MR SPEAKER WILLIS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15823, 23 July 1913, Page 4

MR SPEAKER WILLIS.

The dramatic resignation yesterday by Mr Willis of the office of Speaker of tho Legislative Assembly in New South Wales necessarily precipitates a political crisis in that State. The reason assigned by Mr Willis for his resignation is that the Government has not honoured the terms o! the compact he made with it before, by a shameful trick, he .was appointed to the position ot which his occupancy has brought him so much notoriety. If the Government had carried out its agreement with him there would before this have been an appeal to the country. His own obligations under the agreement having been discharged, Mr Willis has now voluntarily tendered his resignation. To this extent it may be said that nothing in connection with his Speakership has become .him more than his relinquishment of his office has. Mt Willis has, however, in the moment of his resignation, seen fit to chaTge the Chief Justice of the State with having, in his capacity as LieutenantGovernor at the time at which the election of Speaker took place, exhibited political bias and acted in an unconstitutional manner. Tho allegation is that Sir William Cullen conferred with members of the Opposition within a few hours of the election, that in consequence of that interview he refused to receive the Speaker,, that he was only prevailed upon, to receive the Speaker by the threat that otherwise the Government would resign, and that generally, in effect, he associated himself with the Opposition in the effort to prevent Mr Willis from retaining the Speakership, As Mr Willis proposes, to make representations on the point to the Colonial Office the whole question of Sir William Oullen's conduct will come under review by the Home authorities, whose pronouncement upon the constitutional issue that is involved will be awaited with interest. Upon the assumption that the statement of facts given by Mr Willis is trustworthy there would certainly seem to be some ground for the suggestion that Sir William Cullen exceeded his authority. But it is to be remembered, on the other hand, that the legality of the election of Mr Willis was distinctly doubtful, if not more than doubtful. It is a reasonable argument, therefore, that it was necessary for the Lieutenant-Governor, before receiving him and confirming him in his office, to satisfy himself that the Speaker had been elected in duo form, and it can, at least, scaicely be contended that it was unconstitutional on his part to ascertain from leading members of the Opposition the view they took of the election. The Speaker is an officer of Parliament as a whole, and the question whether he was legally and properly elected does not seem to be one upon which it was necessary or desirable, that the Lieutenant-Governor should be advised only by his Ministers.

From 11 o'clock on Sunday night till 8 o'clock on Tuesday night over 19,000,000 gallons of sewage and storm water were dealt with by the Drainage Board's'pumping plant at Musselburgh. Working at, high pressure the two Diesel engines and the electrically driven motor, generating together about 210 horse-power, had their work out out to clear the inflow and pump it up to the rising main on its journey to the outfall at Lawyer's Head. Most of the water dealt with was, of course, from tho storm water channels, which were flowing freely as a result of the heavy rain 'which fell on Monday, Despite the quantity of water drawn off by the pumping plant, however,, and that which gravitated naturally into the harbour, most of tho low lying sections on the Flat are still covered with water to a depth in some instances of over a foot.

Cr. Sourr mentioned at the meeting of the St. Kilda Borough Council last night that he had ascertained from a return showing the amounts expended in charitable aid that St. Kilda was in the happy position of having no person within its boundaries in receipt of charitable aid. Another councillor, while expressing gratification at tho position of matters, as indeed tho, Mayor and all the councillors did, pointed out the borough had to pay £9 a week to the charitable aid fund all tho

Thorp was brisk demand for labour at Port Chalmers yesterday, but the supply proved to bo far short of requirements. We understand that employment could have been found for at least 50 additional men in iand around the vessels and wharves, whore considerable activity prevailed. At Dunedin the steamers Kotare, Monowai, Havre, Wakefield, and Breezo were busy loading and discharging, whilst at Port Chalmers the Maunganui and Horcules were unloading carg<> at the wharves, nnd the docks and repair shops were equally busy witli the ovorhaul of several vessels undergoing survey.

Mr J. R. Triggs, Conciliation Commissioner, sat yesterday to hear the dispute between tho Dunedin and Suburban Butchers' Union of Workere and their employers. 'Die proceedings lasted the wholo day, and despite contrary expectations, an agreement wa6 arrived at. At the conclusion of the sitting Mr T, Smith, speaking on behalf of tho employers, said ho had not the slightest idea when they commenced that they would be, able to conic to anything like a satisfactory decision. Their idea was that it would bo almost impossible for tho Commissioner to conciliate in the matter, and that ultimately they would have had to go to the Arbitration Court. Mr Triggs had acted in a very tactful msnner, and had succeeded entirely in his position as a Conciliation Commissioner. Although there might have been 6omo slight undercurrent of feeling at tho commencement of tho proceedings, they had concluded in a very friendly spirit. On bohalf of tho men Mr Mavall endorsed Mr' Smith's remarks, stating that the thanks of both parties were due to Mr Triggs for the manner in which ho had oonducted the case. Tho Commissioner will srt at Lawrence to-day to hear the hydraulic miners' dispute.

The Benevolent Committco of tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Board has passed the following resolution, which will bo submitted at the next meeting of tho board for approval: "That at any time when requested by the chairman, secretary, or inspector for charitable aid, tho medical superintendent shall send within a reasonable timo a medical officer for attention in urgent, case 6 for those persons receiving charitable aid."

Steps have been taken by t-hie special committee of tho Hospital Board with a view to acquiring an additional 32 acres immediately adjoining tho Secondary Hospital Gito at Pine Hill. An offer has been made to tho Roman Catholic authorities, the present owners of tho property, but so far no reply has been recoived,

A private company with a capital, it is said, of £2500 lias been formed to tako over the lease of the picture theatre which is to bo built in Georgo Btrect, for the erection of which the tenders of Mr Lyders lias just been accepted by Messrs Lcthaby and Loudon. The theatre will seat 1150 people, and the company is also to lease the tea rooms to bo constructed in tho building. The. contractor is timed to have the work completed in the middle of December, and the company hopes to have continuous pictures running beforo tho advent of Christmas,

In oonncction with the recommendation of the Tramways Committee that the City Council should accept tho tender of the National Mortgage and Agency Company for the supply and delivery of 1000 hardwood sleepers (excepting ironbark) at tho price of 5s 3£d per sleeper, delivery to be at various points along tho Main South road to Glen road, and a number at tho tramways yard, Anderson's Bay road, we understand that the committee had in view the possibility of tho council finally agreeing to duplicate tho tram-line over Cemetery Hill from Maitland street to the Glen. Should, however, this work not be decided on the sleepers will all bo stored at the tramways yard.

At the Port Chalmers Police Court yesterday a prohibition order was granted against a man upon his own application. Messrs D, M. Mamson and J. Mill were the presiding justices.

In the course of a fascinating popular lccture on the marvels of tho sun last night, t!he Rov. P. W. Fairclough said that tho necessity for securing records of the sun's face at short intervals and taken at a good altitude, where the atmosphere in not too deep, had ied to a movement for tho girdling of the earth with solar observatories. That -recently secured for New Zealand was the last link in the chain. Science in future would be able to study the solar imago and all its ohanges by the century, and would bo able to refer to pictures taken only a few minutes apart all through the centuries. Thus a thorough knowledge of the sun's habits and peculiarities would be arrived at.

A well attended meeting of fee Trades and Industries Committee of the Dunedin Expansion League was held last evening. Present: Messrs P. W. Mitchell (in the chair), J. M'lndoe, T. Glendining, E. Anscombe, A. Smcllie, and Geo. Simpson. It ivas decided to approach the Postmaster with a view to having the time for late fee letters for the North mail extended to half an hour prior to the time of the departure of the train, as in other town 3 for important expresses. It was also decided to make suggestions for the more effective recording of parcels carried by the Post Office, and to approach the Collector of Customs with a view to minimising the inconvenience to business firms through insufficient attendance at the Post Office by the Customs Department on days 011 which English and foreign mails arrive. The acting secretary was instructed to write to the City Council strongly objecting to the recommendation of the Tramways Committee to let tho outside of the cars for advertising spaces, and suggesting that the efforts in past years of. the Amenities Society and other bodies would thus be defeated. The draft of the annual report of the committee submitted by the acting secretary was approved.

Hie window scratching fiend, whose especial delight is to disfigure shop windows as he passes them by scratching the glass with a diamond or 60me other article has been in evidence on Lambton Quay (says our Wellington correspondent); Some time between Saturday night and Monday morning he turned his destructive attention to a largo number of Lambton Quay shops, and long scratches right across the panes now bear witness to Ihis insano vandalism. Ho appears to have walked close to the shops, scratching every window as he passed. There was no business to bo transacted by the magistrate at tho City Police Court yesterday morning. The Indrabarah left yesterday afternoon for Port Chalmers (says a Wellington Press Association telegram), but owing to the heavy weather outside the Heads, and the fact that the vessel i 6 in light trim, and her propeller blades are damaged, it was deemed advisablo to put baok.

There were 5185 artisans and labourers employed by the Government on co-opera-tive works during May last. On railway works 2142 were engaged, on roads 2472, and on public buildings 340. Fifty men were employed on the Lawrence-Roxburgh railway, and 101 on the Catlins-Waimahaka. line. There were 134 men employed on roads in the Otago district, and 70 in tlje Southland district.

A rather gruesome visitor from the Islands'was found among some fruit at Mrs Gillam's shop, Great King street, yesterday. This was a centipede some 4in. long, and when found it was alive and healthy in spite of its long journey from the South Seas

The Christchurch Press states that informations have been laid charging ten of the youths on Ripa Island for military detention, with disobedience of orders in refusing to do certain work, Three of those charged were recently released from Ripa Island, and tho informations have been sworn sinco they left. The charges will be heard before Sir H. W. Bishop, S.M., at the Lyttelton Magistrate's Court to-day.

We havo forwarded to the Mayor of Port Clialmers a contribution of 5s received by us from "Belated" for the Scott Memorial Fund. The list, which was opened in Dunedin some time ago, has been closed, tho movement in favour of establishing a memorial in tile city having been abandoned, and the subscriptions which were received have been returned to the donors.

Mr S. liarland, of Dunedin, who is at present in Queenstown, writes to the acting secretary of tho Dunedin Expansion League as follows:—"Wo aro glad that two excursions to Queenstown aro to eventuate. The weather is very mild here just now, and tho mountains aro very fine with their winter ooats on. Gloves and overcoats aro quite superfluous during the day for warmth and everything points to an early spring. t Wo hope a good many will tako advantage of tho excursions as tho scenery is now at its be6t.

Twenty-six female! candidates will 6it at the Technical School 011 Saturday afternoon for the Civil Service entranco examination in shorthand and typewriting. Tlio shorthand examination will be dictation tost at tlio rate of 100 words a minute for five .minutes, 35 minutes being allowed for transcription of the shorthand notes into longhand, either on the typewriter or in manuscript. The typewriting tests will consist of a 6peed test and a transcription from a passage of confused manuscript. In Addition, thero will be an examination in English composition and spoiling. Tho examinations will be under the supervision of Mr P. J. Mouat, a member of the Public Service Appeal Board.

Ono of many arresting facts touched on by tho Rev. P. W. Fairclough in tho course of a most lucid and informative) address given before tho astronomical branch of the Otago Institute last night is that the sun dickers. This, ho explained, was one of the most recent discoveries of astronomical photography. When the phenomenon was first observed at Mount Hamilton it was thought that it might be duo to local atmospheric influence, and an expedition was sent to Algeria, where carefully coordinated simultaneous observations were taken. Tlio results obtained were still in process of being worked out, but it was already definitely shown that tho sum did flicker at both places, and that it did 60 to the extent of ae mudh as 4 or 5 per cent.

Mr S. J. Collett, Government Tourist Agent, inform? us that arrangements have been made through Mr Francis, Mayor of Naseby, for frequent telegraphic advico from as to weather oonditiobs in regard to skating, curling, ski-ing, etc. Those particulars will bo kept on record at tho local tourist bureau' for tho use of inquirers.

Many letters from prospective immigrants are received by tho Labour Department,but rarely one such as a communication which has just coroo to hand from a settler in British Columbia (says the Evening Post. "Things are so disastrous here," says the writer, " that it may bo impossible for me to realise on my property for eomo time to come, so that tho chances aro great that we will havo little or no money on arriving. ... We shall bo prepared to take healthy honest work of any description which will ensuro a modost living." Appended to the letter is a neatly tabulated statement of the qualifications of tho, writer and his family. Tho applicant states himself to bo 46 yeans of age, healthy and of powerful build, first-class education, 25 years' residence in Franco and Belgium, excellent business training (French and English), first-class oommercial traveller, good typist and shorthand writer. In addition he knows how to handle heavy timber, clear land, build a house, has a good notion of agriculture (including French intensive culture), understands mechanics,ha 6 done a great deal oi newspaper work, and can handle a pick and shovel. His wife speaks English, French, German, and Flemish fluently, and understands the practical household aits. There are two boya of 15 and 16 years, tho latter of whom speaks two languages. Needless to say, the Department has sent an encouraging reply to a man of such versatility and apparent willingness.

This week and next week there will be on view in the Art Gallery Hall a remarkable collection of water-colour paintings from the brush of Miss Frances Hodgkins, who has, during tho past few years, been winning for herself many distinctions in artistic circles in Bari6. lie display,' which includes some 40 paintings, is mo6t interesting and educational in character, for it represents a type of modern artistio work which is almost unknown here. The charm of the artistic colouring, the fearlessness and originality of-her treatment' aro sufficiently obvious to make the exhibition a real pleasure to everyone. With tho exception of Friday, when the hall has been engaged for other purposes, tho exhibition will be open every day this week from 10 o'clock till 5.

The heavy rain which set in on Sunday evening and continued without cessation for over 24 hours, lias left a number of the St. Kilda streets in a blocking condition. Tho main arteries of traffio aro bad enough, but the state of some of the sidestreets is beyond comprehension. Some are completely inundated, whilo tie position of others is indicated by, tho merest strip of land showing in the centra of lengthy lagoons. If there is now' a St. Kilda resident who still holds doubts as to the desirability of floating the proposed loan for the purposes of street forming ho is surely hard of conviction,

' The monthly meeting of the Moray Place School Committee was held last night. There were present Messrs C. B. Thomson (chairman), I. M'Farlane, YV. S., Pattison, S. Douglas, A. Greig, and A. M'Gill. Tho headmaster reported that tho total number on tho sohool roll was 336. Referring to the death of Miss Rodger, the infant mistress, tile committee had learned of her illness with extreme regret, and had hoped that a month' 6 rest would have resulted in tho school again enjoying the benefit of her services, which were highly valued. The sudden fatal ending of her illness had oomo as a great shock, and the committee placed on record its high estimation of the willing, unselfish, loving, and thorough manner in which sho had always performed her duties. Tho .inspector's report on the staff and school was very satisfactory, and it was resolved to congratulate. the headmaster and staff on the same.

The Clutha Loader reports a find of ambergris on the beach at Papatowai last week. Mr Clarence Cuff, of Balclutha, picked up several pieces of whitish substance on the beach, and took some away with him, thinking they might prove to bo ambergris, while lie secreted the larger/ pieces in the bush. On Monday he took eomo of the samples to Dunedin, and was assured that his find was the genuine article, and he'realised £18 4s for the small pieces taken to town with him, being paid £2 5s an ounce. He has 181b (at 12oz to the lb), and as a good sample is worth £6 to £9 an ounce, it is evident that ho has "struck oil." Even if it is only worth the small raffe paid for the poorer sample Bold, £2 5s an ounce, it runs into £486, while at the higher figures (say £6) it would run int!o £1296.

Soven boys belonging to the secondary classes at the Masterton District High School (say 6 the Wairarapa Daily Times) absented themselves from school last Thursday afternoon for the purpose, it is alleged,; of attending tho Wairarapo-Hawko's Bay 'football match, and without tho consent of their parents, and were the following morning suspended until an explanation was forthcoming from the parents of tho boys. "We wero told to take our' books and get out of the school," said one of the boys. "In other words, wo have been kicked out for having 6topped away from school half a day with the consent of our parents. Perhaps I Should speak personally, and say I had consent to absent myself, and I am told there aro others of tho boys who were in tho samo position as I am." It is alleged that somo of the boys were absent all day from school, wfoilo. others were absent half a day, and it is contended that the boys, if thoy had tho permission of their parents, were quite within their rights in doing so. Tho headmaster, Mr W.'H. Jackson, explained to a representative of tho ho had made inquiries among the children as to whether they would like to get away early, as he could arrango to let them go half an hour sooner than the usual time, but had received a reply in the negative. He could havo arranged with the teachers for the, boys desiring to go early to bo given an extra half-hour's teaching about lunch time, .thus making up the half-hour the boys would bo off in the afternoon. No application for absence had been mado to him, and on the matter being reported to him, ho could not do otherwise than suspend the boys until an explanation was forthcoming from tho parents. It was stated, the paper continued, that somo of the boys did not intend to go back to school, unless they were sent for, as > they considered their suspension, in the circumstances, very high-handed. The headmaster said ho was preparing a report to tho . authorities on tho subject, ( '

While on a recent visit to tho Bay of Islands, prosecuting inquiries in connection with his book on "The Treaty of Waitangi," Mr T. Lindsay Buick 'was shown some early records of the dominion which are in charge of tho Anglican Church authorities at Paihin. Other records of s still earlier date are in charge- of the church at Waimatc, and as there is always a possibility of theso documents being dostroyed by fire, Mr Buick, on his return to Wellington, suggested to the Government, through Mr Hamilton, of the Dominion Museum, that oither photographs or transcripts of these records ought to be made, eo that the information concerning tho oarly families of tho colony might be preserved. The Government a> onco communicated with the Dioccsan Committee at Auckland with a view to this being done, and that body having given ita consent,' copies will bo mado in due course.

An appropriation of £600 in the No. 3 group of; the United Starr-Bowkett Society will "bo disposed of on Thursday, August 28.

" Perfect" B.S.A. Motor Cycles.—"Everything that tho namo implies." Ulster—so f"' miles, Ist; flying mile, Ist, 2nd, 3rd, 4th — \V. Stuart Wilson, Bond street,—Advt.

Tour Eyes.—A new discovery for removing cataracts, films, white specks, etc., without operations. Send for particulars and testimonials. Freo. E. \V. Hall, herbalist, 117 Armagh street, Christehureh.—Advt.

The Big Sale—The first week of our salft has been attended with phenomenal success. All previous records are broken. Be sure and get your share of tho bargains offered. —Molli6ons Limited.—Advt.

This season's jewellery lor evening wear is very dainty. Intending purchasers should make a point of seeing it at once, and thus have the best choice.—G. and T. Young (Ltd.). 8B Princes street.

For Chronio Cheat Complaints. Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, 3e 6d, 2s 6d.—Advt

A. E. J. Blakeley, dentist, Bank of Australasia, corner of Bond and Rattray streets (next Telegraph Office). Telephone 1859. Advt.'

Wo recommend for watch, dock, and jewellery repairs A. J. Shaw, 13 Rattray street. Absolutely tho beet in Dunedin.— Advt.

"Eczema Cure 6170" is a real boon to eczema sufferers. Mode and sold bv Wilkinson and Son chemist* Princes street; Us bd, and posted to all parts,—Advt.

"Catching a cold," with its attendant sore throat, nasty cough, and " stuffed-up" head, is common enough, but " Benjamin Gum " is now ■veil known as the one quick and perfect cure. Is 6d bottle. It relieves immediately!—Advt.

Who is Peter Dick?—Tho most reliablo Watchmaker, Jeweller, and Certificated Consulting Optician, 490 Moray place (off Princes st.), Dunedin. Charges moderate.—Advt