PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, JULY 17, 1890.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8833, 17 July 1890, Page 2

PUBLISHED DAILY. THURSDAY, JULY 17, 1890.

The debate on the Financial Statement has at last come to a conclusion; and on the first item in going into Committee of Supply the Opposition tried its strength with the Government. The result was a victory for the Ministry by a majority of eleven; but it was only obtained through consenting to the demands of eleven of the members, who last week waited on the Premier and requested him to reduce the estimates by £50,000. It would seem from this that for the future decisions of the Houao are to be ruled by this " i-etrench-ment party" of eleven, if thoy remain staunch one to the other. It must have been very humiliating to the loader of the Opposition to be " sold " in the manner he was by the " retrenchment party," who most probably led him on to move the resolution he did. Tho long drawn out debate on the Financial Statement developed little that was new, and has served no purpose, unless it was to show what a thoroughly incompetent lot there is . in the House to look after the affairs of the colony. The control of parties is now virtually in the hands of the economists, and we may, therefore, expect to find the Estimates considerably reduced. Whether tho retrenchments will be wisely made is yet to be seen, but we fear that when the '"extremists " of whom this retrenchment party is-composed set to work to cut down the Estimates, they, from want of knowledge, will make such blunders that the public service will be considerably hampered, and the usefulness of many of the departments destroyed. The position is a peculiar one for the Ministry, but it is only a retaliation on the part of a few members who, though friendly to the Government, have in the past been deceived on more than one occasion. However, the Parliament has not now long to 1 an, and the Ministry should, therefore, try and push through their Estimates and close the session. ' They could then make arrange--ments for the election, which could take place early in the year, and call the new Parliament together for of business in about April next. The colony will take no harm in the meantime ; in fact, we believe the public wou'd be better pleased if the House passed no other measure than the Appropriation Act.

Tenders are invited by the Harbour Board for building a mail boat. Those engaged in the alleged perjury case at Stratford returned to town by train on Wednesday evening. It is the intention of counsel for the def enco in the case of Regina v. Gillespie to apply for a change of venue in the hearing of the charge. A cable states that Titan, Prince Consort, j and Tantallon have been scratched for the Caulfield Cup, and Redleaf for all engagements. The Magistrate in committing Gillespie for trial at Stratford for perjury made j very little comment on the caao. It is expected that the case will be heard in Wanganui. We sampled some gooseberry wine at Messrs W. B. Davies & Co.'s store on Wednesday, which was very pleasant to the palate, and should therefore have a large sale. The wine is made by Mr R. Smith of Manaia. The New Zealand Graphic still maintains its reputation as a marvel of cheapness and completeness. This week's number is full of well executed engravings, while the reading matter is well selected and very interesting. On account of the _ erection of the verandah at the hospital darkening the interior of the building, the Board at their meeting on Wednesday decided to have a skylight put in the operating room, and the roof of the verandah so arranged that light will be admitted into the other rooms. The flax trade down the coast between Warea and Opunake is at a very low ebb at present, and most of the millowners have suspended operations for the time being. Some recent returns from London received by a couple of owners are not at all encouraging, the price realised on the flax being so small as to make an actual loss to the millers. Whilst Mr Miln, the tragedian, was reciting the line, "There is a special Providence in the fall of a sparrow," in Scene 2 of Act 5 of Hamlet, at Gisborne, a sparrow flew from under the eaves of 'the roof, and, bewildered at the light and noise, dashed ita tiny self against the proscenium, where it fluttered about for a shot c time. Dr M'Carthy, wh» was in New Plymouth a short time since, has had some trouble with his Westport. patients, and a few very amusing cases have come into the R.M. Court. One of them was for the recovery of the price of a parrot, value £5. On asking for payment the defendant told doctor the bird would not speak. When the doctor threatened to issue a* summons, the defendant replied, "I am off to, Christchurch ; you can summons, and be d ." The doctor stated in Court it' was a valuable bird, he had taught it to j'say " Doctor," " Butcher," " Baker," " Kiss Joey," "Go to blazes," and " Have you got any money ?" "In cross-examination he stated he did not know whether it was a cock or a hen, but it never laid any, eggs. Judgment for plaintiff. Execution to be stayed for a month, in order that the defendant might bring a cross-action for breach of warranty. Though Dr. Godfrey's Cordial is not known to the present generation, it was in its day as familiar to the public as seidlitz powders are to the people who live in the year 1889. Dr. Godfrey once entertained a party of officers at a dinner, which passed off very well. The wine was in fine order, and circulated briskly ; and when they had all had enough, by way of a joke it was f)roposed they should drink their host's leolth in his own "cordial." " Agreod ! agreed !" In vain tho doctor remonstrated, begged them to use his cel.ar freely, and to order from it whatever they required, but to spare bis laboratory. The whim of the moment must be gratified. Nothing bnt the cordial would go down. It was reluctantly ordered, its appearance on the table loudly cheered, and bottle, after bottle— for its taste was by no" means unpleasant — disappeared. What wats their astonishment, the next morning, to receive a note from the doctor statiDg that, as they had chosen to forget the character in which they were invited to his house, and had descended from the rank of guests to that of customers, he had no alternative but to treat them accordingly, and therefore enclosed his bill—' Thirteen bottles of cordial, £18 lSfi/'^whiob he compelled thorn to pay,