The Otago Daily Times. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1883.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6739, 20 September 1883, Page 2

The Otago Daily Times. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1883.

It will be very strange indeed if the bill for. the reform of the Legislative Council comes out of the legislative mangle in anything like the same form as it now presents. There is a famous Spanish dish - termed olla podrida, consisting of a mixture of all kinds of meat and vegetables, which owes its unsavoury name to the trifling circumstance that when long kept it has a disagreeable flavour. The framera of the Legislative Council Act must have had it in view to emulate the Peninsular delicacy; for the result of their labours is a veritable hotch-potch, which does not greatly commend itself to the political palate at the outset, and will not improve on closer acquaintance. The franchise is demo-' cratic, and bq also is. the qualification. Every elector who is on the roll of any electoral district is to be entitled to vote for members of the Council, aud to be a candidate or a member. In fact, the members of both Chambers are to be elected by.thesamo constituents, the extent of the electoral districts only being altered. The latter are. to 'be limited to two—one for each Island, each returning 22 members. The tenure of office is conservative. Quinquennial elections are to be held, but for 11 members only in ' each division, so that the term for which they will be elected will be. 10 years—half the whole number ofcouncillors • retiring every five years. The first weeding-out process is to be performed by the councillors themselves, who are to reduce their present number from 49 to 22 on the Ist of January 1885. This-will be an~exceedingly painful process, and one against which the present occupants of the Council benches will be apt to revolt. When the inevitable reform was mildly hinted at ■in his Excellency's Speech at the opening of Parliament, a noble impatience animated the members. "It, is, I think" (the Governor was made to • say), " generally conceded that the Legislative Council has for. the most part discharged its functions with oredib to itself and with advantage to the Colony." But these soothing phrases failed of their effect. " Talk of damning us with faint praise!"' cried Sir George Whitmore. "This is the greatest affront that could possibly have been put upon the Council." And then, waking pathetic, he thus made moan : "If anything ; makes this paragraph more painful to us than another, it is that we feel that this arrow' which is killing us is plumed, from our own wings. It is the Premier, one of ourselves, who has deliberately put this affront upon us." Dr Grace asserted that the .Council might justly be looked upon as "the representative of unselfish patriotism"; and went on to declare that "it haß displayed more sagacity, patriotism, and prescience than any single body of Ministers; and that it has done more to save the Colony from financial catastrophe, to further, the interests of the real cultivator of the soil, than any single Ministry ever did, if not more than all Ministries put together." As for Colonel Bkett, he fairly excelled himself on the occasion. He roundly denounced the proposal for reform as "a nefarious ■league" to destroy the Council. "I feel as firm, sir," he averred, "in my seat here aB her Majesty on her throne !

I shall not resign to any man, or give place to anyone, bo long as I have breath in my body. I protest against this planning of our destruction. . . .

I am determined that nothing shall induce mo to consent to alter a single letter of our constitution as it now exists." These be brave words. And in the very teeth of their utterors there is thrown by Ministers this challenge to consummate tho destruction cf. the nominee Chamber. Without giving any undue weight to words spoken under excitement, such as are quoted above, it seems quite possible, and indeed probable, that the members of the Council will decline to perform tlie invidious task sought, to be imposed upon them. And they are in the place where they can offer effectual resistance,' since no reform can have the force of law without their consent, save in one way, which could only be resorted to as a last desperate expedient. There is at present no limit to the number of members that may be appointed to the Legislative Council; and just aa Earl Grey coerced the Houbo of Lords to pass the Reform Bill by wringing from King William IV. his reluctant assent to the creation of fresh Peers; ho,.in the last resort, Ministers may have to obtain the

Governor's 'authority for filling the Upper House with a sufficient number of Councillors to carry their measure.

Although electors on the ordinary rolls will be qualified to vote Rt the quinquennial elections, their voices will nut bs called into requisition in the event of a vacmcy occurring. In such case the duty of jQlliu^ the vacancy will bo remitted to the members of Assembly, each of whom will have a single - vote. Five • members of the Assembly may, nominate a candidate, and 10 electors niay nominate candidates at the quinquennial election. But there' is this marked difference. At the latter any elector may nominate himself ; but members of the Assembly may not do so; neither can any member of the Council in the first process of reduction nominate himself as one of those to whom other five years' grace is to be granted. Thus sternly is the doctrine of self-abnegation inculcated and enforced by the devisers of this absolute measure. But the effect is somewhat marred by one very suggestive clause, which provides that

Whenever the Premier shall in writing inform the Governor that he desires some person already appointed, or to be forthwith appointed, to bo a member of the Kxecutivo Council, should be a member of the (Legislative) Council, it shall bo lawful for the Governor to summon Buch person to the (Legislative) Council, accordingly, although there Bhall be no vacancy-in the number of members as hereinbefore provided. ' The person bo summoned shall continue to bo a member of the (Legislative) Council so long as lie holds office as member of the Executive Council, but no longer.

' When one reflects that many mombers of the Legislative Council have Keen selected from the lists of defeated candidates for legislative honours in the popular branch of the Legislature, and that the aatute politician who, is now Premier himself stands at the head of that list, it is easy to understand why such an ex tfa vagaut'prdvißion should have been interpolated into the bill. i:\Ve have shown its democratic side and its conBervativo side; and here we have its autocratic aspect. This clause is a profound mistake. , Nomiceeism, once at.tacked, must bo' stamped • out utterly and for ever. It will riot do to leave secret passages and sidt-doora for rejected candidates to creep through. ,And of one thing we maybe quite sure. - A man who is afraid to undergo the test of an election-is seldom worthy of office.

'Another., point deserving of notice in the new bill is the proposal to adopt a modification of the Norwegian system. • If a bill has been proposed in one Chamber and rejected by the other, the two Chambers are to sit together T under-the-presidency of the Speaker, of the Council; and if a,* majority of the Joint House thus constituted vote in favour of the bill, it is to be deemed to be a bill duly passed by the House and Chamber sitting,, separately. In this way, apparently,-it -.is sought to avoid a deadlock. Another provision of a similar character .and tendency ia that which forbids- tbo "tacking" of any extraneous matter to Appropriation Bills. If,, in the opinion of the Council, the Estimates contain any olause .dr matter which is in violation of the above provision, they are empowered to request that it maybe dealt with in a separate bill, and if the House refuses to comply with; such request, the two OSambers are to sit together to determino the: matter in-dispute. ' ■..-.. -/

: As to the mode by which it is to be ascertained who are elected at the quinquennial periods, there :ia nothing1 presented, in the Kill but a sectioual number and a marginal" note. luliefu of legislative provision there, h an "Appendix" containing a disquisition .', on the objects to be gained: by representa-' tion, which are stated to be "that every elector, so far 'as possible, should be' represented by'some person inwhom he has confidence"—a contribution to the science of political economy which' does not strike us as being altogether original.

! New Zealand politica were never duller than they are at tha present time. Wo have a poor House, and a not very fertileminded Ministry, while none of the old. politicians whom the constituencies rejected at the last general election make tho least sign. Even while Parliament was in session there was little interest taken iv public affairs, and not a particlo of excitement caused by • any . publio question. But the dullness of politics ia not the greatest evil under the sun. Did not Major Atkinson tell ua a year or two ago that the country wanted political rest after the revolutionary ardour of the Grby Administration ? And political rest it is notf enjoying, we trust for its good. The fact of the. matter is that we New Zeaianders are sometimes apt, like older and wiser nations, to g\,ve too much of our attention to political, and too little of it to1 social, questions. Whilo, then, the Government, or the Opposition, or both of them, are brooding over their

new policies, it-is not only quite right and proper, bat* highly desirable, .that thoughtful'ottizenß who are not devoured

with political ambition, but who have yet the , good of their country at heart - should call the attention of the public from ■ time to time to the ..derangements and imperfeotions of our social system. Such letters aa those signed "Thrift," the second of which appeared in Monday's issue, are quite as useful aa a long, rambling, political harangue in the shape of an address to the electors. Of these we shall soon have enough and- to spare; of the former there is .always too great a dearth. Our correspondent,' watching the youth of -the city, growing lads and girls, as: they issue in crowds from the workshop or the factory, is struck with their pale faces, their stooping gait, and the " precocious, premature-age look" which characterises so many of them. Here the keen sensibilities of "Thrift" perhaps lead him to exaggerate a little, though there- is, no doubt; 'some, foundation for his remarks. Hasty, insufficient, and improperly cooked meals, to which lie attributes the-painful/signs he has observed, are far too common in the homea of the working classes; and we fancy tho human frame requires more aud better nourishment in this climate, bright and stimulating though it ba, thau in the wretched climate of the Old Country,

from the gloom and general discomfort of which bo many of us were so glad to escape. We doubt the truth of the asser-

tion that tho Colonial youth are not nearly so robust as the English youth ; but in a climate subject to such sudden changes as: ours there is urgent need for care and discretion in the management of children and the physical up-bringing of our youth. But how few children, after all, are properly fed—i.e., at proper

times, with proper food, and in a proper raannor. The growing lads and girls, too, are often sadly neglected in thia respect, as our correspondent remarks, and hence doubtless in some measure, though certainly not altogether, any defect in physique. .It is lamentable to think that after ao many ages of what is called civilisation so few homes should be properly conducted in respect of such mere material and every-day. matters as eating and drinking, sleeping and clothing, to say nothing of the too general lack of cleanliness—personal, domestic, and, if we may coiaaword,precinctal. Thelaws of health, which experience alone might have taught, are a.* yet very imperfectly understood by any. olass of the community. This part of the education of so-oalled civilised nations is only in its infancy, as the great multitude of doctors abundantly testifies, and aa we are constantly reminded by outbreaks of typhoid and other infectious diseases. Social questions of this kind, we say, are quite as important as political questions, indeed, if we all lived, as tho ancients used to say, according to nature, our politicians would do us comparatively little harm. Wo shall take another opportunity of referring more particularly to some of the suggestions made by our correspondent.

Fro^m the remarks made by the Mayor in introducing tho newly-elected councillors on Tuesday night, it is evident that he misunderstood tho spirit of our comments on tho recent elections. It was in no way our intention to cast a slur upon gentlemen who, without having' distinguished themsolvea particularly, have dono their duty as councillors faithfully according to their lights, and are esteemed by their follow citizens. But tho lack of competition, when there aro so many other men equally well and even better qualified, seems to us a matter for regret. There is plenty of room for the introduction of fresh blood into tho Council. So long as the management of munioipal affairs, remains in the same hands we cannot expect any awakening of energy on their part; aud that the same members should bs ro elected without competition shows not so much that the eleotors are satisfied, as that they are lethargic and indifforent, As we pointod out, moroovor, it is much to be regretted that our leading citiisans do not aspire to take part in municipal management. Messrs KoniN, Street, and Dick aro fairly-educated, sensible men, bat they must pardon1 us for saying that they have not yet reached to what is commonly oiled a leading posi tion in the community. In ancient Homo tho ablest and most distinguished citizens contended for civic honours; and although the circumstances are nub quite similar, it would be well for Dunedin if it were the same here. No one can' gainsay the fact that the men whoßO word carries -most weight in the community for the most part keep aloof from municipal councils, and though theirs is the blame for thii, ours is the misfortune. ■ The thanks of the citizens are due to those who do devote themselves to municipal work, but this does not prevent us from wishing that men of superior calibre would come forward for electidn. We trust that before many year* the powers of the City Council will be considerably increased ; and perhaps, when that time como3, we. shall see our principal merchants and leading professional men vicing with each other'for the title of Councillor. We fear, however, that this is a vision of other diys, not likely to be realised in the nintteenth century.' But without reaching this Utopia there is ample room for an amelioration in the status of the Council, and thu first step towards it must "be an awakening of interest on the part of the citizens ia the conduct of municipal matters. At present there is little temptation to mon. of the best standing 'to join the Council. If the public took an intelligent interest in the actions of our city fathers, bolter men t would probably come forward.

The reports of yesterday's meetings of Land

Board and Dunodin Presbytery, also of the local courts, with letters to the editor, &c. appear on our fourth pago. .

General Booth, the leader of the Salvation Army, has come to grief in Switzerland. He has defied the law by holding the customary religious demonstrations, and the guardians of the law hare retaliated by arresting him and putting him into prison. The news we had yesterday about the intended arrest of the notablo Cetewayo'is now-declared incorrect, so that for the hundredth time, almost, the Zulu king has been the subject- of a canard, The assassin of Carey, O'Donnell, is now before the police magistrate in London on a charge of murder. ,

■ Another big bank robbery has been committed in Victoria, this t'mo in the metropolis. The Commercial Bank of Australasia is the

sufferer. Fourteen bars of gold (the value is not stated) and £1000 in notes and gold have been stolen from a safe during the night. The •affair is shrouded in mystery so far..

■ .The British Queen arrived at the Cape of Good Hope on the 15th inst., en- route for Port Chalmers. The steamer i'enstanton, for this port, passed the Bluff at 5 p.m. yesterday. * "We are glad to learn that the little boy Chandler, who fell from the cliff at Cape Saunders on Tuesday evoning, is comparatively un" :injured, his wrist alone being fractured. Ilia injuries were attended to by Dr Bverleigh, 6 Fort Chalmers, and the little fellow is in a fair, i way of recovery. . .... ■_ ''.;-'"/*\....!!:.■". ■'.'.'' ! Tho directors of the Union Steam Ship. Company, after very careful'consideration of the circumstances attending the recent stranding of the Rotomahana on Waipapapa Beef, and taking into accouut the favourable finding of : the Court of Inquiry, and the immunity from accident enjoyed by Captain Carey during tho lengthened period he has' commanded the Company's steamers, have decided to reinstate him in his position in the service. They havo, however, issued a circular to all their masters, notifying that they wish it to be clearly understood that they regard it as a master a first duty to consider the safety of the valuable ship and lives under his charge, and that they have therefore resolved that in any future case of stranding the responsibility will be thrown entirely upon the master, aud he will not be reinstated in the service unless the accident ia proved to have, occurred. under such exceptional circumstances as entirely exonerate him from blame. '

The return lawn tennis, match between Messrs Dargaville and M'Donnld (Auckland) and Mr H. MacNeil, jun., and Dr Batchelor (Dunedin), which was arranged to take place yesterday, has unfortunately fallen through. The'cause is an accident to Mr M'Donald, which, although not serious in itself, has so far crippled him as-to render athletics impossible for some short time to come. Mr M'flonald struck his knee violently against a-post or stake whilst playing last Saturday, and has since suffered a good deal from the effects. The ruling recently given by Mr Watt, R.M., as to the mode of dealing with drunkards has provoked remarks from another occupant of the magisterial bench. Mr G. E. Eliott, J.P., made the following

remarks in .the City Police Court yesterday

" I may say I see that Mr Watt has expressed bis opinion that we have not the power to convict and discharge under the 143 rd section of the Act. I bow with a very great deal of deference to his opinion, he having had a great deal more experience than I have. I only bring a common-sense view to bear on the question. The Act says: 'On conviction shall be liable to a penalty of not less than ss.' In:my opinion you may convict and not inflict any penalty, I may be wrong—l am open to correction ; and if I am wrong I shall be glad to alter my opinion in the future; The accused in the present case is convicted and discharged." • ■.-..-

At the Port Chalmers Police Court yesterday, before Mr Elder, J.P., James Gallivin was fined 10s for using threatening language to William Galvin.

To-morrow (Friday) being St. Matthew's Day, full choral service will be held in St. Matthew's Church at 8 o'clock in the evening. The Right Rev. the Bishop of Dunedin, together with tho local clergy, will assist the Key. 0. J. Byng in the service; the Rev.-A. R. Fitehett will be tho precentor, and the Rev. W. H. H. Jervois (son of the Governor) will be the preacher upon this occasion.

The second annual parade of entire horses in connection with the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association, to be held at the Porbury Park to-day, promises to be an unqualified success. Over 50 horses have been entered, and particulars regarding these, together with their pedigrees and the prizes they have won, will be

- found in a neat catalogue issued by the Association, for sale at the grounds. This little book the secretary (Mr S. James) has evidently gone to some trouble with, and it will be considerably valued by stockowners, containing as it does such a large' amount of information about the variaus horses and their ancestors. Tha ground selected for the parade is round the new grand stand, from which a good view, of the hoieos may be had. There is, as usual, & large number of Clydesdale entries, and some new blood may be expected on. the ground. Among the Clydesdales Lord Salisbury, Prince, 'Taieri Tom, Souter Johnny, and some other well-known animals are to be shown; while in the thoroughbreds Le Loup, Harkaway, and Chancellor are to be seen. Only two trotting stallions are entered— viz., Pinloe Patchem and Shales. The former is an American horse, of whom we have heard a good deal, and he is sure to coma in for a fair share of criticism on the ground this afternoon. Ponieß, coaching stallions, and carriage entires are also represented, bo that altogether the show is likely to be a success.

The annual meeting of the Bruce Lawn Tennis Club was hold in the Council Chambers, Milton, on the a/ternoon of Tuesday Jaut. The President (Rev. James Chisholni) occupied the chair, and there was a fair attendance of members, l'roim the report it appeared that the Club had proved ip every way a thorough success. There were over 50 members, and play waß vigorously kept up throughout the Beason. This satisfactory state waß very much due to the energy and tact of the late secretary (Mr C. H. Gormack), whose departure to

JTelson was greatly regretted. Two rackets had been offered as prizes, for which 14 ladies and 20 gentlemen entered as competitors. After a keen contest, Miss Bett and Mr D. Poppolwell were declared winners. The report and balance-sheet were adopted, after which the following office-bearerj wore elected for the ensuing year :—President, Rev. Jas. Chisholra; secretary, Mr H. Gourley ; committeo—Misses

Bett and Black, Rev. T. L. Stanley, and Messrs Reid, Mahoney, and Poppehvell. It is expected that the playing season will begin in abjufc a month. Meanwhile tho lawn is being put in order, and the local players are looking forward with great interest to the opening day.

Ranger Adair has reported to the Land Board refjarding the deferred-payment holdings in the Shotover, Kswarau, Kingston, Nokomai, Earnslaw, and Dart districts, stating the amount of cultivation, and improvements on each section. Nearly all the settlers have made excellent progress in the cultivation of their lands, and in most cases havo effected substantial improvements in the shape of buildings, fencing, &c. Altogether the report is considered by the Board as very favourable, and an evidence that the settlement of tho districts montioned is being proceeded with in a satisfactory manner. In addressiag the Church of England Sundayschool Association the other day, tho Bishop of Melbourne took occasion to impress on teachers the necessity, if they desired to keep in contact with real conditions and real requirements, to study the newspapers in which the conditions nnd needs of tho day are reflected. He advised the teacher to "keep a book for suitable- newspaper cuttings of the present day, as they supplied the materials for hundreds of lessons. And," he added, "the Bishop of Manchester found the matter for the whole of his public addresses in the newspapers, aud he was one of the most successful speakers in England. Of course the speeches were marked with the stamp of his own energetic and practical mind, but the paragraphs furnished tham in the first instance." " ~ ' : The French war-steamer Bruat has recovered some relics of the ill-fated La P^rouse expedi-

tion, consisting of three cannon and as many anchors. La Pe'rouse was a famous French voyager, who sailed in 1785, nearly a hundred years ago, with two vessels to explore the Pacific. ■He spent a long time in the Northern Pacific, and fortunately transmitted Home details of important discoveries in that region. He was last heard of alive in 1788, in February of which year he was anchored in Botany Bay. Nothing more being heard of him, the French Government offered a large reward for tidings concerning him, and also sent out a search expedition, which was unsuccsssful in finding any trace of tbemißsing navigator. Later, however, it was discovered that both his ships were wrecked during a storm on a coral reef on the coast of Mallicollo, one of the New Hebrides group, all on board both ships perishing. Some "cannon and other relics were found, and eye-Witnesses of the disaster were found among the natives, so that no doubt of the fate of the gallant sailors remained.

At the annual public meeting .'in connection with the session of the Baptist Union in Sydney, the -Roy. David Fenwick, chairman of the Union, in the course:of hia inaugural address, remarked that the organisation known as the " Salvation Army," which is spreading its network of agencies all over the world, and is being liberally supported by multitudes of professing Christians in connection with the churches, ia an organisatioa which, instead of operating in harmony with the principles of the Christian religion, is doing its lovel best to make religion a byeword and a reproach, and is moreover freighted with elements of very great danger to the community. Our Lake County correspondent writos :— "Bishop Nevill, assisted by the Keys. \Y. H. H. Jervois and D..0. Hampton, celebrated the rite of confirmation at Queenstown and Arrowtown on Sunday. In each place there was a large number of candidates of both sexes and of all admissible ages. The Bishop's address and sermon were most powerful and practical, as was evidenced by the close attention with which they were listened to by the congregation, which crowded the churches on these occasions almost to excess. During the address to the candidates, the Bishop pointed out that the Salvation. Army, laying hold.of some' of the practical issues of Christianity, were laying the foundation of. a- new sect, from which its higher and more resthetio doctrines were excluded or ignored, and that' therefore, although it "might ' do gome temporary good, it could not last." : ; .'-. • The Canterbury Frozen Mnat and Dairy Produce Export Company (Limited) have received advice that their new refrigerator is on board the b.s. Doric at Auckland. The machine in question (says a local paper) is one of Haelam's, similar in size to the larger of J;he two now at work at Bolfast, and is fitted with all the latest improvements. The contract for the new cooling-room and stores, and enlargement of engine-room at Belfast, is in a forward state, and the fitting-up of the machine can bo proceeded with immediately it is received from the-ship. . , Several attempts at hop-growing on a small scale made at the Arrow and at Miller's Flat have turned out very successful.. The yield was a highly satisfactory one, and the quality; so far as could be judged, was equal to the imported hops. Further trials on a more extensive scale will be made, and it is to be hoped (writes our correspondent) that the soil and situation for the new trials svill be carefully selected, so as to prove what the district ia really capable of producing in hops. The freezing operations at the Wellington Meat Export Company's works are going on most satisfactorily. About 5000 carcasses Have been frozen in readiness for the s.n, Doric. The speech of Major Bunny, which -led to the resignation of the Masterton Volunteers as a body, is thus reported in the local Standard: • —" Major Bunny thought it was hardly fair to get him to follow with a speeoh after his Excellency, and there was little left for him to say, as his Excellency had touched upon all matters. He had been a Volunteer for 20 years. He remembered the time when the Maoris were

expected to cross the Rimutaka, and how the

.Volunteers turned.out to meet thorn, but were glad afterwards that the Natives did not,come. He rather severely censured, the Masterton

Volunteers'for not turning out that morning to act as a guard of honour to his Excellency. It was the day for the quarterly parade, and yet only about 20 men turned out; they attended in their ordinary dress, and were ill dressed too. The boys, however, were a credit, and he felt proud of them." ; ■ s

We are learning in this country (says the New York Times) a good deal concerning the habits of the European nobility. Every year a number of English and Continental noblemen visit us, and from them wa learn, the way in which noblemen live. It is now established that a nobleman always marries from two to six wives every year. In Bpite of his enormous wealth, the nobleman is always out of money, and is forced to borrow from every American whose acquaintance he can make. Evidently

forgery is one of the privileges of the European nobility, for our visiting noblemen rarely remains in this country a year without commit-

ting forgery, which, of course, he would not do if be supposed it was contrary to law. Noblemen also have a fondness for picking np small articles of portable property belonging

to other people, including coats and trousers, and leaving them with pawnbrokers. This is undoubtedly among the privileges of noblemen at Home, and it is only because we are ignorant of noble ways that we look upon it as objectionable. It could be wished that noblemen did not universally use bad grammar, to say nothing of bad language, and did not get drunk; but thero can be no doubt that drunkenness and bad grammar are habitual among all European noblemen. Of course it may be said that oar visiting noblemen are impostors, and that real noblemen are very much like other men. Indeed, there are ignorant "persons who seriously believe that an English lord may be a quiet, modest gentleman, and that a German count does not invariably resemble a Polish Jew. These opiniona, however, are by no means general. Whenever a man comes to this country and announces that he is a nobleman, we promptly recognise him as such, and, with great inconsistency, are surprised when he ends his career in gaol, as a German count has just ended his in St. Louis."

Referring to Sir George Grey's accusations aprainßt public men in New Zealand, the Australasian writes: —"Thia conduct is in the case of Sir George Grey aggravated by all of his personal circumstances and by hia past career. Educated aa a gentleman, and enjoying the advantage of belonging to th«* classes he spends his old age in reviling, he had a training in official life, and filled positions of importance and responsibility such as usually impart moderation and restraint. He retired for a time from pnblio life to a scholarly seclusion among his books in a charming island on which Nature has lavished most of her attractions. And it is after a life spent in

this way, that at a time when most men are glad to relinquish strife and debate, Sir George Grey comes forward animated by all the devouring ambition of youth, the principles of revolution, and the political manners of—well, we are unable to find any similitude for his treatment of his opponents, and mUBt confess that his manners and methods of warfare are all his own. The case is, in every way, a deplorable one, and those who have most reason to deplore it are the friends of Sir George Grey, who try to retain some respect for his talent, and esteem for his public character."

At a recent sitting of the Supreme Court in Auckland, the principal application was one under the Settled Estates Act of 1865, to approve of plans for the cutting up of the property of the late Captain Beckham. The plans showed the streets laid off to be 40ft wide. Mr Justice Gillies was of opinion that all streets in cities should be at least a obaia wide, and did not confirm the plans,

A good story relative to the " great unpaid " comes from another district (says a writer in the Tuapeka Presß). A sheepfarmer who had missed several of his flock thought he was justified in his suspicions that a neighbour wag the delinquent, and that he was therefore justified in procuring a warrant against him. For this purpoße he went to the local merchant, who was a J.P., and stated the case. His Worship listened to the charges made, and questioned whether the proofs were strong enough. Upon being pressed in the matter, he conclusively settled the affair in {his fashion: "Look hero, Mr Sheepshanks, Bill Smith is £30 in my books. If he gets into gaol I'll never ace it. Do you think I'm a , fool? I'll grant no warrant."

A telegram received at the Canadian Government Offices in London, from Ottawa, states that all kinds of labourers are in great demand. Ten thousand navviea were required for railway work north of Lake Superior, where there would be Bteady employment during the winter. The wages are 63 per day.

Chitrese ingenuity has invented a now plan of protecting carrier pigeons from birds of prey. A whistle, consisting of 10 small bamboo tubes, is, by means of a thread which passes under the wings, fastened to the pigeon's tail. In flight the rush of air through the tubes produces a shrill sound, and it is said the birds of prey are thus kept off. .' . . ■ ' .

"A Parent" writes as follows in the Wellington Times:—" My daughter is a pupil of the Girls' High School; every evening after tea she sets to work with her school-Vooks, exer-cise-books, atlases, &c, and has rarely .finished her task before 9 or 10 o'clock. Even when holidays are granted, such as the Queen's Birthday, the teachers take care to give out so many evening lessons that the holidays are taken up with study. What chance has a child whose time, in and out of school, is monopolised by her teachers, of learning under, this r^imfi dtKer duties which may be of more importance in her future life than even the knowledge that Cape Comorin is the southernmost point of Hindostan; that a snail is a gasterapod mollusk; or that paella is Latin for girl ? How ia she to find time to leaai plain sowing or housekeeping, to practise her music, to give attention to acquiring any little outside accomplishment for which she may show an aptitude, or to read standard English literature?" ~ ' '". " ' ~''.'■ , . .

A writer in a Home paper claims that the following sums up the Channel tunnel question in a nutshell:—"The ladies are very much frightened. They all say to me, Will not this tunnel increase the danger of invasion? And I answer them, Oh, yes; certainly it will. It is a means of communication, and all means of communication increase the possibility of invasion. Ships, for instance, and good landing-places,.and harbours.. A good harbour increases, it very much. Steamers, again, 'increase the danger terribly. But of all the means of communication I ever heard of, the tunnel is the least dangerous, because it is the one which is most easily stopped."

Our Broad Bay correspondent writes: —"The service of song "Uncle Tom "was beautifully rendered by the choir of the Port Chalmers Wesleyan Church here on Tuesday night. The Rev. Mr Thomas (circuit miaiater) gave the readings. There was a very large attendance from the surrounding districts, the Wesleyan Church in which it was held beinguncomfortably crowded. At the close all expressed themselves highly pleased at the treat they had received. - It is to be hoped that the choir will nbt'be long until it pays us another visit.

A service of song was given in Dundas street Primitive Methodist Church yesterday evening, in aid of the church organ fund. The attendance was very satisfactory, the capacity of the small building being taxed to the uttermost, and the entertainment proved in every way successful. "Given in Charge," a simple but graphicallytold story, was the piece selected, and the connective readings, which were' entrusted to Air S. M. Park, were given with great vigour and expression. The choir did thoir share of the work very creditably, and the solos were taken by Misses Hibbard, Thomson, M'Nair, Mrs Long, and Messrs Miller and Jago. '■. The chair was occupied by the Eev. J. Dumball, Mrs T. Stokes officiated as organist, and Mr 0. F. Edgar as conductor. . . ■

The Merry Thought? and Happy Moments Company appear at the Princess Theatro on Saturday night. Mra D'Arcy Stanfield, Miss Amy Horton, and Messrs Stanfield and Dark comprise the company. Everywhere they have ■ appeared, from Auckland downwards, the Press has noticed the performance remarkably favourably, and we anticipate a highly satisfactory season for the troupe iii Dunedin. r ' ' A notice regarding Saturday morning's traiii from Balclutbuto Clinton is advertised. Messrs Donald Reid and Co. will sell property In Moagiel on Saturday,-29tb ioet. '"■■'■„■ ■ Tne annual meeting of the Cwiabrook lawn Tennis Club will be he'll oa Saturday evening. •"■.■■■'■.■ Mr Montagu Pym will sell sponge-, sporting prints, , &c to-day; and clover seeds ness Tuesday. Mr Montagu Pym holds an unresolved talc o( .Tunisian chioaware to-day. ■ We have received from Mr Sydney James a email pamphlet containing full description and pedigrees,, and an account of the prizes taken by the horeea entered (or"the paiale to-day.: Thla should he a valuable referenca to owners of horses for breeding purposes, as it really is a stud-book oftho animals. Tb'ei entries are in alphabetical order. Wachter's fioyal charter and Gold-top Champame, in masnums,quarts,and pints, on ea'.e.—JißiWißros.— tAoTT.J - In cunsequence of the very large amount of doubtful and bad debts on my books, I have decided to make a reduction in prices for cash aud ebo:t credit Uustomers will bo pleased to learn that every.article is prime, and that I shall maintain the prond position of beinar the cheapest and most civil butcher in town. For prices, see new price-lists, aid compare them with what Is cba'ged by others. Tbis day IS very large Oxen and above 100 Sheep will be cold, at the new prices., both at George and High streets.—A. DORKWEI.L.—[ADVT.J