NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 9588, 27 April 1892, Page 2

NOTES.

Everybody is talking about the collapse of the Labour Party at the Victorian elections, because it has not occurred to anybody to remember that the number of Labour members in the Parliament which was dissolved before the elections was smaller by five or six than tlie members returned at the elections. When the members of a party are nearly doubled it is not quite instinctive correctness which iihpels us to describe the fact as a collapse.

But the reason why so many people use the word collapse, is that there was a very genend fear that the Labour Party might carry everything before it. When the Times talks magisterially of the rise in the price of Victorian stocks consequent on the d feat of the Labour Party, it means that the apprehensions of a large number of very worthy people, whose only fault‘is that they are always tumbling into panics, have not been realised.

However, let us not run away with the idea that the Times is always making raistakes.Since the dreadful mess into which the paper fell in the Parnell-Pigott affair a general impression has been abroad that the big paper has gone utterly to the dogs as a reliable authority on anything. It has, of course, continued to make mistakes ; for instance, only tho other day it made a mistake about tbs affairs of this Colony, which Mr Perceval exposed with great effect. That exposure the paper endured in a silence which a contemporary has described as the most eloquent plea that has yet been raised in London in favour of the new taxation. In like manner the Times seems to have blundered a little about the result of the Victorian election*, assuming always that the editorial has been correctly summarised for cabling.

Before the Pigott case the Times had many battles, and was denounced in great richness of vituperation the tirades of Daniel O'Connell, Mr Cobden, Mr Bright—who never forgot bis grudge against the paper—and others occur to the mind readily in thn connection. We believe that never has the Times admitted itself in the wrong. Bus since the Pigott caie, its editorials have lost much of the old oracular ring, and there is in its place the sound ofc.immon sense and broad views, especially on the social questions of the day, There is, moreover, evidence of moderation and independence, which mvy alienate partisans—and they appear to have called up sharp reproof from such people—but are sure to appeal to the nation,

One very remarkable thing wa lately come across in one of its editorials. Speaking of the case of Moreland, the Oxford law tutor lately convicted for blackmailing, the writer declares that the most noticeable thing in the whole matter is the fact that the conviction of the scoundrel was due entirely to the courage, acumen, and perseverance of Mr Labouchere, who had, with his newspaper done a great service to society. Considering the harsh, not to say savage, references made in Truth for years to the Times, such an edir.orial is highly honourable to the paper.

Considering that the Times never mentions any other newspaper, the compliment to Truth is not only very favourable to the Times, and an example to all journals, but it is also a sign of a change of method. The Times is careful to add that though Truth has on many other occasions done services to society, 'there are of course many things Mr Labouchere does in that paper with which it has no sympathy. We need only observe that when the Times gets a little farther on tho new and better road of journalism it may discover that the return of its ancient prestige is due to a more just appreciation of the methods by which Mr’ Labouchere has made his piper a power.

To return to The leading feature of the election results is not so much the improvement in the number of Labour members, as the fact that Mr s Shiels fought the election on a programme largely representing the views of the Labour Tarty. When the plural vote is abolished the numbers may tell a different story.

What the force of the plural vote is may be guaged by the fact that all the elections are not on the same day. In a colony so well provided with facilities for travel, that U a very important fact. An instance is given in one of the Melbourne papers of an elector voting twelve times in a few hours.

Says the Public Service Journal in its last issue * A few of Mr Cooper’s friends in Wellington are taking steps for the purpose nf making him a presentation in token of the esteem in which he is held throughout the Service. It is not intended to confine the movement to Wellington, as there are no doubt a number of Mr Cooper’s friends in other parts of the Colony who would wish to contribute. A Committee will be appointed in a few days, and subscription lists circulated without delay,’

To that we very heartily say Amen. The Doyen of the Service has been in harness for over half a century, with a fine record. The longest term can only be fittingly closed with the handsomest souvenir •

Apropos of the line taken by the Government in the matter of the appointment of the new Governor, the Australian Trading World remarks :—* We can see no good reason why the name of the new Governor should not havo been confidentially submitted to the New Zealand Government; we feel quite sure that no captious or improper question would have been raised, and we are convinced Ihufc such a gracious act on. the part of the Imperial Government would have done much to cement the feeling of genuine loyalty existing in the Colony. We believe It is always usual in the case of the appointment of an Ambassador to a foreign Power, to ascertain that the person nominated is a persona grata to the Court to which he is accredited, and although such a course has not been usual in the case of our own colonies, when the request was made, and with the Queensland incident fresh in mind, it would have been an act of to meet the views of the Colonial Ministry, without in any way we deening the right of the Imperial Government to make such an appointment as is considered best.*

It would be churlish as well as'absurd to suppose that Lord Glasgow will not be perfectly acceptable to the Colony because the Government was not.consulted. At the same time we think highly of the good sense of the Trading World, and of its appreciation of the attitude of one Government and of the proper position of the Colony.

It will be good news up and down the Coast that thire is dayli-jht at Inst in the darkness of the vexed lease question. The Government is drawing up a Bill dealing with the whole subject of the lea-6?, including those known as the confirmed leases, and hopes to have it ready shortly. This Bill when ready will repeal the whole of the existing legislation on“ the subject. It is proposed to give the perpetual lease with the right of improvements to the lessee—that is, in the case of confirmed leases. The rent will be based npon existing value in accordance with the conditions of the original contract between the lessees and the Native owners. It will, however, be permissible for the lessees to purchase the value of the improvements, tnua securing to themselves a perpetual lease pure and simple, with all improvements secured to them, including those purchased. The Bill will be translated Into Maori, and will bo circulated amongst the Natives the Coast, and also given to the press and circulated amongst those generally The Premier and the Public Trustee have given a great deal of attention to tho matter, and is believed that the measure will give satisfaction to both parties. The object in circulating the Biff is to elicit the opinions of both sides as to its chief provisions and all its details. A representative o! the committee of the lessees was coming to Wellington,’ but he will not come now until a copy qf the Bill has been received. It is a subject bristling with difficulties, and this ia the very way to get at them. The plan deserves success, and we hope may command it. The Hon Mr Word is, we are glad to learn, not forgotten by the people of the country ho lives in, and in which he has been always well liked. Mr Ward has been invited to a banquet

at VVinton at an early date, and most of the leading colonists of Southland have, we "hear, intimated their intention to be present. An urgent invitation has been addressed to the Premier, who, of course, will be delighted to be present if possible. But as there is much to do before the session it is doubtful whether the Premier can spare the time.

The Locri Bodies Audit Bill is coming back thick with suggestions from the various bodies interested. _ Contrary to expectation, these are not chiefly in the direction of whittling away the power of the audit and increasing the freedom of the local bodies. They appear to recognise fully that the object of the Bill, which is to prevent misapplication of the funds,is a good object. The bulk of the sucgestions point to a diminution of the clerical work necessary for carrying out the provisions of the measure. Many of the suggestions, we hear, are valuable. The main (and gratifying) fact is that the measure has been well received and sensibly considered. That encourages thehope that the Bill will be as near perfection as it can be made.

School Committee election results, .Resident Court news, Football items, and other reading matter will be found on our fourth page.

The Minister for Mines is just about to sta»t from Kumara, via Christchurch, on a visit to the Southern mining districts before returning to Wellington, Arrangements have been made that in future the Shaw, Savill and Albion Co.’h passengers steamers will leave the Colony on Thursdays instead of Saturdays, commencing with the Coptic on 2Cth May. The whole of yesterda}*, in the Court of Appeal, was taken up with the further argument of the Attorney-General v. the Railway Commissioners, which will be resumed this morning. The case to follow is Morton v. Freese.

The first of a series of monthly social gatherings, under the auspices of the whole of the Druids of Wellington, was given in the Exchange Hall last night. There was a good attendance, and a very p\ca«ant evening was spent, with songs, recitations, pianoforte selections, &c., finishing up with a very enjoyable dance.

Having due regard for the comfort and convenience of the ratepayers, the Melrose Borough Council have had twenty seats erected in various parts of the borough. The Mayor stated at the meeting of the Council last night that if the seats were found to be useful mere would be erected. He, however, that the publ c would protect them as much as possible. As a protection from the weather it was decided to give the seats two ‘ coats ’ of oil.

A young man named Alfred Richardson, a bootmaker by trade, and son of Mr Henry Richardson, of Epuni street, has been missing from his home since Monday morning, when he left to go to work at Hannah’s boot factory, where he was employed. For some time past he has been complaining of pains in his head, and has been very depressed in his manner. His disappearance has alarmed his friends, who will be glad to hear from aoyone who has seen him in the interval. In addition to the recommendations published in yesterday’s issue the Public Works Committee will recommend at Thursday’s Council meeting :—That arrangements be made for lighting Jervois quay, and that the Mayor and Councillor Petherick be ariced to place the matter before the Harbour Boatd, with a request that the Board will contribute a portion of the cost; and that the City Surveyor be instructed to see that the surplus material on the sections of the reclaimed land at Te Aro is removed within a month.

The nuisance of stone-throwing has already been commented on, but there is another objectionable practice to which the youth of the city are addicted, via., that of spinning tops on the aide walks. Out of school hours, particularly, the pedestrijn encounters at every turn some careless youth lustily whipping a top, and he is lucky if he can manage to escape a crack on the shin or a blow in the eye from the youngster's whip. We have no desire to restrict the innocer.t enjoyments of the youth of Wellington, but it was surely never intended by the authorities that such pastimes should he indulged in on the public streets, without regard to the comfort and convenience of pedestrians.

The proposal to construct the much talked of 'Queen’s Drive* lias been revived. The Mayor of Melrose (Mr J. 11. Heaton) stated at the meeting of the Borough Council'last night that the Mayor of Wellington had informed him that if the suburban boroughs would sanction the expenditure of LIOO per annum it was probable that the City Council would contribute pound for pound in order to carry out the work. Mr Heaton said the matter wou’d coin© before the Council at next meeting, so that councillors would have time to think over it. In answer to a councillor who suggested that they should again raise subscriptions in aid of the work, Mr Heaton said that as Mayor ha would object to going ‘round with the hab.' It was a public work, and it ought to be done by a public body._ The subscriptions before were not sufficient to pay for the survey fees. Mr B. Stansfield, manager of the New Zealand Accident Company, has presented a set of silver medals to he competed f-T by the members of the City Fire Brigade in a rescue competition to take place on Friday evening next in Panama street. The programme is to consist of the rescue of a dummy from the uppjr story of Messrs Johnston and Co.’s building, bringing the 8-ime down a fire escape shoot or ladder, and placing it at the judge’s feet. The contestants are held covered from accident during the proceedings, the Accident Company guaranteeing the sum 'of LI par week to anyone who should be disabled, Mr Stansfield is to be congratulated on this happy mode of bringing his office so xsrominently before the public. Mr L. L. Harris will act as judge, and Messrs Mackinnou and Fernandez as timekeepers, the whole of the proceedings being under the supervision of Captain Itemsley. The adjourned meeting of the Hospital Trustees was held yesterday morning, there being present—Messrs F. H. Fraser (chairman), C, E. Willeston, G. Allen, J. Taylor, J * Banks, B. C. Kirk, G. M. Kebbell, and J. Collins. It was resolved to insure the new laundry and contents for L4OO. Acknowledgment was made of the donation of Ll from J.E. The Chairman stated that he had received a letter from the Premier to the effect that the Government were willing to give at once the 1/1500 which will become due as insurance, instead of waiting until May, 1893, when it falls due; and aleo to give a subsidy of 10s in the pound on any sum levied on the local bodies in connection with the L6OOO required for the proposed wing. The Trustees then, on the motion of Mr B. C, Kirk, went into committee to consider how funds are to be raised for the enlargement of the Hospital, in case notice is received from tho District Board that the application for L6OOD must be amended. Despite tli3 inclemency of the weather last night, there was a large audience at the concert held in St Paul’s churchroom. The following programme was gone through s—Piano duet, Spanish Dance.*, 1 and 2 (Moszkowskl), Misses Hmnerton ; glee, ‘Ye Shepherds Tell Me ’ (Mazzinghi), St Paul’s Choristers; song, ‘Dear Heart’ (Mattel). Mr W. P. Besley ; piano solo, Mazurka in B Flat (Godard), Miss M. Gore; song, ‘Last Night’ (Kjerulf), Miss Gore; song, ‘Yeoman’s Wedding Song’ (L’uniatowski), Mr James Whittall; duet, ‘Autumn Song * (Mendelssohn), Masters H. Widdopand £l. Barnrtt; piano duet, Spanish Dances, 3 and 4 (Moszkowski), Muses Hamer ton ; song, ‘Evening Song’ (Bluraenthal), Mr W. P. Bosley; song, ‘ Bobia Adair,’Miss Campbell; piano solo, ‘La Truite * (Schubert, Heller), Misses Hamerton; duet, ‘Maying’ (A. M. Smith), Miss Gore and Mr Besley ; song (by request), ‘From Buck to Bock’ (Sullivan), Mr James Whiitall; glee, ‘ Sleep* Gentle Lady ’ (Bishop), St. Paul's Choristers. All the songs were well appreciated, especially ‘The Evening Song,’ by Mr Bosley, ‘Maying* by Hiss Gore and Mrßesley, and ‘From Bock to Bock ’ by Mr Whittal. The items on the piano were also very well recjived, especially that of Miss M. Gore. Mr Parker is to bo greatly congratulated on the way the programme was carried through. Considering the very unfavourable weather that prevailed there was a very fair attendance at Thomas’Hall (which had been kindly lent by the proprietors) last night on the occasion of a lecture entitled, ‘ The Black Hero of Hayti,* delivered by the Rjv Frank W. Isitt. The chair was taken by the Acting-Governor, Chief Justice PrendenMSt, In vigorous language the lecturer detailed the chief events in the life of Toutaaint, who rose from the position of a slave coachman to be the Governor of the island of Hayti, having previously rescued the black inhabitants from a state of dreadful slavery and degradation under their Spanish and French masters. The lecture was plentifully sprinkled wi-.h aneclotes, tending to show the real Christianity of Toulsaiut—a Christianity mingled with a firm determination to do his utmost for hL brothers in slavery and redeem them from the wretchedness of their existence. Feelingly lie spoke of the great generalship and administrative ability of the suVject of the lecture, and inveighed with great seventy against the character of the great Napoleon, who, by treachery and underhand deal’ng, threw the island from the state of peacefulness into which it had been raised into a still worse stale than it was previously, adding to his crime by finally starving the prisoner to death in an ice-bound dungeon in the French Alps. The lecture was much enjoyed, the sentiments and language of the nanator being frequently applauded. At Hie conclusion Mr Aitken, on behalf of the committee of the Boys' Institute, proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the lecturer, which was carried by acclamation, and the very pleasant proceedings concluded with a dmilar compliment to the chairman. Miss Alice Sydney Burvett, the young and highly talented pianists, is announced in another column to give her first introductory grand performance in the Dresden Company’s room, on Thursday, May.sth, when she will perform on a splendid concert grand pianoforte recently imported, and publicly used on this occasion for the first time. Speaking of Miss Burvett's performance in Melbourne, the Aus--tralasian remarked; The principal circumstance which strikes one in listening to Miss Burvett is that she is possessed of a singular energy. She is eminently in earnest, and she consequently applies herself to her task with a devotion which expresses itself in an unflagging vigour. She is full of power ; there is not the smallest element of weakness in what she does. She thrills you with the determined . confidence with which she approaches her subjects. She convinces you that she has fully made up her mind what to do and how to do it. , She has manifestly always formed her own conception of the nature of the theme with which she is dealing. and>-he has resolved upon the technique that in her judgment is required to give it its characteristic effect. She is consequently never uncertain In what aha does ; there is nobesitationin hermanner- If she were a man and a soldier, she would carry all her points by grand pas de charge; her cavalry would dash, and her infantry wou’d be flung en masse upon the enemy, while her artillery would sweep all before it. If she were a Louise Michel, and led a revolution, she would march at the head of a column of insurgents and plunge into the thickest of the fight. And yet she can be tender when she wills its, for she played that nocturne of Field’s with a delicate simplicity of which everybody was at once conscious, and that well-known andante of Chopin’s with an airy lightness that made the listener beat time instinctively.

A general meeting of the Poit Nicholson Yacht Club is to be held at the Empire Hotel this evening, at 8 o’clock sharp. The Te Anau, with English and Australian mails, reached the Bluff yesterday morning. The mails should reach Wellington on Friday.

Mr F. H. Fraser has so far recovered from his recent illness that he was able to resume hia occupancy of the chair at yesterday’s meeting of the Hospital Trustees. A meeting of the Port Nicholson Yacht Club nnd Regatta Committee will be held at the Empire Hotel this evening, when the balance-sheet of the last regatta will be presented.

The twentieth ordinary annual meeting of the Wellington Public Hall Company, Limited, is to be held In the Company’s office, Featherston street, on Monday, 2nd May, at 4 p.m.

The Secretary of the Phoenix Cricket Club (Mr Brittain) has appealed against the decision of the umpires in the Wellington-Phcenix match last Saturday in awarding the match to the Wellingtons.

The Commissioner of Taxes notifies that statements of values for all districts in certain specific counties and boroughs have been deposited for public inspection at the offices of the several local bodies.

The eclipse of the sun which occurred yesterday morning was not observed in Wellington owing to the cloudy stale of the atmosphere. Had the weather been fine the eclipse would only have been partially observed. Mr W. T. J. Bell, resident secretary of the Mutual Life Association, was a passenger by the Manawatu Company’s train last night. He remains for a few days in Wellington on business connected with his office.

A lecture on Phrenology in its scientific, practical, and humourous aspects, is announced to be delivered at the Bible Christian Hall, Manners street, by Mr A. E. Wheeler, to* morrow, at 8 p.m. Tickets may be had at the door. The Rev G. C. Grubb concluded an especially successful mission at Blenheim on Monday evening. He is expected to reach Wellington to-duy by the Penguin, and will probably leave with his party by the 1.30 train for Wanganui. Messrs Jellicoe nnd Glascodino advertise that they will pay a reward of L 5 to any person who shall furnish them with the present address or information of the death of Stephen Henry Hughes, who arrived in New Zealand in the ship Acrington in October, 1853.

Mr Snazelle’s reputation has preceded him in Wellington, ami although few of our citizens have yet seen him, all aro looking forward eagerly to his advent. His entertainment, entitled ‘Music, Song, and Story,’ is described by the London Times as ‘an incomparable performance.’ An announcement in reference to the genuine tug-of-war to come off in the Opera House on the 17th May appears elsewhere in this issue. The Hon R. J, Seddon has very kindly promised to act as stakeholder, and a number of influential citizens, whose names are given elsewhere, have undertaken the duties of Committeemen.

The charges of illegal betting made hy the police against Messrs Yuilie and Nathan, Martin, Paterson and Siiamonda. will come on for hearing before Mr 11. W. Bobinson, 8.M., at the Magistrate’s Court this morning. Thera is some talk of an adjournment being asked for by one side or the other, bvit no definite information on the subject is to hand. Two men named Lyddell have been lost in the bush at Shannon since Sunday, Search parties wore out on Monday and yesterday, and the whistles of the Manawatu engines blown at various paints along the line to try and attract the men if they chanced to be within hearing, but up to the time of the arrival of the mail train last night no traces of the lost men had been discovered.

Large numbers of men have been applying for work at the Labour Bureau recently — more in fact than the Bureau could provide with work, but fortunately a bib of the Hunterville railway extension is to be commenced. Consequently 23 men will be despatched to the scene of operations on Monday morning, and a similar number later on. The required number of men ha e already bean engaged.

An accident of a somewhat serious nature occurred on the wharf yesterday morning. Full particulars are wanting, but it appears that a drayman named James Pearce, while engaged in unloading coal from the Wainni, was struck on the head by a basket of coal and rendered unconscious. He was immediately conveyed to the Hospital, where h : a injuries were attended to, bub they are of such a serious nature that he was unconscious at a late hour last night, and very little hopes were entertained of h a recovery. Constable Darby yesterday brought down from Carterton a man named James McCue, who had been sentenced by the Magistrates there to three months’ imprisonment in the Terrace Gaol, Wellington, for obscenity. The following prisoners, convicted at the Napier Supreme Court sittings, havo also arrived at the Wellington Gaol; —ArooM and Hoff, garotters ; Sullivan, manslaughter; Duncan, forgery; Fitzgerald and McKenna, horsestealing ; and Wirimu Mapeha, stealing from a dwelling house. The yacht Maritana. which arrived hero yesterday from Port Underwood, had one of the roughest trips on record here. She left Port Underwood at 7.15 a.m. on Monday, and gob very rough weather in the Straits. When she was off Palliser Bay her bowspit carried away. Mr E. C. Batkin, who was steering, received a heavy blow on the back from the tiller as he was assisting with the mainsheet. When she was inside Barrett’s Reef the foresail carried away, and the storm jib was set in its place. She finally reached her moorings at Thorndon at 7 yesterday morning. Her crew consisted of Messrs G. Mee, B. E. Harman, IS, C. Batkin, and E. Buoholtz*

The extremely heavy downpour of rain on Monday was recorded at the Museum as 1’93 inches. The full of rain between Sunday and Monday was 2*76 inches. The weather generally has been eVremoly disagreeable during the past few days. On Monday evening the ruin, ..which had been threatening all day, came down in torrents for several hours. The wind also blew with great force from the north-west, but there does not appear to have been any damage caused by it. Yesterday morning the weather cleared up, and there appeared a prospect of a fine afternoon, bat about 3 o’clock heavy clouds banked up from the south, and by the evening a cold sou’-easter accompanied by rain had set in. Thus indignantly the Melbourne Sportsman Ono cm understand a crowd of sympathetic Salvation Army soldiers congregating at the gaol gates to welcome the liberation' of a criminal who has beun doing time. These people are probably prompted by their conscience, or rather what does duty for a conscience, btit in the'name of all that is incomprehensible why did the special representative of the Sporting Life, accompanied by ‘a number of English sporting gentlemen,’ await the release of Pritchard, the English pugilist, and then proceed gravely to interview him ? Present day deification of boxers is positively sickening, but in this instance it was degrading. Pritchard’s offence, for which ho 4 did a month,’ was not an ordinary assault. He got a pal to hold an unfortunate potman while he (Pritchard) punched him ; and this ia one of the principal English exponents of ye noble art of self-defence ! At the monthly meeting of the College of Governors, held yrsterday morning, there were present Messrs J. It. Blair (in the chair), and J, Young, Sir James Hector and the Rev J. Paterson. Reference was made to a paragraph in the annual report presented by Mr A. D. Riley to the Board of Education, in which he expressed his regret that the authorities of the Girls’ High School mide no adequate provision f*>r tho teaching of drawing. Several yon/’g ladies attending the Technical School classes airived about 3.30 or 3.45 p.ra., but as they came direct from the school they were by no means fit for work. Only about threequarters of an hour was thus left for class work, and no satisfactory work could be done. Accordingly, ho suggested that the same course should be pursued at the Girls’ High School as at the College and other secondary schools, viz., the setting aside of an afternoon for this particular work. After some discussion it was decided that the paragraph in question should be laid before Miss Hamilton, lady principal of the Givis’ High School, in order -that she might inform the Board of her views in the matter. Tho other business before the meeting was merely of a routine nature. T. Kennedy Macdonald and Co. are favoured with instructions to sell, at their Exchange and Mercantile Auction Rooms Panama street, a section in the township of Featheraton, Ho. 350 on tire public map of the township. The si me firm are commissioned to sell sections in the township of Fitzherbevt, Manawatu.

An unreserved sale of furniture is to be held under order of the Public Trustee, by George Thomas and Co. k to-morrow, at the Auction Hull, Customhouse quay. Announcements in reference to Dawson’s Perfection Whisky appear in our advertising columns.

Stevens and Gorton will sell by auction at Palmerston North to-morrow sheep and cattle. The special train arrangements on the Wei* lington-Hutt line on the race days will be found elsewhere.

A2O li.p. horizontal engine with boiler, all ic good order, is advertised for sale. Application mast be made to Walter Brown’s machinery stores, Feqtherston street.

An auction sale of a freehold estate near Wanganui is to be held by Messrs Freeman H Jackson and Co. on Saturday, May 28ch, The property is known as the Sea View estate, and contains 3320 acres of land.