PARTY PETTINESS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13693, 8 September 1906, Page 9

PARTY PETTINESS.

It is extremely disappointing to find that tho Ward Administration is not' rising superior to a' manifestation of party pettiness of a character of which thp jolony has had a lavish experience from the time when, tho doctrino, of " spoils to the v-ictors" lyas first. expounded fifteen years'i or so ago. We had hopes that when the new Governmen came into power the system under which members of Eiirliaiiient would ho subjected to petty punishments for the political vjpifs which thpy entertain would be ended. What.Jias transpired, howoyer, in connection with tho electipn of chairmen of some of the sessional cpmmittees of the Kqnsp of Representatives shows that we \yere mistaken in our estimate of • tho generosity of the new Ministry. Nominally, of course, tho members of each committee choose their own chairmen.'' As a matter of fact, however, the Government, which—as is reasonable— always possesses a majority in the committees, selects the chairmen. And it has become quite evident that in the exercise of this little piece of patronage during the past fortnight it has been guided not so much by a sense of the fitness of individual' members for tjio positions as by a determination to secure that its own followers shall, irrespective' of capacity, apt as (iliairipeii of the various -committees. The appointment of Mr Poland, a lipw miin, absohjtely untried and inexperienced in political life, to tho office of cljairmgn .of the Goklfields and Mines Committee is a glaring case in point. The, peculiar pbjectionableness of the application, in this instance, of tlfe principle by which the Government allows itself to bo influenced in the distribution of its

patronage consists in thp fact that the Upldlields and Mines Committee contains members of tho experience and capacity of Mr William' Frtiser and Jfr Herries. Mr Eraser, who has sat in Parliament since 1894, is, stjcji a. fair-; minded man that we uiight .luivo supposed that any reasonable Government' would have refrained fvoin wjthhplili|ig from him such little acknowledgment of his ability and of his, knowledge of the conduct of public affairs as would have been involved in his election as chair? man of a committee dealing with matters in which he is specially well versed. liut, though thp' appoiptmpiit. of Mr Poland to the chairmanship of the Gojdfields ant) Mines Coninijttpp is an exceptionally bad example of, t|ie extent to which' party feeling is earripd in Parliament, it is really of a piepe with tho tactics that- secured the removal this year of Mr Arnold from the chairmanship of the Labour Bills Committee and of Mi' Bamqe from the position of chairman of tho Education Committee, both Mr Arnold and Mr Isi)ump having evidently in some way given offence to the Ministry. The only apparent exception to the rule that a Government follower is alone to be regarded as.a fit and proper person tp act as chairman of a sessional committee is to he found in the reappointment of an independent member in Mr T. Mackenzie as chairman of the Industries and • Commerce Comniittpe. In this case, howpver,' there wore such special reasons why the. member for Wqikouaiti should preside over tho committee that the exception only serves to emphasise the pxisteuce of the general rule.

In ti)o House of Representatives yestevday, after several bills had been read. a first time, consideration of tho Estimates was resumed, and good progress made beforo tho House roso shortly before 11 o'clock lii tho evening. We upderstapd that (lie contractors for tho Port Chalmers doc;k hav e asked for a conference with the Dock Trust, and that it will bo held to-day. The contractor will l>o represented by Mr Stringer, of Christcl|ureh. The l'iro Brigade, aftor their arduous efforts in High street, were again filled put at 11.25 oi> an alarm from the Post Office buildings in Princes street, but on proceeding to tho locality it was found that tlier o was nothing- more serious than an aslttin ablaze in one of the passages of the building, l'ho building in tho vicinity of tho tin was filletl with smoke, but. there was no need for Iho brigade's services, beyond tho romoval of the ash-tin and tho opening of a few doors and windows to allow the smoke to oscape. Mr W. Belcher, secretary of tho local branch of tho Seamen's Union, has received tlio following reply to a telegram sent byliim

tp Mr (i. Allport, secretary of the Marine Department:—'" Jessie Niecot returned lo Bluff from Macqnarie Islands on 3rd inst,. bringing bad; jNirly of eight. The- Collector of Customs at Invercargill advises I hut |ho pien arc all well. Tjiei|- imported provisions lasted until the 26th May, after which they lived on rabbits, sea elephants' tongues, Maori lions, am'. Maori cabbage. He gays that, tliev have made no complaint,"

Too much may easily be made of the action ol tho Cliitha. and Brncc L'oinity Councils in merely receiving the communications from tho Harbour lioard asking for their co-operation in securing justice from t]io Railway Department in connection with the endowments seized for railway purposes. It is evident county councillors do not hi this (natter represent the views held by many of. tho farmers. Branches of tho Fanners' Union in' both counties have passed resolutions sympathising with the Harbour Board, aiid expressing willingness do, assist in every way in securing redress. It may a)?o ho noted that at last meeting qf ' tho Palmereton' branch of the Now Zealand Farmers' Union it was dccidcd, Oti tho motion of Mr David Ross, seconded .by Mr Fleming, lo upnold tho position tjikep up by the Provincial Kxceutive in protesting against the action of the Bailway Department in encroaching on tho Otago Harbour Board's endowments. As will bp scan from our report in another colpihn, tho Taieri County Council also supports tho board in seeking to obtain justice.

Tile employees of tho various flow-mills in ' and around Dunedin, including the Mosgicl mill, hold an indignation ipecting in the Trades Hall this (Saturday) evening to protest against, the proposal to remit the duty on Australian flour. Simultaneous meetings arc to lie held in Oaniaru, Timaru, Invercargill, end Dunedin. with b- view to sending a united protest to Parliament.

At the hkle sale on Thursday last a record price was paid for a fino Hereford hi(|e, tho price realisod being £J 3s 4d, or at tho rate of. 7£cl per lb. This 'is |)elieved (o be (ho highest prico over paid for ft single hide in tho colony.

At! tho sittings of the District Court in Timaru on Thursday last, boforo his Honor Judge Haseldon, Mr R. C. Torrance, building contractor, was granted his discharge .in bankruptcy, tho same having been recommended by the orcditors and' assignee. Mr A. C. Middieton, of Waimate, instructed by Mr F. Z. Moore, appeared in. support of tho motion.

Tho Moray Place Congregational Church •i? bping thoroughly. renovated, and will be closed for thrco weels or a month. It has been arranged to hold services during tjiat time in His Majesty's Theatre. Tomorrow tho preacher, morning and evening, will. bp the Rev. W. Saunders, fhe evening service will bo mpro {ban usually musjeai. Ip addition to tho anthems by the choir, }lrs \V. Evans will sing "Abide with mo" and "Ir James Jago "The soul's awakening." A large selected orchestra has been secured.

■ So far tho meetings held in connection \yith the Hamjlton-Garrnong mission in {jojifch Diincdin have been very well attended, and the missioners and workers l havo good reason to be glad at tho,results .of their hard work. 4 The theme last night was "One Shepherd, 0110 Sheepfold," which, was illustrated by a, very largo oil chart. In tho course of his remarks tho speaker sai(| thai in view of the many and widespread expressions and efforts for tho unity of ajl tho followers of Christ, this subject was of special interest. The speaker said tjioro must? be but 0110 fold, as there was one' Shepherd, (.hat the world might bcliovo in Jesus Christ as the Saviour of men. Tho Churches of Christ in every place all the world 4>ver should bo 0110 great spiritual brotherhood, all tff one faitli and one practice. Mr Garniong sang "The •inner circle" very effectively. There will 1 v no meeting to-night, but the mission will ho continued to-morrow and every evening, except Saturday, next week.

In tho men's room in connection with the Central Mission Brotherhood, tho Rev. T. Trostrail last night delivered his lecture on his experiences in _ Australian gohlflolds. The lceturpr secured the closest, attention of the audience, and a .hparty voto of thanks was accorded. It was decided to ea.l the men's room tho Mill's- Institute, and to carry on a variety of operations there.

Auckland's entlmsinsm in last Saturday's football fixture with Wellington seems to have outrun tli Q limits of discretion, according to the letter of a Wclliugtonian visiting t|io "Queen City," which is published in tho Wellington I'o-t. During the two or tjiree weeks preceding the match, it is said t|io peoplo "worked themselves up into a tremendous stale of excitement." and tho land rang with prophecies about the way that, the representatives of tho northern province would "walk over" thp players of the Empire City. There was spell a rush to the ground that persons desiring a placo pn the stand had Ip he thoi'o before noon. Setieral ladies who found perilous positions there, . and were brave enough to show yellow and black favours, had their colours "assailed on all sides."' " Gentlemen" at the buck of tho stand, not. content with firing objectionable verbal ammunition, shot paper pellets at the Indies till a champion arose and reduced the vandals to silence. The crowd never tirpdof wildly cheering the Auckland; men,l but their attitude to the southerners \yas decidedly hostile. The multitude seemed to have entertained no prospcct of (|efeat. "Xearly all vehicles, privato and otherwise, wore decorated iu bluo and white ribbons yards of them, while the houses on tin; route sported blue and white flags and banners."

New Zealand is proving a. gold mine this year for Australian musicians (says tho Sydney Morning Herald). In connection with the Christcluii'ch Exhibition, several important engagements have been made. Miss ' Thackeray has been appointed for seven months as solo violinist and lo play iu t-lio orchestra. A young contralto and other singers arc likely to have engagements of a month or more. Ten guineas i\ week will bo paid in some eases. Tho Commissioners remarked lo ono giif musician that if she chose to settle afterwards iu New Zealand she could probably earn £500 a year.

'J'lio Frofe Press, Halclutha, states that on Saturday last Mr J. 11. Dobson, assistant engineer ill the Public Works Department,' tnado a (lying survey of the route of the proposed Halc'iHtha-Tuapcka Month railway. Jlc himself to the .north bank of tho Molyneux, aim on the completion of his inspection, jyhicli took him to Tuapeka Mouth, expressed himself as highly pleased with tho route. Tlio grade, he said, was so easy that oiie.ioiomgtive would he ab!o .to draw 400 tons. Mr Dobson intends to return at an early date, and make a survey of tho route along the south hunk of the river. Asked as to the most suitable point of junction with the main line, ho said that Balelutha was the only feasible one. That held good whichever route was adopted. At a meeting of tho rfccntly-app'oiut.rl provisional committee, re tho formation of a men's club for Roslyn and district, it was deeided to postpone tho opening of the club until tho fir-t week in Ip tlio raoantimc a code of'.rulos will l:o formed to sulimit to the members, and negotiations will bo entered jnto for a round of tournaments during the winter \yith neighbouring clubs; and. mc.st important of ail, rndnavours will bo made (o form a system of affiliation of all clubs for mutual benefit and intercourse. Wo have froni Mrs D. R. V. tho aim of 10s for the Kirbj Fund,

A meeting of the. Cha|mers Licensing Committee, was liexl at Porl at noon yesterday, and was attended by .Messrs 11. Y. Widdow'ou. S.M. (chairman), ('. Du|cc, <Tolin 3jJiH, Captain Ifodiso,. Iho Rev. J. Wfircl. Tho qnly ijusincis before tlio committee was an applipatian tor the permanent transfer of tlift liccnso of tlio Port Chalmers Hotel froin JTvotlerifk .Tolin Bat-lings to Vfilliani )!'. Bastings, J l '. Duncan appeared on behalf of tlio applicant; and, tlio' police report being entirely satisfactory, the application was granted.

A men'.-i anti-gambling demonstration will be held in the Garrison Hall on Sunday aftomoon. His Honor Mr .lusticn Cooper will preside, and the Rev. Dr Nisbet, 51 r 11. Y. Widdowsou, S.M., Mr A. S. Adams, and others will also speak.'" lien nre invited to attend and show their opposition to tlio growing evil of gambling. The evening service will ho conducted by tho llev. \V. A. Sinclair.

Tho Treasurer of the Free Kindergarten Association acknowledges yeccipt of the following subscriptions: —?Mr G. •Tcachini, £5 ss; Mr R 15. Quick, A. afid T. Hurt (Ltd.), Mr W. Seoular, Mrs H. MacXeil, Neill and Co. (Ltd.), Evening: Star Company (Ltd), Mr Clias. Tucker, Mrs D. Edwin liooth, and Coulls, Culling, and Co., £1 1,3 each; Mrs 0. L. Dennjsion, Ur J. M'Donald, Gilmour Bros., Is.'A. Impress Company, and 5 Irs A. Moritzeon, 10j f>d each; Mr Geo. Thomson and Mr D. R. White, 10s each; Mrs slann, Mrs Noil, Mrs Mills, and Rev. Cameron, 5s oath.

A class for advanced work in botany, under tho tuition of Mr G. M. Thomson, F.L.S., has been opened in tho. Technical Schools on Saturday ipornings, ' Tho work undertaken is especially tlio study of tho native flora, its ecology, distribution, and classification. Now fhat .".Chegsemap's Flora" is published, am] is availabto a( * low price, all teachers and others interested in tho subject have an opportunity of acquiring a closer knowletlgo of tlio plant lifo of tlio neighbourhood! at this class. flio lecturer is an acknowledged authority on the subject.

The Treasurer of the Public Art Gallery acknowledges receipt, of a subscription lo tlio Building- Fund oj.fcq guineas fropi tho West-port Coal Company.' >

TO-MORROW'S CHUIiOH SERVICES. St. Paul's Cathedral,—Holy coinptpnifui, 8 a.m.; matins, 11 a.m. (preacher, Von. Archdeacon Robinson); evensong, C.30" p.m. (preacher,-Very Rev. Dean Fitchett). First Ohnrch.—Mnrning and evening, Rev. Dr Msbet. Russell" Street Hall: 6.30 p.np, Mr George King. St. Andrew's Church.—ll a.m.,' Rev. Fcrnie; G. 30 p.m., Rev! Di Waddell. Knox Ohiireh — Horning and evening, Rev. \Y. Hewit«on. All Saints' Church.—Service's at 8 a.jn., 11 а.m., and 6.30 p.m. Morning preacher, the Dean; evening preacher, Rev. J. Ile.vlaml His Majesty's Theatre.—lioray PVco Congregational Church services. 11 a.m..' and б.30 p.m., Rev. W Siiuntlers, Methodist Cential' Minion.—U a.pi. apd 6.3Q p.m., Rev. W, A. Sinclair; 3 p.m.,'men's anti-gapibling demonstration. Trinity Church.—ll "q.'in.. Rev. A. Allen; G. 30 p.m.. Rev. Q. H. I/awe. Wpndhangh: 11 a.ui., Jfr C. Vincent; G. 30 u.m., Mr S. F. Benton. North-East Vallpy Sunday School anniversary: 11 a.m., Rev. C.'H.'Laws; 3 p.m., Rev. A. A;!en; 6.30 p.m., Rev. D. J. Murray. ' . \

Morningtqn Methodist Circuit— Mornington: 11 a.m., R°v. ))'.' j. Murray; 6.31} plin., Rev. A. Allen. Beljeljnow'esll a.m., Mi'S. F. Benton; 6.80 p.m., J[r J. Lb'raas. North-East Valley Presbytorian Ohuroli.— 11 a.m. and G. 30 p.m.. Rov, 11. B. Gray.

CargiP. Road Ifathodist Church.—ll .a.m. (Fire Brigade parade), Bev. T. lVestrail; 0.30 p.m., Rev, T. Trestra.il. St. Ki'da. 11 a.m., Mr tomas; 6.30 p.m., Rev. C. EM on. > Primitive Methodist Churches.—Byiidos Street: 11 a.m.. Rev. \Y. laycocli; 6.3 i) p.m., Mr J. L. Robinson. Ifcw: 11 'a.m., Rev. S. Bailey; G. 30 p.m. Rot. W. Lnyconl:. Abbotsford: 11 a.m., Sir 0. W. "Wilkinson; 6.30 p.m., Rev. S. Bafjey (roemoria! pervice tor the late Jliss Berry). Glenroy. (North-East Ya'.ley): 11 a.m., Mr W. 1. Logic; G.3Q p.m., Rev. W, J. Collisoii.

Church of Christ—Aigylp street 1 South Dunedin: 11 n.m., rcc-eption of now member* anc] address by Mr Mortimer; G» p.m., M* Mortimer. Tov.-n Hail, South Dunedin: 8 p.m., HawiUon-Garmong mission/ Sqlvatiou Army.-Austra! Band of 21 women.

Alhumbra- Theatre.—-6.30 p.m., Dr Comlnins.

Young men are invited to the Youiig Men's Ohristian Association Rooms on Siuiday.

Tho Union Street School, which has been closed owing to the 'prevalence of measles, will be reopened on Monday next'. The next term at tho SoUvyu CoKegiate School iyi!l begin on Tuesday ]Bl|i mat. Tho annual meeting of the Roslyu Bowling Club will bo bold in tho club's pavilion on Wednesday, 12th inst. '

The upiiid mission meetings will be confinned in the Baptist Church', Cnvershtun, to-morrow evening, and also next'weok. The Rev. "William T>amb, of Wellington,'is ■ tho niissionpr.

At the . meeting of the Progressive Society in the Traces Hall to-morrow evening, Mr D. 11av.'fon will deliver an address iti reolv to Mr Perry's recent strictures' on.lhp Bible, The Ot'ago Mntna| Stnrr-Bo%yksft Society will dispose of appropriations of £1000 on Thursday. • 13tli inst., in tho Trados Hall. Moray place., Onlv a, limited- number ot shares are now avpi'.flble. The nltenlio)v of Fjliarehqltlers in the Dunedin Stavr-Bowkeit Huijfljng Society is drawn to an advertisement iji this is»ue ro 'Llie disposal of two aporomiations by ballot and sale respectively in No, 1 grout)' nnd one by stile in No. 2 grmip. in the Oddfellows* Hall. S'uart. street, Dunedin, on Thursday, 13th ipst.

Tn continup-iiou of the subject, " Some ConIribntions of Science to Roliaioii," with which Dr Wadclol! has lioen dealing ihroush the winter, lie begins to-morrow evenipg a series of special addresses oh "Tho Spiritual Analogies of Electricity." To-morrow evening ha \rill defl! with "The Spiritual Analogies of its Mystery." . , If Neill. qualified optician, ISI George street Sight-testing ftee.—Advt. Sprnsj Show.—Onr first exhibition of new snring and summer' fashions will be made during the remaining days of this week, when wo shall have on exhibition the latest novelties in all departments.—Jfollisona, Ltd.—Advt. i

Mr Heiidy reppectfully notifies his numerous customers that his hairdressjng rooms will close daily at II p.m. from September 10. Open «'narp at. 8 a.m.—Advt.

As they do not intend 'locking brassf j>n<i n| i7e in future O. mifl TYou»g ari rffer'ng gongs, Sower-stands. kettles etc, at big reductions pf| original prices in order to clear thcin as soon as nosiniljlc.—Aflvt. The subjcct of great attraction at'present is flio show of new summer goods at Dallas and Watt's, fieorpe street-, Dunedin. Ladies invited to call.—Ac|vt, . Amateur garden»rs, don't torgetl.Now is f'le time io apply "Boekland" Garden Manure It gives remits. Is* per, bajt. Obtainable seedsmen and "(nrelreepe.rs.—Advt. For Colds in the Head and Influenza. Woods' Great Peppermint Is fid and 2s fid per Bottle—Advt.

_\Vnp is Fetkr Dick?— The most reiialile Matchmaker and Jeweller, opuosife Coffee Pajace. Moray pVc, UmietliH, Oharger strictly moderate.—Adv(. ■