The Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1886.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7671, 18 September 1886, Page 2

The Otago Daily Times. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1886.

Mr Edward Wakefield, the member for Selwyn and wrll-known journalist, has dono the Co'ony a god turn, and one which probably no other colonist could have performed so effectively. His article in the August number of the "Nineteenth Century"—the first half of which we reproduce in another column—is the very thing that was wanted to counteract the effect of "Oceana." It is a piece of slashing criticism which can scarcely fail to command wide attention; and the facts which it makes known as to 'the crounds of Mr Fronde's com-

ments upon New Zealand, and the way in which he gathered his information, should prove something of a counterblow to the reputation of our assailant. "If," as Mr Wakefield concludes, "'Oceana' is the sort of work which Mr Frou c produces from the utmost abundance ■ f exact, recent, and thoroughly trustworthy inhumation, from facts patent to his own knowj ledge, from persons in contact with him, from events progressing under his own eyes, what are we to think of those monumental productions of his which have been compiled . n dubious surmises and vague conclusions drawn from ancient and abstruse documents, or from second-hand sources, corrupted

or obscured by a thousand errors or misconstructions '("

The question of Mr Eroude's reputation is, however, of small consequence to us. What is important is that out of the evil Mr Froude did us by though lo sness and want of reasonable caro in his description of New Zealand good is likely to evenuate. A country with the resources we have got and the piospects wo can show can well alibi-el to stand a little I'unning down. Our position in the world is very much that of a new shop in an old streot. What we want above all things is to be advertised —favourably if possible, but in any way to attract attention. "Oceana "has performed this signal service for us. It has made thousands of people talk about New Zealand; and if they have begun by abusing it, human nature must have changed if there have not been found friends to defend it, if only for argument's sake. Discussion has provoked inquiry, and th >tis exactly what is required. New Zealand can afford being inquired into, and the more people ac Home learn about our position aud prospects, the better it will be for us and for them we venture to hope. The first impression produced by "Oceana" no doubt has done us immediate harm; but tbat impression is being obliterated by the result of the inquiries to which it led, by the display of oiir resources at the Exhibition at South Kensington, by such articles as Mr Wakefield's and such papers as Mr Stead's. A little attention has been attracted to New Zealand, and we should do all we can to prevent that attention from coo ing down and to supply antidotes to Mr Froude's mischievous statements whilst people can be induced to take any notice of them.

That the tone of Mr Wakefield's article is somewhat bumptious, and his versions of matters of opinion not always entirely reliable may be objected by critics on this side of the water; but it will be well understood at Home that in, the first respect Mr "Wakefield represents the natural tendencies of young countries, whilst the inaccuracies of opinion are of little real consequence. As a matter of fact, it is of course not true that "we do not care two straws whether fam us writers think well or ill of us." We sh ultl be Very foolish if we were indifferent to foreign criticism, even though most of it be superfici'l. Again, Mr Wakefield, for purposes of effect, has altogether exaggerated the feelings generally entertained in Australasia about the advent of Mr Froude. Nor can we accept his picture of the distress in South Australia excep; as altogether overcoloured. Again, it is qu te evident that Mr Wakefield's opinions about Fedeiation blinded him to the interest which is taken in it in Melbourne, and we might quote several more instances of the same loose way of improving things for the sake of making Mr Froude look foolish. But tha Mr Froude has been made to look foolish—and that before the eyes of the people whose opinions he most regards, the more intellectual classes of England—there can be no question; and on the whole by thoroughly le.itimate means. Mr Wakefield has done the Colony a very good turn by his clever paper, and we should not be slow to acknowledge it.

In our supplement this morning will be found Dr Hocken's lecture on " The Early History of New Zealand," a report of the speech of Mr Matthews, Q.C., in the Crawford divorce case, and of the summing-up of Sir James Hannen on the same case, with other matter. On our fourth page appear Passing Notes, by "Civis," and reports of yesterday's local courts.

During the past week one petition in bankruptcy has been filed, the petitioning debtor being Donald Calder, of Caversham, builder.

At the present time no less than 391 men are engaged upon relief works in Otago, and other works are to be opened shortly which will afford employment, if necessary, to upwards of 60 of the unemployed. The men who are now employed are distributed as follows:— Anderson's Bay road, through South Dunedin* 35; Water of Leith Valley road and stream, 28; defence works at Ocean Beach, -18; at Taiaroa Heads, 33; at Deborah Bay, 15 ;on the Otago Central—at Mount Hyde sections 70, Silver Peak 72, Mount Allen 50; on Seaward Bush railway, 40. Total, 391.

Tho Hinemoa left the Rattray street wharf yesterday morning for the Bluff to pick up the rest of the prospectors for the West Coast. By the time the vessel leaves the Bluff there will be about 200 men, fully equipped for prospect, ing, on board. Most of the prospectors have had a good deal of experience in gold digging.

The Christchurch District Court, as well as that of Dunedin, will be abolished after the Ist October.

The prospectus is given elsewhere of the Mataura Woollen Manufacturing Company, which is to be formed with the |view {of establishing a first-class factory in the Mataura district. Special advantages are claimed for the proposed site, as the Mataura can be utilised as a motive power at a small cost.

A resident in the Western district, beyond Riverton, informs the Southland Times that opposums are becoming numerous in his locality. While engaged in bash work recently he had noticed the leaves of a species of tree nibbled and dropped on the ground in a manner new to him, although he had been a denizen of the bush for over a quarter century. Ou watching closely he discovered that opposums were the cause of the depredations. The interesting strangers are supposed to be the natural increase of several liberated by the late Captain Hankinson some years ago.

A meeting of the Ladies' Committee appointed to act in connection with the Bradshaw Memorial Fund was to have been held in the D.V.M.C.A. Rooms last .evening, but owing to the small attendance it was decided to adjourn until Tuesday evening next at the same place. The following are the names of the Ladies' Committee:—Mesdames Bell, M'Guire, Misses Johnstone, Ormond, Reminord, Davidson, M'Millan Smith, Holmes, Adams, Nelson, Knight, Dagger, Faulkner, Jackson, Peebles, Evans, and Gorn. It is intended to appoint sub-committees from the above list of ladies to canvass different parts of the town for subscriptions.

Tho Melbourne Age says: " Everything points to the near approach of the time when protective tariffs will be the rule and not the exception, and when that time arrives it will tax. the best statesmanship at our disposal to reconcile the claims of the working classes to the conflicting interests that will be called into existence by the competition of colony with colony, and the exclusion of the products of the labour of one colony from the markets of another. Reciprocity is a fashionable word, but it is easier to talk of it than to carry it out."

The Presbytery of Southland visited Gore on Tuesday to confer with the Kirk Session, the committee of management, and the congregation, when a somewhat lively meeting resulted. The moderator explained that the visit was intended to promote harmony in the church. He then invited any member who had a grievance to come forward and state it. We learn from the report in the Mataura Ensign that Mr John Mac Gibbon then came forward and charged the pastor (tbe Rev. Mr Mackay) with having no sympathy with the congregation's endeavours, his whole aim and end being to squeeze money out of them. Further, he believed Mr Mackay to be untruthful. A long discussion then took place, in which somo of those present stated that the attendance at the church and Bible class had fallen away, which was as strenuously denied by others. On more than one occasion there were scenes of indescribable coifusion, the meeting indulging in groans, his-ses, and hootings. After all the various little grievances had been ventilated, the presbytery passed a resolution expressing gratification at finding the area of dissatisfaction so limited. With regard to Mr Mao Gibbon's other charges it was resolved to meet in private. At the privatemeetiugafterwardsa motion was carried— " That haviug heard the parties, the prosbytory finds thero is no evidence before it lo sustain ,he charge."

Captain Hume, inspector of prisons, held an inquiry at Timaru on Thursday as to au alleged breach of tho prison regulations. The result has been tho suspension of Mr Cotter, gaoler at Timaru, for disobedience of the regulations anil telling a falsehood to the visiting justice. The charges were of a grave character, and the inspector considered them fully fpl'(|Ve(^ The mattor has been referred to tho Minister of Justice. An ingenious contrivance, designated "the Excelsior Duplex Tea-mixer," is now on view at tho shop of Mr W. Gliburt, George street. Mr Gilbert claims that the machine is on entirely different principles from others utilised for tho tea blending process, and he has taken steps to havo his invention patented. It has four distributing hoppers at the top; at the bottom of each of the hoppers is a slide valvo for regulating tho quantity of tho particular tea to pass from that compartment. By a crank in the centre these hoppers keep up an oscillating motion, and the various qualities of tea pass out together in streams, falling into a rotating cylinder on end containing a number of sieves, which circulate at any speed required. Tho latest cry for Protection in Victoria is from the sawmillers, who, iv public meeting assembled, passed a resolution that au ad valorem duty of 20 per cent. 6hould be placed on Tasmanian timber. During tho past- year undressed timber to the extent of 47,061,400 superficial feet, and valued at £3(50,251, had been ' brought iuto tho colony, and 3,174,000 ft of hardwood, vhlued at £14,625. One of the speakers at the meeting claimed that if the reciprocity treaty which had been spoken of between Tasmania aud Victoria had been given effect to every mill in Victoria would havo been compelled to shut up. Another speaker said that if things wore allowed to go on as at present all the sawmill machinery now iv Melbourne would be silent in a couple of years' time and the timber yards and sawmills would beeomo more storage grounds.

The last survivor of the veterans of Waterloo in Chelsea Hospital has passed away. John M'Kay, formerly of the 42ud Highlanders, died in that institution early in July. As doubts have been expressed regarding the age and service of this centenarian warrior, the Army and Navy Gazette gives some particulars from authentic documents preserved in the Royal Hospital. John M'Kay enlisted iv the 42nd in 1813. He served at Quatro Bras and Waterloo and was wounded in two places. On the reduction of the establishment of the army in 1816, ho was discharged at the age of 32 years, after only two years and 11 months' service. He must, therefore, have enlisted in his 29th year; no immature stripling, but a broadshouldered, big-chested man of sft Syjin. For more thau half a ientury after his discharge, M'Kay earned his living by hard manual work. In 1875 he Obtained a pension, and two years later he became an inmate of Chelsea. According to his discharge certificate ho must have been in his 102 nd year when he died; but he maintained that he was at least a year older.

The Rotorua correspondent of the New Zealand Herald writes:—A famous and most delicate fish is, I believe, lost to the world, viz., koura or fresh water crayfish, peculiar to our lakes. Both Natives and Europeans mourn the loss. The volcanic deposit appear to have killed them all. The kakahi, or pipi-liko shellfish, and the carp, appear to havo survived; but I fear the question of introducing any of the other more delicate kinds of fish is for many years at least settled.

At the meeting of the Clutha Presbytery the following resolution regarding fishing on Sunday was passed:—"Seeing that the Word of God commands us to remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy, the presbytery deeply regrets to notice that the Otago Acclimatisation Society have sanctioned fishing on the Lord's Day. The presbytery would affectionately urge all within their bounds not to countenance such desecration, but to do all in their power by word and example to preserve intact for themselves and for their children the blessings and privileges of the holy day." In an article dealing with the same subject the Clutha Leader says:—"The matter now rests very much with the owners of property along the banks of the streams. They should meet, consult and decide, let their determination be published, and then adhere to it. If a commencement be allowed with fishing on Sunday, it will go on and very speedily extend to other occupations. If nipped in the bud and rigidly prohibited a public scandal will te avertcd> and the aims of thoso who would publicly prostitute the day to pleasure and sport will be thwarted."

The case of Caulfield Barton, late teller of the Commercial Bank of South Australia, who has been acquitted of a charge of embezzling £1000, has (says the Adelaide correspondent of the Argus) left an uneasy feeling in the publio mind. The revelations mado during the trial of irregularities at the bank, not only by Crooks and Wilson, who are now suffering the penalty of their misdeeds, but by others whom the law so far has not been able to reach, go to confirm the impression that the institution was a very foul nest; and how the directors could have been so long deceived is a puzzle to everyone but themselves. Though some ugly facts were elicited, yet upon the evidence so elicited the charge of embezzlement was not proven, and tho ury had no alternative but to find the.prisoner not guilty; but the fact still remains that a debit slip has been forged, aud that a sum of £1000 is involved. And the question naturally arises, Who altered the document, and for what purpose was it altered ? It is a great pity that the whole of the iniquity committed in connection with the bank cannot be sifted to the bottom, and the perpetrators punished.

One of the latest scandals in connection with the British navy is in connection with the Imperieuse, the latest naval monster, on which £750,000 has been spent. A Home paper says:—"Through important alterations in her armament and armour since Sir N. Barnaby designed this class of vessel, the result is that, though standing in dock, the ship draws 25ft 3in of water, the exact amount she was designed to draw when at sea and in full commission. Her torpedo ports are only 18in above the water, and her armour belt is almost level with the water. She has 1400 tons of stores yet to ship before she can go to sea, and as each 36 tons will sink her lin, some idea can be formed of her present unseaworthiness. The Imperieuse, therefore, cannot go to sea just yet. ' Further experiments' are ordered, and perhaps after another £100,000 has been spent she may be able to take her place in our first line of defence. But what are We to think of' alterations' which sink the ship till her armour belt is below water, if indeed they do not send her to the bottom ? "

Haying finished off the Princes, the Radical journals of Paris have started another campaign. This time the vials of their wrath is directed against the German beer consumed in France, and especially in Paris. Not that German beer is deemed unfit for the delicate Parisian palate; on the contrary, the Parisian has a strong predilection for this article, and as a result the quantity consumed has been increasing year by year. Some correspondents of "reptilian" journals beyond the frontier have had the audacity to note this fact, and have produced figures to show that the quantity of beer sent into France since 1876 has been doubled. They also rejoice to find that German beer has almost driven the Austrian beer out of the market. It is now considered high time to alter this deplorable state of matters, and a vigorous boycott is therefore announced against this vile liquid, which is threatening to usurp the place of the native

Bordeaux.

We remind our readers that to-morrow is Hospital Sunday at the Synagogue, Moray place. There will be a choral service, and as considerable pains have boen taken to make this interesting and effective, a large congregation should be attracted irrespective of the benevolent object of the service.

Last Thursday's meeting of the Independent Church Mutual Improvement Society took the somewhat novel form of a musical, literary, and dramatic entertainment by the ladies only. There was a very good attendance. The chair was occupied by Miss Morgan, who opened the proceedings with an appropriate and effective little speech. The enjoyment of the evening was greatly enhanced by two amusing farces entitled respectively "The love of a bonnet," and "Wanted a general servant." The ladies are to be complimented on the efficient manner in which they carried out the varied programme ; the frequent applause attesting its excellence. The American tragedian Mr W. E. Sheridan, supported by Miss Louise Davenport and a strong company, open at the Princess Theatre on Monday evening for a short season. The piece selected for the occasion is Shakespeare's •' King Lear," iv which Mr Sheridan is said to be seen to great advantage. A new piece is to be presented every evening, and on Tuesday tho attraction will be " The Merchant of Venice", on Wednesday. "Louis XI"; ou Thursday, " Richelieu ": on Friday, " iDgomar "; and on Saturday, "Richard III." Tho company, wo aro informed by our correspondent, opened at the public hall in Oamara last eveniug. with " King Lear," to a very largo audience.

Tho Cabinet of Cape Colony ia a curious mixture. Ina speech in London the Hon. Gordon Spi'igg miid " they had ono of the most cosmopolitan governments in the world, for one was an Irishman, on ( o was a Scotchman, another it Savarian, a fourth was n puro Dutchman, while the fifth was the Englishman who had thi honour of addressing them." Fortunately, however (says a Home paper), though Scotchman and Dutchman aud Czech thoy he, they are all of them British in their affection for the empire and determination to remain part of it.

The present champion of tho aquatic world, William Beach (of Now South Wales), meets Jacob Gaudaur (of Canada) on tho Thames to-day, for £1000 a-sido aud the championship. Gaudaur is, if his American reputation ia to be iclied on, ono of the very best oarsmen of the presont day. so that the result of the contest will be looked forward to with some interest.

A*3 has been previously intimated, a Lacrosse Olub has beon formed in Dunedin with the view of introducing hero what may he termed the national game of Canada, where Indians and Europeans alikeplay it. The Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association havinggranted the useof Tahuna Park to the Dunedin LacrDKBO Club for practice, the first garbe will be pliybd this afternoon if the weather is at all favourable.

Mr W. 11, Horaburgh will aell fruit and other trees to-day

Tender, for perpetual lease land In various districts aro Inviied byt'ie Land Hoard. An auction sale of land in Pembroke will be held ln that township on 0. tober 20.

A grand concert is to be given In the Garrison Hall by the Ordnance Band on the 30th. Messrs James Samson and Co. will bcII household furniture to-day. M-ssrs Morrison and Mitchell will hold a sale of horses this morning, and in the afternoon will aell household furniture, kc

Mr U. M Spedding will hold a sale of unredeemed pledges to-day.

I'a seugers per R.M.S. Rimutaka leave for Lyttelton ou Wednesday m-.xt. Moesrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. will hold I heir 25th annual sale of Clydesdale and thoroughbred stock alter the horns parade on the 7th October.

The annual meeting of tbe Dunedln Parliamentary Union will be held this evening. Messts James A. Park and Co. will sell a valuable library of books to-day j and on Wednesday a quantity of earthenware and china. Mr Montagu Pym will sell fancy goods to-day; on Monday he will sell a number of cases of chairs: on Tuesday a quantity of tobacco; and on the 2nd of October a valuable libiary of books. A dramatic aud operatic entertainment, in which 31 performers tike part, is to be given in Jackmau's Hall, llavensbourue, on Tuesday, the proceeds of which are to be devoted to a charitable object. There is very little profit at present by the 6ale of meat, and most likely there will be less. Those who are larue consumers should avail themselves of the sales now made at theshops of A;Doß:>w.il,bandlay lii a stock of prime Corned Beef at 2d per lb. Large variety of sausxge... fresh daily, manufactured openly nk Central Shop-—[AdYt.] A lady member will occupy the platform at the Lyceum Hall to-morroW eveningSpring is coining, and with the clouds and storms of dreary winter let us hope the dark cloud of depression so long enveloping our fair country may also pass away, and once mon- we may busk in the sun shine of prosperity. Mr Cuming lias been sondlng us tons of New floods for spring and summer, considerably astonished us with one lot—viz., SOO dozen large Sunhats for ladies and gentlemen (white and colour-i), to sell at the fabulously low price of Id (one penny) each. Our Warehouse, 94and 04 George street, now crammed from fl, ,or to ceiliug with new goortß. Vißit. Inspect.—Fits and Cuming.— [Advt ,;

" In our candid opinion it would prove a moat difficult task to iind a ginger ale manufactured by the b-st flrmß in the Knglish mineral water trade to surpass that of Thomson and Co.. of Dunedin."— Uxtract from "The London Mineral Water Trade Itecorder and Advocate," January 11,8R6 —[Advt.]

Try tho delicious Cambridge sausages ..Only to be obtained at S. Q. Smith's, City Butchery, Uattray street.—[Advt.] Something New.—Carter and 00. are starting today and for one month a great sale of new goods just landed. Carter and Co, are determined to boom along, no matter whether lihies are depressed or not, it being a very unUsual thing to start the season's trade with ii sale, but owing to the large amolllit Of rubbish palmed off to the public Carter and Co.', t'ti protect themselves, have decided to offer their new imported stock at desperato prices for one mouth. Call early and see the splendid bargains in new drapery and clothing, just landed e.\ lonic and Kimutaka, and will be offered this month at extraordinary low prices.—Carter and Co., the cheapest drapers and clothiers inDuucdin.— Advt.]