TELEGRAMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9040, 16 February 1891, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

(Pub United Pekbs Association.)

AucKLAND,'February 14.

Tho case of neglect preferred against the contractors for the dip which collapsed in Ralph's property, Huntly, has concluded. Judgment was reserved until similar charges against Collins, the manager, are heard next week.

Several capitalists from the manufacturing districts of Eugland are reported to bo in Auckland looking for sites for the erection of factories.

Wellington, February 14. A Gazette extraordinary issued this afternoon further prorogues Parliament from February 26 to Thursday, April 9.

The calendar for the noxt criminal sitting of the Supreme Court, which begins on Monday fortnight, is a heavy one. There are 10 oases of the ordinary character—viz., false pretences, larceny, horse stealing, personation, burglary, malicious injury to property, forgery, and uttering.

Nelson, February 14. Last night a large gathering of the members of the Nelson Club assembled in Nelson to bid farewell to Colonel Webb, for many years their secretary, and to present him with a purse of sovereigns. Colonol Webb left this afternoon for Dunedin to take command of the Otago volunteer district.

Inveboabgill, February 15,

This afternoon a fire broke out among some flax stored in the yard of Ross' flax mill and spinning factory, Nith street, and adjoining Messrs Guthrie and Co.'s woodware factory. Both establishments have a special water service for fire, and the flames were speedily extinguished. The flax wbb covered with galvaßiscd iron, and the day being hot, and the sun strong, it is supposed that the lire originated in that way. This is the second fire on the same premises within a short period.

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS. (Faon Qua Own Cobeespondents.)

AUCKLAND, February 14. The Herald, referring to Mr Balance's speech, says : —" The speech made by the Premier at the banquet given to him at Wanganui on Thursday evening ia a very carefully balanced oration, and is meant to stand being deliberately looked at. On the whole Mr Ballance ateers as discreetly as could be expected. He makes large professions, of reform in various departments, bat when these are closely looked at they do not come to very much." Referring to the threatened change of the incidence of taxation by placing a fair share of the burdens j upan those who had acquired wealth in the' colony, the Herald Bays:—" Who are the' members of that fortunate class who are ac present escapiDg their' fair share' of taxation, and who ara able to bear additional taxes? Mr Ballance gives only the vagus indication of those who had acquired wealth in the colony. They, it seems, are the unprincipled fellows who have hitherto been escaping taxation. It is spoken about as if in acquiring wealth in the colony they had in some way robbed the colony and were now to be made to disgorge; but Me Ballance must keep in mind that men who have ' acqnired wealth id the colony' cannot possibly be made to keep it there; and that a declaration bj a Premier that a certain class are to bo marked out as the subjects of increased taxation is apt \o cause a restless feeling not conducive to the welfare of the colony. As regards the Government dealing in private lands, the danger of jobbing is too great. With regard to native lands, Mr Ballauce is entirely on the wrong track. He proposes to try to get the Natives to let thoir lands on perpetual lease. There again the State will ba sn intermediary, and there will bo perpetual agitations to get Parliament to vary the terms of the leases; besides, this evil would be created, that we should have a few great Maori landlords taking annual rents from European tenants. The remedy for the Native difficulty lies in quite another direction."

What will in after years be looked upon as a very interesting historical incident was enacted on the Btage of Abbott's Opera Honso this afternoon. Sir G. Grey at the request of the management ef Eaton's phonograph, now being exhibited lin Auckland," spoke several messages into 'the machine, for future use end preservation. One was for the ears of Mr Edison, and the other was a Maori message to the Native people of New Zealand. There were.present with Sir G. Grey—Mr and Mrs 8. T. George, Mies Kees, and several of his little nephews and nieces. The first message spoken by Sir G. Grey was to Mr Edison. Sir George delivered this twice, the firßt one that was taken being defective. The second time he delivered himself as follows in a clear, distinct voice :—"Auckland, February 14, 1891. Mr Archibald has kindly given me the opportunity of sending you a message, and I am going to speak a few words ot encouragement to so great a discoverer who has overcome such vast difficulties, and constantly laboured for tlio,good of mankind. Ido tills by telling you "how we in New Zealand constantly remember you with respect and gratitude as our benefactor, and tell you how strongly we feel the debt of gratitude we owe to you.—Yours truly, Geoege Geey." This messEge was repeated from tie machine by Mr Archibald, and was very distinct and clear. The second message was in Maori, and was addressed to the Native chiefs of New Zealand at Wellington. Sir George spoke as follows (Translation. Auckland, February 14,1891) :— " Oh, my friends, Mr Archibald is going hence to Wellington, together with two friends. Be sure and treat them with great kindness. They wish to behold all the beauties of New Zealand. Let them be very kindly treated by you. This is all, From your loving friend, Geohge Grey." The phonogram is to be presented by the Messrs M'Mahon to the Auckland Art Gallery for presorvation,

Wellington, February 14. The Post tO'nigh'; strongly condemns Mr Ballauce's proposal that Native lands should be settled on perpetual lease, the Native owners remaining landlords, and urges that this would establish a very objectionable principle, and in effect must impede the progress of settlement. With reference to my remarks of yesterday about the proposed conversion of maturing loans it occurs to me that I may not have made myself quite clear on one or two points of (his rather complicated question. Tho temporarily funded balance of the Stout-Vogel deficit (£400,000) is not included among tho various small amounts maturing this year, but among the large sums that mature during the two following years. I am not sure that I stated this so as to be clear. On the other hand the Atkinson deficit of 18S4 (£150,000) is included among the sums due this year. Putting aside tho debentures created against the accrued sinking fond, which can bo dealt with otherwise, and the sums which settle themselves by conversion already agreed on,

there remains about £800,000 that would be mostly liquidated by accumulated sinking fund

this year. Indeed the sinking fund or a portion of the.amount is actually in credit to a considerable sum, and is being used to pay interest. The conversion of the £800,000, instead of paying it off out of sinking fuud would set free a ouin of £600,000 of sinking fund (representing the accumulations of revenue raised and appropriated

for that pnrpose), and of this about £422,000 could be paid into the public works fund, under the scheme to wbioh I recently referred, but if tho larger proposal of conversion, which I also mentioned, should be carried out, then it is possible

that a sum of £560,000 might be available. Its application would, however, be strenuously condemned by a section of the Opposition party on

the ground that it is entirely fresh borrowing, because if the sinking fund be thus diverted a proportionate Bum muat be newly borrowed in London to pay off the maturing debentures. Some of the Opposition party are disposed, however, to view the scheme more favourably, as they deem the prosecution of the public works ao desirable as to outweigh tho drawbacks of the proposed mode of accomplishing this end. They seem to think, in fact, that such rm end justifies tfce means, and I have reason to believe they will support the Government on this question should Ministers decide to bring forward the

>ropo«als to which I have alluded,

Sir Harry Atkinson tells me1 he haa decided Dot to Btatt by the Mararoa on Monday for Sydney, via Melbourne, os at first arranged, but that h8 will go by Thursday's direct boat to Sydney, as he will thus arrive in good time for the Federation Conference, and he will escape a good deal of tedious travelling by sea aud land. Ho is looking rathpr better, but seems still to dread any severe mental exertion. He is now removing from the Ministerial residenca (in which he will be succeeded, n3 I mentioned before, by the new Prims Minister) and is taking a housa in South Wellington for a torm ef years. The Government are going to make another attempt to sell by auction the large residence in TinaUori road, recently occupied by Captain Russell. City properties have, however, been so little in demand of late that no very sanguine anticioationfl are entertained of a good price being" realised, if, indeed, any sala at all be effected. There is some talk of another effort baing made to secure the buildings aud property for some local public purpose, but thw does not seem as yet to commsud much general enthusiasm. Ths» " Oasino" as ib is generally called, is R veritable white elephant.

The floods of the last two days have been very heavy, but except as to the harvest, tho resulting damage seems to have been comparatively small. Tho official retorts from the Monawatu Gorge are far better than could have been expected in view of tho tremendous downpour, and tho damage there seems to have been relatively slight, Some bad slips are reported on the Masterton and Wanganui-Taranafci lines. The weather looks better this evening and the barometer is rising.

Sir James Hfctor Identified the ecako recently

found near Catlin's fiver by Dr Smith us a epeoimen of the harmless water snake pelamfs. which abounds In the tropical parts of tho Pacific Ocean. No doubt'the specimen had drifted to the New Zealand coaiit and taken to the shore. A ipepimenof tin s*me oen enalte was obtained somo yttai yen at tlie Bay of Islands, and is now ia the Wellington

DHAF FORTY YBAKS. The description of a simple remedy, by which a sufferer has just been oured of deafness and noises in tie htai of fobty years' btandiko, sent fbbf.—

Apply NIOHOLBOS. jtfSWlMam Utent, Melbourne,