Daily Circulation, 1700. The Oamaru Mail. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1898.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIII, Issue 7100, 7 February 1898, Page 2

Daily Circulation, 1700. The Oamaru Mail. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1898.

It is generally admitted that Sir Robert Stout was a democrat and " liberal, perhaps, to a fault," to quote the language of the Otago Daily Times' Wellington correspondent. But it is, nevertheless, suggested that Mr Duthie should take his place, though he is admittedly an out-and-out Conservative. In order to make him acceptable, however, it is nscessary that the same authority which- we have already quoted should give his protege the following testimonial as to character "In high personal character, with his grip and knowledge of Government finance, Mr Duthie is the equal if not the superior of Sir Robert Stout, and the strong common sense in him is quite a match for Sir Robert's law. Such is the estimate of the political stature of these two eminent men." If the Wellington electors, who were so well satisfied with Sir Robert, can be induced to accept Mr Duthie, they will prove themselves to possess peculiarly elastic political opinions.

The South Shields Town Council has taken proceedings against a local publican for selling as " soda water " a beverage containing only half a graim of bicarbonate of soda, whereas the Pharmacopoeia requires that a bottle shall have disolved in it no leBS than 15 grains. A conviction was recorded. Though the vendor pleaded that when people ordered soda water they did not want a strong medicinal water, he did not explain why so high a price was charged for a water that was merely terated. Intending selectors will notice that one of the blocks in the Albury settlement which is to be let in conjunction with a small grazing run is advertised in this issue. In his circular to School Committees announcing his candidature for a seat on the Education Board, Dr Brown says:-"! think my previous experience on the Board, my warm interest in educational matters generally, and my strong desire to see that Otago maintains its position in education, are sufficient justification for asking for your votes. I notice that the present Board is sharply divided into two parties, but as the parties are divided, not on matters of principle, but on purely personal grounds, I deprecate any support that may be given me on the ground that I should belong to either one party or the other." The foreign shipping which came to New Zealand during 1897 numbered 621 vessels, with a tonnage of 693,496, as against 589 vessels of a tonnage of 614,097 for 1896. The outward shipping totalled 566 vessels, with a tonnage of 668,736, as compared with 592 vessels of a tonnage of 627,659 for the previous year.

A church paper complains that the secular Press of London lacks the note of definite religious belief. It gives it credit for being; not a reptile Press, not corrupt, and not smirched with lubricity. But it says that it does not believe in the God of the Christians, and it thinks the Press represents adequately the opinion of its readers. This is all undoubtedly true. Ihe secular Press, not only of London, but of the World, it may be said, shows not the smallest symptoms of spirituality. It worships nob the "God of the Christians," but the money god. In this it is in harmony with, and is a faithful reflex of, the people's feelings. There is not so much real Christianity in the world as appears on the surface. The Press is no better and no worse than those whose purpose ib is designed to serve. The Edinburgh compositors recently struck during a busy time, and forced their employers to increase their wages. Now that the workers have realised their power and have placed themselves under the generalship of the cleveresb of their class, the law of supply and demand has reoeived a rude shock, so far as the labor market is concerned. Men and women may no longer, simply because they belong to the toiling class, be bought like soap or candles. A Home paper says :—lt has been eaid the lessened influence of Peers in politics has left them " no duties but death duties." The late Earl Grey did nob desire to discharge even theae, and he executed a deed under which his Northumberland estates passed during his lifetime to the present Earl, subject to a charge of L4OOO a year. The present Earl pleaded, in consequence, exemption from the payment of death-duty, except only on the L4OOO a year that is saved to him by the late Earl's death. The decision of the Court of .Appeal went against him, howeverj and he has been ordered to pay duty on the whole property, as if he had succeeded to ib In the ordinary course. This is a decision which ib would be well for all interested to bear in mind.

Saturday's Lyttelton Times has the following Reference to a matter which, for the credit of laborers, ia unique :—A few days ago, Mr Lomas, agent for the Government Labor Bureau, received a telegram from a private employer at Ashburton, requesting him to send there at once four men to work on a threshing machine. Two men applied for work at the Labor Bureau office on that day, and Mr Lomas told them of the work, and said that if they would get mates to go with them to Ashburton he would send them. They left the office and never returned. Both men have families, and have recently been employed on Government co-operative works.

Though, aa our correspondent at Otiake said the other day, the crops in that locality are mostly very poor, there are some isolated patches of wheat the yield of which! it is said, will be from 35 to 47 bushels per acre. The Tapanui School Committee have voted for Dr Brown and Messrs Mitchell and Sim for seats on the Education Board.

Mr Robert Blair reports having sold Mr M'Gee's properties in Weßton Park for L 276 15s.

The rain of last night and this morning appear to have been of a very local character. Reports from Beveral outlying districts Btate that none was experienced there. What the Wanganui Chronicle denounces as a dangerous decision was given by Mr Stanford, S M., in a recent lioansing caso heard at Strattord. Two hotelkeepers were charged with keeping their licensed premises open after 10 o'clock on New Year's Eve, and alpo with selliDg liquor after 10 o'clock. The evidence showed that the hotels were open up to about 11.15, and'the defendants' counsel contended that as it was New Year's Eve, some allowance should be made. In giving judgment dismissing the informations, the Magistrate is said to have stated that "so Jong as those who wore in tho hotels were orderly, no fault could be found with the exercise of a little latitude." In other words, the Magistrate practical'y held that a licensee may be allowed to keep his hotel open on New Year's Eve till a quarterj past 11 o'clock.

The statement that silver has been transmuted into gold is not a fairy tale. Specimens ot the transmuted metal have been sent to a London assayer, and it is conjectured that this marvellous scientific dis« covery will render unnecessary the operations of the bimeta'list. If Bilver can bo turned into gold " with neatness and despatch and at reasonable prices," then wo shall all be mouometallists; or, perhaps, gold will become so plentiful and valueless that we may revert to the old expedient of using shells for currency, or even leather coins. But, what of the international finances ? America and other foreign countries might produce such an enormous amount of silver that, turned into gold, ii would swamp the money marked, upset the calculations and arrangements of tho groat financial circles, and turn Great Britain into a dependency of Borne South American State !

A Board school teacher lately received from the irate mother of one of her pupih & note as follows : " Please don't tell Edith about her inside. She doesn't like it, and, besides, its rude." This incident is re. counted by a Home paper on the authority of Mrs M'Donall the lecturess on vegetarianism and human health and happiness, It ia a sample of the nasty nicenesß—the vulgar, ignorant prudery—which, we regret to say, is too universal.

Lieut. Peary, the Arctic explorer and his wife, on their last picnic to the regions of perpetual snow, took an Esquimaux girl into their service and she returned with them to Washington, where she was identified by Chinamen as of Chinese origin. At some very remote period, Lieut. Peary thinks, her ancestors must have crossed the North Pole, and he does nob see why he should 1106 do the same and find Herr Andreo oil his way.

The North Otago Cycling Club will havoa Club run to Georgetown on Thursday ufterj noon. Particulars will be found in another column.

Patchett M'Lean, a laborer at Otepopo, had his hand badly crushed by a fall of rosk while working in a gravel pit at Otspopo on Saturday. He was brought into town and taken into the Hospital, where it was found that his injuries were so severe as to necessitate the amputation of his hand at the wrist. He is doing well.

Mr Moss Jonas is about to leave Timaru, He is to be entertained by tho citizens and presented with a purso of sovereigns before his departure. A son of Mr Louis Dasler's, of Otiakc, aged about nine years, was thrown from hit horse yesterday, while riding near Ofcekaiko, and broke his hip. He was taken to Kurow, where Dr Stevens attended to his injuries temporarily, but, not having the appliances for a permanent treatment, at the doctor 1 ! suggestion the patient was removed thii morning to the Oamaru Hospital. On inquiry we learn that the child is doing well. Mails for Tonga, Samoa and Fiji, pet Taviuni, close at Auckland at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, the 9th instant. Mails for Fiji, Hawaiian Islands, Victoria (8.C.), Vancouver, Canada, United State! of America, Europe and United Kingdom, close at Wellington, per Aorangi, ab 2 p.m. on Thursday, 10th instant. Mails to connect with the above close at the local offico at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, 9th instant. Mails for Australia, Tasmania, Ceylon, India, China, Japan, and the Straits Settlements, and also for specially addressed correspondence for the United Kingdom and the Continent of Europe, per Wakatipu, will close at Wellington on Saturday next, at 2 p m.We call attention to special prico. list for Ihe Polytechnic in this issue. During tho Summer Fair great reductions have neon made throughout the stock, while a special coupon distribution of 2s per £ is given on all purchases.—[Advt.] To the public of North Otago and South Canterbury.—Ladies and Gentlemen,—Wo have respectfully to thank you for the support accorded to us since opening our branch in Thames street, and at the same time to intimate the arrival of a fine shipment o! the best English goods. These with tin other lines of our well assorted and judidtously bought stock wo shall esteem it at once a pleasure and a favor to submit to your inspeotion, As the schools are about to open we have to inform you that wo aw giving exceptional value in children's boots and shoes. Ladies will find a visit to oar establishment well repaid by a sight of everything that is elegant in footwear for either evening or outdoor use. Our Gentloman's trade is increasing daily as tho rangs of our superb stock is beooming know. We are selling Ladies' black strap walking Bhoes at 4s lid, also Ladies' Tan at tho sami price, Ladies' superior Tan leather walking Shoes 6s lid, Ladies' Canvas Shoes fin® quality 3s lid, Childrens of all sizes extremely cheap.—We are, Ladies and GentlO' men, Yours respectifully, the N.Z. Boot Supply Company, Colin Sibvwbiohli Manager. Good news for the million 1 A gi'eat reduction in Linoleum, two yards wide, Si 3d, 3s 6d the running yard—reduced from 3s 6d and 4s ; two yards wide Painted Baok Floorcloth, heavy make, 2a Od, 2s 8d the running yard - reduced from 2s 3d and 3ii Tapestry hearthrugs, 2s 6d ; reduced from 2a lid. A splendid lot of Ladies' Shirt Blouses, nearly half price. Ladies' Fanoj Blouse Shirts, 2s, 2a 6d, 2s lid ; should 1)' 4s, 4s 9d, f>s 6d. Ladies' White BlouW Shirts, embroidered fronts, 3s 6d; usual price, 6s 9d. Ladies Spot Muslin Blouso», 43 lid; usual price, 8s lid. 24 Dozen Ladies' Ribbed Uundervests, 3 for Is. » Gabites, London House, Thames street* Oamaru . Great success has attended the efforts oi Messrs Clayton, Gardiner and Co. to provi® a well cut, good fitting, stylish, and ffflß'. put-together suit at from L2 12s 6d, madeK order. The favorite range of tweeds seenu to be those at L39s 6d the suit. Thoy art beautiful goods, and worth four guineas. A fine assortment of Gentlemen's Apparolol all kinds, all up to date. Boys' clothing l specialty. [Advt.]