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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 25, 15 October 1886, Page 16

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for settlement oa much easier terms than those that must necessarily attend on the purchase of high-priced blocks, at 10 per cent, above the Property-Tax valuation. And we hold, besides, that an attempt to interfere with the rights of private property before the absolute necessity for such a measure becomes apparent will be particularly ill-judged and doubtful. The proceeding, in fact, may be looked upon as a beginning made at the wrong end, and seems more of an undertaking adopted with some ulterior view — a matter always possible to a Ministry containing such apostles of speculative progress and experimental philosophy as Sir Robert Stout and the Hon. Mr. Ballance, than of a genuine undertaking for the simple and immediate welfare of the community at large. Of an undertaking on the part of the State for the settlement of the lands, and the provision by it of such funds as are necessary for that object, nevertheless, we heartily approve. Mr. Macandrew, in his proposals to that effect, has had our hearty support, and we should be much more confident at seeing the Ministry follow his lead in this matter than we can feel when we see them call up from oblivion — to which, indeed, certain of themselves also had condemned them — the proposals of Sir George Grey.

It is evident that nothing would have delighted the anti-Irish Press more than the predominance of a dynamite section at ChicagoIndeed, had the Convention unanimously expressed itself in favour of that combustible, the cup of their joy would have been full, and we may reasonably suspect that they would even consent without much scruple to see a few buildings in London destroyed just to give point to their arguments.— What, after all, would be a score or two of common lives, when set against the interests of an aristocracy ?

The resolution of the Tory Government not to interfere with the National League created some surprise in Ireland-since they went out of office last year denouncing vengeance against it, and their first act on returning to power was expected to be an attempt at fulfilling their threats. We may be convinced that liking or forgiveness does not lie at the bottom of their moderation, but we shall probably not have to wait long to learn their true reasons. In Ireland the explanation was in part that the ordinary law could afford all the means of cruelty and oppression, if it were properly handled, without resorting to special legislation.

One of the principal reasons why the Irish tenants are not at present able to satisfy the claims of the extortionist landlords is the great fall which has taken place in the price of butter, an article much depended on for the production of rents. The usurers, nevertheless, will make no allowance, and would exact their pound of flesh off the very bones of a Rkeleton. — But we wish they may get it.

OUR great distance from Australia (says United Ireland*) naturally, but unfortunately, prevents a timely appreciation of the great services which that great colony ia rendering the Irish National cause. Few English readers, and not many more Irish ones, we venture to say, have any adequate notion of the earnestness and enthusiasm with which Mr. Gladstone's proposals were endorsed by the people of New South Wales — and not alone by the people, but by the leading members of the Government — by every man, in fact) who from his experience in public life is qualified to pronounce an opinion on the benefit or otherwise to a people of the principle of Home Rule in the administration of the affairs of a nation. Our Australian exchanges give us some notion of what our antipodes have done on the subject.

It is announced that the Native Minister has made arrangements for the sitting of a Native Land Court, under the presidency of Judge Wilson on the West Coast. The object of the Court will be to give Natives an opportunity of having|grievancesjredressed, proving their claims and obtaining crown grants, as well as to deal out strict justice to those who interfere unlawfully with the rights of settlers.

Dr. K. I. O'Doherty, whom private reasons induced to decline re-election to the Imperial Parliament, in which he lately represented the County Meatb, has returned to Australia. We understand that it is the Doctor's intention to change his place of residence from Brisbane to Sydney. The Irishmen of the Colonies generally will congratulate themselves on the return among them of one who has borne so honourable a part in the contemporary history of their native land, and so well upheld her reputation in the southern hemisphere. The following resolution relating to the matter was lately passed in Sydney :—": — " That the Central Committee of the Irish National League in Sydney are very glad to learn that it is the intention of Dr. O'Doherty to permanently reside in Sydney, fully appreciating his unflinching patriotism and his courteous manner as a gentleman, not to speak of his renowned skill sb a medical practitioner."

The Parliament of New South Wales is confirming itself in an unenviable notoriety. A pleasant succession of boxing-matches between honourable members, gross abuse, and rowdyism generally,

appears to be the order of the day, and to go on from week to week with little intermission. Members, however, who see reason to believe that they have been elected to seats in a " den of thievea," or a " brutal house," as they name the august assemb ly in question, are not to be blamed perhaps, if they suit their manners to their t ompany. The reputation of the Colony, meantime, must necessarily suffer from such scandalous behaviour. Let us congratulate ourselves that w e are far above all this kind of thing in New Zealand, where certain folk would make it a grave fault in a Member to hare transgressed so much as by singing in the House a few lines of a good old song.

The facts attendant on the suicide of the unfortunate teacher* Gurr, at Onehunga, give us another warning concerning the dangers of the godless schools. Either the man was guilty of the disgraceful conduct of which he was accused, although of this there seems to be strong doubts, or else the girls who accused him showed themselves capable of foul and disgusting lying as well as of a good deal more* In either case parents should perceive how considerately the law acts in compelling them to submit their innocent childreu to polluting influences, whether those of an infamous teacher or those of abandoned schoolmates — the choice between the two being rather a difficult one to make.

We regret to learn that Dunedin is about to lose another of its amateur vocalists. This time it is Mr. J. P. Harris, who leaves for the purpose of joining an opera company about to be formed in Melbourne by Mr. Martin Simonsen. Mr. Harris, during his residence in this city,?has always been most obliging ia giving his services whenever the occasion offered, and the benefit which it is purposed to tender to him before his departure is, therefore, a welldeserved compliment. It will take place at the Lyceum Hall on the 22nd inst., and we would bespeak for it the hearty support of our readers in Dunedin.

The cloaked man or woman, the mermaid, or whatever monster it was that appeared last week to three young men in the moonlight on the Ocean Beach, near Dunedin, and by which we hoped to throw into the shade the phenomenon beheld in Auckland, turns out to have been nothing more formidable or wonderful than a large seal. The poor brute, being encountered in the broad daylight on Saturday by a gentleman carrying a watering-pot, was then and there put to death by having its head smashed with that ordinarily harmless vessel.

The land-purchasing projects of the Tory Government were divined at once by the Parnellitee. In the debate on Mr. Paraell'f amendment, Mr. Sexton, in one of his brilliant spetjehes, challenged Lord Randolph Churchill to deny that such projects entered into their scheme. It will, indeed, require a face of brass in the Unionist! and Mr. Chamberlain if they venture to support such a scheme. But apart from their support the Tories and the landlords are without a hope.

" Jabvey " was in his glory, it seems, while the Indian and Colonial visitors were lately in Dublin. That famous and unique vehicle, the Irish jaunting-car, took their particular fancy, amd engaged a large share of their attention.

The pastime of pronouncing the Pope on the brink of the grave» which so much delighted Revolutionists, and their anti-Catholic sympathisers generally, during the later portion of the reign of Pius IX., and long before he really fell into ill health, is now once more in season. But if the Pope were not on the point of death, how could the Jesuits be accused of poisoning him ? Tne reason for the reports in question is very plain. Meantime the Pope continues in his accustomed health, and there are no signs, whatever, except those which must attend, with few exceptions, on the advanced age of every man alive, that his Holiness may immediately fulfil the aspirations of the enemies of the Church in general, and those of the London Times in. particular, to which we have alluded elsewhere.

If there is any object which the Tories have at heart it certainly is that of saving the landlords from all possible loss and harm, and this is possibly the stumbling-block that will sooner or later bring about their overthrow. They evidently themselves perceive the danger of the position and are anxious to avoid it, but the ard our of their feelings does not permit of a perfect concealment, and a rash utterance now and then makes explanation ntceßß«ry. Lord Salisbury, for example, in one of his late speeches consoled the landlords by letting slip a proposal that the State should compensate them for any injuries done them by the land courts in fixing judical rents, a rash utterance that caused much alarm among his party, and which Sir Michael Hicks-Beach felt himself obliged immediately to explain as having quite another meaning than that understood from his lordship's language. The country, however^ will narrowly watch the manner in which Lord Salisbury proposes to increase the number of freeholders in Ireland, for he has said more han enough to place it on the alert.

The North Otago Times publishes an honest proposal made at Oamaru, to the effect thatjthe depression should be relieved by the repudiation of the debt due by the borough. The devil is to be cheated in the dark, it appears, and, while direct repudiation is to be avoided, a plan may be adopted by which bond-holders will be glad to take all they can get on the understanding that their money was

lent on too high a valuation. The morality of the proposal is very apparent, and its convenience is even more that apparent. It is most striking, in fact, and the precedent if afforded would, doubtless, be gladly followed, whenever possible, by debtors of all sorts and conditions, who also had taken leave of their honesty. The melancholy aspect of the affair is that it lends confirmation strong to the ugliest accusations brought against the Colony by Mr. Froude. The state of affairs in Bulgaria still presents to the world the strangest phenomena probably ever witnessed of their kind. The Russian agent, General Kaulbars, goes about openly endeavouring to bring about a crisis that would furnish an excuse for an occupation of the country by Russian troops, but acting at the same time in a manner quite as outrageous, and fully as compromising to the Power he represents, as an occupation without any excuse would be. The Russian Press declares that a peaceable settlement of the question is now impossible.

The rumour of an approaching war between France and Germany is once more repeated. It is now circulated by the French papers that support General Boulanger, and which probably act on his inspiration. As the General lately incurred a good deal of odium, and lost much of his popularity by means of a correspondence that was recently published, proving him to have owed his promotion to the Due d' Aumale, a fact which he had flatly denied, it is not improbable that he would be glad to bring about a condition of things in which the need for his services would in some degree restore him to the favour of the public. Were he successful, besides, in a war with Germany all France would be at his feet. There i 8i 8 a certain risk attached to placing such a man as General Boulanger in a neck-or-nothing sitaation.

Messrs. W. Hutchison, T. Bracken, W. Darling, and C. R. Chapman were nominated on Wednesday for the representation of Dunedin Central— the show of hands being in favour of Mr. Bracken. The poll, demanded by Mr. Chapman will be taken on Tuesday. Lady Aberdeen followed up her good work in Dublin by bringing under the especial attention of her Majesty the Irish stall at the Edin burgh Exhibition.— The exhibits in [question spoke highly of Irish skill, taste, and industry, and were much admired by the Queen.