The Oamaru Mail MONDAY, JULY 19, 1880.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 19 July 1880, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail MONDAY, JULY 19, 1880.

A comparative return of electors on the Electoral Eolls of the Colony for the years 1879 and ISSO has been laid before Parliament, showing that while the total number of voters in the Colony in 1879, including holders of miners' rights, was 85,964, the total for this year numbered only 79,896. Several writers Jjave seized with avidity upon the figures given jyith a view of showing that the alteration of tlje franchise has had the opposite effect to that which was predicted to result fropi the extension of the franchise. They are asking all manner of questions as to the whereabouts of the thousands of previously disfranchised persons who are given the privilege of voting under the new law, and have indulged in some very harmless though not good-natured banter towards SixGeorge Grey and those who fought with him for the extension ,of tlje franchise. But these writers haye nop apparently made themselves thoroughly Acquainted with, the true facts of the ease. They have omitted to take into account the fact that while the old rolls went out of operation on the 31st May, the date up to which the return is brought by the compiler, the new rolls have not yet come into force. They have not taken any cognisance of the fact that the old rolls had, just prior to the compilation of the

x-eturn, been purged of tlje names of men who are dead, who haye left the districts, who have pax-ted with their ; qualifications, or whose qualifications as leaseholdei-s and householders have been abolished, and that many of those ) who had been struck off the rolls owing - to the last-named cause had not had time, prior to the date to which the . retxxrn is made up, to vemw their applications for registration. They ' have also failed to recognise the undeniable fact that the general run of men am by far too px-one to pxxtting off . the performance of a duty they owe to l themselves and to the Colony. They fail togive heed tothefact that nothing short of the excitement and interest created by the near approach of an election is calculated to wox-k the majority of these clilatoxy persons up to a state of energy and entlmsiam sufficient to bxing them to the performance of the simple task of sending in applications for registration as electors. We have often pointed out tbis apparent want of interest, and xu-ged the folly of putting off the per-fox-mance of an act fraught with so much consequence. Every jom'xxal in the Colony, too, has done the same thing, but still this unpardonable lethargy is continued, and in considering the comparative state of the electoral rolls for the two this fact and the others we have mentioned should have been borne in mind. The r.etux*n, too, is of

a very misleading nature, as may speedily be proved by adducing thje figures given for the Waitaki Electoral Distxict. In the case of this district the return makes it appear that there has been an increase in the nxxnxber of duly qualified voters to the extent of seventeen only, while, as everyone knows, the increase uxay be reckoned by hxxndreds. In 1579 the total number of names on the electoral roll for this distinct was 1723, and the total nxxmber of qualified voters, including 40 holders of miners' lights, 1763, For this year the return gives 1780 as the total nxunber of qualified voters. 2fow, what are the actual facts of the case 1 On the one hand, we had for the year 1879 only 1763 names of persons who could vote at an election—we use the term "names of persons" advisedly, for, as we shall show dxreGtJy, there were not that number of voters while, on the other hand, there were at tbfi time of the late election, only a month since, no less than 2404 duly qualified electors. Thex-e is no mistake about these figux'es ; anyone sceptical on the point can easily verify them. For the sake of making our statement thox-oughly undeniable, we give the details : On the orginal temporaxy roll issued specially for the holding of the election there were 1780 electox-3 (these figux-es were apparently taken for the pxu'pose of the retui-n) • the supplementaxy temporary roll issued a few days after the original roll added to the number of qualified electors no less than 620 names, and after this was pi'inted, it was found that four names had been accidentally omitted, and a written further supplementary roll was issued. Adding these figures together, we find that on the

16th June last the electoral roll for Waitaki contained 2404 names, as against 1763 on the roll for 1879, thus showing an incx-ease of no less than 641. But these latter figxxres, lai'ge as they are, do not, however, represent the actual inciease in the voting power of the district. Of the 1763 names on the roll for 1879, no less than 200 were struck off for various reasons. Some names were upon the roll twice and oftenex-, while a large number of the electors represented in name were unrepresented in the flesh, many of them haying left the district and pax-ted with their qualifications, and not a few were dead. Taking these facts into account, we arrive at the very natural conclusion that there ax-e now in the W/iitalfi district neaxiy 800 mox*e duly qualified electors than there were twelve months ago, or befox-e tlie exteixsion of the franchise. Here is a pill for those to swallow yho jeer at the result of the extension

of the franchise. To the Christchurch. Press and the other journals that are so anxious to ascertain the whereabouts of the thousands of previously disfranchised adults spoken of by Sir George Grey we say : Wait until the next election, and you shall be more than satisfied.

The report of the Telegraph Department for the nine months ending 31st March last is to hand, and we purpose culling therefrom a few facts that may prove of interest to our readers. "We have already dealt with the fact the service has registered a loss during the period named of L 5682 as 9d, and we now intend showing to what extent the branches of the department in this district have contributed towards the general result. To make this clear, we will give in tabular form the receipts for the several stations and the expenditure, including salaries and contingencies, as follows Revenue. Expenditure.

Thus it will be seen that Oamaru shows a loss of only L24s 3d on the nine months'transactions, despite the financial depression. The country offices, however, do not come out of the ordeal so well, their respective losses being as follow : —Duntroon, Ll2B 7s Id ; Hampden, LlO5 14s ; Herbert, Ll4l Ss 9d ; Kakanui, L 57 19s Sd. Glancing next at the number of messages transmitted, we find that the Oamaru station at-nds tenth in the list for the Colony with a total, including Government telegrams, of 15,759, and that in estimating the value of the work performed that office has to be credited with Government messages to the amount of L 165 13s pimtrooii ia credited with 10S4 messages; Hampden, 601; Herbert, 436 ; and Kakanui, 534. The value of the Government messages at these offices is set down as follows : —Duntroon, LlO 18s 6d; Hampden, Ll7 0s lOd ; Herbert, L 3 16s 4d; an/i jfiajsanifj, 17s 3d. The small stations in this district fprr# lie exepptipn tft the general rule, for we find on glancing down the list that nearly every small station in the Colony has aided very materially in swelling the balance on the wrong side of the Ledger. "With few exceptions, and those in the case of repeating stations, the larger stations show a profit. "Wellington shows up very badly, the receipts being only L 5574 4s od, while the expenditure amounted tp L 7131 13s sd; but in the case of that pffiee the fact has to he taken iijto consideration that it is cyecjiteci with no legs than 40,321 Government messages of a value of L466S 4s 6d, or nearly one-fourth of the value of Government messages for the whole Colony.

! Wb have before us a Parliamentary return showing the total number pf immigrants ' imported into the Colony for the year ending ! the 30th June last. From this we learn that in all 7413 souls, equal to 6321 statute adults, were introduced, and of this numl er 4569 were nominated. These immigrants weiv distributed amongst the provincial districts as follows : Otago... ... •• 2,429 Canterbury ... i,ssl Wellington ... ... ... 1,309 Auckland ... ... ... 793 Hawke's Bay 333 Kelson 3 - J9 Taranaki ... ... ... 105 "Westland 95 Marlborough 69 It is worthy of note, en passant; that the three provincial districts which received the largest number of immigrants, Otago, Canterbury. and Wellington, are the divisions of the Colony from whence arise the cry of want of employment. Otago, however, which stands highest in point of number of immigrants received, falls considerably behind both Canterbury and Wellington in regard to the number of unemployed, The total cost of the passages of the immigrants introduced last year was Ij9o, G92 8s 9d ; the cash paid by emigrants before leaving Eng: l?nd amounted to L 1124 17s 3d j the notes given by them to L 491 16s 9d ; and the cash paid, or bills given in the Colony, for nominated immigrants, to LIS39 Is. Since the initiation of the immigration policy in IS7O there have been introduced into the Colony no less than 100,263 souls, but at what cost we are unable to say, as the return does not give the figures. The total number introduced have been distributed as follows : Otago 29,439 Canterbury 27,712 Wellington 15,432 Auckland ... ... ... 12,557 Hawke's Bay 7,304 Taranaki ... 2,223 ISfelsfln 2,137 Westland ... ... ... 1,729 MarlborougH ... ... 1,430 Of the total number, over one-half, or 51,103, were English; nearly one-fourth, or 24,805, Irish ; one-sixth, or 16,711, Scotch ; I and the balance were foreigners, Germans, Danes, Norweigans, and Sweeds showing up most prominently.

There is no gainsaying the fact that dramatic performances are rapidly deteriorating ; that they have fallen almost entirely from the high occupied. The drama is no logger a ipeans of educating the people; it has fallen from its high position. In the language of Artemus Ward we ask, " Why this thusness ? " Is it because the actors and actresses of the present day do not occupy as high a position in the social scale as formerly. No, most certainly not. It is the patrons of the drama that have degenerated. They haye logb all tast for the legitimate drama; they must have sensatiopal dramas of the most outrageous character or nothing at all. A representation of a public hanging, with all its horrors, will better suit the playgoer of the present day than the best of the comedies of Shakespeare, Sheridan, Goldsmith,

Bulwer Lytton, or any other author. It is not harmless amusement that the average playgoer seeks, but excitement; and if those whose profession it is to supply performances pander to the deprayed taste the fault is not theirs, but rightly belongs to the public. If the public will not support high-class dramatic entertainments the j actors must either starve or bpcomc pi^r,! veyors of that class of representations; which commands large audiences and replenishes the theatrical treasury. The playgoers themselves regulate the character of dramatic representations, and if they do not exercise their censorship wisely we' ehould not blame the theatrical profession! for the fall of the stage from its high purpose. We are led into this tpajn of thpughf; by the announcement tfcat in. Wellington and Invercargill dramatic representations entitled "The Kellys" are to be given. Nothing could be in worse taste than, this, or better calculated to show the extent to wiiicfi the depraved taste of the public is pandered to by tfye purveyors of so-called amusements. !Nor can we altogether exr empt some sections of the Press from blame j in this matter. They haye yery materially ■

assisted in lowering the intellectual standard of the general public by encouraging and pandering to the depraved taste of a section of their readers. They, like the stage, have fallen from their high state, and have followed the taste of the public in the direction of sensationalism, instead of endeavoring to cultivate a taste for better things, and using their power as public educators.

The alteration in the running of trains on the Ngapara and Duntroon branches, which we stated some time since as contemplated, will come into operation on Monday next, from which date trains will only be run to Ngapara on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, and to Duntroon on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Two trains will be run on the days named, and the hours of departure from all stations will remain as at present. We .are aware that the alterations will meet with some disappointment and occasion some inconvenience, but we have little doubt that those who raise the objections to the change will give Mr. Hannay credit for his desire to practice economy in his department, and to obviate the necessity for increased railway charges. We are assured that the alterations ■will only be continued for a few months, during the dull season of the year, when the full number of trains can only be run at a loss. A brilliant meteor fell from south to north last evening, at about a quarter to 9 o'clock, '•ursting about 30 degrees above the hcffis.on, Mails for the United kingdom via San via City of New York, close at Auckland at noon to-morrow. Mails for Sydney, per Te Anau, c ose at 2 p.m. the same day. Telegrams will be accepted at the Oamaru office accordingly.

The final rehearsal of " Maritaiia" will ta]ie place in the Hall this evening, at a quarter to 8 o'clock. A full and punctual attendance of members of the Philharmonic Society is desired, as the full programme for Wednesday's concert will be gone through. We would remind auy readers that the Jf. «f. of Waimxte, wiil deliver a lecture on " John Bunyan," in Wesley Church this evening. During the evening the choir will vary the entertainment by singing a number of appropriate selections. The monthly meeting of the Hospital CorrjiriitteQ \yjll be helcj. tQ-morrQWf evening at the usual hftur. The Pride of Maheno Lodge of Good Templars will celebrat- their fourth aiiniversayy on Wednesday evening by njeans of a soiree an 4 poncgpt, tfeu admission to which is fixed at a very reasonable figure. The feast and entertainment will be held in the Public Hall, and, during the evening the Rev. Dr. Roseby, G.W.C.T., will deliver an address. We wish the lodge a full house and a pleasant evening. Therg was a very gQO.d at the Volunteer- Hall on Saturday evening, when the Rifles Band went through the fallowing programme of musio with more than ordinary credit to its members and with pleasure to the audience :—Fantasia on airs from "II Trovatore;" polka, "Polyphemus;" quadrille, ."Pierrot;" waltz, "Irresistible;" lancers, "Whimsical;" schottische, "J£neller Hall Caledonians, "Abbotsford ;" waltz, " Mountain Daisyquadrille, "Promenade;" polka, "Liberty;" galop, "Amanda." A large number of those present freely availed themselves of the opportunity for dancing. At the Resident Magistrate's Court to-day, before f, V(. Parker. Esq., ly.M., four men charged with being drunk and disorderly were fined respectively ss, 10s, and two of las. In all the oases the fines were paid. One man for the same offence forfeited his bail of 20s. Archibald M'Laughlin, charged with being of unsound mind, was remanded for medical examination.

The Oamaru Philharmonic Society will on Wednesday evening give a concert consisting of the major portion of Wallace's opera of " Maritana." This wellrknowrj and popular lye c drama has for months been in activp rehearsal, and judging frorp the facts that the principal solos are well placed, snd that every care hag beer; bestqwed upon the work of preparation, we feol sure that the concert will rank as one of the best, if not the best, that the Society has given. There is one circumstance greatly in its favor—the music to be presented is certainly the most popular that the Society has yet selected. We have fhevefope gyepy confidence that in point of finance this will prove the most successful of the Society's many concerts.

At the Resident Magistrate's .Court to-day, John Nimon and James. M'Kenzie were charged with stealing from John Locke a watch, albert chain, and locket, valued at . 14 gfiinpag, pn thp night of the 12th ■ July. After the evidence of Mr. Locke, I Mrs. A. Smith, landlady of the North Otago Hotel, of Constables Cleary and , Kennedy, had been taken, the case was adjourned till Monday next. The evidence of Mr. Locke showed that he was on his way . home to his residence on the North Road on . Friday, 12th inst., about 12 p.m., and when , he had gone a short distance beyond the , North Otago Hotel, while passing a vacant i section, he was seized from behind, thrown orjthegrqund, q,nd robbed of his watch, giiard, 1 and locket, and KJs or 12s in silver, which he had in his pocket. He saw three men's faces, but could not recognise them again. The evidence of the arresting constable and Constable Cleary showed that about 3 a.m. of the same Friday night, or rather Saturday morning, Nimon was arrested for heing it* TpcptrStFepfe anp[ agtu^lly had the watch and guard in his possession when brought to the lock-up .and searched. He was brought up on Saturday for being drunk and disorderly and fined. He paid the fine and departed, taking Mr. Locke's property with him, information of the robbery not having then been given to the police. Subsequently, information being laid, Nimon was arrested, with the guard only on him, b}it in offering to show the spot whpre thu watch was planted he impli- ! pated the prisoner M'Kenzie, who is billiard- | marker at the North Otago Hotel, in the ; robbery. The evidence of Mrs, Smith, howi ever, was strongly jn favor, as ; she distinctly s\yore he locked up the house at 12 o'clock, and went up stairs to bed, . i .

A case of some local interest was heard in J the Supreme Court in Dunedin on Friday, ' 16th inst., before His Honor Mr. Justice ] i Williams, in which Andrew Brauchmann j [ sued Daniel Toohey, executor in the estate , J of the late Margaret Maloqey, of boundary j Greek, for the sunt qf' L 339 10g 10s 11 id, for < wages, goods supplied, and money advanced { to the latp Mrs. Maloney. The defendant j paid into court the sum of Llls 18s lid. r Mr. Denniston appeared for the plaintiff, E and Mr. Stout, instructed by Messrs. Julius t and Balmer, of Oamaru, for the defendant, I After tfte evidence of the plaintiff, who was ® severely cross-examined by Mr. Stqut, had a been taken, Mf, Qtqut callefl cesaifl wit-In

nesses for the defence, and in his address to the jury pointed out that the claim had very much the appearance of being a bogus one, through the inconsistences in the plaintiff's evidence. The jury, after retiring for about two hours, brought in a verdict for the defendant. Mr. Denniston gave notice to move for a new trial.

The Oamaru Football Club's match on [ Saturday afternoon, between sides chosen by the Captain and Deputy-Captain, was a very successful game, there being a good muster of player. The game resulted in a victory for the Captain's side by one goal and four tries to one try. The running and passing back was especially commendable, and there was a decided improvement in the forward play. For the Captain's side Messrs. A. 0. Hardy, Forbes, and Proctor, played well as backs, while Messrs. M'Donald, Snow, Grenfell, and Hisdale, were conspicuous by their forward play. For the Deputy-Captain's side, Messrs. Booth, Jones, and Cook, distinguished themselves by their back play, and Messrs. Clayton, aoid Johnson, played energetically as forwards.

A northern contemporary made a grave mistake in deciphering a Wellington telegram the other day. This was to the effect that Sir William Fox intended to introduce into the Licensing Bill a clause compelling publicans to provide tea and coffee for their usual customers. The telegram, as is not unusual, was all a blur and a smudge, and whoever revised it read "a coffin" instead of tea and coffee i The editor, a pronounced Good Templar, thereupon wrote a sub-leader complimenting Sir William upon this practical demonstration of the. inevitable effect of intoxicating drinks. I At the District Court in Napier a few days i ago, a trustee in bankruptcy presented the following report—"The bankrupt has rendered me every assistance in his power, which, as he has not kept any books, does not necessarily amount to muoh. I believe that his bankruptcy was caused by his intense stupidity, which caused him to enter into undertakings which he could not carry out."

Bonnor, the Australian giant, seems to have excited some sensation in England at the matches played hy the Australian cricketers, both on account of his proportions and his hatting. He is about 17st. in weight, and stands 6ft. 6in. in height. He is only between 22 and 23 years of age. During the match with Nottingham he made a hit fully 120 yards long, the ball dropping in the street leading down to the railway station, and nearly alighting upon an omnibus waiting to take up passengers. On another occasion, by an off-drive, he sent the ball on the top of a house in the town, and a worthy inhabitant had to. " shim" up the water-pipe to, recover it. i A singular fatality is reported in the Melbourne papers, A bricklayer named Beechi croftj while under the influence of drink, I fell opposite the door of his own house, and when picked up it was found that blood was flowing from his left side. In the breast pocket of his coat was found a taU©iknife Beechworth was in the l\abit of carrying for the purpose qf cutting tobacco, and he usually protected the point by sticking a piece of cork on it. The point was now bare and bloodstained, and it was discovered that Beechcroft fell over the pavement, and that in falling the knife had entered his bo.dy about the region of the he&yt, causing instantaneous death, Bellamy's (says the correspondent of a contemporary) is not paying this year as it should. Whether it is that members have visions of a reduced honorarium haunting them, or that Sir William Fox is successfully using his influence, the fact remains that never was the temperance cause so popular in the House as now. The steward bitterly complains "that he doesn't make as much in a fortnight now as last session he did in two days." The European Mail Pays that last year the consumption of intoxicating drinks in Eng* lancl slioiwed a falling off to the extent of L 14,0.00,000. And that this is not altogether caused by the badness of the times is proved, the Mail argues, by the fact that while the consumption of alcoholic liquors has decreased 9"S per cent., that of tea, coffee, and cocoa has increased 2'3 per cent., thus showing that the change is due in a large measure to the improved habits of the people.

£ s. d. £ s. d. Oamaru . 1177 S 7 1179 12 10 Duntroon . (55 14 1 194 1 2 Hampden . . 24 2 6 129 16 6 Herbert . 21 3 4 162 12 1 Kakanui , 50 11 4 108 11 0