THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1898.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11200, 24 August 1898, Page 2

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1898.

An impression is gathering strength that it will be impossible to deal with . the question, of local government this session, and that in order to discuss exhaustively the Bill, which was first brought down by the Government in 1895, it-will be necessary to summon Parliament for that speoial purpose. Considering the great and growing importance of the subject, the unnecessary and overlapping multiplicity of local bodies, and the perpetuation of the most trivial parochial interests, we are 'decidedly of opinion that the cost of a session and the time occupied by members would be profitably expended if the res alt of the deliberations were to'be a satisfactory scheme of local government. We do not-go so far as to say that the (Bill repeatedly introduced contains a perfect system. There are many highly debatable subjects in it that ought to be dealt with in separate Bills because they affirm a principle, and a Local Government Bill ought to contain only provisions for administration. For example, the Bill proposes to repeal tha Acts relating to Hospitals and Charitable Aid. It proposes an extension of the mitiiicipal franchise. It proposes to give boroughs the power of adopting, by special order, the system of municipal fire insurance. These things are not necessarily part of a local government scheme. The advantage or otherwise of extending the powers and widening the operations of local bodies is a perfectly legitimate subject for discussion,, but.if. it is introduced in a deliberation upon the construction- of the machinery the result is certain to be confusion. It may be noted that, the practice of introducing questions of policy with machinery Bills is pno of the besetting weaknesses of the Government, and it sometimes leads to the not unnatural conclusion that the conjunction has been brought about for. the purpose of inviting defeat. We do not think thero has been any such intention with respect to the Local Government Bill, and we are quite ready

to give the Government credit for a do- j sire to remedy a condition of affairs that is almost chaotic. But the result of the l embodiment of these subjects in the Bill has been to increase its bulk and confuse : its proposals. It is already plain that a . Bill of such magnitude cannot receive ! adequate consideration -, this session, which will be in any event long enough, ! and to judge from experience, there is mo reason to hope that the session of ', next year will give any more favourable opportunity. It seems to be" expected ', that the present session will not close , before the early part of November, even j without discussing the Local Government j Bill. If the Bill were adequately , discussed the session would almost certainly be prolonged till Christmas, with tho risk that the imminence of that season would produce a natural desire on the j part of members to return to their homes, and leave the Bill to its fate. On the whole, we fear that no other course is open than to summon a special session for the purpose mentioned. It is the most favourable period in the life of the present Parliament. Members have not yet arrived at the point at which they look nervously at the prospect of re-election. No doubt another session, which would make the total number of sessions in the present Parliament five, would entail some inconvenience upon members. We have, howi ever, assumed that-they recognise the necessity for an amendment of the system of local government, and that they also recognise their duty in such an I emergency. It may also be remembered that the new system of payment of the honorarium makes the duration of attendance iv Wellington a matter rf smaller importance than in former years.

point where the perpetration of a decisive coup was maturing. The proclamation' of the protectorate will completely upset Russia's designs and render void anything she may already have achieved towards obtaining- stations in the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, or South Arabia, all of which were known to be desired and exploited. It is now somewhat more than a decade since a'certaiii captain of Don Cossacks, in the guise of a patriarch, landedan armed expedition of a semi-religious character to outside observers, on the coast of Africa near Obock, ejected the garrison of a small fort,'and took possession, immediately setting to work to strengthen the defences.' The offence was resented, and the raiders Were attacked by a force sent by the affronted Power, and taken prisoners: The whole expedition was handed over to' Russia, with a very moderate claim for redress, and at this stage the Russian Government disclaimed all cbgnisaiice-*of the object, and' refused: to recognise.the offenders, who were accordingly, deported., to Russia and set at, liberty! This was a contingenoj'. the. Government seemed to have made admirable arrangements for. ■ This overt yenture having failed, Russia persevered,'in her through the medium of private, emissaries, and her little -plans have, since turned ttp sporadically in various .quarters by reason.; of their failure. And there is no doubt that the failures which have become; known only represent .about half of the total. Turkey as suspected of being quite, willing to sell for a good round sum spots in Arabia where her power has never been felt, but has. been prevented by outside .pressure. France has not sufficient for herself to think cf giving to her friends; Italy is determined not to sell; and Britain has throughout kept a watchful.eye on all. -Consequent On the ill-success attending her quest in the Red Sea, Russia has been constrained to look for ; an open port in the Persian Gulf. : How she wosld fare with the Shah it is impossible to say. The Persian Gulf is practically a British sea, but'iii'all probability, with resources and ■allurements, she would in time have succeeded. But the latest stroke of Britain has nullified the whole proceeding. Influence is a great thing, but there is no definit<?ness about it. It is merely, the power of persuasion, always considered as backed up by a certain amount of money. Where influence ends all are on an equal footing, ■ except perhaps that the most powerful may have a preference. A protection, on the other hand, "although not- perhaps . extendiag the protector's influence or power or lessening that of the protected, confers the "right -of active.1 interference' and legalises the" employment of force. • And it is in this respect that Britain would improve her position by' proclaiming a, protectorate over South Arabia. Whatever Russia may,gain now she can never get an open port to the Indian Ocean until she shall have advanced her trobps to the Indus, for by the protection of Arabia, both the Red Sea and the Per-

and law which are now-surmounting the disorder of desert tribes emanates only from British agents. , Under them the country has been .developed as. far us it can be said to be developed, and the trade of Oman, capable of assuming im- . mense proportions,. has been, directed! into the channels of British India. The whole of the Persian Gulf has under j treaty been pacified and regulated, and j the pearl fisheries have been supervised and jdeveloped with, immense advantage to the principal ports interested in this industry. According to Mr H.! Swainson Cooper, F.S.A., "As a matter !of fact, such prosperity as the gulf possesses is due to British influence. . . Two to three hundred thousand pounds' worth of pearls are said to be raised annually at Bahrein": and when that gentleman travelled through Turkish Arabia in 1893 Oman was-"practically under British protection." This was the position five years ago, and' with tho British ascendency gradually increased and consolidated iv the. meantime any other Power would have little hope at the present day of obtaining without a

quarrel a port worth having. The prompt quashing of tho Russian attempt a year or two back to become possessed of the Kuria Mima group was a significant warning, and as far as Arabia Js concerned it seems to have been sufficient, for Russian emissaries have not dared to show themselves in Muscat. It was an opportune time that Lord Salisbury took 'advantage of to declare a British protection, and whether the Russian journal's report is correct or not is immaterial, however unofficial it may l)e it is a recognition of Britain's prior right, and of tho impossibility of "buying out" our influence in Arabia. : A cursory thought generally leaves the impression that tho south.of Arabia is a semi-barren and desert tract, but it is only necessary to say a few words to give a more lucid idea of the importance and capabilities of the region. There arc excellent reef-locked ports at intervals along*the coast. The wealth' in coffee,

dates, and salt is already enormous, and 7 capable of large expansion. The people are Mohammedan Arabs, naturally lawless ; but' who can say that a later generation will not see an efficient native police as a military power P From Has Mussendom and the islands in the straits of Ormuz the Persian Gulf can be sealed, as the Red Sea is by Perim, and the Power that wishes to get an exit to the Indian Ocean or by a detour at either point has a long game to play. Surely the British Government will now think it worth while strengthening the Perim garrison and fortifying the coal stations on the Hadramaut and Oman coasts ?

If the semi-official Viedomosti is to be believed in the matter of the British protection of South Arabia, the card which Lord Salisbury kept up his sleeve while the.other Powers were apparently scoring in the Far East was undoubtedly a trump. -And,there is no reason to disbelieve the report. Pessimists have complained that British diplomatists were not nearly firm enough in regard to the railway concessions in- China,' and allowed themselves- to be bluffed by their rivals; but it is now apparent that this question has been utilised merely as "deviato'r" to distract attention from

The colonial mails, which left Melbourne, per Victoria, on July 20, arrived in London on August 21 —one day early. In tlxe Legislative Oouncil the Banking Bill was read a second time on the voices, and the amendment proposing to refer it to a committee to inquire into the working of the Bank of New Zealand since it has come under Government control was rejected. In the House of Representatives yesterday a discussion on a return showing the quantity and value of breadstuffs brought into the colony by the San Francisco service and on the perpetual lease system occupied the whole of the afternoon. In the evening the debate on the Financial Statement was continued, but not concluded. ■ Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs that the matter of the encroachment of the sea at St. Kilda was again "before the Petitions Committee of the House of Representatives yesterday, when the whole of the evidence was under review. The contradiction of Mr Ussher'B evidence by the residents of St. Kilda who are petitioning Parliament was laid before the committee. Mr Morrison, M'.H.lt., has telegraphed,,tp Mr ,Burk, one of the petitioners, that the committee will submit the following report to tho House: — "The petitioners have sustained damage in consequence .of the erection of the 'battery by officers of the Defence department, and recommend their case.for the.most favourable consideration of the Government." Mr Morriaon »I«^ff *° muf ?*f* £"-. the ®T" nor in winch he has^attended to this matter, and the decision of cpmmitteem theface j°* th° °PP°^ 10« °f the Defence department, should have influonce vvlth the G°™™ntThe adjourned meeting of the North-East Valley Council, which.was to.haye been held .la?*, night,, lapsed, for want of a quorum Ors -.-Green', .Anderson, and •Rishworth .being the only councillors, present.; A .considerable numb'eis pf\ ratepayers were, however, in attendance.. It was'decided to'- further adjourn the meeting till Friday night at 8 o'block, a j and the\clerk was instructed'to notify absent a ; councillors 6! the adjournment.

i The funeral of the late Mr Archibald Barr, formerly chief postmaster for Otago, took place yesterday, a large, number of the friends of the deceased following his remains to the place of interment in the Northern Cemetery. The cortege .included Messrs W. M'Hutcheson, G. B. Dall, J. Nugent, W. Cowie, Stokes, Ferens, and, Chapman, of the Chief : Post Office staff; and Messrs Smith, Comeford, and Wilson, letter carriers. The following, amongst others, were also present: — The Hon.' W. D: "Stewart, the Revs. D. Borrie, R. R. M. Sutherland, Messrs J. Wilkinson, T. Coull, A. MathesoiiV'T. H. Dick, A. C. Begg, A. J. Burns, W. E. Sessions, 3. Tennant, T. W. Kempthonie, W. Brown. F. Graham, J. Reid, C. M'K. Gordon, G. i'enwick, G. L. Denniston> 3. W. Jago, W. Hutchison, T. Black, A. H. Heycock, F. Z. Moore, <J. Hercus, G. R. Hercusj, G. E. Eliott; and F. Falck. The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. W. Hewitson. Mrs Chisholm, of 'Suva, who resides 75ft ■ above the sea level, recently forwarded several shrimps to ..the; office of the, Fiji Times', with f the following memo:—" I send you a few [shrimps which came with last night's! slio^ver. I jnay also mention that I have noticed the same phenomena for the last three of four weeks. I can only say'that it is a mystery." In order to call the attention of engineers to the excellent• work of. the coral,polyp in constructing harbours arid breakwaters, SMr ■ Coleman Phillips, speaifing. at a, meeting of ; the Wellington•Philpgbphioal Sobiety, said there was a reef stretching away from New Caledonia for some hundreds of miles, ". and' • the reef fringing the Australian Continent j to the eastward was some 2000 miles in length. Would it not be possible, he asked, for us to imitate the work of nature's little polyp engineer, and with a solution of lime build away ; slowly and steadily, bit by bit (not monolith • by. monolith, as had been done iri Napier), ! and so gradually expose a rugged broken wall to the sea, exactly similar, to any of the frihg- ! ing reefs of the Pacific? The Napier breaki water, as at present constructed, was, to his i mind, quite opposed to nature's teaching. j If the engineers would ..take a trip to the Pacific Islands they would see breakwaters of (stupendous dimensions constructed in the i very teeth of the waves so simply that their huge monoliths would : appear quite out of place. Nor did the speaker know of any coral breakwater constructed at right angles ito the coast line, as, at Napier. Nature al- ' ways built the breakwaters a mils, more or ! less, from the. shore, and parallel with it, leaving beautifully still water between the reef and the shore. > Mr H. F. Hardy will be a candidate for reelection for South Ward. A special meeting of the Port Chalmers District High School Committee was held yesterday evening for the purpose of recommending the appointment of a successor to Mr M'Kiulay. After consideration, Mr. D. ,N. | Matheson was selected ias the most suitable. I -There was another good attendance at the I Princess T.heatre last evening;- when .Professor i Dante brought his season to a closo. The professor, as usual, succeeded in mystifying his audience completely, and the general verdict seemed to bo that he is the oleverest illu- : sionist that lias yet visited us. To-night he will appear at. Timaru.".. ■ .' : .

sian Gulf are sealed. ■ ' * ' _ ~ r ~*" ' T+- ,'o c, n rv.» t-i^r, ■■ ■.-.«■.,» .', „ T>-n/,r*r-, J-'i consequence of the interruption, of land -It is sometime noir since -Keulot lint!B telegr l m g ter Porto E io o cannot be acwroto or South Arabia that the request ■ pepted except for Aquadillo.. Telegrams for of a British consul there was tantamount oth.« offices are posted at senders' risk. to a command. In the whole of Hadra- !■ ., Th* Mornington Borough Council notify that ■ , i n ~ . a , ~ ilis intended to take under the Public Works maut and Oman the influence of the Act ~, pieoe of land specified for the erection Porte has never been felt. The order of a town hall.

Nominations for tho election of councillors to the various wards in tho Borough of Roslyn closo at noon on,tho following dates:—Sunnyaide Ward, Monday,- 29th insst.; Kilgour Ward-, Tuesday, 30th inst.; Waverley Ward, Wednesday, 31st inst.; Linden, Ward, Thursday, lat September. . ' i Tho Gaelic Society's annual gathering will I be held on Friday evening in the Agricultural ' Hall, when the usual attractive programme will be carried out. | Messrs Donald Beid ■ and Co. will sell on i Friday, 2nd September, an improved farm near Brighton. A testimonial to Mr- J. Jenkins, medical electrician, is published in another column. The s.s. Queen Margaret. will be the flr3t Tyscr liner from New \ork to Australasia. She leaves about' September 25. Messrs Siovwright and Co. will sell on Friday, - 26th inst., an allotment in Forbury extension, ■ Messrs James Samson arid Co. will sell on Thursday, 25th inst., superior household furniture. * ~'•,' A notice to consignees) of goods by the barque j Firt'i of Forth, appears in our advertising j columns. . | , A notice to consignees of goods by the barque Doris appears in another column. Mr William Todd will sell at Invercargill on Saturday, 10th September, the Fairfax Dairy Factory. The official assignee notifies that he will apply to be released from administering a number of estates.

The anniversary tea meeting and entertain- ' ment of the Disciples of Christ's Church and Sunday School will be held in the Choral Hall this evening. i Frank Hyams. Jeweller, Princes street, notifies having landed, ex s.s. Otarama, a large ; shipment of English and Continental Novelties in " Art China," including many specimen pieces from the hands of leading artists in the Ceramic Art. The whole have been selected personally by Frank Hyams, and such variety of desim and colour in Art China has never before been shown in tho colony; moreover,-tha prices are such as will ensure a ready sale, being only a slight advance on landed cost. Many of tho pieces, while of exquisite beauty, cost only a few shillings. Inspection is invited irrespective of purchase.—Advt. ~,_., John Hislop, oldest established Watchmaker and Jeweller, 74 Princes street.. Good assortment Watches, Clocks, and Jewellery. Spectacles suit all sights.—Advt. i Massage and Electricity..—Mr and Mrs D. ' Edwin Booth, Massage Institute, Stuart street, Dunedin.—Under the patronage of the modical gentlemen of Dunedin. For Punctual Time!—Pethr Dick most reliable Watchmaker aud Jewellor, opposite Coffee Palace, Moray place, Dunedin. Charges strictly moderate.—Advt.