POLITICAL NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11506, 19 August 1899, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES.

Parliament, having assembled on the 23rd June, has now been eight weeks in session. The not result of its work has been the passing through both Houses of two Imprest Supply Bills,.which had to be passed in order to enable the salaries .and wages of the Government servants throughout the colony to be paid at the end of June and July. Not a single policy measure of any kind has passed both Houses. The Land for Settlements Bill lias gone through the House of Representatives, and so also has the Employment of Boys or "Girls without Payment Prevention Bill. Both measures, however, remain suspended in the Legislative Council while the " Lords " are talcing a holiday. The arduous nature of the legislative duties in that Chamber, where, as Mr Fisher rather neatly put it recently, it is always afternoon, and where the sittings which, commence at half-past two o'clock rarely last for a couple of hours—amounting in the aggregate to eight hours or less in the week, —will be readily understood, and it would be niggardly to grudge the members the fortnight's holiday they have given themselves, even although they left some work undone. More especially is it impossible not to forgive them for seeking to escape from Wellington during the progress of tho financial debate, for, while several valuable contributions have been made to it, its general level has been distinctly below the average. The "Lords" certainly consulted their own comfort in fleeing from Wellington during this debate. The disinterestedness of some of them, too, in fixing the date for their reassembling deserves recognition. The Council sits again on Tuesday next. Mr Pinker-, ton pointed out; when this was proposed by the Government representative in the. Chamber, that the Dunedin members have to leavo home on Saturday in order to attend a meet-: ing of the Council on tlie Tuesday following, whereas, if the day of meeting were made Wednesday, they would not require to leave home till the Tuesday. It would, Mr Pinkerton observed, only mean one more day's adjournment of the Council if it did not reassemble till Wednesday, and it would be a very great advantage to members from the south. Mr Reeves said that Wednesday would also suit the West Coast members very much better than the Tuesday. .When, however, Mr M'Lean proposed that the adjournment be till Wednesday, Mr Pinkerton and Mr Reeves, and with them Mr Feldwick, Mr Gourley, and Mr Lee Smith, all of whom would have consulted their personal convenience by the adjournment for the extra- day, voted with the Government in favour of tho Tuesday. Such an unselfish disregard of one's own convenience as these members showed, when, if they had voted the other way, the Government proposal would have been lost, is rare.

Seeing..that Parliament has sat for eight weeks without completing one legislative act, it ia not unreasonable to suppose that another eight weeks will have elapsed before the session's programme will have been anything like exhausted. The Loan Bill and the Public Works Statement will evoke a large amount of discussion. The Estimates will not go through without being subjected to careful consideration, and unless the. Government affords an opportunity for a debate on the report of the Marine Scandal Commission the occasion will naturally'be seized when the Marine department vote is reached1-to fully discuss that question. The Wrigg scandal, also, will not be allowed to be smothered up by the Government. Leaving out of account the labour bills and other controversial measures that have been introduced, wo have indicated the material for several weeks' work. Another eight weeks will bring us to the 14th October, and on the day after that— the Ides of Uctober—lo members of the Legislative Council vacate their seats. Messrs Bolt, Feldwick, Jennings, T. Kelly, Kerr, M'Cullough, MacGregor, Montgomery, Richardson, and W. C. Walker were appointed on the 15th October, 1892; under the system of seven years' tenure. It is conceivable thatit will be very inconvenient to Mr Seddon that he should have to fill these ten places while Parliament is sitting. If he could get the legislators packed off to their homes before the 15th October, then he might defer making the appointments until after the elections, and thus be enabled, in accordance with the precedent ho has created, to solace some of the Ministerial slain at the polls with seats '; in anothor place." There would, however, be a risk in that, for indications are growing that the Government will be defeated at the election, and Mr Seddon, having expressed Ills virtuous indignation by the hour concerning the action of the hite Sir Harry Atkinson in making nominations to tho Council whilo his Government was in a moribund condition, would not dream of repeating such an iniquity. But, if Parliament sits beyond tho 15th October, Mr Seddon must 1311 these ten places, or else he may leave the Government in a minority in tho Council. And the Councillors to whom tho seats are given will be independent of any Ministry for seven years, by which time a reform in tho method of tho election of the Council may havo been adopted, and the members of the Lower House whose doom is certain in the constituencies will lose the reward to which their serrilo support of Mr Seddon would otherwise have entitled them.

The supporters of the Ministry who have spoken in tho financial debate have scrupulously avoided reference to tho report of the Marine Scandal Commission. This is tho more surprising because, the report being in favour of Mr Seddon and Mr Hall-Jones they might havo been expected to make political capital out of it. Can the explanation of their silence be that even they recognise that tho evidenco does not fit the finding? Tho report is said by Mr Seddon, doubtless with his tongue in his cheek, to bo conclusive that " the rumours that have been floating about wore unfounded, and thero was little or nothing to' support oven a rumour."

The careful dissection to which the evidence will bo subjected, now that it has been circulated throughout the colony, will show that there was very substantial foundation for the charges that led to the appointment of the commission. Ifr'is upon the evidence and not upon the report that the public will base its decision as to that. With regard to the main feature in the report—the culpability or otherwise of Ministers in connection with the breach of the regulations that permitted the examination of Captain Jones,—the verdict muEt depend upon the value which is attached to the evidence of the witnesses. The commissioners Uiave arrived at a conclusion which is contrary to the weight of evidence. The public may very reasonably conclude that the evidence of two witnesses,' who had no interest in breaking the regulations, is preferable to that of one witness upon whom influence of a kind that it was difficult for him to resist had been brought to bear with a view to facilitate the issue of a certificate to Captain Jones. And public opinion regarding the justice of -the commissioners' conclusion on that most important point is not likely to be strengthened by the proofs of mis-statements contained in the report upon points of less moment. Mr Pi rani pointed out one incorrect—"utterly untruthful," he called it—statement in the report as soon as it was read in the House. The report said that Mr Pirani declined to give evidence in support of his charges. The fact is that he attended day after day upon subpoena, and offered himself as a witness, but Mr Hanlon, who conducted the inquiry for the Government, declined to call him.

If thero is an inaccurate statement in the report of tlio Marine Commission on that point, there is justification for Mr Scobia Mackenzie's criticism that there has been distortion of the evidence upon another point. The commissioners say in their report that the Premier was addressed on Jones's case

" by the late Captain Fairchild, who, from his own observation, was of opinion that he (Jones) had served the time." That statement is not warranted by the evidence. What Mr Seddon said was that " Captain Fairchild was of the- opinion that Jones ought to have served the time " —a very different thing from saying that Jones had served the time.: Mr Seddon, however, in answer to another ques- "" tion, discredited his own statement by Baying that it was in consequence of what Captain I'airchild told him that he dictated the now' famous telegram from Auckland to Mr HallJones. In that telegram he used the words "Captain Allman thinks he is highly qualified," but there was no word of Captain Fair child's opinion. In any case, Mr Seddon's statement of what Captain i'airchild may have said to him was not legal evidence. It could not be contradicted, because Captain Fairohild is unfortunately dead. In any case, the commissioners only had a ' second-hand account of Captain Fair-' child's opinion, and they had no direct evidence on the subject. When they make a positive -statement, as they have done, for which there is no authority, in the evidence, and when they make another statement which is contrary to fact, the judicial value of their report is manifestly subject to a very serious discount. . '..■.'■

In No. 13 of Hansard for this session ap° pears tho report of a determined and, for the timo being, successful attempt on the part of the Government to shelve the report of the Publio Petitions Committee on the question of the issue of the New Zealand Cross to Mr H. C. W. Wrigg. The committee reported that from the evidence adduced Wrigg was not entitled to the Cross, and it was proposed by the chairman of the committee—Mr Meredith, a faithful Government supporter,—that the report should lie on tho table and be printed. Mr Seddon, Mr Morrison, Mr Meredith, and Mr t Holland, between . them, however, succeeded in consuming more than an hour's time and in talking the question out, and it is perfectly evident that if Mr Seddon has his way it will not bo revived this session. Tho annual spectacle of three members of a committee, for Mr Morrison and Mr Holland are,, like Mr Meredith, members of the com-., miltte that dealt with Wrigg's case, talking out the report, need not excite surprise in the present Parliament, but it will certainly be shameful if the, House is precluded at some future date in the session from expressing an opinion, upon tho issue of the New Zealand Cross to this man. Mr Serk'.on apparently defends its'.issue on the ground that, on the evidence presented to it at the time the Government was justified in bestowing tho decoration on Wrigg. Mr Seddon, however, when he says this, begs tho whole question. In the Order-in-Council instituting the decoration it is laid down that the distinction shall not be claimed by any individual on his own account. Wrigg violated this condition by shamelessly touting for tho Cross. It is also prescribed that " the claim must be made in favour of tho person considered to be entitled to it by the commanding officer of the force or district to which such person belonged." The service for which Wrigg was awarded the Cross was .rendered in 1867. His commanding officer was Colonel St. John, who died in 1877, but in the interval of ten years between the service and his death never thought of recommending Wrigg for the decoration. It was 20 years later when Wrigg bethought himself of getting the Cross and the pension that is attached, and then he applied to Mr Bower, town clerk of Napier,' who was adjutant at Opotiki in 1867, to recommend him. Mr Bower, ho assured him, was his "ideal of a soldier," and, by way of repaying one good turn with another, ho volunteered Mr Bower information about mining matters in Auckland in which he was " greatly interested." Mr Bower recommended him, several' " Liberal" members of Parliament pulled the wires, and Wrigg got his Cross. ■ Mr Bower now believes, as he told the Public Petitions Committee, that he was : not at: Opotiki when Wrigg rendered tho service for which he has been rewarded. Mr Morrison suggests that Mr Bower has been " got at" to alter his version of the occurrences of 1867. It is more likely, as indeed documentary evidenco shows, that he,was "got at" to inako his original recommendation.

In the House of Representatives yesterday a Canterbury local .bill was passed, and a. number of other local bills introduced. After motions ordering certain returns had been passed, the debate on the Financial Statement was resumed. The1 discussion proceeded prosaically until some time after 10 o'clock, when a reference made by Mr Carson to Mr Carroll's statements respecting tho grant of land made to Captain Russell for military service in tho colony brought the Minister to his feet with an explanation. Captain Russell followed, and in strong terms denounced Ministers for making statements which, if they consulted tho records, they must know were incorrect. Matters became somewhat heated, but, the supper adjournment time arriving, cooled somewhat when the House resumed, and after further personal explanations, in which Mr Carroll denied that he had intended to cast any imputation upon Captain Russell personally, tho financial debate was adjourned and the House rose.

A special meeting of the City Council was held last night to discuss the question of an additional water supply for the city. Unanimity prevailed as to the desirability of obtaining an additional supply from tho head waters of the Waitati and the Leith, and a. resolution was, after some discussion, unanimously adopted empowering the Water Committee to take such steps as may be necessary to acquire the land forming the watershed of such supply.

The preliminary arrangements for.the planting of trees on the Anderson's Buy .road are now so far advanced that the work will probably be put in hand early next week. Sufficient money, it is understood, has been collected to enable two sections to be planted this season. The work will1 be done by clay labour.

Tlioso interested in deer-stalking should inspect four fino heads on view at the shop of Messrs A. and W. M'Carthy. There are two 10 pointers, ono 11 pointer, and one 12 (royal). These deer were shot by Mr J. V. Arklo in tho Hawea district, Timaru Creek. Mr Arklo used a 30.30 carbine, weight 6ilb, and tho bullet \ised has a nickel coat soft

nose. Both »he bullet and tho carbine are on view. Wo believe this was Mr Avkle's second trip, so he has done well.

Our Arrowtown correspondent telegraphs: A very severe earthquake shock was felt in Arrowtown at 12.20 yesterday.

. In another column will be found the awards made by the judge in the prize tale competition for the Olago Daily Times and Witness Christmas Annual. There wore ton prizes, and, in addition, ten other original tales named are tieing reserved for publication in the Witness in tho issps in Christmas week.

' The quarterly meeting of the St. John Ambulance Brigade 'was held in the Fire Brigade station on Thursday evening. Superintendent Barclay was in the chair, and 15 members were present. One new member was balloted for and duly elected. It was mentioned that tho committee of the centre had granted the brigade's application for two new stretchers, also three, haversacks, with full equipment, and a case for storing the bandages, splints, etc. It ■ was resolved to send a deputation to those who have lately passed their examinations, laying before them the advantages of being connected with the corps. After tho business was completed, the members had some good practice in treating fractures, hemorrhage, and cases of supposed drowning. Mr W. Reid, J.P., presided at the Police Court, Port Chalmers, yesterday, and ordered R. Miller, charged with drunkenness, to pay a fine of ss, or, in default, be imprisoned for 2* hours. A Woodville telegram states that Mr W. W. M'Ardle has definitely announced his candidature for the Pahiatua seat at the general election. The Stafford street Central Mission Hall has been well filled each evening during the week. Powerful addresses have been given by Sister Ruth, and musical items have been rendered by several friends, while a large choir, under the conuuetorahip of Mr Buckingham, has led the singing. The mission will be continued in the Garrison Hall on Sunday, when the Rev. W. A. Sinclair will preach both morning and evening, and also next week, when Sister Ruth will again take charge.

From tho Charters Towers Mining Standard wo learn of tho success of three graduates of our School of Mines. Mr Ernest Graham has' until lately been managing the battery and cyanide works of the Brilliant Block Gold Mining Company. , On xesigning his position to go into partnership with Mr Donald Matheson, he was entertained at a dinner by between 50 and 60 of Ms former employees, and was presented with a handsome gold medal, suitably inscribed. Mr D. G. Matheson, B.A , of our university, was, after leaving the School of Mines, appointed cyanide superintendent of tho 'Waitekauri Gold Mining Company, Auckland. Then he was selected as manager of the Victory' Cyanide "Works,' Charters Towers. . This position he has left to start in partnership with Mr Graham as metallurgical chemists and assayers. Another Dunedin boy, Mr Ernest Bray, wellknown in musical circles, has been appointed to fill the position lately occupied by Mr Graham. Turtles are very largely found along tho coast-line of Burma, and the impecunious Government has found means' to make money out of it. The right to collect turtles and eggs is sold by auction annually by the Deputy Commissioners, within whose districts the banks' are situated. The revenue from this Bourco In the Irrawaddy division alone was about Jtts.2B,ooo. For some time past a decrease in the number of turtles and tortoises has been noticed, and the Government now propose that the islands on which the tortoises lay should be completely protected from January 1 to May 15 (the laying and hatching season) once in every five years, and that a small establishment should be maintained for this purpose. The Dunedin Highland Rifles' annual ball was held in tho Garrison Hall last night. This company has held many successful balls in the past, but last evening they eclipsed themselves in this respect, and over 200 couples took part- in the-grand march, presenting an unusually effective spectacle. The decorations of the hall deserve special mention, '-.nil-Mr J. Sutton utilised a good variety of banting to the utmost' advantage. A strong committee had all the arrangements well in hand, so that everything worked smoothly, and the M.C.'s (Corporal Bremner and Privates Macfie, Auld,!A. Davidson, "W. J. Davidson, Dickel, M'Kinley, and Paterson) carried out their functions in a complete and praiseworthy manner. The music was supplied by Messrs Yates Bros., and the catering was in the efficient hands o{ Mr S. Lean. Both these ewentials were sans reproche. The officers present were Major Robin, Captain Hislop, Captain Barclay, Lieutenant Strong, Lieutenant Johnstone, Petty-officer Irwin, Bandmaster George, and Sergeants-major Towler and Kibhlewhite. It was close on 4 o'clock this morning when the tired dancers concluded their night's enjoyment.

The gymnastic exhibition by the combined schools was repeated in the Agricultural Hall last night, when the attendance was much larger than on the first performance. The various exercises and displays of musculai development were again executed in a highly creditable manner, and drew unstinted applause from the audience. By an oversight, no mention was made in our. report yesterday of the exhibition of club swinging by the Union street girls, who could more than hold their own with their rivals in other schools. It is expected that the two performances will yield about £120, about half of this sum representing profit. Towards the close of the entertainment, Jlr J. W. Smith, head master of the High street School, thanked the audience for their patronage, and explained that the committee had a twofold object in view in promoting the entertainment. First, they de3ired that parents and the public in general should get some idea of the extent of the gymnastic instruction given in the State schools; and, secondly, that the proceeds should go towards equipping the gymnasia erected. He also laid stress on the advantages accruing from the fact that physical education was now brought within the reach of the State Echook.

The Mornington Amateur Dramatic Company have in full rehearsal the two comedies

"Written in Sand" and "Poor Pillicoddy," which they intend producing at the High street School Gymnasium Hall on the 30th and 31st of this month. The company have been able to secure the services of Mr Barrie Marschel a3 a coach, and some members of the Mornington Orchestral Society have kindly volunteered to provide the music. Care is also being taken in the mounting of the scenery and stage effects for the plays, so that a more than ordinary performance is looked forward to. The entertainment by the Waxworks Company last evening was received with the usual amount of favour. The singers were loudly r pplauded, nnu met with frequent recalls. There will be a change of programme this evening. TO-MORROWS CHURCH SERVICES. St. Paul's Cathedral.—Holy communion, 8 a.m.: matins and midday celebration, 11 a.m. (preacher, Yen. Archdeacon Robinson); evensong, 6.30 p.m. (preacher, Rev. Canon Bryan U. King). All Saints' Church.—Holy communion 8 a.m. and midday. Preacher, the Deari. St. Matthew's Church.—Holy communion 8 p..ru.; services 11 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. Preacher, Rev. W. Curzon-Siggers, who will continue in the evening Ilia sermons on the " Articles of the Apostles' Creed,' translated into the thoughts and needs of the present day. First Church.—Preacher (morning and evenin-), Mr Wm. Spc-nce.

St. Andrew's Church.—Services at 11 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. Evening subject: The Tragedy in" Israel: "And Saul eyed David from'that day."

Trinity "ffesieynn Church.—ll a.m., Mr W. Bobbins"; 6.30, Key. P. W. Fairclough.

Methodist Central Mission.—Rev. W. A. Sinclair ut .11 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. Kvcning subject: "What Love Will Do." Wesley Church, Cargill road.—Preacher, Rev. T. G. Brooke. Morning subject: " The Sacred Flame"; evening subject: "An Over-ripe Harvest." Mosgiel Church—ll a.m., Mr W. R. Tuck; 6.30 p.m., Mr Paris.

Church of Christ, Oddfellows' Hall, Eattiay street.—ll a.m. ("Church Fellowship") and G. 30 p.m. (" Deliverance and Preservation" of the Saints"), Mr Mnzenswrb. Direiples of Christ, Ouiifollowa' Hall, Stuart street.—ll a.m. breaking of bread; C.30 p.m. (■' Tin: New Covenant ), Mr L. Elborn.

Ai> error occurred m c:v: report of Mr Clnsholw's speech at Wednesday's meeting of the Clwitiible Aid Board, and the position of the iU.Svn Borough Council m regard tc that i.odv'-' contributions tc.. the Charitable Aid Board ivjs made out to be somewhat better Jlian it really, was. So far from the Roslyn

Council paying tho ISO 6 contributions in the months of May and July, the amounts then paid were for mi-ears due' on the levy of 1893, and no instalment of tho 1896 levy was paid until the month of August in that year. • Messrs Kempthorct, Prosser, and Co. (Limited) announce that they will give a public trial of their " K. P." improved sheep dip at Mr A. Brown's fellmongery, Abbotsford, on Monday, sit 10 a.m., to which sheep-owners and others interested are invited.

Mr E. G-. Lane, oi 0.-.raaru, publishes a testimonial from Mr John Wallace stating that when suffering from a bad attack of pleurisy, he received great relief from a. course of Lane's creasoted emulsion of pure cod liver oil.

Messrs Park, Reynolds, and Co. will sell camellias, rhododendrons, and roses at the Provincial yards, Stafford street, to-day. On Monday, 38th inst., at their rooms, they will sell a freehold farm in the North Harbour and Blueskin district.

| Mr John Thompson will sell at Lawrence on Thursday, September 7, the mining property of the Balclutha Gold Dredging Company. Scaled tenders will be received at "the chief post office, Dunedin, until September 11 for the conveyance of mails in the Dunedin postal district for the years IUOO, 1901, 1902. The Caversham Borough Council warn cyclists that they will be prosecuted if found riding on the footpaths is the borough. A public meeting will be held in tile NorthEast Valley Public He I! on Tuesday, 29th inst., to consider a. proposal to raise a loan of £5000. -lenders are invited for tho cartage of about ■100 tons of coal between October 1, 1899, and May 31, 1900, from Lawrence railway station to the Success Gold Dredging Company's claim at Waipori.

At the Theosophical Society's rooms to-mor-row evening, Mr A. \V : . Maurais will deliver a lecture on " The Growth of the E«o." A farewell meeting will be held in the Green Island Presbyterian Church, on Tuesday, 22nd inst., on the occasion of Miss Jessie Blair's departure for mission work in India. ■ An entertainment in aid of the funds of the ifoung Women s Christian Association will, be held in the rooms, Moray place/on Tuesday,

The finals of the Dm-.edin Football Association s five-a-side tournament will be played A Bishopscourfc to-day. A team from H.M.S. .tungdove will play against the pick of Dunedin players.

The prises won throughout the season by the members of the Dunedin Amateur Boating Club are now on view in the window of Mr J. Wallace, Irmces street, and are attracting considerable attention.

The place for watch and iewellerv roinircG. and T. Yotoo's, 68 Prices stJeetTttey thoroughly clean watches for six shillings, and execute all other repairs at equally low rates. —Advt.

John Hislop, oldest established Watchmaker and Jeweller, 74 Princes street. Good assortment. Watches, Clocks, and Jewellery. Spectacles suit all sights—Advt. Carter's Great Sale.—Last two weeks. Tremendous bargains, as they must make room for a large shipment of New Season's Goods —Advt M-o-a-t R-el-ia-b-1-e! For punctual time try Peter Dick, Watchmaker and Jeweller opposite Coffee Palace, Moray place, Duncdiu! Charges strictly moderate.—Advt.

Treatment by massage and electricity for rheumatism, paralysis, nervous, and joint troubles. Mr and Mrs Edwin Booth, Stuart street. Under medical patronage.—Advt.