The Otago Daily Times. FRIDAY, JULY 7, 1882.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6366, 7 July 1882, Page 2

The Otago Daily Times. FRIDAY, JULY 7, 1882.

This report of the delegates from the several Chamberii of Commerce who met at Wellington to considerthe bankruptcy laws is of importance as indicating the opinions of the mercantile community, and will doubtless have due weight in influencing the Government as to the course they should take in amending the law. We almost fear the session is too far advanced to permit of effective legislation this year, desirable as Buch legislation is ; but the report of the Joint Committee of the two Houses now Bitting, and the one now under review, Bhould afford a sufficient basis for a thorough reform of the law, which it is on all hands admitted is greatly needed. The delegates recommend a return to the old system of official assignees. Creditors, they say, cannot, or will not, give sufficient time and attention to the investigation of a bankrupt's affairs, and generally " refrain from taking any steps to eipoße or punish fraudulent or reckless bankrupts." A thoroughly competent public officer in each bankruptcy district, aided by one or more trustees appointed by the creditors to act as a board of advice, would, by at once assuming full control and acting ' with promptitude and decision, be able to conserve' the bankrupt's estate and protect the interests of the creditors to an extent which is scarcely posflible for men who have plenty of other, and more important, business, to attend to. Moreover, the investigation of such an officer into a bankrupt's affairs would bo much more thorough, and the punishment of fraud would bo much more certain. It may be questioned whether four such officers stationed, aa the delegates propose, at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin, would be sufficient for the whole Colony*; but there might be power given to appoint deputies in smaller places, to act under, and report to, the chief officers. The expense would necessarily be considerable, as those officers would need clerical assistance, and would also need to be somewhat highly paid in order to secure competent and trustworthy men. The danger is that the patronage of the Government in appointing them might be used for political purposes, but as against this there is the check of a powerful Opposition. The costti of the department would be defrayed by commissions on the realised assets, ranging from 5 per cent, on the first £1000 collected down to 1 per cent, above £2000. It is also proposed to appoint two bankruptcy judges, who should make a special study of commercial and trade usages, and hold periodical sittings within their respective circuits. It is manifest that these judges would have to travel a good deal, but otherwise their duties would not be specially arduous. It is further proposed that no debtor should be finally released until he has paid 10s in the pouna, "yoncl his own control. Fraudulent bankrupts, it is proposed, should be prose cuted by the Crown Prosecutor, instructed by the official assignee. The delegates further recommend that no estates in which the genuine assets do not amount to £25 in value, over and above the £25 value of furniture and tools of trade allowed the debtor by the present law, should be allowed to be brought under the Act. In this connection we might be permitted to suggest that small estates in which the assets do not amount to £100 might be summarily dealt with by a Resident Magistrate, in accordance with the general provisions of the Act; but on this point the report is silent. Proposals are made to limit the costs payable out of the estate, of the practicability of which we have some doubt. The needful forms of declaration are to be obtainable at the registrar's office, or at any post-office in places where there is no registrar, the signature being attested by the postmaster or a J. P. Tho onus of proof of solvency at the time of making any settlement, it is proposed, shall lie with tho debtor. As regards bills of sale, the report discusses the difficulties of doaling with these instruments so as to avoid rendering bills of sale for a bona fide consideration piractically void, and the delegates confine themselves to a recommendation that no bill of sale in v security for a past debt should be valid unless 14 days' notice of the intention to give such a bill of sale is filed at tho office of the registrar, and recorded in a book open to inspection on the payment of a fee of one shilling, any creditor being permitted to lodge a caveat within that period. This would seem to afford a remedy against those cases of preference which have of late attracted so much attention, and been so severely commented upon at creditors' meetings. Finally, the report urges immediate legislation, and also urges that the law should be so framed as to make insolvency a matter of disgrace; to associate with it a stigma that will have a deterrent effect, and that will raise the tone of commercial merality. Qn j;he whole, these recommendations seem practical and sensible, aud if they do not covor the whole ground they should afford the Joint Committee great assistance in framing their report, which ought very soon to be presented. When we have that roport before us we shall recur to the subject, and discuss the whole question at greater length. The chief objection that we soe in the proposals is to the application of so much machinery to all esUtes alike, however small; and we aro

inclined to think that email insolvencies arising from improvidence would be much less frequent if some simple means were devised of making; tho debtor pay by future instalments out of his earnings the whole or a certain fixed portion of his debts. In fact, a distinction might justly be made between an insolvent trader whose los?es were In the ordinary course of business, and an individual who incurred private liabilities without reasonable prospect of payment No doubt tho official assignee, would take cognisance of such cases, but it is a question whether they could not be more promptly and e'ffi'eientfy dealt with by a creditors' application to the Re.sidnnt Magistrate, who might be empowered to'make an order as to payment, according to tho' facts of the case, on hearing both sides. These petty'insolvencies through reckless extravagance are very numerous, and, it seems to us, are almost a greater evil than the insolvencies of traders. Wo have little doubt, howevor, that the appointment of officials to exorcise full control over all bankrupt ppiates will be accepted as the basis of future reform, whatever difference there rmt-y bo in details.

The Irish Repression Bill, which the British Government are hurrying through tho Houso by means of urgency votes and other extreme measurea, is a strange

and yet perfeotly natural sequel to the notorious compact, or understanding, or whatever we may call it, between Mr Pab,nkll and Mr Gladstone The Premier, of course, denies that there waa over anything of the nature of a compact, and aa far as a formal agreement is concerned thia is no doubt qui'e true ; but Mr Parnbll's letter to Captain O'Shba, which waa road in tho House, taken in connection with tho liberation of the " suspects," the explanatiom of Mr FoiiSTBB, and the indignation of curtain of the Land League's themselves, leavo no room to doubt the existence of what was to all intents and purposes a compact—in spite of Mr Gladstone's almost incredible assertion that " there was not the slightest understanding whatever." The Premier also informed the House that the provisions of the nuw Repression Bill had boon planned long before the murder o£ the Secretaries; but neither can this be regarded ns a thoroughly ingenuous statement, though Mr Gladstone has doubtless some way of reconciling his political casuistry with his private conscience. Why, the express purpose of the Ministry was to try what effect a more lenient treatment would have on the Irish people. Their rigorous policy of coercion having failed, the welfare of the nation, to say nothing of the stability of the TCmpire itself, and their own reputation as administrators, demanded that some other moans of pacification should be adopted. This was the secret of their undignified and most unfortunate understanding with Mr Paknell. They ought, indeed, to have suspected a man who undertook, on certain conditions, to put a period to Irish outrogo, and they ought most certainly to have known that it was not in his power to perform what he promised, even supposing his intention to have been unquestionably sincere. The blunder which they committed was not in resoWing to mitigate their repressive policy, but in entering into a tacit agreement with men who had been fomenting sedition, and approving if not instigating murder, and other horrid kinds of violence, and whose ultimate aim was well known to be the dismemberment ef the United Kingdom. It is at any rate beyond question that such a bill as that now under the consideration of Parliament could not possibly have been contemplated by the Ministry when they took their new departure by thus coming to terms with the League. Bat the compact, or whatever it is to be called, was no sooner framed than It was annulled. The same day that Michael Davitt was released from prison the Secretaries were murdered, and now the League and the Government are again at deadly strife, as well on the floor of the House of Commons as in the disturbed districts of Ireland. The Repression Bill is being forced' through the House against the desperate opposition of the Leaguers, while across the Channel the old deeds of murder and outrage are as rife »» ever. It is a measure of extreme severity, suppressing trial by jury and substituting trial by three judges; authorising search at any time ; making membership of secret societies a crime ; giving power to the Lordlieutenant to suppress seditious prints ; and authorising the deportation of suspicious foreigners. It is drastic, but it is probably necessary, as the Fenian organisation can no longer be played with.

Some particulars regarding the supposed murder at Papakiao, a report of the Benevolent Asylum proceeding;! yesterday, letters to the editor, and other matter appear on our fourth page this morning.

Mr Fish is very unfortunate with his Harbour Board Borrowing Bill, and judging by the progress it is making, there seem grave doubts whether it will secure a passage this session.' Once again yesterday it was de. bated at length, and once again the 5.30 adjournment fouid the debate unfinished, by which means it has to stand over for another week. Mr Fish has been most accommodating in regard to it, having agreed to take £200,000 instead of £300,000, and! further, to undertake that £100,000 shall be spent on the bar and Lower Harbour. Still, however, the bill is opposed, and put off from week to week, and when the House is done with it, it has to run the gauntlet of the Legislative Council, where considerable opposition is also expected.

Mr Macandrew has given notice to ask whether the Government will further consider the advisability of introducing polecats and ferrets before proceeding to take steps in that direction; and Mr Cadman has given notice to ask whether Government intend bringing the opinion expressed by Mr Hall in his Leeston speech.

Mr Shrimski's Pensions Bill passedjits third reading last night, notwithstanding strong opposition from Major Atkinson and Mr Rolleston. Two divisions were taken upon it, one in Committee, and tho other on the third reading, but in both the Government were in the minority.

The news froir. Egypt this morning points to the possibility of an actual warlike movement on the part of the British Admiral at any moment. Arabi Pasha, the Egyptian Minister of War, has talen no notice of the remonstrance against the fortifying of Alexandria. He proceeds witi the work in apparently utter disregard of the presence of the allied fleets. Sir Beauchamp Seymour has not yet taken any decided step to enforce his threats, but may be expected to do so ere many hours pass. In view of the aspect of affairs, the French Government are making brisk efforts to send out naval reinforcements, whilst the Indian Government an also despatching British troops to the seme. It is apparent therefore that a crisis is beng prepared for.

The fund for tie Kitchener family has now reached the sum of £520, the greater part of which has been seitin voluntarily by friends and sympathisers. It is intended that this money shall be invested lor their benefit, so as to provide a small income, and relieve the pressing wants of the famiy. Messrs J. T. Wright and J. M. Ritchie ar« acting as treasurers of the fund.

A movement a on foot in Christohurch to entertain Sir Julius Vogel at a banquet on his arrival there.

The Benevoleit Asylum inquiry was concluded yesterdaj, and the Commissioners notified that the* would make their report to the Governor in due form. Both Mr Quin and Mr Tyree expressed complete satisfaction with the manner in which the investigation had been conducted.

The ship Abe>na, which arrived at Port Chalmers yesterdiy evening, brings 12 polled Angus cattle for Mr R. M. Robertson, of Gore. The animals came out in charge of Mr Gordon. They comprise tbee bulls, three cows, four heifers, and two talves, and are from some of the most celebrate! herds in Aberdeenshire.

A special meethg of the Harbour Board wa s held yesterday afternoon, but the proceedings were conducted i» Committee. The following resolutions were arrived at, and handed to the Press for publicition :—" He harbour dues : That on the repoit of the Finance Committee it be resolved that the arrangement between that Committee and the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce be ratified by the Board." "Re the new dredge : That Captain Stewart be allowed one month's leave of absence, and that the dredge be during that period placed under the charge of the dredging engineer, and be taken to sea by a sailing-master to be appointed by the harbourmaster and chairman."

The adjourned meeting of the Linden Licensing Committee [the one appointed by the Governor) took place yesterday. The members present were:—Messrs A. H. Ross, N. Y. A. Wales, A. H. Jack, A. C. Bogg, and JR. Chisholm. The tusiness was to take up the application by Mr W. T. Bunting for renewal of a publican's license for the Half-way Bush Inn, tho application having been adjourned to allow of applicant carrying out certain ueces. sary improvements. These improvements, the police now reported, wore in progress. After some discussion the Bench agreed to grant the renewal, the license to issue so soon as the house is thoroughly finished. It was also made a condition that at next quarterly meeting, if the improvements were not completed, the license would be cancelled.

Mr Thomas Johnston, lato of the Lawrence District High School, has been presented with a very handsome and valuable mantel clock by the Episcopalian Vestry. The clock was handed to him, together with the following letter, by Mr M. Fraer on Thursday:—" T. Johnston, Esq. Dear Sir, —We have been requested by the Vestry of the parish of Tuapeka and Waitahuna, on the occasion of your leaving the district to take up your residence at St. Leonards, to present you with the accompanying testimonial as a mark of their appreciation of your many kind and valuable services to the parish during the last 12 years

aa lay reader, churchwarden, vestryman, and Sunday-school teacher; and we have also been requested to express the sincere regret they fael at your departure from Lawrence. Wishing Mri Johniton, yourself, and family health and prosperity in your new home, —We are, &c, Or. P. Beadmont, M.A., archdeacon; M. Pbakk, hon. secretary and treasurer. Lawrence, July Gth."

The half-yearly meeting of the Enterprise Lodge, No, 111, U.A.0.D., was hold on Wednesday night, sth inst., at the Town Hall, South Dunodin. About 50 members were present, and tho auditors' report and balance-Hlioet were submitted to members and adopted. The triistoos reported to the Lodge that they had invested £50 of the Lodge funds at interest at 9 per cent, per annum on freehold land. One new member was initiated, and the election of officers waa tlyn proceeded with, tho following being doclared duly elected for tho ensuing half-year : -A.D., G. Stokes j A.I). Bards, W. Berwick and F. Martin; V.A., T. J. Robertson ; V.A. Bards, D. Jones and W. Tucker; 1.G., T. Hiddes ; 0.G., J. Murdoch; treasurer, J. Jackson ; secretary, G. T Clarke ; Dr De Zouche, surgeon (re-elected); W. Wardrop, enemist (re-elected). The newly-elected officers were then duly installed by the D.P., Bro. M. Moss. A unanimous vote of thanks was given the D.P. for the able manner in which he had installed the several officers, and for the interest displayed by him in behalf of the Order. Votes of thanks were tendered to the Lodge surgeon (Dr De Zouche) and the chemist (Bro. Wardrop). P.A. Bro. Jones was presented with a very handsome framed Past Arch diploma. The newly-elected officers closed the Lodge in due form at 11 p.m.

A remarkably sudden death occurred at St. Bathans about a week ago. A man named Richard Doyle, who had resided in the district for about two years, waa employed on the road near Surface Hill repairing some damage caused by the late flood. A couple of acquaintances passing along that way had a friendly chat with him, during which he sat down on a wheelbarrow and smoked his pipe. The next passengers that came along—only a few minutes afterwards—found him lying deadj with his face in a shallow pool of water, from which he had evidently been drinking. A post-mortem examination by Dr Hyde showed the immediate cause of death to have been asphyxia. A verdict in accordance with the above was returned at the inquest.

Our Edendale correspondent writes : —" Mr ,1. Shand, who has made such a large investment in portions of the Edendale Estate, has also been a very extensive purchaser of fat cattle and sheep, and for the last two months he had special trains engaged twice a week conveying stock to and fro, and will probably continue this arrangement for some time yet. He is certainly a very important factor in contributing town vih the four per cent, on our railway revenue."

Mr J. G. Closs, teacher at Tuapeka West, left this week to take charge of the Lovell's Flat School. Previous to leaving, a very handsome brooch and earrings were presented to Mrs Closs, in recognition of her kindness in conducting a sewing class for the girls at the school without payment.

The following is the translation of an extract from a German newspaper:—" An exhibition of newspapers is at present being held in Dresden, got up by Freiherr Yon Bildermann. It contains 291 German, 124 English, 154 Romanic, 34 Slavic, and 75 Asiatic papers; 99 illustrated papers, besides GO papers of the

' Punch' class, and 592 trade papers (among them 17 journals of fashion published in Dresden alone). The exhibition is arranged according to the various languages. The largest paper exhibited is from Santiago Domingo; the smallest is the New York Tribune, in diamond print. As a curiosity may be mentioned a Boston paper of the future—viz., of the year 1981. The paper published farthest north is the Finmuksposten, published in Hammerfest, at the North Cape; the most southerly the Otago Daily Times, which comes from Otago, New Zealand, We should also mention that the highest paper is a newspaper published 11,800 feet above the level of the sea, in Kokomo, Colorado, called the Summit Country Times." Mr T. D. Sullivan has introduced a bill for the revival of the pillory in England, this

punishment to be added to the ordinary sentences passed upon wife-beaters. The bill is not expected to pass.

The wire-rope tramway is being introduced in London for the first time on the proposed Highgate Hill line. The maximum speed allowed on the tramway is fixed at eight miles, per hour. The line will commence at the Arch, way Tavern, in the Holloway road, at the foot of Highgate Hill, and will end opposite Southwood lane, in Highgate. Out ■EW—-- p~..<ivnv writes: -Liiemanagors of the Fortroso Cemetery have caused \he graves of the 10 unfortunate victims of the Tararua disaster who were buried there to be properly attended to, and a suggestion has been made that a local subscription should eventuate in the erection of a sightly monument to their memory. I am sorry, although the subject has been mooted, that the Tararua Acre should hitherto have been totally ignored both by the friends of the deceased and by the public, and that nothing

has as yet come of my suggestion that an addi-

tional area should be added, sufficiently large to form a cemetery for block I, Otara, which if done would doubtless result in managers being elected or appointed whose duty it would be to see that the poor unfortunates who lie there had the respect paid to their remains which is due to all mankind."

Speaking at the luncheon at the Kaiapoi Woollen Factory on Tuesday (says the Timaru Herald), Mr Hurathouse put the members' holiday trip in a new light. He admitted that the proceeding was open to criticism, but he said that in his opinion "members were better employed in a visit of this kind than in wasting their time over measures which might be of very little use and still less ornament to the country." He thinks, in fact, that it pays the country better to give the Legislature free trips »nd keep them occupied with entertainments and sight-seeing than to allow them to make a hash of the laws and muddle the public business. Coining from one of the' most observant and outspoken members of the House, one of the very few original minds among them, this expression of opinion is significant, and may fairly be accepted as substantially true. But what a humiliating reflection it is for the people that the men whom they have chosen to represent them, and to whom they have entrusted the supreme control of their affairs, are so incapable that it actually answers better to indulge them in idleness and selfishness than to allow them to go on with tho work which they were elected to do.

The committee deputed by the Leeds Corporation to visit the Crystal Palace Exhibition have issued a report of 13ti pages. It is favourable in a high degree towards electric lighting, both arc and incandescent.

A small landed property was put up for auction in one of the eastern counties of England recently, whose value some four years ago was reputed to be £25,000. The utmost bid made for the estate of 490 acres was £9000, which was refused, and the whole bought in by the trustees. This is a practical proof of the depreciation of tho value of land in corn-grow-ing counties in England. Much arable land is running to waste in these formerly prolific and Taluable counties. Hundreds of acres are lying uncultivated for want of capital to pay the labour necessary.

Our Wyndham correspondent writes :—" We don't require to take a trip to old Ireland or the Isle of Skye to witness a fracas between landlord and tenant, as tho ' no-rent' system is being tried at our very doors; for not later than to-day wo witnessed the forcible ejection of a family who, it would appear, would neither pay ront nor leave their abode, although they had receivod several notices to

' quit.' Notifications proving ineffectual, more stringent means had to be resorted to by the landlord, Pour sturdy, daring carpenters, with axes, saws, hammers, &c, were engaged, and brought to bear upon the unfortunate dwelling, which in about an hour's time was smashed into a thousand pieces, and rased to the foundation. Hedge-knives and tomahawks were at times rather close to the workmen's heads to look comfortable; still thegallant little band kept working on, safe under cover of the landlord's musket. lam beginning to imagine that we shall require a constable stationed here before long."

A melancholy occurrence took place on May 14th in the Roman Catholic Church, Harrington street, Dublin. The Rev. Canon Murphy, the parish priest', was celebrating 8 o'clock mass, and after the elevation he proceeded to address tho congregation from the altar steps. He was exhorting the people against outrage, and strongly denouncing tho murders in the Park. Getting vehement in his utterances, he raised his hand in warning, and was proceeding to say that "the blood of the murdered men would cry for vengeance," but he had only uttered the word " blood" when his voice faltered and paused. Again he'

attempted to go on with the sermon, and scarcely had he said " blood " the Becond time than he fell senseless on She altar, and was dead seven minutes after. The event caused great commotion. The congregation then joined in prayers for the dead and left the chapel. Canon Murphy was only 00 years of age, and was much respected. He did not present the appearance ef a man subject to disease of the heart.

The Mount Benger Mail reports that a young man named M'Millan (employed by Mr Mervyn, of Roxburgh) had a narrow escape from death on the ranges leading to the Pomahaka during the past week. He left Roxburgh on Thursday morning, and it appears lost his way, and was out two days and nights wandering about, arriving at length at a hut occupied by some Europeans, wherfll he obtained some refreshments. It was on Saturday when he arrived at the place mentioned, and about half an hour' afterwards Messrs Mervyn and Gordon (who started early on Saturday morning) ar. rived at the> same place. M'Millan was brought into Roxburgh on Sunday morning ) and is now well, although at the time he arrived at the hut in question he was in a very exhausted state, from the length of time he had been without either rent, food, or shelter.

Th 6 writer'of " Letters to Eminent Persons " in The World thus addresses Sir Charles Dilke:—"The secrecy with which you veil your movements is not less conspicuous than the steadiness of purpose with which you direct them. Your plans once made, nothing is allowed to upset them. If, on leaving England, you were to order your brougham to meet you at Charing Cross six weeks hence at 6. o'clock, your coachman would understand that you would be there to the minute. You might in the interval have penetrated to the remotest wilds of Crim Tartary, or you might have been on a diplomatic mission in some European capital, -or in seclusion at your Provencal retreat. Few persons would know; and the one thing certain is that you would reappear in London to a day and an hour at the time you had fixed."

As an instance of how easily a scare is now originated at Home, the following item from the Pall Mall Gazette of May 17th is suggestive:—"lt was stated in several of the morning papers that great consternation had been caused at Chatsworth, the seat of the Duke of Devonshire, at the receipt of a suspicious parcel, supposed to contain explosives. The parcel was to-day dashed against a wall, and every precaution taken in opening it, when it was found to contain nothing more terrible than a few geological specimens that had been sent to the family."

'' The World " drew another large attendance at the Princess Theatre last evening, despite the unfavourable weather which prevailed. As usual, the greatest amount of interest was taken in the performance, and it would be hard to say which it excited in the highest degree— wonder or admiration. Tho startling events discovered in the plot are placed before the audience in a most excellent manner, with every appropriate surrounding, and the spectacle presented is unequalled by anything previously seen here. The scenery is beautiful, the mechanical effects are most complete, and the characters are, one and all, sustained in a first-class style. Mr Bland Holt as Moss Jewell is inimitable and exceedingly mirth - provoking, and Mr H. N. Douglas completely wins the sympathy of his audience by his powerful and realistic acting in the part of Clement Huntingford. It may not be out of place to bestow a word of praise on the orchestra, which is under the leadership of Mr P. Leech, and which during the progress of the drama renders appropriate melodramatic music which has been specially written for the piece.

A soiree musicale, in aid of the fund* of All Saints' Guild, will be held on Friday, 14th July. The prosrauime will shortly be published

Messrs Maclean and Co. will sell draught colt and riding hacks at Tattersalls to-morrow.

Jfr R. Stout Bill lecture at the Lyceum on Sunda: on " Darwinism, its Bearing on Christiauity."

Jle-sre M'Undrcsd, Hepburn, and Co. will sell cot ton tick, serge, and tweeds to-day.

Messrs Maclean and Co. will hold a clearing sili at Te H'iuka, near Balclutha, on Friday, 14tu July.

Payinentsin the Impe ial Build'.rgaud InvuEttnanl Society will be received t is afternoon.

The Burns Statue Committee have decided to pott' pone their next concert until August, so as to prevenl lntcrferini,' with the concert in aid of the Districl Schools Music Fund, which is announced to takf place at the cud of this month.

Suppose we were to abolish our courts for the recovery of small de.tj, would we not then inquire into the character of any now applicant for credit, and upou such investigation either give or refuse cre,dit, and not, as at present, give credit because it is customary to do a-j 1 I venture to affirm that were would not be the tenth pars of the present, lmmeroua insoivencies. Lest insolvended mea s more happy fumilie.i, legitimate profits only, and a saving i.f millions now squandered in idleness, drink, law costs, extreme profits, .vc., &c. The reason I sel; so choap cash paym'this ana enable an honest man to pay his own debts only. Fur prices see yesterday'o adveni enient. -A Dcmswuu,. ' Branches : Lottvr George street, Manse street, Arthur street, and Knikoiu. [advt]