The Star. FRIDAY, SEPT. 6, 1895. To-Day.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5356, 6 September 1895, Page 2

The Star. FRIDAY, SEPT. 6, 1895. To-Day.

The prizes offered by the Government for designs for a new issue of postage and revenue stamps have been awarded, and we can only express our regret that the Christohurch competitors who bo pluckily entered the lists were not more fortunate. We had the pleasure of seeing some of the sets that were sent in for competition, and can testify to the fact that they included some really admirable work. However, that is a point with regard to which the general public will shortly have an opportunity of forming an opinion, the Government, in response to a request made on behalf of the Industrial Exhibition Committee, having arranged for the entire collection to be pent to Christohuroh, for a period of three weeks. It will, we think, be found that the selected designs have for the moßt part been produced by experts, who, by reason of their Bkill es engravers, were enabled to work on copperplates, and print specimen stamps therefrom. At the moment, the designs are being publicly exhibited in the Wellington Academy of Fine Arts, with the view of assisting some local benevolent fund. ' . The Colonial Treasurer did good work yesterday, by making a? close an inspection of the Induatrial Exhibition aB the time at his disposal permitted. Mr Ward had evidently formed, no adequate conception of the extent and quality of the exhibition, and frankly said that he had been pleasurabiy astonished. It happened with him as,' it must do with most visitors. He had flattered himself that he knew a great' deal about the industries of the country, yet he found, even in the course of so .hasty an inspection,' some manufactures the exist- j ence of which had beqn unknown to him. One' praotical result of the Colonial Treasurer's, visit, it may be hoped, will be the making of such a representation to the Minister in charge of the Railways as will ensure new arrangements fur excursionists. The Executive Committee was able to say, from information in its possession, that large numbera of people were anxiouß to visit Christchurch during the Exhibition season if " Btay-over " facilities could be secured. We trust that the Department will be large-minded enough to recognise the reasonableness of the request, and to aid the Industrial Association by the pleasant process of increasing the railway revenue. There is a .sense of satisfaction in learning that the House of Bepresentatives spent a 'portion of its time yesterday in eulogising. Sir George Grey. The Premier some time ago intimated that at a suitable opportunity hV would ask the Souse to place on record its sense of the great public services rendered by " the great proConsul," and this has been handsomely done. "That Government business take precedence on Wednesdays," is on© of those Parliamentary resolutions which etow that members appreciate certain facts— tba* the days and the weeks are fast Blipping a Way, that there is an immense amount to be done, an( j that the .order paper has got to be tackled {q earnest. The Conciliation and Arbitration Bill was put through the committee stage, and so was the Sale of Goods Bill. When the Corrupt Practices Prevention Bill was reached in committee, the House made merry over some of the details, but the Premier stuck to his guns and was enabled to secure a fairly satisfactory advance. Subsequently the House passed the Bills dealing with unclaimed moneys, the sale of goods, and the amendment of the Conciliation Act. A proposal by Major Steward that the House should adjourn until Tuesday evening was lost on the voicea. From the report of an interview which appears in this ieauo, it will be seen that the Colonial Treasurer is not much concerned because of the statement cabled from London respecting the attitude of shareholders in the Bank of New Zealand. Mr Ward makes it perfectly clear that certain ohargeß against him are utterly baseless. It has been industriously stated that the shareholders were grossly deceived by the Colonial Treasurer in the oourse of an interview in London; yet we now find that those gentlemen freely acknowledged Mr Ward's franknesß, and were at any rate placed in possession of all the information that he was able to give them. As to the talk of liquidation, that is demonstrated to be an absurdity. Even if it were possible for such a course to be adopted, the inevitable result would be the compulsory payment by the shareholders of the whole of their remaining liability ; and the sums bo contributed would be irrevocably lost. On the other hand, by the soheme which the Legislature adopted, the bank is rehabilitated j it is freed from the incubus that has bean dragging it down, and it has been placed in Buch a position as must-, on completion of the details, ensure its permanent stability.. When the English shareholders are in full possession

of the facts, as they soon will be, they are not in the least degree likely, in our opinion, to cavil thereat.