The Thames Star. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 1897. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8619, 25 March 1897, Page 2

The Thames Star. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 1897. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

A newspaper storm has been centring round the heid of the Napier Telegraph. Some time ago the Star received a message from the Press Association correspondent at Napier, containing a story of a relationship between an inmate of the Old Men's Home and the Hon J. G. Ward; and almost on the heels of this wire there came an urgent telegram from the Press Association, asking that the Napier message bo not published. Conseqaentlj not a word of the supposed " rare* lation" saw the light in these columns. The fall text of the message referred to is as follows:— "The Daily Telegraph publishes a letter to-day, in which it is suggested that a person in the Napier Refuge, who has been a charge on the ratepayers for some ten or more years, is the stepfather of the Hon. J. G. Ward. The Telegraph, commenting on the letter, argues that either it is not true, or, assuming the relationship to exist, the whereabouts of Mr Barron is unknown to his friends,"

It may b» mentioned en passant that the Telegraph is the Napier evening paper, and is bitterly hostile to the Government, more particularly to Mr Ward and Mr Seddon. Thin alleged "revelation" was broached in the Telegraph's columns by a supposed correspondent's letter, and the latter was, we understand, accompanied by some editorial notes thereon. The New Zealand Times, in taking the part of Mr Ward, explains tlio situation by stating that after Mrs Ward married Mr Barron they separated under circumstances which in no way involved reflection or discredit on the lady. It is over 30 years since the separation took- place, and Birron was supposed to have gone to the West Coast, and to have met his death there by drowning, while Mrs Barron ° was left to struggle for herself and her children.

With regard to the husband, the Times adds: " Whatever he was or is, he never sought to foist himself, after hia failure in life, upon those he had left so many years ago, and no word oi hit condition—when he did tell the story—was ever communicated to Mr Ward or his mother. . . .

He hud effaced himself, and only when confronted by death, did he seek to make it known to whom he was rtlated. He asked that Mr Ward might be communicated with when he was dead. Instead of treating this communication from the lips of a dying man as he himself desired, the fact wa» made known to the Telegraph. . . .

So soon as Mr Ward heard of the matter here in Wellington, he made arrangements to go to Napier, taking train yesterday morning so as to reach the town at the earliest possible moment, and make such enquiries and arrangements as might seem to him fitting under the circumstances. It is only too apparent that this last is one of the many brutal and utterly shameless attempts which hare been made to compass the ruin of Mr Ward, but surely his mother might hay» been spared ? Even had the whole story been true, could it in any way have reflected badly upon the woman who had believed herself widowed for nearly 30years?"

It will bo seen from the above that the Times takes up the cudgels rigorously, with the conviction that the Telegraph's only object was to personally damage Mr Ward. The Telegraph on the other hana alleges that the Napier Charitable Aid Board was neglecting its duty in not communicating with Mr Ward; that it was a public duty to bring thi matter before the ratepayers; and that no reflection was intended on Mr Ward or his mother. The rapidity with which the Napier paper (holding as it does the Press Association agency) wired the item through* out the colony may be regarded as evidence of other motives than the enlightenment of the Napier ratepayers. If this is so, such hypocritical action will admit of no defence. Allowing for argument's sake that the Napier refugee's identity and history are true, there are two points on which such hypocrisy would be indefensible. The first is the utter failure to sheet home any charge of a moral nature as to the neglect of wifely or filial responsibilities; and the second is the petty meanness of spirit which could inspire such a course. But it would not be the first time that Opposition journals have stooped to personal prejudice and pettyminded&ess in their dissertations. It only too frequently happens that, instead of attacking th« Government on broad itwues and questions of policy, the Couserotire preqp

seek to atone for the omission by wrapping a halo of verbiage around such trivial incidents as the appointment of the Sergeant-at- Arras, or wme other dispute of the " earthquake in • flower pot" nature.

An inquiry into the circumstances of the recent fire at Ah Ghee's premises will be held to-morrow. Chief Inspector Potrie is at present on. a visit to the Thames, and yesterday visited the Farawai School. The cutter Matakana and the ketch Violet are at present in port, the former having a cargo of firewood, and the latter a general cargo. Me Thos. McCosnem., tailor, of Auckland, will visit the Thames on Saturday, when orders for suits, &c, may beleft at the Brian Bora Hotel.

On Saturday a cricket match will be concluded which, may possibly decide the. possession of the junior championship. United 11. will finish an innings against Tararu 11., which was commenced some weeks ago, 2 wickets falling for 2 runs. Tararu had previously scored 70 odd, so United will have a tough uphill fight. If Tararu win they will secure the junior championship, but if they lose we understand that a play-off with High School will be necessary. Owing to substitutes being admitted to the field, Mclntyre and Johnston, who were absent when the match was commenced, will be enabled to bat for United.

A meeting of the committee which had in hand the raising of funds to be forwarded t» the famine stricken people of India was held yesterday afternoon, His Worship the Mayor, ("Chairman of the fund), occupying the Chair, and there were also present Mrs Neill, the Rev. S. J. Neill, and Messrs Renshaw (Treasurer) and Bruce (Secretary). It was reported that the amount so far received was £166 16s Id, and it wjl* resolved to close the lists on Monday next and forward the sum through the Bank of New Zealand, which is remitting all moneys in connection with the fund free of exchange. Votes of thanks were passed to the Chairman (Mr Radford), Mr Bruce (Seoretary), Mr Eenshaw (Treasurer), as well as all others who had assisted in the matter. It is reported from Pahi that a three year old child named Adelaide Beylandu, daughter of a Huketere settler, has been drewned in the Wairea river. The child with her brother, aged seven, who was of » weak mind, wore playing on the beach. The tide was coming in, and Adelaide was surrounded by the water on a sand spit. £"he brother was intellectually unable to render her assistance. A search is being made for the body. On further examination of the skeleton of a man found near Taupaki recently, a bullethole was discovered in the skull, evidently from the revolver found lying beside him. The skeleton is, from appearances, judged to have been lying about ten years where found, and from the fact of a spade, billy, and remains of some blankets being found with the skeleton, it is now supposed to be that of agumdigger. An inquest will be beld. Here 13 the full text of a resolution passed by the Dunedin Workers Political Committee, and telegraphed all over the colony: —"This meeting, while showing due respect to the head of the British Constitution, desires to express its strong disapproval of the projected scheme for sending the Hon the Premier, Cavalry Corps, &c, to England to take part in the record reign pageant, which we believe is instituted by interested persons to bolster up an effete monarchical system, with all its attendant pomps and vanities. We look upon the affair as a huge, ostentatious, and senseless exhibition of pomp, totally unbecoming a Democratic community, and a sinful waste of public money, whether defrayed by the British or New Zealand taxpayers, many of whom are more in need of bread than witnessing a scene, the effects of which will probably more effectually keep them in the undesirable position they now occupy." Wo have evidently " Little New Zealanders" as narrow in their ideas as the " Little Englanders."