SUMMARY FOR EUROPE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10287, 19 February 1895, Page 2

SUMMARY FOR EUROPE.

POLITICAL AND GENERAL.

The Colonial Treasurer was entertained at I"political social" in Dunedin on January EG, just prior to his departure from the colony. Ministerial sensitiveness in respect of legitimate criticism was displayed in a very marksd way upon this occasion, and z large part of Mr Ward's speeoh consisted of complaints at the hardihood of those people who do nofc approve of his policy. Scarcely any light was thrown upon the causes of tho sudden visit to England, and the deliverance as a whole, though very lengthy, was by no means a remarkable effort. There was a good deal oJ strong language, but not much argument, while the general mysterionpness of tha Ministerial pronouncement was at once irritating and unnecessary. Mr Ward said, for instance, that it would "be hi 3 business, amongst other things, to frustrate something which xi_s attempted to bo done by their enemies." And again: "He had in his possession at that moment information, which was also in possession of tho Government, which told him that it was to the interest of New Zealand that either himself or 3ome o^her .responsible Minister should be.in Eugland at present for tho purpose of assisting. tO'do something that was calculated to do "a great deal of good to the country." Needless to cay, there is no satisfaction iv these oracular utterances, and as a matter of fact we know as little about tho real public causes of Mr l^AED's visit to England as was.known at the date of onr last summary.

After a finnl spseah at Invercargill Mr Waed set sail on January 29 for London, via Hobart, subsequently attending tha Intercolonial Postal Conference at the latter place. It is pretty generally agreed that ho makes an admirable Postmaster-general, and though no very important business was transacted at tha conference the ability and tact of the New Zealand representative were ones more the subject of warm commendation.

Aa important reciprocal treaty haa .been signed by the Premier of South Australia and the Colonial Treasurer of New Zealand, by which the two colonies are to exchange certain commodities free of duty. New Zealand may export to Adelaide barley, cats, horses, and hops, and Adelaide send to New Zealand wines, salt, olivo oil, fresh and dried fruits, free of duty. The treaty come 3 into force on May 1, though ifc is possible the date will ba extended to July 1, in order to allow the Parliament of either colony to ratify the same, Ia case of the terms being ratified, the treaty will run for seven years. One of the provisions is that similar conceosions will not be granted by either contracting colony to any ofcher colony during Its currency. According to Mr Ward the remission o£ duties apart from fruits, taking last year as a basis, means to New Zealand about £14,000. It is rather too early to express a deliberate judgment on tbe details of the treaty, tha tezfc of which is not yet available; bufc there ia a general feeling that the clause which forbids either contracting party to grant similar concessions during the currency of the treaty onghfc not to be ratified.

Political affairs havo been quiet during the month, though speeches have boon delivered by the Ministsr for Labour and Education (Hon. W. P. Keeves) at Wellington en January 25, and at Christchurch on February 11; and by Captain EuaSELL afc Hastings on January 28. The afEairs of last session still form the staple subjecfc of political addresses, and it is hardly necessary to say that the old controversial points are getting rather stale.

In, another column will be found a report Df the half-yearly meeting of ths Bank of New Zealand, held at Wellington en February 7, with the statement of the new president (Mr William Watson). It pill be noticed that the capital account stands at £2,416,449 instead of £900,000sas the result'of the special /legislation of last year, and that tilers haa been a decrease of £560,000 in deposits for the halfyear, concerning which fact the president remarked: " Bufc this 13 in most part due to withdrawals in the United Kingdom, partly on account of an event which occurred in Jung last, and partly because the rates of interest have been lowered. You are, in fact, to be congratulated on having changed these deposits for guaranteed stook. The bank had too much borrowed in the United Kingdom, and will not again take so much3?ho excess was both costly and unreliable.' Ihe profit and loss account unfortunately Bliows a decrease of £20,516, "whichrepre. Bents " (says the president) " the loss made duririg the half-year ended 30th of September on the bank's working." Naturally the. shareholders have to forego \an interim dividend,- and ifc only remains to hope for better times and a revival of the bank's prosperity on safer linea.

Sir Robert Stodt, while maintaining a business relationship with Dunedin, has established his home at Wellington/ which city he represents in Parliament, and on January 30 a number of gentlemen, for the most part connected with the cause of temperance reform, waited upon him for the purpose of bidding him farewell. Complimentary speeches were made upon the occasion, notice being taken of the fact thafc Sir PiOBBET had lived in Dunedin for over 30 years. It is not felt, however, that Sir Bobekt is severing his connection with this place: had ifc been otherwise, a much more imposing demonstration would probably have taken place.

The Anglican General Synod, which Essembles every three years, has been sitting at Nelson during the past three weeks, bufc the proceedings do not call for speoial notice. Dr Wallis was consecrated Bishop of Wellington on January 25, the Bishop of Salisbury being the preacher.

At a meeting of the Otago Harbour Board on January 31 a very satisfactory state o! matters was disclosed as regards the trade of the port during the firsfc month cf the year. The Chairman said that |n January of 189-1 the dues receive^ came to' £1595 ISs 9d, and for January of thus year £2138 9b 6d, (showing an increase of £54213 a 9d for the month. Rents daring Januaiy of 1894 produced £144S Os lOd, and for the current month £1611 4s 3d, an increase of £162 17s sd. Towage duss for January of 1894 yielded £267 16s ld, and for January 1895 they came to £329 Os 4d, an increase of £61 4s 3d. Pilotage and port charges for January 1894 produced £478 16s 6d, and for January ISDS they were £1252 3s ld, an increase of £773 6s 7d. Tho total income for the month of January last year was £4185 12s 7d, and for the same month thi3 year £5800 8s 7d, an increase of £1614 16s. These figures, he pointed oufc, avere only for the one month Tbe board had taken more money that month than in any single month since the estabment of ths board.

The annual meeting of the shareholders of tho Dunedin City and Suburban Tramways Company was held on January 24. The record of the year showed a marked improvement on its predecessors, but there is little prospect of the tramways being made a prosperous concern until the motive power has been changed. The legislative and executive difficulties in the way of the alteration have almost been surmounted.

The annual meeting of the Westport Coa Company waa hold in Dunedin on February 13, the pToflt of the year being shewn to amount to £18,400. A dividend of 3 per cent is to ba paid for the half-year, making 6 per cent, for the year. The output of coal was 215,567 tons.

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1 Reform Association, founded a year ago as a result of two sermons on " The Seamy Side of Dunedin," was hold on February 8. The aims of the association arc for the most part admirable, that many of the membsrs display more enthusiasm than sagacity, and the most noteworthy statements both si the meeting and in the report consisted of a violent attack upon the integrity and efficiency of the police. Fortunately there is reason to believe that tho statements ara grossly exaggerated, and that the disaffection in the police force is of a very partial nature. The lHGth anniversary of tlia birth oE Robert Buens was celebrated on January 25 by an enthusiastic gathering in the Garrison Hall, the chief speaker beiog Mr Scobie Mackenzie, who delivered a capital address.