THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1892.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9340, 3 February 1892, Page 2

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1892.

The speech of the member for Clutha, which we published in full in our supplement yesterday, is chit fly remarkable for the laborious industry with which Mr Mackenzie has gone into the details of the policy and administration of the Government. Mr Mackenzie evidently understands figures, aud has much confidence alike in his own capacity for handling them and in their power of establishing facts that are likely to strike'the mind of the hearer. It seems to us, however, that he scattered them too freely and in too much detail over his speech. The power of marshalling facts aud figures into such order as enables sharp and easily understood deductions to be drawn from them ho does not possess in sufficient degree, and thus the mind of the reader is apt to drop the various subjects dealt with as soon as the speaker himself is done with them. Nevertheless tho speech in question is an extremely manly utterance, giving evidence of close attention paid to public affairs, and showing Mr Mackenzie as the possessor of fixed opinions which he is not disposed to vary or abandon, as so many do, to suit the purposes of the hour..

Mr Mackenzie to some extent covered the whole ground occupied by the Government since tbey took oflice some 12 months ago In dealing specially with last session he could hardly avoid alluding to the Bryce episo !e ; and he spoke with natural, loyal, and becoming indignation of thnt gentleman's " expulsion " —as he called it— from the House. The subject is one which certainly reflects seriously on the magnanimity of the Government, the capacity of the Speaker, and, we are bound to add, the judgment of Mr Bryce; but it may fairly now be allowed lo drop out of tight. It was not so much a public incident— the effect of which remains to be criticised, feared, condemned, or applauded,—as a private one with a public aspect — disagreeable enough, but not portentous. Coming to the land question Mr Mackenzie has to deal with a more living subject, but he follows a tolerably well-worn track. " The point," he says, "on which the Upper and Lower House finally differed was whether a poor man, a perpetual leaseholder, should, after he had put the stipulated improvements on his land, make that land his own. We said that he should, but Mr John M'Kenzie and those who think with him said tbat ho should never make the land his own." That this is a substantially true statement of the case we have oa the authority of one of the managers of the conference on behalf of the Lower House—the manager on whom the Minister for Lands placed his reliance. Mr Duncan, member for Oamaru, declared that " there was a tendency to give way on both sides, and to meet each other on evei*y clause, until we came to the perpetual lease clause. When we reached that clause the Hon. Mr Stevens, for the Legislative Council, said that that Chamber had expressed a very decided opinion ou the matter, and therefore they were not prepared to give way one bit." This is conclusive testimony, and shows how utterly hollow are all the demands for new blood in the Council to .pass the " policy "of the Government. For the existence of a purchasing clause in the perpetual lease is a mere detail, and the Legislative Council were quite willing to have both systems running concurrently—a system of lease with the purchasing clause and another without it.

The practical mind of the member for Clutha detects the folly and futility.of all tbe nationalisation nonsense He quotes Mr Gladstone, who declared that the State was not qualified to undertake the duties of universal landlord; and in doing so Mr Mackenzie makes a rather neat point of his own. "Is our experience of the present Government," he asks, " such as to lead us to conclude they are fit to exercise the functions of landlords ? Most assuredly it is not. Why, the Government tried to fine a man L3l because he was a month in arrears iua payment of Llo! No private landlord in the country would have dared to do anything of the sort."

Mr Mackei.aie appears to have sharply follow d the tracks of members of the Government in their various speeches, and he devotes himself to the easy task of exposing their inconsistencies and inaccuracies. But one apparent instance of the latter he had better have left alone." Mr Ballance in an Auckland speech is quoted as having declared that private individuals aud companies in New Zealand were possessed of. twice as much land as the whole of New Zealand contains. The figures quoted by Mr Mackenzie bear out the statement; but Mr Ballance, we may be certain, never said anything of tbe kind. He is not a specially scrupulous politician, but he is not in the habit of making statements the gross absurdity aud inaccuracy of which—to use a miid phrase—could be exposed at the very

moment of utterance. The newspaper report no doubt turns some of his thousands into millions—a feat which is easy to the printer if to nobody else, Mr Mackenzie is at better work when criticising (he financial policy of the Government, of which he makes a. very searching analysis. With the acquired shrewdness of a business man, superadded ie his political knowledge, he foresees that the new taxation will not produce tbo money expected of it or which tho property tax yielded. "Who ia to pay 1" he portinently asks. To those who have a vague notion that it is intended to get it out of large landowners, Mr Mackenzie points out that there are only seven holding land over L 200,000 in value. Property owners other thau in land aro more numerous, but they are not reached. On the other hand, Mr Mackenzie has been dissecting property tax payments, and finds that out of 630,000 population only 27,000 paid property tax, out of which latter number " the bulk of the tax was paid by about 2000 people." On the subject of the inequalities and anomalies of the new taxation Mr Mackenzie broke no new ground and need not be followed. But he has done useful work, and made a very clear point in exposing the hollowness of the Government claims that their perpetual travelling at the expense of the colony was all done in the interest of the 'colony. Mr Mackenzie bluntly termed it electioneering— with some truth, as we suspect. The Catlins River district, he points out, is as rich as it is unknown ; but ihe Minister for Lands cannot find time to visit it, though ho can banquet at Lawrence and deliver an electioneering speech at Balclutha. Altogether Mr Mackenzie has acquitted himself well. He is a capable and industrious member of the House, a useful man to his party, and a representative whom the electors of Balclutha may well hold in high esteem. It is not a matter of surprise that the Government betray a desire to dislodge him.

We learn with regret that two fresh cases of smallpox have broken out among the crew of the barque Umvoti, from Mauritius. When the vessel arrived the crew were removed to Quarantine Island, and it was hoped that the steps taken would stamp out the disease. Captain Gray, surveyor of customs, informs us that two of the men were taken ill on Monday. One of the men was reported yesterday as slightly better, but tbe other is said to be covered with pustules, and was very feverish.

The Takapuna, with the J.an Francisco mail on board, will leave Welling ,on for Lyttelton at 3 o'clock this afternoon. Tie Dunedin portion will be sent on by the express train, and reach "here to-morrow night.

The Government steamer Hinemoa, with Lord Onslow and party on board, returned to the Bluff last evening from her trip to the West Coast sounds.

The Postmaster-general (the Hon. J. G. Ward) arrived in Dunedin by the steamer Pukaki from the Bluff yesterday morning.

Neither the Governor nor the Government have yet received any intimation as to who is to succeed Lord Onslow as Governor. The Chief Justice, by virtue of what is known as a " dormant commission," will be sworn in as Acting-Governor, receiving half pay both as Judge and Governor. This will interfere with the Napier sessions, and somo rearrangement of the work will have to be made.

The banquet to his Excellency the Governor will take place at 7.30 on Saturday evening at the Garrison Hall. The Highland Rifles will form a guard of honour', and tho Hussars provide an escort to his Excellency. The Garrison Band will perform during the evening. Up to the present about 200 tickets have been sold, so that a large attendance is expected. Tickets can still be secured. It maybe mentioned that evening dress is not necessary.

From the bankruptcy statistics published by the Mercantile and Bankruptcy Gazette, it appears that during 1890 there were 673 bankruptcies in New Zealand, Canterbury heading the list with 113. The other provincial districts stood in the following order-.—Otago, 135 ; Wellington, 126; Auckland, 117 ; Hawke's Bay, 48; Nelson, 42; Westland, 28; Marlborough, 19 ; and Taranaki, 15. During 1891, the total was 586, or 87 less than in the previous year. Otago heads the list -with 14-2, an increase of 7, the other provincial districts following in this order :—Wellington, 116 (decrease 10); Canterbury, 101 (decrease 42); Auckland, 76 (decrease 41); Hawke's Bay, 41 (decrease 7) ; Nelson, 36 (decrease 6) ; Westland, 30 (increase 2) ; Taranaki, 25 (increase 10) ; Marlborough, 19 (same as previous year). Taking now the four chief cities, we find that during 1891 Christchurch headed the list with 74 (decrease 15) ; the other numbers being—Auckland, 69 (decrease 30) ; Dunedin, 54 (decrease 12); and Wellington, 53 (decrease 10). Of the secondrate towns Oamaru shows the largest increase, having risen from 32 to 48; and New Plymouth comes next with an increase from sto 20. On the other hand, Timaru shows a decrease from 33 to 10; Westport from 30 to 15; Palmerston North from 25 to 13; aud Gisborne from 18 to 7. The North Island shows a net decrease of 48, and the South Island a net decrease of 39.

A temperance meeting was held in the Public Hall, Outran, on Monday evening, arranged by the Misses M'Diarmid and members of the Woodside Lodge of Good Templars. The Rev. Mr Kirkland occupied the chair, and the choir of the Mosgiel Lodge rendered a number of selections, while solos were given by Miss Edmiston, Miss M'Kie, Miss Hunter, aud Mr Drakeley. Addresses were given by Mr D. C. Cameron, grand secretary (on the especial work of the G.T. Order and its excellency of organisation for the work of fighting the liquor traffic), and Mr T. W. Glover, Grand Lodge lecturer.

The monthly meeting of the Arthur street School Committee was attended by Messrs M'Gregor (chairman), Sligo, Burt, Isaac, Crawford, and Mason. A letter was read from the Education Board agreeing to give pound for pound towards carrying out the renovation of the interior of the school. It was decided to nominate Messrs Clark and Green for the vacancies on the board, and Mr M'Gregor was appointed delegate to the Swimming Club. Accounts were passed for payment amounting to Ll2 15s. Messrs Sligo and Burt were appointed the visiting committee for February.

At the Port Chalmers Police Court yesterday, before Messrs J. Mill and J. Morgan, J.P's., James B. Robertson was charged on the information of Sergeant Neil with driving cattle for slaughtering purposes through the town at 9.30 a.m. ou the 28th ult. Mr Platts, for defendant, pleaded guilty, stating that on the morning in question the defendant had a consignment of three head of cattle in a railway truck from Burnside, and took delivery of them 'at 7.20 a.m., but on driving them to his stockyard one, beiug very wild, broke away and wont on to the Beach road, and it had ultimately to be killed, consequently the other two were driven through the town during prohibited hours. He hoped their AVorships would inflict a small penalty. A fine of ss, and costs, was imposed.

Mr Thomas Mackenzie, M.H.R., addressed the AVaiwera portion of his constituents on Monday evening, going over much the same topics as at Balclutha. After several questions had been asked, a vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously. Among the questions to come before the Anglican Synod, at AVellington, will be the voting of women at church elections, religious education in the State schools, tbe establishment of a general pension fund, and the appointment of the Bishop of Nelson.

A very interesting collection of water colour sketches, executed by Mr AValter Leslie, of the Hansard staff, upou a recent trip of the Government steamer Hiucmoa to the adjacent islands of the Pacific, is now being exhibited by him at AA rain's Hotel, to all visitors who are interested. A large number of views taken in the 'Snares, Auckland, Antipodes and BountyIsland, and also views of the Kermedecs arc comprised in the collection, besides numeroussketches of the coastal scenery of both islands.

The Balclutha School Committee have voted for Messrs H. Clark, A. M'Kerrow, and Isaac Green for the vacant seats on the Education Board.

A now evening paper is to bo started in Wellington shortly in tho Liberal interest. It is understood that Mr G. M. Reed will be invited to accept the position of editor.

Has a clergyman the right to inflict torture on any member of his congregation (is asked by the London Daily Telegraph of December 14). The question is suggested by tho fact tbat Mr Haddcn, vicar of St. Botolpli, Aldgate, is having his church fitted witb a new kind of seat, with the avowed design of forcing people to kneel during prayers. His own description of the pows is that "for sitting on tbey are tbe most convenient ones which can be desired; for half-kneeling against they are productive of torture." This worthy and "progressive" clergyman strongly objects to the tendency of people in church to give up kneeling, and merely lean slightly forward when joining in the prayers. Such an attitude, ho believes, savours of irreverence; but it is a question whether it will not look still more irreverent to to sec a number of people in a congregation sitting bolt upright while prayers are going on, which is certain to be the result of an attempt to compel the adoption of kneeling. In most Scotch churches the congregation stand up to pray and sit to sing. Kneeling is an agony to the weakbacked, who will probably avoid the neighbourhood of St. Botolph, Aldgate, on Sundays in future.

Mr H. M. Stanley's tour through tbe colonies will be the shortest on record, lasting altogether but four months, of which only five weeks have been devoted to New Zealand, and yet during that period the famous explorer has lectured in all tbo provinces except Taranaki. The first lecture was given in the Auckland Opera House on December -30, the last will be given in the theatre at Invercargill on Friday afternoon, after which Mr Stanley will embark on board the Hauroto, bound for Launceston, where he will lecture in'the large Albert Hall, under the auspices of the Exhibition Commissioners. He "will sail for Europe from Adelaide on March 16, by tho P. and 0. s.s. Oceana, sister ship to the Arcadia, in which he camo to Australia. The sets of new copyright views, the first exhibition of which will take place after the lecture to-night, reached Christchurch last week, having arrived by the Massilia, so that only the residents of that city and of Dunedin will have had the pleasure of seeing them. They were sent out to illustrate the " Emm Pasha" and the " Cannibals and Pygmies" lectures, and are taken, some from Mr Stanley's photographs, others from the original paintings by Riou. A selection from them will be shown at the children's matinee which Mr Stanley "will give on Thursday afternoon.

There was a very good attendance at the Princess theatre last night when [Miss Amy Vaughan's Burlesque Company gave another performance of " Little Monte Christo." Miss Vaughan was again very successful in her lightning change scenes, and Miss May Travers, Charles White, Harry Cowan, and Max Rinkle came in for a-large share of applause for their performance. The harlequinade passed off very successfully. There will be another performance this evening,

The complimentary benefit tendered to Mr W. J. MacLaughlin takes place at the City Hall this evening.

A meeting of the creditors of Munro, Hutchison, and Co. has been fixed by the judge for the 11th iust.

The monthly meeting of the Gaelic Society will be held this evening in the Stuart street hall. Messrs E. C. Reynolds and Co. will sell apples to-day.

The regular quarterly communication of the District Grand Lodge of Otago and Southland, E.C., will be held this evening. There will be a special memorial service out of respect to the late Duke of Clarence.

Tenders are being invited for perpetual lease land (re-opened) in the Poolburn, JBlackstone, and Tiger Hill districts. We have received from Messrs J. Wilkie and Co. their calendar for 1892. A novelty in connection with it is the marginal space left for memos.

The first meeting of the choir who purpose producing the oratorio of " The Elijah" under the conductorship of Miss Jennie West was held last evening, when it was decided to hold the practices on Tuesday 'evenings. The first rehearsal will take placel in St. Paul's schoolroom next week. \ t-

Mr Hay, dental surgeon, desires to announce that he has secured and equipped, with the most approved appliances in high-class dentistry,.suitable offices at Jll2 Princes street, immediately opposite Cargill's monument.—lAdvt.] JMarriaßG I'rcapnts.—G. and T. Young notify tbe arrival of threo further shipments of new goods. Their stock of!, novelties is the largest in the colony, their goods the best, and their prices the lowest. Inspection invited.—[Advt.] John Hislop, Watchmaker and Jeweller, 74 Princes street. ■ The oldest established house in town. Repairs of all lands. Good assortment Watches, Clocks, and Jewellery. Spectacles to suit all sights.— Advt

Established over a quarter of a century. Of other sodawatefs 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. Dunedin.—Brewers Journal, 1890.—[Advt.] AYe understand that Frank A. Coxhead, assisted by Mr John Beauchamp, is now taking enamelled cabinet portraits at the small price of 10s 6d per dozen, for one month only. A free invite to all to inspect his magnificent premises in Princes street, opposite J Colonial Bank. Take the elevator.—[Advt.] Eden George and Co. (Limited), the leading photographers of Dunedin, who produce by far the best work in New Zealand, take one dozen beautifully enamelled cabinets in any position or style, for 15s. One price list adopted, and no extra charges are made to visitors from the country.— [Advt.]