NOTES OF THE WEEK.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10625, 21 March 1896, Page 4

NOTES OF THE WEEK.

It is to be hoped that the selection of a new Bite for the proposed abattoir will at least prove a step towards the solution of the question, and will, if it does not result in its acquisition, help to obtain parliamentary sanction for the old Bite. The whole Btory is one that is not very creditable to out system of legislation and government. The body which comes best out of this wretched business is the Dnnedin Oity Council; or, perhaps we should say, its late mayor. Before doing anything Jn the way of selecting a site it went to some expense in promoting a local Bill to enable it to proceed, there being then no adequate law in force on the subject. This Bill was opposed purely in private interests. As the Government could not afford to riolt losing the enpport ol tho member hostile to it they proposed to supplant ife by a general measure, This general measure was a good enough law in its way, but it was not drawn np with reference to local conditions prevailing here. The result of its defects was a successful lawsuit to stop the erection of ths abattoirs upon a site selected and purchased by the council. 'It was not then too late to obtain further legislation. By this time Government knew of the defect, ifficl. consented to promote a Bill to remove it, but again they were met- by private interests, and they ware not found strong enough to resist thesa. The Taieri County Council had deliberately consented to the site chosen, but owing to the form in which the amending Act was passed tins consent had to be obtained afresh.when private interests again prevailed, and this sanction was refused. From first to last the City Council has struggled for the benefit not only of the large community under its charge, bat of the population of the surrounding boroughs, and it has been rebuffed at every point. It is not greatly to the credit of the County Council that the?

on no intelligible ground reversed their former decision. One of tha councillors, a slaughterman, had the candonr to state at a public mestlug that he had bis own axe to grind; he at anyrate cannot ba accused of want of straightforwardness. But that a comparatively simple sanitary maasure should ba found fraught with such difficulties is not very encouraging.

There can now be no doubt that MrGaEEN's statement that wivos obtained relief from the Charitable Aid Board while their husbands were away on relief works was quite correct. Mr Faenie, in good faith, contradicted it, and showed that there was only one case of the bind at a particular time; but that was not tho particular tirao referred to by Mr Green. That gentleman's statement spaciflad no cases and was not confined to a particular time. It is borne out by others in the sense that it indicates a stale of affairs which has been known for yoars. It is borne out in particular by the fact that there were to less than 11 proved cases of the kind at the time when Mr Grbjsn spoke. The matter does not, psrhaps, end here. As a matter of fact, to gef at the exact truth would probably require a rigid investigation, as when snch a state of affairs is possible hnsband and wifs sometimes for convenience assume different names. There is as a rule, very little pride about people who accept relief, and, whatever may be said of any system ol! relief, it mast be admitted that it is a necessary evil, with csrtain demoralising tendencies. It is most assuredly a bad thing f&r the moral tone of a community to encourage peopla to accept relief as i£ ; there were nothing degrading about it, and We are very much afraid that the habit of our race, due perhaps to bad legislation in the last century, of accepting relief without shame is being perpetuated rather than stamped out. We cannot but think that Mr Grben is deserving o£ tbaeks for having oalled attention td this subject.

The two unfortunate Australian tourists who were arrested at Auckland on a charge of being concerned In the Bdtorua post offica robbery cettalnly deserve an apology from the authorities. They seem to have been travellers who had no concern in this country but to amuse themselves, and it is' unquestionably very hard that they should have been arrested on such slight grounds. It would b,s interesting to know .what, in the minds of the police, connected them with the robbery. So far, we are only told that one of them bad been seen in tbe company of s, stranger, who in also arrested. One would suppose that to have followed them to their hotel, explained the Bitnatidn, and asked to have their baggage opened up would h'ava been a simpler process in the end than arresting them. A detective of average capacity or less could hate formed a pretty conclusive opinion from the contents of their lnggaga and any letters which they might have had about them whether they were what they claimed to be, and there the matter might have ended; Police experiments.are all very well in Continental countries, but wo pride oureelvas on our respect for personal liberty, and in a country where such a feeling prevails an arrest is a grave afMr.

The Dongoia expedition is the latest little surprise in African politics. The Egyptian Government, without exactly proposing to reconquer its lost interior provinces, is sending an expedition into Nubia to keep the rebellions dervishes at bay. It is a significantly heavy expedition, including sevaral British regiments and no less than 100 British officers. It is not surprising that this renewed symptom of British activity proves Somewhat puzzling. The French have fixed thdir attention on the fact that the Khsdire is asking to borrow half a million of bis own money and is taking a great interest in the project. To interest this young prince is no doubt ona of the chief feature!) of Lord Orombk's diplomacy. The Emperor of Germany declares that Germany only recognised British protection in Egypt with a garrison at CsirOi The Eussian press recognises the fact that the expedition indefinitely prolongs British occripatioh. The French prbbably too clearly appreciate the correctness of fcbs latter view and are annoyed in consequence. The German Emperor goes even beyond ■what has been admitted by other Sovereigns as there is no protectorate in any sense but one of simple fact. The mere fact of partial British occupation never has given rise to any claim to a political protectorate. As to the garrison at Cairo ,ic is not likely that the British Government will consult his German Majesty as to how the defence of the country is to be conducted. It is quite evident that the expedition has been elaborately and carefully prepared, and that this has taken some time. The most puzzling piece of news is that tho British Minister talk9 of uniting with Italy to enter i)arfur. Wa look at the map and see that Darfur is still where it need to be — namely, 300 or 400 miles west of the Nile, forming part ot Egyptian Soudaa. Tbe Italians on the othW band are struggling against heavy odds about twice that distance east of the Nile. How far their " sphere of influence" extends on paper we cannot exactly say, An expedition to Dongola may prove of vnlue to Italy, as it will engage some of their Soudanese assailants; but it la not likely to end in replacing Italy in the lost territories. It may, however, be assumed that trie French apprehension that this is the beginning of the reconquest for Egypt of the; Valley Of the Nile had some foundation. Should this result in England getting a firm hold on Egypt and restoring the integrity of that country, there will be an almost continuous African dominion from the Mediterranean to the Cape, with the prospect of a western extension down the Niger valley to the Atlantic.

The political effect of the defeat of Italy in Africa must in any oase prove considerable. There is a significant statement by one statesman to the effect that European complications are cropping up in Africa. Seeley teaches us tbar, too greater number of the wars which filled up nearly the whole of. the eighteenth century arose out of questions touching trade and dominion in America. So it may be some day in Africa. Six European States, great and small, have dominions there, and these have led to friction. Besides those, that carious anomaly the Congo Free State is one, the foster mother of which — viz., Belgium — cannot adequately protect. Tha Congo State adjoins French, British, and Portuguese territories, and has on its borders in addition unappropriated tßrritory. A burning question exists in Egypt; another, with which European Powsrjj have no real right to interfere; in the Transvaal. Between all those questions there are the seeds of many possible complications. The position of Italy iB known to be complicated. She pushed for empire and obtained it in an rinteDable position. Her ft her1 donbtfui advantages have attracted attention and perhaps envy, Russia from thß first, with little intarest in Africa, has songht to thwart Italian effort. It sounds very strangely that ths Czar should sand his congratulations and a decoration to King Menelek merely because he has def eatod an Italian army and then offor to mediate in the dispute. Italy would probably sooner submit to Menblbk's own arbitration. The latest advicaa show, howevor, that Italy has decided to verj greatly retrench her position in Abyssinia. After restoring her prestige she will probably retire with a circumscribed dominion there, when she may hope to live ou fairly good terms with the spirited people who have defeated her. In the meantime the affair has manifestly weakened the influenca of Italy in European affairs.

The Premier addressed his constituents at Hokitika last evening, and at the conclusion of his address, a summitry of which will be found in another column, gave an iudication of the legislation which is to be introduced next session, which he hopes will be'shorter than usual. Steps are being taken to have Anniversary Day, which falls on Monday next, observed aa a general holiday. Already all the stock agents have agreed to close their places of business. In another column we publish a new statement of wages and conditions of labour which has been adopted by tho Boot Manufacturers' Association and will come into operation on the 30th inst.; also a etattmpnfc by officers of tha Bootmakers' Union of tbeir views of the new conditions. Mr Paulin advised us at 8.30 last evening:— "Stormy to light N.E. to N.W. and S.W. winds, and fine for about 16 hours ; indications becoming very stormy; barometer fall and rain showers within 30 hours." Messrs A. Thomson and J. Morgan, J.P"s., presided at the Port Chalmers Pqlice Court yesterday forenoon, when James Holden's application for a prohibition order asairut his wife. Annie HoldeDj was atant&di i

During t'ao course of his address at the City H*U bo Thursday evening, Mr Pinkerton made reference to the abattoir question. He said this guestfon was one that affected everybody, and that the City Council should lose as little time »s possible in dealing with it. When the Abattoirs Bill was before the House at the close of the session he was asked to accept the j amendment proposed by Mr Morrison, the j member for Caversham, providing for the consent of the Taieri County Council .being given, i At that time any opposition would have been fatal to the bill, and as the Men County j Council had twice consented to the erection of j abattoirs; and had thus caused the Ducedin J City Council to purchase the site, he thought it ! best to accept the amendment, for he cbulfl riot I think that the County Council would, under" the circumstances, refuse its consent. In this j matter he did not think the Oity Council-at all ; to blame. The councillors had boon guided by the opinions of their solicitor?, the soundest lawyern in the colony, and that; opinion, ag&in, had bean set siside by the decision of his Honor Mr Jnstioo Williams, one of the best judges. As the bill would not have become law without the amendment; h.B accepted it, haviug, as ha had said at the time, full confidence that the Tsieri Connty Council would act intelligently and consistently; and—especially as owing to their consent having been given the land had been bought—the consent, when asked for, would be again given. However* that consent had been refused, confusion had arisen in consequence, and none conld tell how it would end.

In connection with the arre3t of Tehetahi and faia son and two other Maoris at the Little Barrier Island, it appears Tenetahi's wife v/as also desirous of being arrested, but she was simply removed frbni the island. Tenetahi, it is said, has not relinquished bis claim to the island, nor hs,s he applied fir the portion of the purchase money awarded to him, which is now lying in the hands of the Public Trustee. Counsel for Tenetahi assured the magistrate that the whole thing was a. mistake, and that his clients had only gone to the island for the purpose of looking after ■ some pigs that were destroying leumeraß belonging to the j Natives. A large and enthusiastic re eating of Roojan Catholics of Danedin and suburbs was held in St. Joseph's Schoolroom last night. On the motion of the Very Rev. Father Lynch, lit J. jB. Callaa took the chair. It was moved by the Chairman—" That a committee be appointed to take steps to forward a cablegram of congratulation to our new bishop ; to receive him in a fitting manner on his arrival in Dunedin; to escorb nisi to his cathedral, and present him with su address on behalf of the laity of Dunedin ; and to take all other steps necessary to carry out the above objects." Mr F. Meenau seconded f-he motion, which, after being spoken to by Messrs J. Carroll, J. Liston, D, W. Woods, C. B. Haaghton, W. H. Fulton, I'. W. Pette, 3. J. Connor, and Dobbin, was carried unanimously. A large aud influential committee representing Dunedin and suburb; were j appointsd, with power to add to their number,. I to give effect to the abovs resolution.

From a private source we learn that Deau Fitchett, who left Dunedin in December last for the Home country on account of his health, was lying seriously ili in Cairo on January 30, but, under the careof the two loading European physicians in Cairo—Dr Murison and ,Dr Grant Bey—was so far recovered on February 12 as to be able to resume hi3 voyage, and has been ordered to Karlsbid to •complete hie cure. Karlsbad is an Austrian watering-place much resorted to by patients suffering from liver complaints.

At yesterday morning's sitting of the City Police Court, Lawrence Irvine, o£ South Dunedin, was fined 10s and costs (7b) for allowing a bull to wander on the St. Clair toad. A young man named Peter Hegarty, who was well on the road to inebriation when he appeared, had a prohibition order mode against him to cover Dunedin, the suburbs, and Chalmers district. Sergeant; O'Neill said this man had been drinking very heavily for a considerable time. For the ltsat month or two he had been continually,.drunk, and had come to him (the sergeinfc) in the court that morning and asked him to obtain a prohibition order against him. The sergeant mentioned that Hegarty was in court in charge of a friend. The presiding justices were Messrs H. S. Fiah and C. Fisher. '

Estate duty has been paid on £58,957 3a 7d as the value of the personal eatate of Mr Frederick Huth Meinertzhagen, of Waimarama, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand, sheep farmer, who died oh Kay 20 last at Tunbridgs Wells, and of whose will, dated July 8, 1881, probate his been granted to his brother, Mr Daniel Bfeiaertzhagen, banker, power beirig reserved to grant probate alno to Mr George Edward Gordon Richardson. The testator bequeathed £500 to his brother-in-law and partner, Mr Thorns s Richard Moore, who is to be allowed to work the Station of Waimarama, in which Mr Bleinertzh&gen's interest was fourfifths, until the expiration of the present lease or any renewal thereof, Mr Koo?e accounting to Mr Meinerlzhagen's estate for his four-fifths of the profits. The testator bequeathed his collection of New Zealand shells (upon condition that they shall not be sold or given away) to his friend Mr Henry Tryon, or, if he should not accept thorn, to Mr Thomas Richard Moore. All the residue of his property Mr Meinettzhsgen left in trust in equal shares for his daughters when, respectively, 25 years of age or previously married.

A pathetic incident has (says the Westminster Gazette) just come to light in connection with the arrest of one of the Johanne=burgbers, Mr Hammond, an American engineer. When the news of hie arrest reached California, where his brother lived, a family council was called, with the idea of taking some means to ensure the safety of the prisoner. Little Willie, the youngest of the family, a child aged nine, who had been an apparently unconcerned listener oE the family council, determined to take the matter of bis uncle's safety into his hands. He accordingly wrote to President Cleveland at Washington in ttio following strain: —" Dear Sir,—Will you pleaso make the men that hava my uncle in hand let him go ? ... You may be a stern man, but I think you will be kind enongh to set my undo free. If you were a little boy lika me, you would not like your uncle in gaol, and if I were you I would set him free if it caused war." The President good-naturedly answered, telling him that; his letter bad been forwarded to Presidei.it Krrigßr. It would be interesting t» know what his Honor did.

Mr \V. M. Fulton, a brother of Mr S. W. Fulton, of the firm of Messrs Byron Moore and Falton, Melbourne* who was in Johannesburg at the time of Dr Jameson's raid and was a member of the Australian Brigade, informs the Argus that a party of eight, who escaped, related their experiences to hiin. Some of tham belonged to a company of 20 which was ordered to dislodge a party of Boers from a kopjie (small bill). The object was not attained, and the order was given to mount and retire. Four of them did not hear the order until too late, but managed to reach an old prospecting trench. One was shot dead before concealment was possible, but the other three hid themselves away and escaped detection. The Boors approached within 10 yards, and up went one of the refugees' guns. Luckily the breech went wrong and would not work, nod through not being able to shoot the lucky trio escr.ped and reached Johannesburg. According to them the Boor losses were considerable. At the George and May battery, they said, over 20 fell, but as waggons were employed for removing the dead it is doubtful if precise information will be obtained. These remnants of Jameson's iorca were liberally assisted with money at Johannesburg, and were enabled to leave the country. The interdict on the shares of the Uitiander leaders is creating considerable difficulties, and their absence from Johannesburg has caused much friction ia the manßgement of tha companies ; but the greatest danger after all is ihe dearth of Kaffir labour. This, Mr Fulton saj'B, is the key of the situation, and i3 causing great anxiety. It is probable that some of the leading mines will be obliged to close down shortly.

Miss Ethel Yelverton, who will commence a season of four nights at the City Hall on Saturday, 28th. inst., has been connected with several of the principal companies playing in Australia. Her best character is said to ba

Jim Swain in /'Black Sheep,1' which has been selected for the opening night. Miss Yrfverton will be supported by a dramatic company.