The Otago Daily Times TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1893.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9859, 3 October 1893, Page 2

The Otago Daily Times TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1893.

Oste of the most important steps taken by the Legislative Council during the session has been the virtual rejection of the Government Railways Act Amendment Bill 1893. Up to 1887 the railways had been administered by a Government department. It was then determined to follow the example of other colonies and place them under the control of three commissioners, who would be independent of the Minister of the day. The course was not wholly without precedent—even without looking to the ancient instance of the English Supreme Court and the more modern one of the Audit Office,— for we had already tried some, such experiment with the Government Life Insurance department. In that case.the experiment admittedly broke down. There was some dispute as to the cause, but the board was partly composed of a Minister and officials to whom-were added members elected by^polieyholders. Whether the proortion of these latter was sufficient orp ot,the Ministerial influence prevailed,n nd things were done which shook thea, onfidsnce of the policyholders and thee public, and so the scheme came to grief. The case of the railways was different and it was treated in a different way. These works are the public highways of the colony ; every one is more or less interested in them, and the numbers who are vitally interested in their management are very great. Moreover, they employ a very large number of people, who necessarily feel keenly interested in the question of management so far as it touches them. A good deal has been said about the subject. At first there was considerable opposition in matters of detail to the proceedings of the commissioners who were appointed in 1889. All changes affect some interests,, and criticism is louder than approval. Changes in the number »f trains, in the hours, in the speed, in the rates of charges, and innumerable other changes, all caused more or less clashing. Soon, however, most of these changes were found to be businesslike and salutary, and this species of opposition died out. There was, however, political opposition. Sir JR. Stout, for instance, lias steadily objected to the change as involving a kind of abdication by the democracy of a function which it had assumed and was capable of exercising without any well-founded fear of evil consequences. This raises a question of principle of the broadest kind, in the solution of which we derive no aid from British or American experience or doctrine. In our own view, however, questions of the kind are best settled experimentally. Neither of the great classes into which politicians and philosophers are divided seriously attempt to carry out their views to the extreme. Practical considerations are allowed to prevail, as was the case even under Divine administration when something which was undesirable in point of principle was sanctioned because of the hardness of men's hearts. We have looked at the practical aspect of the case, and feel satisfied that the commissioners, thanks to the independence which the law secured to them, have greatly improved the administration of our railways, and are now administering them with marked success. Duringthe groat strike of 1890 the position of the commissioners became an acute one } BUffico it, k)waver,.to avoid controversial questions, to say that thoy admiu- ; istered the railways according to the Act, and that had thoy given way to the fevered clamour of the movement they must havo broken the law and rendered themselves unworthy of public confidence. The Hon. Mr Seddok has been the most persistent enemy of the commission as an institution, and in his denunciation of it he has sometimes forgotten what was due to the rules of truth and

moderation. In this we think he has stood in marked contrast with Sir E. Stout.

We "will not attempt to review the Premier's celebrated Bill of last year, nor will we discuss his recent attack upon the commissioners. We are at present only concerned with the new Bill. The existing law vests the property of the railways in the commissioners and gives them the entire management. They hold office for five years and are practically irremovable—i.e., Parliament alone can remove them. Their term of office expires before Parliament meets again, after which the railways will be in a curious position—between wind and water. . The new Bill, as drawn, contained a series of provisions, but as we approve of and have confidence in the existing administration by the commissioners, we need only point out one or. two salient features which tend totally to alter that system. The first of these is section 4: " The Minister shall have and may exercise all the powers of a commissioner, may assist at their.meetings, and shall have a deliberative and a second or casting vote in case of there being an equality of votes on any matters before the commissioners." This under some circumstances might be, and under existing circumstances would, be, an unobjectionable provision; but such an Act must be tested by reference to its weaknesses, and if, as in the case of the Insurance Board, a Minister was allowed, say by one commissioner whom he had' appointed, to obtain too much influence, then this section would make his influence absolutely preponderant, and so destroy the scheme. A large number of questions, such as choosing station sites, sheds, wharves, &c. v are by section 9 bodily transferred to the Minister. This appears to us to vest in him a large amount of authority capable of being exercised as patronage in a manner detrimental to the interests of the country. . All' schemes for the increase or decrease of expenditure are practically controlled by the Minister; for in case of dispute between him and the commissioners, all questions under section 10, which relates to this subject, are to be decided by the Governqr-in-Council, in which Council of course the Minister would exercise a preponderant influence. The Bill is_ a milder one .'than that which was rejected last year, but it contains these objectionable provisions, and the Council would have been stultifying its former action had it passed it. To the presence of a Minister on the Board no reasonable objection- can be offered, but to any measure which seriously alters the system which is working well now we certainly object. : The Council, howeveiyhas decided not to allow the Bill to pass. It has put it out of ;existence, substituting for it one clause continuing /the commission for a year. Had it been earlier in the session, perhaps something might have been done with the Bill. The rejection does not seem to have excited any feeling in the country. The fact is that among a considerable number of members and friends supporting the Government there is an obvious feeling in favour of the Eailway Commissioners. The Premier's recent attack upon tliem does not seem to have met with the entire approval of his party, and the manner of it has weakened its effect. In the country generally there is a pretty widespread feeling that they have-proved a useful institution. A merely philosophical objection to them has given way to more practical considerations engendered of a feeling of confidence. It is not easy to foresee what will now happen. Possibly the changes of the near future may cause wiser counsels to prevail and will admit of some reasonable compromise; for the present situation, the only compromise is to let the; Bill:' as amended by the Council pass.

The Alameda left San Francisco for Auckland on September 22, one day late; and the' Mariposa arrived tkere on tha 28th ulfc., her time-table date. ' .

In the Legislative Council yesterday the Native Lands Validation of Titles Bill and the Electoral Law Amendment Bill were passed. The Stock Bill was read a second time. Some progress was made in committee with the Conspiracy Law Amendment Bill and the Drainage Bill.

, In the House of. Representatives yesterday the Midland Railway Company and its affairs occupied nearly the whole of the afternoon and evening sittings. A number of divisions took place, and in two instances a tie was the result. Eventually the Premier's amendment to give the company £680,000] in debentures in lieu of the land grant, payable as the work proceeds, was carried by 29 to. 23, It was decided to disagree with the Council's amendments conferring electoral.rights on women. The Magistrates' Courts Bill was recommitted, and an amendment carried that magistrates with extended or special jurisdiction shall hold office at the pleasure of the Governor. Tho jurisdiction was also limited to some extent.

The main rolls for the electoral districts of City of Dunedin and Caversham will close on the evening of Thursday nexb. Any persons desirous of altering their addresses or occupations or of boing, removed from those rolls should at once apply to tho registrar of electors. All approved applications for enrolment received thereafter and up to tho tinmof the issue of the writs for a now election will bo placed on the supplementary rolls.

The Stamp Acts Amendment Bill ban boon assented to by tho Governor, and in now in force. ' UDder it any receipt or discharge given for wages or salary no longer requires a Htamp, no matter what tho amount may bo. ThiH includes receipts to tho Government.

A bankruptcy Bitting of the Supreme Court was held yesterday. In Iho caso of Henry Goodman, a horse trainer, Mr Justice Willlairm Buspendod the ordorof discharge for nix montlm, on the ground that Iho bankrupt hud not koj»t books and accounts. An application wuH/nado for an order of ditchargo in tho chho of Hoiiry Benjamin, who had unsucccHufully applied two yearw and four months ago; l)ut it appeared that the assignee had not been made; iiwuro that the matter was to bo brought forward, and, in order that ho might have an opportunity of investigating the case and reporting upon Iho application, it was arranged that it «bould stand over until the first bankruptcy Bitting after the Court of Appeal.

The compensation case of William Gray (of Milburn) v. the New Zealand Railway Commissioners has been fixed for heatingin tho Supreme Court on Thursday next. Mr Donald Reid will act as assessor on behalf of tho claimant, and Mr Thomas Calcutt will act for the commissioners.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday James Muir sued John Brookes for £3 10s on a judgment summons, and defendant waa ordered to pay the amount claimed in a fortnight) in default sis days' imprisonment. Mr E, H. Carcw, R,M,, occupied the bench.

Biahop Moran was so far recovered yesterday as to be able to go for a drive,

The usual monthly meeting of the Dunedin Ornithological Society was held in the Chamber of Commerce last evening. Mr H. G. Williams was voted to the ohair, and there were about 30 membsrs present, The following schedule of races for tho ensuing season was adopted t — Oaraaru, November i; Timaru, November 25; Ashburton, December 16; JChristchufch, January 13; Culverden, February 17 j and Hampden (Derby race for youDg birds), on March 1?, for which about 30 nominations were received. A cup was promised for competition during the season. It was decided to hold a Bhow of Antwerps and homers amongat meia» bara on the nest meeting Dight, November 6,

Dr Welshman, the Melanesian missionary! after leaving Ofcago visited various other districts of New Zealand and then sailed from Auckland in the Southern Cross for Norfolk Island. The party took with them mission stores to the value of £1400, but unfortunately the treasurer in Auckland was compelled to run into debt to that amount, as there was no money in hand. Offers have been made of con tributiorm of £10 each if 50 more can be found to give a like amount. . The Southern Cross has now sailed from Norfolk Island to take Dr Welshman and two other missionaries to their respective stations. Dr Codrington has gone back to England. He first paid a visit to Suva, Levuka, and other places in Fiji, where men from Melanesia are to be found. In one island alone he found 70 communicants who had been confirmed by the Bishop of Tasmania during his recent visit. It is proposed to take the Southern Cross to Hobart eariy next year with a party of MelanesiaiH on the occasion of the meeting of the great church congress. If special subscriptions could be obtained to cover the extra cost, the party would visit the New Zealand ports and let the converts plead their own cause. •

At the quarterly meeting of the officials of the Milton Wesleyan Church, an invitation was given to the Rev. J. G. Chapman to remain in the circuit for the ensuing year, and the following resolution was passed unanimously—" That this meeting expresses its sympathy with and entire confidence in the Rev. J. 6. Chapman with regard to the stand he has taken in connection with the recent Salvation Army disturbances, and believes that his action was in the best interests of truth and righteousness."

The usual meeting of the Caversham School Committee, held last evening, was attended by Messrs Rutherford (chairman), Morrison, Frye, Sidey, Tennant, Williams, Martin, and Stevenson. Accounts amounting to £8 6s 3d were passed for payment. Mr Martin, on behalf of the visiting fcub-committee, reported having visited the school and found everything in satisfactory working order;. The headmaster reported that the average daily attendance for the past quarter was 561/ It was decided to adopt the same course for raising funds for prizes and certificates as last year.

At Auckland yesterday Charles Harold Walford, a licensed hawker, was fined 20» and costs, under the Offensive Publications Act of 1892, for distributing printed matter of an immoral nature.

Mr H. Knight, a Pahiatua settler, together with his wife and family, leave Wellington today en route for Sydney, where they join the New Australian emigrants to Paraguay. Other settlers express their intention of following.

Since the beginning of the year there have been 31 bankruptcies in Wellington, against 38 for the similar period of lasfcyear. This, however, does not include several considerable assignments of estates.

Some New Ybik journalist has evidently strayed up to Toronto and got a billet there. The following appears in the Toronto Globe of July 8:—" Revolt in Australia. San Francisco, July 7.—lt is rumoured here that a revolution has broken out in Australia, and that independence has been declared. The rumour created considerable excitement for a time. Little credence, however, .is attached to it."

The Wellington Times of Saturday says:— "The ignorance, assumed or actual, of the average Wellington youth of the semi-larrikin class is appalling. Yesterday morning in the Resident Magistrate's Court, while William Staples, aged 19, was giving evidence, he was cautioned by the resident magistrate twice On the second occasion he was asked if he knew what penalty he incurred by giving false evidence. He replied that he didn't know that anything could be done to him. On being informed that, apart, from any possible punishment in the world to come, he waa liable to punishment in this everyday world to the extent of four years' penal servitude, he 'wilted wisibly,' and confined himself to the question a little more closely."

A Warrnambool telegram in the Age of September 22 says:—"The brigantine Victoria arrived yesterday after a very rough passage of 10 days froia New Zealand, her . provisions being almost exhausted. The vessel has a cargo of timber. She was,berthed alongside the breakwater, and it is Btsited that last night a quarrel took placs on board between the owner, the captain, and the men, and that revolvers were brandished about. The owner has had two of the seamen, named Henry Cooper and William Browij, arrested to-day, and has paid off Captain M'Arthur and a seaman named Wise. The men who have been arrested say that they refused to obey orders because they were not well itreated during the voyage. At noon to-day a south-westerly gale sprang up, and the vessel drifted away from the lee cf the breakwater. > The chain of the port'anchor snapped, but the vessel was held by "the starboard an-chor.; There were, then only two hands on board. The gale moderated, and this evening the vessel i 3 comparatively safe." ' !

The Napier Telegraph reports the death, at Hastings, of a young Maori named Dick Mahapuka, who was said to be worth £40,000. He was married to a white woman.

Two young married couples presented themselves on August 7 before a jury of maidens and bachelors in the quaintiold town of Duninow, Essex, and claimed the flitch of bacon, the annual award of which Has made the place so famous. The presiding judge was a local auctioneer, who administered to the candidates tha customary oath whereby they swore that fora year and a' day they had "ne'er made nuptial transgression," nor " offended each other in. word or in deed," nor "since the church clerk said 'Amen' wished themselves unmarried again." Mr Francis Webb, a railway clerk of Wednesbury, and his wife were the first to submit to the ordeal of a searching cross-examination; Counsel on their behalf having elicited that "by means of their quiet, peaceable, tender and loving" life they were fit and qualified persons to receive tho coveted distinction, another lawyer roso in the capacity of "Devil's advocate," and sought to throw doubt on their story. Failing in this, bo next applied hiuißclf to weakening tho oivbo of Mr mid Mrs Philip Qarnor, of Wcot Molosoy, Surroy; but tho horße-sl(iughtorcr and bin wifo also proved too much for him. Tho oroMiK'SntninnMon afforded unbounded ntmiHomouti to tho nstuimblod audionco, who wore highly dollghkulwlwn a verdict wu» given in favour of both ooupltN, At tho olomo of tho (rial tho winners wow required to Jmod ou sharp Htonon and Ulto Mio ncociiMiry oalh in tuts prenoiioo of «omo Cuomm»uß of dpocttttorH. A third oon^o from lllrmlngham woro prevented by Hl;ios8 froni ougitfting in tho contiiiili.

A wlnh lit bolntf W]wos«o4 thud Mb* ftjym Kmnblo will produoo Bftra MdriiunnU'ri Intttnii and groiitoßli nuooomi, " I'ittilhw Dlniiohanl," during lmr Ouinxlln noiirum, nitil id In not unllltnly Una Urn NyiUMiti will booomiillixl with. It nmy not 1m gotutrnlly known Una Hwiv JJornliardt pn«o«t«(l Mlrm (Comlilo with iho only Kii(i\hU copy of j.liu in'niiuDurtpti |»ior to luir (Icimrluro fnirn Hydiioy, raid tho orl({in(il " lly-loitf," with Madiimo Uu'ritbnrdt'H inuuHugo and uuto|{mph, civri now bo noon in tho window of Mr Hiumlnlor, <ili(iinlht, noxt to tho Grand Hotel. "I'nulitio Jjlikiiohui'd " vtm pronounced l>y the Hydtmy \m'M to lio moro powerful thnn " I'odorii" or •• ]m Tomm," mid tho iuterprotation by Minn Kornblo of tho leading putt cuustd quite a hoiihiiUoii In Molbonrno n low months ago. Mr Allun Ilumlllon i« iirrunging for late trains to Hulclutha nnd I'nlmorHton on Tuosday next, so that o.ur country friends can participate in tho coming treat.

Tho Dunedin Arantour Boating Club open thoir carnival ut.tho Garrison Hall at 7.15 thiß evening. Only holder of art union tickets will be admitted. There is to bo a.grand march, a minuet, hornpipe, and skirt dance by children, after whioh his Worship the Mayor will give a short opening speech.