West Coast Times. THURSDAY, DECEMBEE 17, 1896

West Coast Times, Issue 10438, 17 December 1896, Page 2

West Coast Times. THURSDAY, DECEMBEE 17, 1896

In endeavoring to clear up matters in I connection with the elections, and to smooth apparent irregularities of voting, attempts have been made to show why or how people voted in different directions. As may be supposed some very ludicrous deductions have been obtained. The Government organ in Christchurch, with a somewhat reckless regard for the eternal fitness of things, not only insists on calling Government supporters "Li berals" and opponents of the Government "Conservatives," but has attempted to arrive at the relative strength of tha different parties in that town. Our contemporary commences with the assumption that a large majority of the voters in that town are what it terms " liberals " and then proceeds to explain why none of the " liberal " candidates were elected. For convenience, or by means of a< process of calculation "known as the "rule of thumb," it arrives at a conclusion that Christchurch contains 8000 ' Liberal' voters. 'Conservatives' 3000, and Prohibitionists, or, as they are mainly styled "Prohibitionist Liberals" 4000; thus making up the total number of votes recorded — 15,000. If these estimates were a good approximation it necessarily follows that three Government supporters should have been" returned for Christchurch, or, at least, allowing for the division of votes, that they should have been in the front rank. As this was so manifestly not the case, reasons are imported to explain the' discrepancy. Thus we are told that Mr Lewis, the "Conservative "candidate, heads the list with about half the number of votes polled, "because bis negative qualities recommended him to many electors who were not at all in sympathy with his political views." These same "negative qualities" appear to explain a great many votes. Mr Smith, the Prohibitionist, gets elected, we are told, because of the support derived from " Moderate Liberals," whoever they may be. Why Mr Taylor, the other Prohibitionist, gets returned is not stated, but as he possesses what are termed "radical" views, we presume the explanation would be that he received the support of the "Radical Liberals." This novel illustration of the rednctio ad absurdam argument is capable of having many other side lights cast upon it, but we have shown sufficient to amuse our readers. In the same article our contemporary discUsses the National Association, of whom it speaks with respect,'as an enemy not to be ignored. We are told that plough it " has no more than* the skeleton of a

I p9st»al " its complete organisations exercises a powerful influence. 1 We are told, further on, that this skeleton platform possesses such elasticity, (fancy ■ an elastic skeleton !) " that it could embrace an olii-iashioned Conservative like Mr Rolleston, a Radical like Mr D.onnelly, and a Liberal-Conservative of the stamp of Mr Richard Moore." Our contemporary is so good at coining terms that every member of the t House will soon enjoy one as his own exclusive possession and there will be as many parties as there are members. "We question whether it is profitable to further pursue a disquisition into vagaries which appear likely to become interminable. Setting aside all finer distinctions, the broad question before the constituencies at the last election was confidence or distrust in the administration of the present Government, and the decision has been slightly in favor of the first, but it was obtained by the 'exercise of all the corrupting influences which has caused the majority of those not so influenced to distrust it.

Mr St Auburn and Mr Dixon, represen tatives of a wealthy English Company, were at Eoss on Tuesday and yesterday with the Hon. J . A. Bonar, chairman of Directors of the Eoss United Company, and Mr H. Young of Greymouth. Itis not yet known whether their visit will res alt in any arrangements tor supplying the capital necessary to work its lower levels. They leave for the north this

morning.

An unusual case was heard at the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning before Mr J. Chesney, J.P., Mr John Olson, the well known settler at Humphreys, being charged with driving over a railway crossing at apace faster than a walk. The offence was admitted, defendant pleading he did not know the law on the subject, and a fine of 20s inflicted, with costs o E court, 7s. That a person can be fined for driving ovqr a railway crossing at a pace I faster than a walk is not generally known, and probably the law is- more honored in tfee breach, than the observance. It seems that on the occasion referred to Mr Olson crossed a few yards in front of ths engine, not being aware of its closeness till almost on the rails; if he had not sent the horses across at a pace faster than a walk it is quite certain he could not have been fined, no matter how the law stood. The immi- • nence of the danger directed special attention to th'o offence.

To-night a very -attractive entertainment will be given in the Princess Theatre, to celebrate the annual prize distribution to the pupils in the Hokitika State and District High Schools. A very attractive programme has oetm provided •comprising solos, duets, glees, part songs, instrumental music, readings, recitations etc. The Committee ond teachers have spared no pains to -make the entertainment a success and a very pleasant evening may be looked for. We learn, through a private letter from Westport, that Mr E. C. Eeid has improved in health. After his seizure ho was speechless and could eat but little aud the doctor was of opinion he could not recover. On Tuesday week (Bth inst) his condition improved considerably, both speech and appetite returning, and he is now about again but his mind seems somewhat weaker than before. In the Supreme Court, Dunedin, in Chambers, Mr Hosking, on behalf of the Bank of New Zealand, supported an application for direction in regard to the Walter Guthrie Company and others, as to the mode of realising the stock, and particularly that the receivers be directed that the business should not be carried on, but the stock be first offered for sale by tender. He pointed out that the bank held £160,000 worth of interest representing three-fourths of the debenture capital, that the business lost £40,000 in six

years, going to the bad at the rate of £6000 yearly, and the bank protested against further carrying on at a loss of £64 per week. Mr Sim, representing the company, contended- that fche order previously made, appointing Messrs Brent and Cook receivers, could not have meant anything but authority to carry on, and that the only question for the Court was whether it was desirable, in the interest of the debenture holders, to carry on. He argued that the past history of the bank showed that it had not always been the best judge of what was good for itself. It might be sometimes necessary to save the bank from destruction. He contended that in this case the bank was not the best jndge of itsov/n interests, and in the temporary absence of Mr Guthrie he asked for an adjournment, in order to place evidence before the Court. The judge intimated that the previous order did not give power to carry . on, but directed an adjournment for a week.

A company with a capital of £5000 has been formed in Napier to supply Pasteurised milk, butter and ice in the town. In this connection a definition of the differ-

ence between sterilisation and Pasteurisation, lately issued by the Agricultural Department, will be of interest : — " Sterilisation, as distinguished from Pasteurisation, consists of heating the milk to a temperature of 212deg F. or over, for a period of not less than forty minutes, thereafter cooling rapidly to a low temperature. This operation" must be performed in stoppered bottles, in order to protect the milk from contact with the air and the germs floating about in it. Pasteurisation consists in gradually raising the temperature to 150degF., stirring carefully the whole time, as otherwise the milk will acquire a ' cooked ' flavor. This temperature has been found sufficient to destroy the latic-acid bacteria, and if the milk is rapidly cooled will suffice to ensure its keeping sweet for a considerable time, even in hotter weather."

A Liverpool glass manufacturer has a chimney at his factory 150 ft high built entirely of glass bricks.

We have been favored with a sample of Gawne's Woicestorshire sance, which is manufactured by Messrs Gawne and Co gf punedin. It is certainly a first class article — mild and piquant —and is as near rtn approach to Lee and Perrin's famous sauce as could well be obtained ; but it possesses the advantage ot being cheap, as well as good, costing only about one half the price of the imported article. Being a local production it deserves to succeed more especially as it is of such an excellent quality. — Advt.

The" Akartoo- Maali says: — A few? dky» ago, as Messrs B. MitcheU. 1 Md F. fiaylock were reifurniag fuom. crayfishing- at the lower harbor, they were being followed by a shark of very large dimensions, probably, as they estimate, over twenty feetj at least, as they say, longer than their boat. The occupants of the boat felt a.ny thing but comf OEtable,- and aa they, rowed homewards gave the monster occasional taps on the head, of which he took no notice. After following the boat as far as Eedhouse Buoy he disappeared, much to the relief of the bold fishermen. The moral of the adventure is tKat bathers should be careful as to the distance they venture into the open water.

We clip the following important tasthnonial from the " Illawarra Meremy "- (K.S. W-) on the 30th March. It needs- no 5 comment : — Mr John Loveday, of the Bulle mountains, writes to us that after suffering

for four years with acute gravel, he. has ! experienced almost complete relief by using Sander and Sobs' Eucaljipti) Extract. H . says seeing the said Extract advertised in the "Illawarra Mercury," his intense suffering induced him to obtain a bottle of the medicine from Mr Hosking, chemist, of this town, and that the use o£ it gave him great relief at once. He s.tates that between the 10th March instant, when he obtained

the first bottle of the extractand on the 19th, the use of that medicine continued to afford

him relief, to which he had been a* stranger for four years. Mr Loveday writes also that he has" found the Eucalypti Extract' a cure for rheumatism a.g well as gravel. He requests us to publish this information through' the "Mercury." We have much pleasure in cortipliyhig with Mr Loveday's request, whose word cannot be doubted, a,nd who can have no object in view thero than a pure desire to benefit suffering humanity."-— (Advt). Don't forget Ready Money M'Kay is still on the go, and is selling cheaper than ever We are the only drapers in New Zealand with a clean new stock. — Advt. For Men's, Youths' and Boys' clothing, hats and mercery, the best value will be found at H. Schroder & Son's new clothing establishment, next to the old shop. A large selection of Kaiapoi Clothing to select from. H. Schroder' & Son. lnpection invited. — Advt. Sale, Sale now on at H. Schroder and Son's ; a fresh supply o£ first class kid gloves on hand, usual prices. We are giving special good value in hats, clothing, umbrellas and curtains. Remember the sale at H. Schroder & Son's, where you are not pressed to buy. Inspection invited.— Advt. The prevailing epidemics influenza, for coughs and colds are being successfully coped with by Chamberlain's Cough Remedy which is proving of great service in allaying the irritation and restoring the sufferers to health. For sale at Williams Medical Hall [and ( Wostland Drug Hall.— Advt You are the jury; in your hands I place my fate. I'll stand or fall by your decision. All I ask for is a fair trial of Woods's Great Peppermint Cure for Coughs and Colds. It is easily procured. Grocers and* chemists keep it. The price is within the reach of all — Is 6d and 2s 6d. —Advt. Very likely some are wrong and- a few are sure to be right, but *ye are o,n the right track, we have everything new, seasonable (seize-on-able), and reasonable at at Ready Money Mackay's — Advt.