The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1895.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 10294, 29 April 1895, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY MONDAY, APRIL 29, 1895.

4 It will be seen by our cable messages that tlio Hon, Mr Ward is still very active in London, and that ho is receiving the aid of Sit George Grey in disabnaing the public uiind at Home respecting tho absurd report 3 about the financial position of New Zealand. Captain Russell, when ad. dressing a Dtmedin audience, was asked, " What Mr Ward was doing ? " and he snggested "skylarking." It was not & reply which might be expected to come from tho leader of the Opposition, and was uncalled for, because though vre were informed that the Hon. Mr Ward spent the Easter holidays in Paris, that is not to say ho is neglecting tbe business he went Home to do. "What tho Colonial Treasurer is doing in London " may be gathered from our cable messages. It would not be wise for Mr Ward to pnblish to tho world all tho delicate financial negotiations which he is transacting in London, and it will be time enough when he rctnrns to tho colony to inform the inquisitive hovr ho has spent his time during the fow weclc3 he hns boen in tho Old Country. Tho address Mr Ward delivered to tho London Chamber of Commerce was well received. Ho refuted many of tho absurd statements which had been circulated respecting tho fiuancisl position of New Zealand, and denied that tho lnnd tax bad been collected earlier because the Government were hnrd up, explaining that it was merely to avoid the needless issue of Treasnry bill*. At that time the colony possessod threo millions worth of unplodged security io London, two-

thirds of which had been forwarded when the Australian crisis was at its head to be utilised in case of an emergency. Mr Ward has arranged with the Bank of England to issue a loan in connection with the Advances to Settlers Act of a million and a half at 8 percent, with a minimum of 90, the tenders for which will close on Friday so before tho end of the week we shall ascertain whether the capitalist view with dread tho financial position of this colony. The high prico given for the Queensland loan, which was subscribed for nearly six times over, would warrant ns expecting at least a similar result for ours. Mr Ward has not escaped being interviewed at Home and ho has informed a "special ' that the financial institutions were flooded with enquiries as to what openings there existed in tho colony for foreign capital. He told the sane party that Great Britain was, through her hck of energy, losing a large amount of trade, whoreas foreigners were pushing into every, opening in a most keen manner. He pointed out also that the London critics when commenting on the financial state of the colonies neglected to compare tho debt and private wealth o f this colony per head ; New Zealand being the second largest in the world. We notice by the English papers received by the mail via 'Frisco, that tho Anglo-Colonial Press of London aro condemning the papers in this colopy for discrediting Mr Ward's mission to England. The Britith Australian says :—": — " We cannot lefrain from deprecating the bad habit into whioh the New Zealand papers and Party leaders too ofton fall, of deprecatiag tbeir colony and be littling its resources, whenever by so doing they see an opportunity of planting a blow at their political opponents. Such conduct would only be pursued in this country by the irresponsible sharp-shooters of tho Press and platform, but in New Zealand the accredited Party leaders and organs of public opinion seem to think ie no shame to pursue a course which, to impartial outsiders, piesents itself in a most unpatriotic and suicidal light." This is very outspoken, and in some few ins'ances we must acknowledge it is correct ; but as a whole tbe newspapers in New Zealand are certainly not so bad as our contemporary would make out. However, we are -glad to learn from the same source " that Mr Ward will meet with the most hearty co-operation and sympathy in any step he may sco his way to take during his visit to England for placing the finauces of the colony on a more advantageous footing, or of otherwise advancing the progress of New Zealand from a material point of view." We nnderstand that the Colonial Treasurer will return to tho colony by tho Vancouver route, conferring with tho Canadian Government on his way. He is pretty sure to do good service in connection with his visit, as many matters discussed nt the Ottawa Conference will be sure to afford subjects suitable for deliberation between New Zealand and Canadian Ministers. A3 Mr Ward on his return will bo well posted up in all matters connected with tho colony in London and other parts of tho world, we may look fovrard to his Budget with pleasurable anticipation, for it will be certain to contain much that is new and interesting. Mr C. W. Govett has generously donated £1 Is to the Town Band fund. Sergt. Duffin, who has been on twelve days' leave, returned on duty to-day (Monday). On Saturday night, while the southeast gale was at its strongest, Mr and Mrs Arthur Haigh, of Dorset Road, while sitting at their fireside, had a narrow escape by a large gum tree falling on their j house, tearing three sheets of iron off the roof. 1 The New Plymouth Harbour Board are | inviting alternative tenders for quarrying j and casting stone over the breakwater I with and without the assistance of pri- ' Boners. Full particulars as to conditions of contracts may be obtained at the Board's office. Tho New Zealand bowlers, who aro now playing a aeries of matches in Melbourne, will return home about the middle of May. The south-east gale that raged on Friday and Saturday, and with less force on Sunday, delayed the movements of several of the coastal vessels. The steamers Manawatu from the breakwater, nnd Kaneiri and schooner Zior from Waitara, had to shelter under thucliilsat Tataraimaka ; while the Gairloch, which left the breakwater on Friday, returned to the Moturoa anchorage on Sunday, evidently for orders, and steamed the same night for Wellington, where she goes on the slip. The Mahinapua steamed for Wellington on Saturday. There was a clean sheet in iho Polico Court this (Monday) morning. We are pleased to sco Mr W. Bayly has sufficiently recovered from his recent severe illness as to bo able to come to town. We would draw attention to tho A.F.S. Band meeting this evening. Ab another meeting will not be required for some time, we hope all interested will attend. Anyone intending to become a playing member should be present, as tho committee of management will bo elected. Messrs N.King, R. Cock, W. Bowley and A. ELyngdon, this (Monday) morning re^ sumed their canvass of the town, to obtain Bupport for the erection of freezing works at Moturoa. Tho following tendors have boon received for a supply of firewood to the town schools for twelve months :—Crawford and Co. (Stratford), 22s a cord, 2ft lengths ; D. Todd, 32s a cord, 16in lengths, 3 loads to cord ; J. Ward and Son, 28s a cord, 16in lengths ; Perrett Bros., per H. Crann, agent, £1 a cord, 16inlongtli3 ; G. H. Footo, 19s (Id a cord, 16in lengths (accepted). In order to catch the railway passenger traffic Mrs Sorensen and Miss Connor have established a fruit bazaar and oyster saloon respectively in Lower Brougham-street, where they have fitted up shopa opposite Measrs Berry and Co.'s ironmongery with every convenience for their trades. One day Mr Tyson was travelling along a Queensland track on a shaggy pony, when the man of millions overtook a young teamster, with whom ho camped for dinner. Tho road was heavy, nnd tho carrier's horsos fagged. Tho loading was for two stations, the first being one of Tyson's, a circumstance tho carrier lamented. Had it been tho other wny, he'd hiivo borrowed fresh horses baforo pushing on, but he wouldn't think of asking Tyson a favour of that kind. Thereupon tho stranger remarked that somehow he had nevor heard anyono speak well o£ Tyson. " Oh, but I have," responded tho carrier. "My father always spoko well of him. Ho was a mate of Tyson's years ngo, nnd wouldn't hear a word said against him. Ho always said that pooplo who spoko of him in that way did not know the man, and it would bo wiser for them to restrain their idle gossip." Before parting Tyson ascertained his companion's name, and tho following day, when tho carrier arrived at the station, there was randy in tho yard a splendid team of hordes, which TyHon gave a1!a 1 ! a preaont to the son of tho man who wouldn't hear a word said against his old rnato.