THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1896.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10599, 20 February 1896, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1896.

The Imperial Parliament reassembled last week, and the session is likely to be an interesting one. The next few weeks or months will show whether a progressive or a reactionary policy is to be pursued by the Salisbuey Administration. The speeches of the Prime Minister have indicated the likelihood of what might fairly be described as a Liberal policy, and the presence of Mr Chamberlain and Lord James in the Cabinet also points to the probability of progressive legislation. It is well understood that the Government occupies a position very different from that held by Conservative Ministries of the past. It is backed in the country by thousands of electors who have no liking for the old Conservative policy, but who resent the idea of tampering with the integrity of the Empire and distrust the opportunism of the Liberal leaders.: This fact is clearly recognised by Lord Saxisbuet; indeed, it is noteworthy that the most Conservative speech— the speech most suggestive 'of reactionary tendencies—delivered by a Minister since the general election came not from the head of the Government, but from the Duke of Devonshire, the chief of the Liberal Unionists. One or two of Lord Salisbuey's utterances have been animated by an . almost passionate spirit of social reform, and altogether there is every reason to hope that the coalition will prove strong in reasonable domestic Liberalism as well as in sound Imperial feeling. Of course there will be no revolutionary proposals in reference to the institutions of the country, and it may fairly be urged that the electors have pronounced against such a policy. But if practical measures of Social reform are proposed, if an earnest attempt is made to alleviate distress and further prosperity, and if Ministers, in forwarding their measures, display an obvious desire to do good work, such a j>olicy will be Liberal and Conservative in the best senses of those much-abused words. If, on the other hand, an apathetic and reactionary policy should be pursued, Ministers might manage to cling to oflice during the next six years; but Nemesis would overtake them assuredly at the end of that time.

The Speech from the Throne is always more or less colourless; and it cannot be said that the summary forwarded by the cable last .week clearly resolves the issues which we have been mentioning. Everything depends upon the contents of the Bills introduced—the mere subject tells next to nothing. There is promise of Bills relating to voluntary schools, the relief of farmers, employers' liability, Irish land, paupers and aliens, light railways and boards of agriculture in Ireland, public health in Scotland, water supply in London, trade arbitration, and other minor matters. There is a hint of reactionary Eossibilities in the mention

of the Bill relating to voluntary ! schools :. indeed, the tone of Loi'd j Salisbury's recent remarks to a deputation of bishops seemed to shew that something would be done in the direction of satisfying the church demands. The proposed relief to farmers will probably take the form j of a readjustment of local taxation, and i whatever may be the nature and merits of the measures introduced, there can be no question as to the present sorry plight of the agricultural interest in England. The immigration problem j has been on Lord Salisbury's mind for a long time, and the contents of the Bill relating to paupers and aliens will b6 awaited with considerable interest in all parts of the Empire. As for Ireland, Mr John Redmond declares that Land Bills and light railways will never put an end to the agitation for Home Rule, and this is very likely true ; but it is obviously the duty of the present Government to j take all possible steps towards the removal of undoubted grievances, and jto try to benefit Ireland in a practical fashion -without reference to controj versies which may be regarded as laid j for the time being. The retirement of Mr Justin M'Carthy from the difficult and thankless post of leader of the Nationalist party is likely further to disintegrate the Home Rule forces in the House of Commons, and we cannot refrain from a passing word of admiration respecting the tactful and unselfish manner in which this talented and amiable man has demeaned himself as guide and peacemaker to ' a turbulent party since the days of Mr Parnell's discomfiture. The Parnellites, of course, have never given him allegiance, but he has managed the larger section of the Home Eule party with signal moderation and perhaps more success than anyone else could have commanded. Mr Sexton has declined to assume the leadership, and certainly the temptation is not alluring. Seeing that Home Eule, -whatever may be its eventual fate, is out of the question for some years, the Nationalists could not show the sincerity of their patriotism in a better way than by helping the* Government in passing practical legislation for the present good of the people of Ireland. If, however, they adopt a factious attitude and oppose a progressive policy merely, because it is not Home Rule, they will certainly lay themselves open to taunts ancl insinuations of (to say the least) at once a plausible and an unpleasant kind. In November some of the Liberal newspapers were hinting that the antiMinisterial reaction had already commenced. The idea was somewhat absurd, and anyhow it may be taken for granted that public confidence in the Government has increased rather than diminished during the last two months. Lord Salisbury and Mr Chamberlain have earned no small Jcudos by the way in which they have maintained the rights of England in the face of American bluster and German impudence, and the value of the good work done by these Ministers will not be modified by Lord Rosebery's somewhat ungracious complaints concerning " excessive eulogy." Certainly there has been great thanksgiving for that the recent troubles did not come before .the general election. On the other hand, the state of the Armenian question is a disappointment, but, we are bound to suppose that grave political exigencies, and not an apathetic or unfaithful spirit, are responsible for Lord Salisbury's present attitude. In the Queen's Speech " a hope is expressed that the oft promised reforms in Armenia will be fulfilled." There seems to be a bitter irony in the idea of hoping anything from the Sultan; but there is some consolation in reflecting that, had England received adequate support frpm the other Powers—at all events, from Russia —the Sultan's hand would have been forced ere this. Meanwhile England's duty to Armenia must not take precedence of her duty to herself and her own safety.

At yesterday's meoting of the Education Board a letter was received from the hon. secretary of the Cromwell School Committee covering a resolution passed by the committee about the remarks which appeared in fche Cromwell Argus (portions of which were copied by us) aa to the manner in which Mr Richardson, the assistant inspector, had conducted the examination of the Cromwell school. The committee intimated that they were not in sympathy with the opinion expressed in the Cromwell Argus; that they considered far too much had been made of the matter; and that the article in question was quite uncalled for.

It would appear from what transpired at the Good Templars' Convention yesterday that the Temperance party are not altogether united. During a ditcussion on the question as to the best means to be adopted to further the interests of the party it was stated by one or two of the delegates to the convention that now, when the Good Templars had achieved a large measure of reform, the prohibitionists wanted to take the credit for what had been done. The Good Templars evidently thought that this was not right, and it was stated that the order to which they belonged was quite as capable as the prohibitionists, if not more so, of carrying on the warfare against the liquor traffic in future.

At 8.40 last eveniDg Mr Paulin advised __ :— "Light to moderate N.E. to S.IJ. winds, and fine; barometer fall."

Mr Justice Dennisfcon dnring the hearing .of the charges against B. Hale of breaches of the Bankruptcy Act made it clear that failure to keep books on the part of a business man was an offence, although there might be no element of fraud. Hale, who entered the witness box, stated that " with regard to Donaghy and Co.'s account (the principal one which did not appear in the books) only approximate estimates were given of the cost of the twine. At the end of the selling season he went to Dunedin and obtained a statement of accounts, which he handed for entry in the books by his sou, who acted as his bookkeeper. His son had been for 18 months in one of the banks, and witness did not know that the books were defective." At that stage of tha proceedings his Honor said : "The witness was now admitting thai; the books were defectively kept, but that he did not know it. That was simply an admission of the charge, because the act was most stringent in the matter, and declared most emphatically' that books must be kept. He (accused) did not see that if a man had the best bookkeeper in New Zealand and neglected to see that proper books were kept he must take the penal consequences of the act. He would point oat to Mr Joynt that his client had admitted fche offence."

Mr B. M. Smith, M.H.R., who is about to proceed to London, narrowly escaped losing his position as borough turncock at New Plymouth. When his application for leave of abseuce csnio before the borough council objection was taken to it on various grounds. One councillor said it meant seven months' leave of absence, and he moved that it be suggested to Mr Smith that the time had arrived when he should resign bis borough positions, and that on his resigning, his son, Mr J. C. Smith, be appointed to the position. It was eventually decided by five votes to three' to grant the leave asked for,

At a meeting of the North Canterbury Education Board yesterday a resolution was proposed—" That the board are of opinion that the Now Zealand Reader may be used as _ supplementary Reader to the books already in use in.the board's schools." An amendment was moved—"That'in the opinion of this board the New Zealand Reader, prepared under the direction of the Hon. Mr Reeves, late Minister for Education, for use in the public sohopls of the colony, is objectionable in the quality of its reading matter, lacks mbraltone, is not suitable to the child mind, and does not possess the requisite qualities of a high-ct»3 school Reader; therefore this board cannot recommend its use in schools in the North Canterbury education district." The amendment was lost and the motion was carried,

Official intimation has been received from Melbourne that Pact Arch Bro. A. H. Shelton has beon appointed President of No. 19 District, U.A.O.D.

Messrs .1. Mill and J. Morgan, J.P.s, presided at the 'Port Chalmers Police Court yesterday afternoon. James Barber for drunkenness was fined 10s, in default four days' imprisonment, it being his third appearance before the court for a.similar offence within one month. Patrick Mullsny for drunkenness was lined ss, with the usual alternative. Ellen Mullany applied for a prohibition order against her husband, Patrick Mullany, who consented to the order bsing made. Tho Bench granted tho application, and an order was made accordingly for 12 months.

Tha following further results of voting by school committees for tho Education Board are to hand:—Roxburgh—Messrs Mackenzie, Gallaway, and Ramsay. Maheno — Messrs Gallaway, Mackenzie, aad ,A. Thomson. Matau—Messrs Callaway, Green, and Mackenzie. G-cytown— Me_s.3 Gallaway, Mackenzie, and Dr Sieahonsq. Stony Creek— Messrs Green, Mackenzie, and J. W. Thoinoon. Tuapeka Month—Messrs Gallaway, Green, and Mackenzie. Tomahawk—Ths Rev. A. Cameron, Messrs Green and Blackanzie. Wangaloa — Messrs Green, Mackenzie, and Ramsay. Kvansdale—Messrs Green, Mackenzie, and Dr Sieohou.e.

The recant list of honours was remarkable for the fact that for the flrst time a knighthood is given to a pure-blooded negro. Minor dignities have never been bsgrudged to men of colour who have done good work in tha colonial service, but a knighthood to a pure black ia quite a novelty. Sir S. Lewis wa. born in Sierra Leone in 1813. Educated at Wesley College, Sheffield, and University College, London, he was called to the Bar of the Kiddle Temple in 1871. He has occupied several public positions in the West African colonies, aod became Chief Justice of Sierra Leone in 1882.

The following paragraph from a Home paper is of special interest in view of some recent news by cable: —Early on the morning of Friday, December 6, there was great con-mo-tion in the dovecot of the Nansen household in Christiania, which made Mrs Nansen hurry to tho poultry yard. A carrier pigeon which had been absent for many months had suddenly rrtu-ucd safe and sound to its mates. The bird hid coma all the way from the icy North Polar regions, and on its neck was a message (o Mrs Nausea from her icebound husband, the explorer in the far North. It is learned from the letter that no accidents have so far befallen th 9 party, and that the intrepid Norseman is still confident of planting his country's flag on the North Pole.

At present (writes our London correspondent) the New Zealand Midland Railway people preserve strict reticence as to their next procaediog, now that the arbitration has resulted adversely to them. I understand the directors will not decide upon any course of action until their chairman and solicitor return and report. Assuredly the result of the arbitration will fall as a very heavy blow on the heads of the shareholders and debenture-holders, to whom Mr Salt held out at the last meeting such sanguine hopes of success, But, at least, it has had a good effect in the city as showing that, by the verdict of an entirely independent and impartial umpire, Mr Salt's accusation against the New Zealand Government of having "outrageously robbed" the company was, if not unfounded, at least avery grave exaggeration, and that the Government have had right on their side in a large degree at any i-ate. It has been purely a question of a company starting a vast undertaking with utterly inadequate capital, and being driven to all sorts of shifts in consequence.

At the Richmond (Victoria) Counoil meeting the other day Cr Mullslly reported to the council a shocking case of destitution which had come under bis notice. He stated that on passing the Richmond quarries at East Richmond his attention hiid beea called by the gtonebreakers working there to throe old huts erected on the council's land, ia one of wbich was a young man 21 years oj age, who was dying of consumption and starvation. Close to the wretched structure was a putrid drain flowing from a building from which food supplies largely consumed in Richmond and other suburbs were issued. The stonebreakero, who earned but 12s a week, had contributed to the invalid's help. On visiting the pluce, ho was compelled to crawl into the hut on hia hands aud kueeu in order to convey some articles of nourishment to the sick rasa. He asked that tho sanitary inspector's attention should be directed to the case. The inspector was instructed to at once take action, and if necessary convey fche sick man to the hospital, £1 being voted for the patient's relief.

Tha Southland News reports that the marram grass plauted on that dreary waste of sand the Inveroargill Borough Council's Domain is making good progress. In one .place—that known aB " Christie's track"—where there was seven years ago sandy plain only, just above 'high water, and in windy weather constantly on the move, there is now established a long, continuous bank of sand, topped by the marram, rising to the height of 6E_ or 7ffc above the original sowing level. The manner of sowing was a happy thought of one of the patty who, walking behind the dray, scattered a few handfuls of seed to windward of the wheel tracks. These furrows caught the seed and filled up with sand, forming eventually fche growing embankment just referred to. Since then, iv various directions, the process has beon repeated, with the best results, ai the long lines of young plents abundantly attest. The planting of roots has gone on concurrently of late years, the object being to form banks similar to Christie's track in places where seed-sowing would be, from the nature of the ground, useless. As to fche power of the marram to hold its own in fche most exposed situations, there can bs % no longer any doubt. Eight down to high-water mark, in places occasionally swept by t!_e briny ocean spindrift, the lines of young plants from seed are making good headway. Fortunately the rabbits are far less numerous than formerly.

A number of oil, water colour, and pastel paintings from the brushes of Signor Nerli, Messrs L. W. Wilson, J. D. Perrett, and X, Deaß are at present on view in a room opposite the City Hotel, preparatory to their being sold at public auction by Messrs Park, Reynolds, and Co. The pictures number 6. altogether, so tbat in themselvss they quite constitute an art exhibition ; and they embrace some of the best and most characteristic work of the artists named. Many of the paintings have been hung at the Otago Arfc Society's exhibitions, but the catalogue includes others whioh have quite recently been completed and have never been publicly exhibited. Among these are somo nice bits of colour by Signor Nerli, a few delicate water colour studies by Mr Wilson, and thiee or four tastefully-executed pastels by Mr Perrett. The subjects are chiefly found in the lake, sound ond mountain regions of this island, but there are also picture? representing scenes in the North Island. A couple of animal pieces, and a few genre works. The pictures are available for inspection by those who may be interested in art, and the room in which they are dieplayed will be open, not only during this day, but, for the convenience of those who may not be able to attend in the daytime, also this evening. As no reasonable offer will be refused at the salo an opportunity will be presented to-morrow of procuring at less than their true value examples of the work of some of the lwtdiwr artists in the colony.

The general meeting of the West Taieri River Board, held on Monday, wan attended by Messrß Snow (chairman), Chisholm, Blair, Bathgate, and Hastie. Mr Snow was reappointed chairman for the ensuing;: term, »nd Mr Andrews was appointed treaourer. The inspectors were authorised to get some surfacing and repairs done to the embankment in their various sections.

The '■ annual meeting of the Technical Classes Association will be held on-Friday.

Messrs J. Samson and Co. will sell furniture, &c., to-morrow.

John HisLOr, Watchmaker and Jeweller, 74 Princes street. The oldest established house in town. Repairs of all kinds. Good assortment Watches, Clocks, and Jewellery. Spectacles to suit, all sights.—[Advt.]. ' Mollison and Cos. tremendous summer sale commences today (Friday), 31b* January, and will continue for four; weeks. —Mollison and Co., Ifls aud 197, George street, Dunedin.—Advt. Messrs Kidd and Co., surgical and mechanical dentists, notify that theyhavecommenced business opposite Cargill's Monument, Princes st. —[Advt.] Xmas and New Year Presents.—Three shipments opened this inontli. Stock full in all departments with latest novelties.—G. and T. "5-OUNG, direct importers, 88 Princes street.—Advt.. JH«-.-is A. tttid .1. .UM<"alrakis beg no c«.U aC&eution to t.heir advertisement over tho leader. Any orders entrusted to them will receive the Host attention.— rAovt.]

Who is Petti- Dick I—The most reliable Watchmaker, Moray place, Dunedin (opp. Coffee Palace). Watches cleaned, 5a ; mainsprings, 4s 6d.— Advt.

If you want tea sets, dinner seta, crockery, glassware, china, engine: ware, household furnislilogs, 4c, go to Montague's.—Ad rt.