THE SITUATION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 12, 10 July 1885, Page 16

THE SITUATION.

•HE .political situation is very serious, and in Parliament things are going from bad to worse. The Ministry declares more revenue is required to enable it to carry on the business of the country ; and it will be conceded by all well-informed persons that this statement is simply the truth, without the least exaggeration. How does the case stand ? The actual revenue is at a standstill, and the prospect is that next year it will be less than it is this year. That is fact No. 1. Pact No. 2 is that the liabilities of the country are increasing. Every million borrowed requires an additional revenue of £40,000 per annum. The Colony has recently borrowed two millions and a half, and this imposes on us an additional annual expenditure of £100,000. How can the Treasurer pay an additional £100,000 out of a revenue which does not suffice to meet present liabilities, and which may be expected to be less next year if additional ways and means be not provided . Then it is proposed to borrow another million next year to carry on works already commenced. Is this project to be abandoned and the public works policy to be brought to a stand-still ? The policy of Parliament as regards the Ministry is that of . Pharaoh in reference to the people of Israel. Ministers are expected to make bricks, without straw. Parliament sanctions expenditure, but refuses to grant the ways and means. These few words sum up the situation. An enormous and foolish expenditure on education, for example, is sanctioned, but when the question of where the money is to come from arises, this same Parliament refuses to provide the wherewithal. There is in all this a want of common sense. In the presence of such a state of things it would be idle and silly to talk about political economy, and laughable to invoke the words principle and patriotism. There is no doubt that very large savings could be effected in the government of the country, but Parliament will not listen to suggestions of reason and prudence on very many points. For example, there is not the least necessity, not the slightest justification for our multitude of legislators, and all the expensive paraphernalia of Parliament. The number of members of both Houses of Parliament could be reduced by one half, to the great advantage of the country in every way. Will this be done ? And if not whose fault is it ? Again, the expenditure on education coald be easily reduced by at least one half, will this be done ? No, on the contrary the tendency is to increase it indefinitely. And whose fault is this ? Is there not extravagance in many other directions . What necessity, for example, is there for the large subsidy to the San Francisco Mail service. Are not our direct steamers sufficient for all Postal requirements ? Will any saving be effected in this direction ? We do not believe there will. If the Ministry propose expenditure, it will be sanctioned with a light heart, but the ways and means are another question altogether. There can be no doubt that the country cannot afford additional taxation, but the Parliament should seriously set itself to so arrange the situation as to equalise revenue and expenditure, and this can be. done only in one way, viz., by reducing expenditure on legislation, education and postal luxuries. It is idle to hope to economise in the civil service. Several Ministers in succession have tried their hands at this operation, but to no purpose has the effort been made. The fact is, no further saving can be effected in the civil service if it is to be maintained in anything like an efficient state. It is said an appeal to the country is probable. This would be another folly, another wasteful proceeding. What would such an appeal effect, except the waste of a good many thousand pounds ? The same men would, in almost every instance, be returned — that is, our present representatives would be sent back to Parliament. Of this we feel quite certain, for two reasons ; the first is because there would not be a sufficient number of eligible candidates to enable the people to replace the present members ; the second is because the present members are just the men to tickle the fancy of the great democracy by their Utopian theories. It may be asked then, have you no hope for the country ? Our answer

is, very little from either Parliament or the constituencies. Only one, of two things can, in our opinion, extricate the , country out of its present slough of depression. A wave of general prosperity to be brought about in some way we cannot foresee, or such a financial muddle as will rouse the most stupid, selfish and sluggish.

Bjr the death of Mr. John Hackett which occurred last week at Castle Street, Dunedin, an old and respectable colonist has passed away.— Mr. Hackett who was a native of the county Tyrone, Ireland, and' a relation of Messrs. Francis and Michael Meenan, of Dunedin, emigrated to Victoria atoout 26 years ago, and, having served some time in the police force of that colony, came to Otago at the time of .the rush. He afterwards went to the West Qoast, and at the opening 'ofitheHokitika gold-fields some nineteen or twenty years, since, he established the Tyrone Hotel at the town in question. He returned after an interval to Otago where he filled the place of warder in the Dunedin gaol and for about seven years, exclusive of some time spent in Waihola, bad charge of the gaol at Oamaru, remaining connected with the police iorce of the colony until two years age when he retired. Mr. Hackett was a staunch Catholic and a sterling Irishman. He was fifty-three yeaTs of age at the time of his death which was caused by a breaking-down of the system. — R.I.P. The concert already announced by us to be given in aid of the Dunedin. Cathedral Building Fund, will take place at the Princess Theatre on August 7th. We understand that preparations are being made, -with the promise of even a greater success than any that has as yet attended on the performances of the pupils of the Dominican. Convent aided by the members of Mr, Leech's string band— highly appreciated as they have been on former occasions. Lord Salisbury has declared his intention of carrying out the negotiations with Russia as they "were initiated by Lord Granville. He speaks more resolutely, however, about the necessity of preserving the Zulfikar Pass for -the Ameer, and .seems further to point towards an English occupation of certain '■ posts in Afghanistan, possibly Uandahar and Herat. The Hugo Buffalo Miwtrels who opened at the Princess Theatre, Dunedin, on Wednesday evening, promise to have a most successful season. A novel but an agreeable feature in connection with the band is the number of lady vocalists. The chorus and solo singing is remarkably good, and the comic performances are extremely clever and amusing. A very pleasant evening may be spent in a visit to the Theatre. It was a good omen in the assumption of the Lord-lieutenancy of Ireland by Lord Carnarvon that he declared himself prepared to carry oat the ordinary provisions of the law without having resort to coercion. This, probably, as well as the relief experienced from the departure of Lord Spencer, accounts for the cordial reception given to his Excellency in Dublin . We have waited with impatience for the promised statement on education from the Hon. Robert Stout, but in vain, it has not appeared. Has it been swallowed up in the difficulties of the tariff, or have its philosopbico-d the-expense provisions proved too much for the Cabinet themselves ? We now await the explanation of the delay with curiosity, The Sydney JPreman's Journal gives the following details repecting the Bight Rev. Monsignor Byrne, Bishop -Elect of Bathurst,N, B.W. — " Born in IrelaDd on the 18th of June, 1843, and commencing his education at St. Lawrence O'Toole's Seminary, Dublin, conducted by the late Dr. James Quinn, Bishop of Brisbane, and by the late Bishop of Bathurst,, , Monsignor Byrne went to France to continue and complete his ecclesiastical studies in the Rouen Seminary, and he Teceived all his orders up to and including the diaconate in that celebrated seminary, at the hands of Oaidinal de <Bonnechose. Ordained in Dublin in March, 1866, the young priest— bright, sensitive, and eager for missionary work— volunteered Jsor., Australia, and accompanied the Right Rev* Dr. Quinn, when his Lordship came out in 1867, to take charge of the newly-founded diocese of Bathurst. In the Bathurst diocese he remained all the time, excepting some five years, during which, by the permission of his bishop, he ably administered at different periods the diocese of Maitland, in the absence of his Lordship Dr. Murray in Europe. In 1874, when ■ Dr. Quinn went home, he was appointed Administrator, and he also administered the diocese in 1883-4. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred in 1874, and he was raised to the dignity of Monsignor, with the title Right Reverend, on the 10th of June 1884, Our Bathurst correspondent this week, in his communication, . expresses the feelings of gratification among the people of the district, and pays a tribute to Monsignor Byrne's zeal and ability. The building and successful establishment of . St. Stanislaus' College, Bathurst, and the establishment of St. Charles' Ecclesiastical Seminary are among the numerous works with which Monsignor Byrne has been identified. The Bulls of Consecration will, it is it is expected, arrive very shortly from Rome, and the imposing'ceremony will, it is understood, take place at the Bathurst Cathedral

the Bishop of Mainland probably officiating as consecrating prelate on the occasion." By the death of the Very Rev. Monsignor {Andrew , Quinn D.D. which occurred lately at Kingstown near Dublin, at the age of seventy-eight, the eldest member of a family which gave two bishops to Australia, has passed away. Mgr. Quinn was the elder brother of the late Most Rev. Doctors Matthew and James Quins, Bishops respectively of Bathurst and Brisbane,* and was an ecclesiastic who, in every respect, ranked high among the clergy of Ireland. He had among other things been a class-fellow of the present Pope Leo XIII at the Roman college, and on the occasion of his golden jubilee in February '82, he was raised by His Holiness to the dignity of Domestic Prelate.— B.l.P. We have been requested to procure for a friend the present address of Mr. Willliam Moran, formerly a warder in [the Dunedin Gaol, and a native of Gowran, Co. Kilkenny, Important news that nearly concerns him has been received from home, and he or anyone acting for him will oblige by furnishing us with the particulars required. bergeant Gearin of the Dunedin police has been promoted to the rank of second class sergeant, a promotion well earned by efficient service. Constable Keenan, whose care- of the Roslyn police district for the last eight years gained for him the high opinion of the inhabitants, has been transferred to Milton, where he replaces Sergeant Finnegan, changed to Port Chalmers.

Mr. W. Mcßeath, George street, Dunedin, is offering .at unprededently low prices his excellent stock of dothing,J drapery,J and millinery of all kinds. Intending purchasers will' find it to their advantage to pay his establishment a visit. Mr. Thomas Carroll, late of Mornington, has purchased the butcher's business conducted at Princes street south, by Mr. Henry Parsons. The high reputation of his establishment is well-known, and will be maintained, or, if possible, increased by Mr. Carroll. Messrs. Johnson and Co's annual stock-taking sale of drapery, millinery and clothing is now being held ac their establishment, Maclaggan street. Persons in search of unexampled bargains will do well to visit it. Vanity Fair (English Tory) thinks it a great mistake that only one side of the picture — the pleasant one — was offered to the public as regards the Prince of Wales' Irish visit. The Royal party were not generally well received in Cork and Kerry. " Why," asks Vanity Fair, " was the story of the little 'coffin, thrown into the royal carriage, wholly suppressed 1 " J. H. Kilgoub, grain and produce broker, reports under above date as follows : — Wheat : There is no improvement in the market, and it is difficult to effect sales at 3s Id for best milling quality, while medium parcels are neglected. Fowl feed, 2s to 2s 2d. — Oats : The demand for bright samples continues active, "but medium parcels can only be sold in small quantities for local requirements. My sales have been at Is B£d for bright short "oatsy< and Is 7£d to Is 8d for sparrow bills. — Barley : There is no alteration to report. — Chaff : The market is still in over-supply, and £2 15s is the top price 1 have obtained this week. — Potatoes : As the demand is limited to local requirements, Derwents continue to move off slowly at £3 to £3 2s 6d, at which prices my sales have been this week. — . Butter : There is a good demand for prime salt at up to 9d per lb. but very few prime lots offering. Fresh is in short supply, and up to Is 2d can now be got for choice quality. — Eggs aTe plentiful at Is per dozen. — Turnips : 20s per ton for best Swedes. — Carrots are very slow of sale, and recent quotations cannot now be got. Me. F. Meenan, King street, reports : —Wholesale prices, including bags : Oats, 1b 6d to Is 9d ; wheat, milling 3s to 3s 2d, fowls' feed Is 6d to 2s 6d ; barley, malting 3s to 3s 3d milling 2s 0d: to 2s 6d, feeding 2s ; oaten hay, £3 ; rye-grass £3 ; chaff, £2 10s to £3 ; straw, £1 15s to £2 ; bran, £3 10s to £3 15s ; pollard, £4 10s; flour, £7 15s to £8 10s; oatmeal, £10 10s; fresh butter, medium to prime, lid to Is 2d; eggs, Is; salt butter, B£d ; cheese, 4d to 6d ; bacon, 7£d in rolls, hams lOd ; potatoes, Derwents £3 to £3 ss, kidneys £2 10a. A lioness in the Zoological Gardens in Dublin was found one morning recently to have eaten off six inches of her tail. In two more meals she had completely disposed of that appendage, and had commenced on her forepaws. The animal was destroyed " for fear " she would eat herself up." No wonder a self-respecting lion would want to commit suicide after being made the emblem of a nation which is acting such an unleonine part to-day in the world. — PUtrt. Last week, a cable despatch from England to the American Associated Press, announced that Dr. Moran, Archbishop of Sydney, had been appointed Archbishop of Dublin. For four days the statement was continued. It was a lie sent out by England as a feeler, to try and call put Irish and Irish-American opinion. But why should our Associated Press allow itself to be made the tool of English diplomacy ?—JPiZ<tf. "Without any bill from Parliament the crofters are doing very well. The Duke of Richmond and Gordon, Lord Lovat, and other Scotch landlords are bending down before the stormy agitation that is raging against landlordism in the Highlands. Reductions of 10 per cent, on the rents of many of the crofters are now becoming everyday occurrences 1 Indeed, the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, in giving bis tenants the 10 per cent, reduction, begs the good will of thoße whom he formerly designated his " dependents," by writing to them a polite note, in which he kindly expresses the hope that they would agree with him in thinking that this reduction is a fair contribution on his part towards enabling them to meet the difficulties with which they have so long contended 1 If landlords can be made so " nice" by only a year's agitation or so, not likely is it the crofters are going to be satisfied with the insignificant measure the Government is about to introduce as a " settlememt " of the Scotch land question ! — Nation.