POLITICAL NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10417, 20 July 1895, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES.

Work calling for commendatory notice was done by both branches of the L'jgislature on Wednesday, though there would have been a different tale to tell if Ministers had had their way. In the first place, the Legislative Council earned tha goodwill of the country by giving tbe coup de grace to Sir Patrick Buckley's objtcii'our.i)!e Judicial Pracaco and Procedure Bid, and we tn«t that the last has been heard of a proposal of which nothing ought to sms been heard at all. The Attorney-g2a-cral doss not seem to have bettered bio e^e in reply at the close of the debate, and his disclaimer of any intention to interfere with tha independence of tbe Snpreme Court bench was not much more effective than his" critioisms on Mr Jurfticft Williams's action in the matter. Considering that .such men as Mr Bolt, Mr MacG-kegoh, and Mr Richardson voted against the bill, it cannot be pretended that Sir Patkicic Buckley's precious reform has been daieated by what Ministerialist!* choose to regard as the reactionary portion of the Council. It is noticeable that only eight of the famous "twelve" voted with the Attorney-general, and wo maybe pardoned for suggesting that most of the eight have small qualification for deciding a matter of this kind. The Council next turned its attention to the question of divorce, and read Mr MacGbegoe's bill a' second time by a majority of 12. Wo trust that this step may be taken as an augury of success at future stages, though it has to be remembered that the bill was killed in Coimaittee last year. Mr MacGkegob, however, has simplified bis proposals, and the Council— and the House of Representatives afterwards—will do well to pass a reform which is calculated to give relief in many cases of uahappine&s and injustice. Here again Sir Patiuok Buckley found himself in a minority, thoogii it is light to observe that his opposition to Mr MacGregob's bill is personal rather than Ministerial.

Having wasted two hours in irregular discussions concerning Taranaki ironaand and the licensing, laws, the House of Representative's redeemed its character by doing some practical work. First, a motion was passud recommending the repeal of clause 46 of the Gaming and Lotteries Act—in other words, recommending the abolition of the totalisator. The motion was passed by a vote of 35 to 24, and the Premier's name is on the list or the majority. Is it Mr Skddon's intention, to take steps towards giving effect to the resolution for which he voted ? or is he going to leave the matter in the bands of Mr Cajjnell, who is reported to have a measure in hand with this object ? The sum of money which the Treasury receives from the totalisator may, perhaps, weigh with the Treasurer in deciding whether or not he will assist ii?. the destruction of " the machine." If the voting on Mr Caknell's motion represents the actual opinion of the House, then the totaliiiator is probsblyl doomed, a&d the only question is, Whea shall the axe be lifted? We have before said that the obligations of some of the jockey clubs are «uca that if the abolition of the totalizator be determined on, fair time should be given them to set their houses in order. Bat we snspeo:, notwithstanding the temper of the House on all thai; appertains to gambling, there is no real danger of the extinction of the totalisator this session. -

Ia sending Dr Nkwman's silly little bill to the rightabouts! the' Houss of Representatives performed another good action. Dr Newman is, for the most part, a sensible, level-headed member of Parliament, but the political wom^a 4s too much for him, as she has been' too :rn'ach for ;manj' an abler man. Ones a yesr he makes an effort in her supposed interests. Lastsession he got bVbill read a second, time, more or less by accident. The voting was equal, and Mr Speaker gallantly gave it to the ayes. Probably a good many mambars voted for the. bill frivolously, not dreaming that it would pass. Anyhow, the business was managed more creditably this year,1 and thoogb. Mr CaenOEOSS advanced the ridiculous "logical sequence " idea, and though Dr Newman himaelf prated about tlse Parliament of Colorado, tb.e bill, w?i3 lost by 35 to 26. Mr Reeves, Mr CAUEoii,, Sir Robeet Stodt, Mr Millae, an^d -Mr Mobhison were with Dr Newman ; while the three members for Ducediu, with the' Treasurer, the Minister for Lands, and Captain Russell- voted according to the dictates of soberness' and truth. The Premier astutely abstained from voting^ There is h6 demand for the bill, and thus its introduction really "• constir.utea a wrong to the enfranchised women of Nev? Zealand, seeing that it will be generally supposed ontside the colony tbafc the demand has been made. We trust that Dr Newman vfill think better of the question before next year. We may note'that earlier in the afternoon the House had proparly passed a resolution requesting the House Committee to report on the practicability of setting apart a portion of the gallery for a strangers' gallery for women.

Finally, another progressive move waa effected Mr O'Regan's Referendum Bill came on for discussion. The reception given to this proposal largely makes up for the rejection of the Eisctive Executive Bill last week. No less than 39 member? (counting pairs) voted for the bill on Wednesday, as against 28 last year, while the number of opponents has gone down from 33 to 25. In 1894 the majority against the bill was five; on Wednesday the second reading was carried by a majority of 14. Mr Hutchison and ,Mr Eaknshaw voted for the bill, Mr Pinkebton against it. The Premier, the Treasurer, and the Minister for Labour do not seem to have voted. It is likely enough that the bill may go no further daring the present session, but a distinct advance has beea made. Mr Sbddon apparently tried to frighten members by,informing them that a deputation had assured him that the Referendum would involve the abolition of the Lpoislafcive Council. As a matter of fact the Esferendum, a3 we have previously pointed out involves nothiup of the kind. The system will solve the difficulty of conflicts between the two Houses, but it will not, or at least need not, afiect the bicameral principle. Some people seem to suppose that the opinion of the country would be invited on every matter that came before Parliament and it must be confessed that in Switzarland somewhat trifling matters have occasionally been relegated to the electors. Thore is no reason, however, why New Zealand should not. improve upon Swiss methods and we certainly do not want to see a question of the expenditure of £2000 made a subject of Referendum, as was the case soma years ago in Swjtz9riand What is necessary is that the electors should have an opporcanity of expressiag their opinion concerning important matters of policy, which have not been presented to them at a general election, before lefris lation is passed. For instance, last year's borrowing policy was never barbra the country at all. , It was unheard of at the general election, and it passed throuah Par l!ament without the electors being conanknrt No doubt the detail* of a Ref^Cum gfli must be thought out with great care and practical sagacity, but meanwhile ift a a" of ■Bapres'entetivßß has acted wisely and progressively ia endoraisg the principle

The inward mails via San Praccisco should reach Donedm by tha express trsia from the north this evening.

The Alameda'a colonial mail, whiah left Auckland on Jnno IS, arrived in London Ju ly

Tto no-confidencs debate was continued and concluded m the House of Representatives yesterday. The divfaion was taken about 1 o'clock tins morning, when Captain Russell's amendment was defeated by 43 to 20.

Under arrangement with the proprietors of the Mb bourne Lcder We camm K nco the pubHcf on to-daf o* the se riea of .«tM«B descriptive of the nxplorafaon. and wperfeMeß of the Loader expedition in Kordhnd. We B haU pnbbsh an Brt icle in onv gaturday's i 3gugs antil the-senes la-.coaclutigd.

Mr Paulina forenast laafc evening was as follows :—<• Light to moderate 8.8. to N.S. winds and fine; barometer fall."

Tha following sections of laud have baen disposed of during the week at the L*nd Office :— Section 28, block IV, Tuapeka West, 10a 2r 12p, at capital value of 50s ; section 30, blqck IV, Tuapeka West, Ha 2c 39p, at capital value of 22s 6d ; section 31, biock IV, Tuapeka Wesfc, 8a 3? 9p, at capital value of 22s 6d ; and section 33, block IV, Tuapeka West, 8a 2r 32p, at capital value of 455, selected by Andrew Dalziel on occupation with right of purchase; section 63, block IV, Catlins, 8a 2c, selected by Elizabeth S. Tennant, for cash, at capital value of 12s 6d; section Vblock XII, O.unaru, part ,of Teauerski settlement, 5 acras, selected by Joseph Bafctersby, under the Lands for Settlement Act, ai an annual-rental of 17s per acre ; section 16, block VI, .Bock and Pillar, lla 2r 27p, selected by Owen Laverty, on lease in perpetuity, at capital value of 20a.

A change of venue from Invereargill is to bo applied for in the owe of tha Southland Frozen Meat Company v. Nelson Bros. (Limited), in which the plaintiifij cilaim. ■ £30,000 damages for alleged breach of agreement ou the part of the defendants. Au order for discovery oE document 3 was, at the insianca of the plaintiffs, ■'granted' by Mr Justice Williams in Chambers yesterday.

A correspondent writes that the Maori rond, bordering the north-western half of Jubiieo Piiik, and one of the most picturesque opots around Dunedin, is sadly disfigured by a stagnant fiitli-trap in the shape of a pood into which flows the tewagecf from 50 to 60 houses in Russell street, Adam streefe,and part of Arrhur street. The pond is an eyesore and a menace to the health' of 'the people in the neighbourhood. Moreover, the writer states that he has seen Chinese hawkers gathering watercress, which grows abundantly in the cesspool, for tbe purpose of sale. Case? of typhoid fever had occurred in the neighbourhood, sod he adds that it would be instructive to know how many of these could be traced to the unsightly locality referred to. The writer suggests that tha unemployed could* with profit bs put; to work on the spob."

At tho Port Chalmers Police Court yesterdny forenoon,. before Messrs A. Thomson and J. Watson, J.Fs, William Heath sen., Catherine, James, Alexander, and William Heath jun. were charged with assaulting George H. Carey at the lower harbour on the 3rd insfc. Mr Hodgkins. appeared for the complainant, and ttlr Plaits for the defendants, who pleaded not gniltyV'/The evidence ■'disclosed that a family quarrel over a disputed roadline had terminated in a gsneral fracas. Forth'e defence MrPiatts contended that as a question of title was involved the court had no jurisdiction. After argument and a considerable amount of evidence, the bench dismissed the case oa'the ground that as title was involved they had no jurisdiction. No costs were allowed. ■'■■■"■ '

The Rev. James Chisholm, of Milton, writes ns as follpwB:—"A special correspondent of this: week's Christian Outlook, writing from Wellington about the churches thst have raceiyed lottery permits during 1894, says that Milton ia among the ' congregations within the bounds of Otagp and Southland pilloried in the black Us!;;' The thing must be a miapriufc. It is utterly false. The congregation here1 has been singularly free froav' everything •of the kind. It has never in all it 3 history resorted even to a bizsar for church purposes." ■

A 6 a meeting of tho Wellington Ambulance Association the G-overnor"Baid that he conld not refrain from thanking the doctors who had attended. his, daughter, Lady Augusta. From every flection of the community he had received an expression of affectionate sympathy, • and he desired to thank the people of the colony therefor.

Tha leaseholders on the West Coast of 'the-. ■■North Island are forming ,a i league in order to obtain redress of a grievanca which they allege they have-- suffered unto tbe Public Trustee, and they have formulated a scheme by which the Government are to buy out the Natives' interest in reserves and make the rent of the tenants 4 per cent, on the capital value, the Natives ■to; receive the interest instead of the rent. It is., also asked ; that * the; administration be transferred from, the Public Trustee to the Crown. . . , Yesterday a very handsome presentation album, being a tribute from the people of Auckland to the bravery displayed by the late Miss Annie Macquaid in the wreck of the Wairarafea at the Great Barrier Island on October 29, 1894, arrived in Dunedin. The album will bs on view for a few days in the window of Mr ¥. Huraff ray, George street, before being handed over to Mr and Mrs Macquaid, and, apart from the interest feit in the honour thus paid by the people of Auckland to the bravo Dunedia giri who unselfishly sacrificed' her own chanco of escape to save others, is well worth insprxtion aa a specimen of illumiuating and the silversmiths art., On the cover of the album is a silver lifebuoy, with the inscription " Honour the brave,'.' The addrass. with the signatures of the subscribers, beautifully iUumin&ted by Mr W. Gulliver, of Auckland, is followed by tributes from some newspapers to the heroic conduct of the late Miss Macquaid. Sir Mowbray, of Auckland, was the designer of the testimonial, and Mr H. Kohnthe manufacturer of the silver work. j

The Engineers' B'.nd held their half-yearly meeting in the band rcom, Colonial Mutual buildings, on Tuesday evening last, when the following members were elected to fill the various positions: — Bandmaster, Sergeant Jackson; corporal, W. Reid; secretary, C. Dickinson; assistant secretary, W. M'Kinlay; custodian: and librarian, GU Croxford; committee—Messrs D. Boyd, J. Dickie, 0. Trewern, and F. Trounson; auditors, J. Osborne and James Dickie. The baJanee sheat proved the band's finance to bo in a healthy condition, and showed that the band had handed over to ths different charitable funds close on £30, which is a satisfactory proof of their usefulness to the community. The band decided that it would not compete at the next contest, the reason advanced Wing that it is doubtfulif results one way or the other justify the amount of time and money spent in preparing, and contests are now so hedged in with restrictions and rife with protests fust j;b.ey hava become a demoralising agent instead of an educational and elevating influence. The baad's annual social will take place esriy in September.

A large and enthusiastic meeting of old High School boys was held last night, when it was unanimously decided to hold the annual dinner on the 3rd of August, that date beiug th© anniversary of the High School.

TO-MORROW'S CHURCH SERVICES. " St. Paul's Cathedral.— Holy Communion 8 a.m., matins 11 a.m. (preacher, the Bishop); evensong, 6.30 (preacher, Canon Robinson). St. Andrew's Church.— Morning, Rev. H. .1. Lewis ; evening, Rev. R. Waddell, M.A. (subject ; " The bcaptic") All Saints' Church.—Services at 8 a.m., 11 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. Preacher, the Dean. North Dunedin Presbyterian Church.—Morning and eveEine.' Rev. I. K. M'lntyre. Svening subject: "More. About? the Future: Some Questions Answered." . ■ '■ Trinity Wesleyan Church -Morning, Rey. R. Taylor ; evening, Rev. T. N. Griffin. At 3 p.m. the presentation of prizes to the Sunday school scholars will take place. ' Enox Church.— Morning and evening, Rev. W. Hewitson, B.A. • , First Church. — Morning and CTemog, Rev. Thomas Tait, of Albert, Par* Churchy Melbourne. Subjects: "Compulsion in Religion and "Xi'ear and Freedom." , ,_ CargiU B^ad Wesleyan Church;— Mormng, R 9V . T. N. Griffin ; evening, Bey. R. Taylor. Subject: " Indecision." Mosgiel Church—Jar W. biirrqw3. Bibl-a Chriatian Ciiurcb.— iiioruing artd eveoing. Rev. \V. Ready. Eveniog subject: The Lost Bisciples of Christ, ■ Oddfellows' Hail, Stuart street.—Seryices morning and evening. Preaching by Mr T. Arnold. . Salvation Army.—Meetings all day, Msjor and Mrs Berkinshaw leading.

Nominations of candidates to represent East Ward in the South Dnnedm Council will be received till noon ou Monday, 29th inst. The Rev. Rutherford Waadell, M.A., vndl pve a lecture on "Winter Wanderings m Italy" on Wednesday next in the Y.W.C.A. Rooms. The Farmers' Agency Company will hold a clearing sale of stock, &c, near Seaciiff, on TuosMass's Janies Samson and Co. will sell househ°lSS,fark;^ Co^H hold a sale of fUMr* wT Walton will sell on Wednesday next freehold woporty. with dwelling, A-ix, at lioslyn. The half term at Girton Uollege begins on a hallelujah wedding at the Salvaiinn Army barracks to-morrow afternoon. ThTthird quarter of tho Duuedin School.of Art and PeaJgn wttl commence-on Monday next.

Nominations will be received till noon of Saturday, £7th inst., for the electioa of a merabor to rcprcaent North Ward in, the Caversham Borough Council.

An aciuiowladginent of a sottleaient by the Citizens' Life Assmancs Company is published in another column.

A course of lectures by Dr Will on "Home Nursiiiß and Hygione," in connection with tUe Ambulance Association, will be commepoed at this Y.W.G.A. Rooms on Thursday evening, the 25th insf ". '; • t

The Morniagton Tramway Company shareholders ars notified that they may now obtain their dividend warrants.

M have much pleasure in certifying to tie curative properties of Mr Loasby's ' Wohoo.' I used it for Piles and Indigestion, with the happiest results. -David Hoop, blacksmith, Slaclaggan street "—[A»yT ] ' ' Mr Ciias. Wa. Hay, Dentist has removed to promises corner of Hi::h and Clarke streets (first street past the Arcade), Dunediri.-l -[Aj}VT.] Crockery, Cut-lmry and Glassware on hire at lowest pries;. Ritchie's Statfordshire House, M George street.— [A'dvt.] Don't forgst that this is positively the last seven days of- Simon BiiOTHEas' Leviathan Boot Sale.—[Ajdvt.J If you waat crockery, glassware, and all housebold requisites so to MoNTAGnE's. The cheapest shop in Dunediu.— [Anvr.] Having admitted Mr R. H. Scott into partnership, we shall now trade under tho titln of W. and B.Scprr, Tailors" and Clothiers (late W: Scott and Co).-[Abvt.]. . John Hislof, .'Watchsaftker and Jeweller,. 74 Princes street. TTie oldest established house in tr>w!i. Repairs of all kinds. Good assortment Wstcb.es, Clocks, and Jewellery. Spectacles to suit all sights.— [Anvt.] ■: MVs-r.i ICidd ani> Co., surgical and mechanical "dentil, notify that they have commenced hnsiness opposite G^rgill's Moaument, Priucss st.—[AnVT.] Moixison and o.'s annual sale now op. Send for price, list of 12 pages. Post free. Molltsonand Co., drapers and clothiers, 195 and 197 George street, Dunedin.—[Advt.] ' ~ -■ Messrs A. and J. iVI'KAiii.ANK beg to. call attention to tbeir advertisement over the leader. Amy orders entrusted to them will receive the Vjest attention.—TAt>VT.]

See G. and T. YouNG'sChristrnas advertisement on first p&jtc. and note that watch, clock, and jewellery repairs receive personal supervision of Mr T. GS. Young. Competent workmen only employed. Satisfaction guaranteed. Moderate prices.-^Aby.] Specially prepared sodawater, for invalids, as supplied by Thomson a.ni> 00. to the Dunedin and" Weliinston Hoßpita'.s, TJnion Company's entire UKOt, and other pnhlic institutions. In nearly all cnse'e of sickness Thomson and Oo.'s bodawater is held in high esteem by physicians for-its purity and wholesome action in assimilating with milk and other nutritious liquids. Labelled with namo and trade inark.—TAdvt.]