Wanganui Herald. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) MONDAY NOVEMBER 5, 18S3. OFFICIAL ASSIGNEES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5206, 5 November 1883, Page 2

Wanganui Herald. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) MONDAY NOVEMBER 5, 18S3. OFFICIAL ASSIGNEES.

The Government have appointed four Official Assignees under the new Bankruptcy Act, in what are called the four large centres of population, namely Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. There is power under the Act to appoint an Assignee in each Supreme Court district, but the Government have thought it perhaps consistent with economy and good administration to make the four chief towns the centres of bankruptcy jurisdiction. The Official Assignee may in such case appoint a deputy to administer an estate. But this deputy does not seem to possess the powers of the Assignee himself, who is required by the Act to i*eceive the books, papers, and documents belonging to an estate. Now, how will this work in the case of Wanganui? In a matter of bankruptcy, communication will have to take place with Wellington, where the Assignee will reside, who willrequire "to lake prompt action in any matter necessary to protect the estate from loss before supervisors can be appointed." Let us suppose that in all cases only thoroughly competent men are appointed — the salary is £550 a year, not a very large amount to pay for responsibility and competence — even then we do not see how there is to be prompt, economical, and satisfactory administration. The creditors will be in the hands of an official residing at a great distance ; or the deputy will be master of the situation. This is centralism in one of its worst forms, as creditors will soon begin to realise when they are unfortunately compelled to experience the practical operation of the system. It will be seen that the tendency of the present Government, or of recent legislation, is to centralise the administration in each of the four principal towns, giving us four prorinces instead of nine. After a hard struggle to- get local agents appointed under the Patents Act, we found the magic four fixed upon. Now, did we fight for Abolition to get four Provincial administrations ? Certainly, was never for a moment contemplated in Wanganui, which for fifteen years stood in the front of the battle in fighting against Provincia' centralisation in Wellington. If we are to have four Provinces, let the issue be fairly stated, so that the people may know the bearings of the policy, and be able to decide, after discussion, on its merits. The same objects we opposed before 1875 to the centralisation of administration in certain towns, we oppose now, and for identically the same reasons. It is probable that the official system of bankruptcy administration will prove a failure, as it has done wherever it has been tried. While it lasts, it will act as one of the gathering forces which are tending to destroy the unity of the colony.

The hurdle mare Gang-awa was purchased last week from Mr Death by Mr Joseph Chadwick, junr., on behalf of an Auckland gentleman. The Hon. Mr Bryce arrived from Wellington by the train from the south on Saturday night, and will spend a few daya at home, subsequently proceeding to Auckland again. Un Saturday the Premier passed through Aramoho by special train on his way to Palmerston North. He is on his way from Auckland to Wellington. At their meeting this morning, the Wan-ganui-Waitotara Highway Board instructed their foreman to impound all cattle in future found trespa»sing on the roads of the district. At the R.M. Court this morning, before Colonel McDonnell, J.P., John Kilty was fined £1 ; in default, 48 hours' imprisonment for drunkenness. George Cavill, charged with breaking into Mr Patterson's residence at Aramoho, was remanded till to-morrow. Mr J. Johnston, of Waverley, notifies that the well-known Clydesdale sire, Knockdon, will travel this season the district between Whenuakura and Maxwell. Knockdon has already established himself a favorite in the district, where he has left some splendid stock, and his breeding is of first-class pedigree, M. Trouvelot, the French observer of the late eclipse of the sun, has consulted with Professor Swift, of the Warner Observatory, regarding the identity of the strange red star which M. Trouvelot and his assistant saw 3deg. to the north-west of the sun. The result is the establishment, with approximate certainty, of the existence of the hitherto supposititious intra-mercurial planet. The case of McGregor v Boyd, which has been creating so much interest ( f late, was resumed at the Ccurt this -morning, and will probably, to all appearances, last another four day?. It was on the tapis that a settlement was endeavoured to be arrived at between the parties, but we understand up to the present the negotiations are without effect and the case still proceeds.

The Wanganui Rifles' Band, under the leadership of Mr King, will perform at the Athletic Club meeting on November the 9th. In England over 5003 bicye'es are used in the mail service, and there are at least 250,000 English wheelmen. A Government patade of the City Rifles will be held this eveuing at 7.30 sharp, at which all members are expected to attend. During the last week the Customs returns for the town of Wauganui were as follows :—: — Customs duties, £161 10s ; beer stamp duty, £57 189 6d ; total for the week, £219 8s Od. Wo arc informed that Colonel Reader (Undez -Secretary for Defence) and Mr Anderson (Storekeeper of the Department) are now making a tour of the Constabulary depots, and may be expected in Wanganui iv a day or two. The ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Borough Council will be held to-morrow evening in the Council Chambers, at halfpast seven. The Harbor Board meet tomorrow at 2 o'clock, and the County Council at 11 o'clock. At a Foresters' dinner in Dunedin last week, a member in the course of his remarks referred adversely to M»jor Atkinson's National Insurance scheme, and expressed the opinion that it would be a far better course for the Government to assist and encourage friendly societies. Father Kirk has received an assistant in his labors in this district in the person of the Rev. Father Groggin, who has lately arrived from Home. No one will begrudge the Rev. Father this timely assistance, as it is evident his labors must extend over a large area. Father Groggin arrived in town by the train on Saturday nigh to enter upon his duties. The Otago Daily Times says :— "To compare small men with big, there are points of resemblance between our Premier and Prince Bismarck. Both are despotic by nature ; both are capable of being very rude to political opponents ; both can show great tact in the treatment of anyone who shows signs of deserting the ranks of the enemy j both have a secret leaning towards a despotic socialism ; both have a single-hearted desire to advance the interests of their country ; both are Premiers for want of a successors. The behaviour of the Government throughout the Longhurst affair deserves unqualified censure. We {Otago Daily Times) are now told that they will decide upon the matter of his release in a month's time. What possible excuse can there be for such protracted delay ? It would seem as if, for the first time in the history of the colony, justice was being played with for political purpose*, and whatever the ultimate decision may be, we trust that when Parliament meets an explanation of their conduct will bj required from the Government. The Oamaru clergy are evidently opposed to the Salvation Army. The Rev. Mr Forster (Congregational) is " perfectly sure that it is an organisation which is going to do a great deal of harm among Sabbath scholars," whilst Mr Rish worth (Wesleyan) declared that " the testimony from all quarters was that the Sa'vation Army meetings were utterly demoralising to the young people, and commented on the unseemliness of some of their proceedings. He trusted j that all parents would exercise their authority in preventing their children of all age 3 from attending these salvation meetings." A daylight parade of the Wanganui Rifles was called for this morning early for the purpose of holding practice iv judging distance, though, owing, no doubt to the unpleasant state of the weather, the muster was not as large as it might have been, only about 28 men turning out. Captain Watt was in command, and practice in judging distance in the first and second periods was creditably goiie through under the directing Sergeaat-Major Henry. As this parade does not count for capitation, and all the members of the company must go through the practice, a separate parade for the balance will be held at some previous date. When the news became known in town on Saturday night that the New Zealander, Martini-Henri, had won the Victorian Derby in the fastest time on record in the world, great were the rejoicings amongst the sporting men of the neighborhood. The great gun is by Musket out of Sylvia, and as the sire is the property of the Auckland Stud Company, the first great win of his pedigree in the colonies will doubtless make the hearts of the shareholders considerably lighter. In addition to the sire Musket, the compiny are also possessed of the dam Sylvia, who was purchased in England for the company by Sir Hercu'es Robinson for the sum of 2000 guineas. This price was demurred to at the time, but the mare has repaid the outlay in two years, Martini-Henri having been purchased by the Hon. Mr White when a two-year-old for the sum of 1250 guineas, and her next foal by the same sire was also purchased for a large sum. The well-known racehorse Tally-Ho is to run this season with mares in a paddock at Mr Morton's Wairoa farm. Mr Morton purchased him at the sale of Mr Powdrell's stud, and it was originally his intention to have kept him up for some of the race meetings later on in the season. A number of settlers desirous of acquiring the horse's services prevailed on Mr Morton to use him for stud purposes, and it will bo seen from advertisement in another column that he is to run at the farm, Waverley. This horse, from his breeding, should leave some good stock. Mr Morton notifies that the coaching and hackney sire Dalesman, will also run in a paddock with mares. For sevp.ral seasons Dalesman's stock have been amongst those which have topped the northern and southern markets, and he is the sire of some of the best hacks and carriage and light harness horses on the Coast. The Clydesdale stallion Exchange, by Young Banker, is also announced, and will stand at the farm. He is in fine condition, and will be exhibited at the Patea chow. " Zamiel," in the Auckland Star, relates an amusing incident, of which Mr Daniel, the member for Wallance, was the central figure, and was told t > him recently. In the early days of Otago the scattered little settlement in which Mr Daniel resided was thrown into a state of the greatest excitement by the arrival of Bishop Selwyn, who was on a pastoral visit. On Sunday people of all denominations flocked to Mr Dan el's residence for the purpose of hearing a serirou from the august visitor. The congregation being seated, a musical box was produced for the purpose of assisting in the harmony. The Bishop offered up a prayer, and Mr Daniel gravely wound up the musical box." The prelate was scandalised by hearing the instrument belch forth " You may kisa me and caress me, and won't say no." Before he had time to recover from his state of speechless astonishment, the mechanical musician was in dulcet ttraina beseeching— '-'-Tommy to make room for his uncle." " What does this mean ?" gasped the bishop. ," It's all right, sir," said Mr Daniel ; the next tune is ' Old Hundredth ;" here she comes ; now, then, you fellows, ' Al-1 people tha-a-r,"' and the devotional exercise proceeded and was carried to a successful issue. Mr Redmond's peroration at the Dunedin meeting made a great impression. He said .- My last words to-nigbt will be addressed to my fellow countrymeu — words of encouragement and hope. I believe in my heart and soul that Ireland's long political night is well nigh over. True, her plains and her valleys still lie shrouded in darkness, but the watcher on the tower sees a break in the far ea t and a rucldy glow_on the mountaintop, and he knows that the God of Day has arisen, and that anon he will flood every nook and corner of the land with His bright, glad Light, and the darkness and the things of darkness shall appear. — (Loud cheers.) When that moment comes — that moment for which our forefathers so long and vainly fought, and prayed, and wept, — there will go up to heaven a cry from an emancipated people that will be echoed o'er the ocean and wafted by the four winds to the corners of the world — that will be chorused in America, and re-echoed here under the Southern Cross, — and the sea-divided Gael, wherever they may be, will hear that cry and will rejoice j for they will know — their hearts will tell them — that the God of Justice, who has decreed that those who sow in tears shall reap in joy, has at last rewarded the tears and sufferings of a faithful people, and that Ireland — our Ireland — is free. — (Loud and prolonged cheers.)