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New Zealand Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 3436, 18 May 1898, Page 2

Ip it should prove to be true that three Spanish cruisers have been the was. sighted off Martinique, following hard on the heels of Cerveras’ squadron, (there may be ground for the condition of disconcertedness which is repotted to prevail among naval experts at Washington. Tiie rumour at least does something toward showing that Spanish naval resources are to be more effectively used than recently seemed likely, and that the two American squadrons waiting for these formidable visitors have a tough task ahead of them. Considerations of this kind, however, are insignificant to us by comparison with others which have recently accrued iu connection with the threatened Anglo-F-renoh trouble. Already, it seams, the report of au Anglo-American alliance has got so far abroad that the residents of a Spanish port have threatened to refuse provisions to British warships in the foolish notion that by doing so they would be thwarting au enemy. It is significant* too, that the Preach are making great naval preparations. That appears to augur with unpleasant plainness recognition of war with Britain being among the possibilities of the near future.

At this juncture it is important that in all British ports tho rules of the law neutrality should be strictly op neu- observed. These rules, aotbaXiltt. cording to instructions recently issued by tho Imperial Government to the colonial Governors, are as follow:—No ship of wav of either belligerent may use British waters as place of resort for warlike purposes or equipment, or may leave British watsrs until Ut hours after any ship of other belligerent. Every such ship of war shall be required to put to sea within 21 hours after entrance, unless in the event of stress of weather or necessity of repair or proi visions, in which case she must leave as soon as possible, and certainly within 21 hours of completion of repairs. No supplies to bo allowed beyond provisions and subsistence for crew necessary for immediate use. No coal beyond what will take her to the nearest port of her own country or nearer destination. No coal to same ship in any British port twice within three months. No prizes to be brought into British waters.

Recently wo referred to the advisableness of using prison labour on charity public works such as that of and widening the road round the WORK. harbour foreshore to the Pilot Station. Other labour which might be advantageously used on such work is that of porsons in receipt of charitable aid. Expenditure in this lastmentioned connection has so increased that we are now virtually threatened with that objectionable liability a poor rate. Such a development is inevitably incidental to the growth of a city like this, because as a centre of population becomes enlarged an increaso of unemployed and indigent is unavoidable, at any rate until Socialists and other reformers of that class have shown us how to make everyone prosperous and happy. The beat way yet discovered of remedying this unavoidable ill is that of giving persons in want of assistance an opportunity of earning it—not on “ relief " works, which are a harmful expedient, but on works that will be reproductive. Such are the road-widening operations we suggest, and others in which the city could be beautified and so made more attractive. The benefit of this a policy would be found in various ways. The city would be recouped for its expenditure in what is now, but would not be then, “charitable aid.’’ The recipients of assistance would in very many cases doubtless be glad to earn it instead of bogging for it. Able-bodied applicants could be challenged to relieve their unemployed condition by being given a chance to get employment. Aad no harm would be done to independent labour, because the works would be such as would not be carried out under ordinary conditions.

It is evident that the City Counoil and

Harbour Board of this city, etiquette if they wish to be good and the friends with Admiral PearADMinAii. son, will have to study eti-

quette much more carefully than was done at Christchurch. The Admiral and his flagship arrived at Lyttelton late on Wednesday night, and quite unexpectedly. On Thursday the wintriness of the weather forbade an official visit, but the Mayor of Christchurch and the Chairman of the Harbour Board proposed to call on His Excellency on Friday the last day of his stay there. To an intimation to this effect the Admiral replied through his secretary regretting that “he will not bs on board this afternoon when you purpose paying your visit to him,” but graciously offering to have the visitors shown round the ship. Ihe Lyttelton Times says of the incident: —“ People here may have an impression that a sudden and surreptitious descent upon Lyttelton, a two days’ silent and sullen stay at anchor, and a rapid departure to spend four days in dalliance at Akaroa, without seeing a single representative mia, is a piece of boorish conduct; bub Admiral Pearson, of course, knows batter, and will doubtless be prepared to maintain that his first official visit to Lyttelton was made in proper form so far as his pact of tha business was concerned.” However that may be, it seems that the Admiral is a stiff stickler for etiquette. He must be called on early or ho will nob bo found at homo ; which is a circumstance tho Mayor should keep in mind if we are to impress His Excellency favourably, or if there is any necessity to do so, here iu Wellington.

The Premier has given the lie direct to an Auckland paper which made the lie certain statements as to his direct, private financial position.

With a view to proving that wealthy men come out of Ministerial office poor, and that men of small means leave it rich, Mr Seddou was instanced as having become worth forty or fifty thousand pounds. Mr Seddon replies : “ Your statement is absolutely incorrect, and the inference you wished to create, namely, that owing to my official position I had amassed wealth, is an insult undeserved by me at your hands. The faots are: Stripped of my present positions, I should not be called upon to pay either income or land tax. Further, to-day I am not as well off as I was the day I took office. So much for the spoils of office. Like the three Premiers that have preceded me. I am not overburdened with this world’s goods. The sacrifices made my family and I can bear without demur, but my honour, the one remnant remaining. I feel constrained to protect. Rumour was ever a lying jade, and having based your ‘ uncalled-for and unmerited assertion noon such a rotten foundation, I call upon you in the interest of honest and fair journalism to make the necessary correction.” .