Daily Circulation, 1700. The Oamaru Mail. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1898.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIII, Issue 7101, 9 February 1898, Page 2

Daily Circulation, 1700. The Oamaru Mail. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1898.

We are now able to state that negotiations are in progress in regard to the disposal of Waikakahi under the Land for Sefct'ements Act, and that it will be taken without recourse to compulsion if the price asked by its proprietor do not exceed the valuation of the Government valuers. Its area is, in round numbers, over 50,000 acres. The Premier is blamed by the Otago Daily Times because this financial year's surplus is likely to exceed his estimate. It says that he should be more accurate in his estimates of revenue and expenditure. We can readily believe the enemies of the prrsent Administration would like to see the Premier cut his estimate so fine that the result would fall short of it. It would afford them the solid opportunity for which they have long impatiently waited if the Premier were to under-estimate the expenditure and overestimate the revenue, so that there would be a deficiency, and the Government would have no moneys for expenditure on necessary public works. The Premier is not the man to be cajoled into making so fatal a mistake. The amusing thing about the Times' comp'aint is the change of opinion it displays. But a short time since it denied the existence of a surplus ; now it says that the surplus is so large as to constitute evidence of the Premier's want of financial talent. A little while ago it cried out that the Government were driving the colony to financial perdition ; now it complains that the Premier has failed to recognise that the colony is approaching financ : al elysium, and has not taken a more saDguine view of the elasticity of its revenue. Of such is the criticism levelled at the Government. The selection of a candidate for the representation of Wellington in Sir Robert Stout's place will give the Liberal i'arty some trouble. That there is no lack of aspirants one may be quite sure. Men who have harangued meetings of working men, or canvassed for votes, too often think that they have qualified themselves for any position in the gift of the people-from the lowest to the highest. To disregard their claims is to drive them into the ranks of the wobblers, where their uselessness canbegiven that full scope which Nature intended when they were designed. Such patriots are not wanted in the society of honest men. If the Government Party fail to treat with dignified contempt men who are continually hankering after rewards for the services they render they will suffer in character. They should be no less suspicious and firm ia their attitude towards influential commercial men whose only qualification to aspire to the Parliamentary representation of the Liberal Party is their hypocritical professions. These men hate the labor legislation, and held that the workers should be entirely at the mercy of their employers. There are good men in Wellington who could represent the people fittingly, but not many, and we are not surprised therefore to see that the Liberal Party are suggesting candidates from elsewhere. Wellington is a difficult constituency to work. The first advanced Liberal it ever elected was Mr HutchesoD, and it was his strong personality that won him favor. The tendency of the Wellington electors is strongly in the direction of something very respectable and wealthy. Any citizen who has money and position may have a great many other things not half so desirable and he will be received with open arms in Wellington if he will only condescend to unbend himself and to flatter and to lie. In such a community there is no chance whatever for an absentee Liberal. If a candidate be a Liberal, in a community whose Press is virtually on the side of commercialism and its deities, he must be a local man who has already won the people's affections. We understand that Dr de Lautour is about to relinquish his practice in Oamaru. The Doctor will return here about July to wind up his affairs before taking leave of the district.

The peculiar appearance of the Bky and the smokey sunlight have been the subject of general remark to-day, and some speculation has been indulged in as to the cause. | The prevailing opinion was the strong wind had carried in this direction the smoke from large bush fires, and by some it was hinted that intelligence might reach us of a fire in the Waimate bush. It will be seen from our telegrams that the phenomenon has been observed elsewhere, and that in Invercargill it is believed that) it has been produced by a favoring wind haying borne across the Tasman Bea smoke from the Tasmanian and Victorian bush fires. •The following voting in the Education Board election is recorded :—Oamaru North, Messrs Borrie, Harraway, and Mitchell; Teaneraki, Messrs Harraway, Mitchell, end Sim | Moeraki, Messrs Borrie, Mitchell, and Sim; Middlemarch, Dr Brown and Messrs Harraway and Sim ; Port Chalmers, Messrs Brown, Green, and Harraway. The Chamber of Deputies last year decided that the artisans engaged in the Paris Kxhibition buildings should be entitled to one day's rest in the week, but it failed to specify the day. Three-fourths of the workmen prefer Sunday, but it is feared by the Legislators that if Sunday wer6 chosen it would be said that Sunday observance was forced on those who wished to work. The law consequently remains a dead letter. Those who fail to appreciate the setting apart of a day for sacred reasons will at least be able to glean frothe Paris lesson that the Continental Sunday is a danger to solid human comfort and happiness. A meeting of the Oamaru North School Committee was held last evening, all the members being present. Intimation was received that Miss Elizabeth E. Bevin, who had been recommended for appointment as second female assistant, had declined to take up the appointment under a misapprehension and that she was now prepared to accept .th.e position. It was unanimously resolved to again recommend her to the Board for appointment. It was' decided to lay down the paths, etc., of the school grounds in Ngapara gravel, and to subsequently tar and sand over this. It was resolved to vote for Messrs Borrie, Harraway, and Mitchell for seats on the Education Board. At a meeting of the Teaneraki School Committee it was resolved to vote for Messrs Mit.chell, Harrawayj and Sim for the vaoant seats or tfre Education Board. I

The New Zealand Mining Journal, commenting on the prospectus of the Waitaki Boys' High School, says r J he ability and capacity of Dr Don as an instructor is unquestionable—and more especially i 8 this the case in all departments of science. The sabool is provided with a chemical laboratory, and geology is a subject of the curriculum. A s a preparatory school for youths intended f r a professional career in either miDiDg, engineering, or agriculture, this estab'ishme it offers advantage equal to any in the colony. Candidates who intend to enter for the Trinity College theoretical examinations aro required to send their names in to Miss N. Diehl before Saturday, tho 12th inst. The entries must be accompanied by fees. .t" n incident in connection with the visit of the Russian fleet to Port Arthur is related by the Shanghai Mercury as follows : - On December 22 a British mnn-of-war was steaming into Port Arthur when signals woro made to her by the Chinese military authorities to turn back, and urder no circumstances to enter the harbor. This message was disregarded, the British man-of-war steaming into the land-locked waters as though no such order had been given, or else the captain put the telescope to the blind eye. There were several Russian men-of-war in Port Arthur at the time, and these tho visitor saluted in the orthodox way. Tho salute was of course returned. After a stay of a few hours and a visit from some officers on shore, the British man-of-war steamud out to sea.

The New Zealand Times records a thrillins adventure which occurred at Island Iky during the storm on 1 uesduy hist. A fisherman was pursuing his avocation some distance out, when he was caught by the storm, and at once pu led for the shore, but in ths vicinity of some rocks jutting out from the land for some distance his frail craft cap. siz?d. He swam to one of tho rocks which stood out by itself, and clambered on to it, retaining his hold of a rope attached to tho boat. In thin precarious position he ro. maiued for two hours, eventually losing control of the boat, which afterwards drifted ashore. The man's predicament was viewed from the shore by many anxious eyes, mid his mates launched a boat for the purpose ol going out to his assistance. The sea was running so strongly over the rock to which the man was clinging, however, that his comrades were obliged to abandon tho attempt. They immediately arranged another plan of campaign. Taking their lives in their hands, they clambered along the slippery rocks from the landward side, and, after an iufinitude of trouble, succeeded in floating a rope out within reach of the now fast drowning fisherman, and, as ho clung to it with a last despairing effort, dragged him ashore almost in extremis. It was some Urns before his blood circulation could bo nstored, and the muscles of his limbs, which were drawn up into balls, rubbed back into their normal shnpe—naturally a very painful process. It was a very narrow escape, and too much praise cannot bo givon to the fishermen of Island Bay for their courageous behavior. Captain Boswell, of tho Japanese mail steamer Tokio Maru, has furnished a Mel. bourne Argus reporter with an iutcres'ing' statement about Talienwan. He said tho importance of the place, both as a naval station and as a commercial centro, could not be over-estimated. He ventured tha opinion that iu years to come it would perhaps surpass even Hong-Kong. In the harbor 1000 ships could easily be moored, there being deep water on all sides, and from this situation Port Arthur could he controlled without difficulty. 'I ho harbor was easily accessible, and was tho only one alont; the coast from Corea to the Guif ol Pechili, and he predicted thq,t, if opened to trade, it would result in all the leading merchants es< ablishing business places there, as Corea would bo bound to draw all hot supplies from it. Ho looked forward to ultimately seeing the immense advantage! of the pluce force it into the forefront of the world's great naval and commercial depots,

The Christchurch Press, commenting on the agricultural statistics, declines to advisi farmers on the point whether to sell their wheat or hold for better prices, and saya " It is for the farmers to consider whethot, in the first place the yield is likely to average 21 bushels per acre, aggregating 6,770,253 bushels, or, if nob, whether tin 322,393 acres will yield sufficient, without the help of the large stock of wheat which admittedly has been carried over from last harvest, to supply the probable requirement) of New Zealand, We have no doubt most of the farmers will be able to draw a pretty shrewd conclusion on the subject." Wodi not hesitate to counsel farmers to avoid Boiling hurriedly, if they can. Dr Schwartz, of Berlin, after protraoted study, has come to the conclusion that marriage is the factor ia human life most conducive to longevity. He declares tin mortality for husbands and wives between the ages of 30. and 45 to bo 18 per cent., whereas unwedded persons perish at thoratt of 2S per cent. Out of 50 centenarians, Dr Schwartz does not number one bachelor m spinster.

Mr Patrick Batman, the discoverer of on! of the best-known of the new West Austin lian goldfields—Kalgoorlie— is already • candidate for charitable assistance. A committee of West Australian M.P.'s and other! have taken up his case, and it is proposed to present him with two town lota in Kilgoorlie. A special meeting of the Waimate Boroogl Council was held on Monday night M There was a full attendance, his Worshiptha Mayor presiding. His Worship staled that the meeting had been called owing to Bomi alterations in the programme for the rccep tion of the Governor. One alteration w" that the party were to be driven through thi Gorge to the Waihao Downs, and anothtf that the address was to be presented at till Council Chambers instead of at the railwtf station. Captain Alexander, A.D.C., written stating that his Excellency had ff' proved of the programme. After discussioj matters, the alterations wero adopted tnl sundry details arranged. Tho names m Councillors Sinclair and Coltman wero added to the Arrangement Committee. It was the! decided to rescind the resolution pasecd »| last meeting re half holiday, and thatinsteai the citizens be asked to observe Friday as l holiday from 3.30 p.m. The meeting theJ adjourned. The Standard Oil octopus having throU out its feelers towards Germany with tb object of monopolising the oil trado of th'J country has elicited from tho Impend Secretary a statement that if the organic tion sent up prices in a speculative miinM*' the Government would not hesitate to adop! rigorous measures to frustrate its actios This resolve will be applauded by even thrtj who preach the right to absolute freedom®' action, which shews that theirs is not' perfect science. Bonaparte's house at Longwood, S'< Helena, is now a barn ; the room ho died ® is a Btable ; and where tho Imperial bwj lay in state may be found a machino W grinding corn. , In reply to a correspondent who request® him to open a fund for tho engineers' wiv* and children, tho Archbishop of CnnterbfflJ said that he would not be justified in supp'f ing funds to either party, but ho " p rt ) God to open the eyes of both." His might appropriately have included hiipj in the prayer. Lord Wolseley has expressed the suggestion that our troops should W vaccinated against typhoid. Soldiers I" service ia India will be so treated. Speaking at the Christmas dinner of fj' New Vagabond Club, London, Lord 0W" Beresford incidentally adverted to the cessity of obtaining sufficient men and P* viding proper organisation for tho AAV He then proceeded to deal with Bocial q"* tions, and deplored the fact that awW certain' sections of the people of this counW money had come to be worshipped a® j, only thing worth possessing. "hat ® they see in this worship of money 1 saw that any vulgarian, of whataj* nationality, or however be had made & money, directly he came to this oooiw could buy his way among those who described as the best and proudest in "J land. The power of money could JJj almost anything, and it certainly coul®'I®' 1 ®' things that were unpurchasable in th°«Tj of the past. Such a state of things <">B not to be allowed to continue. Let I® go back to their old days and maintain old reputation for chivalry, patriotism) *, abhorrence of all that was sordid * selfish, (Cheers). These noble Benti" 1 ® . would have been all the nobler had »»f been uttered by some poorer man. He' \ has more money than fie know* what t»

«ith experiences no difficulty in condemniog wealth-hunting of othera. To the public of North Otago and South Canterbury. —Ladies and Gentlemen,-We have respectfully to thank you for the support accorded to us since opening our branch b, Thames street, and at the Bame time to intimate the arrival of a fine shipment of the beat English goods. These with the other lines of our well assorted and judicions'y bought stock we shall est?em it at once a pie .sure and a favor to submit to voor tapec ion. As the schools are abnut to open we have to inform you that we are j e ving exceptional value in children's boots and shoes. Ladies will find a visit to our establishment well repaid by a Bight of every, hing that is elegant in footwear for either evening or outdoor use. Our Gentleman's. trade is increasing daily as the range 0 f our saperb stock is becoming known. We are selling Ladies' black strap walking shoes at 4s 1 Id, also Ladies' Tan at the same p-ice, Ladies' superior Tan leather walking g{j 0 „« 6s 11(3, Ladies' Canvas Shoes fine nua'Tty 33 lld > Chi'drens of all sizes extremely cheap.—We are, Ladies and Gentlemen, Yours respectifully, the N.Z. Boot Company, Cons Sus* vvkight, Manager. * Good news for the million ! A great redaction in Linoleum, two yards wide, .* 36 d the running yard-reduced from 3-6 d and 4s ; two yards wide Painted Back is * * Mi «4r? 'r™ I* lid a splendid lot of Ladies' Shirt nearly half price. 1 adies' Fancy E Shirts, 2s, 2s 6d, 2s lid ; should be 1 43 9d 03 6d. Ladies' White Blouse Shirts, embroidered fronts, 3s 6d; usual nrice 6s Od. Ladies Sf>t MnV:n Blouses, 43 lid; usual price, Ss llii. 24 Dozen T adies' Ribbed Uundervests, 3 for Is. B. glbitss. London House, Thames street, Great success has attended the efforts of Messrs Clayton, Gardiner and Co. to provide * well cur, n° L d fitting, styl-.sh, and well-nat-tocether snit at from L2 12s 6d, made to nrder ~ lh3 favorite raDge of tweeds seems to b»'those at L39s 6d the suit. They are beautiful goods, and worth four guineas. A fine assortment of Gentlemen s Apparel of all binds, all up to date. Boys' clothing a specialty. [ Advt. ]