Poverty Ba Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, FRIDAY, NOVEMBERS 29 1889 MR ARTHUR'S ADDRESS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5632, 29 November 1889, Page 2

Poverty Ba Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, FRIDAY, NOVEMBERS 29 1889 MR ARTHUR'S ADDRESS.

Even his opponents must admit that Mr Arthur acquitted himself exceedingly well on Wednesday evening. The hopes of the Opposition party rested, on his presumed defects as a public speaker. The man who had been engaged in breaking in new country for the past seventeen years it was thought would be no match for a notoriously glib lawyer with Parliamentary experience. The hopes of Mr Rees' supporters have been disappointed. The speeches in full of both candidates have now been published, and the electors are in a better position to draw conclusions as to the relative merits of the two gentlemen who seek their suffrages. One speech is brimful of promises, set forth in high-falutin' language, with the object of catching the votes of the unwary and | unreflecting. There is no attempt at this I kind of thing in the other. Mr Arthur is a sensible man, and he treated his audience as sensible people. The result was |an eminently practical address on the leading topics of the day, and which appealed to the understanding and not the prejudices and avarice of people. It is a big mistake to imagine that a colonist not actively engaged in political life must necessarily be unacquainted with public affairs, and just as fallacious to suppose that acountry settler is rendered unfit through the narure of his occupation from givingexpressiontohis ideas. Thereisassuredlyas much ability and knowledge in the country as in the towns, and certainly the residents of the former are more thoroughly employed in carrying on the grand work of colonization. The greatest blessing that could happen to New Zealand would be the removal from Parliament of professional politicians and demagogues, who neither toil nor spin — except spinning word}' harangues — and replace them by men who have been personally engaged in developing the- resources of the colony. It is a mere truism to say that there are too many lawyers in the House, and too few representatives of the great industrial pursuits. However, in this respect matters have improved of late, but a short timeagothere were more lawyers in Parliament than agriculturists and pastorali.sts combined. During recent years there has been great improvement in legislation and administrati'in, and this \va.s rendered possible by greater freedom from professional iiuluonce. But even now there is a larger number of lawyers, commission agents, and such like in the House than of men employed in agricultural and pastoral pursuits. The producing classes are in a decided minority in Parliament, and surely this must be regained as a most unsatisfactory state of things. What madness it is a new country like this to send to Parliament a lot. of carpet-baggers, who can readily take themselves off the moment depression overtakes the land. As Mr Arthur truly said, these men care nothing about the suffering that may be entailed on the many by carrying their schemes into effect so long as their immediate purposes are effected.

The side which our representative will take in Parliament is a matter of the first importance. Mr Arthur announced that lie was a supporter of the present Ministry, although he would not be a blind follower. That is a very proper reservation, in view of there being no distinct party lines founded on political principles in this country. It is more a question of .administration than policy, and Sir Harry Atkinson's management of public business has been highly successful. As Mr Arthur said, colonial finance has been placed on n .sound footing, and confidence has been restored both inside and outside the country. The present Opposition when in power shockingly mismanaged affairs, and were fast bringing the colonj' to the verge of bankruptcy. Mr DeLsmtour stated at Mr Rees' meeting that he could' not help being amused when in Wellington at the i change that had taken place in political parties ; but the change is not anything like so great as he attempted to make out. The present Opposition is led by Mr Ballance, aud Sir Geo. Grey opposes the Government on his own account. On personal grounds he refuses to follow the member for Wanganui. In 1877-9, Sir George Grey and Mr Ballance were Premier and Colonial Treasurer respectively, the two most important positions in the Ministry. Sir Robert Stout whs Attor-ney-General. Sir Harry was then leader of the Opposition. The Grey Ministry was succeeded by the Hall-Atkinson Cabinet. Next came the Stout- Vogel Government, with Mr Ballance as Minister of Lands, and Sir Harry Atkinson was again leader of the Opposition. He is now Premier, with Sir John Hall as a supporter, and as Sir Robert Stout and Sir Julius Yogel have quitted politics, the leadership of the Opposition has devolved upon Mr Ballance, As a matter of fact, there would have been almost complete continuity in the state of parties, had it not been for the temporary alliance of Sir Julius Yogel and Sir Robert Stout. It is true that Mr Hislop was formerly opposed to Sir Harry Atkinson, but there is no political importance to be attached to the inclusion of the member for Qamaru in the present Ministry. He was never in the front rank of any party, and is certainly not an important personage in the Government. Yet there is no doubt that it is the present position of Mr Hislop that gave Messrs Rees and DeLautour a handle for alleging that parties in the House are now so thoroughly mbed that there is no necessity for n candidate hi declare himself either for tin <!ovci > nment or the Opposition, oir Harry Atkinson

has boon in tho forefront of lih ptirty for ', dozen yeaiw. and he is a greater limn to-day than ever he wan. His infiuenoo iv thu Ministry Is paramount. Tf Mr Rees h.vt any regard for uon.-ti.si ency, hu cannot ivrll support tho pn-sunt Govvnnn"nfc, oid it would only be ouudid if he .so informed tho electors. The strong probability is that Mr Reos will be a follower of Sir George Grey, thus converting a party of one into a party of two. This district could hope for no good from a representative who took up such a position. Apart from the relative merits of the candidates — and a comparison would be altogether in favor of Mr Arthur — the electors of the East Coast would act wisely by returning a supporter °f the present Ministry.

The .Mayor proclaims Monday as a public holiday.

Tim local Committee | forward by the out outgoing mail a draft for L 53 for the Irish Tenants' Relief Fund.

The Manipouri passed Parkarae at 4 this afternoon, and should arrive here about 3.30. The launch leaves the wharf at 7.

Messrs Graham, Pitt, and Bennett commence their auction sales to-morrow morning at 11 o'clock by offering a lot of first-class furniture, some of which is nearly new.

Mr A. Dewing is returning to Gisborne from a visit to England. His name appears hi the passenger list of the Tongariro.

The Gisborne Lawn Tennis Club open the season to morrow. The Howling Club also begin work, and if the weather is fine a good muster is expected.

Seats for the Hospital concert may be reserved at Mr W. Good s. The Committee have decided on this course to avoid undue crush on Monday evening next.

It is intended to give the annual sohool concert on December 10. A kiuderspiel. entitled " Old Friends with New Faces," is in course of preparation.

A poll is announced to be taken on the 31st December next of the ratepayers in the Mangapupa block in connection with the proposal to spend LtOO under the Loans to Local Bodies Act in th-.it portion of the Whataupoko Road District.

The Salvation Army in Auckland propose to give a Christinas dinner to 1000 poor children of that city.

Detectives from Melbourne and Sydney have been sent over to Dunedin to keep watch upon the light-fingered gentry from those colonies who may pay the Exhibition a visit.

The application of electru'.ity to street railways in America is proceeding rapidly. Already nine lines arc fully equipped and running, while twenty-two are being built, and contracts have been entered into for fifteen others.

The initial step in connection v. ith the proposed bridge at Kniteratahi has been taken by the County Council, and a poll of the ratepayers in the Waikohn and Ormond Districts will be hold on the 28th of December to sanction or reject the proposal.

Mr George Bowley met with an accident this i.ioining while bush-felling at the Waimata by which he sust ined a severe cut to his left foot. His brother who was working with him, had to carry him some distance out of the bush. Horses were then obtained, and the brothers rode to town, when Dr Pollen attended to the injured foot.

At the last meeting of the Waste Lands Board in Napier the forfeiture of small grazing runs in Poverty Bay for bteach of conditions was considered. These runs were as follows: — No. 42, selected by A. Whyte ; No. 42a, selected by R. H. Whyte ; No 43, selected by Jas. Whyte. — The Chairman recommended that these runs should be f rfeitcd and offered at auction at original upset price on lirst convenient opportunity. — Agreed to.

The Napier Rowing Club is about to lose one of its best men, namely, the Secretary of the Club, Mr Misscn, who leaves for Wellington. Mr Missen is well known to most of the Gisborue rowing men. Last year he rowed No. 3 in the Napier reps, against our Clubs. He also played for Napier agsiinKt our football reps 1 ., and it was he whom Marshall bested in the " maul " oti the Napier goal line. The Napier R.C. will have some difficulty in finding another man of his stamp to fill the vacancy in the representative crew.

The following telegram from Wairoa appeared in the Napier Telegraph of Wednesday : -The case, Captain Preece v. Wairna County Council, a claim for six guineas for electing two Native Assessors unapposed for Clyde and Waikaremoana, was heard today. The County Clerk, for the defendants, proved their ease, fully showing that Capt. Preece had no authority to claim more than a guinea a day, and that the election wasillegal because Clyde should not have been constituted a native licensing district, it being a borough under the Licensing Act. Judgment for the defendant Council for amount paid iuto Court, "vith costs L 2 7s.

The total number of admissions to the Dunedin Exhibition on the opening day uid evening was about 15,000, and including processionists, free passes, etc., the nutnbei was 17,481. On Wednesday 10,1)2(5 person* were admitted, of which number 457G paid at I lie gates. The choir repeated vury successfully the music of the opening ceremony, and Dr Maitland (.tledden and Miss KatheritK Hardy, of Wellington, who were the soloists, scored a success. The orchestra on their first appearauce made a favorable impression. A number cf cases of pickpocketing at the Exhibition are reported.

Mr James Carroll, M.H.R., has been in communication with the Native Minister in reference to the appointment of the Commission that was authorised by Parliament to open a Court for the hearing of disputed titles. Mr Mitchelson stated that all minor matters in connection with the Commission arc now ready. The native member has boon fixed on, but delay has been caused by the difficulty in getting a suitable European as Commissioner. On Mr Carroll pointing out the time that has already been lost, and urging the need of tin: Commission getting to work as early as 23ossil>lc, Mr Mitchelson wired that before leaving Wellington for this district he will inform him as to persons appointed, and the date at which the Commission will sit.

A Southern paper writes :— By no means the least interesting exhibit in the cduca tional section of the Dunediu Exhibition will be the contribution of the native scholastic institutions of the North and South Islands. The pupil- have prepared a great number of specimens, under the supervision of Mr J. H. Pope, Inspector of Native Schools. The exhibit, which consists of specimens of caligrapby, drawing, mapping, and needlework, evidences really remarkable aptitude on the part of the native scholars, and in quality would compare most favorably with the productions of European scholars. The contributions are from scholars of all ages, taught chiefly in the Northern schools.

At the meeting at McFarlane ! s Hall on Monday evening, Mr Arthur was asked if he had written to the Chief Judge of the Native Land Court to have the Toko uara ease reheard on the ground of pecuniary consideration, and the reply, as reported in this journal, was as follows : — "He (Mr Arthur) thought he did not write to any such effect. He had been sixteen years endeavoring to obtain a title, and had not got one yet, and he considered himself quite right in n'i.shini/ to have the case re-heard as speedily as possible." The word in italics should be " writing." The correction in our opinion is unnecessary, as the context showed that Mr Arthur did not deny making application to the Chief Judge to have the long-pending claim settled. However, as several supporters of the candidate are of opinion that the answer may be misinterpreted for electioneering purposes it; may be advisable to put the matter as clearly as possible.

The late Mr E. L. Widdop, recently drowned in Wellington harbor, -was insured in the Mutual Life Assocmtiun of

Australia for LSOO, on wiiicii only ilic first, premium of L 3 had been paid at the time of thu accident. The proof of claim having been completod, the money h;.s been paid.

Christmas Tree aud Sale of Work, in aH of funds Wesleyan Church, Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 1 1 and 12. Contributions to assist will be thankfidly retch < d by lady members of cuiiu'ii^utiun. — Advt,