The West Coast Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 1910.

West Coast Times, 26 April 1910, Page 2

The West Coast Times. TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 1910.

WESTLAND’S CHAMPION. We are indeed pleased to see that Westland has unearthed a champion. He is a versatile champion too. From the advocacy of a new handle for the village pump, or the extension of a drain pipe, to bo the guardian of Westland’s politics, is but a mere step—a flight that only a genius would undertake. Caesar crossed the Rubicon, and the scribe of our evening contemporary crosses the gutter. And why should it not he so. It would seem that wo have touched his gods. It has often been said- that whatever -a- man writes, he writes himself. In other words, our writings are a reflex of ourselves. And our contempoary betrays himself in every line. The -shifting, the verbal thim-ble-rigging, the “now-you-sce-it, now-you-don’t”; the subterfuge, and the getting under and over, and around the question; the avoiding and the shirking of the main points -at issueall this is our contemporary, in the full bloom (if his character. To childishly assume that nq qn« but himself

knows what the Liberal Government has clone for Now Zealand, and then to naively conclude that anyone who criticises the present Administration is not a Liberal is an argument that is beneath contempt. Our contemporary has not even attempted to refer to what we conveyed in our remarks on Monday morning. We again repeat that Mr Massey’s visit has nothing whatever to do with the subject. We asserted that Sir Micawber Ward’s Lieutenant gave Westland the greatest slap in the face that it has ever received in its history. The people of W’estland naturally resented that slap, Our contemporary in his pole- of a satellite advised the people of Westland “to take it lying down.” But they refused to do so. It may be painful for our contemporary, who has an axe to grind, to realise that the people of Westland have backbones, am] are independent. But unfortunately, deeply as wo sympathise with the satellite of Bevel! street, such 'is the case. The allusions that our remarks were npt calculated to forward any cause, is one of those vague statements that we hand back to our contemporary to interpret. What cause is Jie aiming it ? We are speaking for something jtliat he never seems to have heard of—we are speaking for the prosperity and progress of Westland- Prosperity and progress are not to bo brought /iljout by “roseate dawns” or the building of bridges in remote parts', or the selling of whales, or the construction of drains, or the “kow.-rtpwing” to those who sit in high places. OuV conlepiporary went to unnecessary trouble when he rushed into print and published a summary of Westland’s political history. Every sixth standard schoolboy is quite cognisant with the faptij jip dishes up, w)ijcji ? by the way, resemble a page

culled from ft Year Book. We would impress upon our coptemporary that it is quite immaterial to thy people o 1 Westland, and to this paper, whether Mr Massey speaks in Hokitika or Timbuctm*. What concerns Westland at present is that /jfis been given an unquestionable set back. Ami it is because we do not want to see Westland j a, dm'Hk't country, one run with weeds and grasshopper? that we have in season and out of season, -ra-Sly], fip the unfair treatment that has been meted out to her. If we had an axe to grind, and were acting the role of a satellite, we might write differently. We hold no brief to speak -for Sir Mioawber Ward or Mr Massey. But we -shall certainly ; ram our contemporary's rubbish down his own throat whenever necessity arises. Things hare conic to a nice pass when open and honest criticism is interpreted as anti-Liheralism. Our contemporary cannot he intelligent—hut if he Uto bp stupid—let him he consistently stupid.

The biggest, grandest, money changing event in history—The “Big Move” Carnival starts r 1

The usual weekly assembly, which was to have been held in tho Boat Shed, Gibson’s Quay, on Wednesday evening will eventuate to-night. Admittance Is.—Advt.

A series of lectures in First Aid to' tho Injured (for ladies) will ho held in the Ambulance Rooms to-morrow ! night at 7.30 o’clock. A cordial invi- | tation is extended to all. This season’s North v. South Island ; football match will probably he played before the. New Zealand team go to the other side. The Canterbury. Union intend making a bid to have the. match played at Christchurch. At the present time no less than 78 picture shows are running in Sydney. Prices of admission average (id for adults and 3d for children. A few of the shows run all day, and the prices of admission to these are 3d and Id. Tho director of electric linos (Mr J. K. Logan) states that the stretching of another two telegraph wires between Wellington and Auckland, which has recently been approved of by the Ministry, has been in contemplation for a year or two.

A lady named Mrs T. Longworth was (says an exchange) one of the buyers at tho Sydney yearling sales. Among tho well-bred and highly-priced youngsters which sho secured was a colt by Wallace—Mylae, for which sho paid 1100 guineas, and with which she hopes to win the Derby.

The following passengers left for Christchurch yesterday morning : Mesdames Pontland, H. E. Hunt and MjpAi’tliur; Messrs Pontland, G. Walker, A. K. England, R. G. J. M ilson, C. Early, Frank J. McQuarrie, J. W. Toplis, H. Swift, W. Gaskell, and T. McArthur.

Passengers- who arrived from Christchurch on Saturday night included: Mesdames C. Roberston, Jacobs, Hamilton, White, J. B. Hamilton, Serine and child, Polling, A. C. Russell, Stoop A. J. Morton and J. Holmes; Misses Holmes and Little; Nurse Birt, Messrs Mclvor, Hudson, S. Biess, Stoop, and Master E. Stoop.

Orders were approved by Cabinet on Monday for the purchase of military equipment to the extent of £49,000. According to the Prime Minister, the total expenditure on equipment to put the defence scheme upon a good working footing will reach £60,000, while ammunition will require £35,000 and stores and magazines £SOOO.

Mr George Laurcnson, M.P., has received a letter from Mr R. McNah, from Paris, stating that on his letuin to New Zealand he proposes giving a series of lantern lectures on the cai 1? history of Now Zealand in aid of the Captain Cook Memorial, which it is proposed to erect in Queen Charlotte Sound. •

A meeting of tho Entertainment and Finance Committees in connection with the Fire Brigades Demonstration will bo held at the County Chambers, the first-named committee mooting at 8 o’clock, and the second at the close of the first meeting. The business will include the election of ebainnna to the committcees and the drawing up of ft draft programme for tho entertain ment of tho visitors during their stay in Hokitika,

The latest Parisian invention Is tho automatic doctor. This mechanism represents a man, and in- the region of each organ is a slot designed to receive a l 5 centimes piece. The patient suffering, say, from heart trouble or liver complaint goes to the machine and drops his coin into the slot connected with the organ in trouble, and without delay a proscription is delivered hearing the, address of an apothecary, whither the sufferer takes the billot and receives his- medicine.

Among the many enterprising folks who love astronomy ami feel curious about the visiting comet, are Sir Joseph and Lady Ward, says the Post. It is practical proof of genuine interest to get up at 3 o’clock in the morning and go to a coign of vantage to look at the wondrous luminary. This morning a motor-car party went to Mr Bates’s and saw all that was to bo seen, and having been refreshed with hot coffee, motored home and to bed. Miss Seddon was one of the party.

The 'West Coast Rugby "Union have received advice from the New Zealand Rugby Union asking for nominations for players who are willing to make the Australian tour with the NqV Zealand team. The North v: Smith Island match will be played in Wellington on June 3rd, and only players who can make the trip to Australia will be selected in. these teams. The lour will occupy four weeks, and it is hoped that the West Coast representatives in last years’ P.qitfh Island team will get into active training in m'W of £heir probable selection this year.

A Wellington resident who recently visited Kawhia. reports that tho barhour there is teeming With fish. It lovmders and schuapper arc especially plentiful, and he suggests that steps should he taken to obtain regular supplies for the Wellington market, which for some time has been rather bait- oi fish. Settlement at Kawhia is progressing, despite the fact that large areas of fertile land, owned hy Natives, are still locked up, ‘Several Wellington residentsi have taken up (“fif in the district, and two others are negotiating for the purchase of properties there. In the opinion of tho gentleman who has just come back from Kawhia the timp is ripe lor the establishment of a steamer service between Wellington and Kawhia.

Tlioiv was A .rood deal oi interest taken in the election of ihp Hokitika School C'ommitteo at the animal im-ec-111of Householders last flight. 1 he \ otin<j; was yerv close, and as an indication of this'll is v„rrHy of note tint there was only a difference of Ihnr votes between the member of the committee securing ninth place, and the one occupying thirteenth position. Mi <l. ,1. J. Clarke, with -Mr I.lpyd .headed the list, securing SO votes each. Mr Clarke was iv-eleeted Chairman at the siihseiplenl meeting of the Committee. This' is the-thirteenth year he has been elected to the position and it can Only lie said that no member has been more energetic in the discharge of Ins duties, and in school matters generally Mian the present Chairman. 'Hie compliment paid to -Mr Clarke last evening was a well deserved one.

Alex. Lennio is still at the Club Hotel, Cl rev mouth .—A dv t.

Messrs Harper Bros., Mark Twain’,, publishers, estimate that his fortune will exceed a million dollars, practically all of which ho bequeathed to his daughter.

A good record was put up hy the Grey dredge Mawhcra on Friday. Op orations wine commenced at 6.30 a.m. and continued tilt 6 p.m., during which time six trips were made to sea, the total quantity of spoil lifted being .‘5OOll tons. Such a result'is in a large measure due to the excellent manner in which the dredge was operated by Dredgemaster J. Hamhleton and navigated hy Sailing Master W. Karl.

The many friends of Mr P. ,1. Dunne (formerly editor of the- West Coast Times) will be interested to learn that be lias severed bis connection with the Horowhenua Chronicle Company, Levin, and taken over the Ohaknne Express. Ohakunc is a rising township on the Main Trunk line, and Mi Dunne’s business is said to he a lucrative one. His friends throughout tho West Coast will wish him every success in his venture.

The following is the Rev. D. C. Bates-’ summary And weather forecast : • —Stormy weather has been experienced between East Cape and Cape Campbell atid in Taranaki to-day, hut the southerly winds appear to be decreasing in force and tho weather to he improving. Cloudy weather has been experienced in tho South, hut fair weather prevailed. Present indications arc for strong southerly winds in the North Island, and particularly on the East Coast, hut westerly winds, freshening elsewhere shortly. The barometer will probably rise slowly in the North and fall in the South with cool and changeable weather .

Mr Massey, M.P., arrives in Greymonth to-night, and is expected here to-morrow. Ho delivers a political address in the Theatre on Thrusday evening at 8 o’clock. The meeting promises to be very largely attended, and it is questioned if any political address delivered for somo time past, has aroused more interest. It is expected that a large number of country visitors will attend the meeting. The Rimu miners intend to show Mr Massey over the abandoned ground, which has been the source of so much agitation through the refusal of the Government to grant water to allow of it being treated hy modern methods.

Hokitika is frequently said to he behind the times but if the number of meetings held on occasions are any indication in regard to the progress of the town all we can say is that there seems to be a mild boom on just now. For instance last night there wore three football meetings, a school committee meeting, a meeting of householders, a- meeting of the Horticultural Society, a meeting of the Ground Committee in connection with the Fire Brigade Competitions to be held next February, and a few other gatherings of a more or loss important nature. This, by the way, is not a record for Hokitika, which proltahly leads the way in such matters. The town is said to have tho honour of holding more meetings in a week than any place oi twice its population in the Dominion. Captain Williams, of the Cobar, has many sympathisers in connection with the recent Duchess-Cobar collision. At a meeting held at Rona Bay (Wellington) on Wednesday evening, presided over by the Mayor, Mr J. Barr, the following resolution was carried: — “That this meeting of Eastbourne residents, recognising the unfailing courtesy, gentlemanly behaviour and able seamanship of Captain Williams, desires to place on record its sympathy with him in the unfortunate position in which he has been placed. On the motion of Mr F. Wills it was decider! to sot up a committee to solicit subscriptions towards a testimonial for Captain Williams. Over £2O was subscribed in the room, and it was announced that £l2 hsd already berm collected at Kcraka Bay. The fund, which already amounts to £4O, will he augmented hy the proceeds of a dance to be held at tho end of next weo.k

A uieeitng of the ground committee in connection with the Fire Brigade’s Demonstration to be held here next February was held last night. Air F. Thompson was elected chairman. It was resolved to write to the Borough Council, asking that the water main he laid into Cass Square. It was decided to meet on Cass Square on Saturday afternoon at 2.30 o’clock for the purpose of fixing .upon tin- site for the running track. The Programme Committee met subsequently. Air Fraiik Thompson wys elected chairman, ft icq rqsqlved to procure copies of programmes issued i*u eqniurliqn with the Dunedin, Christchurch and Auckland demonstrations. Tho Chairman, Dep-uty-Superintendent Braddon and Fore|mii) Ross were appointed to .submit a draft programme to the next meeting of tho committee. A quantity of routine business was transacted and the usual vole to' the chair terminated tl e proceeding*.

A correspondent, writing from Nnkaulofa, Tonga, under dale April 15, s.iys;—A recent report in the Auckland papers aneiß Ihe registrations of the survey staff in Tonga has all'oided mneh amusement in these parts. The slalf complains of. "unfair treatment mete

t‘!il tn them hy the Tollman government :im| the Whim i t i < aci oi(h‘il to them by the British Consul,” They also considers that the British Consul has i'aih'd to seelin' justice for them, and thereby ‘‘practically allowed the British to liu limited.” The report ones on to say that Mr . W. Bans recently inspected the system and lolllid the staff fully as competent as the local stall's of the New Zealand Survey Olfices, Jn<(«irje‘) have elicited the infiTMintion that the stall' applied tor increased salary, and prior to the consideration of the Estimates hy Cahinel, they i-siied an nltiinaUini--so to speak —that unless their rc'i'ie'! wa.s acceded to, they would resiitn in ,i Imdy. They hav<> resigned, the Cahinet not heino favourable to the increases. These in. ii |u-iI- ijnino well, and in additio < to salary they were pt‘.iv ( dcd wish (jnarters, had innumerable ‘'hoys" :u-| (ached to the stall', had tr.iveiling and • i;tliun allnwnnees, besides which they ( had the u-e el Uovernment horses and , ve! ides at all times, 'ilien attain tlie ; honi-s were the easiesl incioinahlc. j 11 c.v lli" British lie" comes to he limed is a conundrum.