THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, APRIL 1, 1901.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12006, 1 April 1901, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, APRIL 1, 1901.

The federal elections in-Australia have not produced any startling surprises. THie two large States in which the fiscal question has been, to the exclusion practically of all others, the issue that has divided the candidates have remained true to . their respective faiths. New South Wales sends a strong Freetrade phalanx to the Commonwealth Parliament, while Victoria, where only a few candidates have been bqld enough to declare in favour of a revenue tariff, will bo represented mainly by Protectionists. The curious circumstance is that on this particular issue the Labour party m Australia is hopelessly disunited. In New South Wales it clings to a low tariff, policy, the benefits of which it has observed since the introduction by Mr Reid a few years ago of a revenue tariff; in Victoria, the Trades Hall, which settles the policy of the Labour party, still hugs the delusion that a high tariff-is essential to the expansion of industries. But for this division on the fiscal, issue the Labour party in Australia might conceivably have captured such a large proportion of seats in the Federal Parliament as would have placed it in a dominating position. It has, however, secured few successes at the polls. Its leader in New South Wales, Mr M'Gowen, who received the support of the Protectionist organisation, was defeated in South Sydney; the success of its candidates who won the Barrier, Oanobias, and West Sydney seats may. W ascribed partly to the fact that they were the selected Freetrade candidates for those electorates; the only sticcessful Labour candidates in New South

who received ioaslstance from - •either.side on the fiscal question was7 1 ' s V m ™, who squeezed in, between the accredited Freetrade and ProtecJionist'candidates,' as member for The Darling. The Victorian Labour party i, has barely, escaped being t»"'ePl,e- - the Federal House of Representatives by members directly nominated by ifc. The Rev. Mr Ronald ..■ has gained foi- it the Sotifchern Mel- . bourne seat, and the Melbourne Ports constituency was such a gift to [t thafc there was no opposition to the return of Mr S. Mauger. But a determined effort that was made in Melbourne City.to keep Sir Malcolm M'Eacharn out, because he happens to be a shipowner and a capitalist, was foiled. A somewhat remarkable feature of the elections in New South Wales was the number of cases in which members ■' of the State : Parliament were defeated. ' : The only politician of real note, however, who failed to secure election was Mr B. R. Wise, the Attorney-general in the present State Government. But Mr Wise is so fickle a politician that a constituency may well hesitate about accepting his services. A man of great ability, he has had a lengthy parliamentary career. It has been as varied as lengthy. No electorate has ever returned him twice. The public likes consistency in a man, even though it may not care for his principles. Mr Wise,- however, a Freetrader by education and convictions, and one of the strongest advocates of a low tariff in the mother colony in the past, stood for Canoblas as a supporter of Mr Barton, and was the selected candidate of the. Protectienist party. Mr Barton himself went into the electorate and addressed meetings on his behalf, and his defeat is probably the most severe blow the Federal Ministry received in the elections in New South Wales. Mr Reid's old Ministerial colleagues who fought under his leadership in the campaign which was closed on Friday last all shared in his triumph, and in Sir William M'Millan, Mr Bruce Smith, and Mr Joseph Cook he will have able and valued lieutenants in the House of Representatives, On the other hand, in the persons of Sir John Quick (to whom there was no opposition for the Bendigo seat), Mr I. A. Isaacs (the Attorney-general of the State Administration), and Mr H. B. Higgins three members have' been returned by Victoria who, while all rendered useful service in the federal conventions, may be depended upon to give able support to Mr Barton's Ministry. The incompleteness of the returns precludes us from forming yet any reliable conclusion as j;o the strength of parties in the House of Representatives, but it appears likely that the Ministry will not be able to command more than a mere working majority. The returns of the polling for the election of members of the Federal Senate illustrate once more the value of a" ticket" in the cases where several candidates have to be elected by an extensive constituency. This advantage was particularly marked in New South Wales, where there were over 40 candidates for the six seats in the Senate. The Freetraders' and the Protectionists both formed their own "bunches." The former selected Messrs J. P. Gray, A. J. Gould, E. D. Millen, J. C. Neild, E. Pulsford, and J. T. Walker; the latter adopted Sir W. P. Manning, Messrs M. J. Hammond, J. Kidd, J. A. K. Mackay, E. E. O'Connor, and G. W. Waddell as their candidates. The result was that, as the event has proved, the candidates who did not receive the official support of either of the two great parties suffered a handicap so severe as to destroy any chances they might otherwise have possessed. The bulk of the electors adhered to the "tickets," and as the y principles of Freetrade are espoused by the bulk of the inhabitants of the colony the low revenue "bunch" has been returned almost intact. The choice of Mr Neild as one of the "ticket" may have been unfortunate. It was the revelation of a payment to him out of the Treasury for servicss he was said to have rendered in England as commissioner to' report upon the question of old-age pensions that hastened the downfall of Mr Reid's Ministry in 1899, and his loquacity has secured for him the sobriquet of "Jaw-bone Neild." A much stronger candidate than he might reasonably, however, have failed to keep out a popular tician like Mr R. E. O'Connor, who is withal an unofficial member of the Federal Ministry. In Victoria there was no Freetrade ticket for the Senate. Not a single candidate in that State for the Upper House had the courage to express disapproval of the high tariff craze which has there seized the people. Mr Purve3, the eminent-' King's Counsel, and Mr Robert Eeid, stood as Independent candidates; all the others in the field were Ministerialists. The Labour party had its own "bunch," but it included only three names—those of Mr J. G. Barrett, Mr S. Barker, and Mr A. J. Hampson. Mr Barnett was included also in the "ticket" of the Protectionist Liberal organisations, on which he was associated with Messrs R. W.Best, J. L. Dow, J. Stvles, W. A. Watt, and G. H. Wise. *Yet another "ticket" was that composed by the Age newspaper. It selected Messrs Barrett, Best, Dow, Simon Fraser, Styles, and Sir W. A. Zeal, President of the Legislative Council, as the candidates for whom those desirous of seeing Protectionists returned to the Senate should vote. The Age is more powerful even than the political organisation of the Protectionistparty in influencing public opinion. That is shown in the result of the elections. It has failed to get Mr Dow returned, and it has not succeeded in keeping Sir Frederick Sargood out. Five of its six candidates have, however, been returned. With other aspects of the federal elections we shall take a further opportunity of dealing.

Discussing the "open door" question in China," A Russian Publicist" in the February number cf the "Contemporary Review " admirably elucidates the .'situation from the Russian standpoint. At the outset lie says: "Before, however, discussing the character of the essentially peculiar position of Russia with regard-to the other Groat Powers, we may usefully glance at a few Eastcrti Asian incontrovertible facts, which will serve to point the way along which events will develop in the Far East." At -tli'e inception of the present difficulty Russia appeared to bein the-inost perfect accord with the

n other Powers, and up to a certain is- point worked harmoniously with n them; but the most recent develop- :- ments have proved that Russia hag e been secretly scheming for her owa y ulterior advantage, in pursuance of a J- preconceived policy. Tho present J- policy of Russia, the writer of tho i- magazine article thinks, has been d largely influenced by the exertions of 1- two personages who stand high in the ;s counsels of the nation. The more in.t of these is Prince Ukhtomsky, a a Russian nobleman of Tartar origin, d who is well known as the founder of e the Russo-Chinese Bank, and also as u principal editor of the St. Petersburg )- "Vyedemost" newspaper—a paper \. which is largely subsidised by the e Government, and has great weight .3 amon" the governing classes in Russia, s On his return from America, "on a, I. special mission of great importance," r- Prince Ukhtomsky published a series s of articles in his paper with the view 1 to establishing certain facts in the. ;. minds of the Russian people. "In a the first place, he draws attention to e the fact that Russia, as a neighbouring i and coterminous State with China, f and in view of the vast extent of her s Asiatic frontier, should do her iitmost s to preserve her traditional friendly b relations with that Empire." And, i further, he contends that since all the - other nations consider most their ma- - terial interests, "and, aided by the , missionary activity, are fighting f against the old customs and usages of i the country, it must always be ■ Russia's constant care that China > should belong to the Chinese—that t this colossal mass of humanity should ' not be spurred on towards further pro- > gress by the introduction of European • culture." But the' Prince does not 1 confine his observations to the social 1 aspect of foreign interference in 1 China: he is fully alive to* Russia's 5 commercial interests. He was not L only founder of the Russo-Chinese 1 Bank, but it is well known in Russia that the construction of the Mani churian railway was tho result of his 1 influential activity. Nominally the * railway was intended to form a feeder of the great Trans-Siberian line; but : "A Russian Publicist" doubts very much whether to-day "Russia will per--1 mit foreign goods to b9 imported into ' China by the Mancliurian railway at the same transport tariff as that levied on Russian goods." The second opponent to Russia's conjoint action with the other Powers is a person completely unknown in Europe, yet who, nevertheless, wields considerable influence at the Court. M. Badinaieff belongs to the Mongolian race, and has been established as a physician at St. Petersburg for many years. His eminent professional success naturally brings him into contact with the best families, and he has not been slow to take advantage of his material position "to make a full use of his extensive knowledge of the Far East." As showing the appreciation of his influence by the Russian Government, M. Badinaieff was commissioned three years in succession to visit China, " in order to pave the way for Russia's demands in Manchuria." This Russianised Mongolian gentleman occupies a unique position from which to'influence Russian action in China and tho Far East. For years he has been trying to influence Russian opinion with regard to China, but it was only when recent occurrences developed that any weight was attached to his writings. These have now been published in pamphlet form for the information of ofticial Russia. From this brochure it is gleaned that the Boxer movement in China was really aimed at the reigning dynasty, but from fear of the Imperial Chinese troops the rebels sought to attain their aims by a circuitous method. How nearly they accomplished their object the current of events clearly indicates. The op-, pressed and ignorant people, M. Badinaieff shows, had not sufficient courage to "openly attack the Dictatorship and the predatory high officials.' . . . They recognised that it was' much easier for them to turn their fury against the foreign missionaries, as by so doing they removed the danger of specially repressive measures at the hands of the Impefrial Chinese troops." That there was method in their madness the side lights on tho Boxer movement amply demonstrate, What they had not the remotest idea of was any powerful intervention from abroad. "In massacring the missionaries the Chinese people desired, in some measure, to protect themselves against the predatory activity of their own Government, and, at the same lime, to prove their haired of all those/ who wished to destroy their old customs and habits." With regard to Russian influence in China, M. Badinaieff advises that that influence should be so employed "that the Chinese people may become accustomed to look upon the Russians as friends against every internal and exr ternal exploitation." In order to attain that object he advises the Russians to abstain from any form of religious propagandism in China, and, above all, to hold aloof from the European Powers in their forward policy in the Par East, "Prince Ukhtomsky and M. Badinaieff, it will be perceived," says the writer referred to, "both reason from one and the same point of view. Both gentlemen are convinced that Russia must pursue in China her own special policy, which has hardly any points of contact with the policies of the other Powers in the Far East." .That view appears to be borne oiit by the conduct of Russia during the recent operations in front of Peking. Notwithstanding Russia's tacit adherence to the ./European Concert, the Czar's Government took the earliest oppor. tunity to withdraw the Russian troops and the diplomatic corps from the Chinese capital. This action oh the part of Russia has been interpreted to mean that the Russian Government were more anxious to procure the confidence of China than to court the goodwill of the allied nations. The determination of Russia, however, to play a lone hand was unexpectedly checked by tho Anglo-German agreement, which fell like a bombshell amidst Russian diplb-' ' matic circles. " The governing classes were evidently astonished that the agreement was made without giving Russia due notice beforehand. , ~•'■, Russia felt the fact that two Great Powers'had. ■united, and that this union opened out a new political horizon. She was.as one roughly awakened from a dream by the appearance

of; a giant, and started back in stir- j' prise." For a time Eussian diplomacy received a check, but after she recbverpd from the first shock of her surprise she has returned to the work of consolidating her power and influence in Manchuria and the Chinese Empire. Any weakening of the European Concert—and signs are not wanting that disintegration has commenced—will be seized by Russia to strengthen her own position, provided always that-her'internal'troubles do not claim the greater part of her attention meanwhile. Householders aro reminded that if Hie > census forms left with them were not filled up' last night they should be this morning.; The census was also to ba taken throughout the whole of tho British Empire, with the exception of India, whero it was taken earlier in the year. The Hon. Mr M'Gowan, Minister of Mines, returned to town on Saturday evening from a visit to tho Lakes district, where he opened the Skippers bridge. Ho visits Otago Heads, where the prisoners are at work, this morning, and proceeds north to-morrow morning. The shooting season for native anoVimported game-opens to-day. Sporting men and 'others should remember, however, in regard to native game, that wood pigeons, kakas, , and pukaki (swamp hens) are protected this year. It should also bo borne in mind that shooting is not allowed en Lakes Waihola or Waipori, or within half n, mile of these lakes. The imported gam.3 comprises only hares and Californian quail, r.nd it is necessary to take out a license before these can be shot. We learn from the secretary of the Acclimatisation Society that so far very few licenses have been taken out. The hospital authorities supply the following returns for tho past week:—Number of patients remaining over from tho previous week, 96; admitted during tho week, 23; discharged, 31; deaths (Arthur Levy and Lach Bet), 2;— total remaining in tho institution, 86. Mr T. Mackenzie, M.H.R. for Waihemo, returned to town on Saturday night after a few days' visit to tho coastal parts of his constituency. He spent two evenings at Ueathfield, and found the Hon. John M'Kenzie very greatly improved in health ( 6ince his past visit with tho Scaforlh Highlanders, some five or six weeks ago. The hon. gentleman may now be said to be almost free from pain, and every night he onjoys many hours' refreshing sleep. Many of the serious symptoms of his illness havo disappeared. Ho looks quite'a different man, taking n keen interest :a all political matters, giving many valuable suggestions on current questions of interest. Altogether it is most gratifying to see the splendid progress tho exMinister is making. The following shows the births, deaths, and marriages registered at Dunedin during the month of March, and during tho quarter ended yesterday:—During March: Birtiis, 110; deaths, 48; marriages, 51. For the corresponding month of last year the returns were: Births, 100; deaths, 48; marruges, 39. For the quarter just closed: Births, 375; deaths, 148; marriages, 138. For the corresponding quarter of last year: Births, 290; deaths, 16}; marriages, 116. The only case heard before Mr E. H. Carew, S.M., at Port Chalmers on Saturday was that of Sinclair v. Permer. Mr Plaits for plaintiff. Defendant did not appear, and judgment was given fm plaintiff for £12 Is 6d and costs. One male applicant'was granted a full oldage pension at Port Chalmers on Saturday by Mr E. H. Carew, S.M. the Defence steamer Gordon has been recently employed in taking'from Dunedin to the heads the larger gun, with its appliances, from the St. Clair battery, which is now dismantled. This piece of ordnance, which is now being emplaced ai Harringtoi Point battery, Taiarpa Head, is a 7-inch gun, weighing seven tons, mounted on a wrought iron sliding carriage and dwarf traversing slide. The two 7-inch guns now at Harrington Point are principally, intended for tho defence of thn mine field and harbour entrance, and though an obsolete type of gun, are to a certain extent effectivo at the short ranges they will be required to cover. The guns having been removed from the St. Clair and Lawyer's' Head batteries, Duncdin's solo protection from bombardment is the Central bettcry. With regard to the examinations in music held by tho Associated Board of the Royal Academy and the Royal College of Music, we are informed that the principals of St. ■Hilda's Collegiate School intend to withdraw tho application which they had made to be allowed tlw privilego of having their candidates examined at St. Hilda's. The application was made solely for the convenience of the teachers, and in order that there might W as little interruption as possible in the ordinary school work. So far from being actuated by any spirit of religious exelusivenoss, they are most anxious that tho connection between the university arid these examinations should not bo weakened; and it is for this reason that they have decided to withdraw their. application. Mr J. H. Hancock has been re-elected to represent the Flat boroughs on the Ocean Beach Domain Board. The general; special, and water rates for tho Borough of Port Chalmers for the year 1901-2 were struck at a special meeting of the Borough Council on Friday evening. The mayor, with Crs Leech, Cable, Tait, Innes, Edgar, -Mackny, Weir, Wilson, Shanks, and Simpson, were present. 'Messrs J. H. Morrison and .Tames Mnir, J.P.'s, presided at the Police Court on Saturday, when a first offender, convicted of drunkenness, was discharged. For failing to send their children to school as required by tho Truancy Act, Joseph Harvey was fined 4s, Thomas Anderson 4s, John Brown Thompson 2s, and William Berwick 2s. At'the Momington Presbyterian Church harvest thanksgiving sorvices were held yesterday. The Rev. W. Scorgio preached two elcquent and impressive sofmoits from appropriate texts. Tho pulpit aiid choir seats were suitably decorated with tho emblems of agriculture. Special collections' were taken up towards the synod's jubilee fund, and amounted to £16 15s, There were large attendances of the congregation at both scr•vices. At a meeting of the Olago v Pharmaceutical Association, held on March 28, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:—".That tho attention of the Premier be directed to tho Order-in-Council, dated 7th April, 1692, with ■ reference to tin sale of arsenic and strychnine, and pointing out that the fact of a statutory declaration being required hinders in most cases a proper record of the sale of these poisons being kept. This association suggests.that this Order-in-Council be annulled or amended. The association is of the opinion that the Sale of Poisons Act should be placed under the control of the Pharmacy Board,' and only registered chemists allowed to deal in poisons r.amed in the schedule, as is the case in all other civilised countries." At a meeting of the congregation of St. James's Presbyterian Churoh, Thames, on March 25, it was unanimously decided to present a call to the Rev. A. P. Thomson, of j Herbert, to become their minister. There j was.a good attendance, and the meeting was an enthusiastic one. The call will come be- i fore the Presbytery of Auckland to-morrow. A conference of underwriters will sit in Wellington on the 19th April to finally decide on an increase of fire rates in the North Island,; • ,- : Mr H. E. Molier, tho present Mayor of West Harbour, does not intend to be a candidate at the apnroachihg,.election. The contest will in all probability be between Mr F.i. U. Cray.and Mr Bolton. 1 The many friends throughout Otago of Mr Walter Carlton; of Ratanui, will learli wiih . regret of his death yesterday morning. Before removing to the Collins district, some saven or eight years ago, Mr Carlton was a

builder and contractor in the city.'. He proved a most enterprising country settler, and took a leading part in every movement calculated to open up and develop the resources of Catlins, He was for many years a member of the Roslyn Bowling Clubhand took a keen interest in the game, skipping on one occasion the rink which won the championship at the association's tournament. The funeral is appointed to take placo on Tuesday, A large and influential deputation of residents of Port Chalmers (including the members ,of the council) havo waited upon Mr John Mill, requesting him to stand for the mayoralty. Mr Mill intimated that lit would consider the matter. The amount of support that is being accouled to Northcote's Kinematograph, Company continues to be large. On Saturday the performance was witnessed by a largo and appreciative audience The programme submitted on tho preceding evening was repeated, and was gone through in a manner that left nothing to be desired. The company will contiiuio to perform at the Agricultural Hall till Thursday night. On Easter Saturday and Easter Monday nights they will appear at the Garrison Hall, when the kiheallograph will he reintroduced. A large number of entirely new and highly interesting films, specially selected by Mr Northcote, will be shown. » Measvs Dalgety mid Co. and Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. will sell wool ex Bhip Strathgryfe on Wcdiceday evening. Messrs Park, Keys olds, and Co. will sell furniture on the corner Melville street and Manor place, this afternoon, and to-incrrow they will sell office furniture, safe, and also, household furniture, etc., at their rooms, On Wednesday evening they will sell law books at their rooms. Messrs James ISamson and Co. will sell household Inrnilvtw, etc., at their rooms tomorrow afternoon. The Bluff Har'oour Board's s.s. There=a Ward will leave t'ie Bluff for Half-moon Bay every Wednesday, returning tho same evening. Special exclusions are annou-jced for Easter. All householders who did ?.iot receive census schedules are requested to communicate with Mr C. C. Graham at orice. The Dunedin City* Fire Brigade return thanks in another column 'Jo the Phoenix Company for a donation to their funds. It was Mr A. R. Morrison, of George street, who was eleoted a member of the committee of tho Dunedin Burns Club, and not Mr Morrison, M.H.R., as mentioned in our report. Saloa of grain r-nd produce will bo held today as follow:— i Users Donald Raid and Co., at 10 a.m.; Dalgety and Co., at 10.30 a.m.; Messrn A. Moritzsou and Co,, at 10.45 a.m. The Geroldine Town Board invito tenders for the supply and d< livery of east irqn water mains, hydraulic rams, Lydrants, aluico valves, etc. An abstract ot tho receipts, expenditure, assets, and liabilities of tho Otngo Harbour Board for tho year ended December 31, 1900, appears/in another column. A notice to consumers of Kaitangata coal appears elsewhere in this issue. All claims against tho barque Loch Cree, from Liverpool, must bo rendered by noon tomorrow. All persons having claims against the estate of the late Mr Thomas Culling, of St. Clair, are requested to forward particulars.not later than April 30. Tho Now Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company will sell cattle, horses, and sundries at Balclutha on Thursday, 9th inst. Carter and Co. for new season's drapery, ex Rangitira and Kumnra, A grand variety in all deca/.-tmonts; lowest prices.. Try Carter and Co., Dunedin nnd Invcrcargill.—Advt. G. and T. Young, jewellers, having extended their premises, are making an unusually large display of novelties suitable for wedding ind birthday gifts.—Advt. Wno is Peter Dick"—Tho most reliable Watchmaker antl Jeweller, opposite Col Tee Palace, Moray place, Dunedin. Charges strictly xuodorote.—Advt.