THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1891.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9109, 7 May 1891, Page 2

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1891.

Mr Ballance has recently favoured the representative of the New Zealand Times with the reasons on which he grounds his objections to New Zealand joining an Australian Federation. There are many men capable of forming perfectly sound and just conclusions who have every need to be careful how they reveal their reasons, and, after studying the report of Mr Ballance's interview with the press representative, we can scarcely avoid the conclusion that he is one of them, We should be sorry to sacrifice truth to epigram, but the real fact is that many more such reasons against federation -would seriously predispose most New Zealanders towards it. The first objection urged by Mr Ballance is that which had previously been

stated by Sir Harry Atkinson, and the force of which is undeniable. It is a purely financial, but, on that account, a very cogent reason—namely, that Federation means the adoption of the Victorian tariff, and the adoption of the Victorian tariff would involve to Now Zealand an annual loss of L 400.000 of revenue. It is perhaps

remarkable that Mr Ballance, who is a Protectionist of the most advanced type, and would carry restriction of imports to the verge o£ exclusion, should fail to recognise his opportunity to saddle tho colony with a tariff that has been so long the object of .his admiration, and ■which goes so far in the direction of his Protectionist aims. For the Victorian tariff is framed on the principle of loading with duties articles which it assumes may be produced in the colony, while aiming at a free list for all others, thus sacrificing to Protection the revenue that we in New Zealand are only too glad to retain. Still if Mr Ballance is inconsistent and prefers revenue to Protection, we are by no means disposed to quarrel with him, since his inconsistency is all in the interest of the colony and the freedom of its trade. It is when Mr Ballance leaves Sir Harry Atkinson and the financial aspect of Federation, and deals on his own account with what he calls the commercial side of the question, that his opinions become remarkable. The stock argument for New Zealand federation is. based upon the advantages of Australasian trade reciprocity—the benefit to New Zealand of an Australian market for her agricultural produce. Mr Ballance fails to see any advantage here, and in fact, if his argument means anything at all, it means that New Zealand by standing out of the federation will benefit by being thrown upon the English market instead of the Australian.

"The real point," he says, "of the agricultural question in New Zealand is this: New Zealand wants a steady market for her agricultural and pastoral products. The Australian market is necessarily a fluctuating market; years of scarcity alternating with years of plenty. The fluctuation of Australian food prices, and their consequent uncertainties, have done great injustice to the agricultural interests of New Zealand. The English market is the steadiest and largest—the wry market we want." Mr Ballance filralded this curious doctrine by the statement that he had given little attention to commercial statistics, and we can quite believe it. For surely no one who had even given a passing thought to the question would recommend a bad market that was steady in its badness, to a good market that fluctuated because it was sometimes high. If Australia is subject to years of scarcity of food products, as Mr Ballance truly says, that is very unfortunate for Australia, but it is clearly New Zealand's opportunity. And Australia is our next door neighbour. The English market is subject to no such fluctuations, because food1 products pour in from countries with which we can hardly compete. One of our principal agricultural products ia oats. Our oat crop last year represented 64 per cent, of the entire Australasian crop. Over a series of past years we could doubtless have depended upon la 5d per bushel for oats in the English market, which is what Mr Ballance would call a fine "steady" market, or as he puts it, "just the market we want." Over the same series of years the Australian market has ranged from Is lOd to 3s, and even 3s 6d. The fluctuations of which Mr Ballance speaks have been there, it is evident; but our farmers could readily get rid of them by accepting English rates. The English market has been extremely steady, but most unattractive in its steadiness; although there is strong reason for the belief expressed by us when writing on the subject a few days since, that the satisfactory advance in the price of wheat which has recently characterised that market is likely to be more than maintained until our nest crops are harvested. We agree with Mr Ballance that there are weighty reasons that should make us cautious about entering into an Australian Federal Union. But if he wishes to indoctrinate the farmers of New Zealand with his own hostile views, the less he says about the superiority of the English over the Australian market for agricultural produce the better.

We have little space to deal with Mr Ballance's remarks on other points, but the verdancy of his opinions upon questions of national commercial relations is amusingly illustrated by the following quotation from him :—" It is quite true that the Australians levy more on our produce arriving in their ports than we do on theirs coming to ours; but who pays the difference after all ? The Australians themselves. All the economic authorities unite in agreement that the weight of all imports falls on the consumer. Mr Goschen illustrated that the other day very ably during the discussion of Mr Howard Vincent's motion for conciliating the colonies by commercial concessions, when he said that the imposition :of a duty on corn coming into England ; would infallibly make bread dearer. Nothing is clearer than that the New Zealand produce sold to Australians is made dearer to them by the duties." The notion of Mr Goschen " very ably " demonstrating what no living soul outside of a lunatic asylum denies is not without its humorous side. Mr Ballance was evidently enjoying himself at the expense of the reporter. It is open to anyone to question the wisdom of a policy of free import whether in corn or in anything else, but it is just about 50 years or so too late now to call in question the fact that English corn duties raised the price of English bread. It is a hopeful sign to see that Mr Ballance recognises so clearly that articles " sold to Australians are made dearer to them by duties." The next step is to recognise that the same result follows in the case of articles sold to New Zealanders.

The only case heard at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday was that of the Equitable Insurance Association of New 7-ealand (in liquidation) v. Thomas Henderson, in which the plaintiff association claimed £10 8a 3d, for calls due on Bhares. There was no appearance of the defendant, and judgment was given far the amount claimed, with costs. Mr B. H. Carew occupied tho bench.

A special meeting of the 'Tasmania!! Steam Navigation Company was to bo held yesterday at Hobatt to consider the proposed sale of the assets of the company to tho Union Company on the terms of the provisional agreement entered into and to take steps for the dissolution of the company.

Tho infant daughter of John Docherty, of Port Chalmers, died on Tuesday in a fit of convulsions, brought on by whooping cough. The matter was reported to tha coroner, who deeroij an inquest unnecessary.

All attompts at an official recognition of tha oponing of the Otago Central railway have been abandonod. Mr W. Dawson, M.H.8., received the following telegram late on Saturday from tho Minister of Public Works':—" Have very great pleasure in complying with general wish to open Otsgo Central liuo to Middlemarch. Will endeavour to bo in Danedin earliest possible date. In making your arrangements it is my wish that Mr Vincent Pyke, who, in season I and out of season, has advocated the construe-

tion of this work, bo given first plane.—B. J. Seddon." Mr Diwaou called a meeting of tho members for the city, suburbs, and Taieri yesterday, when, after discussing the question, the

following resolution was passed:—"That in view of the uncertainty that exists concerning the arrival in Dunedin oE tho Minister of Public Works, no further steps be taken in tho mean-

time to publicly celobrato the opening of the Otngo Central railway."

Last night at about half-past 10 o'clock as CoDßtablo M'Allan was walking up George street

in plain clothes he observed a boy trying to open the door of Mr Cable's produco store with a key. Ho went towards the boy, who immedi-

ately ran down tho street, but was caught jusi

as he waa going into an hotel. He then had in his hand a bunch of keys of various sizes. On being taken to tho police station the only things that were found in his possession beside the keys were a pipe and a few articles of no value such as any boy might possess. He stated thathis name was Edward Martin, and that he was 17 years of ago. He has been before the Police Court previously for stealing, and the police believe that a number of the burglaries that have recently taken place are attributable to him. He will be charged >t the City Police Court this morning with attempted burglary, when a remand will

probably be asked for until the police have time to make further investigations with regard to the committal of the late burglaries in the city.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Gaelio Society was held last night in the Stuart street Hall. The Bay. Dr Stuart (chief) occupied the chair, supported by Captain Gunn (president), and Mr Dugald H'Lachlan (vice-president). A letter of apology for absence was received from Mr Simon M'Donald. The pipers having played a lament in sorrow for the death of the late esteemed member, Mr W. N. Blair, the ohairI man delivered an address reviewing the character : and lifework of their departed friend, describing '- his career from his boyhood upwards, eulogising his abilities professional and literary, and above all his character as a leal Highlander, good colonißt, true friend and consistent Christian. Captain Gunn and Mr M'Lachlan having also delivered speeches emphasising tho loss the aooiety had sustained in the death of Me Blair, it was resolved that as many as possible of the members should attend tho funeral. The concert of the evening was well sustained by Mrs M-Intoeh and Miss M'Donald, Messrs NM'Fadyen (Bard), Charles Campbell, D. Munro, A. Smith, and Colin M'Kenzie.

A novel and pleasing feature was an

Irish-Gaelic song by Mr J. O'Driscoll, which was well received. The pipers were Mr J. M'Kechnie (the society's piper), Pipe-major M'Donald and Mr J. M'Donald. Mr Colin M'Konzie was elected a member of the society.

Communication has beon received from the Imperial German Consulate-general for Australia, dated Sydney, April 21, 1891, directing Me John Hamann, of Jetty street, to take interim charge of the German Consular business in Dunedin, pending the appointment of a successor to the late consul, Mr Henry Houghton.

The Otaria correspondent of the Witness has the following on the rabbit question in this week's issua:—" Quite a number of men have made their appearance here lately, all bent upon rabbiting. They make capital wages at the business—indeed, I hare heard of one man having trapped 00 rabbits in a single night, getting 7d per pair, the factory trap coming round to collect them. When factories come to be more general I don'b think there will be any ÜBe for rabbit inspectors'.

Referring to thfl close of the dear shooting season, the Tapanui Courier remarks: —"We regrot to state that doe shooting has been very rife, and some of the license-holders are suspected of pottiug the harmless females. No less than eight dead doe's were counted by one party of sports, and the scarcity of live does was commented on by all the men who traversed the deer park. It is"a great pity that the Acclimatisation Society does not take more energetic action to chick the destruction of does, and we fear that the deer will soon become a thing of the past unless the poachers receive a Bevere lesson.1'

We understand that the distribution of prizes won at the recent High; School sportß will t&ke place in the school ball this afternoon at 3.30. Tha prizes are handsome; and as a cordial invitation is extended to all friends of the school, there will doubtless be, a good attendance to witness the distribution. The following are the donors: —Messrs; GriersoD, Braithwaite, Hallenstein, Theomin,! Beaver, Hay man, G. and T. Young, Crosby Morris, Sise, Hanlon, Scoular, Fisher, Rattray, Herbert, B. C. Haggitt, J. Roberts, C.M.G., Hyams, J. Wil3oa, Hszlett, and General Fulton, Dr Batchelor, Mrs R. Gillies,. Mrs E. H. Williams, two friends, Pirates F.C., Dunedin F.C, and Carisbrook Cricket Club, the staff, and the rector.

The mailed results of the November examinations which have j'ißi come bo hand are again (says the Christchurch Press) highly satisfactory as far as Canterbury College is concerned. Of the candidates who presented themselves for examination here 12 per cant, have failed, of those from Dunedin 27 per cent., and of those from Auckland U per cent. Of the six senior scholarships two have come to Canterbury, two to Auckland, and one each to Dunedin and Nelaon; while the Tinline scholarship has again come to Canterbury College. This scholarship has now been awarded five timesi and on each occasion a Canterbury student haß been the successful candidate. These results show that the local institution has more than held its own as facile princeps among the affiliated colloges of the New Zealand University. The case against Henningham, late of DunediD, for forgery of certain documents referring to land at Yarraville, alleged to be the property of Alexander Ross, was concluded at Melbourne on the 30th ult. Tho jary returned a verdict of not guilty of forgery, but guilty of uttering, and prisoner stands remanded for sentence. Mr R. A. Johnston, of the Crown Grant office, has been appointed secretary to the Otago L&nd Board.

The following Sydney telegram appears in the Hobart Mercury:—"lt is reported that large defalcations have been discovered in the New South Wales Treasury, and that a high official is implicated. Efforts are being made to avoid prosecution." The people of Riverfcon and surrounding district?, in public meeting assembled, have passed & resolution affirming the desirability of having the harbour improved, and a committee was appointed to take the necessary steps to secure the report of a competent marine engineer on the suitability of the proposed harbour site. The committee consists of the members of the borough and county councils, and a number of other influential gentlemen, who were authorised to obtain funds to defray preliminary expenses of obtaining engineer's report, &c. Mr Mackintosh has promised to use his influence to get.the Government to appoint one of their engineers to make a survey of the harbour. The performance of Boucicault's " Octoroon," for the benefit of tho bereaved wife and children of the late John Musgrave, comedian, has been dtfiaitely fixed for Thursday, 21st inafc., on which occasion it is to be hoped a bumper house will greet our amateurs who have so kindly come forward in this good cause. We have previously pointed out how much old Dunedinites are indebted to the late Mr Musgrave for his efforts in years gone by to provide amusement; and apart from this, his memory is respected by a large circle of friends in Dunedin, and it ia to be hoped they will rally round Mr W. F. Young in his efforts to alleviate the distress of Mrs Musgravo and family. Generous assistance) has been volunteered by many in Dunediu. Mr G. K. Smith, of the Otogo Daily Times, has presented £5 worth of printing; the Caxton CompaDy 800 tickets; Messrs Bills and Rose tho wigs, &0., necrssary for the performance; a largo orchestra have volunteered their services; and Messrs E. C. Reynolds and Co. have kindly grauted the use of tho theatre free. All this goes to show the esteem the late gentleman was held in by tho public of Dunedin; and wo can only hope the public will perform their part by patronising what promises to bo one of the most successful amateur performances ever bold here.

The Victorian Executive has decided that Johnston, who murdered his wife and family at Eallarat Bhall bo hanged, and have refused to listen to a petition from 40 doctors asking for a board of inquiry- as to Johnston's tnnity. Wilson, condemned for an assault on a girl, will also be hanged at Ballarat on tho saino day.

During the quarter ending March last the Melbourne Police Court dealt with 13,000 cases for drunkenness;

Two boxers at Newcastlo (N. B. W.), named Campbell and Grady, quarrelled near Carrington dyke on tho 30th ult., and Grady struck Campbell on the head with an iron bar, and battered in hio skull, so that he killed him. He then jumpod into the dyke, but becoming entanglad iv a fishing net was rescued, and chargod with murder. The will of the late Mr Langridgo has been proved for close on £28,000, which he has left to his family. Mr W. Watson, late engineer-in-chief of the Victorian railways, has left by hia will £63,000. Of this, £10,000 goes to his son, Robert, and the remainder to the brothers and Bister of tho deceased. The value of the estate

iv Victoria of Sir Francis Murphy is sworn at £12,507, of which £11,047 is realty and £1520 personalty. The estate is distributed amongst the family of the deceased.

Dr Alfred Carpenter, of Oroydon, the wellknown sanitarian authority, in an address recently delivered before the Association of Sanitary Inspectors at Liverpool, estimates the loss to England from the non-utilisation of sewage, during the last 800 years, at 16,000 millions sterling. He declared that if our present wasted sewage could be put upon the land, fivo times the amount of meat and milk would be produced over that yielded now, and five timeß the amount of labour would be employed thereon. He contended there should be from 5000 to 6000 tons of sewage placed on every 35 acres ot land, from which 40 to 50 tons of produce per acre would be obtained. Moreover, he argued that, if properly treated, the land would be freed from excess of nitrogenous matter, and there would be a completer purification of the water supply. He did not say, however, how the latter could be effected.

The Samoa Times of a recent date gives some rather amusing instances of the free-and-easy maaner in which the laws are administered in

the remoter districts of Samoa by the native magistrates and " faipules." In oue case, Mr Bartlett, a trader in Savaii, found that some copra sold him by a native had been stolen from his own Btore. He charged the native with stealing his copra, and the magistrate found him guilty and inflicted a fine of 20dol, the value of the copra stolen, and costs about lOdol. The line was paid to the magistrate, but none of the fine reaohed Mr Bartlett. It was all divided out between the " faipules" of the town, who had a good time for a day or

so, and the most impudent part of the

business was that Mr Bartlett was asked to contribute sdol more court expenses to

help the carouse. Another case occurred at

Saleaula. A gay Lothario, who had a penchant for stealing other men's wives, was tried before

the magistrate of the town. He pleaded guilty tc two of the charges. The husbands of the

women were present. The magistrate inflicted a line of 50 pigs for each offence, and off the native went to get the pigs. He could only raise 10, but as be had a bullock on hand he brought him along with the pigs to the magistrate, who immediately set to work to divide the spoils between the " faipules " and himselfi but the husbands of the stolen women got nothing.

Nearly every convicted prisoner complains that he does not get fair play under the English system of law, and to some extent the statement is endorsed by Mr Justice Hawkins, of the English bench. The renowned judge declares that prisoners are very unfairly treated by the practice of offering just so much evidence before the magistrate as will justify a committal. The most important items are generally kept back, to be " sprung upon" them at the trial, without notice. By this usage, " the whole provision of the statute requiring witnesses to ba examined before the > prisoner is set at defiance." It is "an idle farce " to say to the accused, under such circumstances, " Now, having heard the evidence against you, what have you to say ? "

A Bhipwrecked crew arrived at Sydney on the 26th ult. on board the steamer Tanais, from New Caledonia. A Bhip named the J. W. Gildemeister, under the German flag, left Newcastle for Hongkong in February, and was caught in a hurricane early in March. During the storm the heavy bodies of water whioh swept the ship's decks washed away the tarpaulin covering the hatohways, and bursting into the vessel's hold overpowered the exertions of the crew to keep the ship afloat. She drifted daring the hurricane bodily on to a reef off one of the islands in the New Hebrides group. Hundreds of natives assembled on the cliffs and the beach, armed with Bpears. Under these circumstances the crew, thoroughly exhausted by continuous work, and almost half drowned by the heavy seas washing them about, clang to their stranded ship. For six days and nights they watched and waited, not knowing the moment the would be attacked by the savages from the shoro, or swallowed up by the merciless seas, Happily the weather cleared, and the men found a means of escape by the aid of a ship's boat which still remained to them seaworthy. In this way they put to sea, and were picked up by the brig Para, and taken to Fort Sandwich, in Mallicolo island, and from there to Now Caledonia by tho French New Hebrides Trading Company's steamer. The wreck was afterwards sold for £15.

Perhaps English ladies who start in trade as milliners and dressmakers may find a useful suggestion in an account of the clever advertisement with which a similar business was opened ;n New York (remarks the Diily News). The dressmaker hired a theatre, decorated it liberally with palm 9 and flowers and the inevitable smilax, engaged an orchestra, and sent out tickets for an afternoon performance. There was a crowded audience, and the enterprising tradeswoman came on in a becoming toagown, and, leaning in a Juliet attitude over a balcony, remarked incidentally that the price of the graceful robo she wore was so many dollarsMeantime the band played " I dreamt that I dwelt in marble halls." Anon the air became more martial. A real live horse was led on the stage, and the dressmaker mounted him in a well-cut habit, after displaying which to the best advantage, she dismounted, and while giving the animal some sugar, she discoursed on the prices of riding gear. Then, in an afternoon costume ( she went shopping for her audience at a counter piled with the most tempting wares from her own stock, discussing combinations of colour and material with the " sales lady" who attended from her own establishment. Afterwards, in a ravishing visiting dress, she paid calls upon the Btage, and later on received her friends in a delectable indoor gown. The last scene of all beheld her in a Paris ball dress, leading forward a tiny girl dressed in pink, and looking so bewitching that tho ladies applauded most warmly, while the price of the little frock was made known by her mother. This ingenious mode of advertising is said to have led to very large purchases.

The London Watchmaker, Jeweller, and Silversmith of March 2 gives the following account of the enormous production of watches in the United States of America:—" The Elgin Watch Company's is still the largest factory in the world, employing 3000 hands, nearly half of whom are women. They have been turning out watches at the rate of 2000 a day. The Waltham, however, is running pretty close up to this, second. It now has 2800 hands. Although great alterations are being made in their line of production, the Waltham intend to give up casemaking entirely, in which department they are employing 125 hands less than this time last year."

Madame Cora, tho hypnotist, gave another of her mesmeric entertainments at the Princess Theatre last night before a capital house. Quite a number of subjects were experimented upon, and two or three who became entirely obedient to the mystic influence swayed over them, afforded, by their peculiar delueious, abundant amusement to the audience. • Another entertainment will be given this evening.

Meisrs Wright, Slephenson, and Co. sell 18 saddle and light harness horses on Saturday. Mr D. M. Spudding sells glassware ex Dulse of Buckingham on Monday. Mtasrs James Samson and Co lellhausehold furniture and effects to-day near corner of Frederick and Leithsbreets.

Monday next at 8 p.m is the time appointed by the Port Chalmers Boroug'a Council to hear claims and objections to the burgess list and to sign the roll.

Messrß A. Lorte ana 00. sell furs on Saturday next at their rooms. The goods, which are from Mr Nettleberg, of Melbourne, will be on view on Friday evening.;

The nomination of candidates to (ill an extraordinary vacancy in the Wnikoualtl County Council takei place on May 10, and the election (if necenary) on May 22. . ~ Received Stone's ABO Quldo and the Government

mllway time tuble for May The provisional directors of the Otago Industrial Co-operative Association held a meeting on Tuesday night, when it was resolved to postpone the closing of the share list till June 15. Messrs O. Mitchell, W. F. Kitchen, T. G. Brlokell, J. A, Millar, 0. Williams, D. M'l'herson, and W. M. Bolt were appointed a oominlttee to aisUt the interim secretary to push the further Bale of shares In town and country districts. The Hew Zealand Clothing Faotory Company have on view at their premises in tho Ootagon a quantity of Lilrltz1 I'luo wool preparations and fabrics, for whioh they are the sole agents In New Zealand The preparations consist principally of pine wool oil for arabrocation, extraot for baths, and soap for laundry, toilette, and ablut!onary:purposea; while the fabrics embrace various artlolea of underclothing, socks, ohest protectors, &c, &c. Both the preparations and the olothlng are claimed to have great curative qualities in cases of rheumatism, gout, and nervous affeotlons. The clothing li is said may also be worn as a preventive of dlieaeo by those who are not suffering from any disotder. In our amusement column will be found an advertisement of a limelight entertainment to be given in the hall of St. Andrew's Church, in aid of the Friendly Aid Society, this evening. Mr P. A. Coxbead will superintend the working of same, and we have every reason to believe a moat enjoyable performance will be given. The views are selected from a collection of 1200, the property of Mr n. Hudson. Bdbn Gbohok Company (Limited), the leading Photographers of Dunedin, will issue the greatest novelty ever offered to the Dunedin publlo on Saturday, June 6. Watch for particulars In this ptiDer. —[Advt.j Money can be obtained from It, Francis, Octagon (next Athenaeum). Repaid weekly, monthly.—Adtt.] Jobk Hibiop, Watchmaker and Jeweller, 7* Frlnoei street, The oldest established house in town. Heoairs of all kinds. Good assortment Watches, Clocks, and Jewellery. Spectacle! to salt all sights.—[Advt.] See G, and T. Young's (took of watchei, clocks, jewellery, sterling silver and electroplated goods, five first-olasi awards received N.Z. and S.S. Inhibition 1889-90. Prices strictly moderate. Largest and finest stock In N.Z. to select from.—lAdvt.] By special appointment to hit Excellency the Governor Lord Onslow for premier quality Aerated Waters and Cordials.—" Of other Sodawaten that have come under our notice, and take a very high place In Australasia, we would be remiss If we did not mention that of Messrs Thomson and Co., of Dunedin."—"Australian Brewers' Journal," 1890.— Thomboit and Co., Crystal Springs Mineral Water! Workf, Dnnedin.—[Advt.]