PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. MONDAY, Ist JUNE, 1891.

Southland Times, Issue 11750, 1 June 1891, Page 2

PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. MONDAY, Ist JUNE, 1891.

There was no celebration of John Wesley's centenary in this, nor ac far as we are aware in any otber, part of New Zetland outside of the Wesleyan Communion. Tbe people of Otago, md <>d (Scotsmen all over the colony, make themselves glad with the fumes of haggis and whisky toddy regularly as Burns's anniversary comes round. It is not then because they are not in the custom of commemorating great men that Wesley was forgotten by non- Wesleyan New Zealanders; Tbe centenary of Fcott's 1 birth was also celebrated with a perfect deloge of oratory, and of course with a corresponding consumption of those things which sustain life and make good cheer ; for if Burns sang the praises of baggis and Scotch drink, there is nothing more noticeable in what used to be called tbe Scotch novels than the heartiness with which tbeir author on all suitable occasions describes the " feeding " of his characters. But Sir Walter, it will be said, was a Pcot of the Scots, as national in his character and his writings as Burns himself, though not possessed of so much lyric fervour, the thing after all which more than any other goes t the heart of a people. That is quit true Scott, Burns, and John Knox are the three modern Scotsmen who reprnent, aud who ban in grtM»eawr«,

moulded tbe Scottish nation . Bat Scotsmen are not so exclusive in tbeir sympathies a3 some nartow-minded folk on the other side of the Border woald have the world believe. Or if tbej are the most clannish they are at the same time the most cosmopolitan of mankind Their minds are, so to speak, capacious enongh for such a boomingly self-contra-dictory character. Bat we 'are writing as if New Zealanders were all Scotch. Well, in this part of tbe colony, with which we are more immediately concerned, tbe great majority hail, either directly or through their parents, from the Laud o' Cakes. Otago and Southland are to all intents and purposes a Scotch colony, and just as Orcadians speak of going to Scotland when they r:ross the ferry, so does it seem like going to a foreign country to an "Id Identity when he crosses the Waitaki, to say nothing of Cook's Strait. But notwithstanding all this, the O'd Identities are, like tbeir brothers at Home (we have scarcely got the length of mere cousin ship yet) and their forbears, a thoroughly cosmopolitan people, Their capital city, tbe new Modern Athens, is a centre of enlightenment to tbe Southern Hemisphere. Its politicians have given the Old Country statesmen many a wrinkle, while its philosophers have nearly exploded all tbe superstitions that still haunted our Nineteenth Century civilisation. John Knox would scarcely know his own descendants ; even Dr Ghulmers would be amazed at their progress towards all kinds of univeisaliem since be went to rest. Why then did they not join their Wesleyan neighbours in cele- | brating the memory of one of the world's great men ? They had commemorated Martin Luther, John Wickliff, and even Tom Moore. Why was John Wesley forgotten ? Wesley was not so great a man as Luther, perhaps not so great as Wickliff, the Morning Star of tbe Re formation, but he was as high above the Anacreon of '' Ould Ireland" as the heavens are above tbe earth. If the truth must be told, Wesley wss never a favourite with the Scottish people. Mtnlv dism did not find a congenial home north of the Tweed. The Scotch would themselves have said, like the old farmer when asked to have some rhubarb at a lnird's dinner, that they did not require it. Thpy wrre all good Presbyterians, and sound in the faith, which John Wesley was not, at least according to their notions of orthodoxy. A staunch Presbyterian — the man who bad the Confession of Faith and tbe Catechisms Larger and Shorter at his finger endslooked upon an Arminian much in the Harne way as he looked upon a Romanist. He considered him as more or less clu6ely in alliance with the Antichrist. Accordingly when Wesley went to Scotland to preach he got little or uo response from the people. They sat unmoved under his most fervent appeals or most solemn denunciation. Though they were good Presbyterians, they would yet have acknowledged that they were miserable sinners, but they were not to be converted or edified by a follower of the Dutch beresiarcb. Nor was there any love lost between them and this itinerant preacher who claimed the whole world for his parish. Wesley sets down bis opinion of them in his diary — a people, he says, " who hear much, know everything, and feel 00---thinp." The great man was not quite fair tethe Scotch. He did not make allowance for tbe strength ' of tbeir theological convictions. He forgot the strength of his own. Had he not called the distinctive points of Scottish orthodoxy " doctrines of devils ? ' How in the world could any Calvinist, and particularly a Scotch Presbyterian, be expected to receive benefit from the lips of a man who bad uttered such an almost blasphemous statement ? It was Wesley's " unsoundness in the fundamentals " that prejudiced the adherents of the Confession of Faith against him. They were not so wanting in feeli ig ns Weeley imagined. They could melt into tears under the preaching of his brother Whit field. Standing on a gravestone in some quiet country churchyard as the summer sun was slowly sinking (this being an extra " preaching," for the Scotch of these days would not have deserted tbeir own church, no matter how much they inighl have happened to dislike their minister, to hear the A postle Paul himself', that greatest of modern preachers swayed the multitude before him as tho wiod sways a field of ripened grain — sturdy children of the Covenant, grave men and devout women, who had gsthered far and near from glens and hillsides to receive the "Word ' from the man of God. It was Wesley that did not know how to reach the hearts of ihe people whom he thought so hard. But even to the present day there is a species of antagonism, or at least a very decided want of sympathy, between Methodism and Preebytt-rianism. Apart from the doc trinsl differences, which still count for something even in these untheoiogical days, there is something in the Wesleyan method that jars on the Presbyterian mind. The followers of John Knox have their" experiences '' too, but they keep them closely pent up in their own hearts. A godly Presbyterian would hardly venture to speak of such matters to his own wife. This profound reserve Wesley mistook for want of feeling, while the Hcotch could scarcely understand how a man who denied tbe doctrine of election, thereby imperilling the soverfignty of grace, could be a believer. It was a clear case of incompatibility, though, paradoxical as it may sound, of the incompatibility of the good. Wesley was one of the best aa well as greatest of men. To him, under God, is the world indebted for the revival j of religion in tbe eighteenth centory. j His preaching did more to counteract the rampant infidelity of that age and christianise the British people at Home ' and abroad than all the other agencies put together. Whether Weeley intended to found a church or not (be remained a member of the Church of England to the day of- his death), the communion now called by his name numbers millions of adherents in all parts of tbe earth, and carries on the work which he began, if not with his all absorbing real, yet ia the same spirit, and for the same end— tho saving of souls and regeneration of the world. Wesley was great bh a prcacue", great as an organiser, and great as a man, but greatest of all as a Christian. It was bis faith that ennobled all his other and graces, and placed him in the Barae category, if not on ttie same level, with Paul ami Augustine, &n& Luther *ad Sooz,

Cable News. — If Russian police Btate- ' ments are true the Czar was to have been accorded a very warm reception in Moscow, to which city, by latest accounts, he has gone. It is supposed that the vanished Chilian steamer itata is on the way to Australia. The Pennsylvanian coke-burners have been compelled to go back to work after their long strike. The United States Government is likely to take offence at the French Admiral's high-handed doings in Newfoundland. Somebody has tried to steal the mortal remains of old Barnum. It is expected th*t money will be very dear for some time to come. The Economist thinks that methods will have to be altered if it is desired that the public and not syndicates should take up colonial loans. Captain Kane of H.M.S. Calliope has received tardy recognition for the Apia incident — he has been made a C.B. Belle Bilton is now a countess. The sculling match Sullivan v. Bubear was rather more exciting than usual. The hitter after being apparently hopelessly behind came within six feet of his opponent in the last few yards. The time is also said to have been the lasteat on record. The French Government have thanked Charlie Beresford for saving one of their ships in the Levant lately. The Mexican Government allowed the Chilian warship Esmeralda to coal and depart in peace for the same reason that actuated the Provost of Edinburgh when he opened the gates of the city for Viscount Dundee, namely " Tha toon ia we 1 rid o' that deil o' Dundee." Cholera is so prevalent in the Red Sea that a quarantine has been established at Suez. Thousands of Jews have been ordered to leave Warsaw : Mr Gladstone's only hope for the amelioration of their condition is the concentrated voico of Europe. The people who, deluded by the Nationalist leaders, came out of the town of Tipperary to occupy a new town built by the League, have long [ since found that their new landlords understood rack renting aa well as the old and have now gone back to their old homes and places of business and there is a town to let. The pinch of hunger is making several of the continental nations freetraders willy-nilly.

Ante-Dated. — Atthe request of a number of their patrons the committee of the Orchestral Union have decided to give their concert on Tuesday evening instead of on Wednesday.

Under Reasonable Restrictions. — The Government have decided to allow seals to be killed during July and August of this year, subject, however, to the restriction that no female or cow seal, and no seal under 36 inches in length is to be killed.

And They Wont Foroet it.— The Rev. James Wells, of Pollokshields, Glasgow, wrote home from Egypt to his congregation that " the missionaries tell us that the British havealreadydone more on behalf of the oppressed peasants than has been done since the days ol the first Pharoah."

A Vanishing Band. — The census returns of the Maori population are all in. The figures, which are subject to revision, are -. —North Island, 39,452 ; South Island, 1860. Total, 41,312. The census returns of 1886 were 41,432, so that the quinquennial census juss taken shows a decrease of 120.

Up or Down? — George Hewitt, a man with a wife and seven children, living at Bingera, near Inverell, N.S. W., in a halfclothed and half-starved condition, and almost without shelter, won Tattersall's LIO,OOO consultation on the Birthday Cup. The family has lived ia the greatest poverty, receiving clolhes and food from the townspeople.

"PRoruTTY."— The propertied classes of the United Kingdom, numbering 10^ millions, are said to receive a yearly income of L.850,000,000 sterling, while the wage-earning classes, numbering 26 1 millions, receive a yearly return of L 500.000.000 sterling. This shows that the average per head for the propertied classes is nearly LBl, and for the wage-earning classes nearly Ll9.

"The Day ok Small Thiws."— An electric apparatus supplies a strong light which attracts insects anil moths ; a suction fan worked by the electric current draws them in and carries them into a small mill, also worked by the current, where they are ground up and mixed with flour, and thus converted into poultry food of excellent quality. This 13 said to be a Bavarian contrivance.

Cadet Cokfs. — The Central School cadet corps have been regularly drilled in military movements for the past three months by Sergeant- Major Blackmore and the teachers. The Government last week forwarded 50 carbines, belts, and cartouches, and on Thursday afternoon the boys received their first instruction in the manual drill, and were put through sompany drill by Instructor Blackmore. The arms seemed to steady the boys, for their drill showed a marked improvement.

Southland Hospital. — Patients remaining from previous week, l(i miles and 4 females ; admitted during the week, 4 males; discharged during the week, 1 male and 1

female ; remaining in the institution, 19 males and 3 females ; out-patients treated during the week, 25 males and 20 females Tiie secretary desires to acknowledge with thanks the receipt of L 5 from Mr Me Allan of Otama ; also a parcel of fruit and vegetables from the Primitive Methodist Church. — Messrs Walker and Riddell will be the visiting trustees thia week.

Horrible Death. — Last week, after lighting a fire in the kitchen on the Bandwick racecourse, Sydney, the cook found that the place filled with smoke. He extinguished the fire and on looking up the chimney saw a man jammed in the flue feet downward. He was dead and it took several hours' work to get the body out of the chimney. When'the steamer left, the body had not been identified, but the unfortunate wretch was supposed to have been a vagrant and that he got stuck in the chimney whilst attempting to make his way down to rob the kitchen, and was suffocated by the heat and smoke resulting from the previous day's use of the fireplace. A note-book with several betting transactions recorded in it was the only property found in his clothing.

Bluff Harbour Board. — A meeting of the Harbour and Works Committee was held in Mr Sharp's office on Saturday at noon, to consider tenders for repairs and additions to the older portion of the wharf. Three tenders were received, and the lowest, that of John and James Walker, was accepted, the amount being LS66. It was also decided to instruct the Board's engineer to draw out plans and specifications for adding 150 feet to the main wharf, eastward in continuation of the deep water berth — to be constructed of imported timber, sheathed up to low water mark with yellow metal over felt, the width of the addition to be 25 feet. Tenders will be invited for the new work as soon as possible.

West Plains. — Threshing in this district is all done and most of the grain is sold ; about Is 3d per bushel seems to be about the top price for oats. One of the ministers who used to conduot service out here in speaking about farmers in general said that farmers took the trouble to plough the ground, sow the seed, cut. cart, and put the crop in stacks ; working eqrly and late to secure the grain in good condition ; and then, for the sake of a little extra labour to thatch the stacks, when the threshing mill came they had !fe take crowbars, picks, crosscut saws, and long handled shovels to separate the sheaves. This would apply to some of us this time, as there is great complaint about the grain being damp ; in faot I have heard of one or more who have soid and sent away their grain and have had to oart it home again. The yield is very good ; I know of one party who sowed two and a half bags of oats and threshed 75 bags from same. They say a new broom sweeps clean but this does not apply in our case for our roads will soon be a regular puddle as the water lies in the holes day after day with no one to let it out. We pay ordinary and special rates and the County Council have spent the magnificent sum of one pound ou our road ! — The monthly meeting of the school committee was attended by Messrs G. Knipe (chairinanj, Jennie, Philpott, Whyte and Hardwick. Tlje fpachtir reported the average attendance for the month to be 61 7, and tbe tender for firewood of Mr Bennie at ]Is per cord wo 8 accepted. I see by the Inspector's annual rej^ort to the Education Board that our committee is the only one mentioned in the report and stands first for attendance to tho inspector's orders and the teacher for tho manner in which he encourages the pupils to diligence in ftttendMCa tgd. I«»SORB,wQw« crrrwpcs;d«t,

Fitting Recognition. — Mr Fuller, who has been headmaster of the Limehills school for nearly fifteen years, and who resigned a month or two ago, was presented in the school on Friday afternoon by Master George Deegan, in the name of his schoolmates, with an elegant and complete writing desk ; and in the evening, at a social gathering, by Mr Alex. Cowie who presided, with a handsome travelling case and silver mounted meerschaum pipe, subscribed for by the householders ; also, by Mr J. Murphy, in the name of the " old boys," with a purse of sovereigns and an illuminated address. Mr Fuller suitably acknowledged all the gifts. Among the speakers who bore testimony to Mr Fuller's many good qualities and abilities as a tf acher, besides thechairman, were Messrs Andiew Cowie and Thomas Shand. Of course a dance followed, which was kept up with great spirit to good music till well on in the morning. — Own correspondent.

Professor Anderson.— Our Winton correspondent writes — " We had the Indian Juggler here a month or two ago and both he and his bag of tricks were pronounced frauds. Not so Professor Anderson, who appeared in the Exchange Hall on Thursday evening. The Professor's entertainment is a high class one and for over two hours he had his large audience in Wonderland. Those who were deceived by the juggler had themaelves to blame, for had they believed what the Times said about him after his appearance in Invercargill they would have remained at home. I would advise those who, after witnessing the juggler's tricks, said they would never go to another entertainment of the aort, to unsay it, and spend a night with the Professor and Mdlle. Blanche." Just so. The Professor re-opens to-night in the Theatre Royal, when, in addition to an entertainment of the excellence •f which sufficient has already been said, he will distribute gifts among his patrons, the chief being a horse, the appearance of which on the streets on Saturday night attracted some attention.

Funeral. — The remains of the late Mr James Robb, who was killed at the Lumsden railway station on Tuesday last while carrying out his duties as brakesman, were buried in the Eastern Cemetery yesterday afternoon. There was a very large attendance, among those present being members of the r^ilw»y service and representatives of the Druids, Good Templars, and Onward Band of Hope, with which institutions the deceased bad been connected. The mourners assembled at the house of deceased's father in Liddel street, and shortly after 2 p.m. the procession proceeded thence to railway station, where a train was in waiting to convey the party, which filled twelve carriages, to the plaoe of interment. Service at the grave was impressively carried out by the Rev. G. Lindsay, as were also the burial rituals of the Orders of Druids and Good Templars. It was intended that appropriate hymns should have been sung by members of the Onward Band of Hope, but heavy rain fell during the interment and that part of the obsequies had to be dispensed with. Numerous wreaths and floral offerings were placed upon the coffin. Having paid their last tribute of respect to one who was esteemed for his good qualities, and whose untimely end has excited a widespread feeling of sympathy for his parents, the onlookers re-entered the carriages and returned to town.

Ministerial Visit. — The Hon. R. J. Seddon, Minister of Pnblic Works, Defence, and Mines, arrived in Invercargill last night a few minutes after 6 o'clock. The evening beiug very wet there was but a small gathering of the public at the station, but the Minister was received by Messrs Kelly and Mackintosh, M.H.R.'s, Mr Scandrett, Town Clerk, Mr J. P. Joyce, and others. Mr Seddon came via Clinton from Lawrence, and advantage was taken of the running of the special to bring down a long train of trucks laden with produce. This was unexpected, and as waggon after waggon passed the platform someone said, interrogatively, " Ministerial ballast ! " Mr Seddon and party drove to the Southland Club Hotel where he will put up during his brief stay. Following is the programme of the Minister's arrangements for to-day : — Goes over the Seaward Bush railway, leaving Invercargill by special train at 8.15, returning at 9.30 a.in; deputations, from 9.30 to 11 a.m.; leaves Invercargill for Orepuki at 11, returning at 5 p.m. Further deputations will be received from 5 to 6 ; banquet at 8, and leaves at midnight by special train for Clinton to catch the early train from there for Dunedin. Mr Seddon's movements are extremely hurried and he would gladly have taken things more leisurely, but it is essential that he should reach Lyttelton on Wednesdaj evening in time to catch the steamer . for Wellington, aud he has business to do at Oamaru on his journey up. His presmce in Wellington is now urgently required to prepare for the meeting of Parliament.

A Dangerous Neighbour. — A quarrymaster named Keene was charged at Melbourne last week whh keeping 500 1 b of gunpowder in one place, the law only allowing of 200 lb being so stored. Mr Hake, inspector of explosives, stated that he called at Keene's. and in a wooden outhouse, used apparently for a wash-house, 26 quartercasks of powder were stored ; each weighed about 25 lb, and within 2ft. of the lot a washing copper stood. An examination of the cinders and the water proved that a fire had recently been alight. Stored in the same room, which was a very small one, and within 12ft. of the dwelling-house, were a number of empty powder casks and dynainitte cases, and a board had been removed from the wall for some purpose ; this left an opening to the street through which it would be possible for a spark from a pipe or cracker to cause the whole to explode. He called Keene's attention to the fault, and said he would be prosecuted. He then explained that the explosives were under seizure, and called upon the occupier, under the 43rd section, to detain the stock till the case should have been disposed of, but on calling on the following day he found that it had been all removed, and Keene was notable to account for its disappearance. — The Bench said the case was fully proved, and a fine of 5s for every pound over 200 lb that was in the shed namely 450 lb, would be inflicted, therefore the defendant would be fined Lll2 10s, with LlO 10s costs. For the second charge, of not detaining the powder in obedience to the inspector's instructions after ifc was seized, a further fine of L 5, with Llo los costs, was imposed.