THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1895.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10330, 10 April 1895, Page 2

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1895.

Thb Premier's reference to. Sir JuLitrs Voaßii at the inauguration of -the Social Club of the Government Insurance department on Saturday evening did credit alike to his head and to his heart. True, it was only natural that Sir Jraros's services should be honourably mentioned on ' such an occasion, and that the originator of the Government Insurance department Should have a place in .the minds of those members of the department ■who were gathered together; but the1 Premier •did not confine himself to a.notice of Sir Julius's connection with this particular branch of the public service: he took the opportunity of questioning whether the colony had done' justice to the now absent statesman,' "for what he hasidorie.fpr the colony, not only in respect to the Insurance department, but in regard to other matters of great importance, and questionsof policy .that have proved very successful in framing the life of the people pf this colony.' The Premier proceeded to make a suggestion (" as it, is now a fitting opportunity in Sir: Julius .Vo&el's declining years, and when the world has not used him very kindly") that some public recognition might be accorded on the part of the colonyThere does not appear to haye been any indication of a practical plan in the desired direction, and we are not prepared to help Mr Seddon with a more distinct suggestion than his own; but we feel sure that the kindly words just.quoted, even though .they.should not be followed by beneficent action, will be welcomed not . only by the, statesman ,to: whom they, refer, but also by the people of the colony to which Sir Jumus gave the best years of his life. We haye no.wish to exaggerate. Sir JuuWs political failings have been neither few nor inconspicuous, and we cannot look back to the latter part of his activity in New Zealand —the period of the StoutVogel combination—with feelings of pride or satisfaction. We should not be prepared to welcome him.back to' the political arena:; his usefulness to New Zealand lies in the past, a past beyond the eighties. But that his usefulness was really great, his public spirit large and generous, his political capacity almost if "aot quite without a parallel in the history of the colony, we cannot for a moment question. And we associate ourselves with the Premier in suspecting that the people -of New Zealand are a' little too easily forgetful of what Sir Julius did in times gone by. His later failings are allowed to obscure his former achievements, and a generation has^ grown up which reaps the result of his large-mindedness and practical statecraft without recognising any obligation to the man of insight and foresight—without even having a very clear idea of what he was: in Hew Zealand a quarter of' a centnry ago. It is customary in some quarters to regard Sir Jumus Yo&es as a visionary, a dreamer of splendid dreams, without a sufficiently close hold upon the hard facts of today. It is true that his mental horizon typs always been extensive, but it is a complete mistake to , suppose that he is wanting in practical, everyday capability. Indeed, his unique quality has consisted in his blending of the (ideal and practical instincts. The public works policy, as conceived by him, is the capital instance of this fact. It was a great project, and it cannot be too often repeated that its originator was not-responsible for its subsequent shortcomings. Even aa matters stand, the people of New Zealand have cause togive thanks that thepolicy was carried out, so

far, indeed, as it was carried out; but there would be far more imperative occasion of thanksgiving if the design had been executed in strict accordance with the plan of the originator. Hia original scheme was sensible and sound; but it was altered by Parliament and tampered with by less patriotic administrators. The Premier is perfectly right: justice has not been done to Sir. Julius VoofEL.

Usefulness apart, Sir Julius's career has been one of no small interest and variety. He has only just completed his sixtieth year; so that he is a quarter of a century younger than Mr Gladstone. A. Londoner by birth, it is 43 years ; since he found his way to Victoria, then the El Dorado of so many hopes; and in that colony he served his journalistic apprenticeship, so to speak, and first turned his attention to politics. lit 1861 he'canie to Dunedin, and shortly afterwards was instrumental in starting and became the first editor of this journal—the first daily paper in the colony. He became a Provincial Councillor in .1862, an M.H.E. in 1863, head of the Provincial Government in 1866, a Minister in 1869. It was on June 28, 1870, that he expounded ' the public works policy, and in those days he was also responsible for the establishment of the San Francisco mail service. In 1872 he formed a Ministry, becoming Premier the following year, and in 1876 ne was appointed Agent-general. His career since his return to the colony •in^ 1884 hardly needs recapitulation ; but obviously his has been a life of distinction, and a life of service in the cause of New Zealand. It has,not been free from faults and shortcomings, but for these Sir Julius has paid—paid perhaps more fully than is the lot of most statesmen. Certainly he has not made himself rich at the expense of New Zealand, and though he may have no absolute claim upon the colony, we are inclined to think that the Premier's verbal recognition of a claim will be sanctioned; by a majority of the people. We are -not ready to say what-can ,be done: perhaps nothing can be done at present; but should there be a vacancy in any high rion-political office—some post of which Sir Julius's abilities would make him a suitable occupant, and whioh "he would accept—it may be presumed that the Government will not overlook. a famous and patriotic man who has done the State high Bervice in the past. '

'; Our late cablegrams did not come to hand this morning. We learned from the Telegraph dopartment that the telegraph line from La Ferouse to Sydney was damaged by a thunderstorm, which accounts for the interruption in communication. ' '"'.'

A Wellington telegram states that a Gazette extraordinary further prorogues Parliament to May 30.

The 'Hon. A. /. Csdman arrived at Naaeby yesterday. . He expects to reach Dunedin about Thursday, s'

.The General Committee ■will recommend at to-night's meeting of the City Council that, offers be invited for suitable kites, of from five' to ZO acres, for the erection of the public abattoir; that competitive designs of the : necessary abattoir buildings, fee., be invited, and j that a firnt prize of 20 guineas and a second ; prize of 10 guineas be offered for the two most/ snitable designs; that authoiity be given to the', committee, to have the debentures printed for the abattoir loan; that two sets of debenture* be printed of the face value of £100 and £50 ,respectively, that the interest payable on theabattoir loan be at the rate of ♦£ per cent. per annum, and that such debentures have a 20 years'onrrenoy. • 1 ;, Oar Wellington correspondent telegraphs :*-^ "The Government have decided to suspend the Fisheries Act in so far as it requires nets to bo emptied in the boats or on the beach provided the fishermen nse legal meshes and return to the water all fish under-sized. The suspension is to be for the whole colony for a period of three months, and inquiries are to be made into the matter meantime." ■■'..:' ■ Mr Faulin at 8.30 last evening predicted light.to moderate S.B: to N.E. winds and flue' ; ..Our Invereargill correspondent telegraphs:— "The Ellerslie estate, subdivided into eight con-veniently-sized farms, was submitted/for' sale C by .auction to-day (Tuesday) on easy terms, but elicited no bid. The above estate comprises 1901 acres of good quality aod highly improved land, adjoining that portion of the' Merrivale estate recently purchased by the Government. The property was offered on behalf of tha Dunedin Sinking Fund Commissioners, into whose possession it has come as mortgagees."

. At a largely-attended meeting of the Knox Church congregation last evening,' it "was resolVed to give a unanimous caU to the pastorate of the church to the Rev. W. Howitson, 8.A., of BrunßWreb, Victoria. Dr Hislop and Mr E. B. Cargill were appointed a committee to ask the presbytery to moderate in the Q»U. ; '■• -

.The Hon. Mr Itarnaoh is expected to address his constituents at Lawrence on Thursday evs'ning.- ■. . ■ ... .. . ■ . . ■ ■ .■ •,..■.,>•-'•■.'

. A.large crowd assembled in the Ocfcagon last evening, when the Citizens' Band j under the conductorship of Signor Bquarise, gave another of their open-air performances. The various items on the programme were evidently greatly, appreciated. ■

Major Eeddelil, S.M., had a delicate question to decide at Oamaru yesterday. Two boys were brought before the court by their mother, who is a widow and unable to support them, with a request that they be sent to the Industrial School. The question before the court (says the Osmaru Mail) was the religion the children should be brought up in. The father had been a Catholic and the mother a Presbyterian. The mother wished them to be brought up in the Presbyterian faith. In that ease they would be sant to the Cavereham school, where she could see them occasionally. If seat to Nelson she would not be able to do so. The mother said the children were baptised by a. Catholic priest, and their father hid expressed a wish that they should be brought up in that faith. ' The mother said, however, that she was brought up as a Presbyterian and. wished the children to be thns brought up. His Worship held that there was no evidence before him of the children's religion, and he thought the mother had a right to have her wishes .respected. The children would be committed to the Caversham school, to be brought np in the Presbyterian faith.

A singular case was, heard at the New Plymouth Police Coart the other day, when Ennimiu Ashbdrn'ham Dugdale, of Waitara, waa charged that he did in the early part of the year 189*,-from the bank of the Mokau river, steal a certain historical stone, Te Fung*, o Tainui, or the anchor of Tainui, the property of Takerau Watihi and other members of the Ngatimaniapoto tribe, of the valne of £2. The prosecution was instituted by the Government with a view to • make defendant restore the stone. An offer to hand over the stone to the Government was declined, as the Government desired the stone to be given back to the Natives, who attributed a number of misfortunes to itn removal. For instance, the Natives attributed tbe bad fffhing season to tbe loss of the stone. The defendant then agreed to deliver the stone at Waitira, and arrangements have been made to place it in a prominent spot at Mokau, as near as possible to the locality from which it was taken, and to have an iron railing placed round it in order that the stone could be preserved for future generations to see. There are 10 tribes, including the Egaiiraukawa and the Ngatimaniapoto, who claim that their ancestors came from Hawaiki in the Tainui canoe, the anchor stone of which was the subject of the writ.

The usual monthly meeting of the Dunedin Horticultural Society wa« hold last evening, when all arrangements were entered into in connection with the May show. Competitors are expected from Christchurcb, Oamaru, and Invercargill, and everything points towards a decided success and a large show.

The Southland Times reports that when Mr D. Boss went through from Te Anau to George Sound he went up part of Mount Henry from Henry's F»ss. From the higher altitude many new lagoons were visible and a lake at an elevation of about 3000 ft was disoovered. It was three or four miles off, and forms the source of one branch of the creek that flows through Lake Alice into George Sound. It was reported also that to the eastward Lakes Te Anau and Hankioson wore visible, and to the westward and south Lake Kitheriae, George Sound, and the new lake. The mountain peaks are described is fine though lacking the grandeur and magnificence of those around the Clinton and Arthur valleys.

In order to remove any grounds for complaints of patronage respecting the appointment of apprentices and cadets to the railway service, the Government (says the Lyfctelton Times) have decided that in future when a vaeanoy occurs applications to" fill such will be advertised for. Candidates will be required to submit with their names testimonials ts to character and health, nlso a certificate from the head master of the school at which they.were educated showing the position they held in the Sixth Standard and the number of marks accorded them at the annual examination. Candidates will be selected from the provincial district ia which the apprentice or cadet is required, and the candidate with the highest number of marks will receive the appointment. . :.•■..•

Slowly but surely (says the Southland Times) the region to the westward of "the Hiost attractive of all the Otago lakes (Te Ahau) is being made accessible to visitors. Since early in January Mr D. Boss and a party ,under the Survey department have been pushing through a track to open communication bttween the middle »rin of Lake Te Anau and George Sound. Many difficulties have to be contended with in this clasi of work, and those not accustomed to it might think the progress of the work slow. As it is, boats have been built for tiro lakes and several miles of iraak cut through the forest. This has the effect of: making it possible for soy energetic party to get through from the lake to the sound, a distance-by land and water of some 17 or 18 miles. •.''•".:" .-.■'.

A correspondent of the Melbourne! Age' states that for some .time past, Mr M. J.i O'Mari, of Bathurst, has made foptrot in sheep his study, and, after much careful experimenting, he h»s Bucceaded| in manufacturing an ointment which has proved most successful. Within the past few weeks he has operated on 62 sheep belonging to a wellknown squatter, Mr James Rutherford, of Hereford station, near Bathurofc; and in each case the result has been most encouraging, and the cure perfect. Th« operation was performed in the presence of Mr G. S. Smith, the local inspector of block, and a number of others interested. It is needless to point out what a valuable boon this must provo to graziers throughout the Australian colonies, for there are comparatively few who haye not been serious losers by this disease in their nocks.' The ointment is applied as follows:—First-of all the affected sheep have the corrupted part carefully pared, particular care being token that no blood is drawn; the ointment is then well rubbed in with the thumb and. left. The very worst cases have been perfectly cured in from two to four days. V, . The first number of the Spectator, an illustrated journal of light and amusing literature, published in Christehurch, is to hand. The new pub! ication, which has quite a smart appearance, save as regards the caricatures, in which an improvement may be expected, is edited' by Mr J.O.Wilkin. ■ 1

Mr G. S; Griffiths, F.R.G.S., read a paper in Melbourne recently on the results of the cruite of the Antarctic in the regions of the South Pole: Although tbe Antarctic did not succeed iv findiog right whales, Mr Griffiths holds that it ie not to-be concluded that they do not exist in large numbers in the Antarctic seas.. It took 100 years to trace the haunts of the whale in the Arctic regions, '■ where the physical conformation of the country renders the search more easy; There is evidence that the whale* do exist at the Antarctic, for they; have been found and captured .there', one ship obtaining a very valuable cargo in about a fortnight. The quickest and cheapest method of exploration and discovery would be a Government expedition. A slower method, bnt. one worthy of consideration by merchants,,was suggested by Mr Bull—namely, that ships should be fitted out to capture the fin-back whale, which, though not so valuable as the right whale, might still be made to yield a good profit on the enterprise. On Possession Island there are immense stores of guano, which may yield a profitable trade. :

Craydon and Wood's Surprise Party give a performance at Port Chalmers this evening.

Mr Warren, the agent for Mr Walter Bentley's Oberammergsu exhibrtion, is at present in Dunedin to make arrangements for a season here. ' • '

A BTEAMKR DISABLED." The steamer Strathord, from Lyttelton, has called in at St. Vincent with her propeller broksn. It will be neoeesary for her to discharge portion of her cargo. THE BELGIAN POISONING OABR. Bjiussbls, April 8. The appeal in the case of Mrs Joniaax, sentenced to death for poisoning her relatives, has been disallowed. FIIANOE AND MADAGASCAR.. Capetown, April 8. Colonel Sherrington has withdrawn from the Malagasy scrvioa, owing to a disagreement witb the authorities. Tbe Frauch bombardment of Perfate, in the vicinity of Tamatava, is proceeding. The reply of the Hovas is weak. Special—By Telegraph—Copyright. PRESIDENT CLEVELAND DECLINES A THIRD TERM. London, April 8. President Cleveland has destined to be nominated for a third term as President of the United States. • ■ THE OSCAR WILDB SCANDAL. Since he was remanded with Obobt Wilde, Taylor has made statements whioh are. likely to lead to many arrests. THE ARMENIAN ATROCITIES. Sir P. H. W. Ourrie, British' Ambassador in Turkey, has had a cordial interview with the Sultan, during which the Armenian reforms wero discussed. The other embassies support the British demands for a cessation of the atrocities. ..