by the economy displayed in the cost of management, which shows a satisfactory decrease. The Society is dividing the handsome sum of .£-M5,230 cash among members, producing reversionary bonu=! of about .£835,000. We have to congratulate members of the Society on the success that continues to attend the operations of this great Australasian institution. )£-> The proposal of the Natives' Association

to form an infantry corps is one that deserves every encouragement, and it is grati-

INCREA3ED DEFENCES.

tying to learn that the meeting held on Monday in aid of the project was a successful one. In other colonies special corps of this character have been formed in such numbers as to materially increase the available force of trained or partially trained men ; and even in New

Zealand we have examples from Auckland of Native Association forces being enrolled I and drilled, as well as of corps being constituted by employees in large establishments with the consent and co-operatiou of their employers. That the Government perceives the importance of such additions a i this to the Volunteer force, and of s rengfchoniag the defences generally, is indicated by the statement of the Premier last night of Ministerial intentions in this connection. According to Mr Seddon 5000 rifles and 1000 carbines have been ordered 3 and we have it from Auckland that an order for 400,000 rounds of ammunition has been placed with the Colonial Ammunition Company. The Volunteer force is to be increased by 2000 men, and the Premier, following up the line of argument he pursued in England during the Jubilee functions, advocates an increase of the Auxiliary Squadron, especially in view of the possibility of foreign Powers annexing islands in the Pacific. With all this, and with the Natives' Association's proposal to form an infantry corps, the public voice will be generally in accord. Much more will have to bo done in this respect than has been done. Tn - military resources of the country must be increased. And though Colonel Pole Penton may not be ablo to get the additional corps he requires, the enterprise of the Natives' Association and the raatenal backing- x>t the Ministry are likely to do much toward. bringing the force to the state ot' efficiency which, it is at preheat very fa* from.« ;. ',*