The Taranaki Herald.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8743, 1 April 1890, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald.

PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, APRIL 1,~1890i Wno is to be the leader in the House next session '? This is a subject several of the I southern papers are commenting on. It is feared Sir Harry Atkinson's health will not permit him to take that active part in the business of the House he has hitherto done, notwithstanding that he has slightly improved. The Wellington Post, in an article prompted by the suggestion of the probability of the Hon Mr Bryee being called to the Ministerial benchesand to the office of Premier, thus refers to Sir Ha>ry Atkinson as a statesman and a politician : — " Opposed thouj^li we are to his policy, we recognise most fully his integrity and his ability. He stands as a political leader head and shoulders above any other man in the House ; and although we disapprove of much that he has done or tried to do, we give him full credit for having always been actuated by high and honourable motives. His political record is really an irreproachable one, although, of course, many persons equally conscientious believe that he has very often pursued a mistaken course in dealing with public questions. Personally Sir Harry Atkinson is deservedly held in the highest possible respect, and his political opponents would, no less than his friends, regret his being compelled to retire through ill-health." After going through a list of names, including Bryce, Ballance, and Fisher, the /'oKtfwindsiip by saying: — " The general result of our review of the position is that the very greatest difficulty will be found in supplying Sir Harry Atkinson's place, and that no successor of nearly equal qualifications can be found in the present House of Representatives. If this is the case when there are 91 members to choose from, the difficulty is not likely to be reduced when the limits of selection are reduced to 7Q members. There is no reason to believe that the mediocrity which is the present distinguishing feature of the popular branch of the Legislature, will be at all lessened with a smaller number of representatives. The reduction in number will not in any way be likely to produce any improvement in quality of the representatives. We look forward with some alarm to the probable mental and political calibi-e of the Aj misters of the immediate future."

Mr Newton King will sell by auction a consignment of fruit to-morrow morning, also privileges in connection with the Easter Sports in the Recreation Grounds. Mr Ballance's village settlements north of Auckland appear to have been going down hill lately. It was reported to the Land Board last week that a large number of sections had been forfeited. At Takahue twenty-five sections have been forfeited, and sixteen still remain occupied. At Herekino 106 sections are forfeited, and forty-four still remain occupied. The San Francisco correspondent of the Auckland Herabl on March 8, says :—: — •■ Mr R. J. Creighton, the local agent of the New Zealand Government, is again able to be up and about on crutchep. The broken bone in his left leg knitted as fust as could be expected, all things considered. Ho expec vs to discard his crutches ere long. The accident which o- ;urred just before Christmas consequently lo.jd. \\\\\\ up jjo.r

\V. E. Gladstone broke his leg and was shot at Auckland. He was a racehorse. Mr G. E. Tolhurst, who has been for some time past acting general manager of the Bank of New Zealand, left by tin mail steamer, says the Herald, for Sydney on Sunday, his intention being to proceed to England on a trip, having been granted six months' leave of absence. There are drawbacks attaching to the membership of local bodies, even in such a placid place as Patea, over Taranaki way The late Mayor was being " hauled over the coals" in Council for his fault of omission and commission in connection with borough affairs during his occupation of the chair, and naturally he spoke up for himself. " During his term of office," said he, "he had had! to fight the clerk, who was boss of the atl'air, not only in ofiicial work in the office, but also outside tho office, and he (Cr. Adams) had gone about for some weeks with a black eye received in au cucountcr with that clerk." Tho "Wellington Watchman" in the' Ctitholic Times " distrusts and detests newspapers and newspaper editors, and sees an editor — and an enemy — in every bush." The Feilding Star says :— " We have pleasure in putting on record tho fact that there was one editor on this coast who reverenced Sir Robert Stout so much that ho named a splendid Langshan rooster after the Kuight, becauso he was such a fine bird, and made such a blasted row about nothiug." The following paragraph, which speaks for itself, is taken from the Esscc 'Telegraph issuo of February Bth, a paper published in Colchester :— " What tho New Zealand Fanners are Doing. — These enterprisingcolouists now place upon our market the rich dairy produce of their pastures at that time of our year when so much difficulty is always experienced in obtaining really good butter at a low price. It is now sold at Is per lb., and quite equals the quality of many Normandy butlers sold at much higher prices. It can bo had from Lazell & Sons." The Mantnoatu Standard has causo to continue growling at the management of the railways in this district in the matter of newspaper stamps. "Now a -days," says the Wcnigunui Herald, in commenting on the above, "therailways charge for carry ing papers as they do everything else. But while you can book your goods at any station on the line, newspaper stamps for the Palmerston, Uawera, and New Plymouth papers have to be procured 'at Wanganui." The Standard says: — "We bad paid the money, and the stamps had been duly sent for ; but though, because of departmental neglect, they had not arrived in time, our parcels were refused carriage at newspaper rates. How long ! Oh Lord ! how long ?" Mr Cowern, says the Patea Press, continues to keep in touch with both settlers and new comers. He has just completed the sale of Messrs W. and S. flower's interest in *he Huiakaina Block consisting of over 4000 acres to Mr Stewart, of Waimate, the price % being 25s per acre. He has also negotiated the sale of 1200 acres in the upper Pohukura Block at 9s 6d per acre, Mr Fogwill being the purchaser. It will be noticed that Mr Hudson, of Kakaramea, is having a clearing sale on the sth proximo, Mr Cowern having succeeded in leasing Mr Hudson's homestead to Mr Schinkel on satisfactory terms. It is pleasing to note the increased demand for land in this district as it is a more than good omen. Referring to the late bush fires in the district, the Lytlclton Times says :—": — " Dire disaster has befallen a number of our fellow-colonists in Taranaki. While water has been sweeping in destructive might over the eastern valleys of Australia, the even more terrible element of fire has been scorching the Taranaki farms with devouring breath. What the losses caused by the bush fires are exactly we do not know. It is a pity, however, that it has not occurred to some one in an official position here to ask. We read of pastures swept off, fences, outbuildings, fruit crops, plantations, and garden stuff burned, of stock injured, and in a word of struggling farmers left utterly destitute. Perhaps local generosity may be equal to the task of relieving the distressed. Still, for the credit of Christchurch, we are sorry that no one has thought it worth while to so much as enqnire whether a modest contribution from this part of the Colony might have been of service. Referring to the wreck of the Quetta a contemporary says :—": — " It seems probable that when the engineers found the ship iv danger they must have all rushed to the engine room and opened all the steam valves. This prevented the explosion of the boilers, but cost those brave white men their lives. Mr McMurchie, the chief engineer, is spoken of by Captain Withers, late of the Quetta, in the highest terms. That officer has sailed with him in various vessels during the last twenty years, and was a very fine man. The second and other engineers were also exceptional men. It is no doubt due to their self-sacrificial bravery that the horror of an explosion was not added to.the wreck." A well-known scientific gentleman, the Court Journal says, has been experimenting on a metal resembling gold for nearly a year, and has now got it down to almost perfection. He stumbled on it at first accidentally, while analysing some metals, and when he realised what he had found he went to work and soon produced a metal which puzzles the best of jewellers, is as heavy as gold, and to all appearances is the precious metal itself. When the gold test is applied to it the acid boils up a little, but gives no other evidence that the metal is other than gold, and when wiped off no mark or spot is left, as is the case when the test is applied to brass. It can be manufactured at a comparatively small cost. For "The Verdict" see first page. — Aovt Football season. — John Avery has received a large stock of footballs, all sizes, for the coming season. He has also added a nice line of silver-mounted pipes to his well assorted stock. He draws special attention to his shilling pipes, accordeons, concertinas, hollow-ground razors, pocket cutlery, &c, cut and plug tobaccos, cigars and cigarettes to suit all tastes. Agent for Old Judge cigarettes and Waterbury watches.— John Avery, wholesale and retail tobacconist, New Plymouth, — Adv. Medical advice — Gratis. Renshaw's " Vonarch of Pain" cures neuralgia, rheumatism, sciatic, and lumbago, when all other remedies fail, and is a thoroughly gtnuino specific, which ought to be in every household ready for use when required. It is without doubt the best and most reliable medicine of tho age for tho diseases named and it is unrivalled for its efficacy. The largest assortment of Fancy Goods, Jewellery, Watches, Wedding Rings and K-epers ; also 2500 pieces of Music to select from — are to be found at G. M. Bkasoh & Co.'s, Our new supply of Wool in at I shudes just opened. Piunos, American Organs, Cornets, Violins, and all varieties of musical inst/ruments, also Wertheim Sewing Machines, are sold on time payments, or at a liberal discount for cash. Agents for Purity Cigurottoa and. loading brands Of Tobßgcp»,~Apyft