THE MINISTER OF LANDS.

Timaru Herald, Volume LII, Issue 5168, 15 June 1891, Page 3

THE MINISTER OF LANDS.

e, — (Civis in tho Olago Witness ) Tho WoJlington 'Evening Press has an xmoomfortablo suggestion anent tho M'KeiizieSpence business. It bogins by pointing out that Sir Holsort Stout ia " the chief centre of tho most gigantic monopoly in the colony — the Southland Pine Company," a ring or syndicate that "hao bought up all (ho uuwmills in Southland" (an exaggeration surely !) " and has oecured a coinplole monopoly of tho vast titnbflv trade in that extensive district, which contains the finest forests in New Zealand." Woll, what of nil this ? If the head ceutreship of a gigantic monopoly were not cntiroly consistent with Radicalism, Unionism, Socialism, and the presidency of Mr Kitchen's rickety bantling, " The National Liberal Association," why, of course, we should not find that position occupied by Sir Bobert Stout, Tho virtue of consistency is much over-praised j what is worse, it is muoh misunderstood. Bousseau olecttiflod Europe by a boolr on the sacred obligations of parental rosponeibity oni the duty of oducating children. The efimo Bouseeau disposed of his own children, as one by one they came into existence, by dropping them at night into the basket charitably placed for the reception of such derelicts at the gate of the Paris Foundling Hospital. Tho other day a British II. P. who had become obnoxious to the police because of cortain unspeakable offenceß against laws human and Uivino, and had consequently fled his country, waa disoovered at some place in Spain " conducting a religious eorvice!" Inconsistencies on Hie' surface these — but on the surface only. In oaoh case, depend upon it, there was a doep ] underlying harmony between tho two extremes. To percoivo that harmony you would have to know the inner quality and oharactor of tho man. Don't talk about " inconsistencies ! " The question is, whother the things you call inconsistent are found in one and the same individual. If they aro, that maltes thorn consistent. However, this is not exactly tho point. Tho point is thia : What boaring hns Sir fiobort Stout's interest in tho Southland forests monopoly upon Mr MeKenzio's intemperate zeal for reforming the Southland Land Office ? None whatever, I shonld eay, not the rcmotist. "But," continues tho Wellington Press, " wo wonder if his friend and mentor — the ohairman of the monopolist timber company — supplied any of the balla which the patriotic MoKonzie fired at tho unfortunate chief commisoioner ? " Woll, when ono oomos to think of it, there is a passage in Mr McKenzie's Polrnoraton speech, which, to put the case mildly, is at least very suggostivo, " Before sitting down," said tho opuakor, "he would like to refer to tho bitter animosity shown towards him by the Baih) Times. That paper for 20 solid yoars had bitterly opposed him." Heading this, I confess I rubbed my eyeß. Where, and what, waa Mr MoKonzie 20 yoars ego that the Daily Times Bhould have honoured him then, and thonco onward, with this special attention ? " Bitterly opposed to me for 20 solid years !" Mothinliß in this I hear another voice than tho voioo of the viaiblo speaker. Tho hands may bo ICbbu's hands (Esau, I beliovo waa a rough and hairy man, a son of tho dosort, if not exactly a "shophord from the hillsides"), — tho hands aro Esau's hands, but tho voico is tho voico of Jacob. If Jacob supplied tho speech from Dunodin ho must have forgotten ut this point for a moment that it was a Bpoech to bo spoken in the character of Bsau, and so lapsed into u bit of personal autobiography. All things considered there i» a good deal moro in tho Wellington papor's suggestion than at flret rnoets the eyo.

INSURANCE SCHEME. a ~ (Zomloa Times, 15th April.) A now deparfcuro, vyhich is especially interesting in viow o£ tho ultontion now boing paid to tho Bubjoot of tho relations of oin- : ployorn and employed, hail just beon decidod ■ upon by the Shipping Federation. Kvory > seaman or fireman who takes out a Federation > liokob— for whioh o sliilliug io charged by wuy ' of rogiatration foe— will, by ruaiion oE hia ■ posßeaaion of that tinkot, and without any i furthor payment, effoot thoroby an inaiirnncn . of £25 in oaso lie should bo WHod or lost nt > epa whilo serving on a Federation ship. In ' t)io oaso of Rapliitinn the insuranca — on tlic Bfimo condilions - will bo £100, Brat ongirii-ora a .£IOO, other engineers SioQ, und mates £50, t In tho ovent of a Fcdorntion chip boing loot i ut boh with nil hnndn, inaurunco money to the • amount Btutocl would bo paid to tlio legal o roproßontfttivoa ofovery rann on board. r J?lit