The Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1831.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6190, 10 December 1881, Page 2

The Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1831.

The result of the elections for the city cannot be regarded as satisfactory. That Mr Fish would be elected was regarded during the past f«w days as almost a certainty, but we certainly did not expect to see Mr Cargill and Mr Davis placed in the position of ' defeated candidates, nor Mr Dick run so closely by his opponent. The majorities, except iv Mr Fish's case, are very narrow; but nevertheless we cannot but acknowledge that the defeat of Messrs Cargill and Davis by , Messrs Bracken and Green is a sur- * prising one. The publicans' vote was fortunately not successful in defeating the Colonial Secretary, but it came very near doing so. In the case of Mr Bastings it does not seem to have been i nearly so operative as was , expected, We do not now desire to say one word to -arouse any bitter feeling. The contest is over, and i its results have yet to bo fairly tested. 'As regards the' suburbs, (he return of IMr Bathgate and Mr Seaton is, we . havo no doubt, due to the splitting ol , votes caused by there being threo candidates in the field. Of Mr Seaton we have never had an unkind word to say, laa our chief objection to him was that he formerly supported Sir George Grey, and is not now a pronounced supporter of the Government. We are, however, not without hopes that Mr Seaton will yet be found giving' an independent support to the Ministry. We cannot think that the electors of Roslyn have made a good choice in- electing Mr Bathgate ; but the more formidable ot his two opponents, Captain Scott, unfoil- -, tuuately made one slip about the Town i Belt, which in all probability lost him [ the election. As it is, the majority -is only 14 for the successful '. candidate. The closeness of the contests is quite a feature of the pr.i----i sent plepuon. The new corislituencies are not yet thoroughly organised, and party lines are not at all clearly drawn, §o far as the Otago elections have gone, the gain is undoubtedly to the Opposition; though Asveral old members of the Opposition —Mr Pyke, Mr J. C Brown, and Mr De Lautour, for instance — have been run very closely. At Invercargill the Opposition candidate, Mr Feldwick, polled a large majority. On the other hand, many of the Northern constituencies have not s-h*>\vn the bias against the Governiru-in. ** hioh migh- ' have been exp c'e*l. Sir George Grey narr..wi, uncap*. *1 defeat in Auckland, w'i *' van 'ulway.-i regarded as hissiriiiigle* .i; i *l .Mr 15Ai,LANCi*:,one of the alili-st, in muers of the late .pjipnsi.i n, h.is been defeated by a jjmall majority at Wanganui. Wiitiug al we do wit.li very imperfect returns before us, and with tho fact in view tthat many candidates have declined to pledge themselves cither for or against the Government, it is impossible al. present to judge with any accuracy whether or not tho Hall Ministry can count upon a majority of the new House. That thero will bo a sufficient number of new members to cause a re.construe.ion of political parties seems (tolerably evident, Uut tho leader of th • Opposition has yet to be found, since aeither Sir George Grey nor Mr Mac ANDREW can now be regarded as the leader of his party, and Mr Ormond is not in declared opposition at all.

'The Town Districts Act, 1881 " is a measure originally introduced during tho session of 1880 by the Government nt tho request, we believe, of several Northern members. In the Provincial Districts of Wellington and Taranaki, Bystems somewhat similar to that instituted by tho Act existed under Provincial Ordinances, and had b; en found to work satisfactorily. Tlie Government in acceding to the request were evidently of opinion that small townships throughout the Colony might with advantage have the opportunity of obtaining local self-government of the simple character provided. Owing t** jthe grest pressure of business at ihe ■termination of the session in 18S0, the bill lapsed after being read a first time in the House of Representatives, but W3,s reintroduced last session by the Hon. Sfr llipK, and notwithstanding the strong opposition of Mr Vincent Pyke and his friend Mr Seddon, of Hokitika, was passed through ail its stages without material alteration. In the Legislative Council, oddly enough, being a useful practical measure, it was not opposed. Mr Dick moved tho second reading without comment, but the Attorney general in the Legislative Council explained generally the scope and intention of tho bill. For many small townships, he said, it had been found that a municipality was too cumbersome, whilst there were many serious objections to absorption within road board districts. The ohject of tho bill was to provide something intermediate between road board districts and boroughs—I.' to create a small corpora tion without the paraphernalia that belonged to a corporation created under the Municipal Corporations Act." There had been, he continued, a great demand for legislation of this kind 'in various parts of the country. There were a number of small towns whicli were desirous of having a certain portion of the Municipal (Corporations Act available for carrying on theii business. The ratepayers outside the townships in several country districts were desirous that such a measure should be passed, since a feeling existed that tho residents in these townships had the power of t.a~'n*2 the distant parts, and thus- the taxation was liable to fall heavily on tho s.ettlfiru with large holding*. For instance, '! oijoof those, villages, as thej might be called, wijth 1/)Q or 800 people living in them, might in tho c&nfi of v road board district include farms of 1000 acres, and thus the people in tho towns would have the advantage of paying only such a rate as they thought fit, while they made tlie country pay a much heavier [proportion of the] rate." Tho Hon, Mr Whitaker expressed his belief that the riii'flsnre won't! prov." leneficia', and would le a means of jroviding self-government in districtwhere tliere was a considerable population, but not sufficient to take advan tago of the Municipal Ooi'i orations Act The full title of the Actis."Aj) Acl to Establish Local Boards of Ad mini stration." It comes into force or, January lst, 1882. " The Rating Ac!, 1876," ."The Regulation of E'e'cttons Act, 187G," ff The Public Worjks Act,

1876," and Parts XI and Xllof "The Municipal Corporations Act; 1876," are incorporated, and are " to be read with the necessary changes of words and phrases to render thorn applicable to the purposes of this Act." The inhabitants of any locality not constituted a borough wherein tliere are not less than 50 householders may apply by petition to the Governor that such locality may be constituted a town district. The area of districts is not to exceed two square miles, and no one point therein must bo distant more than four miles from any other point. Not less than two-thirds of the resident householders are required to concur in any petition, and on receipt thereof: tho Governor may by proclamation declare the locality to be a town district under the Ac". Town districts when proclaimed cease to be part of the road or highway district in which they were formerly included, but continue to be included within the counties, and the property therein remains subject in all respects to the county jurisdiction. On the constitution of a town district, the boards of such district and the road district have to agree together and de

termine and apportion the respective assets and liabilities. If no agreement can be arrived at, the Governor is to appoint " any fit person or persons to hold an inquiry aud make an award," which award is to be final. In each town district (here is to be a Board of Commissioners, to be called " The ■ Town Board," and consisting of not less than five nor more than seven persons. Tho boards are to be corporate bodio-', with perpetual succession and a common seal, and wiU hold oflice for two ye *va. A.fc the first election every householder . within the district will be qualified lo bo eleoted a commissioner, lmt subsequently no person will bo qualified unless he is rated at an annual rental of .£lO at least, Evory person whose name appears on the electoral roll for any ridiug in the county, and who owns property within ' the town district, vvill be entitled to vote at the first and any other election of commissioners prior to any rato ' being levied under the Act; and after 1 any rate has been levied, the ratepayers ' and none others will be entitled to ' vote. The number of votes to be ex--1 ercised by any ratepayer in proportion ' to his rateable properly is the same as in the case of burgesses under the Municipal Corporations Act. The commissioners present at the first meeting are to select some member of the board to be chairman, who ia to have a deliberative as well as a casting vote. Town boards are vested by the Act with all the powers conferred upon a borough council by the provisions contained in Part XI of " The Municipal Corporations Act, 1876," or any enact rnorit amending tho same, except that they are to have no control over any portion of main roads or county rondi lying within the distriot, Tliey will therefore have specific powers in respect to streets, drainage, nuisances, the construction of waterworks; in respect also of lighting, of markets, the licensing and inspecting of buildings for public meetings, places of public recreation, charitable institutions, pounds, wharves, and jetties. The boards will also, under Part XII of iho Municipal Corporations Act, have power to mako bye-laws in relation to miy matter comprised therein, and each board within its own limit-* iri constituted, the " Local Board of Health." Town boards will havo also "all the powers granted to borough councils by any enactment relating to auctioneers, cattle trespass, cemeteries, dog nuisance, fencing, fire prevention, licensing puhlio-lioiise-i, municipal, police, public pounds, roads or highways, anil any other matter of social economy." Tlio board of every town district is "once at lea3t in every year, aud from time to timo as it thinks fit," to levy general rates; but the total amount for any ono your is not to exceed one shilling in the pound on rateable value. " Separate rates," not exceeding the same proportionate amount, may be levied for any work which is for the especial benefit of any portion of the district; but no such rate is to be levied unless on petition of a majority of the ratepayers liable to be so rated. The bill as originally introduced, and as it passed tho Houso of Representatives, contained a pro vision that the ratepayers in town districts should only be liable t*i half the county rates for main and cmnty roads and other county purpises that road b'*ard districts were subject to. Mr Waterhouse, however, very strongly objected to this, arguing that if there was to be an exception mado it should rather be iv favour of the road board districts, which had a considerable extent pf roads and a very sparse population. In the case of town districts they would have a small extent of roads and a comparatively large population, and " consequently they were more capable of bearing their proportion of the cost of the county roads than woro the road board districts." We notice that already iho^e is a movement in some of the i-it;filler townships of Qtago to tako advantage of this Act, whioh from its inexpensive and simple machinery, should, we think, he found very suitable where inconvenience or substantial disadvantage has existed from tlie want of purely local administration of local allUirs.

This morning wo issue a supplement containing reports of meetings of the Committee of tlie Chamber of Commerce and Presbytery yesterday, letters to the editor, our Auckland, Australian, and Scotland letters: Passing Notes, by " Civis"; Sporting Notes, by " Beacon " ; Musical and Theatrical Notes, by " Puck " ; and other interesting matter.

Wo aro enabled to give in this morning's issue the results in the main of yesterday's general election. All the Ministers have been 'successful in obtaining seats.

By our cable message this morning it wil] bo seen that the .English cricketing team" are"giving a better account of themselves in Australia against an eleven of New South Wales in Sydney. They havo scored 235 for the loss of only five wiokets.

No decision has, we understand, yet been arrived at as regards the goods consigned to Messrs Bailey and Kerr, which were recently detained by the Customhouse authorities on the ground of their having boon seriously undervalued. The firm abovementioned account for the discrepancy by the fact of the wrong invoice having boon consulted, and tho matter has been referred to headquarters at Wellington for con-

sidoration,

A mistake in the prize-list, under the head of " New Zealand Manufactures and Produco" at the recent Forbury Show has been pointed out to us. The special prize of a violin and C»so (presented by G. R. West and Co.), for the 'iargfiSt m'|'/ntiik«r in the class, was taken by I iYlark'Sinclair, of IJimeqin, aijd not by jVijstin, Ifh'k, and 00,, of Ohristehui-oh.

At AVakar) yesterday a numbor of gentlemen wbo went to tlie polling-booth were considerably annoyed at lidding Hint thoir names; which were on tin* Poslyn electoral roll bofoi-.* the alteration of boundary, and should have been transferred to tlie'Waikouaiti roll at tlio time' whou the new rolls were made up, bad been altogether onj:tl:?r].- ,Qf course they h'avej theijiscJvoß to blame, as thoy should jnjve previously ascertained whether or not their names wero on thoroll, ' " ' ''■'"■ '> '■<

Tho programme of the forthcoming Caledonian sports is one of tho best that bas over be*-*)] issued by the Society. The prizes for quoitijig and darieiijg havo been increased, and a now feature ill the annual sports ia tho Champion Steeplechase of J.OOO yards, for which ai prize of £20 is offered. Two-mile and five-mile handicaps have also beeii added, for which

prizes of £20 will be given. Wrestling still occupies a prominent place in tho programme. On this occasion the Caledonian and Dunedin Handicaps will each consist of two heats instead of three as formerly, the prize-money hitherto paid in tho third heat being devoted to other events. So liberal are the prizes that the Committee have resolved to spend in this respect the sum of £500, and tlie number of entries consequently promises to bo very large.

Wo are enabled to state tliat the business carried on in Dunedin by the firm of Messrs Cargills, Gibbs, and Co. will be transferred on January Ist to a joint-stock company specially formed iv London for the purpose. Tho partners of the present firm will continue the management—-Mr Gibbs in London, and Mr Joachim in Dunedin, along with Mr K. B. Cargill as chairman of the local Board. We cannot state the name of the company until a prospectus arrives from London.

Tlie Caversham Borough Council aro taking steps for the re-establishment of a fire brigade in the borough, tlie former one having become disorganised,

Tlie fitting up of the pumping and winding gear at the Waitahuna copper-mine, which is being done for the Company by Messrs Davidson and Conyers, will probably be completed in the course of a week.

Messrs Ross and Glendining are now adding very extensively to the Roslyn Woollen Factory both in the shape of buildings and plant, a large quantity of machinery being at present on its way from Home, and expected to arrive shortly.

The Waipori Antimony-mining Company having been wound up, a new company lias been formed under the title of the Wanloek Head Antimony-mining Company, with a view to working the valuable lease. The pumping machinery is now on the ground, and will be in working order in the course of a few days. We al*.* learn that a company lias been formed to prospect and work the Carrick Range antimony lode,

Ml' Edmonds, n gentloman who has been engaged ill trade in Fiji, and is now ou a visit to Dunedin, informs us that in his opinion tliere will be a good markot for Now Zealand flour tliere, At presont Adolaido flour is worth £15 por ton net, delivered at Fiji, besides the duty of about £1 por ton. He considers tliat Dunedin ought to mako efforts to open up direct communication with Fiji, bringing fruit, sugar, coffee, tobacco, &c. as return cargoes. He is convinced from tlie rapid progress of Fiji tliat tho trade will grow into importance. Butter is worth about 2s per 11). in Fiji; cliee.se, about ls 2d ; bacon, ls Gd ; and there is a considerable demand for all these. Potatoes are worth about £7 per ton. Suva will after tlie lst January next be tlie capital, and i.s an excellent port; tlie trade of the Islands will, in Mr Edmonds' opinion, be centred at that place. Tlio Rewa Sugar Company have erected plant at enormous expense within .')0 miles of Suva, and will next year turn out several * hundred tons of sugar equal to tlie best Mauri- ' tins. This matter is worthy tlie attention of our merchants. On Wednesday evening the "Rev. Mr Niven delivered a lecture iv tho Union Church, King , street, on "John Knox ; or, ' the man tliat never feared tlie face of man.'" Tliere was a good attendance. Tlie lecturer gave a sketch of the early life qf Knox, and referred to tlie causes which lei} to his leaving the Romish Church. Tlie progress of the Reformation in liiHghtnd was then traced, Mr Niven contending that tlie English nation was more indebted to the Scotch reformers for the Reformation than was generally supposed; and lie concluded by pointing out one oi two lessons to be derived from tlio life of Knox, We learn from Invercargill thnt Mr Robson's recitals tliere have been highly successful, there being a full and enthusiastic audience at tlie last entertainment of the series, whicli took place last evening. His recitals begin here at the Temperance Hall on Monday evening. A meeting of the Angling Association was arranged to havo been held at the Coffee .Palace last evening, but as very few members were present it was adjourned for a week. 'The English postal authorities declare that the largest total of words ever despatched from one oHice in one day was sent from Leeds on the occasion of Mr (Hailstone's visit. No fewer than 1-17,27-1 words were transmitted over tlie wires. This was on the Friday. On the Saturday the aggregate number was 20G,27X, bringing up the total wired in two days to i;r»3,r>ri2. A highly successful musical and literary entertainment in aid of the prize fund of tlio local school was held in the Town Halli Caversham, last evening. The building was crowded, and Mr R. Rutherford, chairman of the School C«nimittoo, occupied tlie chair. Tlie entertainment concluded with a very amusing dialogue from " The Laird of Logan," performed by members of School Committee in character. Tlie principal part was taken by Mr Barron as Uncle Duncan, who wore tlie actual Scotcli bonnet used by Captain Cargill at the time of his landing in the Colony. The part of Fasel, a Scotch artist, represented as having great hatred of tho customs of tlie Highlanders, was taken by Mr Kuthurford, the other characters, Hurley and the Editor, being sustained by Messrs Bragg and Milne respectively. The proceeds realised over £30. '' Mr .Moss Jonas sells at Timaru, on Wednesday next, wool, sheepskins, &c. Mr A. Cauiphcll will soil on Tuesday next household furniture. At Wiiimite Station, on January 3rd, Mr 0. It. Freeman will sell thoroughhrod horses. On Friday next Mr William Todd will sell, on the ground, the' Lime Hills sawmill and plant. The Ota-iro Harbour Hoard give notice of their intention to sell hy auction, on the 10th Fehruary, the leases of several sections in tlio Crawford street block, and block I, Afch'il place and Frederick Btreet. Messrs .Maclean and Ci. sell on Saturday next, at their rooms, a suburban 'residence at Rosencath arid other properties. Me-srs Wrijrht, Stephenson, and 00. sell at Provincial Yards to-day r*ce and other horses. On Monday next Mr Montagu l'ym will soli a num ber of cases of lobste 3, &c. Messrs M'l.andi-es-*, Hepburn, and Co. sel! at their rooms, on Monday next, a number of mining The Caledonian Rowling Club open theiv new green this afternoon, when a match, Prisidcnt v. Vicepresident, will be played. A headmaster is wanted for the Ashburton Borough Sch >01. " People who spend as much as thoy earn are civiUsdil ulaves.i' — bornwpll," 'No inair should dv so. Nuvorivan a fortu c liftilt but upon the foundation of "savin;;," bo it uvor ao little. It is my earnest onduiivour to foster such "fortune-building" by selling cheap for cash. Come and try, and iry ai;iiiii • Splendid Southdown laii-I*. Lunjfbwich licc-f anil po*k, and prize merino mutton. —A. i)OKN\viii.l..— [Ann*.] John lUuiiorow, l'rofossed Sbirtcutter, Manse street, Dunedin, aud Hereford street, Christchurch.— A Sample Shirt, to measure, in 21 hours if required. Shirts re-fronted, Sec. ; flannel drawers, panta, and ui^hlHhirle made to order. Jackets, pyjamas, or sleeping suits iv any material. Collars and couV, nowest shapes and styles. N. B.—Gentlemen waited upon at their private residences if required.- [Aiivt.J