The Otago Daily Times. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1876.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4560, 28 September 1876, Page 2

The Otago Daily Times. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1876.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1876.

Everybody knows the extraordinary readiness with which men will follow a leader, and fall in with a general line of conduct for a time, because someone haa set the example, without any definite regard at all to any larger or wider standard than the fleeting opinion of the hour. We have been much struck during the session of the Assembly that is now drawing to a close, by the silly fashion into which the House has fallen of calling especial attention to everything like a harsh word that any member may use in debate. No one who has not studied the Hansards diligently can form any idea at all of the almost infinite silliness of the habit when it comes to be judged away from the glaring light of partizans' quarrels, and unillumined by the hot fire of political squabbling. We have formed a theory on the subject, and that is that the members of the House of Representatives had one and all been trying to enlarge their understanding on political matters by a study of Victorian politics. They had grasped firmly the notion that in the now notorious M'Kean, late of the Victorian House, they had a brilliant lighthouse, and that in sheering clear of his enormities they would be quite safe. With the prudishness of a school girl, who fancies that every second man she meets

i wants to love her, they have a wee bit' overdone their part, and while they have endeavoured to sustain the honour of the House they have not. only wasted a good deal of valuable time, but they have also rendered themselves very ridiculous in the eyes of all men with any sense of humour. We are by no means admirers of strong language; on the contrary, it is a well known fact that the more moderate statement of fact is usually the more effective in the long run, but we altogether object to the custom which is growing up in the country, we are sorry to say, as well as in the House, of emasculating the English language in order to please the very refined and delicate ears of a few wouldbe judges. There have been instances of correspondents in our own columns who have been perforce obliged to cry out about strong language in accents that remind us of nothing so much as the American damsel blushing over the legs of a fowl and asking to be helped off its bosom. This ultra and pretended refinement is nothing but the quintessence of snobbishness. It is the cook who has achieved the position of mistress, and whose nerves are correspondingly developed by her ascent in the social grade. We could not give this newborn desire to be very gentle in speech any better name than " fine ladyism." Whether as a matter of good English, of courtesy, or of common sense, we utterly object to the effort now made to express everything by some delicate euphemism which has neither bone nor nerve about it, and which is usually the very feeble covering for still more feeble thought. We could say a good deal about the brain power that usually accompanies this kind of affected delicacy, but we forbear, because we want to bring before our readers one or two of the latest cases of affected ultra-particularity in the Assembly. Of course it must be understood that the whole point is outside politics proper ; both sides have, as far as we can see, been equally guilty oi thia unutterably silly fashion of requiring words to be "taken down." Mr Pyke was the last victim to the mania for what is taken for gentility. We shall not be supposed to be too ready to defend Mr Pyke, but we are called on, in the interests of common justice, to say that the apology that the House exacted from him the other evening, while it reflected very much on the sense and ability of the House, was not required by anything that Mr Pyke or any other man need be in the least ashamed of. His offence—and be it remembered that the Assembly spent at least two hours over the crime—was this: that, sitting behind Sir George Grey, he remarked that Romething or other that gentleman had done was " discreditable." This was the word that was bandied about, explained, censured, taken down—all sort 3of terrible things were done— merely and only because one member had said that something another had done was discreditable. We do not care what the action was,, we are not concerned to defend Sir George Gkey or blame Mr Pyke. All that | we contend for ia this, that the word was, by all the rules and regulations of Parliamentary debate, not an improper one by which to express an opinion. One member spoke of it as " intemperate language;" we can only say that such language shows a tendency to hypocrisy. It is impossible to conceive the contempt most of us feel for this kind of simulated prudery. A little farther on, on the same night, Mr Howe, in beginning his speech, spoke of the member who had preceded him as having spoken. in a very offensive manner. For these words he was called to order, and the Speaker was so far led away from his natural good sense as to say that "it would be better if the honourable member used other words than those he used." Now we take it for granted that a good deal of the taking down of words and apologizing and other little fussinesses which have disfigured the debates this session are due to a very strong party feeling. The one side retorts ou. the other, and deigns to make use of the j " sickly sentiment feeling " to point a javelin at its foe. There are many things for which it is not fair to be too particular in party warfare. Still we think that it will be apparent to members, that in making use of the forms of the House to fight their antagonists, they are doing a permanently great evil to the principles of free debate. We are no advocates for real roughness or rudeness of tongue, and it is because this is sure to follow on the simulated horror of plain English, that we think it worth while to call attention to the whole matter. If the censure of the House is invoked for the merest trifles, then there ia nothing worse to be invoked for greater crimes. If death is the punishment for lying, what have we worse for murder *? The inevitable result of taking notice of these trifles is, that when the same notice is taken of greater matters the effect will be neutralised. Between Mr Pyke's sin of tongue and Mr M'Kean's, there is a.great gulf j but if a M'Kean rose up in our Assembly we should have nothing worse to do to him than was done to poor Pyke.

About 2000 people attended the political meeting last evening, the Princess Theatre, which has sitting accommodation for about 1300, being crammed in every part, including the large space behind the seats of the dress circle. The following resolutions were carried unanimously:—"lst. That Messrs Macandrew and Stout are entitled to the hearty thanks of this meeting for affording their constituents this opportunity for mutually hearing and expressing opinions in reference to tha past and future of New Zealand politics. That, in the opinion of this meeting, the Otago representatives who have acted in opposition during the present session of the Assembly, have faithfully, honourably, and nobly fulfilled their trust, and deserve, and have, the entire sympathy of the great bulk of the inhabitants of Otago in their efforts to obtain justice for, and maintain the rights and privileges of, the people of this Province. 2nd. That in the opinion of this meeting it is hopeless to expect anything like justice to Otago from the present House of Represensentatives, and that the Superintendent and the Executive be strongly urged forthwith to convene a meeting of tho Provincial Council, with a view to the necessary legislative action being taken to obtain a plebiscitum of the people, so as to ascertain their wishes and opinions as to the form of local selfgovernment beat calculated to secure to the Province the exclusive enjoyment of its own resources, and the control and administration of its own affairs. 3rd. That His Worship the Mayor, .as Chairman of this meeting, be hereby respectfully requested and authorised

to forward the foregoing resolutions to His Excellency the Governor of the Colony, and to the Colonial Secretary." Some rascally larrikin distributed a large quantity of pepper amongst the audience, and caused them to cough violently. A full account of the proceedings appears elsewhere.

About half past four o'clock yesterday afternoon, Mr Knowlea (a son of the Rev. F. Knowles, of Balclutha) met with a severe accident in Moray Place, near the Wesleyan Church. The horse he was riding reared and rolled over him. He was taken up insensible to tha residence of the Yen. Archdeacon Edwards, where he was speedily attended by Dr Hulme. Mr Knowles has sustained a slight concussion cf the brain, and late last night was progressing as favourably as could be expected under the circumstances. He had for some time past been studying for the ministry at Bishopscourt.

Quick despatch has characterised the engagements of the Invercargill's immigrants. The female portion was open for employment at 11 o'olock yesterday morning, and by noon the demand was found to be far in excess of the supply. A large number of single girls (nominated) went to their friends, and the others were engaged at the following rates : —Cooks, £35 to £40 ; general servants, £30 to £35 ; housemaids, £20 to £25 j nursegirls, 10s a week ; and farm servants, £26. In all, there were 22 engagements, and & number of those by the Timoru, the next vessel, were bespoken. The married couples will be open to-day, and a number of the singlo men sent on to Oamaru.

A deputation consisting of Messrs Clark, M.P.C., Craig, Walter Miller, and Nelson, yesterday had an interview with his Honour the Superintendent, for the purpose of requesting him to fix the boundaries of the Balmoral and Mount Stuart, and of the Waitahuna Eoad Boards. After the matter had been fully explained, his Honour said that he would bring it before the Executive to-day, and have it settled the one way or the other.

We have received from Messrs H. Wise and Co. a pocket edition of Letts's Diary for 1877. It is neatly bound in green morocco, and the price is exceedingly reasonable. The supply of Letts's Diaries for 1877, we are informed by Messrs Wise and Co., are on board the Union Steamship Company's steamer Wakatipu, which will arrive within the next few days. Lists of the various editions of Letts's Diaries, with the prices attached, can be obtained from Messrs Wise and Co.

His Honour Mr Justice Williams yester^ day sat in banco, and delivered several judgments.

An alarm of fire was rung from the Central and North Dunedin bells yesterday afternoon, but the conflagration was not of a serious nature. Some children playing with matches set fire to some straw in a stable belonging to Mr Stoneham, situated off Union street, but it Mas immediately extinguished by a few buckets of water. The Fire Brigade turned out promptly.

After an inspection by Acting-Adjutant Lambert yesterday afternoon, the High School Artillery and Rifle Cadets attended the funeral of Ernest Graham Brodrick, who was an Artillery Cs^et. His remains were interred in the Southern Cemetery. The Rev. C. Martin, of Caversham, read the burial service.

A correspondent draws our attention to the fact that at the inquest which was held lately on the body of Joseph Lemon, who shot himself, the Coroner told the Jury that if they returned a verdict of felo de se, the law directed the goods of the deceased should be confiscated. Our correspondent points out that the law is not such as is represented by the Coroner. " The Convicts Forfeitures Act, 1871," section 2, provides as' follows :—" From and after the passing of this Act, no confession, verdict, inquest, conviction, or judgment of or for any treason, or felony, or felo de se, shall cause any attainder or corruption of blood or any forfeiture or escheat."

We are informed that Mr Robert Muir, North Taieri, has sold his entire colt, " Rob the Rr.nter," for the sum of 280 guineas, to Mr Robert Coubrough, Palmerston.

The Artillery Corps held its regular parade last evening, at which there was an excellent turn out. The "blue jumpers,"headed by their band, marched through the town.

The Speakers of the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives waited upon Lady Vogel last week, and, in begging her acceptance, in the names of certain members of both Houses, of two hundred sovereigns, they requested her to purchase at Home with that sura a suitable memento of her residence in Wellington.

A correspondent writes from Inch Clutha : " The crops are nearly all in hereabouts, except on very low spots. By another year there will be a considerably greater breadth of crop on Inch Clutha. It costs £2 or £2 10s per acre to chip the rushes, flax, and Maori-heads, and burn them, but only requires one furrow before being sown. On the two largest farms alone, over 200 acres are being cleared. The lower price of labour and the increased facilities for crossing the river when the bridge is finished have their influence in inducing farmers to improve their land on Inch Clutha. At present it is both an expensive and a laborious job to cross grain on the punt. Several labouring men have taken from fifty acres upwards to fence and clear in consideration of getting four crops. —Our venerable church, the oldest in the Province, is about to be cast into the shade by a new one more in conformity with the times." ~

A case of heartless cruelty on the part of an unnatural mother aroused the sympathies of the Justices at the Police Court yesterday. A young woman named Isabella Fawkner, dressed in tawdry finery, was summoned by Margaret Foote for failing to contribute towards the support of her two children, Mrs Foote stated that the children, the father of whom was a Chinaman, were left with her two years ago, on the understanding that she was to receive £1 a week towards their maintenance. For ten montht! past she had not seen or heard from accused, until passing her in ths street a few days ago, when prisoner tried to evade her. Witness had nurtured one of the children from the bottle, and being a poor woman who had to work for her maintenance, the children were a great burden to her. She felt the case harder because prisoner bore a disreputable character, and lived with gay women. — Inspector Mallard stated that accused was an associate of Chinese, and suggested that if the Gaol was to be heid in terrorem by women of her class, they should be sent to it for a time, as the State would ultimately have to maintain their offspring. The Bench commended Mrs Foote for the manner in which she had cared for the children. They also adopted Inspector Mallard's suggestion, fining accused 20s and costs, in default, three days' imprisonment, and ordering her to pay 15s a week towards the support of her children.

Among the passengers who left Melbourne in the Albion yesterday was Mr Dampier, who, before leaving, was presented with no less than three testimoniale—one from a committee of gentlemen in Melbourne, one from the working men of Victoria, and one from the profession and employes of the Theatre Royal. On the night of his benefit, " Hamlet" was reproduced, and we understand that on no previous occasion has there been such a crowd within the walls of the Eoyal. Mr Bryant, agent for Mr Dampier, assures us that the pieces in which Mr Dampier will appear will be put upon the stage with the name care and effect as in Melbourne. Mr Dampier will make his first appearance in Dnnedin at the Princess Theatre on Saturday, 7th October.