West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JULY 20, 1807.

West Coast Times, Issue 105335, 20 July 1897, Page 2

West Coast Times. TUESDAY, JULY 20, 1807.

A MINISTERIAL DEFENCE. s In the absence of the Premier and owing to the indisposition of! the Minister for Lands, we have heard very little of Minis3 terial utterances for some weeks. It is true Mr M'Kcnzie held forth at the social 1 given to Mr Camcross at the Taieri, but P his utterances were not of a character to arrest much public attention, hbing con5 fined, chiefly, to an announcement that his side of the House did not want Imperial titles and decorations, and that Mr Seddon and another member of the Ministry — presumably himself — had already refused such distinctions. He also said he was " holding the fort " for Mr Seddon — truly an heroic performance when we remember that the enemy undertook to suspend hostilities [till the Premier re8 turns. In tho dearth of political utterances o£ any kind we turn with more than ordinary interest to the speech of the Hon. fMr Hall- Jones at New Plymouth. This gentleman has not hitherto been regarded as the mouth-piece of the Ministry, an it was unreasonable, perhaps, to expect from him any indication of Ministerial j. policy, but still it wa3 impossible to avoid a slight f eeliug of disappointment at findins that ihis utterances contain so little j new matter. He appears to have been r jaunty and self-satisfied and cold bis hearers many things with a cool assurance which would indicate a belief that the people of New Zealand, andjespecially ' the people of Taranaki, have been blin d and deaf to passing events. He first endeavours to ingratiate himself by saying 6 that for five yeare under the past Government only £28,000 had been spent in „ roads and bridges in 'Taranaki, whereas - last year no less than £38,000 had been r spent there. This kind of a statement is a favorite one with Ministers and is frequently accompanied by tabulated matter prepared specially for the occasion, but will notbear scrutiny. For instance, which five j years, and which Government, does he refer to? The Stout- Vogel-Ballance - Government held office from 1884 to 1887, they were succeeded by the Atkinson Government^, roni 1887 to 1891; then came the Ballanee*Seddon Government from . from January, 1891 to May 1893, and finally the Seddon Government from the i 1 last-named date to the present time. Of , : these 13 years the present parfcy have . ; held office for 10, so the reference of the Minister for Public Works is not only illtimed, but ridiculous. Another assertion is that the Opposition never could prove 1 a single instance o£ ctrruptjtou in the ad- : ministration of the present Government, ; quite oblivions of the fact that a number ' i of most glaring cases have been proved I to the hilt. The first was the Sergeant-at-arms, notorious because it was done in violation of the law. Then we have jt2omaliflJtfi,. Rnshv Park and several other

money from the original votes for the benefit of supporters and friends of the R Government and finally the open avowal cc of the "spoils to the victois" policy in tl rewarding political friends and punishing •" political opponents. There are still gra^e'r^cases- to 'which we cannot atpre- F sent refer although sufficiently well known to most of our readersiand which are con- a^ uected with legal investigations now pro- b ceeding. Yet, in spite of all these, the f Minister says not one single instance can n be proved ! The next assertion which c arrests tho mind is the claim that Govern- , I ment have taken the duties off the neces- t saries o£ life, whilst in reality the receut a Customs tariff has largely increased the amount payable on articles consumed by a the poorer people. Ho says the Lands c for Settlement Act has proved beneficial to the working classes. Iv this country ; we are all workers and consequently all * belong to the working classes, so we , scarcely understand the Minister. Ifjby i the working classes he means unskilled ' labor he is once more at fault because ' those who have availed themselves of the Lands for Settlement Act have chiefly been small farmers or farmers' sons. His final utterances are the richest of ailthat the colony was in a better position now than it had been for many years, which was largely duo to.the good administration of the Government. And then he was awarded the compliment of a vote of ffhanks and confidence. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Pacific Lodge, B.C. will be held in the Masonic Hall, Revell street, this evening at half -past seven. Mr ifV. Gray Secretary of the General Poit Office, who is making, a- tour of tho Colony, paid a hurried visit to town yesterday. He arrived by tho 11.45 train and left again at 2.5. Mr Gray purposed going overland to Christchurch but the heavy snowfalls on the road will probably prevent this. , A farewell social will be given to Mr and Mrs James Kirk at the Salvation Army barracks to-morrow evening, commencing at 8 o'clock. Mr Kirk has always been so courteous aud obliging to the public at the Post Office that many will doubtless take this opportunity of doing him honor. Owing to the detention of the steamer thrbugh stress of weather, Messrs Mo&s aud Co will not be able to offer Mr J. McGregor's cattle at the -Arahura stock sales to-day. The annual poultry, pigeon and canary | exhibition will bo held a fortnight hence i — the first Wednesday and Thursday in August. Entries are fixed to close next Monday, the 26th inst. The coming shoAv „ promises to be &<i equally successful as the ° two past exhibitions, which were indeed r very attractive. The forthcoming event i_ will include entries from various parts o£ J the Coast and colony. Greymouth and s district are expected to be strongly ro,l presented. Entries are also looked for j. from Reefton, Westporfc and Nelson, while it is almost certain that there will 0 be some competing birds from Timaru i- and Christchurch. If expectations are re- , alised the show will be fittingly a record one. The recent atrocious weather has not v operated against the genuine clearing i- sale now proceeding at West of England house, which is continually besieged with ' customers for the jrreat bargains offering. & The sale will be continued during thp [. present week, and town and country folk would do well to take advantage of the 1 present opportunity of securing cheap k lines in all branches of drapery. The stock is undoubtedly a large and varied one, and there is a fine range of choice in r " every department. In order to cope with n the additional trade an extra staff hr.s been engaged, and every possible dispatch is given to wishes of clients.

This winter has been exceptionally trying to old people and many have succumbed. There are many poor people badly in want of clothes and bedding and the Women's Benevolent Society have had an unusual number o£ calls upon them. The Society are doing a great deal of good in a quiet unobtrusive way and can find plenty to whom gif is of old clothes, blankets, &c, will be very ac?eptable. The present is a fitting occasion to supplement their efforta.

The exceedingly cold weather of the last- week or so culminated yesterday afternoon in a snow storm, which lasted three or four hours. In the early mornr ing snow covered t&e lower hills and towards noon the sky again became overcast. At 1 o'clock a snow storm came" up from the south and lasted till four. The sight was a novel -and extremely pretty one the ground being covered to a minimum dcjpfclj of about an inch whilst id the hollows there was? a much larger quantity. The trees were Very beautiful with their white mantle and some photographs were secured. Snowballing was indulged in very freely, both young and old seeming to take great pleasure in the recreation. Rovell street was particularly lively with this form of diversion and one or two brokeu windows rewarded the exertions of the more venturesome.- Th§ streets were very dirty and sloppy and as it was freezing last night . pedestrian? f pund some difficulty in keeping their footing. The fall was the heaviest we have experienced in Hokitika for 18 years.

It behoves owners of sheep to keep a very sharp look out after their flocks. Within the last few days (says the Grey River Argus) Messrs Carter, Kennedy, and it is rumored Mr Cuirio of Ahaura have had several sheep worried by dogs, Mr Gilmer of Totara Flat caught a tyke red mouthed at the work. It is singular that dogs should take to this work at this season of the year, yet such hQs been the case for several seasons past.

To make room for next Season's Goods H. Schroder and Son are greatly reducing the Price on all Winter Goods. Now is your time to purchase as H. Schroder & Son are determined to carry over on Winter-Good?.— Advt.

Messrs Webley & Son, Piauoforte and Organ Tuners, and Repairers are now in Hokitika and will take the earliest oppor-t-.nnitv of calling on their customers. —

•.T.'/U.j «!*; n >i».. ,-Jf.| .At' '-'■ Strong public feeling was created in ' Rome towards the close of May by the ' report that a horrible murder had been committed in the prison by' the police themselves. It would seem that on April 29, among the men under arrest as dangerous characters to be set free on May 1, was a carpenter, a certain Romee Frezzi, 29 years of age, married, with children, who had been arrested once before — namely, in May, 1895, — and had afterwards complained of his treatment by a policeman, who was consequently punished. In searching Frezzi's bouse a photograph was found of a group in which he and several others were taken with Acciartic, who on April 22 attempted the life of King Humbert. Tho police authorities thought tboyhad found a clue to the Anarchist plot which they were anxious to discover at any cost, and sent two policemen disguised to Frezzi's cell with instructions to represent themselves as Auarchists, and thus induce Frezzi to confide in them and toll what he knew. Unfortunately, ono of tho detectives eraployed was the prison warder who two years before had been punished through the representations of the prisoner. From this point, to a certain extent, all is supposition, but it seems that the policeman and the prisoner recognised each other, a quarrel ensued, and Frezzi, being one against two, was beaten almost to death. The officers, frightened at what they had done, and to conceal their crime, threw the body' into the corridor, saying he must have committed suicide by climbing up, while taking his daily exercise, to a storey above, and throwing himself over.

Suspicion was aroused among the public by the contradictory reports of the police and specialists were called to examine the body, and gave it as their opinion that a simple fall of 21f fc could noc have produced the frightful condition o£ the corpse, nearly every bone in tho mau's body being broken. The two policemen who entered the cell and the one •who had the supervision of the prison were arrested in connection with the matter.

The Pall Mall Gazette argues from proceedings which occurred recently in England that cardplayers will find it to their advantage to keep single. If tho host be not the only married man of a card party, the case of the Queen v. Davies suggests that all may not be woll. Mr Davies was the host. Mr Chappell, one of the party of 4, was the other Bonediqfc. At whist, also, and German bank, Mr Chappell lost all his ready cash and also the proceeds of a £10 cheque. When that cheque came back through the bank Mi' 3 Chappell saw it. Reasoning in the "elliptical) way of woman, she communicated with thepolice, with the result that that sapient body indicted Mr Davies for " opening and using a bouse for the purpose of unlawful gaming." A Cheshire quarter sessions jury found that though Davies did not " open" thehouse for this purpose, he nevertheless " U3ed " it, aud a verdict of guilty was drly entered against him. If this was satisfactory 'to Mr Chappell it does not appear to have been so to anybody else. Tho matter was accordingly referred to the Court for Crown cases reserved. The prosecution was represented, but the defendant did not thnkit worth while to bo, and in tha result tho court so far broke through ifca reserve" as, by the mouth oil the Lord Chief Justice, to pronounce the conviction " monstrous." 4fr SANDER and SONS' EUCALYPTI EXTRACT.— In protection of the worldwide fame our 'manufacture has acquired all over the globe, we publish the following :—: — Hazard, M.D., Professor of General Pathology and Diseases of' the Mind and Nervous System, iv an editorial published in the Clinical Record : "We have examined half-a-dozen specimens of different manufactures; the preparation of Sander and Sons was the only one that proved to be reliable and corresponding to scientific tests." Another concoction called " Tlefined Extract of Eucalyptus," has made its appearance since. This product stands, accoring to Dr. Owens foremost in causing injurious effects. That gentleman communicates at a meeting of the Medical Society of Victoria that a child living at Fitzroy became mos, esriously indisposed through its use. In another case a lady states on the strength o statutory declaration that she suffered cruelfy from the effects of the same concoction. To guard tho high reputation of our manufacture feel warranted in exposing the above facts, and desire the public to exercise care anclprecautionwheubuying. SANDFR & SONS.— Advt.

For Blankets, JackeLa, Hats, Clothiitg, Gloves and Flannel you can not do better than go to H. Schroder and Son, as great reductions are now made by that firm in prices to effect a clearance. — Advt.

A cough is only worth eighteen-pence, for the simple reason thot if you invest that sum in a bottle of Y/oods' Great Peppermint Cure for coughs and colds, you cuu get rid of it straight away— it never fails — every grocer and chemist in the town keeps it. Wholesale agents — All merchants and drug firms. — Advt.

The Southern Standard, April 3, 1891, pays: — "Mr W. Gawne's Worcester Sauce. — Tin's js a Dunedin manufacture, and after having tried it, we are free to confess that we could not tell it from the imported Lea and Perrin's. This being the case, it is clearly the duty of colonists to'support an important local industry. The clay for imported sauces is clearly drawing to a close."

"Be comfortable for the Winter." — It is a well : knqwn fact that the best value in Blanket?;, Wools and Clothing H. Schroder and Son take the palm." Their motto is to give articles that will give satisfaction. Visitors from, the country would do well to take note of this.-~H, Schroder and Son. — Advt

Misses Maher, Scientific Dressmakers from one of the Leading Houses in Australia, have commenced business in Tancred street. Evening dresses a specialty. Fit and style guaranteed. — 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 BaUiand WeatlandjpDYug Hall.-* Advt<

Impurities in iie Blood.— "We have ssen hosts of letters from people who have received great benefit from the use of Clarke's) Blood Mixture. 'It cannot be too highly estimated, for it cleanses and clears the blood from all impurities/ This is a good testimonial from the Family JDoctcr, which goes on further to say: "It is the -finest Blood Purifier that science and skill have brought to light, and we can witli the utmost confidence recojamend it to our subscribers and the public generally. " For Scrofula, Scurvy, Eczema, Bad Legs, Skin and Blood Diseases, Pimples and Sores of all kinds, effects are marvellous. Thousands of wonderful cures have been effected by it, Clarke's Blood Mixture is sold everywhere. ut 2s. 9d. per bottle. Beware o worthies •A. 1«_ „,,1..K1..1.«