Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5574, 20 September 1889, Page 2

Poverty Bay Herald. PUB LI SHED E VERY EVENING.

GI.SIiOUNE, bT.IDAY, 3EPTESIBSR -JO, 185'J

TIIE MACANDREW (.'RANT. Wjm'.n the '.cssi-in was near the close, the House \-oted £2000 for the daughters of the late Mr James Macandrew. The grant was not made without discussion, bufc when the question was put to the vote only one member recorded his dissent. If Parliament on occasions sees tit to appropriate sums for the families of deceased members of the Civil Service, there is no good reason why .similar assistance should nofc be rendered to the families of members of Parliament, who are left in destitute circumstances through the demise of their supporter. In all such cases, the claims must be recognised as being of an exceptional nature before they should be admitted. When a man devotes his whole life to fche public service, and dies in harness, Parliament would act in a niggardly and narrow spirit if it refused to make some provision for the family of such a man. For a period of over thirty years Mr Macandrew served in the Legislature of the country, and although he could not be regarded as a type of the higher order of statesman, his whole career was distinguished by unselfishness. For many years he was Superintendent of the mosfc important province in the colony and during all his political life he was a powerful man in Parliament. His personnl influence was great, for although a considerable section of his fellow-members distrusted his judgment, Mr Macandrew was univ.-r-

--sally liked, nud tliem were good grounds fur this popularity. The " member for till Otago " had never used his position to ailvanco his own or his relatives interests. No son or other relation was to be found drawing pay from the State. All along politics was a bad paying game for Mr Macandrew. No well-defined general principle can be applied in appropriating revenue of the State for the families of those who have boen engaged in public-life. We suppose that Mr Macandrew would have come within the definition of a professional politician, though the term would not be applicable in a derogatory sense, for his aim was to serve the public interests and nofc his own personal ends. Again, the sacrifices that a public man has made must be taken into account. During the discussion on the Macandrew- vote an attempt was made to draw a parallel between the claim and thafc [mb forward on behalf of fche family of the late member for Nelson, Mr Levestam. It would be out of place to comment, on the merits and political career of the lasfc named gentlemen. As far as rectitudes is concerned, there was never anything said against him, bufc as a public man he was not on a level with Mr Mac audrew. Tf a grant were made to the family of the late representative for Nelson, such assistance could not well be refused in any other caso where a member left his family in poor circumstances. This is a matter on which Parliament must exercise a good deal of circumspection. Politicians, like other people, should recognise that ifc is their duty to make provision for those dependent upon them, and that in only mosfc exceptional cases will the State render assisfcar.ee. The vote of £2000 to the late Mr Macandrew's family will by no means establish a precedent for all claims of fche same nature, as each must stand on its own merits. A grant to Mr Levestam 's family wouhl bo a different matter. Sir Maurice O'Rorke, in supporting the Macandrew grant, paid a warm tribute to the late member for Port Chalmers. The Speaker said he had known him for many years, and he had never met a gentleman who was so thoroughly imbued with the truo colonial spirit, and who had rendered such substantial service to the colony at large to his own detriment.

The San Francisco mail arrived this morning per Australia from Aucl'land. The Poverty Bay Road Board meets tomorrow night. Orangts and lemons are to be sold by Messrs Graham, Pitt, and Bennett tomorrow. An important subject is advertised for the Rev. S. Robins' Sunday evening discourse in the Congregational Church — " Christian Faith and Human Reason." .Mr Willcocks, manager of the N.Z. Shipping Company at Napier, and Capt. Miller, of the ship Orari at present at Napier, were visitors to (jisborne to-day. By mail to-day Mr Piesse, local manager of the South Pacific Oil Company, received ISO for payment of wages in connection with lhc works. The late Hon. W. Robinson's Cheviot Hills estate consists of 84,243 acres, and is valued for property tax purposes at .£..00,000. Tho homestead and other buildiii_;B, whicli it now boasts, are some of the finest of their kiud in the colony. A large quantity of the laud has been broken up and sown in English grass, and an idea may be gathered of the value of a year's produce when it is stated that last year 2070 bales of wool were shipped from the estate. New Zealand is once more being flooded with circulars dealing with the Sydney .Jockey Turf Club's consultations. The secretary has charged his name, but these consultations always were a swindle, ln Sydney there are several straight going men iii the business, including " Tattersall, " "Robin Hood," and those in which MiAbbott is interested, but readers should be aware of swindlers. As an instance of how hard some of our young men work on their farms, we give the following as it was told to us (W.mganui Chronicle). — A certain young man, who had been felling scrub all day on his own section, came home very tired, and after refreshing the inner man, immediately retired to his room, where his mate was already in bed. Before divesting himself of his apparel, he devoutly knelt down to say his prayers, but the god of slumber was too strong for him, and he at once closed his eyes in sleep, from which he never awoke until roused by his friend at daylight the next mo ning. The organ recital in Holy Trinity Church last night proved a great success. The attendance was very large, and the music exceedingly fine for Cisborne. Mr Airey's performances on the organ were beautifnlly rendered, tlie march being performed with great execution. The anthems showed careful preparation, and the solos were well and pleasingly rendered. The following was the programme gone through : — Hymn, 292 ; Organ Introduction and Adante in I) (A*. S. Aire;/}, Mr Airey ; Anthem, " Ye shall dwell in tlie Land" (Staincr) ; Solo, " Sound an Alarm!" {flrauM), Mr Eaat; Duet, "I sought the Lord" (Co-^ft), Mr and "Mrs Palairet; Organ, Grand Offertoire in V (Batiste.) Mr Airey ; Solo, "If with all your hearts" (Mendelssohn) Miss Holroyde ; Quartette, "God is a Spirit" (Bennett), Mrs Palairet, Miss Holroyde, Messrs Shelton and Palairet; Solo, "The Morning Prayer" (tWrt), Mrs Palairet; Organ, March, " The Silver Trumpets" ( Viciaiii), Mr Airey ; Anthem, " I will give thanks" (Momrt) ; Solo, "Light in Darkness" (Cou-vit), Miss Holroyde ; Organ and Strings," March of ihe Israeli tes"(CW...); Hymn, 20. Presbyterian Church services next Sunday.—Matawhero 2.V-JO, Mr Lane; Ormond 2.30, Mr Scott; St. Andrews U and 7.— Advt. (Tisborne Rowing Club— Working bee at shed to-morrow afternoon, commencing at 2.30. Large attendance expected. — Advt. Congregational Church services on Sabbath— Gisborne 11 and 7, Makaraka 2. Evening subject, " Christian Faith and Human Reason."— Rev. S. Robins.— Advt.