ABSTRACT OF SALES BY AUCTION, THIS DAT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10237, 20 December 1894, Page 2

ABSTRACT OF SALES BY AUCTION, THIS DAT.

James Samsoh awd Co., on the Premises, Selwyn College—Furniture, saddle, harness, &c. D. M. Spedding, at 'Rooms—Chairs, furniture, piano, &c. S. Jacobs, on the Premises, Princes streetJewellery, &c. Thk Woolbp.okers' Association, at the Oddfellows' Hall-Wool.

action in reference to the proposal of the New Zealand Government, the suggestion referred to would not have been in the President's message. Moreover, the strong expressions of disapproval which the New Zealand Government's proposals evoked throughout Germany make it quite clear that Britain could have done nothing to assist New Zealand. The Age says that Lord .Roseberi's ignorance of Mr Sbddon's wishes shows that the Imperial Ministers evidently consider that "such small matters as this Satuoan affair may be abandoned to subaltern^ and settled by agreement with foreign embassies." Does the Age consider the Secretary of State for the Colonies a subaltern ? And if such matters are not to be settled by agreement with foreign embassies, in what way are they to be settled ? It is not necessary for us to point out that matters requiring delicate negotiation and tact are far more usually and far more successfully settled by the ambassadors of the various countries and the Governments to which they are accredited than by one Foreign Minister writing long despatches to another. The only other way to settle such matters is by war. We trust that whatever may arise in the future in which the wishes of colonists are at variance with those of European or other Powers will continue to be settled by agreement as heretofore, and we have no doubt that the British Government or officials will do their best to get good terms for the colonies.

We see from a paragraph in the Evening Post that the spoiis-to-victors system is still being extended. Mr James C. Scott, who was formerly a boarding-house keeper at Palmerston, has been appointed foreman of works over the unemployed sent from Christchurch to the Gisborne district. We do not know whatspecialqualifications Mr Scotx possesses. The people of Palmer- | ston, we believe, did not know that in their late resident they had a gentleman qualified to superintend, measure, and generally look after road works, 33ufc there are village " Hampdens " everywhere. Mr Scott had the good fortune to know the lion. Jonif M'Keitzie. He was eren at the last \ election one of his right-hand men. It is true Mr Scott had ceased to live in Palmerston—he had gone to dwell in South Canterbury. But it was election time, and the recollection of past political fights, we suppose, made him come back to the scene of his former warfare. At all events on the memorable night before the poll, when Mr Scouie Mackenzie in vain attempted to address the electors, who had instead to listen to the songs of the supporters of his opponent brought from Shag Point because of their musical abilities, Mr Scott was there. We suppose he just looked in to see that proper time and tune were kept. Then, if we mistake not, he came all the way from South Canterbury to attend one of the numerous Ministerial banquets that were held in the Waihemo district. He has, therefore, shown his devotion to the cause, and verily he has had his reward. Then we noticed aMr James Ross went up to visit Pomahaka. Is this Mr Iloss Mr M'Kejtzie's nearest neighbour, and is he a relative to the Mr Koss at present in the Land Office in Wellington, who has been appointed, not as a cadet nor as an expert, but as an extra clerk? We would like to know. We also see Mr Mackintosh, M.H.R., came all the way from fiiverton to grace the Clinton banquet. Is the. Mr Mackintosh in the Land Office in Wellington his son ? He also is an extra clerk—that is, the Minister for Lands,, instead of obeying the law and taking in cadets by examination— the best getting the appointments—has appointed hosts of extra clerks—men outside the civil service who never passed any examination, and who obtained their appointments because of their political colour. Politics have sunk so low in New Zealand that when we see Ministers defended we naturally look for the reason. We mention t'nese facts, however, not that we hope to see at once a change of the spoils system. That may not come until the peojile are aroused as the people of New York have been aroused by the same system. The Ne\p"s*ic:ork system was very drastic. jThey threw out all those who supported the spoils system. The cry was " TiA'n the rascals out," and people of all political parties united to get a pure and good Government. Some similar movement is necessary here. The more atrocious examples we hare of the spoils system the more readily will the people be aroused to take an interest in the management of public affairs. We noticed that the Minister for Lands advised the Pomahaka settlers not to be. chicken-hearted and not to send their sons to clerkships. Knowing what he had done with his own sons and relatives, and how he has awarded offices to his supporters, we fancy he must, when the meeting was over and when he retired into privacy, have laughed at his audacious advice and wondered how easily his hearers were gulled.

At to-day's meeting oi the Harbour Board consideration will be given to the Finance Committee's recommendation that the dues recently fixed on certain articles be altered. Among these stand out prominently coal and cement, both oi: which the Finance Committee consider should be charged at the threeshilling rate. Since the decision of the board reducing the rate on coal, involving a loss of! £500 a year to the revenue, and putting cement in the five-shilling class among goods of high value, we have more than once pointed out that it was the duty of the board to recqnsider the extraordinary decision come to with respect to these two articles. We were pleased to learn that several members of the board realised the justice of our criticism, and that steps were promptly tukeu to retrace the false step which had been made. In the case of coal, admitting that some portion of the quantity imported is used for manufacturing purposes, there is we conceive no justification whatever for deliberately throwing away a proportion of the rates on the whole of the coal imported at a time when the board finds it necessary to increase rates in order to keep its finances in order. And as to cement, we consider there is just as little justification for rating such a low class article at the very highest sura the by-laws permit. There is no sense in such a proceeding, and were it persisted in the result would inevitably be that the importation of cement by Dunedin merchants would

be restricted. We have been at a loss to understand what can have induced the member of the board who proposed the rate to take such a step. If, as we have before remarked^ he was actuated by the desire to protect a local industry—which, by the way, does not require further protection — then he had no right to allow such a reason to weigh with him. The board was not constituted for the purpose of allowing its members to advocate political principles which they may hold, but to administer the affairs of the harbour on sound business principles. No such injustice as would result from the imposition of the maximum rate on cement should be permitted, and we have sufficient confidence in the members of the board as a whole to believe that now they have had time for reflection they will recognise that, with respect to both the coal and the cement rates, they made a mistake, and are prepared to rectify it.

In our supplement this morning will be found reportß of yeoterday's courts, mayoral installations, of the meetings of the Education Boavd, L>vrjd Board, Hospital Trustees, with handicaps for the Caledonian Society's sporfca, notices of new books, letters to the editor, &c. At lost night's meeting of the City Council it was resolved to offer a bonus of £600 for the best drainage scheme for the City £300 being given for the one placed first, £200 for second, and £100 for the third. The merits of the schemes are to be decided by an independeat board of experts yet to be appointed. Me Paulin telephoned last evening :—" Light to moderate S.W. to S.B. winds, and some alight rain or mist showers." The Hospital Trustees yesterday elected the following aa the staff for the year:—Senior house surgeon, Dr Ross; junior, Dr Gregg; hon. medical sfcaff—Drs J. Macdonald, H. L. Ferguson, Jefficoat, Barnett, Cloas, Davies, Colquhoun, Stenhouse, Macpherson, and Roberts. Another case of scarlet fever was reported to the City Council last, night, the locality being at the corner of Maitland street and Princes street south. A case of typhoid fever was also reported as existing in George street north. The Supreme Conrt vacation commences to-day and ends on the 31st January, and the Supreme Court offices will be closed from Christmas Eve to the 3rd of January inclusive. : His Honor Mr Justice Williams will probably hold a sitting of the Supreme Court to-morrow (Friday) in order to deliver judgments, Messrs J. P. Maitland, H. Clark, A. M'Kerrow, and C. W. Adams, Classification Commissioners for the Otsgo land district, who are at present engaged in classifying runs, the leases of which will fall in in February 1896, returned to Duaedin from Central Ofcago yesterday lorenoon, and will leave for the south to-morrow morning. Messrs J. 3. Thoiußen and W. A. Walton, J.P's., occupied the bench at the Police Court yesterday. A first offender was convicted of drunkenness and discharged, while for the same offencs Elizabeth Tattersall and Michael Scully were each fiued 10s, in default 48 hours' imprisonment;. A prohibition order w»b issued against Donald Munro Ross, on the application of his son Daniel. Dr Roberta haa been appointed medical officer at Dunedin to the Union Steam Ship Company* Mutual Benefit Society as from Ist Januairy, vice De Hacpherßon (resigned). Bishop Nevill will hold an ordination service at 10.30 a.m. ou Friday in the Carpel of Holy Innocents, Leith Vallsy, when Messrs C. A. Fcaer and H. S. Leach, students of Selwyn College, will be made deacons. The Rev. B. P. Hood will give an address. At the ordinary meeting of the Clutha Presbytery yesterday the Rev. Mr Skinuer, of Waitahuna, received and accepted a unanimous ] call from the Flemington and Tinwald Presbyterian congregation. The Wellington correspondent of the Oamaru Mail supplies the following items: —" The Land Purchase Board have recommended the purchase of 100 acres of land near Kurow, and the Government have decided to act upon the recommendation. In order to bring the timbers of the colony prominently before consumer* in Eurcps the Government have decided to send a log of each timber, to be selected and worked by a timber expert, to the Genoa Industrial Exhibition. The Cabinet have agreed to maks the following appropriations : — Clifton - Seaward Bush road, £390; Stewart Island and Southlftnd roads, £700; repairs to police station, Tmwvu, £275 ; Otago Central (equipment Hyda'a station), £1000. Tie Government have made an offer to purchase the Mokihinui Coal Compauy'a railway at a price recommended by the engineers sent to specially report on tha condition of the line." For the sixty-seventh People's Concert the services of Signora Veuosta, the celebrated contralto, have been seenrad. Captain Fred. Thomas, comedian, and sr.id to be the only whistling ventriloquist in the world, has also been engaged. Captain Thomas whistles with his lips tightly closed, with a cigar ia his mouth, or with his lips tightly bandaged. Me W. Farquhar Young will also make hia first appearance siuce his recent M«lbjurt;e sueOBSses. €■ The service of song "Only a Gipsy" will be given in connection with the Port Chalmers Congregational Church in the Foresters' Hall tomorrow evsning, followed by a floral service. Nominations for all handicaps in connection with the Gore Racing Club's Summer meeting close this evening.An open meeting of the Caversham 1.0. G.T. Lodge tii-night. The 10 p.m. train to Port Chalmers will be delayed for 15 minutes to-night in connection with the Orchestral Soci'-iy's concert. Messrs Park, Reynold*, and Co. will sell flower aud vegetable seeds on Saturday. About the 10th January thuy will sell the working plant uf the Nuw Zealand Dairy Farmeris' Co-operative Company. A cake competition and sale of woik will be held in the Stuffor I street Mission Hall this afternoon and evening. Business depression causes endless trouble to our (iigastive functions, and upsetß the liver and stomach. "Wahoo" mends matters speedily. 2s h'd grocers and chemists.—[ADVT.J The " Tui Brand " clothing cannot be beaten for value. See our competition suits at 24s 9d; sold ekewhere at 2fls (id to 40a.—W.i Scott and Co.— [Advt.J If your boy requires a new suit bring him to us ; prices are low, quality good, variety large, and continuously renewed. —Mollison and Co.—[Advt.] John H.isi,ov, Watuiuuaker *nci Jewell;!-, Ji Princes Btreet. The oldest established house in town. Repairs of all kinds. Sood assortment Watcbtig, Clonks, aud Jewellery. Spectacles to suit, i.,11 sights.—fApv-T.l Messrs A. and J. M'Faiu.ane beg to call attention to their advertisement over the leader. Any orders entrusted to them will receive the beßt attention.—l'advt.] .Sec G. and T, Young's Christmas advertisement on first puge, and note that watch, clock, and juwßllevy repairs receive personal supervision of Mr T. Ct. Young. Competent workmen only employed. Satisfaction{<u«ranteerl. Moderatuprices.—[ADV.] Specially prepared soda,water for invalids, as supplied liy'THOMSoy and Co. to the Dunedin Hospital, Union Company's entire fleet, and other public institutions. In nearly all cases of sickness Thomson and Go.'s soda water is held in high esteem by physicians for its purity aud wnolesorue action in assimilating with milk and other nutritious liquids. Labelled with name and trade mark.—[Advt.] Christmas, the allimpqrtant festive sea-son, the time when frienely ffreeunps are exchanged, and the tiiijn above all others suitable to present one's friemds with souvenirs appropriate to the occasion. —With these facts in view, the D.I.U have imported a magnificent assortment of novelties of a useful, ornamental, and also amusing character. For presents suitable either for old or • young visit ths D.1.C., Hi^h and Ruttray streets Special exhibition during the remainder of the present mouth. Grand display of mechanical toys, all in full motion, every afternoon at 3 o'clock. On Saturday, 22nd, and Monday, 24th, the warehouse will be cip*.n for business till 1.0 p.m.—[ADVT.J