FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1889.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8556, 26 July 1889, Page 2

FRIDAY, JULY 26, 1889.

A debate took place in the House of Commons on May 16, from which may be gathered the present condition of a vexed and interesting qnestion. For many years, both before and since his election to Parliament, Mr Bradlangh has agitated assiduously in favour of an examination and rearrangement of the principles which govern the payment of socalled perpetual pensions. The movement so obviously represented a public need that it warmly commended itself to the public mind, and it has not been without its effect upon administrative procedure. A sense of external watchfulness has caused the adoption of careful principles in regard to the granting of new pensions, and an econo-J mical and progressive view of the subject is almost as widely spread among the neo-Con-servatives as among the Eadicals themselves. ButMrßradlaugh'sanxietyhadaretrospective as well as a prospective side. The country has been paying every year large sums of money to the descendants of long dead pensioned people—people differing so widely in repute and merit as Lord Nelson upon the one hand, and the mistresses of Charles II upon the other. The question natnrally arose, Are these payments to go on for ever? and how far is the public faith pledged to the present payee? 1 This delicate and difficult problem is evidently one whose proper settlement lies somewhere betweenTory tenacity of tradition and Radical rashness in dealing with the past. It may be observed that perpetual pensions have occasionally been commuted for a lump payment on the principle of 27 years' purchase. A committee of the House of Commons was appointed last year to consider the question fully, and three facts are at first noticeable in regard to its work: The majority of the members belonged to the Conservative side; the report was unani. mously carried; and both Mr Bradlangh and the Conservative Attorney-general agreed with the decision. Remembering these facts, it is also noticeable that the report said nothing of repudiation or even of compulsory commutation of perpetual pensions. What the committee recommended was that the present holders of these pensions should be invited to commute them, and it further expressed the opinion that the 27 years' rate hitherto adopted "is too high." In July of last year, as a result of this report, the Government issued a Treasury minute proposing the " invitation " recommended, but proposing also that settlements should be effected " on the same terms as have been accepted " in the numerous cases already commuted,'1 thus ignoring the secondary recommendation of the committee, (sanctioned by their own Attorney-general (poor Sir Eichard again I) and retaining the oldrate of 27 years'purchase. The debate of May 16 took place upon a motion of Mr Bradlaugh asking the House to dissent from the part of the minute referred to, and to express its approval of the report of the committee. The motion was seconded bf Mr Hanbury, a Conservative, and supported by Mr Gladstone, but was defeated on a division by 26-1 against 205. The result may have been partly attributable

to Mr GaSchen rs assurance (by no means apparent from the wording of the minute) that £7 years' purchase would be regarded as the maximum, and that distinctions would be made between oases where the pension was originally the reward of merit and cases where its origin was less creditable. The point involved is one of degree, not of kind, and we need not enter into the details of the arguments on either side: our object has been to notice the practical length which the question has reached as regards the general principle. We may touch upon two considerations in conclusion. First, it maybe objected that present holders of these pensions are not obliged to accept the commutation, and that the difficulty, may possibly remain as it was before. The answer to this lies in the extreme improbability of such a contingency. Pensioners know well that public opinion will hot take any retrogressive turn, to put it mildly, upon such a question ; they will be only too glad to effect their security and to agree with [ their adversary while they are. in the way with him. And this suggests the second objection: Why not repudiate these claims, at all events the least reputable of them, altogether? Two answers may be made. In the first place, such a line of agitation would indefinitely postpone all settlement of the question; the Conservative party would withdraw its assistance, with the very undesirable result of giving a distinctly party aspect to the movement. Even a proposal o£ compulsory commutation would not be accepted by the present House of Commons. Secondly, the integrity of the plan would be at least questionable. Mr Gladstone's speech, which evinced the responsibility of an ex-Minister who may be a Minister again, is worthy of study. While declining to recognise that the public faith was pledged by Charles 11, Mr Gladstone was unable to hold that Parliament was morally competent, though it was constitutionally competent, to ignore the distinct Parliamentary engagements upon which most of these pensions are based" " With the ideas he had of public faith, he " thought that where Parliament, of its own " deliberate act, aware of what it was about, " and ■ having the intention clearly before it, " had made an arrangement which took the "nature of a contract with private parties, "whether that arrangement was good or bad " for the country, it was the duty of Parlia- " ment to adhere to it."

It is clear that the Education Board of Otago does not know where to cry halt. At its meeting on Wednesday the special business before the members was the consideration of a letter from Mr D. White, written at the request of the Board, and explanatory of certain words uttered by him at the late meeting of the Otago Educational Institute— words deemed by the Board to be an impeachment of its integrity in the matter of the appointment of teachers. As we have already said, we thought the phrasing of Mr White's thoughts less guarded and discreet than we had learned to expect from that gentleman; but wo felt sure that his error was want of explicitness in the statement of his meaning, and not a desire to impute wrong motives to the Board individually or collectively; and that when Mr White came to explain, his words would be resolved into perfectly justifiable criticism of our education machinery. The Board was, of course, quite right in asking Mr White for an explanation; and Mr White has given an explanation which might surely satisfy any body of reasonable mon. Speaking of the three-candidate nomination system, Mr White said: "It appears to me "•to be a gross system of faTouritism from " beginning to end." As the system had been in operation only a week or two, the words " from beginning to end," if they have any meaning at all beyond that of mere emphasis, mean the system " in all its parts,' 1 "in any way you look at it." It is evidently not a phrase intended to indicate specific appointments made by the Board from the initiation of the three-candidate system np to the moment of Mr White's speaking. Mr White's words, in short, as explained by himself, carry very plainly this meaning, that the three-candidate system is a bad system, because it readily lends itself to favouritism in the hands of any appointing body inclined to this vice—whether that body be a School Board or a School Committee. It is, of course, perfectly competent for anyone interested in education, whether employed by the Board or not, to criticise a system or line of policy; and every Education Board and School Committee in the colony who make appointments under a system of this kind have j«st as much right to feel themselves insulted by Mr White as has the Education Board of: Otago. However immaculate the Education Board and School Committees of Otago may be at ths present moment, the time might come, thinks Mr White, when the three-candidate system might be made the means of praotising It is, therefore, in Mr White's opinion, essentially a bad system; and he-has a perfect right to express such an opinion. If any system initiated by the Board seems to Mr White to have evil tendencies, he cannot do a greater;, service to the Board than to say so. We are sure of our ground •in saying that there is no man in Otago who has done more, though in an unostentatious way, for primary education than Mr White, both as a practical teacher and as a'^heorist. He has been the soul of the Educational Institute since its commencement, and, though fearless in his criticisms, • has always .been loyal to his Board and to his •feltaj^teachers. It therefore ill becomes theHßtfd, he utters a phrase of doubtful'meaning, to. refuse to accept the interpretation he pi(.s upon his own words. What Mr White's opinions may be as to the integrity of 4iel>"Board and of School Committees in' tne appointment of teachers we do nofcinow; *or has the Board any right to concerfcitseif pierewith, being assured that Mr White^fwords were impersonal in their drift—a crff&sm of a system and not of men. We canvh*ardly escape the suggestion that the Boardiin the present instance is playing the paA^-U* frail prude too conscious of her own'"frsilcy. • j

The cable steamer Sherrard Osborne was again at work yesterday repairing the cable between New Zealand and Australia. The scanty cablegrams which we publish did not reach us this morning till au unusually late hour, the cable having evidently been cut, thus interrupting communication.

In the Legislative Council yesterday the Education Franchise Bill was thrown out, the Dunediu Exhibition Bill was read a second time, and the Triennial Licensing Election Bill passed through committee with some additions.

Stonewalling the Representation Bill with all strangers excluded from the galleries was continued in the House of Representatives yesterday, and the city members appear likely to beat the record in thia direction. When the telegraph office closed this moraing, arrangements had been made for continuing the opposition to tho bill until 7 o'clock this morning. The city members are hopeful that the support they expect to receivo from public meetings in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland will lead to a reconsideration of the measure by its supporters.

The civil sittings of the Supreme Court were continued before Mr Justice Williams yesterday, when the case of Kenyon v. Rich was heard. This was a claim for a balance that was alleged to be due upon a loan, and, after evidence had been taken, his Honor gave judgment for the amount claimed. The court was then adjourned until Monday next, when the case of Schmedcs, Erbsloh, and Co. v. Burrow and Co. will be heard.

Tjphoid is very prevalent here just now (telegraphs our Wellington correspondent). Mr Fulton, engineer for the Manawatu Railway Company, and 6ou of the M.H.K. for Taieri, is in a critical state. Captain Savillo, A.D.C. to the Governor, is also dangerously ill, it is feared with typhoid fever. The Countess of Onslow and children have gone to Nelson till August, presumably to avoid unnecessary risk.

A meeting of the Dunedin Clothing Manufacturers' Association was held last night, when representatives from all the factories in town were present. Mr Hallenstein occupied the chair. Consideration of the "log," which, it may be stated, has been before the committee on two previous occasions, was resumed, and after a couple of hours' deliberation it was settled, and the opinion was strongly expressed by the meeting that it was most satisfactory from all points of view. Taking it all round it j is an increase on the " log " at present in force, the prices of some classes of work having been raised, in other cases the price now paid was deemed sufficient, and in no instance was the figure lowered. It was agreed to have the log printed, and a copy posted up in each factory in town early next week ; further, that it should come into operation from the Ist of August. The question of the employes taking work home was discussed at length, and it was agreed that this was a practice which, in the interests of both employes and employersi should be stopped. An effort is to be made to get the manufacturers in Auckland, Wellington; i and Christchurch to fall in with the " log" agreed upon by the Dunedin manufacturers.

Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs:— " A rumour has been circulated that the Union Steam Ship Company engaged all the drays, &c. in Wellington'in older to prevent the s.s. Dupleix landing her coal. This is manifestly incorrect; seeing that all the drays and carts for coal landing are provided by coal merchants and importers, and not by the shipping companies at all. In the present instance it happened that Wellington coal merchants had bought the coal brought by the Union steamers, and not that of the Dupleix, consequently they naturally secured the drays to convey the coal they had bought. I am assured on authority that this version of the matter is aconrate."

The announcement in our. obituary columns of the death yesterday, at the Cliffs, of Mrs E, B. Cargill will be read with universal regret. The deceased lady has been ailing for some time, but was able to go about actively until a few weekß ago. She had been suffering from valvular disease of the heart. Lately her health had failed so much that her intimate friends were not altogether unprepared for her death. Mrs Cargill was born in 1823 at Newcastle-on-Tyne, her father being Dr Newsham—an eminent medical man of that place. She was [married in 1854, and had been a resident of this colony for over 30 years. She leaves five ohildren^F daughters—all of whom are living. One is the> wifss of Mr F. W; Petre, the well-known architect. The deceased lady was widely known for her generous and charitable disposition. For over 30 years she has been a member of the Knox Church congregation, and took an active part in the charitable and other organisations connected with the church. Nor did Bhe confine her attention exclusively to congregational institutions. She took great interest in the working of the Female Refuge, and was for some time president of the Refuge Committee. In private life Mrs Cargill was esteemed and respected by all.

At Invercargill yesterday Thomas Fearn, licensee of the Three Horseshoes Hotel, was fined £5, and the conviction ordered to be endorsed on his license, for permitting drunkenness on his licensed premises. It was stated that a settler went there for a drink on his way home, but stopped two days in a Btate of intoxication. He had £160 with him when he went into the hotel, and lost £80 while there.

Owing to there being no local government or local authority at the Chathams, a difficulty has arisen over the registration of dogs. Sheep farmers complain of the ravages of dogs, and have taken steps to bring the Dog Registration Act into operation, but the natives refuse to pay the tax, and it is doubtful if they can be mude. There is no local body to receive the fee?, which must go to the New Zealand Government.

The Melbourne Argus says:—"lt is now calculated that the Chinese in Victoria number 12,070, a total which should not be very alarming to a population of 1,100,000. The births among them are practically nil ; the deaths are tho usual number; and this, added to the loss by departures, must make the Chinese in Victoria a rapidly vanishing quantity. Soon the familiar 'Johnny,' who hawks vegetables and fancy goods in the right-of-wayß, will be a legend among his former patrons—the housemaids sud the children."

With reference to the new comet now visible, a correspondent writes to the .New Zealand Times: —" The comet can be seen easily by a telescope of moderate power, as it is situated in a dark part of the heavens. With its description given iv the cable message its position is quickly defined, and last night could be well seen. Those who are not conversant with the technicalities of astronomy will have no difficulty in picking it up by their telescopes or binoculars. Starting from the bright etar at the foot of the Cross (Southern Cross) along in a straight line past the bright Btar at the Cross' head on to the next nearest bright star, a distance somewhat rather more than this head star from the one at the foot, and leaving this head star under the imaginary line, the star thus arrived at forms the position lor finding the comet. A straight line from the star at the foot of the Cross through this star almost cuts right into the' comet, as near as the eye can judge, and this latter star is almost midway between the star at the foot of the Cross and the comet. Then the glass will at once reveal the visitor, with its tail toward south-east and a bright nucleus or centre-head."

A, sensational murder and attempted suicide occurred on June 22, in Lambeth, almost under the shadow of the palace of the Archbishop of jfi^nterbury. Nat. Currah last year confided his daughter to the care of George Letine, otherwise known as Goring, the manager of the Letine Acrobatic Troupe. Miss Currah was young, beautiful, and a skilful performer on the bicycle. Some months ago the father was led to believe she was abased by Letine, and had him charged at Cardiff with cruelty to the girl. Letine was acquitted. The girl returned home, and died there a month later of consumption. The unhappy father brooded over the circumstances and became insane. Meeting Letine outside Lambeth Hall on the date above mentioned, he attacked him with a knife, stabbed him to death, and then attempted to blow out his own brains. He was picked up writhing, but not fatally injured, from beside his victim's corpse. He raves continually of his daughter's wrongs, and declares he is glad they are avenged.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Enterprise Lodge, U.A.0.D., was held at tho lodge room on Wednesday evening, when there was a good attendance of members. D.P. Bro. Moss was also present. Visits were received from the Otago and Linden Lodges. A handsomely framed P.D.P. certificate was received by the lodge on behalf of the late P.D.P. Bro. G. Stokes. The A.D., V.A., and secretary were appointed to inquire re suitable, lodge room, after which the lodge weut into harmony. Receipts of the evening, £7 Os 6d.

The second of a series of lectures under the auspices of the Social Reform Association is to be delivered to-night in the Athenaeum Hall by Dr Belcher, she subject being " Sooial Reform ; Its Difficulties."

Our Clinton correspondent writes : —" Jlr M'Donald, who was a heavy loser by the burning down ot his hotel a few months ago, has, with characteristic enterprise, rebuilt on the same site a new hotel, which is a credit both to the architect (Mr Hislop, of Dunedin) and the builder (Mr M'Laughlan, of Clinton). On the occasion of the opening of the premises, on Friday, with a supper and ball, Mr M'Donald was presented with' a silver salver and 150 sovereigns to mark tho high respect in which he is held in tho dibtrict, and as a practical means of showing sympathy with his recent loss.

The performance givenafc the Princess Theatre last night by the Hugo Buffalo Minstrels was patronised by a full house, and the programme submitted, similar, it may be said, to Wednesday night's, met with due appreciation. The " funny " business in the first part of the entertainment was especially well received, and when a local allusion of a very telling nature was made the audience was perfectly convulsed. The character fiougs and dances as usual were redemanded, aud the performances of Tom Thumb, Alf Wadley, and noticeably those of Charles Hugo himself were looked on with so much favour by the audience that one reappearance would not satisfy them, and the performerß generously consented to the undoubted wishes of the house. The farce; created much merriment. To-night the minstrels give another performance. On Saturday there will be another matineo performance, when both the High and Stafford streets entrauces will be available. On Saturday evening there will be an entire change of programme, when the popular first part " On Board the s.s Buffalo" will be produced.

A minstrel entertainment was given last evening in the St. Peter's Schoolroom, Caversham, in aid of the Yjung Men's Club, by the Mohican Minstrelß. Ttyre was a numerous attendance, and, judging by ihe number of redemands, the performance found great favour j with the audience. Songs vbvb given by Messrs Gtigg, Hill, Ingram, Vincent, Rowley, Lees, Schoneld, and Hall, and were all well received. Several farces were performed, the chief of them being " A Midnight Intruder," whoh caused considerable merriment. Mr A. \V. Lilly, besides acting as aceompinisfc, contributed au overture which met with fevour, and a vocal duet by, Messrs Hall and Vincent also proved an acceptable item., ' — 'm , ■ : Mr Henry Lamer Bella to-dty, at his rooms, household furniture and effects. Messrs H. Driver and Sons sell in Saturday, at the Provincial Saleyards, a number of horses Sc. on behalf of a number of clients. The offices bf the Colonial Dru» and Manufacturing Company have been removed to liond street. Sir D. M. Spedding will sell tin Monday, at his rooms, shop fittings and accessories. : Messrs James A. Park and Co. sell fruit at their rooms at 11 o'clock to-day. ' Messrs B. 0. Reynolds and Co.sell to-morrow, at Mrs Constantine's, George Btreet, household furniture and effects ; also, on an eatly date, the stock and office fittings in the estate of Prootors, Jones, and Co. / A notice to consignees per Pleitno appears in this Issue, A friend who was one of the invited guests at the dinoer given to that ever popular hotel in Dunedin— the lißVlATHAif—remarks:—"Prophecies do not always prove true. Those whopredicted that such a gigantio house was not required, that it would never pay, and would be another white elephant, Ac, must have felt very small had they witnessed the numbers who sat down to the superb banquet mojfc kindly given by the worthy and esteemed hostess, Mrs Silk, to a numerous assemblage in her enlarged and magnificent dining hall; and the great success which thus oaused the proprietress to enlarge her premises only proves the fact that people will flock to the place where they can get the best value for their money.~[Advt ] Any one passing the shop of the D.O.M.S. Company on Saturday evening might observe 22 buttocks of beef hanging there, denoting that all the roasts had been sold, and these left to make beef hams with. These buttocks the company are selling very oheap, and as prime beef will be very scarce In a few months, consumers should supply themselves at once. This company will enter the lists of competitors for sausages.—[Advt.] . . ■ To-day Fnra AKD CuMIKO will offer the stock of Drapery and Clothing in the bankrupt 1 estate of H. B. Carter and Co., Invercargill, bought 1 at a tremendous discount for cash. You shall see the bankrupt stock Bpread out and piled up as you've never jet seen it spread out and piled up in I New Zealand. This grand occasion will be memori able as an event in the history of bankrupt stoaks. 'Twill be worth coming hundreds of miles to the i sale.—Ftfh and CrraaKO, 68, 70, and 72 George I street.—[&DVT.] Explorers and athletes, try the maglo properties 1 of the kola nut in Hudson's Kola Chocolate.— • lAdvt.J ______________