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Southland Times, Issue 11843, 17 September 1891, Page 2

Cable News.— The Great Powers are giving China another chance to keep the peace towards the.r subjects within her borders, otherwise they will let the Mongolian see their shooting irons. The British squadron has left classic Lesbos and the British Ambassador has assured the Porte that only a few sailors landed to stretch their limbs ashore. The Standard tells . Russia that if she extracts any offensive privileges from Turkey, Britain will know how to make them of none effect. Somebody haa been sending New Zealand potatoes to sell in the London market just asthe Home tubers are being " howkit" — consequence, 20s per ton. The prospects of the N.S. VV loan are not roseate. That colony however brags the world for increase of wealth, public and private, during the past decade : how is that for Freetrade. Further accounts from Spain show that the floods have been most disastrous. It is said that Balmaceda has been taken aboard of a British or U.S. warship. Rinking. — The management announce the closing nights for the season of the Britannia Rink. A ball is in preparation and vy ill come off phor tly. R.M. Court. — At this Court yesterday J. Wilson obtained judgment against John Meadows (Powelltown) for the sum of Ll ls 5d ; co3ts, 63. Whittingham Bros, ancl Instone sued Ah Wing (Round Hill) for L2l 4s Bd, beiug balance of account for rent for water and goods supplied. Judgment for amount claimed, with costs L 3 ls. Mr Brodrick for plaintiffs. Theatrical. — Mr W. G. Carey, a gentleman who will be remembered by a lew of the older identities as one of the leading members of the first dramatic company that ever played-*ift Invercargill, writes thnt lie is about to start upon a professional tour, and expects to " strike" this town about the first of October. Mr Carey has a very capable little comedy company under his direction at present, and has gained a very creditable report so far. Their repertoire, for Invercargill embraces the elegant comedy "Delicate Ground" and the farce "Betsy Baker" for the first night, and the two act comedy "Checkmate" and another piece for the second, while Mr Carey and the ladies of the company will contribute a musical interlude to each programme. Mr Carey's daughter, Cynthia, E.,who is one of his company, has made several very successful appearances in tragedy, and as he himself plays a good part in that line, it might not be a bad movement on bis part to devote a third night to what is called the legitimate drama. A few scenes from Hamlet, Macbeth, or other popular plays ought to take in Invercargill at present. It is so long since we had the opportunity of seeing a bit of tragedy that it would at least possess the attraction of novelty. At the same time we have no doubt as to the intrinsic merit of any representation Mr and Miss Carey might undertake, and feel sure their efforts in that line would be fully appreciated by all local admirers of the classic stage. Winton. — The Rev. E. Walker, organising agent of the New Zealand Alliauce, addressed a fairly attended meeting in the Presbyterian Hall on the evening of tbe 9th ' inst., aud was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.— On the same evening Mr John Crockett, farmer, and owner of racehorses, was presented with a handsome gold albert. The presentation was made by Mr A. Liddell. Mr Crockett left two days later on a visit to Britain.— At the annual meeting of the Licoensing Committee R. Mcßae was granted a conditional renewal of his license for the Commercial Hotel. At the quarterly meeting, hold on the 10th iust., Mr Mcßae intimated that Mr Starkey, late of the Railway Hotel, was likely to purchase the bouse, and the committee decided to adjourn for a I fortnight, to allow time to complete arrangements. — The Borough Couucil met on the 11th inst. Present: The Mayor (Mr Wentworth), and Councillors Moore, McArthur, McMillan and McCormack. J. Fleming's application for timber to box a drain through a corporation reserve was refused, the applicant not having asked permission to cut the drain through corporation property. Correspondence tliat had passed botwe-n the clerk and H. Totnkins, of Dunedin, who , owned section 15, block 11, which was sold . for rates, was read aud received. Accounts ; amounting to L 6 6s 6d were passed for payment. — Mr Dowse has been appointed handicapper for the November races.— Own corre- 1 spondent. j Any Salaries ? — The Agricultural Department in New Zealand has, up to the present, 3 proved a sham and a delusion, not to say a snare. It is, to put the matter plainly, a I mere signboard and nothing more. We havo j a nominal Minister of Agriculture,, and we ' have a so-called Agricultural Department, l but for any benefit thac either the one or the j other is to agriculturists, thoy might just as well be non-existent. It ought to be apparent to all thoughtful observers that mas- : much as the agricultural industry — whioh, wo may point out, means not merely grow- . ing cereals and tubers, but also stock-raising in all its branches is tho foremost industry in New Zealand ; in fact, it is the very g backbone of the colony. Hence, it seems to be unpardonable negligence on the part of f tbe Legislature that a weil-equipped Agricultural Department has yet to be estab- J lished, and that Parliament should be oven now discussing the subject as little more l than an abstract question of political c economy. Victoria has had such a depart- j ment for a score of years at least, and it has proved the best and most profitably of all c the departments of tho State, — Evening 1 Presß,

— __»—___■■— _»■■______■■_■! I -■■llßll__-M-_-__--____--__M __ w — — — — — Final.— The Buffalo Minstrels had a capital house for their final performance last night. A "Mr Brown " was adjudged to be bhe best comic singer who competed for the jup offered by Mr Hugo. The Company go north again to play a short season in Dunsdin. A Grim Joke. — They've grabbed the bwo-forty !— What's wrong now ?— Wrong ? [fc's alt right my boy — come and have a [Irink — we've got the two-forty ! — That's worth a bit of spouting ancl " poor man's friend " business, isn't it ? — You're talking ibout the honorarium, I suppose ? — Of course lam ; L 240 a year, free railway pass and perqs ! — We've done the trick !— I didn't see you vote for it ! — Not such a fool, saw there was enough without me and so voted against it. — Ha, ha ! Sly dog ! — Oh, that's nothing, I hear some of 'em arranged to pair and got the pair list held over till they saw which way the cat jumped, and altered "for" to "agaiust" when all was safe !— lt's a good card you know — "well gentlemen I think L 240 is only fair pay, but as 1 went in on the economy ticket I voted against it .' " — Hurrah for principle ! — Kapai the blooming sugar ! — "Puff" in Evening Press. Further Proceedings Interest Tjiem no More. — That particularly independent friend of the Ballance Government — the Evening Post — says that having, as they fondly hope, made secure their plunder of L 240 a year, the members of the House of Representatives have evidently no more time to waste over pretending to attend to the interests of the country. To get home as quickly as possible fco luxuriate on the prospect of L2O a month for doing nothing, is now the desire of their souls, and to arrive at this bliss the more quickly they are prepared even to restrain their tongues. They laugh to scorn the idea of some old-fashioned people that, being paid a sufficient salary for the whole year, it is their duty to remain at work while there is work to do. They have no weak scruples of conscience about earning their money. The change which has come over the spirit of the House since the Payment of Members Bill passed, was made very apparent last night. There was only a pretence of discussing the Public Works Statement, and the Estimates were hurried through in the most perfunctory manner. Waimumu" Road Board. — A meeting of this Board was held on Monday. Present — Messrs Keir (Chairman), Grieve, jßooth, Mutch, McGowan, and Barrie. The County Council wrote that they would not give money subsidies towards bird-poisoning bnt ' would supply wheat as last year. — The manager of Edendale Estate wrote in reference to the road complained of by Mr Craig, that it had been harrowed over. It was seldom used and there was no ground for complaint. — The application of R. Little to have the road past his property cleared was referred to the engineer. — R. Simpson having applied to have his forfeited deposit returned Mr Mutch gave notice to move at next meeting in that direction. — The request of the Charlton School Committee to have the road leading to the school repaired was granted. — The application of Messrs McKechnie and Thompson to bave drains on Bushy Park road cleaned out was held over till next meeting. — The Chairman gave notice to move at next meeting that the Couuty Councils bylaws as to width of tyres be adopted. — A statement of estimated receipts and expenditure was submitted, whicli showed a sum cf L 430 available for works. — On the application of Mr Barrie LSO was voted for a deviation of the road leading to his property. — The Engineer was instructed to prepare specifications and call for tenders for works amounting to over L 350. — It was resolved that 2£d per dozen be paid for birds' eggs and 3d per dozen for birds' heads. — Own correspondent. 1.0. G.T. Celebration. — The anniversary fathering held in the Temperance Hall on londay evening to celebrate the completion of tlie 19th year of Good Templarism in Invercargill and New Zealand was successful beyond anticipations, the hall being crowded with members and friends. The Chief Templar (Bro. R. Taylor) took occasion to refer to this as a proof that public interest in the cause of total abstinence and prohibition was reviving. Ho also referred to the lamented death of JBro. A. Thomson, speaking in praise of the services rendered by him in the Band of Hope as well as in the senior lodge, to which he had been recently translated. Bro. J. Stead delivered a retrospective address, mentioning many interesting events in the history of the Lodge, and urging the claims of total abstinence upon all who had not identified themselves with the cause. Members of the Band of Hope sang a memorial hymn out of respect to their late comrade, Bro. Thomson. Sister McGregor was presented by Bro. Stead on behalf of Bro. L. Cheyne, witli a lady's handbag of Russia leather, won in competition with otlier members of the lodge. Bro. McLiskey, on behalf of the Harmony Committee, presented to Bro. Stead and Sis. McGregor degree badges won at a spelling bee at one of the lodge meetings. A concert programme was provided, to which the following contributed :— Sisters Jacquiery, McLean, and Clark ; Misses Mcßobie and E. Mair ; Messrs AY right and W. Farnie ; and Bros. W. V. Robb, A. McKellar, A. Jordan, W. Jacquiery, and others, Miss Geddes acting as accompanyisfc. Votes of thauks having been accorded to all who had assisted, the cathering broke up with the singing of a verse of the National Anthem. According to tiietr Lioiits. — On the motion for the third reading of the Payment of Members Bill being pnt, Mr McGuire moved as an amendment that the bill be read a third time that day six months. Mr Mitchelson supported the amendment. It was a monstrous thing the hon. members should pay to themselves an additional LIO,OOO a year, especially as nearly every ' member was returned pledged to retrenchment. — Mr Kelly (luvercargill) placed ou record his protest against the measure. He had been returned to carry out every possible economy. Economies were begun by the present Ministry while they were in Opposition, and it seemed to him altogether out of place that members should vote this additional sum of money into their own pockets. — Mr Rolleston was quite satisfied that the country would judge as between the members in the action just taken. He had consistently opposed the bill. — The Post-master-General said his experience in Parliament had caused him to change his mind on the honorarium question. There were now increased responsibilities and increased duties cast on members.— Mr R. Thompson said that members te be consistent could not cut down the salaries of the Civil servants, and he should desist from the course he had hitherto taken thereon. Members should not have beeu in such a hurry to increase their ewn emoluments. He congratulated the Government on raising LIO,OOO by means of a totalisator tax and then voting the same amount towards increasing the salaries of members. — The Minister of Works said that the Liberal policy instituted by Sir George Grey years ago was manhood suffrage, triennial Parliaments, and the payment of members, and the last plank had been put into effect that mornine. The amount voted was a reasonable one, and the country would justify it. — Mr Carncross said that he had not to justify his vote, as he had told his constituents that he would vote for paying members, up to L 250. — The Hon, Mr Ballance maintained that L3OO, the same as in Victoria, would have been a proper amount to have paid membera. That would have boen an adequate payment, and not too much. Opened.— Our usual monthly parcel of ohoice trouterings atd suitings. Aa we ah-iw over 300 patterns of Tweeds and Worsteds customera have gool vaiiety to select from. Also opened a selection of waterproof material whioh wa make up in coata to order.— Thomson akd Beattib.