THE Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. WEDNESDAY, 13th JULY, 1898.

Southland Times, Issue 14100, 13 July 1898, Page 2

THE Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. WEDNESDAY, 13th JULY, 1898.

A good deal of business was got through in the House of Representatives last week, and Mr b'eddon is evidently bent upon improving the occasion, and advancing measures on which the loyally of the organisations on whoso support he has to rely, may be considered mainly to depend. The delivery of the Financial Statement, which seems likely to be delayed for some time yet, will be the dividing line between what we may term fancy legislation, and grave questions of policy, and what these questions may be, and in what form they will ba presented, is probably not at present known even to the Cabinet. For some reason or another, which the Premier prudently keeps to himself, he is playing a waiting game, and is not disposed to precipitate the critical period of the session. , If things were all square and straightforward, there could be no object in departing from ordinary precedent, and placing the financial condition of the colony, and the proposals oi the Government," before the Legislature and the country within a few days from the opening of Parliament. Is it to be presumed that the honourable gentleman who is more than suspected of being de facto Treasurer finds the public accounts somewhat in a tangle, and his to exercise special ingenuity to bring out the big surplus with some show of substantiality, whilst at the same time avoiding too distinct a demonstration of the very ma’erial increase of taxation, which in many and various insidious ways has been piled upon a deluded people. The fact that Ministers are faced in the House not by the mere fragment of a party, disheartened by numerical weakness,but by a consolidate Opposition, strong in debating power and containing in its ranks men eminent for financial abih 7, may further be conceived to be a wholesome check upon the imaginative flights in which the Treasurer has been wont to soar in recent Statements, and even the past master of figure manipulation who is believed to be at his elbow may find it difficult; to show that two and two make five, in such a manner as to stand critical analysis. As usual during the first two or three weeks of the session private members have been allowed an innings, and time has been occupied very unprofitably in discussing subjects more suitable for a debating society than a responsible Legislature, Mr O’Regan 'has been to the fore again with one of those empirical schemes which, with all the confidence of political youth, he believes would bring good things out of bad by revolutionising the machinery of representative government. We must go much further than mere mechanical contrivance if the' present reign of misrule, in the name of Liberalism, is to be superseded by more enlightened polity. It would be -to no purpose to discuss the details of The Preferential Voting and Proportional Representation Bill introduced by the member for Buller, since it was strangled almost at its birth by being thrown out on the motion for the second reading. Suffice to say that it had not even the merit of being a somewhat crude attempt to adapt a bill promoted many years ago by *the late Sir Frederick Whitaker, with the purpose of placing the legislative Council on an elective basis to tbs circumstances, widely different as they needs must be, of the House of Representatives. The ides worked out is the superseding of the present system of representation by what is known as the Hare system, under which the members would be chosen practically by the whole body of electors; local influences and interests being entirely eliminated from colonial politics. There is much to be said for the principle, and there would no doubt be relief from many existing evils, but it is at least questionable whether it might not be a case of “ out of the frying pan into the fire,” The machinery would be exceedingly complicated anti would certainly be open to the manipulation of caucuses, political and social. Another Daniel came to judgment ij) the person of the newly elected member for Mafaaura, whose proclaimed independence, it may be noted, vanished into thia air, as we confidently predicted it would, so soon as his name was returned on the writ. He brought in a little bill purporting, as he stated in moying the second reading, to avert waste of votes at ejections and ensure members elected haying a majority of the votes recorded at the poll. This bill was also consigned to the tomb of the Capulets, meeting with very little support even from his fellow Radicals. Measures designed to materially alter the electoral laws, should manifestly not be dealt with separately, but form part of a will considered general scheme t f reform, which, if at al), should ba un? dertaken by the Government or the Oppusiliou as a party, and not by

private members. Mr McNab, it must be presumed, is anxious to bring himself into prominence, and induce the belief-that he is somethin# more than a mere joint in the Ministerial tail, to be wagged at the whistle of the Prime Minister. The Order Paper is well, rid of bifls of which are too often dictate I by inexperience and vanity. Mr Seddon m in iged during the wee to get one of bis Labour Bills “The Wages Protection Bill ” through the House and made some progress with the debate on the second reading of the Municipal Franchise Bid. “I'he Wages Protection Bill” was fought step by step in committee' on the point ’hat this and all lab mr legislation 'should be equally applicable to workers employed by the Government as to those in ihe employment of privets persons. The divisions were very narrow, and wj are dispised to d- übt whether the bill will pass the Legislative Council in its present form. Several Ministerialists in both Houses are strongly in favour of making its operation universal, and Mr Seddon conseqtiont'y finis himself in an awkward quandary, and may.be compelled to drop the bill since he has declared that it would be impracticable to thus extend its ■ fleet. The same difficulty is certain to confront him in the Eight Hours Bill ” and other measures of a similar nature.

The Muuicipd Franchise Extension Bill, whilst ths princip’e is very generally accepted in the Wouje, is also very genera ly considered to ba going altogether too far in admitting to the franchis ’, so far at least as the election of mayors and councillors is concerned, all prisons who are on the Pailiamentary eh ctoral rolls. The result would un-. doubtedly be the entire swamping of property holder- 1 , who contribute to the Corporation funds, and placing the control of these funds in the hands of those who do not contribute, including even recipient i of charitable aid. This we are quite convinced is the real object of Mr Seddon, who thus truckle*, according t » his custom, to the proletariat, and further comforts himself with the reflection that Ministers would cease to be troubled with the unemployed in the centres of population when the governing bodies, elected by universal suffrage, sha.l hsv3 the power of spending the ratejayers money on local pubi c works, in making provision for pecuniary aid to those not able nor disposed to exert themselves. The bill reserves the voting power in the case of purely financial questions, such as the aitb< r.sing of loan”, etc., to actual ratepayers, but this is of comparatively small import. There wi ; l, it is understood, ba a strong effort made when the bill is in committee, to restrict the franchise to householders, and this, we are disposed to think, should meet all reasonable demands for the extension of the franchise; particularly si ice it is proposed to abolish the plural v »te, which gives abnormal influence to a very limited class of the community, and las in some cities and large towns led to a monopolisation of seats in the Council and other 'oial bodies in a few hands.

Y.M.C.A. Hall. — To-nighb the Rev. Alien Poole will deliver his amusing lecture entitled “Queer Fish,” illustrated by lantern pictures which give pjiqt to his remarks. There is, however, something more than fuu in “ Q leer Fish,” many of the germ? providing valuable lessons. Salvation Army. — A Maori musical troupe, under the command of Major Holdaway, visits Invercargill oa Saturday, and during ths two following days will take an active part in the meetings of the Army. Lumsden.—At the court here on Monday last, before Messrs George Johnson and J. McFetridge, J.’sP., Mrs K. Crosbie got judgment against T. Baldwin for L 7 19s for board and lodging.—Own correspondent. Gazette. — Complete specifications for letters patent have been accepted from Geo. Wm. Penny,East Gore, for improvements in tine harrows. Reversal of Trade.—There was a time when Tasmania provided most of the potatoes eaten in New Zealand. Now the process is being reversed and Canterbury derwents are being offered in Hobart for table and seed purposes. Local potatoes are scarce in the little island this year and the price is about L 7 10s per ton, Chamber op Commerce. —Mr Rout, secretary, to the local Chamber of Commerce, received a telegram from Wellington yesterday, stating that 2000 feet of space had been reserved for the whole of New Zealand, in the Paris Exhibition of 1900. This is really a very limited space for the whole of the colony, and the Government are consequently anxious to know as sion as possible how it will meet applications. A meeting of the Chamber has been called for noon today to consider the matter. Intending exhibitors cannot too socn intimate their probable requirements. Debate.—A subject of debate by the Invercargill Literary and Debating Society on Monday night was the question,—“ Is too much time devoted to athletics by the youth of New Zealand ? ” Mr A. H. Johnstone and MrD. W. Mackay took the affirmative side ; then egative was supported by Mr J. S. Campbell and Mr W. J. McKenzie. At the conclusion of the debate, the affirmative won by 10 to 9. The next meeting will be deyoted to reading? qud recitations.

Tq-Day’s Football.—l.F.C. v. Star 2nd > Eastern Reserve at 3.30 p.m.—I.F.C. : Henderson, Olliver, Henderson, Instone, McGavock, H. Hay, Strang, Black, Basstian, D. Morton, Campbell, A. Morton, Spite, Lindsay, and Buckley. Star : Collins, Hishon, De Joux, Donaldson, Mayhew, Mail, Bain, Dunlop, Brown, McNeilage (3), Stone, Nixon, Wallace, Thomson. Referee, Mr J. Manson. The following will represent the Star Club against Gore: Donaldson, Bain, Shand, Strang, Stead, Reynolds, McRobie, Murphy, Perry, Jude, Knuckey, Lee, Jenkins, Pascoe, Stone. Referee, Mr R. Galbraith. Clearly a Southland Market.—The Hobart Mercury says that the high price of meat prevailing in' that city at the preeeut time is already exercising an influence upon the quantity of fab stock being imported. There arrived by the b.s. Tarawera yesterday, from New Zealand, 200 sheep shipped by Mr W. Cawthorn. The sheep, which were in prime condition, were taken on board the vessel at the Bluff. [lmport duties on live and dead stock have been removed in Tasmania and, during tho winter months at any rate, tho possibility of a trade io beef and mutton between Bluff and Hobart might be worth inquiring into.]

Jack’s Got the Hang of It.—Mr John Hutcheson, M.H.R., writing to the Evening Post, says:—When I followed the “ briny,” and a disagreeable or dangerous duty had to be performed, if any disposition to hang back was exhibited by tho crew, the naming or threatening to name the hands was nearly always found to be “ effectual calling.” So here’s me :—your editorial article on Saturday last‘you suggested that I should place ceitain questions on the Order Paper. Asking questions is more or less gammon. There’s the question “ by arrangement,” the question “to phase the constituent,” the question “to afford the moving member a chance to growl;” but the question to extract information, or expression of opinion from the Ministry, that cannot be otherwise and more expeditiously obtained, never yet graced the Order Paper. So what’? tho good. ' Question? are mainly work for the comp.

St. John Ambulance • Association.— Owing, no doubt, to the inclemency of the weather there was only a small attendance at the annual moating of the Invercargill branch of this association yesterday evening. The annual report showed that 202 members were enrolled last year, of whom 107 presented for examination, 106 passing—s2 with credit—and 21 qualifying for medallions. Classes are to be held this year at Bluff, Lumsden, Dipton, and Invercargi'l. Efforts will also ba made to form chases in the other townships. After the had read the balance sh iet, which showed over-L5 in hand, the following officers were elected :—Patron : Hon. J. <4. Ward ; president and treasurer: Ven. Archdeacon Stocker; vice-presidents : Lieut.-Colonels Hannah and Feld wick, Captain Hawkins, Messrs J. W. Kel'y, M.H.R, Reginald McKinnon, and W. 14. Scandrett ; chairman : Mr T. W. Brebner; deputy: Mr Featherstone; secretary : Mr D. W. Ma--kay; committee: Messrs J. S. Campbell, Frederic, Ferguson, Pay, Worthington, McAuliffe, R B. McKay, H. W. Royds, J. Vermn, A. Grenfell, and J. R. Webb. A vote of thanks was passed to Drs Hogg and Macleod for their untiring iffurts in the interests of the association.

Personal.—The Wakatipu Mail gives a longish notice of a farswe 1 entertainment atKingston, in which Mr G. D. Cameron was the principal figur?. Mr Cameron had been stationmaster at the Lakeside station, and by his courteous disposition and obliging conduct had won the hearty esteem of the residents, even to a considerable distance from the scene of his duties. Being about to leave for a similar position a'. Riversda'e these good friends invited him to join them in a good old-fashioned evening’s sociality, so that they could testify how much they had appreciated him as au official and as a neighbour, and bid him good-bye. The gathering took place at the house of Mr and Mrs Quin, and the assemblage was large enough to tax its accommodation although roomy. The “ tlutsi’s Health,” and a few other toa-ts received due honour ; the first mentioned qui’e enthusiastic attention. Songs were rendered by vocalists of both sexes, and a “few remarks’ ventured upon by several gentlemen. A sumptuous supper was provided by Messrs Kingsland and Son, and after that had been disposed of dancing was enjoyed till very near the peepo’day. Asa memento of their goodwill Mr Cameron was presented during the evening with a.very handsome travelling bag, Mr R. S. Paisley acting as spokesman for the subsetibers. Mr Cameron acknowledged the gift, and assured the givers that their kindness and the happy days he had spent among them were things he would not willingly forget.

Where’s the “Sugar ’’’—The Melbourne correspondent of the Hobart Mercury says that the Maffia beet sugar business, which was boomed so energetically, has panned out very badly. It was to have given 3500 tons of sugar and this season. It has given less than 600 tons and a deficit. ■ The shareholders look blue; the farmers are wishing themselves well out of it, and the bad season is blamed for the shortage. No doubt the season has been bad, but the margin is rather worse, in that it is bigger thxn the bad season ca_n fairly bear. It is interesting to know that in the production of this resu:t the revenue loses by the 600 tons to the extent of L 3600; but what is this when you undertake to grow Polar bears on the Equator. As a great triumph it is claimed that the possibilities of growing sugar beet, and making sugar therefrom in Victoria have been clearly demonstrated. Who ever doubted these possibilities ? It is possible to extract gold from sea water, but will the extraction pay ’ Some people say yes, and these are cousins germain to our sugar beetists.

Budding Womanhood!—Two girls, 14 and 16 years of age, were charged yesterday, before Messrs J. W. Mitchill and W. H. Mathieson, J's.P., with having on 30th June defaced the Gladstone Church without the consent of the owners thereof. Mr R. H. Rattray appeared for the culprits, who admitted the offence, which they perpetrated they alleged,to play a trick on the caretaker. Sergeant Macdonell explained that the handle of the door and also a window were smeared with filth. The minister was present in court and said he regretted the occurrence and was very sorry that such a thiug had occuriei, The was brought so that it would be a warning to them. The bench was inclined to deal leniently with the girls'atid on their mothers promising to chastise them, convicted and dischargfd them, to come up for sentence when called upon. West Plains.—Last Wednesday a lantern lecture, illustrative of a trip round the woild, was given to a crowded audience by Mr W. G. Mehaffey. A large number of slides, showing views in New Zealand, Australia, North America, as well as some of the more important Continental towns, were much appreciated, and at the close Mr Mehaffey received a welLmerited vote of thanks. The proceeds, there being no expenses, will materially strengthen the funds of the school committee, by whom the entertainment was arranged. The local rifle corps is arranging to have a hall built for drill purpose if a suitable section can be obtained. There is also a petition going the round to have the district connected with Invercargill by telephone, which would be a great benefit Co the public. —Own correspondent. Correspondence on page four to day Dr H. B. Drake,"Portland, Oregan, says —“ I use Sander and Sons’ Pure Volatile Eucalypti Extract principally for diseases o the nasal cavity, throat, and larynx, and have found it very efficacious as a local application as well as internal remedy. Since I became acquainted with this preparation I used no other form of Eucalyptus,as I think it by far the best.” Dr J. M. Connell, Kansas City, Kansas, says :—“ I use Sanders and Sons’ Eucalypti Extract frequently as an antiseptic and for neuralgia, and it has given me great satisfaction. ( are has to be exercised not to be supplied with spurious preparations, as done by my supply-druggist.” Insist on getting Sander and Sons’ Eucalypti Extract, or else you will be rupplied with worthless oils. This concerns every family in Invercargill and Southland. Ris well-known that Price & Bulleid are now Jholiiog an Extraordinary Cheap Sale, and although the weather has baen so (very inclement our spacious establishment his been like a beehive. No matter what department you may visit bona fide reductions will be found. Gentlemen can get bargains iu wool and merino underclothing, socks, white shirts, linen handkerchiefs, scarfs, hard and soft felt bats. Besides, we have left over a big lot of first-class waterproof coats, which are well worth buying. This aho applies to boys’ and youths’ suits. Kindly remember the sale will be for 21 days only. Dating from 30ffi June at Price & Bulleid. SYNOPSIS OF NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. II O Cassels bas harness of every description of good quality at low prices A W Sinclair sellsp, large selection of drapery goods at Otautap, Winton, Dipbon, and Lumsden on dates specified Tenders invited for chipping the footpaths at Gladstone The football match Britannia v. Pirates is postponed McKay Bro* sell fruit, dates, ginger, onions, potatoes and nncton birds to-dav Salvation Army—The Maori musical troupe is coming Athemeum—The library will be closed on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday A boobs wanted for the Imperial hotel Lindsay has prime pork sausages every day this week