The Timaru Herald. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27,1885.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3252, 27 February 1885, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1885.

To-night the fate of tbe Gladstone Government is to be decided m the House of Commons, by the division on Sir Stafford Norfcheofce's motion of censure m regard to their conduct of Egyptian affairs. Mr Gladstone has already made the defence of the Administration, and we may be sure that the marvellous eloquence, which is always the wonder of his .friends, and the despair of his opponents, left nothing unsaid which it was open to have said m justification of a policy that has hitherto brought nothing but failure m its train. All that it was possible for military prowess and skill to achieve has been achieved, but the policy that should have utilised the successes of the British arms . has proved vacillating, nerveless, and apparently aimless. Never before has a Government been better Berved by its army, and seldom has any Government shown less capacity to supply that guiding and controlling policy without which the most brilliant successes m the field are utterly useless. Even MiGladstone, with all his eloquence, - must have faltered, we fancyj m his justification of the Government, aa he thought of poor Gordon's fall, and then of the long, uncalled-for delays which had occurred m the despatch of the rescuing expedition. To say that Gordon would have been rescued if he had not met with treachery is paltering with the subject m a manner unworthy of so great a statesman. It is so pitiful an excuse that one can almost sympathise with a Premier who is m such dire straits that he has nothing better to offer. It is equivalent to saying that the hero, whose death all England is lamenting, would have lived if he had not been killed. What is /much more to the purpose is that one of the precious weeks utterly wasted at the commencement of the campaign — nay, even a day of that priceless period — if it could have been recalled, would, m all probability, have resulted m Gordon's rescue. It was the delay that killed him, and it matters little whether he was stabbed m the back by an assassin, or shot at the head of a forlorn hope — either would have been prevented, as far as human foresight can judge, if the British troops had arrived earlier. If any other condemnation of the Government m this matter were required, it is amply forthcoming m Gordon's last despatch, m which even that brave man was obliged to gasp out, as it were, an urgent " Come quickly ! " What were the anxieties and hardships of the 43 days of con» tinuous conflict with the enemy whioh followed — day after day passing by without any Bign of the rescuing troops, and with the enemy getting more impetuous, and the garrison within more sick at heart — will probably never be thoroughly realised. Sufficient ia

known already, however, to furnish, m that memorable struggle alone, the strongest condemnation of a Govern- \ ment, which by more activity and foresight, might have largely abbreviated it, or prevented it altogether, and certainly might have prevented its most disastrous termination. As to what is likely to be the decision of the House to-night it is of course idle to speculate, seeing that the result will soon be definitely known. Despite the powei-fnl influence of Mr Gladstone, , which is bound to make itself felt even J m the most desperate cause, it seems ■j likely that, if the Government escape defeat, it will only be by a narrow majority. The Times, in^ referring to . Lord Rosebery's accession to the Cabinet, hinted plainly its opinion that , he was embarking on a sinking ship, while Lord Salisbury evidently sees a 3 clear possibility of the division being . against the Government, or he would 3 not think it necessary to announce ' the readiness of the Conservatives 5 to form an Administration, should it be found that the present Ministry has lost the confidence of the House. Supposing that the Government are de- [ feated — as we must admit they deserve ' to be over the present question — an impartial looker-on will probably see cause to mingle some sympathy with the fallen m his resentment of their • muddling m the Egyptian business. One feels sorry, for example, for Mr ) Gladstone personally. Whether we agree with all his political views or not, • it must be admitted that his is . one of the ablest minds that have ever swayed the destinies of the ) English nation, and unquestionably m countless ways he has done great I service to the State. He has now arrived at an age when it is unlikely that he ) will ever again assume the Premiership, and if he could have retired gracefully at the height of his popularity it would have been a fitting ending to his career, which no one could have grudged him. Unquestionably also his colleagues have been able to cany through many important social and political reforms during their tenure of office, and one cannot help wishing, for their sates, that the Liberal Party showed themselves as competent m dealing with foreign and colonial matters as they usually are m Home affairs. The susceptibilities of j the nation, however, have now been . aroused m a manner that is likely to make it go hard with them. The b British public can forgive much m its " idol — a position which Mr Gladstone ' has undoubtedly held for years — but 3 Gordon's death will tax the national 5 forgiveness to the utmost. ; Should the Government be defeated, ' we do not imagine that their successors j will have all plain sailing before them. They have no name to conjure with, , now that Gladstone's great rival is no • more. Sir Stafford Northcote is an » able, painstaking statesman, but is I never likely to arouse the national enthusiasm, or quicken the national pulses. Lord Salisbury is unquestionably a man of brilliant parts, but : there is no fervour m his temperament, and indeed little that . commends itself to the popular mind. 0 The one man on the Conservative » benches who shows most the faculty of a fixing and retaining the attention of the t public, is Lord Randolph Churchill, but , his time is not yet come. At present it ; . is the fashion to laugh at his eccentri--1 cities, but we must remember that no 0 man was more laughed at than Lord Beaconsfield m Mb earlier years, and no man made his presence more felt than he did subsequently. Lord Randolph Churchill has unquestionably many of : the gifts that go to make leaders of men, and if his eccentricities are kept within due bounds as he grows older, he will make his mark m the future. At . present, if the Conservatives are car- » ried into power on the wave of popular , resentment against the Government, 1 which the Khartoum disaster has set m ! motion, we doubt whether they will re- , ; tain office foi f any length of time. An opportunity may be given to them to . see what they can do m the way of ; settling the Egyptian difficulty, and 1 putting our foreign and colonial re- . lations generally on a better footing, , but when that is done they are very 1 likely to find the popular feeling swinging over again m the direction -of their ; rivals. It has to be borne m mind that the Irish vote occupies a prominent position m the present House, and it is difficult to imagine that being given to the Conservative party, at any rate for any length of time. Should the Conservatives get into power, therefore, it is not improbable they may have a comparatively short life, but it is quite possible for them to do much good m the interval, especially if they bring to foreign and colonial affairs a bold and farsighted policy, which while being sufficiently clear and determined, shall, at the same time, be free from anything like over-rashness or : " jingoism."

Masonic— Tho monthly nieoting of St. John's Lodge, E.C., No. 1137, hns been postponed till Friday, March 6th. - The Pobt. — Timaru will baro to look to its laurels as a port. Oaniaru has actually started a direct intercolonial trade, the s.s. Hauroto being engaged to call there to-day for horses and cargo for Sydney. The Bank of New South Wales. — Move 1 into their new premises this day, on the opposite side of the road, where their business henceforward be conducted. [Advt.] South Cantbhdubt Acchhatisation Society;. — Ameetingof this Society will be held at Mr James Granger's offices, Timaru, at 11 a.m. on Tuesday next, to fix the shooting season m this district and other business. The Nohtheen Jettt. — Mr O. Palltser was busy yesterday making preparations for filling m tho concrete walls to enclose tho first portion of the new jetty north of the Landing Service, and it is probable they will bo ready to bo filled m with clay to-morrow or next day. Once a fair start is made the work will no doubt progress rapidly. The Industbial Exhibition. — In reply to a request from Christchurch for an extension of time for receiving exhibits, Mr Callis has telegraphed as follows : — " All entries for. general branch close Saturday this week at tho various offices of the local Committees. Fifty- two thousand square feet now applied for. Cannot extend dale." Unbegistebed Dogs. — Yesterday morning tho Courthouse was again enlivened by tho presence of a large number of owners of unregistered dogs. The charge sheet was, as on last Thursday, a rather long ono, 39 names m all of persons for having unregistered dogs m their possession being on it. Out of that number 36 convictions were recorded 5 the fines amounting to about £38 VJb. Many of those charged wont to the Court happy m the thought that, because they bad registered their dogs a day or two after the police had visited their houses, and could produce the certificate of registration, they would be let off. But this illusion was soon dispelled by the Bench informing them that this was " No ejeuoo," aud Sued thorn \Qt and cojtf.

A TEEAT TO EXOPEBIONIBTS.— A hot lunch will be m readiness at the Railway Refreshment Rooms on the departure of the 1 p.m. Express for the South, all for one shilling. Still continuing the original liberal menu.— [Adtt.] Yaciiting. — Mr I. J. Bradley has just thoroughly overhauled his yacht Elsie, and a day or two since her seagoing qualities were put to the tost by a run of four or five miles out to sea m a strong nor'-easter. Sho behaved herself admirably, and being easily handled could go a long distance out with a couple or three hands. " On the Wbono Side of thb Fbncb." — Some amusement was caused at the Court yesterday by a man who had been charged with nllowißg a horso to wander at large. When asked by the Bench what he had to say to the charge, ho remarked, " I do not know what ' at largo ' means. If you mean tliat my horse was on tho wrong side of the fence, I admit the charge." Spboial Excursion Train fbojt Timabu TO CUBISTCntfBCH AND LVTTBLTON. — Thursday, March 12th, has been definitely fixed as the date upon which a special excursion train, taking passengers from Timaru, Waimate, Fairlie Creek, Rnngitata and intermediate stations to Christcliurch and Lyttelton, returning the same night, shall run. We have no doubt it will be well patronised. Removal of Business Phemishs. — Mr J. S. Keith, ship chandler, sailmaker, etc., notifies m another column that ho has removed into the promises m Strathallan street lately occupied by Mr D. Stuart, grain agent, whore ho will carry on his business m all its branches. The front portion of the building has been turned into a shop while tho back will bo used as a work and storeroom, etc. Tho new premises should prove more convenient to Mr Keith and to his customers than his old ono. Gbbaldine School Comhitxee. — The ordinary monthly meeting of the above Committee was held m the schoolroom on Wednesday evening last. Members present — Messrs Dunlop (Chairman), A. Sherratt, Geo. Ward, R. S. Cook, W. R. Lawson, Thos. Farrell, and W. H. Lodgo. The minutes of tho last meeting were read and confirmed. Letters were read from the Chairman of the Temuka District High School, acknowledging the receipt of a letter; from tho Gapes' Valley, • Woodbury, and Geraldine Flat School Committees, with reference to the election of members for the Education Board. From the South Canterbury Board of Education, notifying that £11 14s 8d had beon paid to tlie credit of the Committee. From the same forwarding tho names of the candidates for election to the Board. Mr Cook moved — " That this Cotumitteo record their vote m favor of Messrs Talbot, Melville Gray, and Dr Foster," seconded by Mr A. Sherratt, and carried unanimously. Mr Cook, on behalf of the Visiting Committee, reported that the stove m the Master's house had bcon re-set, and was now working satisfactorily ; also, that he found the school m good working order. In roply to a question, the Chairman said the cost was £1 15s. It was resolved to write to the Board, asking for a grant of £5 for cleaning the walls of tho schoolroom, and £1 15s for re-setting the stove. The Master's report was read, stating that the average attendance was 172. It was resolved — " That Mr A. Sherratt bo appointed to act with the Head Master and Mistress m tho selection of the prizes." Mr Lodge was appointed to confer with Mr Hughes m arranging an entertainment to be given at the distribution of prizes. It was resolved that tho Visiting Committee should report on tho state of the walls of the schoolroom, and take steps to have the bees removed. Mossrs Farrell and Lawson were appointed Visitors for the month, and this being all the business the meeting adjourned. The Aoent-Genbbal.— Sir F. D. Bell (cays the Dunedin Star) has announced his determination to retire from the AgentGeneralship when his term expires, and to return to the Colony via Melbourne. The Lobd Mayob m a Nbw Chabacteb. — Tho Lord Mayor of London (says an English paper) developed undreamed-of talent at the Thieves' Supper m Little Wild street recently. He finished off an addrest with a spirited recitation of " Bruce and the Spider." The criminal classes were vociferous m their applause, and demanded a repetition of the performance ; but the Lord Mayor, not being a lion comique, thought once was enough. "Aechdeacon Fakhar," writes a correspondent signing himself "Ignoramus," "is a popular writer. Doubtless the thousands of people who read his works understand every word of his plain, simple English. I cull a few ■of these simple words and phrases from his last work. Surely the English middle classes are bettor educated than we think : — Synthotec, tallith, pallium, didactic, eschatologieal, pseudonymous, hypoatasis, " anthropomorphic and anthropopatbic," cryptograph, iggeroth, obsolescence, "torpedotouch of his avarice," " sacerdotal micrology," " a sharp paronomasia," " galatising," •' prized nomocracy," "the Pleroma," "mystoe," " dynasts," " a fuailo . apostle," " eternal Noumena," " pseudepigraphy," " the plectrum," "the isopsephia," "a latent paronomasia," " paronasia," " the orgiastic character," " compaginated," " deracinated." Coubsino. — In an article m " The Book of the Dog " it is explained that the Go-bye is where one dog starts a length behind the other, but passes him m a straight run, and gets a length m front. A Turn is when the hare is turned at not less than a right angle from her course. A Wrench is when the hare is turned at less than a right angle from her course. A Trip is when the dog gets hold of the hare, but fails to kill her. In calculating the number of points which are to be given for speed, the judge mast take into consideration the start which one greyhound may have lost from being badly slipped or from not sighting tho hire. Also when the hare bends round m favour of tho slower dog, it is customary to allow one dog a point for speed, and the other one point for first turn. It is also determined that speed alone shall not determine a course, except under very exceptional circumstances. In event of a dbg losing ground at the start from being badly slipped or not sighting the hare, the judge is to decide what allowance is to bo mode to him, on tho ' principle that the foremost dog is not to ! begin to score until the second has had an opportunity of joining m the course. Again, ! too, when the hare favors one dog, the latter's next point shall not be scored, or, at most, j only half his point, at the .discretion of the j judge. And no greyhound is to receive any ; allowance for any accident -unless he is ridden over by his adversary's owner, or the c latter's servant. A greyhound loses the i course at once if he refuses' to follow ; the haro when slipped. But when he wilfully stands still m a coureo, and desists I from the pursuit of the hare, no subsequent j" points lie may make are allowed him. If m such an instance the points awarded him up 8 to this point exactly equal his opponent's, J the offending dog loses the course ; but when one or both dogs are unable to continue the course, and stop with the hare m jiovr, the t course is decided by the number of points already awarded by the judge. Albo, where a dog refuges to fence where the other fences, his f uturo points shall not be counted m his ° favor unless he sticks m a meuso, when m ? such an event the course shall ond from the time he stuck. If, however, the points are s( equal up to then, he loses his course. . 8< German Claims m the Pacific. — The n Sydney Morning Herald of tho 11th instant \ t contains the following : — " The Acting tl Colonial Secretary yesterday received a tele. D ] »ram from the Premier of New Zealand, m- tc timating that he had received a message from tl the Agent-General of New Zealand, to the tl effect that it was probable that proposals p, ivould be made by Germany to give up her jjjlohns on New Guinea, m oxcliange for „ 3amoa ; and stating that New Zealand had j, protested most itrongly against such pro- tt j sosals, and, expressing the hope that -the Sovcmment of this colony would instruct its igeut-General to protest also, because if such sroposuls wore carried out, tho control of the mi 3onlral Pacific, it was alleged, would rest ffith Gormany. To this telegram Mr Dalley ■epliod that be had received no official inti- «i nation whatever of auy German proposals l 'or the exchange of New Guinea for Samoa, m \ md deemed it premature to base any protest etc ipon such rumor; but that, if the report ; vere true, he was unable to agree with the u | -iew taken of that situation by tho Govern- i neat of New geajand,,"

b "Habd Labob" m Ikdia. — Violet r gathering on the bill-side is the poetical b "hard labor" imposed on the convict* at c Simla, the Indian Government summer 1 station. The violets are used for making sherbet. ' A Collbctob's Tboubles. — "A collector" 1 thus pours forth his woes m the Dunedin 0 Herald : — " A collector's life is uot ono of the 3 happiest m New Zealand — or at least m Dunedin— at the present time. The way the y debtors will try to play fast and loose with a thoir promises is something amazing. If a „ collector will only call on such and such a date they (the debtors) will be Bure to • get him part of the cash owing. The 1 collector keeps his appointment, which '• perhaps takes him a full hour to 0 travel to the appointed place, and finds that ' the party has removed to the other end of a the town, or else has some lame excuse. c The latest excuse is that it is the race week, and thoy do not like to run themselves out of V cash before the races, but they will be sure to " pay somo next week, -which they probably f mean to do — that is, if their horse wins. I ■* am now writing of people who are not out of '» work, but of men who are m constant employ - '' ment aud m receipt of first-class wages, but " who aro shufflers to the backbone and who '• never deserve credit." r A Eehabkable Hen. — The following „ account of a rather remarkable hen is given s by a correspondent of Land and Water : — 1 She is a cross between a game hen and a n Brahma cock, and was hatched m May, 1882. n She commenced laying m January of' the c following year, and laid 189 eggs within the c twelve months. This year she has laid 156 i. eggs, and is still laying. I may add that she 3 ia quite a Cockney, having lived on the leads a of a public office for the last two years, her owner being the hall porter. She is very fond s of lying before the fire, stretching herself like . a dog. At meal times a chair is placed for . her at the table, her food being washed down - with a liberal supply of stout. Possibly it is ;> the latter, combined with the warmth of her i. quarters, that has caused her to lay so well, f The most curious thing is that a great number |. of the eggs have been laid m the lap of the c porter's wife. ,' Polled Angus Catilb m Montana. — ,£ Until recently (says a Montana paper) " c but little was known m thiß country [ # of the Polled Angus breed of cattle, ,1 and the feeling tended largely towards a prca ference for the breeding of shorthorns for the n improvement of our range herds. But the |. recent introduction and experiments with the jj Polled Angus dovelop many points of r excellence for that breed over any other that c has ever been tried m our Montana climate. The Montana Cattle Company, we believe, '.' was the first to turn pure bred Polled Angus j bulls upon our range, and we learn that the n result has been highly satisfactory. The . breed seems to be stronger than our native ■1 cattle. It is noticed that the calves from our .. native cows, bred to Polled Angus bulls, invari- ,. ably take after the eire m color and form so far j a that they havo no horns. This is ono of the 0 most superior points m tlio Polled Angus c cattle ; raisers who have devoted much time „ with our range herds now concede this a g great advantage over horned cattle. A con,j siderable loss from death yearly comes from n the freezing of horns among our common lg herds. Frozen horns do not cause instant n death, but effect the condition of cattle c severely m the spring, preventing many from t taking on flesh readily, and often causing such 0 mental derangement that tame cattle become ,j unmanageable Those who have been engaged w upon our ranges for some years, and have , g given close attention to our herds, estimate j g a yearly loss of 1 per cent from this cause. Cows heavy with calf ore more easily affected than other cattle. Messrs Martin and „ Meyers, extensive stockmen of Shields River, . fully concur with us m the superiority of this ■ 8 hornless bred. A year ago they brought out sixteen Polled Angus bulls, thirteen cows, 0 and four yearling bulls, which thoy turned out among their cattle. No attention was *• given them through the winter, and from tlio n account we have from the foreman of this 'f herd the cattle did not need any. Of the d thirty-three head all came through the winter '• m fine condition, except one, which was lost c by accident. .It was noticed that m the 8 severest weather, when other cattle were n seeking shelter from the cold winds, these <"> cattle would go upon the .highest and ■s most exposed ridges to graze, as' perfectly unconcerned as if- m a warm - climate. One young bull, which was very " poor when turned out, wandered away and c was not seen during the winter, and it was s thought that he had probably gotten snowi, bound and perished ; but m April, to the sure prise of all, he came down from the hills m t first-rate condition, showing that the bracing s atmosphere of our Montana climate had - agreed with him, and that his condition was - really better than when he went away, six .. months previous. The result with the Polled i. Angus shows a great superiority over our • common stock cattle, and more especially • shorthorns and grades which were brought 3 from the same State last year, and wintered " here, the loss among which was very great. The Spibitualt Peehs. — Strange as it may . seem (says Contemporary Review), the . bishops are the only class of men who keep their seats m Parliament by the old tradir tionary right of the English freeman to appear m person m tho assembly of his people. They have kept what others havo lost. In , theory we might say the same of the earls ; but the earldoms have utterly lost tb.cir , ancient character — they have become simply ' one rank m the horeditaty peerage. The earl, with his illustrious Scandinavian title, ■ really differs m nothing from the French marquess who walks before him and the French viscoupt who walks after him. But the bishops still hold the same seats by the 1 same tenure as when Ansehn braved tho wrath of Buf us, not for ecclesiastical privilege but foe moral right — as when Stephen \ Langton read out the charter of Henry, and wrung its more than renewal from John — as when Edmnnd, meek and ascetic as Anselm, could withstand King and Pope alike j 1 m the cause of English freedom. If the bishops' seats had been taken away at any < moment up to the present, it would have been j simply giving up the innermost defence of the fortress to its assailants. It would have been setting the final seal to tho long encroach.- { ments of the exclusive hereditary doctrine. In any more general consideration of tho whole subject, this matter, like 1 others, will have to be thought over.' Two points may claim a word or two m the meanwhile. At the present moment we cannot forget the all c but unanimous vote given by tho spiritual ] lords on behalf 'of the Franchise' Bill, a change indeed from the action of their predecessors m 1831. But, with all thankfulness for this service m tho cause of right, it cannqt be wrong to remind the bishops that, if they wish to keep their votes, they must use them. Sitting, as we may say, as the last representa- a tives of the people m a House which has been j so largely handed over to the pride of a silly r superstition, they should not shrink — as m a this case they emphatically havo not shrunk r — from coming forward as the champions of every cause of truth and justico and charity, j It will not do simply to muster on some ec< j clesiastical question. Tho claims even of the n tortured pigeon— tortured for the amusement n of hereditary legislators — might well have 0 drawn a greater gathering of those whose }j Master did not despise the sparrows. It is j t said that it is hard for a bishop of an ordinary D > see to get a hearing from those lords of more u j recently invented classes who deny him the •• rank of peer. Hero we see tho samo kind of y, insolence as that which, refused his scat to the great lawyer who was not " ennobled m o f blood." Something indeed may be allowed to the feelings of upstarts m the presence of ar their historic olders, and most of the ranks of the lords temporal are upstarts indeed m the je presence of the lords spiritual. _ The two or arl three hundred yeara during which a Cecil or fl jj a Herbert has fancied his blood "ennobled" do indeed seem as yesterday beside the longages of the sees of Winchester and London. ru — — en SYNOPSIS OF NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. hil Maclean and Stewart— Sell horses, harness, etc., tomorrun-; sheep and cattle on Monday. Miles Archer and Co. — Will soil sheep aud cattle on the etb'pro*. : have rams and ewes for sale privately. E. Druniiuond and Glassou— Aro receiving new goods on Secretary Bt. John's todge— Notifies that the la monthly meeting has been postponed for a week. ,tn O. Lalßg-Meuon— lnvitee Unders (or forming a Bldißfir. "Nr; J. 8. K«llh— tfotlca of removal. al S.C. Acclimatisation Society— Hold a meeting ou cai Monday. , ' Tn bankruptcy— Ho Jamea Watkjns. j7 a Wiatrt-OO* IWtfct. ° 9