Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1894.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6893, 3 February 1894, Page 2

Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. GISBORNE, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1894.

THE LICENSING ELECTIONS. The licensing elections are now close at hand. So far there is an absence of unanimity amongst the temperance party as to the line of action they will take. In some districts the opponents of the liquor traffic have decided to let the election of the Licensing Committees go by default, and to concentrate their energies on securing prohibition, or a reduction of licenses. Electors who vote for prohibition will count in favor of a reduction of licenses, the number of which can be reduced by a majority at tho polls, provided half the electors on the roll of the district record their votes. Prohibitionists, the visible champions of the temperance party, maintain that ifc is not worth while, troubling their heads about the Committees, as these bodies are bound down hard and fast by the Seddonian Act of last session. Now, this is an incorrect, not to say perverse, construction to put upon the new law. The fact is, the Licensing Committee will be in a position to exercise a largeamoun t of discretion on several important matters. The Act states that if the poll be in favorof a reduction, the Committee shall proceed to reduce the number of licenses in their district by not more than twenty-five per cent. That is the maximum extent to which the pruning knife can be applied. But it is clear from the wording of the Act that the Committee are not bound to go to the maximum extent. They may cut the licenses down by only one, and keep within the letter of the Act. It should be needless to say, that the Law Courts have a knack of interpreting a statute according to tho letter and not to the spirit. There are, roughly speaking, about forty public houses in the Waiapu electoral district, which extends from Cape Runaway down to the outskirts of Napier. Just imagine, a triennial poll in favor of temperance only resulting in the reduction of a single house in that great extent of country. It never would be missed. Under the present law, it might take a hundred years to reduce the number of public-houses of the district to three, if at every triennial period, the friends of the 1 trade constituted the Licensing Bench, aud the temperance party contented • themselves with carrying a reduction [ at the polls. When the licenses were reduced to three, a reduction poll would be futile, for one is more than twenty-fivt per cent, of three. This is looking at tlu matter from an ad absurdum point oi view. The illustration is merely given tc show how slow may be *' tho removal oi temptation" if temperance people b( supine over the election of the Licensing Committee. We do not desire ib to b( inferred that a Committee of the moderate or publican party would not give effect tc the will of the people in a very appreciabh degree The chances are that they would bub if there is one thing more than anothei which temperance people have striven t< make clear, it is, that they have no faitl whatever in those who do nob hold ex treme views on the tempeiance question There are other matters in which a Licen sing Committee will be able to exercist discretionary jurisdiction. Whether th< poll be for or against a reduction, on i third endorsement of a license for breache! of the law ther licensed premises shal be absolutely closed, " unless the Com mittee shall erwise determine." There is no use pursuing the subjec any further to show that the Licensing Bench will be in a position to exercis< salutary powers. Nor is the Alcoholii Liquors Act in the two respects alluded t( inconsistent or conflicting in spirit. I may be in the power of a Licensing Com mittee to thwart the will of the people bj making a minimum reduction in the num ber of hotels ; but the majority that cai carry a reduction at tho polls will have the power to elect eight out of the nine members of the Licensing Committee. I the majority do not have their own waj ib will be their own fault. What peopl< have a right to complain of is that noth ing is said in tho Act, nor was anything said during the discussion of the measure in Parliament, on the question of i\ mini mum reduction. Everybody appeared tc take it for granted that a poll iti favor of a reduction made it compul sory on the Committee to reduce tht number of licensed houses by onefourth. Tho discovery that such is noi the case has been made in time tc avert any practical injury to the cause ol temperance. There is, in our opinion, nothing objectionable in conferring discretionary powers on a Licensing Committee. The counting of heads at a polling booth is a rough and ready way oi settling a question affecting the liberty oi the subject. Ib is something akin to lynch law. The will of the people must be para- | mount on the licensing question, but their ' will can be carried out by a delegated authority, as in nearly all other matters. Seeing that the Licensing Committees are merely representatives of the electors, there is nothing objectionable in the discretionary powers retained by these bodies under the new Licensing Act. Thirty books of an interesting nature have been added to the Gisborne Library. The Supreme Court sits on 26th February Jury sutntnouses are now being issued. The City Band will play sacred selections D in the Government paddock to-morrow afternoon. A northerly gale roged with considerable fierceness last night. Beyond the knocking of fruit off the trees no damage is reported. "J The barque Samarkand drifted seaward somewhat during the height of the gale. Mr W. A. Barton, Registrar, has received instructions to at once prepare a roll for the J licensing elections to be held in March, so ib behoves all who are not already enrolled to see that they are enfranchised. The s.p. Pukaki, with the circus on board, was detained at Wellington till five this >• morning owing to stormy weather, and is nob expected here until five to-morrow afternoon. For the same reason the Ausq Italia was detained at Napier until this afternoon. The first heat of the Gisborne Rowing Club's trial fours was rowed off last evening between crews stroked by Green and A. Robinson, and after a good race Green won by a length. The final heat will be rowed this eveniug at six. At a general meeting of the Club held last night the following were _ appointed a Selection Committee to pick the , representative crew to go to Auckland and >• Napier in March next — Messrs W. J. Hennessy, T. Adair, and W. Miller. The^four men who were recently locked up for refusing to obey orders on the barque ) Samarkand have effected their escape from the vessel. One of the men who came ashore in the ship's boat the other day remained on shore, ami at midnigho proceeded to the vessel in a small dingy and took ashore the other three men. m Mrs Ledger re-commeneeel business as draper and milliner in a shop winch has been specially renovated and fitted up for her next Mr Craig's. The shop contains a • large stock specially selected by Mrs Ledger in Auckland, there being quite an attractive display of articles needful to clothe and beautify the feminine portion of the community.

The Wairoa Guardian says: — Including Natives, about 200 visitors arrived by the steamers from Napier on Saturday and Sunday, to attend the races. A considerable number also came through from Poverty Bay. To-morrow will not be a day of rest in port. There will be four steamers in the bay transhipping cargo and passengers, the Australia and Pukaki from South— the latter landing Fillia' circus and a large cargo— and the Rotomahana^and Dingadee from North. A meeting of the Temperance Committee was held in Townley's Hail last night, Mr J. Somervell in the chair. Various matters relating to the forthcoming election were discussed and a plan of action decided upon, and the names of ladies and gentlemen willing to work in the interests of prohibition were qiven in. It was also decided that meetiugs be held in the Government paddock, commencing on Sunday week, and temperance addresses be given by ministers and laymen of the district, with selections of music and singing by a choir and other friends. The Hawera Star say :— An accident, of a peculiar nature occured to Mr Fake chemist, on Tuesday evening. Mr Fake was uncorking a large bottle of liquid ammonia, and on withdrawing the Btopper the liquid squirted out into bis face. The liquid came out with such force as to strike the ceiling of the shop, and a large iquantity ran over the flooi. Mr Fake, feeling himself suffocating, had the presence of mind to run out into the street and cj>U for water, with which he washed the ammonia from his face. Application of oil was made, and fortunately the only results are inflamed jeyes and slight marks on the cheeks and forehead. A curious thing happened the other day (says the Wairoa Guardian). A sheep-farmei insured in an accident insurance company, and agreed to meet the agent in Gisbornt next day. He kept his appointment, but hot quite in the manner expected. Almost immediately after insuring, the sheepfannei got on to his saddle and cut his knee badlj with a pair of shears sticking out of th< saddle bag. Consequently he was driven t( town in order to have the wound dressed bj the doctor, and was thus enabled to keep hii appointment. The unfortunate (or fortu nate) sheepfarmer is now drawing £3 14s i week and expenses from that insurant agent's company. We (Wairarapa Daily) learn that i Wellington inventor has perfected an< patented a freezing apparatus which is likel 1 to supersede the more expensive auc cumbrous machinery imparted from Eng land. It is said to be much more economics to work, also that it can be produced oi dimensions and at prices which will re volutiouize the freezing trade. It is expectei that every large butcher will be able t> attach a small machine to his establishmen and thus indefinitely extend the process o preserving meat. Last week we understan< an exhaustive trial of a specimen machiu was held near Wellington. It lasted thre days, and thoroughly satisfied those in terested in it. A young man named Donald McKenzi was before Capt. Chrisp and Mr Johnston J.P.'s, at the Police Court this morning. H was first charged with being found by nigh without lawful excuse in the dwelling hous of one Louisa Anderson, a washerwoman M r Day appeared for accused, who pleade* not guilty. Sergt. -Major Moore said accuse was only arrested last night. There wer other charges against him of an indictabl nature, and in order to obtain the necessar; witnesses he asked for a remand uuti Wednesday, which was granced. Accuse^ was further charged with indecent assaul on Lizzie Peterseu and Louisa Anderson, i remand was also granted in these cases, bai being allowed, accused in his own re cognisance of £50, and two sureties of £2 each. In spite of the rain, which fell at interval last evening, the Catholic social wa well attended, and all present seemed t thoroughly enjoy themselves. For the firs part of the programme the dances wer alternated with songs, which enabled th dancers to obtain a short rest after eac dance. The following ladies and gentleme' contributed towards the evening's enjoj ment by singing : Mesdames Orr, Dever? and Cooper, the Misses Sobers (violin obli gatos) and McCormack, Father Kehoe, am Mr Gould. Mrs Devery's song (who kindl; came in from Ormond) was well received and special praise is due to Mrs Orr for he sweet rendering of that old favorite son, " The Mill Wheel," and to Mrs Cooper fo her perfect rendering of Leonore and for ai encore " Dear Heart," also " Remember m no more," the crescendo, diminuendo piano, and forte passages in each song bein, particularly effective, and we think Gisborn may well be proud that it can numbe amongst its vocalists such accomplishci siugeis. There were many onlookers in th gallery. Ifc i.s interesting to note what smal matters may upset an election in England It may bo remembered that at the genera electiozi Mr Frank James, a brother of tin well-known Mr Sydney James, was electee for Waisall. A petition was lodged, am Mr James was unseated because, as we lean from Baron Pollock's judgment, a breach o the Act bad been committed by supplying " hat cards." The card was made adaptabl to place in a hat. It had on it the portrait of the candidate, and the words " Play up Swifts !" (an abjuration to the members of s local cricket club, of which the candidate': son was a prominent member). The candi date paid for these as part of the electior expenses, and in doing so was held to have contravened the Act, which provides againsl the use of music, flags, cockades, ribbons, oi any other marks of distinction, and the clec tion was declared void. Mr W. W. Head, secretary of the New Australia movement, has received a lettei dated 31st October from the settlement ii Paraguay, in which it is stated that tern porary houses have been erected and all th( settlers are under cover. Permanent houses are being put up as fast as possible, street: being laid out in the township, and al classes of workmen are busily employee making agricultural implements, &c. Nego tiations have been entered into for the purchase of 1000 head of cattle, Regarding th« recently-published statement that there are a number of pianos and other extras at the settlemeut, but a very scant supply of agricultural instruments and useful tools, Mr Head said that no pianos or other musical instruments have been purchased by the Association or sent to the settlement. An Albury resident has given a large number of baud instruments, and as to agricultural implements, it would be easier and cheaper and cause less delay to get them from London than to make them. The Wanganui Chronicle says: — After much threatening, Mr Maxwell has been dismissed, at a moment's notice, from the Ruilway Service, because he knew more about railway management than any other two men in the colony, Mr Maxwell's unpardonable sin was that he knew too much, and that in spite of protests and opposition he acted upon his knowledge. He was too good for New Zealand. No Minister of the Crown, no member of Parliament, no deputation of business men or working men, commercial chamber or farmers' association, could force concessions from him unless his knowledge and judgment approved. He is said to have been hard and unsympathetic —he was certaiuly true and straight. He had not the fault of being "all things to all men." Ho was no sneak. Had he been one he would have been better liked. People say they hate sneaks— but they don't j they like them. Had Mr Maxwell fawned upon Mr Seddon his position would have been perfectly safe. The Premier would have been glad of his great knowledge and experience, provided he could have used it for his own credit and for the carrying out of his own plans. A daring feat has been performed at Rushden, Northamptonshire. A man named Ingram, known as " Parachute Joe," having obtained possession of the keys of the parish church, was soon afterwards seen on the battlements, and speedily commenced to climb to the top of the loft3' spire by means of the stone crockets. A crowd of spectators gathered in the street below. Having reached the weathercock, which he swung round several times, he pulled off his necktie and threw it to the ground. He then turned round, and placing his back to the masonry, waved both his arms to the horrifiedaudieuce. He succeeded in returning safely to the grouud, to the relief of all who witnessed the dangerous exploit.

Ifc is said thn^^^^^^^^J^^^^^^^^H given was for £^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^| England, in P^y^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H mond mines, of gold. It is Cilf^^H^^^^^^^^^^^^^| stand on end, lika^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H porcupine. Sir Robert Ball, ™^^^^^^^^^H Institution recently o^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H and heat from the sunj^^^^^^^^^^^^H coal of the earth were i^^^H^^^^^^^H in one vast fire, the totsMH^^^^^^^^H would not be sufficient to replace^^H|^^H sun for one-thousandth part of a^SecoWß Also that the power represented by /Sunlight I streaming down upon every squared yard of I the earth's surface would suffice /to drive a 1 one-horse power engine continually. Mr Stepheu Boreham writes fefo the Timaru Herald from Bnrke's Pass, c/omplaining of Sunday working. He sayjs : — "I do not complain of working on Sunday for the purpose of saving an over-ripeS crop of wheat, but when it comes to shearing sheep on Sunday, I feel it my du^y as a Christian to try and put a stop to^uch a desecration of the Sabbath. On Sunday, January 7, four men, whose name/d I am prepared to give | should the police take action, shore the whole day, no,fe where they were engaged, but rode somes' miles and shore for a farmer. Had men be.cn scarce there would have been some excusje for the farmer, but with so many men 'looking for shearing, I confess that I am Surprised at the selfishness of the four shearers, aod astonished at the farmer's disrespect for the Sabbath." A somewhat ambitious, scheme (says the Post) tib be carried out by local enterprise, has be^-n launched in the Manawatudis'not, It is p railway company to construct a loop .'line from the Levin station on the Weir ington-Manawatu line to the Kakariki station on the VVanganui-Palmerston line, aboixt forty miles from Wanganui. This line> it is claimed, would shorten the through route from Wellington to Wanganui by about fifteen miles, and serve the local purposes of the Sauson, Bulls, and the Lovi/er Rangitikei districts, giving them all 1 easy access to the port of Foxton. The capital of the company is. to be £160,000 in 10,000 ordinary shares of £5 each and, 4 1,000 preference shares of £10 .-each. The cost of the line is estimated at £4000 a mile, and a syndicate of contractors has agreed to complete the entire work on satisfactory terms. Great special inducements are offered to preference shareholders, and a strong local directorate has been formed. If the capital can be raised, the line would certainly aid greatly in developing the resources of a rich and productive . district.* The new line would, not touch either Palm erston or Feilding. Christmas day was marked at Freemantlo, Western Australia, by. the performance of an entertainment of a novel character. The •whole of the; inmates of the prison, who number at the present time about 105, after .being provided with a good dinner, in which ;the usual seasonable good cheer abounded, were allowed to enjoy themselves in the great central lobby of the building. Some half-dozen of the more cheerful and volatile spirits of the company had organised a very complete variety entertainment, consisting of songs, negro minstrelsy, and harlequinade. The costumes were made with striking originality from pieces of tissue paper and calicoes of varied hue, and the draping of the improvised stage set them off to the audience of over 70 prisoners who witnessed the performances. The orchestra consisted of a harmonium brought from the prison chapel, an accordeon, tambo, and bones, supplemented by some clever vocal mimicry. Many of the comic songs given by the performers, who, it may be mentioned, were prisoners, were evidently much appreciated by the audience, and a few of the jokes made under the auspices of burnt cork were startlingly fresh, and bore grimly humorous allusions to the theatre and the actors within it. Both audience and players, however, ! seemed to ha^e thoroughly broken from their ordinary sense of the surrounding, and evidently the kindness of the superintendent, Mr Hope, and his warders, was much appreciated. The performance concluded by the assembled prisoners singing " God Save the Queen."