Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY] MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1892. FEMALE FRANCHISE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8010, 10 October 1892, Page 2

Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY] MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1892. FEMALE FRANCHISE.

Tiie amendment made by the Legislative Council in the Electoral Bill by which women would be compelled to take out electoral rights, and go through a lot of unnecessary and vexatious forms before being able to exercise the franchise, was no doubt drafted with a Tiew to bringing about a disagreement between the two Chambers, and the shelving for this session at least of the Electoral Bill. The representative branch of ! the legislature passed the Bill by a substantial majority, as not only were the supporters of the Government in favour of it and its chief feature— femalefranchise— butniany prominentmembera of the Opposition also wished to see women placed upon an electoral footing with men. It is therefore the height of absurdity for the opponents of the Government to charge Ministers with having brought about the shelving of the question, because the representative branch, the one affected by it, declines to agree to the mutilation of the machinery by which it was to be worked The Council has no right to stand out on the question, seeing that it in no wise affects the occupants of the nominated branch of the Legislature, who should have given way when it became plain that they must either do so or cause the Electoral Bill to be shelved. There was no need for any special machinery being added to the Bill to enable women to record their votes, and the absurd amendment of the Council brings to mind a wonderful machine displayed in the Quack Doctor's Sanctum, as drawn by Hogarth, which with an array of cogs, cranks, cambs, levers, and eccentrics was designed for no greater purpose than that of drawing a cork! If the Legislative Councillors were really in favour of women being allowed the eaine elec-

toral privileges as men enjoy, they would have passed the Bill as it came to them from the House of Bepreaentatives and allowed women the franchise. But, it is well known that a majority of the Council are opposed to the innovation and determined to place every obstacle in the way of it becoming law. They have not the courage to oppose it openly like Sir George Whitmore, who made no secret of his views on the question, so they slyly put a snag in the channel that it has to navigate and await the grounding of the whole Bill, which they hope will not be got ailoat again tins session. Their friends try to cover these tactics by abusing the Government and charging Ministers with a desire

to defeat the chief object of the Electoral Bill ; but we do not suppose for a moment that the electors at large will be misled by such a barefaced attempt to saddle the G-oyem-meut witU the sins of the Opposition.

Rehearsal of " Les Cloches " to-night at usual time and place. Tho French oatsmen defeated the English crew in a two mile race on the Seine by 2\ lengths, lime, lOinin 25soc. The resumption of traffic on tho Gorge line appears as far away ac ever, it being estimated that a fortnight's work has yot to be done before tho line it safe. A number or charges of alleged personation were made oince the election in Ireland by the defeated party, but in no single instance was the charged substantiated. The Wanganui Gun Club held tbeir ueual monthly meeting on Saturday afternoon, when the second competihtion for the Olub trophy resulted in Mr Charles Patereon boing declared the winnor, Mr Ohavannes being second. The annual dinner and presentation of tropbios of the Castlecliff Football Club will bo hold in tho Castleoliff Hotel tomorrow, a special train leaving town at7,SO p.m. sharp, returning at the <>lose of tbe entertainment. Concerning tho bankruptcy muddle in Littlejohn's estate and Hudson's estate, Judge Kettle has advißed tho DeputyAssignee that tho oreditors of the former, at the time of transfer to Hudson, were entitled to claim on the lattor's estate. One of the handsomest thoroughbred horses in tho colony is The Wolf (by Lo Loup — Grace Darling), who is advertised to stand this season, and Mr J. Moore, of Sea View, will be glad to afford breeders all particulars as to terms, etc., on application. Farmers aro rcmiodod that the entries for the Wanganui Agricultural and Pastoral Association dhowoloseon Wednesday, 12th inst, at 430 p.m., at the olliuo of tho Secretary, Butland Chambers, Waugauui. Arrangements have been made with Mr Jackson for paddocking any stock forwarded . During tbe last few days of their administration the Salisbury Government effected vast changes of those who held Gorernment appointments in the North of Ireland. All of those favourable in any degree to Home Rule had to go to muko room for lory friends.

Mr A. J. Cribb notifies in another column that he is now holding his first grand exposition of Spring and Summer novelties. Mr Cribb makos the millinery branch of his business a foatnre^ndisshowingtheohoicest of flowers, feathers, ribbons, laces, and all the leading shapes in hats and bonnets.

Tho Canterbury Liberal Association has passed resolutions strongly supporting tho Government in opposing tho issue of electoral rights to women, as it belioves th»t no distinction should be made between malo and female voters, and also protesting against tho grant to the family of Sir Harry Atkinson on tho ground that it would be unjust to a large number of taxpayers who aro in more straitened circumstances than the proposed gumtocs to compel them to contribute a portion of tho amount.

With roferoneo to tho cbargo brought against the Government of not having accomplished much work during the session, the Oamaru Mail says :— With an Opposition in tho Lower Houao careless as to the desires of the country and ready to eagerly seize any opportunity for obstructing business by waiting time, and with a majority against them in tbe Upper House, the Government have had to contend with difficulties such as have nover boaot any previous Government in this colony, and if the people are disguitcd with the result of the session, let them remember that tho solo end and aim of the Opposition in attonding Parliament has boon to frustrate tho honest efforts of the Ministry at reform, and that the nominee legislators of the Council, truo to their Conservative traditions and selfish instincts, have steadily support od the obstructionists. In the meantimo tho people, doprived of the reforms to whioh they have hopefully looked forward, must derive as much comforting consolation as they can from a contomplation of the faot that the Government have been placed in possession of an instrument wherewith to effectually out tho claws of the Counoil. They should also demand that the forms of Parliament shall bo so amended that, whilo preserving the right of reasonable debate, obstruction shall be rendered a difficult task, instead of the easy one that it now is.

Mr A D. Willis has just returned from hia northern business trip, bringing with him numerous ordoirs for the many artistio booklets, greeting cards, etc., emanating iroin his lithographic and printing establishment. During his tour he has received many flattering press notices, but fche following extract from the British Lithographer, whioh is the recognised London authority on the ait, will show the high estimation in which his workmanship is held in the Old Country :— From the antipodes (New Zealand) we have received a couple of very tastefully designed booklets and a few greeting cards, printed and published by Mr A. D, Willis, lithographer, of Wanganui. Tho booklets are small, 4to in size, and are entitled respectively ''Tho Land of the Moa," and "flinemoa." "The Land of the Moa," is the native name for New Zealand, and tho booklet is a poem by E. E. M. Montgomery, illustrated with spirited skotohos (by "G-.S."} of native manners and customs, buildings, scenery, fauna and ilora, birds, &c., all lithographed in monochrome ; " Hinemoa "is a romantic native legend— the old story— told in verso by the same author, illustrated by the Bumo artist, and printed in sephia tints. The execution is thoroughly good both in drawing and printing. The greeting cards— mostly also representing native manners, customs, and sports — are also nil lithographed in monochrome (browns and gioys) on whits and tinted enamelled surface cards, and the execution is equally as good as in tho booklets. Mr Willis is to be congratulated on tbe good taste shown in his productions as much as on tho finished character of his workmanship.

Miss Alico Sydney Burvotfc, the worldrenowned pianists, ii announced in our amusements column to give her first and positively only grand jwrfarmanoo in the Oddfellows' Hull, Wanganui, on Friday evening next, the 14th met. Tho far virtuose conies with a very high European and Australian reputation us a pianist?, having acbioved many artistic triumphs in London, Leeds, Birmingham and other chief English cities, Paris, Berlin, and all the capitals of of tho Australian colonies. She has also given very succotsful concerts in Dunodin, Christchuroh, Wellington, (under the patronage of the Sari and Couijtejs of Glasgow) and at Napier, which wore attended by all the elite and musical peopje of those towns. Mus Burvett's style is in itself a study for pianut*. Her deportment ii graceful and free from exaggeration. She combines extraordinary vrriit power with marvellous delicacy of touch, brilliancy of execution, and oxpressive phrasing. Sho has a very extensive ropertoire, including all the gseafc masters, but in hor programme there is a judicious blending of tnose familiar airs, whioh are as popular in tbe mansion as in the cottage, among which may bo mentioned several of tho most pathetic Scotch airs. At a series of three concerts given in Dunedin, her programmes comprised 32 pieces and 28 different compoßors, Lovers of classic as well as popular musio aro tborefore promised' a genuine treat at the Oddfellows' Hall on Friday evening.

Mr R. G. Burn, ohemist of this town has disposed of his business to Mr W. Salek, who is a registered pharmaceutical chemist by examination. Mr Salek served his apprenticeship at R. Watkin's medical dispeneary, Timaru, and was then prominently brought before tho publio at the lime of the great " Hall poisoning case," he having dispensed all the late Dr Mclntyre's prescriptions for Mrs Hall, before, and after the sensational trial. On leaving Timaru, be wont as head assistant to tho Ashburton Drug Company, where, besides gaining new experience in dispensing, he acquired a thorough knowledge from an experienced veterinary chemist (pharmaceutical also) of votennary prescribing on the treatment of diseases of horses and cattle and he is now open to freely give advice on the same. Leaving Ashburton Mr Salek proceeded to England for a time, and while there' gained greater experience in the art of dispensing. Since returning he has been in leading dispensing establishments in Dunedin, Lyttelton and Christchurcb, at which latter place be successfully qualified by passing the Pharmacy Board's examination ut the last sitting and has now finally sottled in Wanganui. With this record of experience the public of Wanganui and district will no doubt favour him with a eharo of their patronage.