The Star. SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1895. To-Day.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5333, 10 August 1895, Page 4

The Star. SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1895. To-Day.

When the debate on the Financial Statement was resumed yesterday, the member. for Riccarton oppoaed the policy of the Government all along the line, and stated a policy of his own. This would involve the borrowing of a million of money, half to be spent iv opening up more coal-mines, and half in establishing more village settlements. He intimated his intention of proposing that the whole of the duty on tea should be removed, increases being made on "other articlea" to the requisite amount ; and that all goods made in prisons should be absolutely prohibited. This speech was described by Mr Morrison, the member for Cavorsham, as one of the most impracticable, wild. cat character he had ever listened to. Mr Buick complained that unjust demands were made upon the Government by local bodies, and expressed his preference for reduction of expenditure in lieu of taxation. Captain Euaaell reiterated previous Opposition utterances, and gave notice of a resolution to request tho Treasurer to withdraw the proposed alterations in the Customs duties. The Hon J. M'Kenzie, in replying to him, thought that Captain Russell had shown questionable taste in referring to the Bank of New Zealand, since it certainly was not the Liberal Party that caused the bank to be in its present position. The Minister scored a good point by stating, with regard to the village settlement operations of the Government, thatothere was now a population of 4501 on an area of 33,804 acres, and that these settlers had paid in rent and interest .£17,620. Messrs Praaer and Montgomery spoko briefly, and the debate was once more adjourned. Recently we placed before our readers the details of a double murder that had been committed in England, with the view of showing in what curiously simple wayß criminals sometimes reveal what they have done. It will be remembered that a man named Hudson murdered his wife and child at Helmsley, near Thirek, and endeavoured to divert suspicion by writing notes •implying that his wife waß visiting a relative, and changing this to the story of an elopement. The bodies of the victims were found in a shallow grave on a stretch of moorland, and Hudson had disappeared. Later news to hand, via Brindisi, discloses the fact that the murderer's capture was effected by his own agency. Keen search waa made for him in Birmingham, where for various reasons it was thought that he might be in hiding, nnd all through the Midlands the people, roused to deep indignation by the atrocious nature of the double crime, were eager to lay hands upon the perpetrator of such a deed. The detectives were not •far wrong as to the man's whereabouts, though his arrest came about in a most unlikely manner. In tha little village of Selby Oak, three miles from Birmingham, where "everybody knows everybody," a Mrs Wheeler had rooms to let. One afternoon, a young and respectably dressed man called to look at them, stating that he was in business in Birmingham, and he engaged the apartments. Hudson waß to have begun hia tenancy on the following day, and it is quite possible that he might have entered into possession and remained there without suspicion. But his particular Nemesis was hard upon his heels, and caused him to imagine danger and to devise childish meanß for warding it off. Hudson did not appear at the specified time, but a letter arrived, addressed to " Mr H. Robertson," the name that he had assumed. Someone in the House remarked that the letter seemed to be an extraordinarily thin one, and on holding it up to the light saw at once that tho supposed letter waa but an empty envelope. These people, like everybody else, had read the tragic story of " The murderonthe moor," and they remembered one particular incident— a"letter "had been sent by Hudson to someone, and on being opened was found to contain only a blank sheet of paper. Then they re-read the published description of the wanted man, and straightway— so Btrong was their suspicion—communicated with the police. The house was. watched, the new lodger came at last, and the police knew at a glance that he was Hudson. " It's no good denying it," he said, "I'm the man wanted." One of the curiosities of the case is that at the time of his arrest Hudson was advertising — as Robertson — in various newspapers — with a view to securing another wile, and had actually supplied himself with a number of photographs to be cent to tbe anticipated correspondents. Fhom details now to hand, it seems that in many quarters the circumstances in connection with the downfall of the English Government involved a dual surprise. | Our readers will remember that the first inoident waa the resignation of the Duke of Cambridge; that a motion to reduce tho salary oE the Secretary of State for War was carried by a majority of 132 ; that Mr Campbell Bannerman thereupon resigned, «tf%li tali? Wjfepgfftt waft 40H3 ioi-

lowed by that of the Ministry as a whole. According to one of the, leading London journals, the true story of the resignation of the Commander-in-Chic? presents a somewhat ludicrous aspect. It is, in effect, that in consequence of an agitation against the Duke of Cambridge that had been going on for some time, the Governi ment went diplomatically to work, and in some way or other it became known that if the Duke were to tender his resignation, the Government would be materially assisted in gaining acceptance of its policy of Army administration. The story goes on to relate that the Duke good-naturedly fell in with this idea, since " where the good of the Army was concerned, his personal feelings did not enter into the contract," and his resignation was accordingly sent in, through the Queen herself. Bat neither the Duke nor her Majesty for one moment dreamed that the incident would have so practical a. termination. According to tho Pall Mall Gazette, the Government unexpectedly took the matter seriously, " which was the very last thing expected, desired or deserved by either Her Majesty or His Royal Highness." The other surprise was the defeat of the Government on the motion of a private member, Mr Brodrick, to reduce Mr Campbell Bannerman's salary as an indication that army matters were not being kept up to the mark. According to a statement which is vouched for as authentic, Mr St John Brodrick had sent a communication to the Secretary for War to which no reply was vouchsafed, and it occurred to him that the incident might be used as a lever for the overthrow of the Government. Thereupon he conferred with some of those who had been his colleagues in the previous Government. The project was brought to the notice of Mr Balfour, and later to that of lord Salisbury. The line now taken turned specially upon two considerations. First, was it worth while bringing down the Government just now? Secondly, would tho plan proposed be likely to succeed P Both statesmen were distinctly pleased with the idea, and it was at least regarded as worthy of a trial. The underlying issue, concealment of War Office inefficiency in a possibly critical national emergency, was at all events one to justify the adventure, even if defeat only attended it. In particular Lord Salisbury was tickled by it, and both he and Mr Balfour gave their assent to the enterprise. This decision was communicated by his friends to Mr Brodrick, who at once proceeded to arrange what he called a " full dress debate." The support in the division lobby of all the military members was secured, and Unionists were privately urged wherever possible to stand by. At first the hou member appears to have had an open mind as to the specific line the attack should take. There were the proverbial three courses — an amendment, a definite vote of censure, and a motion to reduce the salary of the Secretary for War. Mr Campbell Bunnerman himself practically, though unconsciously, suggested the plan of attack by jooularly saying, " Well, bring on your grievance tomorrow ; move the reduction of my salary." The latter expedient xrae selected, because under it no notice became neceßaary* The issue was quite on a par with the foregoing, and could not be batter described than it has been done by Mr Labonchere, who on being interviewed, said : " I was Bitting on the terrace oh Friday evening, just about seven, with Sir W. Harcourt, who was joking about the quietness of things, and Baying it was a dull day without a crisis, when the division bell rang. I said, ' Great heavens, what's that for P I want to get home to dinner/ With that I rushed inio the division with Sir William, and really didn't know what it was about —you know, we can get into the Lobby direct now by a special door. Well, having recorded my vote, I harried off to the theatre and didn't wait to enter the House.'" In regard to the crisis, Mr Labouchere exclaimed :— " Go for a dissolution; there's nothing to be gained now." And so the dissolution came about.