LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1903, 8 June 1892, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

" P.C.G.'s " letter will appear in our Saturday's issue. The Hineraoa, with his Excellency the Governor, reached Wellington yesterday. The official landing and reception took place in tbe afternoon. ELABORATE preparations have been completed for the celebration of the annual harvest home at the Evans Flat schoolhouse on Friday evening. A large attendance is expected, and an enjoyable evening may as usual be relied upon. WELLINGTON experienced a very fierce gale on Saturday and Sunday, the fiercest known for many years. Trees were torn np by the roots and vegetation completely destroyed. The Chinese gardeners report that the whole of their winter vegetation above ground has been destroyed and nothing left but bare roots. The absence of a well-known professional man in Dunedin from his accustomed himntd during the last few days is causing some anxiety among his friends. Lovely woman, or rather lovely women, for ttte chapter of hia loves was long and hjs amours many, are understood to have much to do with his disappearance. THE railway returns for the Queen's Birthday tell in a striding manner of the depression in Melbourne. Although the day was beautifully fine the number of passengers carried was less by over 10,400 than in the previous year. The racecourse traffic fell from 9890 to 3934, and there was a large decrease in every other direction. The gold returns of the following mining companies are to hand : — Dnnedin Dredging Co., 6 days' dredging, 19oz lOdwt ; Upper Waipori Alluvial Dredging Co.'s No. 1 dredge, 6oz 15dwt 18gr of gold for 5 days 6 hours, and No. 2 dredge, 7oz 7dwt 4gr of gold for 4 days 18 hours' dredging ; Jutland Flat Dredging Co., 144 hours' wages-time, 250z 6dwt ; Ettrick Dredging Co., 8 days' dredging, 9oz ; Gollen Run Dredging Co. (Horseshoe Bend), 8 days' work, 240z 9dwt. The Roslyn Licensing Committee met on Monday and unanimously refused all applications for renewals of licenses. This, as far as the borough of Roslyn is concerned, means prohibition of a very rigid character; and though an application for adjournment was made and granted, the committee are hardly likely to change or modify their decisions, as Besides being elected on the prohibition ticket, their action id upheld by petitions numerously signed by the residents. A concert will be given in the Good Templars' Hall, Waitahnna, on Friday evening on behalf of the funds of the local school. The object, it hardly needs saying, is a good one, and is sure to meet with the generous support it deserves at the band 3 of the public. But besides this the couecrt itself will bo much above the average, the mograrame being a really capital one, in which figure tbe names of some of the most popular of the L-iwrence amateurs, who have kindly promised to assist, A MEETING of the householders of the Tuapeka West school district was held on Monday evening for the purpose of electing a school committee for the current year, the annual statutory meeting for that purpose in April having been allowed to lapse. The meeting on Monday evening was poorly attended. The following gentlemen were duly elected a committee :— Messrs 0. Mullins, C. Dalziel, J. Smith, John Bulfin, Wm. Bnlfin, T. E. Williams, and John Hall. — At a meeting held subsequently, Mr Mullins was elected chairman and Mr Williams secretary and treasurer for the current term. Our respected townsman, Mr A. M'Kinlay, in company with Mrs M'Kinlay and two of the younger members of the family, left Lawrence yesterday morning en route for the Old Country. For some time past the sight of one of Air M'Kinlay'a eyes has given him some concern, and, with the object of availing himself of the advice and skill of the leading oculists on tbe other side of the line, the present trip was decided on. Mr M'Kinlay expects to be on bis travels for six months or thereabouts. We wish him, along with Mrs M'Kinlay and family, a pleasant time of it ; and when he returns, let us hope it may be with the object of bis journey fully attained, and refreshed and invigorated in both mind and body. i

OWING to his recent domestic affliction, Mr I Scobie Mackenzie will not address his con- ' stituents before Parliament opens, but will do so shortly after the close of the session. Mr Valentine's meeting at Tapanui on Thursday evening was not very largely attended. At the close of his address, he was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. THE "Taranaki Herald" says:— "ln no country in the world have more schemes for settlement of people on the land been tried than in New Zeiland." In this connection the " Westport Times " remarks that the only " scheme " ever tried in that district— the most prosperous in the colony — was hard work, which has answered admirably, AT PJmerston North the other day District Juriga Kettle sentenced a man named fc£urlimann to niue months' imprisonment,, with hard labour, for perjury in connection with a civil proceeding before the resident magistrate. The jury made a recommendation to mercy on account of prisoner being a foreigner; and Judge Kettle, while acting thereou, said he considered Hurliinann had been long enough in the colony to know the law. The final parade of the Wdifcahuna Rifles will be held on Saturday eveuing, when the members of the corps are expected to attend and hand over their arms, as well as all other Government property belonging to the corps. Another reason why a complete muster is asked for is that a general meeting will be held after the parade for the winding up of the affairs of the corps. Needless to say, we regret the disappearance of the Waitahuna Rifles ; no finer, more efficient, better disciplined, or better manned and officered country volunteer corps could be found in the colony. But apparently there was nothing for it but to disband ; and the alternative, we feel sure, will be regretted by none more deeply than by the officers and men themselves. AT the Wellington Bankruptcy Court last week, Cbas. John Alexander, a clerk, applied for his discharge. The Official Assignee said that the debtor had induced a young man, who was his junior in the Public Trust Office, to endorse bills to the amount of £100, and it was probable the young man would in coni sequence figure in the Court before long. The A-saiguee thought this was sufficient ground for refusing to discharge the debtor, whose liabilities were £364; assets, nil. The Chief J ustice said if he refused the debtors discharge, he would have to go to gaol, bub the modern idea was that no one could be sent to prison for debt. To which the Assignee replied that if sent for a term to gaol it would hive the salutary eff act of putting a stop to his little game of " kite-flying " for some time. The Judge suspended his discharge for twelve months. A MEETING of the Havelock Cemetery Trustees was held last Thursday evening Present : Messrs Livingston (Chairman), Ryau, Cowen, M'Kenzie, Garden, and Patrick (Secretary). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr Ryan applied for permission to erect a marble slab and iron railing on section 39, block X., the grave of the late James Campbell. Mr M'Kenzie also applied for permission to erect an iron railing round section 22, block 1., the grave of the late Wm. Anld. Both applications were granted. — The Chairman submitted designs of iron gates, and after a selection had been made, Messrs Livingston and M'Kenzie were appointed a sub-committee to procure and erect a gate at the cemetery, and to do all necessary work in connection with same. — An account from the sexton for £5 11s was passed for payment. — This was all the business. The Dune Jin city licensiug bench have hit out with terrible force, and the result is disastrous to a large number of public houses. The action of the bench, being altogether unexpected, has caused terrible consternation among the publicans, among those who survived as well as among those who lost the number of their mess. The following is the list of houses to be swept away : — The Newmarket, iv Manor Place ; the Grange, in Hanover-street ; the York, in George-street ; the London and Wain's, in Princes-street ; the Occidental, in High street ; the White Horse, in George-street ; and the Liverpool Arms, in Filleul-street. On the application of counsel, the Licensing Committee adjourned for a fortnight in all the cases mentioned, and it will be seen at the end of that time whether their dictum is irrevocable, or whether they will in the interval have thought fit to modify their opinions

We learu from the " Marlborough Express " that Mr G. G. Empson has been appointed stock inspector in that district. Yet on the plea of retrenchment, says our contemporary, the Government dispensed with the services of Inspector Knynett, after twelve years' service under the department. Bat this is the settled policy of the Government. This is what Mr Valentine in his address the other evening described as the Government method of " Americanising " the civil institutions of the country. Those public servants \vh.> are suspected of not being tho " right colour " are unceremoniously run out of the service, turned adrift on the country, and deprived of their sole means of livelihood, and their places filled by men whose only capacity or fitness for employment is that they have made themselves active on behalf of the Government during tho general election or since. But, strictly speaking, there is no retrenchment, though there is ranch cruelty and injustice, and the result must inevitably be to demoralise the public service and destroy its efficiency by crowding it with spies and incapables whose tenure of office will depend not so much on their official aptitude or usefulness as on their ability to retain the favour of ministers and politicians. The Government have ineffectually tried to establish a charge of jobbery against their predecessors in office in connection with the purchase of the Polhill Gully rifle range, near Wellington. The land had been valued for property-tar purposes at £3,600 by Mr Kennedy M'Donald, ex-M.H.R., but the late Government purchased it for £600 less, that is, for £3000, and how, under such circumstances the transaction could involve a charge of jobbery or corruption it is rather difficult to say. But their immaculate Liberal successors were determined, if possible, on manufacturing a charge of some kind and set up a commission to inquire into the transaction. The only result of the commission has been to increase the cost of the purchase by a good 25 pep cent; but as this goes into the pockets of the Liberal politicians who conducted the inquiry, it is to be presumed the object of the Government has been in some measure served. If they have not convicted their predecessors of jobbery, they have, at least, provided remunerative pastime for some of their followers. Otherwise the comm'ssion was a farce and a waste of public money. It is rumoured from Wellington that Ministers have determined on reducing the duties on tea and sugar, and will, at the same time, increase the duties on the more expensive kinds of liquors and other luxuries. This is so far right, and is sure to give satisfaction. But it is further stated that in order to j demonstrate their claim to be the champions | of the industrial interests, they purpose i imposing some heavy additional duties. An extra duty of 10 per cent, is to be imposed on iron, leather and other imports ; also 5s a ton on Newcastle coal in retaliation for the New South Wales dnty on grain. This latter resolve shows the inherent unsoundness of the principleof protection, and what a dangerous and destrnctive weapon it invariably becomes in the hands of a Government. Here we see two neighbouring people of the same race, lineage, and language engaged in a war of commercial decimation, both closing their ports and markets against each other, and each retaliating for acts that both are equally guilty of. And here within our own oolony we have the same suicidal system of warfare being waged by the Government on one class of people at the selfish dictation of another. Tea and sugar are to be admitted free, but iron and leather are to burdened with fresh imposts. This may benefit certain classes in the towns, but as far as the country settlers are concerned it is simply another instance of robbing Peter to pay Paul. The effect will be to increase the cost of all agricultural implements made in the country ; and if the workingman has the consolation of knowing that bis tea and sugar bill is smaller by an infinitesimal amount, he will also learn that the family bill for shoe leather will in future make a larger inroad on his slender weekly wage, a very large proportion of which is already confiscated by protective duties. And this is the workingman's Government! J

House-feed must be cheap in N"ew South Wales. One of the carters who tendered for carting for the Adamstown Council offered the use of a cart and horse for 2a 6J per day. A Wellington correspondent writes: I have ascertained from inquiry at the Public Works Office that the ayerage wages p*id to men working on the Otago Central R til way is only 7s 9d per day. The pay that each man receives depends on the actual work done by him. Some get as much as 12s Id, and others only 5s lid per day. This disposes of the allegation th«»t the men are being paid from 12s to 14i a day.

The Wnuahuna School U .mmittee met on Monday evenms:, t»e members in attendance bemor Messrs M'Ar* (Chairman), Livingston, Co wen, M'Konzie, ML'Millan, an I Ellis (Secretary). - Tiie minutes of t\w, previous meeting were read and confirmed.— A. circular was received from the Education Board re arbour day, also a circular stating that Mr Aitken had been appointed triiAut officer for the Otago district.— Received. On the motion o£ Mr Cowen, seconded by Mr M'Kenzie, it wag resolved that the portion of the Education Act of 1877, from sections 89 to 93, both inclusive, and so far as the same ia in conformity with section 6 of " Education Act 1877 Amendment Act, 1835," shall come into force in the Waitahuna school district. A. letter was received from Mr Patrick, bringing under the notice of the Committee the unhealthy state of the school residence.— lt was resolved that the Secretary write to the Education Board on the subject. On the motion of Mr M'Kenzie, seconded by Mr Cowen, it was resolved to call for tenders for cleaning the school and outhouses : tenders to be invited by advertisement in the Tuapbka Times, and to be sent to the Secretary on or before the 4th July.— An account from Allan Mitchell for el 4s was passed for payment.— lt was resolved to advertise the school concert, to be held on Friday first, in Wednesday's issue of the Tuapeka Times.— This was all the business.