CHRISTCHURCH NEWS NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2572, 1 July 1903, Page 4

CHRISTCHURCH NEWS NOTES.

CHEISTOHURCH, June 24. Apparently tJie changes in the Cabinet ano! the Council hare given as Efctle Eaiiiifaotion to Mr Seddon's party as to the Opposition. There is a clamour of Government protest at the appointment of Colonel Pitt, *nd t3ia language of tJie Lytxclton Time* this mouning at the selection of the four members of the

Legislative Council is calculated to astonish its political «liief. A r ot even the appoint* ment of Mr Wigram has its unreserved approval, and the other three new councillors are spoken of in terms that are almost too painful to repeat. "We are told, amongeb other things: (X) That Mr Wigrnra's appearance in public life is of "Budi rec&nt date that it has had no opportunities of discovering his viewß on gc-neral politics. {2) That Mr Kennedy Maodonald's most reoo-nt performance was the production of an address to Mr Soddon, characterised by objectionably fulsome praiaa and exceedingly bad grammar, and thai tho eurpri.se he expressed at Ilia appointment will be widely shared". (3) That Mr Seymour George in an unwise hour was induced to seek a political career, and speedily disappointed tie hope of his friends that fee would do tk«ds worthy of his great relative, and tihat since his disappearance from the political field lie Has figured with some credit and considerable persistence at those parochial gatherings and agitations for which Auckland is famous. (♦) That Mr Wm. Beehan is only remarkable in having retired from flic recant election conteat in Auckland, presumably with th» hig-hly praiseworthy object of avoiding an unnecessary division in flre Liberal camp. Here, indeed, are the seeds of revolt with a %'engcance. But there is worse to follow. The same authority talks scathingly of "Mr Seddon's pretence of recocfitructing lus Cabinet" ; declared tliat "it must be disastrous to tho public service" ; states that! " with, the ex cop ti cm of Sir Joseph Ward and Mr Hall-Jones there is not a single momber of the Cabinet wlio can by any stretch of courtesy be described as a strong man, and the latest addition is probably tho weakest of th© let." It professes to tremble- to lihink what ■use Mr Seddon might make of another portfolio, and suggests as a rebellious remedy compulsory reconstruction. When Governmcmt newspapers £O to these lengths it is surely evident ihat discontent is rife in the Liberal enmp, zr.d tliafc tbo coming session is big with possibilities.

Jane 26. Even a bench of J.P.'b Is sometimes no respecter of persens. This morning the first of a big batch of cyclists charged wiih riding 1 on the footpaths was none other than Mrs Wigram, -wife of his Worship the Mayor of Greater Christohuirch. A gentleman who was present infoTmed tiio bsach that he> had' been aslcc-d to admit th© offence on Mra Wigram's behalf. The polio 3 representative asked Mr Tre-leaven if he was a Bolicitcr, and receiving a reply in tlte negative -was told, "Then you liav-o no stnnding in the court. There is no appearance, your Wordripa." 'Ibe case was proved, and a fine of 20s and costs inflicted, the Bench remarking thai it always increased the penalty where there was no appearance. A local school committceman, Mr Geo. ! Cox, was charged by the truant officer afc the Poli oc Court to-day with, failing to cend his daughter to school, her name appearing en the Marshlands School register. Mr Cox asserted that ho Had conscientious objections to sending hi* child to any school. He nJso endeavoured to present a report which he stated had pa^ed through tho school committee's hard:. The be-ncli declined to have anything to do with the documents sw not bearing on the present ca -e. Mr Ook continued : " I have kept my £on away from school beoausd he was dii?mitjed from a school without any valid reason. I -will rmt send my girl to school until the board gives me the fatisfaction of an inquiry." Tho Truant Officer said Mr Cox uan'tcd briog-lnc to a nroncr scineo of his duty, ajid tha' ' 'v heavy finf should lie inflicted . •. said it had to deal with the oat- . .»s merits. The defendant could mako complaints of tha nature lie indicated to the school committee', -and, if ho got no satisfaction, to a hig-her authority. Ail they had to deal with! was the fact that ho had neglected to scud his child to school a-3 ptated in the charge. A fine of 5s and costs would be inflicted. Mr Cox: "I shall "•■Warnlv not eend_ tlia i.Vit! to school i, -z an inquiry." Th© Beaich said in that ca=e the fines would go up, and perhaps other measures might bo taken to relieve defendant of the custody of the child. With a few parting remarks to the bench Mr Cox walked briskly across the court, and, waving bis iiat, eaid to the reporters. "I won't do it" — and then h» disappeared.

There was a phenomenal fall of hail at New Plymouth last week, some of the stones measuring l£in across and lin in length. The atom was of short duration.

It has been decided to form a camera club in Timaru. It is expected that the membership will reach about 50, the subscription being £1 Is for adults and 10s 6d for boy«.