THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 3394.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10240, 24 December 1894, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 3394.

The Cabinet can hardly be specially congratulated on the new appointments ■which were made last week in connection with the Hallway department. It is not to be pretended that Mr Cadman has any real qualifications for the office of Minister for Bailways, though we recognise that the Government was placed in somewhat of a difficulty regarding the matter. All the other Ministers are fully occupied, whereas the portfolios of Justice and Mines are no great tax on the energies of a capable man. On the whole, moreover, it is matter for congratulation that Mr Seddon has refrained from burdening himself with another office, especially as we believe he would have made a far from suitable head of the new department; and this bvhig the case it may be argued that Mr Cadman is really the only member of the Cabinet available. There is a certain amount of reasonableness in this view of: the matter, and though it is impossible to avoid feeling some misgivings, it only remains to hope that Mr Cabman will rise to the occasion and display the requisite firmness, sagacity, and enterprise. He has a great opportunity before him, for though the commissioners have been very successful on the whole, there is, as we recently pointed out, ample room for the exercise o£ patriotic enterprise in the management of the railways, while all the Minister's resources of determination and conscientiousness will be

'3BBSttf?Oat*Bf£LWW»rti»«»»«'' <• n —av»"««inni' wwi^a^^^jv) jKAjiiuw'.rinn ■< uarto- "- called upon if he is to avoid the pitfalls incidental to the system of political control. We do not say that it is impossible for a Minister of the Crown to superintend the management of the railways in a spirit of political purity, though past experience led us strongly to oppose the new departure; but certainly such a task will not be performed without strength and resolution, and Mr Cadmak" must be prepared for the perils which are certain to beset his way. As for the appointment to the office of general manager, we can only repeat what we said the other day, that too little is known concerning Mr JKonayne to justify anything like confident approval of his selection. We have no wish, however, to hamper his prospects by expressions of undue misgivings, and should lie prove an efficient and successful manager he may depend on receiving the recognition of all parties in the State. We are glad to find that Mr M'Kemow is not to be treated in the scurvy fashion experienced a year ago by Messrs Maxwelii and 1-la.Nhay, who were turned adrift as the reward of their faithful i services in the interest of the country. Ilis appointment to a prominent i position in the Lands department j will give him duties where he will be suitably and usefully employed. Mr .Scott's brief and rather superfluous term of office as commissioner has come to an end, and he has apparently declined an offer of further employment. In addition to retaining his present office, Mr Blow becomes secretary of the Railway department, and though one or two of his actions at the Public Works Office have been justly criticised (including the report which he issued three years ago in regard to the prosecution of the Otago Central railway), the exercise of prudence may open to him a useful career in his new position. In respect of the other appointments, it only remains for us to express our extreme regret that Ministers have thought fit to transfer Mr Grant, the exceedingly capable traffic manager, from Dunedin to Auckland. Mr Grant's success at Dunedin is poorly repaid by this unnecessary and harassing treatment, and though we do not grudge promotion to Mr Arthur we trust that it is not yet too late for public opinion to effect the countermanding of the order of transference. The capital condition of the railway service in Dunedin is mainly owing to Mr Grant's capability, and no reasonable' cause can be given for the change. The Otago Ministers, Mr Ward and Mr John M'lCbnzie, have certainly not earned the thanks of the people of the province by their concurrence in this step, and it is only reasonable to urge that Mr Gra.nt should be allowed to remain in the community he has served so well, and that Mr Arthtjk, as junior officer, should carry with his promotion the inconvenience of a change of district.

Captain Russell richly deserved the honour of a banquet, which was recently tendered to him~by his constituents at Hastings. The work which he performed during the recent session as practical leader of the Opposition cannot be over-valued by the country, or, at all events, by' those amongst the electors—a majority there is reason to believe—who are dissatisfied with the policy and tendencies of the present Government. It is true that there was no- formal appointment of an Opposition leader, and Captain Eussell evidently thinks that the system adopted lias worked well. He remarked that the compliment paid him " was rather as a member of a compact Opposition than as the leader of that body, and he liked it put that way, for the secret of their success was primarily due to the fact that they had worked hand in hand without jealousy or rivalry," there being "no desire on the part of one man to supplant another." nevertheless the prominence of Captain Russell's services must not be lost sight of, and it should be remembered that the numerical smallness of the Opposition served to place an unusual strain on the few effective and influential speakers. No doubt Sir Robert Stows decided and patriotic attitude gave a measure of relief to Captain Russell and his colleagues, but the fact remains that nearly 200 legislative proposals had to be watched in the interests of the country generally rather than of a party, while " the work was conducted in such a hasty manner that they had to tax themselves to the utmost and work day and night in order to keep up with it." Captain Russell declares that the socalled obstruction with which the Opposition has been charged was nothing but an occasional protest against overwork and an endeavour to secure needful rest for body and mind. He believes—and he is almost certainly right—that the emphatic and disinterested criticism to which the Ministerial policy has been subjected has awakened the country to a sense of peril and discomfort, and that the electors now regret that they neglected the regular practitioners and allowed themselves to be "led away by a quack charlatan impostor, the Sequah of New Zealand politics. They had been carried away by a charlatan with the blast of a trumpet and the banging of a drum, who offered them a box of political pills, and who pulled out their teeth to the accompaniment of the trumpet and drum aforesaid, at the same time assuring them that his treatment was painless." Captain Russell paid a high compliment to the members of the Legislative Council on account of the admirable way in which they put some of the Ministerial measures into shape, and it is needless to say that his criticism of the new financial policy was incisive and convincing. He sweeps aside the childish assertion that self-reliance is still one of the Government's cherished principles, and exposes the substituted principle of plunging with unsparing lucidity. He declared that Mr Ward resembled another of whom he had read, who was ignorant of the elements of finance and " confounded a big .Budget with a great one." In the course of the subsequent .proceedings Mr Buchanan and other members of the parliamentary Opposition bore emphatic testimony to the tact, courtesy, and efficiency with which Captain Russell performed his duties during the session; and by way of conclusion we may just note .Dr Newman's timely reminder that "it was useless for the people's representatives to gird on their armour to do battle if the people themselves skulked in their tents and refused to come out and assist in sweeping the enemies of the country off the benches." Unfortunately, the people, having made a mistake last year, must now wait for an

opportunity; but we doubt not that thny will act sagaciously and patrioticallj'' when the time arrives.

Tub authorities at Avondalo are to ba congratulated on their good fortune in haying got through the unpleasant experience of a fire in a lunatic asylum without disaster. It is evident that their conduct throughout is deserving of the highest commendation. It is clear that the conduct of the staff from the doctor downwards was beyond all praise. We sincerely hope that this sorb of devotion to the public service will not l>e overlooked. As in several recent instances in America fearful catastrophes have occurred we have made some inquiry as to the position of matters at Seacliff, where there are 530 patients in a lofty building, and where several small fires have occurred. We think that the public have every reason to have confidence in the arrangements there. Mr Cjiapmax", deputy-inspector, informs us that there is a well-organised fire brigade, supplied with modern appliances. The men take a great interest in the work, and are thoroughly efficient. Their efficiency is not a mere surmise. Shortly after they were organised a surprise visit from the inspector of fire brigades found them wanting. Their defects were freely acknowledged and the services of Captain MitchelTj were obtained to bring them up to the work. There is a capital water supply giving high pressure, and though if a fire fairly seized the building it might prove impossible to save it, the brigade is quite capable of subduing a smaller fire. The utmost attention, however, has been given to life-saving, and all the patients are, so to speak, drilled to stations, being taught to go in an orderly manner to the fire escape. Experiments are frequently made with the fire escape, and the patients positively enjoy the fun of being shot out of the third-floor windows. A ward can in this way be emptied either of men or women in a few minutes. In accordanca with our usual custom, there will be no publication of the Daily Times on tbe morning of Wednesday. Advertisers who desire to Make announcements in connection with Boxing Day should therefore bring in their notifications this afiernoon and evening. On page 7 this morning will be fonnd several local report", our American aiid Scottish letters, and other matter. Mr Paulin tent us the following forecast at 11 o'olock last eveuing :—" Subsidiary electrical disturbances hava formed to the uorfch of 45 8., and indications are beooming unsettled. Strong to moderate N.B. winds and barometer fall." The streets of the city were unusually crowded on Saturday evening, and the shops which pay most attention to providing goods specially suited for the Christmas holidays appeared ta ba doing good business. Another busy night is exp3Cted to-night by shopkeepers. The Rev. Mr Skinner, of Waifcahuna, haß accepted tho call of the Presbyterian congregation O. 1: Flemiugton and Tinwald, near Ashburton. There will be no sitting of the Magistrate's Court until the 4th of Janaary next. Bishop Moran was present in St. Joseph's Cathedral yesterday at 11 o'clock mass; He intends, if all goes well, to preside at thfl same service on Christmas Day. The Angelus bell will be rung to-night ot 12, and midnight Mass will then begin. The church will ns opened at 11.30—a half-hour before tke service. Gounod's "Messe Solennelle" will be rendered in full, with organ accompaniment. To-morrow numsrous masses will ba celebrated. Solemn high mass will bs held at 11, when the sams m»Bs ("Sb.'Ceoilia") will be rendered, with orchestral accompaniment. At a meeting of ths southern section of the Australian Horns Reading Union, held n.4 Timaru on the Zlat, tbere were present Mr George Hogben (in the chair) ; Hey. B. C. Beecroft, leader of the literature circla, representing Ashburton; Mr V. W. Wake, Dunedin; Ik J. Mayne, Timaru; and Miss E. M. Fussell, , secretary of section. Delegates had not been appointed by Chrietchtxrch or Geraldine. It was resolved to ask the General Council to fully constitute two New Zealand sections —a northern and a southern, —and that Sir Tenant, of the Otago High School, be asked to act as delegate for the section at the council meeting; that he be instructed to bri?;g bs(ore the council the desira of the committee of 4he southern section that papsrs and notes enn>iturol science suited to the needs of New Zealand members bs inserted raiial&rfy in the journals. OScers for 1895 were appointed as follows:—president, Mr George Hogben, M.A.; secretary and treasurer, Miss B. M. Fussell (re-elected). Stamp collectors have quite a folk-lore of their own (says the London correspondent of the Manchester Courier), but I doubt whether the following true story of the 'cuteoeas of one of the kings of philately h known-to most of them. It goes back to the time when there was not such a boom in stamps as thsrs is nowadays, and shown the advantage of being first in svuy field. Just before the Zulu war thgrs was in Mauritiuis a gentleman who had preserved from bis schooldays the tasta for collecting stamps. He was a friend of the chief of the local post office, as waa perhaps only natural. Learning from him one day that there was to be a clearance of tbe old stock, he got permission to collar the unused " blocks'» of stamps and other valuables of the kind which were &haut to be throwzi away as waste. Thig suggested to him that thure might Vie similar spoils at other of our small colonial offices. He " moved raund," acquiring them without difficulty. When aae learns that a single ons of his Mauritian trophies fetched £850 not so long ago, one is not surprised to hear thst by judiciously feeding the market he h.v. realised a competence of something between £20,000 and £30,000 by ins judicious foresight. The Fiji correspondent of the Sydney Morning Herald writes: —" Ta'i!-mu, the Princess Royal of Samoa, ths only child of KiDg Maliefcoa, having been brought np and educated in Levuka eincn sh«< wa3 a. little child, has been sent for by the King, and left in the s.s. Upcln. The prevailing idea is that, as she is now 16, Mttlietoa has the idea of marrying her to the representative of the opposing faction, or his son, anu t?o terminatiug the internal striEe which has inflicted so much injury on Simoa and utterly hindered its progrebs for so I many yuars. Upon thfl young la<2y'« arrival at | Apia there will be great doingo among her peoplo, of whom fhe will probably be the Queen, barring absolute annexation by one of the Great Powers." Argentina threatens to prove a formidable rival to Australia not only in frozen mejit, wheat, and wool, bjt also in the nxport of butter, a trade in which sha would enjoy tbe same advantage in the seasons bs is proenred by other portions of ths southern hemisphere, while she has the ndrantsge of bsi.ig only half the distance from Europe. Already a considerable trade has beea optned'op with Sio Janeiro, and some email fihipmeats have beon made to Great Britain. A'i present the bre»;ds of cattls, and especially of milch cows, are vary infsrior to. those of Anstmlia, but land and labour are not I more than half thfl price, »nd freights are. of course, very nrj,c!i less. And the Booi)ue«, in whose hands is the 3.v.-y industry of the River Plate, are very exp»rt bntter-makets, although very little is knowa outside the Biscayau provinces of Spain. A carol service wiil be held in St. Paul's proCathedral to-nif{lit, coramenring at 11. On Chrißtmas Day thsre will be an early celebration of holy coEntnunioui and that at 11 a.m., whun tho bishop will presea, will be choral. A carol aervico will bs held at St. Matthew's Gbnroh thin ureuiug. On Ohriskmas Day there wil' b". eplnbraMfrtis of holy oommunioa afc 7.30, ; 8.30, and 11.15 (nhom!), wttb. matins at 10 30 i a.m.. »nd evensong, with carols at 7.30. J

Me BJorefcon FroweD, a well-known student of the nilver question, readied Sj'dnay by the Alatneda. In ths com-se of an interview with a representative of the Herald he said:—" It is somewhat remarkable that you in Australia hava not pressed upoa Downing street the great importance to yourcclvos of tha resiorjition of silver. There is not a profesßor of political economy at any of our universities—not ons— who does not fco-day connect the great fall in the price of wheat, wool, and all the produce of the soil with the change in the monetary status of silver which datss back to 1875. Money has been made dear hy legislation, which has closed the mints of every Western nation to the free coinage of silver. You in Australia owe Home 14- millions of intareat on tha 'tOO millions of public and private loans you have contracted overseas, and you pay the j interest by exports of woo!. You have now got to ship two bales of wool and pay freight on two bales, whure formerly the shipment o£ oae I bale and the freight on one bale sufficed. Rir ] Gladstone, you remember, protested ag^inc-t bimetallism in the House of Commons, cund succeeded in breaking- up tho Brussels Conference in 1892 on the ground that th« remonetisation of silver and the consequent rise of prices would enable England's debtors to pay her less produce for tho sovereign's worth of debt; but while this rosy suit Lombard strest, it is hardly an argument to witch the colonies !" Tha book of the week (gays the London correspondent of the Sydasy Mormag Herald) is undoubtedly Mr Gladatona'a " Hor&ea." By common eonsant the coHec&ed translations justify tho favourable opinion created by the specimens published some timo ago. It ia not a fine piece of literature —Mr (ilaflstona has never pretendsd to be a great literary man—but it is a sound and vigorous piece of work, does in ii epirit which every man who lo7es his Horaes will surely appreciate, «.ud which would ba noteworthy even apart from the interest which is added by the age and distinction of the author and th 9 circumitiiuces of the work. The "New Woman" (writes the London correspondent of a contemporary) is steadily making hsr way to tha front—that is, the new woman in the best acceptation of the teem. And, what is more significant, ahe is now being helped forward by men as she never w*B before. A movement has been sat on foot with the direct object oj awakening the interest of women in matters Of local government, and securing women candidates for tha boards of guardians and similar authorities, and the important point is that this movement is identified in no way with the little band of " advanced ladies " whom the Saturday Review in its palmy days used to dnb the "ahrieking sistsrbood." Princess Christian and many other ladias of great social influence are warmly interesting themselves in tha matter, and it is not improbable th^t we shall have ladies of high social standing coining forward themselves as competitors for this kind of local honour. It hag more than once been suggested in England that se»3on ticket holders should wear soma badge to do away -with the nuisance of showing their tickets at the barrier, but Belgium lias passed from suggestion to reality. Henceforward a decoration will be worn in tiie bnttouhole, with the other bits of ribbon with which foreigners love to ornament themselves. It is a cheap order of merit. 3Tou pny your fare, and you are decorated with the first, second, or third elas'j of the Ordar of the Puffiug Billy. The grand cordon of the order (remarks the Globs) will, it is understood, be reserved for those who have been in ?. railway accident. Last week witnessed the departure of Mr Q. W. Pogson, J.P., from the Strath-Taieri, where hehns been settled on the Cofctesbrook estate for many years. A few oE his friends met him prior to his leaving and presented him with an address and a parse containing abont 50 sovereigns, felr M'Phee, one of his ficst shepherds, who is now settled on a small run, made tho presentation in a few well-chosfp words ; and Mr W. D. Mason, a neighbouringtfettler, handed Mr Pogson the address, which stated, inter alia, that the recipient had been a kind master, a just magistrate, and a true and liberal pioneer. Mr Pogson feeliDgly replied. On the following day Mr Pogson bade farewell to the Strath, and was wished a hearty good-bye by a few of his friends an he entered the carriage. Active preparations ara now going on for the Dunedin eeason of Messrs Wiliiamaon and Musgrove's Royal Comic Opera Company, which epsos on Boxing Ni?hfc. The mechanists with the scenery, &c. arrived by the Mararoa, and everything will bo in readiness for the openieg night. The company, to the number of 90, arrive by the Tarawera on Christmas D.i-7. 'She box plan will ba on visw afc the Grand Hotel en Curisfcmai! Day and Boxing Day. The members of tho Brough and Boncicault Company reached Dunerlin from the north yesterday, and proceed this morning to Inverougill, wasro the farcical comedy "Niobe" will be produced. Mr D. M. Spedding will sell fruit to-day. Messrs Park, Reynolds, and Co. will hoM a sale to-day of Christmas consignments, including Japanese wares, &c Thu amended by-laws 'of the Otago Harbour Board come into operation nn the Ist of January. The N.Z.L. and M.A. Company will sell on Tnasday, the Bth of January, a fourth share in a form with buildings, &a. in the North-Wast Vhl'.ey. The directors of the Golden Bay Dredging Company announce a call of 2s 6<l per share. The Union Steam Ship Uompiny will hava two of their steamers making excursion trips on Wednesday. The Flora will iu»ke a cruise towirds Moeraki, while the Brunne.r will visit the Maori Kaik and then proof eel outside the heads. Messrs Donald Reid and Co. will hold a sale of grain and produce to-day. The coaoh to Sundymount will not run on Christmas' Day. A special trip will be made to-night, leaving Dunedin at 10.30. To-morrow being Christmas D?yj service, at H a.m., will be held in Trinity Wesleyan Church. The IW. J. J. Lewis will occupy the pulpit, taking fnr his subject "A Christmas l'recent for the King." Tha launch Stoff* will make an excursion trip from Titri to Taieri Mouth on Christmas Day. Mr S. Jacobs will continue to-day his sale of fancy goods, <fee. Mr J. T. Gi^ynne, the secretary, has been appointed the authorised azent of the Palmevston liaomg Club to receive investments. Excursion tripn to Stewart Island by the tug AT.-arua every Wednesday morning from the BhitT. We have received from Messrs Stone, Son, and Co. a neatly got up hundy reference weekly tablet calendar and reminder diary. It should prove a great convenience to business men and others, who can miter up engAgements, &c. of which t'aey ■atx ccirtaiu of being reminded when the date arrives. We direct special attention to the building allotments advertised in our Saturday's issue for 9-de by Messrs "Wilson, Cameron, and Co., of Balcluthn, in Willsher Bay, Port Molyneux. The vendors inform us that already 22 allotments have beon disposed of; but a few have been kept back for a few days to r»iford outsiders an. opportunity, should they wish it, of securing a site. Our composing statt' desire to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of a very handsome photograph showins the companionship of the North British Diily Mail and tha Glasgow Weekly Ma.il; also a HSL-.tly-got-up carii from their confreres in the Glntlia Leader Dtliee. The Government printer and officers of his department also send greetings. Business depression causes emlless trouble to our digestive functions, and upsets the liver and stomach. "Wahoo" mnnds uv.itters speedily. 2s fii grocers and chemists.—[AnvT.l Brown, Ewino, and Co. are keeping their establishment opun L.ie to-night.—[Auvt.] P. J. Bei.lktt, 81 I,'eorpro stn:.?t, thanks the thousands of patrons who accorded him a visit on Saturday evening, asd bejrs to apologise to the numerous customers who could not set served owinrc to the terrific crash ; and to cope with the expected volume of business to-night, au extra start' will be in attendance, when we shall endeavour to do jusrtiea to everybody. Remember. cvtry pnrchr.aer of goods to the value of Is will receive apiece of music worth 2s.— [AnvT.l MoKTAOUK's advetti.ißinent fifth page. Splendid show Chri'tDiss, New Year g^ods imitahls for presents.--[Anvr.] Space will not pannit us to more than mention a very spenial line of 4-ilome kid gloves which Moi.USON AN!) Co. ore offering at Cs fid, 3n (id, :!s llri, 4i (id, r«Od. See window, Jlpllisou and Co.'s, George street.—[Alv.T.j The best, advertising medium is the recommendation of others who have given you a trial. 200 suits iv a little over two months is our nrmd, greatly due to above cmse.—W. Scott and Co., cash tailors. Princes street.—[Aiivt.] John Ki3i,ov, «V««hi.-uiit«r s n« ,Tewall'»r. 74 Princes street. The uldest eatalilishsd h-r.uje in town. Repairs of all kinds. Good atwiriment Watchsa, Clock*, and Jewellery. Spectacle* to suit all Biithtß.—fAnvT.l Messrs A. and J. M'Fajilane be« to call attention to thair advertisement over the leader. Any orders entrusted to them will receive the best attention.—ladvt.l Set; G. and T. Young's Christmas advertisement on Jlrst, page, and note ,h?t watch, f!lcn:k, siisi jn.wellftry rcpoirs re^eivo personal supnrvision of Ml1 T.G. Young. Competent workmen only employed. Sati'fiiction gnbirauteed. MoJeratu price:).—[A.nv.] Specially prepared eodawater for invalids, sib supplied by Thomson and iJo. to thu Duuedin Hnspital, Union Company.? entire feet, and other public in-titutions. In nearly nil cases of nlckness Tlionisou and Co.'s sodawater is held in high esteem by physicians for its purity and whole- I some action in'assimilating with milk and other DiitritiouK liquids. Labelled with name and trade mark.—[Anvr.]