The Timaru Herald. SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1886.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3573, 13 March 1886, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1886.

In our leading article on Thursday we quoted from the Premier's answer to a Ohristchurch deputation, who handed him a resolution affirming the necessity of establishing a State Bank of Issue. He • Bpoke of the proposal as " utter I nonsense," and gave his reason for the sentence of condemnation. Since that article was written we have received our northern files, and have read a report of the speech " which Sir George Grey recently delivered m Auckland. If Mr Stout had been present on that occasion, and been asked his opinion of a portion of the speech, he must have replied as he did to the deputation, namely, that • it was " utter" nonsense; " for that ! which Sir George Grey proposed, and tbat which the deputation rendered themselves responsible for by handing him the resolution concerning the State Bank of Issue, were identical m principle ' and based on- the same fundamental error. The State Bank of Issue was to create money by issuing notes m payment for public works, and thus avoid j the necessity of borrowing, and at the . same time enable the people to bear more easily the burden of taxation. Sir George Grey's scheme related totheland, nnd he dwelt on the benefits which would accrue to the community if every

acre were to be brought back into the hands of the State. His scheme, be said, would do away with the evils of the old system, and render simple justice to all. As to the lands which had been granted to private individuals, his plan was tbat Parliament should affirm the principle that the State could, and should, take any lands if they could be utilized for the benefit of the whole people ; but the State would have to pay the owners " the fair and full value." The apparent concession throws an air of justice round the Bcheme, and relieves it from the naked depravity of Henry George's favourite doctrine. But, if New Zealand landlords are to be bought out, the question at once arises — Whence is the money to come ? At the lowest valuation of vested rights the amount required would total up to a good round sum, In Sir George Grey's hands the difficulty vanished, if it can be said to have ever presented itself. He would buy the owners out by land bonds "that could be made payable to bearer, and be a Bort of bonded security — a mortgage upon lands — and have the guarantee of the State." If the landlords would not take the bonds, the latter would be sold to the public, and the proceeds handed to the landlords. The arrangement proposed is of a most extraordinary character. If by " payable to bearer" Sir George Grey meant that the notes, when presented at a bank counter or at the Treasury, would be paid m sovereigns, then we ask, as Mr Stout asked the deputation — Where are the sovereigns to come from ? A bank note has no intrinsic value. It is simply a promise to pay, and, like any other promise, is worthless if it cannot be made good. Clearly, if the State can create money by issuing notes, New 1 Zealand has done very wrong to borrow £32,000,000, and Mr Macandrew's ancient suggestion of a print-ing-press and a bale of paper had a good deal m it after all. Better still, perhaps, the State might mint tin sovereigns or declare that shillings Btamped m a particular way should be value for a pound. In all those cases the principle is exactly the same. If, however, m Sir George Grey's scheme, " payable to bearer " meant " payable m land," another absurdity presents itself, because the very essence of the scheme is the destruction of private ownership m land. The revolutionary astignata, which speedily dropped into a pit of depreciation (and later on, under the name o£ mandats, sustained a yet more terrible fall), had at least the merit of something tangible and substantial at their back, for tbey would, and actually did, purchase lands which the Government of .France had reft from the ancient owners. But Sir George Grey's assignats would do nothing of the kind, because he intends that the State, having once resumed possession, shall remain the landlord m perpetuity. That such was the scheme put forward at Auckland can be plainly seen from the following extract : — " Assuming that the State was possessed of all these lands, and imagine these waste Bpaces to be fairly settled, he would ask them what they thought would be the condition of the country then ? If they had merely to pay a fixed rental, and conld, instead of having to use up all their capital m purchasing land, use it m improvements on their land, or enable them to live till they got their crops, would this not work a revolution greatly to the benefit of the whole colony ?" We take It as being palpably plain that Sir George Grey's bonds or notes could not be paid m cash at the Treasury, and we have shown that, from the nature of the scheme, tbey would not be available as transferable land orders. Why the public should buy them we cannot understand, for we should regard the promise written on their face to be meaningless if not fraudulent. Why they should be taken by the landlord is equally mysterious, for the acceptance of the bonds would entail the hopeless task of passing them away for goods or gold, and thus getting them into the general circulation of the colony. Notes on Algate Pump or the Bank of Elegance would be equally acceptable to the general public. A Government which should carry out Sir George Grey's plan would be responsible for creating this alternative situation : If the ousted landlords could not pass away their bonds for full nominal value — if they could not obtain money or moneys worth — j the State would have robbed them ; if, on the other hand, the landlords did accomplish the novel feat m finance of getting valuable consideration for waste paper, then the people at large would stand a good chance of being starved by reason of an unjustifiable and senseless tampering with the currency. It will be observed that m this article we have not raised the question of land nationalisation, nor the question of the right of the State to resume land at a fair price. Our argument on this occasion has been directed solely against Sir George Grey's scheme of payment, which we venture to regard as a vain and frivolous device.

In. our advertising columns will be found an announcement by the officers of tbe Timaru garrison corps that it is their intention to erect a drill shed, at a cost of about £800. Towards this amount they hold the sum of £300, which was granted by the Government, and it is proposed to raise as much as possible of the balance by public subscription, " to lessen the heavy responsibility incurred by the Volunteers." A fair start has been made with the list, and the names of the contributors who have alreadycouie forward avepublished Let us hope that their number may be largely and speedily increased. The object -which the Volunteers have m view is a highly laudable one, and cannot be regarded as m any sense an extravagance. The Volunteer movement m New Zealand and elsewhere has been very greatly aided by the facilities which hare gradually been provided for drill under cover, and we are sure that there is m the colony no other town, of the same size as Timaru which cannot now boast of its drill shed, j Some of these buildings, m smaller centres, have been more costly and are more pretentious than the drill shed proposed to be erected m Timaru, but we know of no instance m which the outlay has been regretted. Volunteering is not to be looked on as a mere amusement. It is a national service m the truest 6ense of the term, and those who saorifice time and comfort m fitting themselves to become effioient citizen

soldiers should not look m vain for countenance "and support from the less martially inclined members of the community.

The Banks m Timaru will bo closed on Wednesday next, St. Patrick's Day. There was a clean sheet at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday morning. The annual general meeting o£ the South Canterbury Hunt Club will be held at tho Ship Hotel to-day. Jurors who have been summoned to attend the District Court on Tuesday will cot be required to do so. Boiling down operations at the Washdyke Meat Preserving Company's works were commenced on Thursday. A second special train from the Washdyke to Inverc'argill with some 3500 sheep on board, passed through Timaru yesterday afternoon. The return lawn tennis match betwe thoen 'J'umukn nnd Timaru Clubs will bo ployed on the ground of tho latter this afternoon) communolng at 2 o'clock sharp. An important bulo of Crown lands m this district will bo held at tho Land Office, Chrißtchuroh, on March 24th. All particulars are advertised. The monthly meeting of tho Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association will take place at 2 o'clock this afternoon, to consider tho annual report and business of a routine nature. The weather m the Geraldine and Temuka districts was extremely fine again yesterday, and threshing, which was interrupted by the showery weather of the previous day, was once more vigorously carried on. Saturday return tickets will be issued to Waimate at Timaru, Oamaru and intermediate stations on March 17th, on which day the races take placo. Tho tickets will bo available for that and the following day. A meeting of the Waimate Public Library Committee was convened for Thursday evening, but at the expiration of half an hour from the appointed time not a single member had turned up, and the meeting consequently lapsed. We had brought into our offico yesterday an enormous mushroom, measuring about 14 inches by 12 inches. It was found on the estate of B. T. Rhodes, Esq. of Hadlow. It is m a complete state, not one part of it being broken, and is free from insects. During this week a farmer m the Temuka district has been selling mutton at 2d per pound " all round." This is a most unmistakeable sign of the times, and is plain evidenco of what sheepowners have to do on account of the scarcity of feed. The match to be played on the Timaru Cricket Ground this afternoon will be between Veterans and Colts of the Club, the former being represented by mombers over 25 years. An express will leave the Ship Hotel at 1.30 p.m. The proprietor of the "Little Dust Pan," who has just taken the shop recently occupied by Mr T. Amoß, next to tho Timaru Herald office, has Bpared no pains to make it as attractive as possible. Last evening the show window was viewed with feelings of admiration by a lorge number of people. A meeting of the Directors of the Timaru Gas Company was held yesterday. Mr F. LeCron was re-elected Chairman for the ensuing year. It was resolved to make a further reduction of lOd per thousand on gas, to take effect on gas consumed on and after April Ist. This will leave the net price of gaa at 13s 4d for lightiug, and 10s lOd for cooking and machinery purposes. Anothor and the final contract of tho breakwater wharf is nearing completion. The contractors havo only to do the usual touching tip and lay down the railway lines and it will be finished. At tho end of the wharf thero are erected some very neat and . serviceable stops. Thcso steps will be very convenient for going off to vessels, ic. The last contract for the wharf has quite a finished look about it. The G.V.B. Dramatic Club promise the public a first-class entertainment on St. Patrick's night. It will be held m the Catholic Boys' Schoolroom, m aid of the St. Patrick's Band Uniform Fund, and will consist of the domestic drama " Miriam's Crime," and' tbo farce "Tho Irish Tiger." The characters will be filled by some of our best amateurs, and a treat may be anticipated. Wood's string band will be m attendance. Fruit m the Orari, Temuka, and Geraldine districts this season is quite a " drug m the market," apples and peaches especially selling for little or nothing. Tons upon tons of the fruit have been already sent away, but still the supply is excessive. It is reported that a man m the Geraldine district is feeding his pigs on apples, as ho cannot get anyone to pay him, even a half -penny a . pound for them. Wo are glad to learn that an amicable settlement of tho claim made by the Timara Harbor Board for services rendered to the barquo Hudson by the tng Titan while Btranded on tho Ninety Mile Beach is likely to be come to. Mr John Inglis, her agent at Christchurch, and Mr Cooper, average Btater, met the Finance Committee of tho Board yesterday and had a long consultation. It will be more pleasant for both Bides that the matter should not go into a Court of Law. A son of Mr George Filmer, of this town, had a very narrow escape yesterday. It appears he was crossing ithe road up by Fair* bourne's store about half-past five o'clock, m order to join his father, who was on the other sido. When ho got about half way over, a threshing machine was coming thundering down tho road and ran straight into the boy, ■who was knocked down. The wheel of the machine must have struck the little fellow's arm and Bide for ho is much bruised and scratched at those particular parts. The driver of the machine, it is said, instead of stopping to see what was the matter, drove on as if nothing had happened. Tho boy is getting on very fair under the circumstance?. The Colorado Beetle Minstrel and Variety Company will appear at the Theatre Royal on St. Patrick's and following nights. The Company has secured most favorable notices from our Northern and West Coast contemporaries. Miss Amy Vaughau, who is represented as a charming burlesque, song and dance, and specialty artiste, is interlocutress of the Troupe ; and of the Norton Brothers, the dancers, the Nelson Colonist saya : — " They must be seen to be appreciated, their silver-shoe dance being ono of the best and cleverest ever seen here." Mr R. Devereux is the comedian of the Company. The petite sisters May and Daisy Thornton are said to be children of exceptional ability, and Miss Edith Montrose is a soprano of considerable power and compass. Thepianiste is Miss Louise Howarde. Altogether a capital two hours and a half may be spent, and we trust the Minstrels will be welcomed by a large audience on then; opening night.

The' police cells were unoccupied last evening, not even a "drunk" having been taken charge of. The Consolation Race m connection with the Ashburton Tradesmen's Hace meeting, was run yesterday, and resulted m favor of Messrs Hobbs' Jack, the dividend being £2 Bs. Mr E. Mitchell, fruiterer, who is about giving up business m Timaru, after a residence of some years, has an advertisement m another column to the effect that this will be the last Saturday on which his shop will be open. The regular weekly sitting of the Besident Magistrate's Court was held at Waiinato yesterday. No police charges were on the list, the only cbbo Bet down for hearing being a civil one. None of the parties appeared. Another case was struck out. The Resident Magistrate and the Mayor occupied the Bench. A cow lately died m the neighborhood of Timaru. The owner suspecting that she did not do so by fair means had her dissected. On opening the stomach quite a quantity of binder wiro and tacks, etc., were found m it. Tho only way that the owner can account for them being there is, that when she was eating a sheaf of oats she must have also eaten the wire with which it was bound. This would be quite enongh to cause death. An amusing incident occurred at tho Waimate Police Court yesterday during the hearing of an application, reported elsewhere, regarding the children of a man named Vincent. On being asked what religion the children professed, their grandmother replied "None." Then being asked as to. what church her son-in-law belonged, she again answered decidedly, " None at all," evidently, and with some justice, thinking that a man who would treat his children as Vincent had done wag outside the palo of all religion. The crews for the Timaru Boating Club's pair-oared races which will, weather permitting, start at half -past two o'clock this afternoon, were drawn yesterday with the following results : — Bassett (stroke), Hennak (bow), meet Gooch (stroke), Stevens (bow) ; Vogeler (stroke), Hughes (bow), meet Pigeon (stroke), Tate (bow) ; Mackay (stroke), MoNaught (bow), meet Birrell (stroke), McLean (bow). Should the water not be smooth enough tho contests will be postponed till Monday. A peculiarly heartless case of desertion has occurred m Waimate. Some months ago a man named Joseph Vincent was living there with his wife and four small children, the eldest being about six years of age. About five months since the wife became seriously ill, and had to be removed to the Hospital, where she still lies, and shortly afterwards Vincent disappeared, leaving his children m , the carq of his mother-in-law and the neigh- . bors. Since then he has contributed nothing , to thoir support, and being themselves m comparatively indigent circumstances tho , charitable people find themselves unable to support the children any longer. Vincent's wife's mother, Mrs 'Wist, has eight children h of her own to look after, and cannot possibly undertake the charge of the poor infants. She applied yesterday to the Magistrates for advice, and the Benoh decided to send three of the children to a School. The per--1 sons having charge of the fourth child did 1 not apply, and no action was taken m its case. ! The Police believe they have a clue to the • whereabouts of Vincent, and hope that he may goon be brought up to answer for hia in- ' human conduct. The mother continuos m a very serious state at the Hospital. Advices received from London by the San Francisco mail, from Shaw, Saville and Albion Company, confirm the cablegram published some time ago to the effect that the Company had arranged for a rate of '22 of a penny per lb to cover all storago charges on meat. The details are eb followß, as arranged with the St. Katherine Dock Company : — Receiving and delivering mutton and lamb, m whole carcase?, including overtime, use of lamps, 1 and Btorage for 48 hours from breaking bulk, 7d per carcase ; do, do, do, when several marks are imported ia same ship, 8d per carcase ; rent for seven days after 48 hours, lid per cwt. per day ; do, after that period, Id per cwt. per day j weighing at delivery, if required, id per carcase ; or a " management rate," to include receiving and delivering, use > of lamps, overtime, and Btorage for six weeks , from date of breaking bulk of vessel, -22 of a , penny per pound. The Midland, Great Northern, North Western, and Great t Eastern Bailnay Companies run their trains , from the refrigerating chambers, and meat , for the provinces can thus be loaded direct, , and delivery ensured the following morning at the principal stations on the above-named railways. Negotiations were m progress when , thu mail loft, between Shaw, Savill and Albion Company and the various railway companies, , to endeavor to induce the latter to alter the rates which are now being charged for the conveyance of frozen mutton from London to Liverpool and the North, they bringing American meat from Liverpool to London at 253 per ton, whilst they charge 4Os per ton ' for the carriage of mutton from London to Liverpool. It is this difference of 15s per ' ton which is now sought to be removed, and it is to be hoped the effort may be successful. Tho annual meeting of the Woodbury Domain Board was held on March 10th, 1886. Members present — Messrs Flatman (Chairman), McDonald, Hammond, Middlemiss and Morrison. After the minutes of the annual meeting had been read and confirmed, Mr Flatman, the Chairman, stated , that the principal business of the evening was the election of Chairman for the ensuing year. It was his duty to vacate the chair that evening. Mr Flatman then proposed that Mr Allan McDonald be elected to the ! chair for the ensuing year. Mr McDonald declined on the grounds that the office had been so ably filled by Mr Flatman, and it > gave him great pleasure to propose that Mr Flatman be re-elected. This was seconded by Mr Hammond and carried unanimously. On resuming the Chairmanship Mr Flatman thanked the members for the honor conferred upon him, and Baid that he should übo his best efforts to further the interests of the Board and the trust placed m him. Correspondence.—From the Hon. W. Eolleston, m reply to a request from the Board asking for . his assistance m securing 10 acres for a cemetery :—" Sir,— l have received your letter of February 15th forwarding a tracing of a portion of tho Domain which it is proposed to take for a cemetery. I have written to the Minister of Lands requesting him to obtuin from the Survey Office an accurate description of tho plot of gronnd and to havo tho proposal embodied m the Special Powers and Contracts Bill next session. I do not anticipate any difficulty m the matter. — Yours faithfully, W. BoLiiESTON." Accounts. — The Secretary stated he had received part of the year'B accounts, which had been inspected and audited and declared ' correct. The meeting then terminated,

Thb proprietor of the Federal Australian and Victorian Review has filed his schedule. A Maori lunatic recently appeared m New Plymouth, his craze being that he wai Captain Cook. The Wanganui Herald says "tho countrj wants political rest, and will suffer if it does not get it " and suggests a coalition betweei Sir Julius Vogcl and Major Atkinson. The West Australian Government are ad' vertising for tenders for the erection of a line of telegraph, from Boeburne, north-wesl coast, to Derby, m the Kimberley district, a distance of about 500 miles. A shipment of granite from tbe Island of Buapuke has been received at Invercargill. Some specimens which have been dressed are said to be all that could bo desired m polish and m colour, much resembling Aberdeen granite. A Boyal Commission has been appointed m New South Wales to enquire into tho cause of the oxcessive drinking m the colony, the effect it has had m decreasing morality, and the extent to which legislation on the matter has been effective or otherwise. Mr Samuel Vaile, the Auckland champion of railway reform, has forwarded us the draft of a petition to tbo House of Represensatives on his favourite subject. Ho invites us procure as many signatures to the petition as possible, and then cause it to he handed to the member of the district. We cannot undertako the work of procuring signatures, but the document lies m our front office, and those who wish to sign can do so. Many complaints are 'made of papers and magazines missing from the Public Beadingroom at Waimate. It is said to be next to impossible for a new newspaper or journal to be left upon the table for more than a day or two without some unscrupulous frequenter of the room carrying it off. The pursuit of knowledge is doubtless admirable, but when the desire for it leads people to commit such despicable thefts, ignorance is indeed bliss. A very novel and ingenious way of "sweating" a sovereign was discovered m Birmingham recently. A tradesman had received a sovereign and noted that it had no " ring," and seemed light m weight. On more olosely examining tho coin he found that it had been cleverly split m half— sawn through the rim, m fact — and the gold scooped away from the inside m a liberal manner. The hollow was then filled with metal to weight it, and tbe split coin carefully soldered together. The rascal who executed this neat and now trick would get 40 per cent of tho gold for his pains. There is nothing m the fact that a piece of gold " rings " like a leaden dump j a trifling flaw may cause this. Mr Chamberlain's story of the annual subsidy once paid to him by tho " protected screw manufacturers m the United States not to disturb their monopoly of sale has created no little excitement among American Protectionists, and equal amusement among their opponents. A Boston protectionist nowspaper began by affirming positively that they never had a duty of 100 per tent on screws. Tho statement is termed "the centre of fabrication " and "the trunk lie," around which all the other lies lie centred. The New York Evening Post took up the ohalleDge, and ascertained at the Custom House what the ad valorem duties on screws had been. Before July, 1883, they ranged from 19 per cent, on the smallest size to 189 per cent, on the largest size, and the average duty on a general assortment such as hardware dealer would keep m stock was 110 per cent. The amount of the subsidy Mr Chamberlain received is on good authority said to have been £5000 a year, and while that was being paid the American Scrow Company is declared to have paid a dividend of 10 per cent per month. The Hon. Mr Larnach and Messrs J. E. FitzGerald and T. K. M'Donald, tho Judges appointed to consider the merits of the essays supplied m connection with the New Zealand Industrial Exhibition, have selected the essays bearing the following mottoes: — "Si sit prudentia," "Press Onward," and "Nunquani Dormio." Although it has not yet been deoided who will get the first, second or third prize, the final decision will be made shortly. Eighteen essays were sent m, one being too late for competiton. The prizes are — One gold .medal and ten guineas, and one bronze medal and five guineas, the subject of the essay to be on " The present condition and future prospects of the industrial resources of New Zealand, and the best means for fostering their development." American Co's Hop Bittebs are tha Purest and Best Bitters ever made. They are compounded from Hops, Malt, Buchu, Mandrake, and Dandelion, — the oldest, best, and most valuable medicines m the world and contain all the best and most curative properties of all other remedies, being the greatest Blood Purifier, Liver Regulator, and Life and Health restorer on earth. No disease or ill health can possibly long exist where they are used, so varied and perfect are their operations. They give new life and vigor to the aged, and infirm. To all whose employments cause irregularity of the bowels, or urinary organs, or who require an Appetizer, Tonic, and mild Stimulant, American Co.'s Hop Bitters are invaluable, being highly curative, tonic, and stimulating, without intoxicating. No matter what your feelings or symptoms are, what the disease or ailment is, use Hop Bitters. Don't wait until you are Bick, but if you only feel bad or miserable, use Hop Bitters at once. It may save your life. Hundreds have been saved by so doing. £500 will be paid for a case they will not cure or help. Do not suffer or let your friends suffer, but use and urge them to übo American Hop Bitters. Remember, American Hop Bitters is no vile, drugged, drunken nostrum, but the purest and best medicine ever made. Try the Bitters to-day. Get at Chemists or Druggists. Beware of imitations. Genuine has Dr Soule's narue blown m bottle.— [Advt.] Who has not experienced a sort of malady when all the faculties seem m rebellion, and labor is absolutely impossible ? It is a condition of nerves and stomach and brain that can only ba cured by the use of that irresistible remedy American Co.'s Hop Bitters. Read.— [Adtt.] Don't Die m the House. — " Bough on Bats" dears ont rats, mice, beetles, roaches, bed-bugs, flies, ants, inseots, moles, jack rabbits, gophers. Moses, Moss and Co., Svdnoy, general agonta. — [Advt.J SYNOPSIS OF NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. James A. Grade and Co. , with D. Maclean auctioneer, on Tuesday, the 30th inst, at 12 o'clock - Mrs Rentoul's clearing salo ; at tho South Canterbury Saleyards, on 10th March-Ham fair. K. Turiibull and Son, at their Rooms this day, at 12 o'clock— Produce sale, &c W. Collins and Co., at their Rooms this day at 1 o'clock— Produce sale, &c. NZ.L. and M.A. Co., on 17th Jlarch, at their Rooms — Sheep ; Important salo of grain at their Rooms on first week m April ; have Seadown land for sale by private trcaly ; are prepared to receive grain for storage, and have cornsacks for sale. Commissioner of Crown F-ands— Land salo Tiniaru Lawn Tennis Club— A return match will bo played this day. J. Mundeil and Co.— Hilton hotel for sale privately New Zealand Railways— Advertise fares for Waimate races on 17th lust. Tiiuaru Crkkot Club-A match will lie played this afternoon on the grounds. ISank holiday- Tho Banks will bo closed on tha 17tli W. Moody-Sheep for sale. F. M. Rickn.an, at his Suleyards, on April Ist, at norm— Annual horse and cattle fair. Timaru Drill Shed-Notice ro new drill shed, niomaa Ilowley, Clerk of District Court— Notico to Theatre Royal, on the 17th inst'— Norton and Devcrux » famous Beetles. Ocor^e Pearson-Fruit notice. Cutliollj: Boy« School-Entertainment. 1. Mitchell- Has cheap fruit and confectionery for PWanled._X»'O notices.

> If the sufferers from consumption, scrofula. and general debility, will try Scott's Emulsion r of Pure Cod Liver Oil wiih Hypophosphites. they will find immediate relief, and without ' doubt a permanent benefit. The medical profession m tho various countries of the r world universally declare it a remedy of great value, and as it is very palatable it can be 3 readily taken by the most sensitive stomach, i and never fails to give relief and comfort to the sufferer. — [Advt.] * To do good wsrk the mechanic must have " good health. If long hours of confinement 1 m close rooms have onfeebled his hand or t dimmed his sight, let him at once, and before some organic trouble appears take plenty of ' Dr Soule's Hop Bitters. His system will be rejuvenated, hu nerves strengthened, his sight " become clear, and the whole constitution be built up to a higher working condition. , Bead.— [Advt.]