THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1889.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8398, 23 January 1889, Page 2

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1889.

So long a period having elapsed since the passing of the Act providing for a change in the system under which the railways of the Colony are administered, the publication of some particulars as to the constitution of the Board and the general powers and duties of the Chief Commissioner and his colleagues will no doubt prove of service to the public. In the first place as to the raison d'etre of this legislation, it was not that there was any good reason to suppose that either incompetence or financial inefficiency had characterised the management of the running lines, but that the political influence that was brought to bear especially in regard to the railway service paralysed the administration, and practically barred the application of sound economy and the carrying out reforms from time to time considered essential by the Minister and the expert members of the permanent staff. A similar state of things developed in Victoria abuses so enormous that it became absolutely necessary that something should be done, and led to the adoption of the system which has there been in force for some years, and which, with a few modifications of no great significance, is now fairly initiated in New Zealand. "Without doubt considerable dissatisfaction has been felt in regard to the railway management, evidenced through the

columns of the newspapers, expressions of opinion at elections, petitions to the Legislature, and otherwise; and blame to a certain extent has

been thrown upon the railway officers, but we believe in most instances without due consideration of the circumstances under which those officers have had to act. When the present Government came into office, the urgent desirability of some crucial alteration almost immediately confronted them, and they wore induced by the example of Victoria, at that time about to be followed by New South Wales, to propone the constitution of a nonpolitical Board, which, as a corporate body, should have absolutely independent control over the working railways. The Bill for effecting this purposo was most carefully prepared, and passed both Houses without significant amendment in December 1887. The delay in bringing it into force has been duo to unforeseen difficulties, to which it is not now necessary to refer. A few weeks will see the new system in operation, and we may hope that tho anticipated advantages to the Treasury and tho public will accrue.

Tho effect of tho Act, when once the commencement of the system \h proclaimed, will be that tho " management, working, and main- " tenanco" of all tho open lines forthwith vest in tho Commissioners, who will have entire control, ft is specifically declared that" nothin" "in Part VII of ' The Public Works "'Act 1882' contained shall be " deemed or taken to entitle the Go- " vernor or the Minister to inspect or " examine, or to exercise in any manner " provision, superintendence, or con ■■ " trol over any of the railways vested " in or that may be vested in the pom-

'" missioners under tliis Act." This takes tho matter, it is to be observed, entirely out of political influence. The power is Handed over unfettered to tho Commissioners, whoso position is Unassailable by ordinary political attack. Their tenure of oflice is five years, and a Commissioner ce>n only be removed by " a recommendation of the Governor "to that effect," which must be

first laid before both Houses of the General Assembly, and be alarmed by resolution in each. Nov can the, in most cases, very effective measure of stopping the supplies be resorted to should the Commissioners be unpopular at any time with a section of the House. The Act provides that tho ( salaries of the Commissioners and of any Deputy Commissioner "shall with- " out further appropriation be paid

" out of the Consolidated Fund." In respect of railway finance, all moneys appropriated for railway purposes are to be expended under the control and management of the Commissioners, and the accounts are placed tinder the ordinary audit of the country. A very important part of the Act is part three, which deals with the " Rail-

" way service." This provides that the Commissioners may appoint and remove employes, and pay such salaries and wages as shall be determined by them out of money provided by Parliament. The Government is thus entirely divested of railway patronage, and the most objectionable pressure notoriously brought to bear on Ministers, especially the Minister for Public Works, can no longer be exerted with any practical effect. We will not speak of this Colony, because it might be difficult to avoid offence; but it was notorious that in Victoria before the non-political board was constituted, the skilled officers of the department who really understood their work were groatly impeded by the number of persons forced upon the department owing to the political influence of members of the Legislature and supporters of the party who happened to be in power. The Commissioners, moreover, have the power of fixing the scale of remuneration both in respect of salaries and wages, and will be able to act in this very serious matter with due regard to equitable and economic considerations. They will not be constrained to keep up artificial rates in order to please a certain class of representatives in Parliament, or to pander in any way to popular clanioitf and prejudice. The Attorney-general, in moving the second reading of the Bill in the Legislative Council, took occasion to make very clearly understood what were the views of the Government relative to the system to be established. They objected, he said in effect, to any instruction whatever being given to the Commissioners. "We shall hand the " railways over to them," he said, " and " tell them we want to make the rail- " ways pay: that we want to open the " country, and we want the railways to " pay interest on the money borrowed ; " and we desire, so far as that can be "brought about, that every facility " should be given to people to bring their " produce to market and open the coun- " try." The Commissioners, he added, should be left to do the best they can for the country at large, but at the same time, "it is also necessary that " the railways should at all events be " able to contribute a very large " amount of interest on the money " which has been borrowed for the " construction of the lines." The Act clearly gives the Commissioners a fair field; it remains to be seen how they will use their extensive powers. Therfl are questions, it may be noted, to be settled, and questions of very grave importance, financially and otherwise, which are quite apart from the management and traffic, and requiring other qualifications than technical knowledge of railway business. It will at once be recognised, therefore, that the Board has before it a task of vast importance, carrying with it duties that require the earnest and continuous exercise of the united abilities of its members.

The overland telegraph line to Port Darwin has been interrupted since Monday night. It was thought that communication would be restored yesterday, but this did not prove to be the case, and we are therefore without our usual Europeau cablegrams this morning.

The hearing of an action for damages for alleged breach of contract respecting a sale of shares was commenced at the Supreme Court yesterday before Mr Justice Williams, without a jury. The defendant in the case is the Hon. George Fisher, and the plaintiff a resident of this city. We have given elsewhere a tolerably full report of the case so far as it has gone. Considerable interest attaches to the matter as, we understand, some law points of importance are involved. The plaintiff's case was closed at yesterday's sitting, aud the defendant's will be heard to-day.

At the City Police Court yesterday morning one person, charged with drunkeuness, was convicted and discharged, and William James Panting, who was charged with making use of indecent language at Caversham, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. Messrs A. Bartlemau and Colin Allan were the presiding justices.

The Rev. Dr H. Belcher, rector of the Otago High School, is stated to have been commissioned to inquire into the working of the Victorian system of dealing with youthful offenders in Australia. He recently paid a visit to the Ballarat Boys' Reformatory, and after spending five hours in au examination was greatly pleased with the organisation aud administration.

A meeting of creditors in the estate of George William Mason, bookseller, Port Chalmers, hold yesterday affcernoou, was attended by four creditors. A proposal was submitted by the bankrupt to pay 2s 6d in the pound. Mr Watson moved that the offer be accepted, but the other three creditors voted against the motion, which was consequently lost.

At last night's meeting of the West Harbour Borough Council tho Mayor, Mr Barclay) pointed out tho urgent necessity of some steps being taken to prevent the pollution of tho harbour by sewage from tho city. Several councillors also referred to the fact that at low tide the stench arising from the offensive matter in the harbour was exceedingly objectionable, and after some discussion with regard to the matter, a deputation was appointed to wait on the City Council about it.

From the list of tho successful candidates for the New Zealand University junior scholarships in another column it will bo seen that four out of the ten scholarships come to Dunediu. 1?. Sicdeberg, the dux last year of the Boys' High School, is at tho head of tho list; while Miss Barbara M. Watt, who was dux of the Girls' High School, takes fourth place.

Detective Madderu has been transferred to Invercargill, and will be replaced here by Detective Ede.

At a meeting of the Canterbury Executive Committee in connection with the Dnnedin Exhibition, Mr Murphy-reported that the subscription list sent to the A. and I*. Association had been headed by the sum of £25 by Mr J. Deans. It was decided that as soon as possible the secretary fihould visit Dunedin to obtain information wanted by tho committee.

Thomas O'Connull, an old colonist, died' the other day at Sandhurst, aged 102. He leaves a widow partially blind, aged 105.

Mr Francis Henty, son of the late Edward Htmty, out; of the pioneer settlors of Victoria died at his residence, Kew, aged 71. Deceased was one ol Hve sons who arrived with his father in the colony in 1831.

At a united congregational meeting'of the Otepopo Presbyterian Church held at Kakanui

on Monday evening it was unanimously re'

solved that the Otepopo congregation ask

tho Presbytery of Oarnaru to moderate in a call to the Rev. Mr Wright, of Knapdale.

By an explosion of gas at No. 3 Albert terrace, East Melbourne, last week, three ladies—Mrs Taylor, Mrs Goldspiuk, and Mrs Megher, of the Imperial Hotel—were rather severely injured.

The premises had been rented for the use of six I Sisters of Mercy expected from Sydney, and a number of ladies were preparing it for their reception. An old abandoned meter had been turned on, aud gas escaped through a pipe which had been cut off. The ladies named went into the passage with a lighted caudle, when a terrible explosion occurred, doing considerable damage to I the premises, and burning tho ladies, Mrs Taylor I being the roost severely injured.

A bill has been introduced into the Imperial German Parliament for the insurance of aged and invalid workmen, and is now under the coir sideration of that body. It is an importing measure, inasmuch as it will, if passed, affect about 11 millions of German workmen. Its object is to compel every employer of labour to pay about 2d per week for each workman in his employment, one-half of the payment to come

out of his own pocket, and the other half to be

deducted from the wages. The payments to tho insured begin as soon as the workman becomes unfit for work, or has passed the age of 70 years. Payments are to be effected through the post office. This scheme has long been a favourite one with Prince Bismarck, who sees in it a means of neutralising the spread of Socialism, and it will most likely pass into law. The objections of the Social Democrats are con" fined to matters of detail, particularly the defective definition of what is meant by incapacity of work, and do not extend to the principle of the measure. Social reformers in England are watching this project with considerable iuterest.

The attitude which shareholders in the Royal Standard Investment Company recently took in regard to the action of the directors in purchasing properties in which they were interested, has (say the Argus) caused the latter to approach the executive committee appointed by the shareholders with a view of coruiug to terms. The statement which was made by Mr "VV. J. M. Larnach, one of the directors, at a general meeting of the shareholders on the 4th inst.i was that during his absence in New Zealand the other directors had purchased properties at, £330,000 from companies in which they wei° either directly or indirectly interested, the profit secured by them being at the rate of about £50 per acre. An informal meeting of shareholders was afterwards held, at which an executive committee was appointed, and authorised to take legal advice as to whether proceedingß could not be taken against the directors. The directors have communicated with the executive committee and intimated their willingness to cancel the purchases of property which have been objected to, and to hand back to the shareholders the funds that are available. The directors have not yet agreed to cancel the whole of the purchases to which exception has been taken, but in all probability some amicable arrangement will be arrived at.

An extraordinary story was told to the Melbourne detectives by a Mrs Grafton, who signed a number of cheques which a young commission agent named William George Fraser, a son of the Rev. W. G. Fraser, liberally distributed. Mrs Gralton arrived in Victoria 18 months ago with £850 to her credit, of which Fraser obtained £660 by various specious excuses. In August last, by which time they had become very intimate, Fraser admired some valuable diamond earrings which she wore, and asked that he might have the loan of them for a day or two in order to get a brooch made to match them as a birthday present for her. She gave him the earrings, and as he did not return them she asked for them several times, and was given different excuses. At last he informed her that he had deposited them at the bank as security for an overdraft, and with this assurance she j was satisfied. The earrings, on Fraser being f arrested for passing valueless cheques, were found in a pawnshop, where they had been pledgted by Fraser for £40. On other occasions, when in financial difficulties, Fraser borrowed her rings and bracelets, which had also found their way to the pawnshop. She states that she signed the cheques at his direction, and that he always filled in the body to suit himself. She knew that her account was exhausted, but he told her it would be all right, as he would olmoJS puj iv eUOUgII to coror the aiUOUllt of any cheque he got cashed.

The following is a passage from the article in United Ireland for which the editor, Mr W. O'Brien, M.P., was called before the TimesParnell Commission :—" The time has come for very plain speaking on the subject of these forgeries. The commission has now been sitting

for 27 days in London without getting much nearer to the subject which the public understands it was specifically appointed to investigate. So far the evidence has been a meauing-

less parade of-eight-year-old outrages, from all participation iv which the victims themselves examined for the forger concur in emphatically exonerating the league. The court has been cumbered with files of old newspapers, and stunned with the opinions of policemen, laud grabbers, evictors, and one tuft-hunting Catholic clergyman. Thank God, there is but one in all

Ireland to be found in such company. As to the condition of the country and its causes, it is true that the waste of time has been in some measure redeemed by the open exposure of the methods of bribery and intimidation by which the forger and the Government combined are desperately struggling to escape out of the horrible mess in which they have lauded themselves. On all this black business we claim our right of free comment and open exposure. We have no intention of waiting until the forger gives us leave to speak. With all respect for the court we do not care twopence for the opinion of the three judges, specially selected in the teeth of a justly indignant public, to protect the forgers and their friends and accomplices."

After mature deliberation (says the correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph) the following plan has been devised for the new form of execution by electricity which came into force ia New York on the Ist January of the present year, A stout table, covered with rubber cloth, and having holes along its border for binding, or a strong chair should be procured. The prisoner lying on his back or sitting should be lirmly bound upon the table or in the chair. One electrode should be so inserted in the table or into the back of the chair that it would impinge upon the spine between the shoulders. The head should be secured by means of a sort of helmet fastened to the table or back of chain and to the helmet the other pole should be joined, so as to press firmly with its end upon the top of the head. The chair is recommended iv preference to the table. The rheophores can be led off to a dynamo through the floor or to another room, and the instrument for closing the circuit can be attached to the wall. The electrodes should be of metal, not over lin in diameter, somewhat oval in shape, and covered with a thick layer of sponge or chamois skin. The poles nnd the skin and tho hair at the points of coutact should be thoroughly wet with warm water. The hair should be cut short. A dynamo-generatiug and electro-motive force of at least 3000 volts should be employed. Either a continuous or alternating current may be used, but preferably the latter. The current should be allowed to pass for 30 seconds.

Ourßalclufcha correspondent writes:—"Considerable local interest ia being taken in connection with the excursion train from Stirling and Balclutha to Romahapa on Saturday next, and if the day be fine there is every prospect of a large number of the townspeople taking advantage of the outing. The Railway department has been liberal in the matter of fares. The Clutha Brass Bund, under Mr James Hogg, will accompany the train, and play dance and other music during the afternoon, and the mayor anil a few other gentlemen have collected funds sufiicieut to provide ample prizes for children's sports. In addition, Mr John M'LeiUi, of Green Islaud, has presented a tin of biscuits as :i prize for a ladies' race, which will be run during the afternoon; ami last, but not least, I hear there is to be a baby show."

A special feature in connection with the forthcoming Duuedin Regatta, to bo hold on Saturduv, February 2, will bo a grand submarine mine t-xplosion and a display of the capabilities ot the torpedo boat, which will be carried out by the 'i'orpedo Corps, under the direction of Lieutenant Lodili;r. As tlio majority of thu Dunedin public have never witnessed this modern war vessel under steam, a largo crowd should be attracted to watch the various evolutions.

From a statement which has been published in the Sydney Morning Herald it would appear that Admiral Fairfax had some idea of bringing H.M.S. Orlando into Port Otago if it was found that she could cross the bar with the regulation depth of water under her keel. As we are informed by telegraph that the Orlando will go to Akaroa on returning from the sounds, evidently the idea of bringing her up to Port Chalmers has been abandoned.

An extraordinary report comes from Wentworth, New South Wales. It appears that a man named Robert Stewart was drowned at Golgol, 25 miles from Wentworth, on December 29, aud the body was recovered next day. The

district coroner, Mr W. J. Holding, did not hold an inquest until Monday; January 14, when the inquiry was conducted with closed doors, the press being excluded. The medical examination of the body was made, and after the case had closed, but before the court rose, two witnesses desired to give: evidence, point-iag to suspicion of violence, the face of the deceased having been disfigured, as if by a blow from a bottle. Tha deceased and a man named Reilly had crossed

the river Murray in a boat, and wore returning wheu Reilly alleges that the boat capsized and the deceased was drowned. Reilly made several contradictory statements. The boat was found right side up. The people of Golgol were indignant, and they met and passed a resolution to the effect that the Minister of Justice bo asked to remove Mr Holding from his position as coroner. The bazaar to be held next month in aid of the funds of First Church congregation promises to be quite unique in character. The plan of the hall shows that the stalls are to be arranged in quite a novel way, while the lighting

and other features will be entirely different to any yet held here. The committee entrusted with the musical arrangements 'have been very successful in procuriug assistance, and these will form an attractive feature during the time the bazaar is open. The ladies have already large stocks of saleable'goods, and quite a number of the more costly and elaborate articles. The bazaar Jopens on the 19th of next mouth, and will continue open throughout the week, wheu, no doubt, the expectations of success formed will be fully realised. Miss Mary Hume being about to proceed to England, it has been arranged to give a complimentary farewell concert in the Choral Hall on the sth February. Most of our leading musicians have given their services for the occasion, and the programme when published will be found a very attractive one.