West Coast Times. MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 1896.

West Coast Times, Issue 10341, 3 August 1896, Page 2

West Coas t Times. MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 1896.

We have already referred to the tv quoqne rejoinders adopted by the Ministers and ijheir partisans whenever a charge is made by the Opposition. There is very little attempt to excuse the special peccadillo, but the adequate answer is supposed to exist in the response that the Opposition or their friends did the same sort of; a thing. many years ago. This is particularly noticeable with regard to borrowing. The present Government took office on a policy of self reliance ; the Colony was no longer to bo ground under the heel of the foreign money lender. For some time this policy was adhered to, but gradually, as the exigencies of the exchequer became more imperative, indirect borrowing was adopted, and finally we have before us a proposal for a direct loan of a million for public ■w.orks, and other purposes. The Opposition, naturally enough, point out that the Ministers have at length come into the open and .attempt no further. to conceal the fact that they have departed from what was once one of the principal features of their policy. The exposure is so plain and so 'unmistakable that the Ministrialists do t not attempt a denial, or even an ex_ jplanat^on, but calmly retort that some members of the Opposition assisted in increasing the public debts by so many millions. The counter-charge is true, of course, but it presents such' ridiculous ' features chat we wonder any men with a grain of intelligence would make use of it. About a* quarter of a century ago the Tfox-Vogel Government introduced, whafc was generally termed a public works policy. It provided for the uou-

struction of railways, roads, harbors, i and other important public works by means of large sums of money borrowed in London, a portion of the money to be devoted to assisting people to emigrate to this Colony. That policy was adopted by the country af^er a brief struggle and continued in operation for nearly 20" years. Finally the charges for interest became so excessive that Sir Harry Atkinson announced what was termed a "tapering off" policy, which provided that the expenditure should be gradually reduced until it ceased, and the country must depend on it 3 own resources for what public works I were required. The public works ( policy was endorsed by the constituen- . cies and under it successive Ministers, i politically opposed, went to the London market and pledged the credit of the Colony for very large sums. There was little or no difference of opinion in the House as to the desirability of borrowing, so long as the money could be obtained, and it was not until the consequences of reckless borrowing and wasteful expenditure made themselves glaringly apparent that the Parliament and the country returned to a sober and more reflective mood. The borrowing policy was an epoch in the history of the colony. No particular set of men were responsible for it ; all were tainted alike. To say that members of the present Opposition were responsible for borrowing is mere childish talk. They, with such members of the Ministerial party w,ho were then in the House, simply obeyed the behests of the constituencies, which had become demoralised and corrupted by the expenditure, of large sums of public money in their midst. A change for the better was made when Sir Harry Atkinson announced a " taperingofl£" policy and this was acceafruated by ]jtr Ballance's subsequent enunciation of self reliance. Although sobered -down, a,nd suffering a recovery, it is •doubtful whether the Colony would even then have abstained from borrowing in Lpndo_n, were it not told, in very plain terms, that any further applications would be refused. This is how the change was brought about, not through an accession of virtue but because it was impossible to perpetuate the evil. Mr Ballance's bold declaration was endorsed by the country, which had grown virtuous, and we abstained from going to London money lenders except 01 the sly. To borrow an illustration from every day life — we kept away from the hotels, but bought a bottle for medicinal purposes and consumed the contents a^bhome shielded from the outside gaze by the protecting cover of drawn blinds. Mr Seddon now advocates a return to the public bars and it is this fact the Opposition make so much of, Before their regeneiation they all led a gay life — Oppositionists and Ministerialists alike — but it is the Utter who now .wish to return to their former vices. It is no answer to say that those who remonstrate with them us.cd to eet drunk fifteen years ago —the question is should any of them get drunk now. All accounts against the Hokitika Poultry Society are requested to be sent in to-day. Webster and party, who hold section 8, University reserve, have worked out the small portion of the land running through a' corner of, their claim. They were engaged, altogether, 6 months at the claim, and the result is 18 ounces of gold. It certainly has not been a mine of wealth to them. It is reported that section No. . 7 is by far the best on the reserve and that the lucky holders will each taka a few hundreds out of it. The annual, convocation of the Westland Pacific Chapter^ E.C., will be held in the Masonic Hall, Revell street, this evening at 8 o'clock. A meeting of the Charitable Aid Board will be held this day afcnoon. Mr Snow is announced, to dejiver his lecture on Coolgardie at the Oddfellows Hall, Stafford, this evening, and doubtless will be greeted by a large audience desirous of hearing about a goldfield which has attracted so much attention during the last two or three years^ Mr Snow has been well received at Kumara and seems to have established his reputation as a lecturer. ' Wednesday next, August 5, will be Arbor Day. So far we have heard of no steps being taken locally to celebrate it. The following players will in all probability visit this colony with the Queenland football team :—Backs-R.: — Backs-R. M'Gowan, J. Coghlan, D. J. Nelson, J. Sundle, J J. O'Shea, W. P. Evans, E. Currie, H. Gralfcon. Forwards— S. Gk Cockroft, J. B. Higginson, P. P.F/ewings, W. H.Austin, F. J. Pollard, W. Tapner, H. W. Scaw, D. Milne, and a representative from Toowoomba andMountj Morgan. The above are practically certain, but a further contingent was to have been picked after the New South Wales v. Queensland match. This team, we have already be,en informed by cable, boat the New South Wajes men somewhat easily. It is stated that a lady reporter is taking notes of proceedings at the Banking Committee on behalf of the Cpuncil. Maori observers of the seasons in Canterbury, prognosticate an early spring, and those' of the natives who cultivate the ground have already got it in order for spring crops. • The Cromwell Argus asserts that the interests of the country districts are suffering from, the banking policy and that all the accumulated wealth of the interior — or the major portion of it, at any rate — is being diverted, from its legiti'tnato sphor,e oil investment and: is, being 1 lent out in the large cities,

One of the principles of Theosopby is that the soul 1 goes through? repeated ujtfocesses of re?ncSrnatidni ; b#| (says' a 6011- ■ temporary) tfee' latest approsatio* of iihis principle has rather a comical iVIr and Mi's Claude Wright, well-knowtt , Theosophists of America, who were recently married, have been interviewed, and have made some remarkable statements. Mr Wright said that as soon as he met Mary Loonard, who is now Mrs Wright, he knew that she was his wife of thousands of years past reincarnated in a new being, a new physical frame, but the same soul that had been part of his own through all past ages. He perfectly remembered an affinity between his wife and himself before their souls were incarnated with the bodies of man and woman. He fixed tho date at 5000 year 3 back, and added that he could remember the time when both his soul and that of Mrs Wright were flowers. The man who has wooed his lo^e from the time thafc he and she bashfully looked at each other out of the corner of their petals, deserves encouragement for his perseverance, and it is satisfactory to' note that Mr and Mrs Wright are once again safely married. Mrs Wright was no less positive about the matter than her husband. The moment she met Mr W right she 'recognised him as the husband who hed been hers ever since time was. "In this life," she sa^d, " I looked' for him, and felt that something -was missing without him. It was part of my soul that was lacking — his soul, that had been made one with mine many, many ages ago." "Do you, too, remember past incarnations when you were wedded to Mr Wright ?" " I dol" she answered, " but I consider the details too personal for publication." This is exceedingly disappointing, as the 'details of the five or six ' thousand courtships that have passed between these much-married persons would have been wonderfully interesting. According to a contemporary an Auckland girl being told by her teacher to parge-^'H'e-kissed'me," consented' reluctantly, because opposed to speaking of private matters iv public. ll He," she commenced, with unnecessary emphasis, and a fond lingering over the w.ord that brought crimson to her cheeks, " is a prolioun, third person, singular number, masculine gender, a gentleman, and pretty well off ; universally considered, a good catch. Ki?sted is a ' vevb; • transitive— too much so —regular every evening, indicative mood, indicating affection, first and third person, plural number, and governed by" circumstances. Me — oh, well, everybody knows me " And she sat down. Particulars of an. accident that miraculously was not fatal are supplied in the Tapanui Courier. A boy named William Potts, 11 years of age, was returning from school, accompanied by a playmate, when the two trespassed into the Tapanui mill" reserve, and got amongst tbe shafting. Young Potts had an overcoat on, and this was caughD by some protecting wedges on a pulley attached to a spindle revolving at over 100 revolutions to the minute, and the boy was whirled round the shaft, smashing an arm and leg, besides bruising him terribly. In this position the unfortunate lad remained whilst his playmate rushed to the mill door, which was fastened in such a \v ay that he could not gain admittance, and the first intimation of the mishap received by those at work in the mill was an apparent slowing down of the machinery and the thumping noise made a 8 the boy was hurled round the shaft. When the machinery was stopped by fchose in charge, and investigations made, the boy was found in a frightful condition. Drs De Lautour and Trotter were soon in attendance, chloroform being administered, and it is hoped the boy will recover. The shaft being only a slight distance f i;om the ground broke the force of the swing, the uody being dr.iwn be- , neath it, and forcing the earth away to make a passage, whereas had it been but a foot higher the lad's head must certainly have been smashed to pulp through contact with the ground. The Oamaru Mail reports that a gold bearing reef has been discovered on the Balruddery estate, belonging to Mr John Bjeid, of; I^lderslie.. According to the recently-published statement the Buluwayo field force under the conrmand ofr Major-General Oar1 rington is composed of the f olloiving officers and men : —Two colonels, 1 com1 mandant, 5* staff captains, 1 1 intelligence officer, 23 captains, 36 lieutenants, 1 1 sublieutenants, 2 staff sergeants, 74 corporals, 9 buglers, 987 troops, making with 279 natives and Cape columns a total of 1570 men. Colonel Plummer's force consists of 830 officers, non-commissioned officers and men, 1100 horses, 45 mule waggons, 7 Maxims, 3 mountain screw guns. The G-welo-Salisbury columns comprise about 600. Captain Laing has 150 men at Belingwe, and there are 230 friendlies under Captain «J;esse Coope. The total force is about 3200 men and 26 pieces of artillery. Scene, Auckland Presbytery, business an animated discussion about the call to the Eev. J. Milne. — Rev. Scott West : " The removal of the four names was ecclesiastical trickery. " Rev R. F. Macnicol, with gaave concern : " Oh, I hope my worthy young brother Mr West t will withdraw that term." Mr West agreed. Rev. R. S. McKmney, the humorist of the Assembly, with conclusive emphasis : "Then substitute 'disgraceful coup d'etat. ' " A careful search has been made for Mr|James Ewart's six-years-old daughter, who was lost on the afternoon of the 15th ult., at Cannibal Bay, Otago, but without result, and it must be impossible that the child is now alive. No fewer than 42 persons were searching on the day following that on which the child was missed, 43 on the next day, 27 on the Saturday, and 62 on the Sunday. The Marlborough Express is led to ask the question "Do animals commit sui 1 cide ?" From the experiences of a correspondent, who writes that the other afternoon he was at the Omaka riverside when he noticed a cat, very wet and bedraggled, which had evidently just come out of the water. Thinking it had been thrown in, he approached' it and stroked it down so as to squeeze some of the water out of its fur. The cat seemed grateful but, to his .surprise, he shortly afterwards saw the animal deliberately walk straight into the river again. She went round and round, in great circlea, enough to cross tho river over and over again, sometime? right up to the bank, where she could easily have landed ; sometimes she actually arched and rubbed her back up against it, as a cat would do when stroked ; but she never made the faintest attempt to laud. At last, exhausted, she swam to the side, where she gradually l Q fc. her head drop into tho water and so 1 died.

Bishop Scuarfc, who left Hawkes Bay a year or two ago to undertake mission work in Persia, writes to his daughter, Mrs F. E. Cl'amke, of Napier, tnat immediately after the ass'assimatiioijji of the Shah he was forced to take up his 'quarters at" a fortified palaco in the tawn of Kernon, in order to avoid possible danger from the excited natives. At tbe-time-of writing (3rd May) he \yas still in the palace, with no immediate prospect of being released. Dr. Stuart speaks very highly of his treatment by the Governor of the town. : #< At the Dunedin Supreme Court, after evidence was heard, a settlement was arrived at in the breach of promise case Martin v. Smellie, a claim for £500 damages The plaintiff is a widow Q5 years old, and the defendant a 'widower 72 years old. The defendant proposed marriage, telling the plaintiff he was worth £1200, and that lie bad an income of 23s per week and a dividend of £20 ( per year from ironwoiks. The marriage was to have taken place in May last at the Registry Office, but on the plaintiff: arriving there defendant failed to put in an appearance, but went away to Christchurch. The breach of promise was admitted, but for ijhe defence evidence was given that the defendant was not in a | position to maintain a wife ; that his total income for the last five or six years was only at the rate of 14s per we t k, and that that was precarious. He had 1200 shares in a rolling mill, but they were only of nominal value. At the suggestion of Mr Justice Williams, a settlement as to damages was arranged, but the amount was not stated in Court.