The Timaru Herald. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1886.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3771, 2 November 1886, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1886.

Yestehdat the Cable Company commenced to make its increased charges m accordance with previous announcement. Iv retaliation, or perhaps wo should say as a means of protecting the public against loss, the New Zealand Government is imposing a terminal charge on inward messages of four shillings for ten words and iivepenco for every additional word. The arrangement is a thoroughly unsatisfactory one, and as long as it lasts, the Government and the company are m a chronic state of warfare. All sorts of unpleasantnesses will arise, and, although it has been confidently asserted that the Government is master of the situation and that the company must eventually givo "way, the latter may not be so easily forced down, and, right or wrong, may put the colony to a good deal of expense m the law courts, and may possibly achieve at least a temporary success. Whatever may be the merits of tho question at the present time,i(: is tho fault of tho Government that affairs wore ever allowed to drift into such an uncomfortable position. It is not surprising that outside the colony, and to the Cubic Company, tho action of Bir Julius Yogel (for ho is tho moving spirit m tho matter) should appear arbitrary and unreasonable. Wo iind him applying to Parliament for authority to renew the subsidy for ten years, arguing strongly that tho concession was necessary and that the colony would be a loser m caso of a refusal. We lind him reluctantly accepting as a compromise, an authority to renew ihe Kiib.vidv for five years ; and finally wo find him refusing absolutely to give the company even that measure of assistance which Parliament had sanctioned. On tho face of it lie has entirely changed his opinion since tho debate on the ten years' subsidy, and has acted according to his now lights without referring the matter to the decision oil Parliament. J3i.it; on the other hand it must not he lost sight of that Sir Julius Yogel is a long-headed man, and is one of tho very lust; to run tho colony into a didiculty for a moro whim. II ho has changed his opinion willi regard to tho subsidy he has corlainly not done so without what appear lo him to bo very substantial reasons, and ho no doubt thinks ho hcvh his way to como with ndvanlago to tho colony out of tho present dispute with the company. It may be taken for granted that ho docs not, regard tho now arrangement as permanent, though what his real views are is not quite clear from tho published correspondence. Unless at tho olovonth hour he were to givo up tho contest and agreo to tho iivo years' subsidy (of which, however, thero seems not the remotest probability) tho quostions at issuo cannot be definitely settled until tho mooting of Parliament, which is not likely to take place before next

May. Meanwhile ii'.o colony is at a "iv:\t c!i.<-n<lvmit:i^<.', and, if wo may believe (lie Art/as, there is danger of more telegraph difliciiltiVsin a quarter where Sir Julius Yogel has not, as far as ivc are aware, hitherto looked for any. Our Melbourne contemporary says : — "New Zealand is following an isolated policy, without regard to the wishes or the interests of Australia, and a policy that may prove to their own advantage. ISTew Zealand is allowed to use tho Australian lines, and makes an ample use of the privilege, without being asked to contribute a single penny towards their maintenance. At the present moment alio lias all tho benefits of the cable communications at no greater cost than that of tho actual message. Sho is living liko a spoiled State m the luxury of tole-gi-ams at the expense of tho company and of the other colonies, but if sho persists m causing inconvenience, the Australian Governments would naturally arrange their telegraphic business with tho company without regard to Sir Julius Yogel and his projected lino. They might even argue that special rates should be imposed upon New Zealand messages from England, m order that that colony might bo compelled to bear its share m paying for tho great cables." It is true that tho threats como from tho Aryus and not from any Australian Government-, but nevertheless the suggestion of making things unpleasant for New Zealand m consequence ot her Treasurer's attitude towards the Cable Company may not bo badly received m Australia. Possibly, therefore, there may bo future complications to be avoided m that direction, and it is as well to make a noto of tho warning thu* given by tho Victorian champion of the company. ~\Vo entirely disagree with a largo portion of the articlo from which'the above extract is taken. Tho Arr/un assumes that Sir Julius Yogel lias made up his mind to ask Parliament to sanction a new cable. Notwithstanding the opinions ho has recently expressed, we are by no means suro upon that point. But assuming that he intends to propose a new cable, wo are unable, m the absence of evidence, to endorse tho emphatically adverse judgment pronounced by tho Melbourne critic. Tho arliclc'is very one-sided, ?o much so, indeed, that a suspicion is excited that the Argus was caught napping, and that the writer was au emissary of the company. If; might perhaps bo unwise for New Zealand to lay a sreond cable at tho present juncture, but the full materials for forming a judgment <>v that point are not yet available. Certainly the assertions of the Afijv.-, are- not to be accepted as proof (if I he rottenness, of the scheme, and Koine of the reasons advanced against the undertaking aro clearly n»len;u>!i\ The following i 3 what the Ei-iuin'j PtK'i says with regard to the latest move of the Government : — " The aeliuii of tli', 1 Government m imposing a terminal charge on messages received m the Oi'!"!iy is absolutely iueoniprelieiisiljlc. J lid the Government charged tliu company a rent for the office aceommodatiuu ami clerical services rendered it would have been all right. The company would probably have had to pay it ; but to make a charge of 4s for every ten word message received, aiul an extra ~>\ per word above the first ten, is quite unjustifiable. Except m respect to a slight reduction m the imuiher of messages, such a charge will not fall cv the company at all, but will fall most heavily ou the public and especially on the Press. Both public and Pre;-s v.-ill be Ikceetl on both sides by the company tiud by the Government. All the I'rißs messages are paid for m the colony, and this new terminal charge will more than double the present cost of all such messages, without takiug into account the increased charge of about l! 0 per cent imposed by the Cable Company. This must cause a serious diminution m the amount of cable news which Tf ill be received by the Pres3 of the colony. It would be impossible to conceive a more unfair arrangement than the one determined on, the effect of which will be to make persons sending cable messages to New Zealand, or receiving collect cables, pay the extra charge imposed by tbe Company on messages sent from New Zealand. As a very large proportion of the received messages are addressed to Iteuter and the Press Association, this means that the Press of tho colony will have to make up the main part of the difference between the old and new rates on messages sent from tbe colony by the general public."

Ik we arc to credit a telegram which is published m auotluT column, the authorities are still prosecuting inquiries concerning the death of Captain Cain. We never supposed that the matter had been given up. It would have been a disgrace to the Government if such had been the case. As we said m a former article, if suspicion attaches to any one, the main point at present is to connect that person with the purchase of some preparation of antimony prior to Captain Cain's death. No trouble or expense ought to bo spared m trying to clear up that point, and if necessary the investigation ought to be prosecuted m the other colonies, and even m England. The poison must have been purchased somewhere, and m. all probability tho transaction will come to light if the authorities exercise due perseverance. Tlio latter part of the telegram refers U> an intention to hold a coroner's inquest. That ought to have been done when the body was exhumed, or perhaps it would be more correct to say that tho body ought not to have been exhumed until the authorities were ready to hold an inquest. We understand that either the Minister of Justice or tho Colonial Secretary is responsible for having ordered tho exhumation. If an inquest is now to be held it will be necessary to have a second exhumation, as the coroner's jury must view the body. The general opinion seems to be that Captain Cain's body ought not to have been exhumed before the conclusion of the recent trial.

Mr und TiFis Chapman arrived nfc Waimate yesterday to oomnionco duties 113 master and matron of tho Wniranic Hospital. 'I lure wi'ro registered aL the registrar's nflirr, 'limirn, during tho month of October, ")1 birMii, 7 death?, and S innmnges. Mr I'liomns Jowsoy, tlio Hospital Stowavd, duiiiros to Jionrlily thank tho Friendly Societies for their donation of £8 Ss Gd, proceeds of Ilic " Hospital Sunday." Tlio monoy is to bo ]nil info tlio Convftlcscnt I'luid, and will cimljlo Mi'a Jowsoy to get several articles which uro greatly ncoded for convalosent puticntii. A meeting of UlO members of the Wnimato Calodoniau Society was held on Saturday, ■when Mr A. Hayes was elected President, Mr R. Cameron Vice-President, Mr A. Carter Treasuror, and Mr D. Jacksoa Secretary. A Managing Comvmttoo of twenty wbb also elected, and a Committee was appointep to arrange for tho annual sports, which it was decided to hold on Monday, the 27th. Dweinboi 1 uoil.

The Geraldine Town Board will hold their monthly meeting this evening. The following arc the vital statistics registered at the ofHce, Geraldine, for the month onded October 31st, 1886 :— Births, 8 j deaths, 1 ; marriages, 1. Tlie time for receiving entries fortheWaimato Agriculturnl and Pastoral Association's Show has been extended from the Gth to the 10th. A meeting of persona interested in holding races at Albury will bo held at the Railway . Hotel, Albury, at eix o'clock next Saturday evening. Three first offenders arrested for drunken" ness were charged at tbe Resident Magistrate's Court, Tiinnru, yesterday morning, and fined oa each by J. S. Beswick, R.M., who presided. Tbo monthly meeting of tlio Geraldino Road Board will take place- this morning instead of Tuesday next, on account of the Chri=tchureh race3 and Agricultural bliow coming o£E next week. The Court of Appeal will begin its sittings in Wellington next Monday (November Bth). Tlio presiding judges will be the Chief Justice, and Jiist : ees Richmond, Johnston, Williams, and Ward. It ha3 been decided by the Committee of tlio Wnimato District School that Christmas holidays at that school commence on the 23rd December next, tho school to open again on Monday, 2-lt.h January, 1887. Mr F. W. Stubbs, secretary to tho T. A. and P.A., informed us yesterday that Mr Q-. G-. Russell's sheep have been awarded tho cup given for down breeds. It may also bo added that Mr Russell carried off tho championship in the Leicoster ram classes. Tho settling-up of tho Timaru Racing Club took phce at tho Shamrock Ilotel last evening, when the followinjr amounts were paid away:— Mr F. Hobbs, £30; Mr E. Wilson, £5 ; Mi- J. Ralston, £20 ; Mr M. Sherwin, £70 ; Mr E. S. Rutherford, £25 ; { Mr A. Sloe, £20 ; Mr Herron, £19; Mr H. Coulter, £15 ; Mr C. Woderell, £10 ; Mr J. Warner, £10 ; Mr Hammond, £20 ; Mrs Hammond, ladies' bracelet, valuo 21 guineas. Tho weather at Waimate, although changeable, has been seasonably fine, with mild temperature (luring last week, and the growth of crop3 und gra?3 has been rapid throughout tho country. Orops have been rathor backward this season, but a continuanco of the present favourable weather will cause a satisfactory advance in their growth. Thero is a considerable increase of area under wheat and oats above that of last year, and agricultural pro'peots are promising. Tlio ronim.imlin^ officer's inspection parade of tho Timimi BiHes, which was called for last Wednesday was, wo understand, postponed until Wednesday night, the 3rd inst., when it is to be hoped that a full miißter will take place. The parade will be in review order. A qfneral meeting of tho company will he held immediately nfter pnrado to elect two lieutenant?, and to appoint several non-commissioned officer*, also to arrango for the parade on Prineo of Wulea' birthday. At the R.M. Court, Wninntp, yesterday, before J. Manchester and F. Sice, Eeqr?., .T.PV., a man named Thomas Johnson was brought up as being a lunatic not under proper caiv and control. Johnson had been recently ploughing on tho Waihaorunga e*lalo, and for ?omo time back it was observed Ins fOiowvd symptoms of insanity. After being examined by Doctors Wicoll and Stacpaole, the prescribed certificates of insanity by two medical practitioners were sworn to by the Doctor*, and the Bench ordered the patient to be conveyed te tho Sunnyside Asylum. It is not, known whether Johnson ha-i any relatives in the colony. Thcro is now beine; published in the !1~<7.-/y Prtss, an admirable series of articles descriptive of the fishing prounds (or waters) of South Canterbury. In ln.«t week's issuo the rivers und streamsof the Tcmukn district arc discoursed of in favourable terms. Tho writ or, who veils his" identity under the curious vom dr plume of " The Gryphon," evidently not only knows what ho is writing about, but knows how to write it, and his article! nre of the greatest interest to many others than anglers. Ho lias in hia toura of inspection kept hia eyes open for moro than eligible fishing places, as his descriptions of tho many spots in the neighbourhood, charming by nature, by art, and by both combined, amply prove. Ono of Temuka's landmarks has just disappeared off tho faco of tho earth, by tho destruction of tlio Crown Hotel, preparatory to tho erection of a building larger and more suited to modem requirements. The older part of tho building was tho first houso built in Temuka proper, the actual fisst being Mr A. Grant's placo at Andrewville, on tho Winchester road. Even that, however, was built with the wood intonded for tho Crown Hotel, there being some little delay, a^d tho erection of tho hotel deferred for a few months. Now, not a Vesti^o of tho eld hotel is left standing, and in another day or two the scaffolding will bo up for the construction of a house wherein hoarders will find more solid comfort, if it lacks the charm of old association. A meeting of tho Waimate Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held on Saturday last, Mr Hayes in tho chair. A Cominitloo was appointed to arrango for tho Ba'e cf privileges. Xetters were recoived from gentlemen whose services had been asked as judges at tho j coining show. Some of thoso asked were unable to attend, and the secretary was instructed to apply to other gentlemen, asking their assistance as judges. Tho dato for closing entries was extended from tho 7th to the 10th instant. A letter was received from tlio Railway Department informing that trains would be run at reduced fares on tho occasion of tho show on tho lGth inat. Mr A. Hayes referred to tho loss the association had sustained by tho death of Mr Studholmo, who since |the origin of tho society had taken a prominent part in helping it by valuable services and liberal patronage. Mr liayes wa3 elected president of tho asEOciation in placo of tho late president— Mr Studholme— Mr Ilardie, of tho Hook, being elected vice-president. Tlio Dunedin Star says : — A gentleman in Dunedin recently forwarded to an acquaintance of hid Carey's report on tho alleged gold doposiU at Big Bay, and invited his opinion thereon, which wo have been permitted to publish. Tlio writer was askod whether it was desirable that a party should bo equipped in Duncdiu and sent from hero to tho West Coast. Tlio reply is : "Of cour3o I think it worLh while organising a party, providing that they are really good working men. At tho same time I cannot help expressing tho opinion that tho enclosed report (Carey's) is greatly exaggerated and likely to do a groat deal of harm to tho district, beeauso the long-continued liberality of tho Dunedin people townvds this part of tho colony will cease if reports of this kind aro mado public. From what I can hear, Carey was a draper in Wellington before ho caino down hero. It will bo a BerioUß matter if nothing is struck after all this noise. I have not much faith in it myself, although you know as woll as I that it takes a number of men to find gold. I shall read your letter to tho peoplo hero, and give you tboir views on. tho matter." Wo may add that the writer is one of the oldo3t and most experienced minors in this colony, ho having apent over twenty years of his busy life on tho West Coast o£ this oolony. Ho ia thoroughly reliable, and the gontloinan who forwards his lottor to us makes this significant addondum :— " I valuo the writer's opinion, yory highly."

The train arrangements, Ac, in connection with the Onuiaru regatta on the 9Lh inst., will be found published in another column. Saturday last saw a good mueter on the Timaiu Cricket Club's ground, when sides wero chosen by Messrs Godby and Raymond, each pUying sixteen 'a side. Godby's side batted first, and totalled up only 17 runs, due to tlio destructive bowling of R. SmitliEon, who bowled splendidly,, securing 10 wickets for 5 runs, his average being quite a sensationnl one. Fish ably supported Smithson, bagging 5 wickets for 10 runs. A. Godby was top scorer with 9. Raymond's side, when stumps wero drawn, had lost 8 wickets for 102, C. T. H. Berry 31, W. G. Bees 29, and Raymond 21, playing well. 11. Godby and W. Bristol wero well on the wicket, but not at all backed up by tho field, which to pay the best of it was very loose, numerous catchc3 being missed. We hope to Bee such a good muster every Saturday.