POLITICAL NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11795, 26 July 1900, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES.

There was no occasion to sympathise with Mr Barclay, after all. The little trick played upon him turns out to have been a blessing in a disguise,—small thanks to the trickster, Mr Guinness. The Labour Bills Committee took pity on the Barclay baby, and we approve their humanity,—not that we are in love with the infant phenomenon, but we dislike par-

iamentary trickery

The knight of the

■" house. assistants " is not yet safe, however, from the chance of bereavement. If his legislative first-born survives, we suspect that-.it will bo in a somewhat maimed condition. Indeed, we should not be surprised if the bill (for the baby metaphor is getting unmanageable) were to be shorn of all reference to the

V house assistant," and degenerate into a mere male chemistß bill. Indeed, it is not quite clear why one bill was made to servo for the chemists and the domestic servants —(Mr Barclay must forgive the slip: the bad habits of a lifetime cannot be dropped in a moment).

Really we do not think that the community is quite prepared for the adoption of our junior

member's chivalrio proposal. It is the chivalry of Don Quixote, —delightful, but hardly -workable. " Mrs Blank was charged by the inspector of domestic interiors with

having allowed Mary Ann So-and-so, her house assistant, to wash the dishes between the hours of 1 p.m. on the Ist and 7 a.m. oh the 2nd": no, really, the public is not quite educated up to that point. Legislation apart, however, we agree that Mary Ann ought to have a half-holiday, and not merely a " night out." Legislation would not add to the comfort of her position, and we think that she could get what, she wants without it. Still, she may be expected to vote straight for Sir Barclay, even if she does not send him smok-ing-ca.ps and slippers,—dainty liaJf-holiday tasks. . i

The pseudo-democratic note was very much in evidence during the discussion, on tho Governor's Salary and Allowances Bill on Tuesday night. Members of tho G. W. Russell type aired their crude Radicalism, and chattered about an elective Governor until it must have been quite a relief to hear iUr K. M. Smith's defence (though equally irrelevant) of "the English aristocracy." Tho Premier, Mr Ward, and Captain Ruscell seem to have shown to best advantage. "It was not an issue as to a democracy or an aristocracy, but one rather that, having a, Governor', whether ho should or should not have voted

him si. salary sufficient to carry out with dignity his manifold duties, social or otherwise, not only cast upon, but demanded of, him. These words of Mr Ward's contain the pith of the. matter, and the Premier made a good point when ho declared that the democracy should not allow itself to be under such an obligation to tho Governor as is involved in forcing him to draw upon his private means in order to maintain his public position. Captain Russell gave his word for it that every New Zealand Governor for the last 15 or 20 years had sp°nt' double the amount of his salary, and had loft the colony a poorer man than ho had been when he arrived. Obviously this state of things should not be al-

lowed to continue,—not even it there were urgent need of public economy. Hence wo cannot think that Mr James Allen's amendment—that (ho debate ba adjourned until some conclusion liar, been arrived al as to the financial position of the colony—was timely or politic. Mr W. I'raser, who sits on the same, side of the Hoiis-e. a a Mr Allen, w:\s quite right in refusing " to bo. lod away from the subject by a side i.-isuo." The question was not a party onc> 'i^ded Ir. -Fra^er,—and y.vhaps there was just a, suspicion of party t,\ci.ica in Mr Allen's action,

_ Questioned on Tuesday regarding the subject of technical education, Mr Seddon announced the intention of the Government to introduce a bill during, the present session ( dealing with what is an admitted need. So far so good, but Mr Seddon added a remark of (we cannot but think) an ominously suggestive character. "The responsibility woufd rest with members if the bill was not passed this session." What does that mean? Wliy should such a remark be made in connection with this particular question? "We fear that it can only point to Mr Seddon's determination to stick to what have rightly been termed the denominational clauses of his previous bill dealing with the subject, and that he was sounding a note of defiance on Tuesday night. The friends of the national system 'of education will do well to keep a sharp lookout for the pi-ovisions of the coming: bill; and, for pur own part, we take the "liberty of traversing and altering Mr1 Seddon's warning, and we say that " the responsibility will rest with the Government if the bill is not passed this session."

In the Legislative Council yesterday the Dunedin City and Suburban Tramways and the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Act Amendment Bills, with the Westport and Grsymouth Harbour Board Bills, were read a second time. At a brief sitting in the evening- an Imprest Supply Bill was passed through all stages. '

In the House of Representatives yesterday the Speaker announced that a ballot of members of both Houses resulted in a majority of 34- votes in favour of continuing the sale of alcoholic liquor within parliamentary precincts. An Imprest Supply Bill was passed through all stages, after a brief debate, on the financial position of the colony. ' The debate was renewed when the Premier opposed a motion, asking for a return showing the money raised by debentures during the past financial year, but the dinner adjournment put an end to it. In the evening the School Attendance and the. Impounding- Act Amendment Bills were read a second time pro. forma. A measure to abolish capital punishment met with but little favour, and it was eventually thrown out. After discussing the Absolute Majority Bill in committee for some time, progress was reported on it. '

At a sitting of the Supreme Court in Banco yesterday his Honor Mr Justice Williams was engaged in hearing argument arising out of an originating summons taken out by the trustees under an ante-nuptial agreement made by the late Hon. W. J. M.. Larnach on the. occasion of Ms second marriage. The court was asked to decide as to whether the trustees or the general estate were entitled to the proceeds of certain policies which Mr Larnach had by a settlement covenanted to assign to them, but which he never had assigned. The settlement was in favour of Mr and . Mrs Larnach when alive, and after their death in favour of Mr Larnach's children by his > former marriage, and the children of the then intended marriage. Mr Solomon appeared for the trustees and Mr Woodhouse for Mr Hislop, the administrator. The former stated • that the trustees claimed these policies by virtue of the covenant contained in the settlement, and that he understood there would be two questions raised—one as to

the identification of the policies now in existence with those mentioned in the settlement, and the other as to whether the policies, not having been assigned, the court would enforce the covenant in favour of Mr Larnach's children by his former marriage, as it.might be contended that they -were volunteers. lie stated that he would rely on the covenant, and cited authorities to show that the' children of a widower by a former marriage were not volunteers under a, settlement made on re-marriage. Sir Woodhouse contended that the children other than the issue of, the intended marriage were volunteers, and cited authorities in support, of this contention; but after the question had been discussed at some length, further argument of it was ordered *to stand over to a future date.

A young man named Charles Hendrick made ani attempt to commit suicide at South Dunedin shortly after midnight on Tuesday, and was brought before the City Police Court yesterday morning' and charged with the offence. Eondrick, it appears, quarrelled with a young woman, and on her stating that she was "done with htm," he replied, "All right. I will do for myself," and thereupon stabbed himself with a pocket-knife in the left breast. The .young woman ran for assistance, and Constable Bingham arriving on the scene, arrested Heudrick, who then denied the charge, saying that he had accidentally

fallen on the knife. Ho was conveyed to. tho hospital, on reaching which he said, " I have made a fool of myself. I am ready to go with you." The wound, which proved not to bo serious in character, was dressed by Dr

(I'Neill. In consequence of the doctor's inability to attend court yesterday, the cass was remanded to Friday next. Accused was admitted to bail.

Among tho cases that will come boforo Mr E. H. Carcw, S.M., at the City Police Court to-day is one in which a well-known publican will be charged with keeping his premises open for the sale of liquor on a Sunday.

Tho ■ Government have appointed Mr Nicholas Dodds, of Port Chalmers, io tho vacancy created on tho Dock Trust through the death of Mr William Pedlpw.

The Ci 7 Council at their meeting last night appointed James Long, a cadet in the water department, and Thomas Ireland an assistant in the municipal department.

Professor Easterfield, of Wellington, and the officers of tho Agricultural department have been conducting experiments on the poisonous tutu plant, with a viow to obtaining s. com-

pleto knowledge of its properties. It is thought that such knowledge would be of value in medicine, and a. sample of the drug lias been forwarded to the University of St. Andrew's, Scotland. Valuable tannin extract can also bo obtained from tho bark of

ho tutu; and from the fact that the plant ias birc-n pir to various used by tho Maori?,

there is a possibilivy of establishing an industry from its cultivation.

| On ono point the entire House appeared to bo 'unanimous —namely, the efficiency and popularity of the present Governor. Lord ila::fur'y may weli be gratified when ho reads tho dobrito, not so much because it promises him an increase of salary, though doubtless that will be welcome, as because it must show him (hst the people's representatives, of all shades of political feeling, do justice to theadmirable spirit and fashion in which he has discharged his Vice-regal duties. Even the pseudo-democrats were constrained to speak \reil of the Queen's latest representative. Mr Fisher's praise might not lie quite conclusive, but fortunately it does not stand alone. Mr Ward went so far as to declare that "the Goyc-rcor, by his action during the troublo which the Empire has lately undergone, had helped to raiss New Zealand to the front rank amongst British colonies." Perhaps there is a toucii of hyperbole in this, but there can be no question that Lord Ranfurly's conduct and bearing during the patriotic movement have been practically perfect. The colony should at least see to it that he is not out of pocket as a result of his efficiency and keen tense of duty.

Tnough unable to regard Mr James Allen's proposed amendment as timely, we quite agree that it is high time that the House was made acquainted with •' the true financial position ot tHo colony,"—high time, in fact, that the hnancial policy of the Government was Drought down. Parliament has bean sitting ior five weeks, but never a word of the financial Statement, which is, after all, the pivot of the session's real activity. Moreover etfec ive to «v • aSSey ' had s°mething to work on .some big practical question S as local government, there might have been some excuse for delay in the production of the Budget; but a pretext can hardly be found m the desirability of the Chambers of bommerco Bill or the Deceased Husband's Brother Bill (if that is the right name of tlie thing).

The highest sum mentioned as having been ottered to Colonel Baden-Powell for a volume on the siego of Mafeking upon the same lines as the '■'Downfall of Prempeh," is £10,000, suggested by an American firm. Since the news o£ the relief an English publisher,^ not to be outdone, has cabled an offer of " any amount." It would be difficult for even an American to go beyond this.

. There are some peculiarly interesting and pathetic circumstances (writes the New York correspondent of the Melbourne Argu.--) attending the recent deaths of two brothers, John Nicholas Brown and Harold Brown, both millionaires and men of culture, who were the male representatives of one of our oldest families, their grandfather having been a leading merchant in the China trade, while their father gave his name to Brown Xuniversity in Rhode Island, an institution winch received large gifts from him, and a I which these sons were graduated. Both were happily married', and both had lived peaceful and well-ordered'lives, dividing their time between Paris and Newport. A few weeks ago John Nicholas, a,.man of 53 years, was prostrated in this city by an attack of the dreaded " grippe," or influenza, and presently ho was dangerously' ill with pneumonia, Harold was at once summoned from Paris, where he had passed the winter with his wife.' He sailed without delay on the Oceanic, his wife following three days later on the Campania. "While Harold was on the ocean John died, and on his voyage Harold was taken ill with pneumonia. . Arriving here in the last stages of the disease, he was carried to a hospital, where he breathed his last 24- hours later. Mrs Harold Brown was then on the ocean, and not until she arrived at this port could she know not only that John was dead, but also that she'was a widow. There was a painful scane when sorrowing friends tenderly broke the sad news to her as she left the ship. Each of the brothers had had a fortune of nearly 10,000,000d0i. In their wills they had remembered.each other, and given 3,000,000d0l to charities, churches, and libraries. The only male heir of the Brown family is a delicate child, three months old, the son and only offspring of John. Harold was childless. This child inherits a fortune exceeding 15,000,000d01.

The Southern Starr-Bowkett. Society held their twenty-fifth appropriation of £500 last evening. Ball No. 283 was drawn from the box, the shares in the. cluster being all held by one member, who, unfortunately for himself, was in arrears with subscriptions. The chairman of the meeting therefore declared the ballot null- and void, in accordance with the rules. This necessitated a further ballot being held, resulting in ball No. 69 being drawn. The shares in the cluster -.vere held by two members.

' Even those points of ancient history which we have been accustomed to look iipon as beyond dispute are not free from attack nowadays. For centuries Pharsala, in Southern Thessaly, has been regarded as the scene of the famous defeat of Pompey, which gave the dominion of the world into the hands of Cfesar. According, however, to the Messager and the Journal d'Athenes Captain Dousmanis, of the Greek Engineers, after an exhaustive study of the ancient battlefields of Thessaly, affirms that beyond question the battle between Pompey and Cffisar was not ■fought at Pharsala, but near the modern Karditza, which is about 50 miles to the northwest.

Charlotte Bronte's husband, the Rev. Arthur Bell Nicholls, now an ootogenarian, lives the quietest of country lives at Banagher, King's County. He spends most of his time, according to a correspondent of M.A.P., in attending to the land agency business in connection with his own property and that of relatives. His second wife is a most estimable lady, who reveres the memory of the novelist just as fondly as her husband. The recurring anniversaries of Charlotte's birth and death—April 21 and March 31—are never forgotten. There are some of her relics in the house, outside of which they have never been allowed to pass. The desk and nest of drawers on which she wrote most of her works are there with many other mementoes that are highly prized by the family.

At the Alhambra Theatre last evening Fuller's Bijou Company appeared in their latest programme. The items were thoroughly'appreciated. Mr Charles Faning, Miss Georgie Devoe,. the Mahers, Mr Fred Norris, Mr Herberte, Miss Belmont, and Mr Aubrey Douglas all came in for repeated applause. Miss Rose Belmont's last three nights are announced.

Arrangements are now completed for the opening of a short season on Monday evening, at the Princess Theatre, of the Ancelon Dramatic Company in "The Christian." Mr Walter Bentley will sustain the part of the Rev. John Storm and Miss Woodhill will appear as Glory Quayle. The dramatisation is said to follow the famous novel very closely.

Messrs Wright, Stophenson, and Co. will sell a buggy mare at their saleyards on Saturday next.

The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company will hold a clearing sale of stock, implements, etc., at Toiro on Wednesday, ,August 8.

Applications are invited for the position of secretary to the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association.

The annual business meeting of the Young Women's Christian Association will be held to-morrow.

The Taieri. .County Council invite tender 3 for two contracts.

The, National Mortgage and Agency Company want a consignee for 30 cases Swedish punch ex Tokornaru, from London.

The annual general meeting of the Dunedin Chamber of. Commerce will be held on Friday, August 3.

An opportunity is afforded to the musicloving, public to hear the Dunedin Liedertafel next Monday evening, when they tender a complimentary concert to their hon. conductor (Jfo Jesse Tirnson). The production of " The Desert," which was so acceptably received when last given, and part songs by the society, solos by SEiss Wignall, and Messrs T. A. Hunter and Hugh Wright, and the trio for organ and piano iby Messrs Barth, Timson, and Taylor, will be a programme worthy of the occasion. .

The place to purchase presents is undoubtedly G. and T. Young's, watch and jewellery establishment, 88 Princes street. You can always rely upon getting value for your money there, See advt. first page.

3obh HiST.oi', oldest established Watchmaker and Jeweller, 74 Princes street. Good assortment Watches, Clocks, aud Jewellery. Spectacles suit all sights.—Advt.

The most Reliable Cough Cure is Baxter's Lung Preserver; it is a really excellent preparation; it will cure coughs, colds, sore throats, the terrible hacking cough of consumption, and all affections of the throat and lungs. It is also unequalled in cutting short the paroxysm in Asthma. Baxter's Lung Preserver is the cough cure of the century; it can be given to young and old with psrfect safety. Sold by all chemists in bottles—ls Gd and 2s Gd.—Advt.

Who is Peter Dice?— The most reliable Watchmaker and Jeweller, opposite Coffee Palace, Moray place, Dunedin. Charges strictly moderate.—Advt.

To-day.—Carter's Great Sale. Tremendous bargains in all departments. Come early and see for yourselves. Carter's Great Sale.—Advt.

Treatment by massage, electricity, and Tallerman's hot dry air for rheumatism, paralysis, nervous, and joint troubles.—Mr and Mrs Edwin Booth, Stuart street, Dunedin. Telephone Goo.—Advt.