Daily Circulation, 1500. The Oamaru Mail WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1885.

Oamaru Mail, Volume X, Issue 3432, 30 December 1885, Page 2

Daily Circulation, 1500. The Oamaru Mail WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1885.

We are not surprised that Major Atkinson's meeting at Hawera was not an enthusiastic on?. Bis speech was the most commonplace and stale that has ever fallen from the lips of a leading politician. It was quite unnecessary that Major Atkinson should tell his constituents and the colony that the Stout-Vogel Government is utterly bad. Kverybo iy knew that already. All Governments are bad, and Major Atkinson took great care that his Government should leave behind, it evidences that it was worse than any other that has dabbled with the affairs of this colony. Major Atkinson wasted time when he labored to show that Sir Julius Yogel had juggled with the public accounts; that the Ministry had not fulfilled their promises, and that they were generally unreliable, and, indeed, very wicked. Nobody, we are sure, thought differently. One baa only to reflect that Sir Julius was onco an associate of Major Atkinson's to be convinced that he is liable' to politioal trickiness. ; Major Atkinson's professional jealousy is cot creditable to him. Sir J alius

Voge'l's -Public Works Policy is precisely the I same that Major Atkinson favored and car"ried out, and -we cannot help thinking, therefore," that the Major's concern is more •for himself than for the, colony/ . 3. he selfsame policy that he now condemn?, if it were to be adminiatered by,.himself; would be beyond eniogy. Away with: snot insin-• cere quacks I one involuntarily exclaim? on perusing the Major's labored impeachment of his qasndsm leader and tutor. The oolony requires somethirigtrioro utilitarian at this junctu r e than a randdled dissertation on the improprietyof theMinistry,'afinancing. It does not want to be shown how money can be better' spent* than they are spending it; bat how we can avoid spending at all. It does not want to be told only of wiser fiscal systems than those favored by the Ministry ;• bnt how taxation can be reduced to a minimum. It doea not want Major Atkinson's perpetnal vaporing about Civil Service reductions; but an actual accomplishment of such redactions in the department as are possible. It is plain that Major Atkinson, if he wero in office again to-morrow, would purEue a policy of borrowing and spendißg up to the hilt. No man knows better than Major Atkinson how to manipulate Parlia-, ment in order to secure lavish borrowing and a wholesale expenditure; and there is no man who derives greater satisfaction from the patronage that such things afford. There is the old ring of insincerity about Major Atkinson's latest address. He did not mean one-half that he said. He has no idea of how the colony's condition could be improved, and he took very good care not to commit himself. Nor does he really believe that either Sir Julius Vogel or Mr Stout is a worse administrator than he would be. He is ignorant of the science of politics, and just as deficient of that common sense that is necessary to the proper governance of a nation. Hi 3 only idea of government is blundering along in a happy-go-lucky fashion, without the adoption of any system that might be reckoned to produce certain results. Thus, when he found a deficiency he filled it up somehow; when he bad a surplus he spent it. He muddled and juggled so profoundly that he often persuaded Parliament that a deficiency even, as well as a surplus, could be made to purchase some advantage. Nobody ever thoroughly understood his financial operations and his system of state bookkeeping, and for years Parliament and "colonists — even including himself—were in total darkness as to the colony's financial conditition. His budgets were about .as intelligent and intelligible as a speech in Ddtch' by a man who knew nothing of the language : and whose hearers were just as ignorant. To sum up, Major Atkinson is a professional politician of the worst type—a man who cares for nothing except to hold the reins of Government. That is his sole ambition—an ambition that he will have some difficulty in satisfying, if he can say nothing better than he Baid to his constituents the other day.

The record of the presentation by his Honor Mr Justice Williams of medals of the Royal Humane Society of Australasia to Messrs J. C. MiHer and Richard Phelan, the bravemen wi'3o, at imminent peril to themselves, saved Che lives of two schoolboys in November, 1883, contains evidences of true manliness of which we shonld all feel proud. The particulars of the occurrence will be remembered by those of the community who read the public prints; but, in order to serve the objeot we have in view in writing this article we will- briefly refer to them. Two Bchoolboys, named Lane and. Lovegrove, fired by an adventurons spirit, while searching for bird's eggs at Tomahawk Bay at the time already mentioned, took it into their heads to Bwim from the shore to Bird Island. They succeeded in reaching that place. ' After remaining there a short time, they essayed to swim back again; but, when Lane had almost reached the shore, Lovegrove was seized with cramp, and was in danger of be ng drowned. Lane, seeing that his companion's life was in jeopardy, returned to him, and, from some ciuse or other-probably an adverse current or! exhaustion—being unable to convey him; to the shore, he took him back to the island. There they were, without a stitch of clothing on them, exposed to the elements—the weather being unusually cold for such a time of the year—and with night approaching. They were discovered in their extremity by Mr Miller, one of the rescuers, and Mr C. J. O'Connor, now the Under Secretary of fublic Works, who set to work to secure their safety. First they attempted to reach the island on their horses; but having failed in this attempt, they proceeded to Dunedin and informed the police of the occurrence, aßd the steam tug Plucky set off from Port Chalmers at 7 o'clock, but it did not . reach the island till three hours later, and, it being then dark, it could not attempt to effect the rescue. A Mr Clark then rode into town and induced Phelan, who was known to be an expert swimmer, to do what he could to save the boys. At 3 o'clock in the morning, at daydawn, he, Mr Miller, Mr Oakden {of the firm of Oakden and Begg), and Mr Alex. Moore divested themselves of their clothes and made for the island. They, through a a heavy surf, had first to swim to a rock near the island, 120 yards distant. They reached this rock in safety, but they had still to pass over a channel between the rock and the island on which the boys were, and their tiak was rendered the more difficult by reason of a swift current that was running through this channel. Nevertheless, Miller and Phelan, taking rnpes with them, succeeded in accomplishing their task, and they eventually rescued the boys, who h»d been exposed for 13 hours on the island. To these two men His Honor Mr Justice Williams, presented medals on behalf of .the Humane Society of Australasia. We have a twofold object in referring to this incident. It is pleasant to recount the deeds of heroic men, and to contemplate that they have met with a befitting recognition. All honor to Miller . and Phelan, and to the other men who were on Monday last the recipients of the Humane Society's rewards for their self-sacrificing conduct. But, what about young Lane 1 His Honor, from whose remarks on the occasion of the presentations, we have taken the maj »r part of our narrative, stated that Lane had nearly reached the shore when, finding that the life of his companion, Lovegrove, was in danger, he turned back to assist him, and, as he could not convey him to the shore, took him back to the island. Here is an instance of plnck and nobleness that surely deserves to be embalmed in the annals of New Zealand. adequately rctlise the natnre of the aolfcscpg| should take into account the fact that a more or less exhausted oondition, had nearly completed the perilous task that was necessary to save his own life, yet, at imminent risk to himself he turned back resolved to share either life or death with his comrade. Miller and Phelan saved Lane and Lovegrove;. but their salvation of Lane would have been unnecessary, and their salvation

of Lovegrove would have been impossible, had it not .been for the self-sacrificing heroism .of Lane. The saviour of Lovegrove may have suffered physical injury from the additional exposureand exhaustion that bis act entailed, but what would all else have been to him, had ho, through a selfish consideration for himself, been haunted by the ever-present contemplation that, in the hour of a companion's extremity, he had left him to his fate. Let one picture to himself, if possible, the distressing "iooiSfenton that ? day in November, 1883 let him realise, if „he .can,, that Lane a schoolboy,- arid that the circumstances of extreme peril in'which fie was placed were calculated to deaden his senses to every other consideration but that of self-preserva-tion—then* he will be able to adequately gauge the sublimity of Lane's act. Lane, who, we are proud to be able to say, is a son of Mf E. G. Lane, of this city, would, we suppose, neither ask for nor expect a recognition of his conduct from the Humane He is probably quite satisfied with the contemplation that he did his dnty. But, if he be not worthy of the Society's medal, nobody was ever worthy of it. We hope that the necessary representations on the subject will be made by some of our chief citizens to the Humane Society of Australasia.

Mails for Australia and China via Sydney per Hauroto close at Wellington on Thursday 31st inst. at 1 p.m. Entries in connection with the approaching show of the North Otago Horticultural Society will be received st Mr Falconer's stom up to 4 o'clock to-morrow afternoon. There will be ■ no issue of the Mail on Friday (New Year's Day), and on Saturday the paper will be published in the morning, so »s to permit of our employes participating in the holiday festivities. Advertisers will oblige by sending in their announcements before 10 o'clock on Friday night. The ha'f-yearly meeting of the Endeavor Lodge of Druids was held last evening, when about 50 members were present. Candidates for the various offices were'nominaced, and the election and installation of take place at the meeting to be held on the 14th January. The receipts from contributions, Sc., amounted to nearly L 35. At the Resident Magistrate's Court, today, bef re G. Sumpter and H. Connell, Esq., J. P.'s, Joseph'Kench was fined 10s, with the -alternative of two days imprisonment, for having been drunk, and for having made use of obscene language he was sentenced to ten days imprisenment with hard labor. . - . We draw the attention of the public to an advertisement in another column announcing that the Caledonian Society will hold a grand carnival on. th.e Agricultural and Pastoral Association's ; show _ grounds on New -Year's night.' The is a good one and we are sure public will approve of it. The day's proceedings con!d not be wound up in a more" appropriate manner than in listening to the music of the Garrison Band, in making merry on the green, in watching a display of fireworks, and in enjoying the other items which it is promised shall form part of the entertainment. If the weather be fine, the public will, <v e are convinced, evidence their appreciation of the Society's action by attending in large numbers. . A correspondent sends us the following : A picnic was held at Maerewhenua on Monday last. The Livingstone and Marewheoua Schools combined and formed a turn out that was very creditable to the district. The Marewhenua School Committee were the principal promoters, and they deserve credit for the manner in which everything was arranged. About L 6 had been subscribed in the district to be g ven as prizes, and all the usual games and sports were gone into heartily both by young and old. Mrs Hutton contributed not a little to the pleasure of the day by presenting to the children of. each School several special prizes—one for ths most popular boy, one for the most popular girl, orie for the youngest child, and one for' the moat regular attender. Ample and excellent provision for the inner man was provided by the ladies of the district. A most enjoyable day was brought to a close by a dance on the green. , The annual distribution of prizes m connection with the Redcliffe School took place on Wednesday last, the prizes being awarded on.the result <1 the inspector's report as follows :—Standard V—lsabella Geddes, 1 ; Klizabeth Pelvn, 2. Standard IV—John Smart, 1; A. M'Neill, 2; B. Oliver, 3. Standard 111 -A. t-edde3, 1; A. Pelvin, 2 : Anabella Blackwood, 3. Standard 11. Joanna Oliver, 1; . fi nnie Geddes, 2 ; Albert Henry, 3. Standard I—Frank Geddes and Joshua Thornton, equal, 1; Elspeth.Henderson, 2. Tbe prizes were distributed by Mr M' Neill, the Chairman of the School Committee. A large quantity of fruit, the gift of Mrs Smart, was distributed amongst the children, and the proceedings were of a very pleasant nature. In t-he evening a most successful concert in &id of the school prize fund took place, and a capital programme met with the hearty approval of a Isrge The monthly meeting of the Waiareka Road Board took place yesterday, when there were present—Messrs Reid (chaiiman), Isdale, Jackson, Gilchrist, Conlan, andßarr. With reference to contract No. 105, Mr Conlan stated that the gravel selected was unsuitable, but that there was another pit about 20 chains off, which he recommended Bhould be used. The extra charge would be about 2d or 3d per cubic yard. It was decided that the engineer and the member for Windsor subdivision should meet on, the ground and settle the matter. The County. Clerk wrote declining to. take over the maintenance of Coal Pit road. Mr J. Macphsrson forwarded a plan of proposed roads through the Ardgo wan estate, which was referred to the Committee for report. Tenders were received. for contract No. 106, formation and metalling of six chains of road between sections 11 and 12, block 11, Oamaru district, and that of P. Mullen, at L4B 3s 6d, was accepted. It was resolved to forward plan and description of closed road through sections 5, block 12, and 2, block 16, Oamaru survey district, with the Board's decision, to ~ the County Council,. in terms of subsection 6 of section 94 of the Public Works Act, 1882. The Board decided to meet. in March, unless anything special arose, and that cheques be paid to-surface-men and contractors on tbe certificate of the engineer and members for the subdivisions, .* After a number of accounts had been passed for payment the meeting closed. .

The O.D.T. Home correspondent says A company baa just been formed to develop the Colonial frozen produce trade, to be entitled the New Zealand and Colonial Consignment Company. The first directors are Mr T, B. Bosaoquet, Mr G. C. Mackenzie, Mr A. Vandevelde, and Mr R. M. Stephenson. The capital is L 50.000 in 15 shares; but it is doubtful whether any appeal will be made ,to the public, inasmuch as the capital has, "it is said, been subscribed p_ivately. Mr R. M, Stephenson, of the Australian Company, is the chief promoter of the work. The concern is formed to carry on the consignment business hitherto worked by the Australian Company. The directors have made' special arrangements for the sale and consignment of meat on this side. They have also got a large organisation throughout .'the country, consisting of about 60 f.r 70 centres and 220 shops. Mr R. M. Stephenson has just returned to this country: from Now . Zealand.—:Colo:nsts on the side p£ the water, who are interested in squatting are; feeling <yery depressed at the low price of Australian wool. It is said that Sir Jolan Hall has realsed 30 per cent, less for his wools than last year. Mr Ricketts has just'received a small numter of waterproof-.anddustproof watches, which he is esabled 'to sfell at a remarkably lo,w price. For severaFdiys he has had one \wtohes going in a, glass of water in that .they are what they are 'They afre the best watches for seafaring ■ and other men lo exposar&9rX4.P VT -] •••