The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, JULY 11, 1889.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8522, 12 July 1889, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, JULY 11, 1889.

Sib Julius Voqel once, when in a merry mood in the House, made the remark that "if a dog's tail were the strongest it would waggle the dog." The Opposition at the present time is in the position of that dog's tail, and consequently is waggling tbe Government. A meeting of country members, numerously attended, was held last Tuesday morning, when, with the exception of Sir John Hall and Dr Hodgkinson, it vraa decided to adhere to their olaim for the 33£ per cent, quota of representation. Subsequently the exeoutive committee, Messrs. Lance, Seymour, and Macarthur, waited on the Premier and demanded the withdrawal o£

the Representation Bill and the substitution for it of the alternative measure the Government assert they have in readiness, and whioh shall grant the quota asked for by the country members. The Premier ottered to meet them by putting up Committee of Supply, when they could move across it a motion for the quota ; and he also asrrsed to concede so far as 25 per cent. This the deputation refused to listen to, and maintained their demand for the withdrawal of the Representation Bill and the concession of the 33 J quota. The matter was settled by the Premier agreeing to withdraw the Representation BiU in the evening, and to bring down tbe alternative bill, in whioh the quota shall be left blank, and shall be moved for by the country members themselves. The Representation Bill has not actually been yet withdrawn, but the debate was adjourned to give the Ministers time to consider their position. Binee then the House h«8 been engaged with the prirute bills introduced by members, but the Government whip has been most activa in_ gathering the intention of mrmbers with regard to their futare action in tho matter. The Opposition, which now really consists of the country members, are very determined on the question of quota, and will compal the Ministry to brins; dovn the bill to increase their quota of representation from 18 per cent, which it now is, to 33£ per cent. When that bill is brought down, we should not be surprised to learn that_ a successful attempt has been made to introduce a clause in it to increase the number of members ; or at all eventß to suspend > tbe aperation of the Act that reduces the members of the House until after the next election. If such an Aot became law the Ministry would at once be voted out of office. They wsuld then appeal to the country, and a general election take plaoe. It would be the best thinß the Government could do to facilitate snch an event if thay really have the welfare of the country at heart.

A member, the other day, in the House suggested that the Premier should furnish as an addenda to his Financial Statement, a return of all the bankruptcies that have taken place during the year, and a statement of how many persons have left the colony since his return had been compiled. We notice that the first has been supplied to members. According to a return laid on the table of the House, 868 bankruptcies occurred in tbe Colony during the year ending December, 1888. Of these the liabilities in 256 ranged from £100 to £250; in 198 from £50 to £100; in 151 from £500 to £1000; iD 97 from £1000 to £2000; in 47 from £2000 to £5000; and in 22 from £5000 upward. In 66 oases the liabilities did not reach £50. The districts in which the bankruptcies were recorded were as follow: — Northern distriot, 151 ; Wellington, Nelson, and Westland, 276; Canterbury. 237; Otago and Southland, 204. The full return of the immigration and emigration for the quarter is not forthcoming yet, but for the month of June the result has not been at all favorable to the colony. 'The returns for the colony show the arrivals have been 664, while the departures were 969. The arrivals were : From the United Kingdom, 177; New South Wales, 223; Victoria, 201; Tasmania, 25 ; other places, 38. Total, 664. The departures were : To the United Kingdom, 185; New Sonth Wales, 445 ; Victoria, 276 ; South Anstrolia, 2 ; Tasmania, 16 ; other places, 45. Total, 969. As Dr. Pollen, with some truth, said in the Legislative Council, the other day : — " We_ appear not to have the wisdom to spend sixpence in importiag fitting human stock for our waste lands, though we know that therein lies the best hops of progress for this oolony — the broad way out of the difficulties that beset us."

Captain Edwin telegraphed this afternoon: — "North to east und south-east gale and heavy sea. Glass fall again."

Mr Jones' coach met with another accident on the South. Road, near Rahotu, on Thursday, while coming to town. On tbe extremely dangerous piece of road a little this side of the hotel at Rahotu tbe leaders ran off into tbe swamp, and broke the whipple-tree. With a bit of patching Mr Jones managed to come in to town. A serioub accident will occur here before the County Council deem it advisable to repair the road.

A notice affecting footballers and lookers on at matches played on the raoecourae will be found in anotbtr column. It is a warning from the Jockey Club, who complain of the racing track being cut up by persons who bring horses on the course aud then tie them up to the racing track rails, to the injury of the turf. Now that attention has been called to this matter, it is to be hoped that it will not be repeated.

The precooity of some juveniles is proverbial, but if cool cheek can be called precocity the following sample by a boy is rather rich :—lt: — It appears that a medico who practices not one hundred miles from New Plymouth engaged a boy to drive round with him on his daily rounds, and look after his sulky, carriage, or whatever it may b», while he (the doctor) was looking at his patients. On the first day of the engagement the d cot or and boy set out m the rounds, and had got partially through when the boy, mistaking the doctor's kindness, doubtless, for a sort of good fellowship, thought he would reciprocate it, and taking out a packet of cigarettes, he put one in his mouth and lit it, and then turning on the doctor remarked , " I say, bos ; have a cigarette." The dootor did not have a cigarette, but he drove direct to the parental domicile of the boy, whom he left there with tbe intimation that he did not want him any more. The boy, to use a hackneyed phrase, was "getting too beastly familiar," and the doctor took prompt measures to check such a spirit, as far as he was concerned, by giving instant dismissal.