THE PELORUS GUARDIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1892. Woman's Rights.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 3, Issue 14, 19 February 1892, Page 2

THE PELORUS GUARDIAN. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1892. Woman's Rights.

There has been several disgraceful scenes enacted at the Anglican General Synod being held at Wellington owing to the high-handed action of the Primate in his attempt to burk the discussion on any matter which did not please him. On Saturday Sir John Hall moved the second reading of a Bill to amend the canons in order to give women the right of voting at parish meetings, and this had a similar effect on the IYmate that a red rag is said to have on a wild bull, as he vehemtntly opposed the Bill, and said he would resign his position. He asserted that he would not be a member of that Church which made itself ridiculous in the face of Christendom by acting contrary to the iraditional conduct of the Church. Now we sincerely hope the second reading of the Bill will be carried, because it will effect two good purposes—the one will be that the Church will be well rid of one who obstructs all reform, and the other will be that women will be allowed to take a more active interest pi Church work. It is fully recognised that a woman i leligious sentiments are far stronger, and that she is far more sincere than a iman in all matters, which have for their object the moral and spiritual welfare of humanity; and what grander sphere of usefulness is there open to woman than that presented in being allowed all the privileges in connection with Church work. The conservatism of such men as the Primate is doing more to drive people away from the Church, and causing them to becime fr< elinkers than it would be possible to fully estimate. While in every other sphere we are progressing at a geometrical ratio, in Church matters we are not even advancing at an arithmetical speed, and it must be clear to the most dense that people cannot live in the social and business world of the I nineteenth century, and at the same i time exist in the religious world of a thousand years ago. It is a feat that no human being could perform, however willing he might be to try, and to expect him to do so is just as absurd as it would be to ask a man to run with one leg and crawl with the other. Our object, however, in directing attention to the matter is principally to show that women, no matter what their qualifications might be, would never be allowed to have a voice in anything whatever if such men as the Primate were allowed to have their way. We shall refer to this subject at greater length in our next, but in the meantime we would like to call the attention of all those who take an interest in woman's rights to a small book now in the Havelock called " The Strike of a Sex." Tne Picton Wharf. The telegram sent by the Railway Commissioners in connection with this important matter—namely, that the £BOOO voted by Parliament for wharf extention is not available, the money having been spent on other works, is about the most impudent one ever despatched from a public office. Parliament votes money for a specific purpose and these Railway autocrats coolly apply the money to suit their own sweet will. The member for Waiinea-Picton who worked bo hard to get justice meted out to the province and this important vote passed, will, now he has returned home, lose no time we are sure in bringing the matter before the Minister of Public Works, and that gentleman will find that Mr Mills is not to be kept quiet by "sops," but backed by the whole of Marlborough will be satisfied with nothing-less than the carrying out of the intention of parliament by the prompt expenditure of the money. The Railway Commissioners may be imbued with the same ideas as succtSiive Ministers that any treitnent is good enough for poor weak little Marlborough, but in the presant instance they will find their mistake, for if needs be there is the grit in its inhabitants when united as, cliey will be in thin matter, that will make both the positions of the Railway Commissioners and aU others 1 concerned untenable unless justice is at once done. We shall patiently await the date of our next issue before submitting an offensive line of action to our readers.

The firm from whom we have obtained our large four-paged sup-' pleroents having discontinued their publication, we are making arrangements with another firm who have gained the reputation of turning out one of the best literary supplements to be obtained in the colonies. In the course of a week or two we hope to be in receipt of a supply, which will enable us to cohtinue issuing our usual weekly supplement, and we feel sure that our readers will find in them some really first-class and well-written tales and other interesting and instructive reading matter. In the meantime wa publish elsewhere an .interesting and true story qi tfye Qta#o diggings, which will be continued in our next two issues.

Those interested are reminded of the dance to. be held in the town Hall jihif «\«ninp, commencing tt $ o'clock.

G. B. Sinclair, Esq., who has long been favourably known throughout the Nelson District, calls attention through our advertising columns that he is prepared to undertake surveys, etc., or will negotiifce purchases and sales in land with prompt attention. Divine Service will (D.V.) be held at St. Peter's, Havelock, on Sunday next at. 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., and at St. Paul's, Canvastown, at 2.80 p.m.

Sir George Grey intends visiting England next month, going by way of Australia, and in company with Mr H. M. Stanley. ' A general meeting of the Marlborough Acclimatisation Society was held at Mr. Griffiths' office on Wednesday (says the Times), Mr H. L. Jackson in the chair. Considerable discussion took place as to the decrease of natiye game, and it was unanimously resolved to petition the Government to declare a ciose season for native game in Marlborough all the year round. This was all the important business. The following is the reply to the petition forwarded some time ago to the Minister of Mines:—" Gentlemen, —In reply to your petition requesting that the lands on the goldfields should not be opened for agricultural purposes, 1 am directed by the Hon. Minister of Mines to. inform you that the Warden has been instructed to grant occupation licenses only, under the Mining Act and regulations of 1891. Before granting any license the Warden has been instructed to visit and inspect the land applied for. so that every care may be taken to prevent any license being issued for land that may be auriferous.—l have, &c, P. J. W.Elliott."

The Picton Press states that they have received the following telegram—- «' The £BOOO voted last session of Parliament for wharf accommodation at Picton is not available, the Railway Commissioners having spent the amount on other works." Of course the Picton people are justly indignant at the action of the Commissioners, and as the matter not only affects Marlborough but the whole colony the question is naturally asked can a special vote of Parliament be devoted to other than the object foi|tfjtiib it is intended ? If so, thei||Hpi£ : grants for certain works is 'cnspil farce, and more than ever brings the matter of local government more prominently to the front, for if each, locality had the full management of its own losal affairs districts would not be so shamefully treated as in the present instance. On Mr Mills' return from the Nelson end of the electorate he immediately telegraphed to the Commissioner of Railways, asking if the information wag correct, and to kindly explain, but up to the time of our going to press no reply had been received. To show the interest taken in land settlement we may mention that the Guardian containing the local that twenty-seven sactions were gazetted foi* selection in the Rii Valley had not been published an hour before half-a-dozen intending settlers came into the office for further information. If anything will improve the position of the district it will be the division and B) tlement of all the land available, and we are pleased to hear on the authority of Mr Allen that several thousand acres more are to be surveyed, aid will shortly be declared open for selection.

At the conclusion of the business in the Warden's Court on Wednesday Mr Warden Allen made a statement in reference to the agricultural leases at Wakamarina to the effect that fresh applications would have to be made under the Act of 1891, and that all applications would have to be advertised twice in accordance with Rule 81, sub-section G. He also said tnat he would not be willing to grant any applications for land outside of the area between Mutton-town Creek and Deep Creek ; but if miners wishe 3 to obtain freeholds there were already several sections advertised for selection in the Rai Valley, and that two or three thousand acres more were being surveyed in the Pelorus and Rai Valleys. Attheß.M. Court on Wednesday judgment for amount and costs was given in the case of Price v. Hennesy, claim £lB 4s Id. The case of Poulson v. Riley, claim £l3 for salvage, was adjourned to the 16th March to allow of defendant's evidence being taken in Wellington. In jfcbe Warden's Court the application of Bonney and others for amalgamation of claims at Onamalutu was granted, and also the application of H. Hunter-Brown for residence area at Wakamarina.

The landing place at and a more primitive attempt to secure comfort for passengers has seldom been seen - is now completely out of repair, so it is impossible to get to or from the mail-boat at low water without getting your feet wet, and in most eases, over your ancles in niud. We think the Road Board should do something and without delay as with the track round Cullen's point being closed it means more travellers by boat. There is any quantity of good stone ballast close by, and a very good landing may be constructed at very little cost, between the Shepherds' Hut and the bridge, as it is only reared from low water to half tide, and the vehicles in attendance would always carry passengers froin there quicker than waiting so Iqng for them to get on shore at the disgugting mud hffiUlt ffikftWd $ lading pl^cu

A. T. Maginnity, Esq., Bolicitor, Nelson, who has had an extensive practice in Wardens' Courts re mining cases at Collingwood and the- West Coast, has a card in another column, and could attend in this district when specially required. We are requested to utate that to-morrow (Saturday) will be the last day of the Northern Drapery and Clothing Company's sale. ' An inset will be found in this issue to which we direct the attention of intending purchasers of drapery or clothing. Among the large number of caterers for the public we notice Mr James Canning still keeps to the front in good stable accommodation, in fact, to speak literally he " can't be rubbed out," and any travellers wishing to visit Havelock by coach will always find a representative of our genial mail coach drivers somewhere in or near these stables.