SUMMARY FOR EUROPE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13136, 21 November 1904, Page 1 (Supplement)

SUMMARY FOR EUROPE.

POLITICAL AND GENERAL. The parliamentary session was brought to a close on the evening of the 8t.l» inst. It was of more than average duration, but the legislative business transacted by it included only two or three measures of any considerable consequence. One of these was the Licensing Act, which was passed in the form in which the Legislative Council amended it; another was the Act authorising the Government to appoint a High Commissioner, in lieu of an Agent-general, to represent the tolonv in the United Kingdom ; and the storm of indignation which its passage has evoked in the four chief centres of the colony necessitates our inclusion of the Shops and Offices Act in the category of the important legislation of the year. The last-mentioned measure is an exceedingly crude production, but that was almost inevitable when the circumstances under which it was passed are considered— :ircumstances that are curiously typical of the manner in which much of tlio colony's legislation is effected. The Bill, as it left the Lower House, whore it originated, proposed no very drastic alteration in the prevailing law. But in the Upper House a clause was introduced fixing statutory hours for the opening and closing of shops. The Lower House disagreed with the amendments, and two conferences were held between managers from the two Chambers, with the result that on the night before the closing ceremonies—at a time when the majority of the members of the Lower House were exhausted by its almost continuous sittings and when business was ■ l>cing transacted with the mad rush that unfortunately is allowed to mark the proceedings of the last days of the session—a compromise was effected whereby all shops, excepting icfreshment rooms, in the combined districts of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurcli, and Dunedin in which two or more persons (including the occupier) are employed must be closed for business between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. ui, four days of the week and between 9 o'ciocK in the evening and 8 o'clock of the next morning on one day of the week, the remaining day being the day of the weekly half-holiday. The members of various trades, who have largely depended upon their evening takings in the past to provide them with their profits, have strongly protested to the Government against this legislation, ;-ml an active feeling of resentmentexists concerning it. The High Commissioner Bill was virtually made a party measure in the Lower House, and the popular opinion is that Mr Seddon has had it passed with the view to his own acceptance of the new office. But whether he has any intention of becoming the first High Commissioner or of temporarily appointing Mr W. I'. Beeves, the present Agent-general, to the olliec pending his own transference to London at some future time is another question, which his own Ministers are apparently not- in a position definitely to answer. One fact which may lead Mr Seddon to remain in the colony—and lie has solemnly repeated this month that " lie can do more good for the colony by remaining here than by filling the subordinate position of High Commissioner''— consists in his apparent restoration to health, although he is by 110 means the strong man he was a few years ago.

The annual session of the Presbyterian General Assembly has been held in Wellington. Br Erwin, of Cbristchurch, was the Moderator. An interesting discussion took place oil the subject of the projected union with the Congregation,';! and Methodisebodies. In respect to this matter so ranch difference of opinion and so much opposition have been brought to light in the Presbyterian Church itself that the Committee on Union felt constrained to recommend the adoption of a declaration that it is inexpedient at the present time to proceed further with the movement. It was also proposed that a committee should he appointed to record developments of the union question here and elsewhere, with instructions to negotiate with the other evangelical churches with a. view to the prevention of overlapping, especially in rural districts, and the promotion of joint action in connection with important national issues. By a majority of only two votes in a House of 162, this was carried against an amendment- contemplating the abandonment of the movement. On the religious education question the Assembly adopted an aggressive attitude, resolving to promote the introduction of a Bill into Parliament next session providing for a special I'ible-in-schools referendum, and to take steps to secure the support of parliamentary candidates at the next election for the cause of the Bible in schools. The Assembly once more expressed its adherence to the nolicense movement in connection with tlifc

licensing question. The Dunedin Diocesan Synod, which has held its annual session, gave its sanction, among other business, to a scheme for the collection of the sum of £20,000 in fulfilment- of the terms of a bequest, under the will of the late Mr William Harrop, of aa sum of money, estimated at the presenttime to be worth £29,C00. for the erection of an Anglican cathedral in Dmiedin. The scheme contemplates that the sum of £10,000 eltall be raised within the next three years, and sympathisers with the movement are asked to become subscribers under various heads: 200 subscribers are wanted to give lOd a month, or 10s a year; 200 to give Is 8d a month, or 20s a year; 200 to give 2s 6d a month, or 30s a- year; 200 to give Ss a month, or 60s a year; 200 to give 8s 4d a month, or 100s a year; 200 to give 10s a month, or £6 a year; the period to extend over three years in all cases, and amounts to be paid monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, or yearly.

The annual meeting of the National Insurance Company was held in Dunedin on the 27th inst. From the report that was presented to the shareholders it appeared that the company's complete operations for the year yielded a profit of £58,414. Out of this total the directors applied £20,000 to the reserves, and dividends absorbed £15,000, the balance of £3414 going, with £15.746 that was brought into the account from the previous year, to make up a sum of £19,160 that is carried forward. The latest transference of £20,000 raises the general reserve fund of the company to £130,000, in addition to which there is a reserve of £60,000 for unexpired risks. The formal opening of a further completed portion of Chrisichurch Cathedral, comprising the northern and southern transepts and chancel, took place on the Ist inst. The Primate (Bishop Nevill) consecrated the new portion, and the Bishops of Wellington, Waiapu, and Nelson were also present. The ceremony, it is interesting to observe, was performed on tho twenty-third anniversary of the consecration by the late Bishop Harper (the then Primate) of a portion of the Cathedral, consisting of a nave, with northern, and southern aisles and porches, a tower and spire, and a temporary apse. One cause for deep regret in connection with the consecration service was the absencc from the colony of Dr Julius, Bishop of Christchurch, whoae lieftUli-brgke ilowj) recently as a

it- is believed, partly of the excessive energy lie devoted to the project for tho completion of the Cathedral, and the anxieties inseparable from such an undertaking.

An alarming accident occurred in Fort Bailance,. Wellington, on the". 2nd inst. whereby one man lost his life and five others were more or less seriously injured. Gun practice was being held, when suddenly, a 12in quick-firer burst, and Gunnel Palmer, who had been standing close behind the breech, was blown backwards from the gun platform with injuries that proved mortal. It was shown at the inquest on the remains that .the accident was due to a defect in the breech-block, and the verdict of the jury was framed accordingly. There was, it was found, -no contributory negligencc on the part of those concerned in the working of the gun, but the accident was contributed to by the opening of the breech by the shock of the discharge on a defective cover catch. The gun had previously passed all the recogniscd tests. An officer and five men, belonging to H.M.S. Penguin, which was engaged at the time in surveying the .Hauraki Gulf, lost their lives of!' Kawau Island through the capsizing in a heavy squall of a whaleboat that had been sent away from the ship with them on board for the purpose of putting up a mark in connection with the work. Lieutenant Edden was in charge of the boat, and his crew consisted of Joseph Power, leading seaman, mid Joseph Brooks, James P.icliardson, Albert Grant, and Ernest Pusey, A.B.'s. None of the crew was saved, nor has any trace of any of them been discovered. We have to record the death of Mr John Wesley Jago, a very highly respected citizen of Dunedin, where he resided for over 40 years; of Mr Robert Campbell, a pioneer settler of Otago, the period of his connection with the provincial district having exceeded 55 years ; and of Mr John Church, for more than 30 years the secretary of the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association.

The larger portion of the village of Collingwood, in the Nelson district, was destroyed by a. fire on the morning of the 7th inst. Only one business place in the little settlement was left- standing, and several dwellings were among tho buildings that were swallowed up in the flames. The insurances exceeded £20,C00. His Excellency the Governor has removed from Wellington to Auckland, where lie proposes to spend sonic of the summer months and where he is being joined by Lady Plunket, who has been on a visit to Australia, and was present at the Melbourne Cup carnival. The race for the New Zealand Cup was decided at tho Canterbury Jockey Club's race meeting—which was the club's jubilee meeting—on the sth inst., and was won, in a poor field, by Mr G. G. Stead's horse Grand Rapids. The winner has since been sold to go to Australia.