The Timaru Herald. FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1886.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3602, 16 April 1886, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1886.

Me MoKtgomeby, m addressing his constituents at Akaroa, on Monday evening, copiously reviewed the proceedings of the last session of Parliament. He fully expressed his opinion as to the merits and demerits of various measures introduced, rejected, or passed during the session. He spoke of course from his own point of view, and declared the honesty of his purpose m doing so. The address comprehended many subjects of interest to the colony at; the present juncture of its political history, but the speaker principally confined himself to only a few of the more vital points, alleging, as he did, that it would be impossible for him to dilate minutely npon every topic comprised m the programme he had sketched out for himself m rendering an account of his stewardship. When the House met, he observed, members expected a Bcbeme for local self-govern-ment, that the incidence of taxation wonld be altered, that the Railway Bill, and a Bill for the settlement of the public lands would be introduced, and that no additional taxation would be imposed. These measures were not, however, brought forward, and the representatives of the people were unexpectedly seized with surprise. When the proposal to increase the Customs duties was submitted, sach opposition was manifested to the scheme that it had to be withdrawn. The voice of the colony was decidedly disfavorable to increasingly tax any necessary of life, and there was no alternative left the Ministry but to abandon the proposition. The member for Akaroa unsparingly condemned the District Railways Bill as well as the purchase of railways by the Government. On this latter subject he spoke strongly, contending that the Administration had acted impolitic m doing what they did. The railway purchases would be a loss to the colony, considering the disadvantageous circumstances under which the transactions were effected.. The original. shareholders m these railways got rid of their liabilities by; the purohases, which to them was : a great relief. For the Premier (Mr Stout) Mr Montgomery entertained a high respect, and regretted that bo talented a young man should have supported bis colleagues m unpopular measures as he did. The next subject handled by Mr Montgomery was taxation, which, he said, imperatively needed adjustment. Property tax should be superseded by a land tax, the former impost being unfair, inasmuch as it was inquisitorial and repulsive to people of progress and enterprise whose aim was to make the best of the land of their adoption. A property tax, m our opinion, is the most equitable that could be levied, and should not be abolished. No injustice is done to anyone under it, and property-holdera themselves do not generally complain of it. It has now stood the test of six years, and the colony haß not suffered by it. Mr Montgomery and Sir George Gray are at one m regard to this tax, but both these gentlemen hold peculiar views that mar their usefulness m the House. Land taxation is engaging the attention of the respective legislatures of Australia at thepresent time, but there is a great diversity of opinion thereon, and what the outcome of the respective propositions that have been made for what is termed popular taxation, remains to be seen. Almost every description of taxation is more or less unpopular, but th« Government of any country cannot be carried on without revenue derived from the imposition of taxes. As regards Tetrenchment, Mr Montgomery seems to be a counterpart of Joseph Hume, whose ultra economic principles m the Honse of Oommons is ■so wellknown. Hume often erred m this matter, although he certainly: succeeded m curtailing the expenditure of the Civil Service .to some considerable .■•.» extent. Mr Montgomery believes that relrenohn ment to the amount of £120,000 could easily be made m our Civil' Service, but this gigantic- outting dowa woulddoubtless impair the efficiency^ the service, which has been already; retrenched to' limits beyond which it would be imprudent to go. The investigations' !of the'Commissionsiappointed from time ;to time to am^lgamat^e offices and dispense with civil servants go to prove that the number of officials, is not excessive, that $ie, work they, have to perform jb, m, most instances, more arduous than it is supposed to be, and that the salaries they receive are less than- those paid' to Government officers m the, adjoining colonies. Itis eaay to talk about retrenchfrient^tut a'difficulTy^tands m the way ,of cairying^ifouttQthe satisfaction of such as are disposed to find' fault with the existing state i of ./ affkirs m "the public service.' The appointment of Mr J)river, as, Government insurance agent ,\n D.vmedin, afca.salaty of fiioOO.and £300 Commission, : was attacked by Mr 'Montjgbmery.'Oiitlictgrbhnd ,tMb' one of tiliS 'senior ' officers' J bf tix^'De^ai^At,

with better experience than Mr Driver, should be promoted to that position. The Government had assigned reasons for making this appointment, but the insurance policy-holders throughout the colony did not endorse them. ; On the question of borrowing Mr Mont-, gomery gave no uncertain sound. He was diamatrically opposed to the raising of further loans, seeing that the indebtedness of the colony was already enormous and necessitated a large amount of the consolidated revenue every year to. pay interest on the many millions that had been 'obtained since 1870. He believed the contemplated West Coast Railway would be most profitable, but it would be better not to construct it if money had to be borrowed for the purpose. The borrowing power of New Zealand should be measured by reduction m departmental expenditure. Adverting to the settlement of people on the land, of which there were 64,000,000 acres m the colony, Mr Montgomery thought the best system that could be adopted for that purpose was the homestead system ,of the. Auckland province, the particulars of which he detailed. If this system wereadopted a very large accession to the farming population might reasonably be expected. He would like to see 100,000 families of the industrious class settled on the Crown lands, for this would bring prosperity .to the country. Every encouragement shpuld therefore be given to people of this class from the mother country. In the United States and. in the Argentine Republic, the land was given to settlers at twopence per acre, the result being that population flowed freely to these countries, m whioh the strides of progress were amazing. In Queensland every immigrant family receives a free grant of . 40 acres on arrival m the colony, and this liberal system had introduced a vast stream of immigration tbither, every year, since the colony was first established m 1859. In that year the whole population of the colony only numbered about 8000, but now it is up to nearly 100,000, exclusive of about 20,000 Chinamen. Mr Montgomery is right m his views of land settlement, as are also those of the most of our Parliamentary representatives. The old adage, "The land for the people and the people for the land " is eminently applicable to New Zealand, and every effort should be put forth to induce suitable immigration to our shores. The class we need is that of the small tenantry, who are a boon to every country. In Belgium the small agriculturalists are the mainstay of the country. They can well live upon five or Bis acres, because of their excellent system of cultivation. In this colony forty or fifty acres would be the least we could offer a family of settlers. To the prevailing depression Mr Montgomery briefly alluded, but did not suggest any remedy beyond retrenchment, which seems to be his Alpha and Omega. Many of the views of the Member for A karoa are not at all abreast of the progressive proclivities of the age. He belongs to an antique school of politics, and is not likely to succeed as a legislator, estimable as he is m other respects. As a would-be Opposition leader he utterly failed, and must never aspiro to that position again. The Australian and New Zealand colonies are now, with one accord, determined to resist any attempt on the part of the French Government to take possession of, or exercise any authority over the New Hebrides; and for this stand against the encroachment of foreign power, 'they are to be coritmended. The establishment of the French ■ convict colony, of New Caledonia has been a source of trouble and annoyance to Australia, and further French rule m the Pacific is dreaded, as well it may. The many desperadoes who succeeded m making their escape from New Caledonia lauded either m Queensland or New South Wales, and the law Com-t records of these colonies bear testimony to their criminal conduct, hence the aversion to the New Hebrides being made a place of banishment for the incorrigibles of Paris and other French cities. France has no claim xipon any of the South Sea Islands, discovered by the celebrated circumnavigator, Captain Cook, all which England should legitimately claim. These islands formed, at one time, parts of New Zealand, and were included m the respective commissions issued to our early Governors, including Sir : George Grey. How England lost them is not known, for it should have retained possession of them. The French Government has promised not to interfere with the New Hebrides, but there is no positivecertainty that the promise will be unconditionally fulfilled. There is a doubt hanging over the affair, and the colonists of Australia are acting wisely m repelling any attempt to allow France to occupy that group. Great Britain; Canada, Australia and New Zealand have expended £40,000 m christianising and civilising the natives of the New Hebrides and to allow France to step m and disorganise the fruits of the labours of the missionaries 'there would be folly indeed. " Every French pledge given m connection with the Pacific has been broken, and the intervention of the Imperial Government hod, on several occasions, to be invoked to obviate injustice being done to British subjects. There is, therefore, no assurance"' that the promise riot tpy^send convicts to the New Hebrides wilr-turn out to be an exception.' .' ; JPrfttice, has no ; .colonists to send '" out\'except criminaUi_Uf we keep a grip upon the New Hebrides the expor,t oj'convicts becomes an impossibility, because? New Caledonia is exhausted and qan tako.no ■more. • If : the New Hebrides ''ate 1 given up we. make convictism possible, and m due ! c6nrse ; the Tnoral/ £e£tainty is that the convicts will come." ' , ''■'At it came 'to us, to. we give^t. 'A man passing -Heif Majesty's gaol yesterday afternoon': ynguirp'd V/a he met whose house it was. The person addressed replied f'The Government's i ; A tjbftfr'a the gaol." " &aol! u -Teplied the man; "I~ thowt 'twere a manshon ! " Gaoleir '.Cotter should no* ff el proud of bis .domicile. ' 'j/uNf'i ■ J ; : Tbej far?a;;for the; Easter [ holidays, and Christchurch Autumn races, by railway, will be found- published, in-j- our advertising columns this morning. Return ... excursipn tickets will be issued irbnvTemufca, Timaru, andV.Dunedin, frqm.jthe^Jst 1 ?!' '° fy B 26th inßt.,, available for return up to and including the / lb\h Mayl ' 'The "fare from Timaru will be— first class;r22s ; second, 16s 6d. At this low-price excursion should pc well patronised". ' ' ( ■,* vi; . L ; ; .

Harvest thanksgiving services will be conducted by the Rev. W. Ck Thomas m the Wesleyan Church, Temuka, on Sunday. At the Resident Magistrate's Oourt yester; flay morning, J. o'lTngan was charged with creating a disturbance m the Old Bank Hotel and was sent to prison for forty-eight hours. One inebriate was fined 5s for drunkenness. The court then rose. Two parties of tourists left Timaru by the Albury train on Wednesday to explore the beauties of Mount Cook. The tourists will make a short Btay at the Hermitage, advancing oa New Zealand's famed .mountain by the easiest route. ■ A little girl named Cowley, whose parents reside m Bank street, waß rather seriously burned yesterday afternoon. Dr Macihtyre was soon m attendance, and did everything, that was possible to alleviate the pain the unfortunate child was suffering. ■ ' : , We learn that Sergeant Grant, of the A.O. Force, one of the survivors of the wreck of the ill-fated Taiaroa, was at one time second lieutenant of H.M. Basilisk, which vessel under Captain Moresby explored tho waters around the Island of New Guinea m tho year 18*0. The Tomnka Football Club will play their opening game of the season to-morrow afternoon, m the Park, play commencing at three o'clock sharp. Sides will be picked by the captain and vice-captain. As this club has played a prominent part m football circles, during the last few years/ it is to bo hoped that members will roll np and go m for steady practice. At the usual monthly meeting of the Directors of the Temuka Dairy Factory on Tuesday, there were present Messrs Guild (chairman), Gray, Barker, Austin and Cane. Tho Secretary reported that 13,770 gallons of milk had been received at tho faotory for which he had paid £199 10s. The meeting adjourned after passing accounts to the amount of £21. The Borough Council's men laid down the asphalt footpath m front of Messrs Peacock and Geaney's Bhop yesterday, Tho work being the first done witli the new asphalt, was critically watched by many people, who expressed themselves as very well satisfied indeed with tho material and the way it was laid down. The footpath is without doubt one of the best m town, and tho bucccss which has attended the making of it augurs well for future operations. A special meeting of the Tomuka Town Board was held m tho Board's offices, Temuka, on Wednesday evening, to confirm the by-laws adopted at a special meeting on the 15th ult., when there were present Messrs Gray (Chairman), Quinn, Brown, Blyth, arid Mason. The minutes of the last special meeting haviug been read and confirmed, it was decided after a short discussion — " That a copy of the by-laws bo forwarded to the Colonial Secretary." The meeting then adjourned. Tho following hours of attendance will be observed at tho Post-office during the Easter holidays : — Good Friday— f Post-office : a close holiday will be observed, all mails for dispatch will bo closed at 10 pm. on Thursday, the 22nd inst. Telegraph Office : Open from 9 to 10 a.m., and from 7to 8 p.m. Telephone Exchango : Will be open from 9 to 10 a.m. only. Easter Monday-— Post-office : Open as usual. Telegraph Office : Open from 9to 10 a.m., and from 7 to 8 p.m. Telephone Exchange : Open as usual. A special meeting of the Gerdldine Town Board was held on Tuesday evening for the purpose of considering the expenditure ef a sum of £535 by the Board, and also the suggestion of the overseer "to lay a strip of asphalt through tho town. The membon present were Messrs R. H. Pearpoint (chairman), W. S. Maslin, R.Taylor and J. Hufley Tho Chairman stated what the proposed expenditure was for, and said tho estimated receipts to meet it were £526 18s 3d. Tho proposed expenditure was adopted, and it was decided to hold a. special mcating of the Board on the 2 let iust. to confirm a resolution of the Board to ! strike a' rate of 1b m the £. Tho asphalting question 1 was deferred, and the Board then road. ■ A meeting of tho Bazaar Committee and Vestry of St. Saviour's Church, Temuka, was held on Wednesday evening after ohurch service, when arrangements were mado for holding the annual Church Festival. It was decided to have a tea and concert, a bazaar and Bale of wort.and a gift auction. Addresses were promised by tho Yen. Archdeacon Harper (Timaru) the Rev. Jasper Smyth (Pleasant Point), tho Rev. J. Preston (Qeraldine) and the Rev. Hamilton (Temuka) . The Bazaar Committee have been .to considerablo pains to make suitable ariangements. Tho past annual festivals held m connection with tho church have all been attended with the greatest success, which speaks well for those who had charge of them, r and - tbis one promises to bo equally as good. ' . . . , Employees of the New' Zealand Railway Department aro just now engaged putting|up a footbridge on the eastern or sea side of phe railway bridge ot, Saltwater CreeV.' The bridgs is priucipal'ly for the uso of our whose difficulty m reaching their rifle range' at Saltwater Creek has time 'after time T)een : mentioned m ourtolumns. ! J The volunteers have no doubt to ; thank Mr Ballance, the Minister for Defence, for erecting tho <■ bridge^ the. subject having been brought und*r. his notico by Major Hamersloy and Captains White and Meoson, during his recent official visit to Timaru. The bridge is very substantially mado, is about 18 or |20 inches wide, and has a very strong and conveniently situated hand-t»i}<y The. bridge will be open-for traffic m a day or two as only the finishing touches now require to be made. Volunteers and visitors to the range will !in future bo able to reach the various firing points without having to trudge wearily over half a mile of heavy shingle, as was the case formerly. •. .-,- L ,We understand that^the Temuka Rifle Volunteers bave'dqeideot'to go. under canvas for a few dayß prior to (ho Easter Encampment at Oamaru. The members will assemble at their drill-shed at half -past., seven o'clock' to-morrow. evening, and will then . go into camp. Tile Park has been chosen as the spot, and should prove a very suitable camping ground. It -is certainly a pretty place to pitch tents m, (fad d~. most enjoyable" time should be Bpent by our Temuka Volunteer friends, who will iave become slightly inured .to camp life. by. the time they are. ready to start for Oamaru, and will not feel B 0 much out of plaoo as if they, were going down with> out'a : few days previous knowledge of such a life. On Sunday morning the Rifles will hold a church paradev They will, headed by the Temuka Brass Band, march to. St. Saviour's Church, wfiore suitable services- will bn copcluoted by the Rev. Mr Hamilton, the corps' •haplain. . While speaking of the Easter Encampment we; might mention that . the TemuVa and Gera^ue Rifles intend to go down, m full force. „ '

By a telegram from Christohuroli laat evening' wo learn that Mr Gilbert Hutfcon, one of the Taiaroa survivors, arrived m Lyttelton by the Penguin yesterday. He is well known at port, having been employed on the pilot station there. He appears to be much shaken; and ig'still under medical care. The dredge Progress met with another accident yesterday, this timo of a most aorious nature, the large spur wheel which drives the bucket gear broaking into two pieces. Bepairs will be commenced aa soon as possible, but it will be at least a few days before the dredge will be able to resume operations' ta the harbor. .'A. woman m Perth, Western Australia, has recently given birth to four daughters. ; Two of them died a fortnight after they were born. ■ Mr Whittier, the eminent American author, is stated to be burning all his .correspondence, lest his 'memory after death should be tarnished by . the injudicious publication of private letters. A kangaroo expedition m North 'Queensland is reported to have destroyed no less than 10,000 marsupials m three weeks. The skins of these animals are worth upwards of £2000. The navigable rivers of Queensland are bo infested with alligators as to render it dangerous to cross them. Several-lives have been lately lost through these voracious oreatures. ■■■:■.. Mr Miles, the owner of a large estate, m Victoria, was lately fined £100 and costs, for introducing English foxes for sporting purposes. Tho foxes killed a large number of lambs. Tho agitation for a separate colony for Queensland, to bo designated Northland, is being vigorously carried on, and a hope is entertained that. the Imperial Government will sanction the dismemberment. The eapital of the new colony is to bo fixed at Bockhampton. The following private telegram was re» ceived m Chriatchurch lately from Melbourne, m reply to an enquiry as to the new goldfield m Western Australia :— "Tho information received m Melbourne as to the reported large goldfleld m Western Australia, is of too meagre a character to warrant anyimmediate action." A "Sun and Planet" engine^ designed by James Watt, has Btill a place m the famous brewery of Messrs Whitbread and Co. f in Ohiswell Btreet, I/ondon, and is still performing tho duty for which it was constructed m 1785. Though there have been alterations to increase its power, all the principal parts remain as they were originally manufactured. A metal tablet affixed to the engine gives an account of its invention and history. Under the heading of "Edison's latest" Public Opinion has tho following : — Edison is now said to be perfecting the phonograph. He is going to do away with shorthand writers m commercial offices. Tie first machine will have a sft cylinder and be driven by Bteatn. The sound will bo transferred from the phonograph to a cylinder forty times its diameter, making the sound forty times louder than the human voice. It will have a funnel 30ft m length. The next instrument will be for office use. Business men will dictate to the phonogragh, and then hand it out to dictate to tho office boy. This form of apparatus will be self-acting, working with a spring. In Germany (says the St. James' Gazette) a very pretty quarrel seems to be beginning between the farmers and the manufacturers. The farmers say that owing to the imports of Cape and Australian wool it is impossible for them to sell their home-grown wool at remunerative prices. They assert that tho price of all the woollen manufactures ; they buy is raised by tho protective duties on manufactured articles, and they therefore claim that a corresponding duty, shall be levied, on the raw material. The mill-owners reply that m that case they would be ruined, as without a cheap and abundant supply of the raw ma-, terial, it /would be impossible for them to compete with England in -.neutral markets; In Princo Bismarck's present temper, it seems probable that the farmers will end m getting the better of the argument, and that the manufacturers will have to' be satisfied with receiving a bounty on exportation. Full particulars are now to hand of the English Waterloo Cup, which was run on the 17th, 18th, and 19th of February. ,The winner was Mr 0. Hibbert'a Miss Qlenciyne, by Paris — Lady Glendyno, who ran m the nomination of Mr B. B. Carruthers, while Mr L. Pilkington'a Penelope 11., by Macpherson — Stitch-in-Time, was runner-up. Miss Glohdyne divided the great prize last year with Bit of Fashion, her half Bister, whothiß year ran second for the Plate. Tho deciding course "Was a very exciting affair, the betting Ibeing 7t04 on Miuo OHondyne. The following description qf , the courts is from the London Evening Standard .:— " l T J hera i _waß a slight interval before the two cracks were •slipped, during which excitement .rose.to a great height, and this was increased as the delay extended. ; iThe;- brace were beautifully slipped to a grand hare. Miss Glendyno, the first to got m her stride, soon placed daylight between herself and the little fawn. The latter, however; seemed to be decreasing the gap m the middle of a stretch of .nice length. Shouts of 'Penelope II leads' were pretty generally forthcoming from all parts of tho crowd. It was only for a moment, as nearing the hare tho favourite .spurted and. drew out a couple of lengths.. As she somewhat overshot her mark, Penelope II took possession, and then more loud shouts of ' It's 20 to 1 on her now,' were hoard. Sticking plosely to the scut,, she scored. three nice driving. points to br;ng puss to the left, when Miss Glendyne closed up and nicked mon the inside, Brief rapid eihangea followed before the favourite wrested complete possession m resolute style, and going on wrenched three or four times, and, killing, won handsomely." Ambeicajt Co's Hop Bitters are . the Purest and Best Bitters ever made. They are compounded from Hops, Malt, Buchu, Mandrake, and Dandelion,— the oldest, Jiest, and most valuable medicines m the wprld »nd contaia all the best. . and most curative properties of all other remedies, being the greatest Blood Purifier, Liver Regulator, and Life "and"" Health restorer oif 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 Stimnlant, American Oo.'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 aick, 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 oure or help. Do' not suffer or let your friends Buffer, but use and urge them to use American Hop Bitters. Remember, American Hop Bitters is. no vile, .drugged, drunken nostrum, hut the purest and best medicine ever made/; Try the Bitten to-day. Get at Chemists or Druggists, i Beware of imitations. -Genuine has Dr Soule's name blown m bottle.— [Adtt.] ':.-..; i. ■»•:.'

Tub Half-holiday Movement. — Tha employees of Timaru thank the public of South Canterbury for their hearty sympathy m supporting the Thursday half-holiday movement, which under their continued patronage, will prove a lasting benefit. Customers are requested to complete their purchases before one o'clock on Thursdays, to ensure punctual closing. — [Advt.] Highway Bobbery Almoßt, to sell the poisonous, drunken, purging stuff as medicine to honest men, innocent women, and harmless children to weaken and destroy their systems and health, whon pure harmless Hop Bitters can be had that cures always and continually at a trifling cost. Ask druggists or physicians, "- Bead [Adtt.] SYNOPSIS OP NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Jonas andßonrn— -Will Bell horses at their rooms on "the 17th inst., at 11 o'clook; also, timber, at Macpherson, Filmer and Co.'syardß on the 19th inst. at 12 o'clock. B. Tnrnbull and Son— Will Bell jewellery to-morrow. J.-A. Gracie and Co.— Will Bell horses, &0., at -their rooms on the 17th inst. James Orr, Waitohi Flat — Trespass notice. Thomas Orr— Trespass notice. A. F. Edmlston— Wishes correspondence to be addressed to Timarn m future. «" ■ N.Z. Bailways— Fares for Easter holidays and Christchuroh races! . Studholmo, Banks and Wigley— Dissolution of partnership. " , ■ G. Pearson— Has fruits and confectionery for sale. C. Bowker — Pnblio announcement.