The Otago Daily Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1881.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6090, 17 August 1881, Page 2

The Otago Daily Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1881.

The Public Works Estimates, as telegraphed by our Wellington correspondentyesterday, show plainly enough that Otago has been left entirely out iv the cold. The votes to be taken will, in several instances, do little more than provide for expenditure up to 30th June last. In the Gase of the Otago Central line the vote is £26,000, and the expenditure to 30th June £24,237; for the Kiverton line and branches the vote is £14,500, and the expenditure to 30th June £11,356. There is a margin of a few thousands on the Otautau, Orepuki, Edendale, and other Southland lines ; but the whole votes for Otago and Southland, including the Waitaki-to-Bluff line and branches, only amount to £272,000, and of this sum £155,781' had been expended up to 30th June, leaving only £116,000 for expenditure during the remainder of the year. This includes all contracts in hand, and has to be spread over 11 different works besides the main line and branches. It is evident that the Dunedin railway-station is to be indefinitely postponed, and that nothing will be done towards its completion but some further reclamation. For the -whole Waitakißluff line and

branches, taken separately from the rest, only £72,000 of the proposed vote of £165,000 remained unexpended on 30th June, and we may be quite sure that this sum is barely sufficient to cover absolute necessities. We feel

the utmost disappointment at this state of things. It is bad enough to throw overboard altogether so important a

line as the Otago Central, leaving it

to its chance of being constructed by private enterprise] but surely if our members had done their duty they would have insisted that an ample provision should have been made for the

long-promised alterations in the Dunedin railway-station. We do not believe that if Mr Oliver had remained in office our interests would have been so entirely ignored, and it is evident that strong pressure should be brought to bear on the Government to appoint an Otago member to the Ministry who will insist on justice being done to this district, which Mr Dick, with the best intentions, seems unable, while alone and unaided, to do. We do not ask anything that is not fairly our due; but we have a strong conviction that Canterbury and Auckland are between them getting far more than their share, and that through dirided counsels among our members we are not getting fair treatment. We do not believe that the Ocago Centrnl railway ought ever to have been placed in the same category as the other lines which it is proposed to construct by private enterprise. We have more

han once expressed our strong convic

Hon. that the plan of constructing such a line as the Otago Central by means of land grants in alternate blocks, as is proposed, is one which, if practicable at all, is attended with great danger to settlement, and one which will probably in the end prove most expensive to the country. This course, however, seems to have been quietly acquiesced in even by Mr Pyke, and it is now all but hopeless to get a vote for constructing the line by degrees, as the land could be sold, as would have been in our judgment the proper course to pursue. The Cabinet as at present constituted is certainly not one that can continue to give satisfaction in Otago. We should object, in any case to the Premier retaining the portfolio of Public Works Minister. He has quite enough to do without taking in hand so important a department. He is besides a man of too much detail, and, if report speaks truly, he has already found himself in something like antagonistic relationship with the head of the Railway Department through unnecessary interference. Whether Mr Maxwell has resigned or not we cannot quite make out, but something has occurred to alter his relations with his political chief; and as Mr Maxwell is credited with much firmness of character and considerable ability, it is quite likely that he is in the right and Mr Hall in the wrong, or at least that the fault is not all on one side. Should it turn out that an actual rupture has taken place, it is not a good beginning for the Premier's administration of the Public Works Department. The facts so far disclosed as to the apportionment of the remainder of the loan do not add to our satisfaction at the position which Mr Hall now holds, nor to our confidence in his regard for the interests of Otago. We have not as yet the details of the Public Works Estimates for the other parts of the Colony, but we have in the appendices to the Public Works Statement some materials for forming a judgment of the relative expenditure out of loan in the North and Middle Islands respectively. As so much has been said of the North not having got its fair share, we summarise the chief items, as disclosed by these returns, of expenditure to 31st March last, and liabilities at that date, for public works in the respective Islands. The figures are as follow : — North Middle Island. Island. Expenditure and liabilities on acoonnt of railway* £3,781,154 £6,084,248 Mlscellanaous public works 132 000 307,000 Roads 719,000 338,000 £4,632,154 £6,729,248 Now the relation at present subsist- y ing between the population of the d; North Island and that of the Middle ■»•< Island is as 190 to 290, or in other words the latter has 53 per cent, more £ r population than the furmer, while it las had the benefit of only 45 per cent, nore expenditure for the above pur- p° poses. Possibly Otago and Canterbury ° nay haye had giorfi'benefit from imrni-, M ! but it was only because they a jould absorb more population ; and on f a t ;he other hand about a million has an

been spent, in Native land purchases in the North, and several millions on Native affairs, including roads made under the guise of defence. . i

We might add that the not annual charge oa the Colony for interest, after crediting the contributions made by the railways, is very much in favour of the Middle Island. Last year the Amberley-to-Bluft" line and branches gave about double the percentage on cost that the North Island lines yielded. The Premier, in delivering the Public Works Statement, spoke of " carefully noting every political indication in the North," and we thought the telegraph had perhaps done him an injustice, but there it is in the printed copy in black and white, and we must admit that he does seem to be noting political indications in the North. It ia clear, at all events, that the North is quite capable of taking care of itself. We wish we could say the same for Otago. As at present constituted, the Government are under just suspicion of favouring Auckland, Taranaki, and Canterbury, and disregarding Otago, and the utter disunion which exists between the Otago members unfortunately gives them an opportunity. Will Dunedin remain silently acquiescent while this state of things continues 1

Oa our fourth paga this mowing are printed a uumbtr of letts-rs to the editor, reports of mee:ingsof the Port Chalmers Town Council, Peninsula Agricultural and Putt oral Association, and othur matter. In the Legislative Council yesterday Mr Reynolds gave notice to ask the Government whether they will take steps to establish Hoards to net as a medium between employers and those sacking employ uranfc, as we suggested iv a recrnt article would ba Jidvisable. The Licencing Bill was also further considered, an attempt to upset the elective principle in regard to Licensing Benchea boiag lost by 16 to 13 votes.

In the Lower House, the answers to questions were of some interest. Further invetti cation was promised of tho Shag Point O\a Company's chum, which Mr Oliver had refused to rllow ; the Government spote favourably of theidooof licensing tobacconists; a vote was promised to botanical gardens, to enable valuable plants, &c—such aa the olive— to bo cultivated; an Auckland member was (old that what had been granted as regarded Port Chalmers dock was not to be taken as encouraging the notion that Government wonld make out-of-the-way concessions to Anckland for the sams purpoao ; and n suggestion about issuing railway tickets available at any time and throughout tho whole Colony was pro. mised favourable consideration. The Representation Bill debate was theD continued, and after a number of members had tpoken, its second reading was carried by 49 t.i 16. The House rose at midnight. President Garfield is reported by cable to have suffered a serious relapseOur Wellington correspondent forwards us this morning a summary of the provisions of the new Railways Construction Bill. Amongst tho cablo mes3agos from the Mel. bourne papers ■phich we publish this morning are several of special intarest. Plots against the life of the Czar continue, nnd not only against his life, but one is reported against that of the

Emperor William alaj. Trickott has been

■leatijn again in Canada, securing second plaoe only in a contest where thero seem to havo been

no rowers of note engaged. The caso of Galley is also ulludtd to, and tho Government have at last consented to give him compensation. The fuels of this case are that ia the year 1836 he (Galley) and Oliver ware convicted in England of the murder of aMe Jonathan May. Oliver was hanged for the crime, but before his execution he declared that Galley was perfectly innocent. The sentence on Galley was commuted to penal servitnde for lifo, and he wa9 transported to Western Australia. C<> tinuovn iffortij were amdo to ssoure hia release, »nd at last with success. Galley's claim for comji'-nsa Lion for his lengthened imprisonment found many supporters in London.

Mr Larnaob, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, telegraphed as follows to Mr Robert WilaoD, the vioe-prosideiit, concerning tho result of tho deputation re the Graving Dock :—" You will bo glad to hear our mission been successful. Government granted endowments asked for, itid will introduce bill during Bastion constitnt ing Dock Trust, with borrowing powers-"

It is rumoured iv Wellington, and we hear from a good authority that there is a strong probability of the rumour proving well-founded,

chat the two well-known contractors, Messrs Brogdon and Proudfoot, are likely to join forcc-B for tho construction of railways and other public works.

At the Police Court, Port Chalmers, yester day, before Messrs A' Thomson and J, Mill, Henry Brown was charged with stealing a p&ii of booß, valued »t 24i 6d- Ho was sentenceii to seven days' imprisonment, with hard labour.

The amended information against Isaac Benjamin for Sunday trading was procaeded with at the Police Court yesterday. Attar the evidence had been taken his Worship intinnted that he would reserve judgment. Margaret M'Laughlan and Alexander Falls were sen ;enced to u'x months' and one month' a imprisonment respectively for stealing boots £com th-a Golden Age Hotel.

A concert was h*l! at St. Kilda last evening in aid of tha 1 cal Presbyterian Ohurcii Sunday-school. It waa wall attended, and passed off very suoo;s3fully.

The ordinary meeting of the Education Rt," serves Commissioners, which was to have been held yesterday, Isp3ed for want of a quorum.

A meeting ci Mttlera in the Bluaskin district interested iv abating tin email-bird and rabbit nuisanoM waa held at the Gocd Templars' Hull on Monday evening. Mr P. Wilson reported what had been done at a similar meeting held by the Merton settler B about 10 days before. Aft9r discussion, Messrs M. Long, J. M'lntO3h, A. Drysdale, W. Bell, E. Clark, and P. Wilson were appointed a committee to carry out the wish of tha meet ing, the committee being likewise reoommended to appoint a canvasser t> collaot money for purchasing tho poisoned grain required.

The charge of felony preferred against William M'Laod, of whioh we elsewhere give a report, occupied a considerable amount of time at the Police Court yesterday. From the evidence It would appear that the Exhibition Committee havo had a very good time of it. Oao exhi jitor, in the Bame letter in which he asked for a good stand for his exhibits, iatimated that he had forwarded a case of liquor for the special use of the Committee, and apparently it must have been an excellent sample, for it Boon disappeared, along with a little more of the game brand takan from the exhibits, for which, howjver, the Cemmittee were presented with a "little bill." It did not transpire whether they have paid this "little bill" out of thsir own pockets or from Exhibition funds er whether they have paid it at aIJ. The infor mation agaiiiat Mr M'Leod was dismissed, and in all probtbility more will be heard of the matter, an it is likely an aotioa will be started by the defendant for damages.

An alarm of fira was given at about 9 o'clock last evening Tha Fira Brigade turned out with their u--ual promptitude, bat their services were not r q'lired, the fire being but trivial in its nafcnr", a ad easily extinguished. The locala was Hflii's dyoworis in the Octagon.

A correipondsnt frjtc the Pdninnnla that oaa or two of the settlers there have been victimiaoil by a young fellow who has passed himself oil as the Bon of a ship captain, and has introduced himself by averring that hia business was to purchase fowU', pig<", &c. for use on tho vessel's passage Home. He has obtained ebon,) t-.oatd and lodging under the3e preteuceß, and in one ease had almoat succeeded in making off wUh oomo spare cash which he had discovered lying about. The police might make inquiries about the young fellow, who was about the Highcliff neighbourhood last Sunday.

Tho election for the vacant councillorshlp of First Ward, Mornington borongh, took place yesterday. There ware three candidates, and thn following is tha' result of the poll :—

W. Kewisb, 38 ; Andruw Millar, 27 ;. R Uurcer, 10- Mr Kawish was thravfore de ohred duly fleeted. Tho elootioa proceedings •vere characterised by perfect harmony. Both the successful and the dialed cuudidatva brionV addressed the r»t»;jay*rit fcfKW fhdecltvratioa .-if t'se poll-

Owing to tha investigations mada by thepolloe it liai boen tweertained that tha parang of the cMld found at Mr M'Kaiizio's door on the 26th of last mouth, at St. Kilda, are Murdoch, and Mary M'Lennan, who resida on a farm near Wyndham. It ueoms that the father entertained a dialikjo towards the child, and she had to be placed under the care of bet

uncle and aunt at Milton. They took charge of -tb.9 girl for a short time, and then made up their inimla to send her home. The parents took the child to Dunedin and left her there. When they returned without her, inquiriee were made as to her whereabouts, to which tho mother did not givo satisfaus^ry anewarr. In the meantima thit police found out who were ihe parents, oud Saraoaus 3?drgusou wont with Miss 3 M'Kotizw io Milton, whfsro the child was at occu identified by her aunt aa the daughter of tho M'Lauuaus. Wo unrtoralavid that tho parents have eiuca talnra charge of thfl child.

A sitting of the Supreme Court in Chambers was held yesterday; but no sitting of tho Court in Banco haa been appointed for this week. The only Bunco cases for argument aro tha libel case, Seaborn v. Wilson, and the appeal caBB, Waters v. Jeffries; the latter having baen referred, by order of tho Chief Justice, to the magistrate who heard it for a statement upon a point raised in argument— viz., as to whether there was any evidence, or any admission in the oasa when heard, of the person supplied with liquor not having been a traveller or lodger.

A fire occurred at Waihola on the morning of the 12th mat-, whereby tha store of Charles Hilgecdorf v/m completely destroyed, along with tha goods contained therein. Mr Hilgendorf states that ho and his family retired to rust; at 11 o'clock on the night of tha 11th. At about 12.45 a.m. they were wakened by a neighbour, and found the store in (lames- The stock, which was iaauidd for Ll5O in the Colonial, consisted of t% usual class of store gooda, and four druma'SpOU/ The building was a wooden urn, »nd was insured in the same office for LSO, thai craonal effects being insured for a like sum, Mr Hilgendorf cannot account for the fire, but does not suupect foul play. He left a fire burning in the office stove when he left, aud all aeeinod quite secure. He estimates his loss at L3OO above tha insurance.

The following telegram has been received in Melbourne *—" Messrs M'Culloch, Sellar, and Co, have received from Messrs Leinhman, Inglis, and Co- tha following advice :—' The London an;l St, Kutherino'd Dock Company has resolved to erect a refrigerating apparatus at the Royal Albert Duck, ia a Bpecial chamber for t.io storage of frozan meat.'"

Referring; to the Tararu» disaster, the Christchurch Prass says that aa sure information lias been obtaine.l that the bodies of Dr and Mrs Campbell and two of their children were washed ashore and buried az Forlrosa cemetery, arrangements have been mada for their removal to Christchurch xnd re inter.nont there.

Tha Daily News, refer.-ing to the Blat half, yearly meeting ot the Peninsular and Oriental Steamship Company, which took place on Juno 2nd, remarks :—"Times have somewhat changed since, 40 years back, the first mail steamer of the Company started from Southampton on her way to the Mediterranean. India and China were then destinations to which highly-paid officials, or the wealthier claßa of merchants, were conveyed, at heavy expense, and with much broiling, acros!! the Isthmus of Sutz, and down the Bed Sea. That there was somewhere in that direction a disreputable sort of place called Bjtany Bay, to which persona were convoyed in sailing vesaelß against their will, was a fact just known, and that was noarly all. lodia iB India etill, but in the meantime the new world of the Australian Colonies has Cuine into existence, and claims an attention which not even tho moßt conservative of Bteamßhip companies can deny. New steamers of large tonnage and high speed are being built for the special purpose of keeping up a direct servio with Australia twice a month. This one ci.inpany i?, ac the chairman said, constructing a navy. Melbourne ia at this moment a greater source of strength to England than Bombay, even though we may never dream of bringing Australian rogiments to Malta."

Tho following is from the Waikato Times' account cf the Maori King's visit to the Pakeha'a settlements in that district. It is on his wonderment at first seeing a railway train :—" When tho train drew up alongside Tawhiao he became greatly excited, and his enthusiasm was manifest and unboundedThe train having been emptied of its passengers, the king entered at almost tha last carriage, and went through each, jumping from one to the other, until he arrived at tho engine. Wben going through tha carriages his joy was unbounded, and he tried to Imitate the Pakeha talking. When he got to the engine he began to warm his hands at the boiler, ecrutiniao the machinery from top to bottom, got up beeide the driver, and handled everything within bis reacli, everyone thinking he would eventually Bucceed in starting the concern, and wound up with the tjiculation that it wa3 the- grandest canoe he had ever wen. When the train moved on he roarad with laughter and wavad hia hands, exclaiming "Kapai! kapai!"

The opera "The Pirates of Penzance" bids fair to rivalln point of popularity the famous " Pinafore." Its music is admitted by all com. petent judges to be superior, the situations are intensely ludicrous, the satire is keen, and it never fails to secure enthusiastic rounds of itcclamabion. Last evening the Queen* Theatre was again crowded, all the principal solos and choruee3 were encored, and the audience seamed perfectly delighted with the performance, which iv certainly highly creditable, and

likely to prova very remunerative. There is no sign of the honses falling off, and those who hava once wltneseed the performance must entortaia n, strong desire to erj ■y.its repetition. At the iui'rvitl Mr Carp stated that, in recognition of tha Jibsrai patronage acoordad them, a performance would bo tfiven on Saturday afternoon f-.ir the benefit of local charities. Mr C»ry Invited those concerned in the managetnont of charitable institutions to attend, and to receive .the gross proceeds of the entertainment on that occasion.

Mr Bandmann's readings to tho High School scholars take place to-day at 3 o'clock, instead of 2 as first announced.

Tho share-list of the Trustees, Executors, and Agency Company closes on 30th September. Intend-

ing shareholders must apply to Mr W. 11. Quick, the broker of tho Company.

Mr J. A. Council will deliver the second and concluding lecture on " Evolution " in tho lecture-hall ol tho Young Men's Rooms, Moray place, this evoning. Mr C. Christie sells cattle and sheop at Stirling on Friday.

Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. sell horses, mongat them the entire Harkaway, on Saturday. An interim dividend of 10 per cent, is now payable l the New Zealand Drug Company (Limited).

The Rev. C. J. Byng lectures on Thursday evening i the Rattray street Hall on " Instinct and Rea-

Tho partnership between Messrs John Griffen and Philip M'Carthy in tho New Zealand Brewery, at North-East Valley, has been dissolved.

PUBLIC NOTICE.—This is no novel advertisement, but simply inserted for the purpose of directing the attention of the working men and tho unemployed to the fact that I am now selling primo roasting beef from 2}d per lb, boiling beef from l^d, mutton from 2d per lb, for cash.—S. G. Smith, City Company, High street.—l Ad vt.]