OUR WELLINGTON LETTER.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 16, 20 April 1910, Page 4

OUR WELLINGTON LETTER.

April 10. Our New Governor. THE news of the new Governor's appointment spread on Sunday through the town, and it was not till the next day that anybody knew anything about the man. That, however, did not prevent gossip of all sorts. The idea happened to get. about that Sir John I’oynder has no children, whereupon- seme wag - said' that the < olonial Offiee had evidently advertised for a married couple without encumbrance, tie which some one else added that this was proof that the Colonial < mice regarded the Dominion of New Zealand and the < ommonwealth of Australia as identical. In this way the spirit, of gossip found means to-enlighten Hie general ignorance. The next day, when the papers announced that the Governor's family consists of a charming little daughter, the wags were not quite so pleased with themselves. That the new Governor is one who has made for himself a mark in war, and has established a strong reputation for thinking for himself in peace, makes much for his future popularity. True, it is not his- business to think for himself generally in matters constitutional. Hut there are occasions when a Governor Jias to do without his advisers, such, for example, when a vote of no-confidence has been carried, and there is a doubt about the ability of the defeated government to carry on. Then the Sovereign’s representative must decide for himself whether he will call some one perhaps different from the recommendation of the Government, or whether he will grant a dissolution. Some instances occur readily to the mind. There is the famous ease of Lord Beaconsfield's advice in IxBo to the Queen to send for Lord Hartington, in the face of the fact that, the election campaign had been won by the tremendous eloquence of Mr Gladstone. On that occasion the Queen flatly ignored the mean advice of her most unworthy adviser. On another occasion the same Prime Minister. being defeated, gave his Royal mistress two alternatives. She might either accept his resignation at once, or she might take the alternative of giving him a dissolution whenever the rolls would be ready to enable the new voters to exercise the franchise. The Tories bad just “dished the \\ higs, ’ as Mr Disraeli called it. by carrying a more Liberal Reform Bill than Mr Gladstone’s. There was justice, therefore, in the suggestion that a dissolution without the new voters would be wrong. The Queen decided to take the alternative, and Mr Disraeli got six months of offiee in a House that was against him by a large majority. Respect for the Queen prevented criticism. But was she w rung ? These instances show’ how great the need for a man of independent judgment at the head of affairs in a time of trouble. One feels sure, after reading the new Governor's biographies, that lie will be able to hold his own whenever he may’ be wanted to preform that useful and somewhat rare function. -That he has been raised to the peerage is an honour to the Dominion, though a somewhat bitter pill for the Conservatives to swallow, whom he deserted. The reason* for that were good, but they cannot be expected to agree. New Government House. The utmost haste is being made to get his Government House ready for him. It is not much of a Government House, to lie sure. A long, somewhat rambling place. with some decent reception rooms, but built of wood. It is the missing of a line opportunity. With the splendid building materials of the Dominion something might have been built worthy of the occasion and of the prestige of this Dominion. The he-t of. the whole affair is the site. That, however, is half spoilt by the surroundings. There is a grand backing of hills from the prolongation of the Victoria Range; and there is a sordid foreground of poor •trouts and dowdy tenements. Possibly time will right these wrongs. In the meantime the view is superb.

A Dictatorial Visit. Dr. Findley Ibull a bad quaarten ox an hour tinder the dietiatibm off the Allimiin deputation tile other dliy. The temperance folk did not, mince matters at all. It was their opinion that the increase of sly grog-sellliig is due to the manner in which: the: magistrates use their discretion in punishing offenders* against the law. That means that the magistrates err because they do not please the Alliance. Hence they must be deprived of their discretionary power. Therefore all breakers of the law who are convicted of illicit selling must, go to prison. It is the old. intolerance of tire, faggot, and tllunrtt»3cr-ew K founded on tlie old basis of “heterodoxy is. the wrong, because it is not my doxy.” The Doctor gave, a soft answer. But it did. not turn away the wrath of the men- of the Alliance. We may feel safe nevertheless in betting that the prisons will not be congested in consequence of that dictatorial visit. Australian Coinage. There is trouble about tile Australian silver coinage chiefly beeause as the At-torney-General explains; there is no law under which, that currency can lie. .recognised here, and if w® were t® make suella law it would requires tth® saimtinn of th® Sovereign. All off which, is highly- technical. But if tile King .gives power to any of the dependent: States-. to> make coins he practically makes tliaiis mints branches of the Royaiß Mint of Great Bri. tain, and whatever emanates from the. Royal Mint, should pass whereser the Royal flag flies. Tllwt principle should’ be made a part of the law of Empire. Otherwise is the Empire net a. thing homogeneous. Much has been said about the profit made by the coiners of silver, but as the Royal Mint makes the same profit, and ■we do not object to the coins on that, account, it is difficult to see Itow we can object to the coinage, that is practically—■ whatever the theory may be—a branch of the Royal Mint issuing eoins. with the sanction of Imperial authority. It is said that if the coinage is to> be recognised here the banks Here, could make a profit by sending silver to the ( ommonwealth Mint and getting it back in coins. But the Commonwealth is- not obliged to coin silver for anybody, and certainly would not do so in. such case as is supposed. As a matter of fact, the Commonwealth only wants the new eoins for the Commonwealth circulation. That is the crux of the matter. Nothing could be done contrary to this wish by buying up the coins wholesale, for the simple reason that 40/ is the limit of, the legal tender of such coins. What is. ■wanted is recognition of the coins that travellers bring with them in ships. That is a trouble easily got over, one would think. Then why all this fuss? It is another of the “big gooseberries” which annually take different forms. But it has an unusual air of novelty, and therefore it has an unusually fine taste in the mouth. A Confid mt Inventor, Our local aeropianist has sailed for Australia, there to win the £SOOO offered by tlie Australian Federal Government. Of the winning, he is, of course, absolutely certain in his own mind. Was lie not said that he has studied the ways of all other inventors and found them so wanting that he has become himself the inventor of a new system entirely. This he declares simply has solved the problem of aviation entirely, because it has the necessary feature of stability. His machine requires a motor for its propulsion only, but is quite able to defy the elements when at rest, retaining its perfection of balanced flight automatically. It is seldom one sees so much certainty of conviction. Let us hope that it may be well, founded. All great successes of discovery have been preceded by the sincerest! conviction and the most dogged statement. Therefore we are justified in at least wishing every success to Mr Beach, aviator of the Dominion. Tlic Success of Native Schools. There is one man in Wellington whoso heart rejoices in a recent news item. It is Mr Bird, the popular and capable inspeetor of Native schools. The new bishop of Waaapu is reported to have spoken in high praise of these schools,

as he has found them on the north-east coast of his diocese. Mr Bird seldom hears: any comment. off the firn* hits' work lies boo fbr out off the Ueateiu track off fame. Nftwt of it is done- umlew eireumstanees that may bo aptly termed, “under fire.” Bad roads, swollen rteeits;, storms of wind and heavy frosts are his portion, and as he goes the food problem and the shelter- necessity have aspects for him as they hiuL forr the early pioneers who matte tile Dominion wlurt it is to-dUy. Yet he loves hia; work,, for the young Ma'ovi. repays all die tnouhfe and anxiety off those who attend- ha, his education by a display of imlustuy and a. desire to profit, by their pains, which are incredible, to all who have- not seen. The keenness of the little brown scholars at examination times is only equalled by their determination not to lose, a single school hour through the term,, and; instances are many in which boys’ have swanr flooded rivers, taking tlieir juniors on their backs eve® at tinws-,, rather than miss the school work. Moneover, it is am ascertained fact that tfoe young Maori is very adaptable, makings a prime scholar and very- rapid in his advancement. But all these things are shut up in the hearts of a few. These are all enthusiasts by reason of their knowledge of a subject little known. Among them is Mr Bird, inspector. He will be rejoining in his quiet way at the impressive testimonial that lias- just come out of the surprised heart of the Bishop of Waiapu. Hi's predecessor was w.ont to give the same witness-, but them the predecessor was a Williams and a. PhiloMaori’, whose- utterances on such, subjects were supposed—wrongly of course —• to be the result o£ prejudice. This testimony is independent, on the fa.ee of it, and as capable as. i± is independent. The Recent Loan. The New Zealand loan recently raised', Sir Joseph Ward! states, has been absolutely and satisfactorily floated; It. was, lie said, obtained at £9B 10/,. while tha. floated recently for New. Sbuth Wales brought only £9O. The public took 85 per cent of the loan. There was thus only 15 per cent in the hands of the. underwriting brokers. The fact, of 85 per cent having been taken straight out at £9B 10/ is exceedingly satisfactory.,, am-, no loan has been floated so well for a considerable time. Big Blaze at Palmerston. The sixth big blaze within, a week occurred just after four o’clock on Wednesday, when the Pahnerstorr Sash and Door Company’s large factamy in Albert-street, was completely demolished. The fine had a great hold; and; was bursting out from all parts of the. buildings when discovered, and the roof was commencing to fall’ in when the brigade arrived on the scene. Everything in the. factory, including the large plant, up-to-date machinery, and a big stock of sashes, doors and dressed timber, was completely destroyed. Blazing rooms, containing a heavy stock of glass in a detached building, were saved. The adjoining flour mill had a narrow escape. The Company having recently gone into voluntary liquidation, the mill wsas running on a reduced staff. The nightwatchman was through the building haif-a-n-hour before the. outbreak, and saw nothing. Those on the scene early declare that the fire broke out in. three places at once, and there are evidences of a man having slept in a stable adjacent to the destroyed building; The factory was one of Palmerston North’s historic buildings, erected as a sawmill 35 years ago. Seventeen years ago it was converted info a sash, and door factory, and four years. since it was enlarged and brought up-to-date with new machinery; Obscene Publication. Tire Appeal Cbui't, in the ease Bex v. Coburn, unanimously gave judgment affirming the conviction. Accused' was, in November last, Indicted at Wellington under section 157 of the Crimes: Act for an offence of knowingly distributing for public sale copies of the “Truth” newspaper, which, it waa> alleged, contained certain obscene matter, tending to corrupt the public morals; Accused was, at the time, the alleged, manager of the paper in Wellington, and was found guilty by the jury. Mfr. Justice Chapman deferred sentence, and reserved for the consideration of the: Court, of' Appeal the following: “Whether there, was any evidence to support the conviction: whether, it was necessary, seeing accused

was manager, to prove that he knowfnfr ly distributed the matter complained of s ajid whethc* the conviction waa right.” Hafnc oat the Fbols. During the course of a particularly forcible and impressive sermon in tha Petone Methodist Chuueh. on "Firing Out the Fools” (the "New Zealand Times’* reports#, the Bev. Mr. Eeeaes said that) there were many kinds of fools to be met with in tile world. “There is one species of fool,” s»id Mr. Seamer, “T cannot) quite matte- <><»# where this fellow is—in an officer or a store, or whether in th® GJiq-* vernment workshops, or it may be tha Gear Company’s works. He is just, an ordinary young man. He is supposed ta be working so many Hours a day, but ha is only •piayfag.” I watch himi in tha street,, a.nd I notice that he talks- well. I see also that lie sports well, and smokes well; in fact, he does everything well but work well. He is a decent sort of young fellow otherwise. The only fault about him is that he does as littla work as he possibly can, and dinning tha last half-hour his eye is censtaintly an the clock, or he is dodging every littla while, and l when the whistle bltevs he has his coat on, at least hul'f an.!' That man is a fool—every inch a foolt Let me assure you emphatically that in business enterprise a few years Insane; there will be ma. room for the fools-., They will be fifed out again and again; until they com® to. their senses.”