Colonial Notes.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 5, 30 May 1890, Page 2

Colonial Notes.

Mr. Febgus's apeech at Queenelown necessarily ascribes great things to the Government in the past, and promises great things for them in the future. The approaching dissolution of Parliament and the general elections are plainly to be discerned in the tons of the hon. gentleman's utterances, and the roseate view of thinga given by him will need such a modification. The speaker contends for the botia fide nature of .the surplus which has been questioned in some quarters, and which will no doubt prove to most of us a matter for congratnlation. It would, nevertheless, be more satisfactory were it to be accompanied by a reduction of taxation, but taxation, we are told, is not in any way to be touched. It should be instructive to the people of the Colony to know, as Mr. Fergus also informs them, that a principal came of this is the provision that must increasingly be made for educational requirements, including the building of schoolhouses. It is not to be expected that this should be considered less important, but some thought may, perpaps, be given to the possibility of doing it at a lower cost. The other chief points touched on by the speaker were local self-government — a eyßtem of wnicb, he said, the country had already too much, and which he would have reduced by the amalgamation of some local bodies and the abolition of others. As to the land question, Mr. Fergus had a good deal to say. He dwelt, for examplp, on the desirableness of acquiring Native lands for settlement, and made a proposal that Government should do this by means of an isime of debentures, which would be made a first cbarge on the land. Roads, for openiDg land to settlement, the speaker suggested, might be constructed by similar raeins, Mr. Fergus's proposal for the compulsory sale by loan companies of tha lands held by them is decidedly in the right direction. It does not, however, go far enough, as, in some instances, individual monopolists stand as much in the way as companies do. Still, as coming from a member of a Goverament favourable to monopoly, it must command especial approbation. It certainly shows the irresistible force of public opinion. Mr. Fergus is also to be commended for the support given by him to the proposal for the abolition of the gold duty, which no doubt will likewise have additional interest as gi*en by a member of a Government Irom whom the miners rationally believe they have little to expect. On the whole, as we have said, the speech alluded to was as liberal and promising a speech as a member of Sir Harry Atkinson's Government could possibly make. It is to be hoped that tbe speaker did net calculate too much on sessions in the distant future for making the programme proposed by him practical.

Sir Robert Stout has been interviewed by a representative of the Otago Daily Tuncx, and has given the interviewer a sketch of a sys'tm of local government that ht thinks would be advatageous to the colony. Sir Robert would create 18 or l'J districts in the colony — giving to each district a district council which nhould manage all its business except that properly belonging to tae General Assembly. Sir Robert, as might be concluded in advance, dwelt principally upon the dealings of the district council with education which would be carried on by means of a paid executive, and which apparently would be rather a costly item to its particular ditstnct. Indeed, as we might also conclude iv advance, Sir Robert would expect his district councils to act generally in ai educational direction, for he would give taem enough p htic.il work to do to tram men for the General Assembly, As to the General Assembly Sir Robert would be inclined to adopt the Swiss system by which the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives meet together every three years and elect an executive for a like period. Sir Robert thinkb there is a great deal to be eaid in favour of responsible government, but the difficulty is to get fit men to enter Farhament. Trained in the district councils, however, able Siatesmeu would abouad — and so far we certainly agree wnh Sir Robert Stout that our legislators require improvement, and even a good deal of it. Finally, the system proposed is tne foim Sir Robert thinks the federation to suit New Zealand shoula take. He does not believe in that outside ourßelves.

A movement has been inaugurated in Dunedin for tbe formation of a Union m connection with tbe building trade. Is is complained that tor want ot sucq an association the employees of the trade have sufiered considerably, and occupy an inferior position. The benefits of trades unions, however, are now so well known and so firmly established that it is needless to point them out or to dwell upon them. Every branch of trade, among whom no such union exists la palpably at a disadvantage. Particular unions, besides, arc necessary to aid in bringing aoout the general amelioration in the position of the workingclasses. The building trade employees, tserefore,have come to a laudable determination.

The struggle of the railway employees against their alleged grievances still continues. At a meeting of the Otago branch of their association held on Sunday afteinoun a very determined stand was evident, and a icsolution supporting the executive was unanimously passed. The meeting seemed to have very little confidence in the fair-play of the commissioners, and the President of the branch expressed a belief that, h-ta the secretary of the Society, in communication with th 6 commissioners, been an employee, be would have been speedily placed horsdc combat by a removal to some other sphere

of duty. The secretary in question, meantime, has stated some special cases, which, if established, will completely justify the action of the men. They refer to the three points complained of, namely, boy Übour, piecework, and long hours. Mr. Edwards also accuses the commissioners of deceiving the public by publishing as dnly observed rules that they had systematically broken.— At the Dunedin meeting the returns were read of a ballot taken at Wellington as to whether tfie men would support the executive in extreme measures. The voting was in favour of extremes by 218 to 6. Extremes, however, are only allowable m very last necessity.

If misfortunes never come alone, as the tradition is, it would seem that hononrs also occasionally join company. Fast on the news of the rank of Count of the Holy Roman Empire conferred by the Pope on the Hon. Dr. Grace comes that of the recognition made by the Imperial Government of the hon. gentleman's professional services in this colony. »We " says the Evening Post, " have much pleasure in stating that His Excellency the Governor has been advised that Her Majesty has been pleased to confer on the Hon. Morgan Stanislaus Grace, M D., M.L.C., of this city, the Companionship of the Moet Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George. This honour was recommended by His Excellency Sir. William Jervois in 1887, in recognition of Dr. Grace's services as head of the Military Medical Department of the colony during the war times. Dr. Grace, on retiring from the Imperial Military Medical Btaff, on which be had done good service, was in 1865-6 Dlaced at the head of the Colonial Military Department, and for several years acted in that capacity, to the great advantage of the colonial forces. His Excellency Sir William Jervoia was struck with the fact that none of the colonial military officers had ever received Imperial acknowledgment of their services, and he brought the fact under the notice of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, at the same time recommending the Hon Dr. Grace for distinction. Sir Henry Holland (now Lord Knutsford), the then Under Secretary, in acknowledging the recommendation, wrote under date, 6th December, 1887 :—' l will take care that Dr. Grace's good services are duly considered with the claims of others whenever a suitable opportunity occurs, although a large number of recommendations already noted prevents me from holding out hope that be can be selected for the Companionship of the Order at an early date.' It has taken three years for the recognition to be accorded." But even though the honour has been delayed it has been none the less well merited, and our hope is that Dr. Grace has still before him very many years in which to enjoy it.

A seriouß disease among horses is reported from South Australia. The supposition is that it is influenza. The probabilities are however, that, whether it be influenza or not, it is the same disease which has recently caused so much loss and inconvenience in South Africa. Its spread throughout the Co'omes would be disastrous, and, if it be the same disease, its breaking out on this side of the Indian Ocean is most ominous.

The Austrah ,n Labour Federation has issued a manifesto, rather bigh-iluwn in i!s turns, but sound and sensible enough in substance, calling on the Unionists of the colonies to stand firm and trust one another in the industrial crisis on which the future of labour organisations in Enclrtiid and Australia vitally depends The manifesto deprecates a fi^'ht but begs of those: whom it addressee, if a combat is forced upon them, to cast no stain upon the sacred cause of labour. " Then bieak no Uw " it says ; " abstain from liquor ; give no enemy occasion t-> justify & ander." This is good advice, and men acting on it deserve to prosper in the cause upheld by them.

At the opening of St Patiick's Cathedral School in Melbourne aw^ekor two ago, the Rev. Father O'Mal'ey. S.J , dehveied an ehquent and able lectuie entitled " The Story of the Danube." A speech was also made on the occasion by Archbishop C'rr who dwelt on the great subject of education His Grace pledged the Catholic people to constancy m the support of the rehg'ious training of the young. "This is a new country," he said. " This is a rising country. This is o wealthy country. But with youth, with wealth, and with material property, you have also growing up, side by side, the seeds of indifference, the seeds of infidelity, the seeds of sin in various forms ; and if there be no others to attend to the rising generation on whom the destinies of this country mainly depend, I say that the Catholic people ought and will ever attend to the great work of the spiritual training of the youDg, so that when they grow up their thoughts, their words, and their acts may be regulated by that Divine law to which those conquerors Father O'Malley has referred to paid co little attention and on account of which all their efforts in the end came to naught and their works to destruction."

The Christchurch Early Closing Association, have taken a wise step in amalgamating with the trade unions. They have thus secured a support and sympathy which must tend to advance their object rapidly, and to lead to their complete success. At a meeting held last week a number of the unions were represented and resolutions in support of the Association and their object were unanimously carritd. We are glad to see the promise of immediate success thus given to the very laudable undertaking of the Association, with which we have always been in perfect sympaihy.

The township of Leeston (says the Lyttelton Times) is being improved by the erection of a handsome presbytery for the accommodation of the Roman Catholic Church. The building is situated on the main Southbridge road, and consists of a two-storied house of twelve rooms. The front elevatii nis somewhat in the early English style, with heavy gables, bow windows, and an ornate verandah. A fine staircase leads to the landings. From the upper windows can be seen Southbridge, Lake Ellesmere, and the Peninsula hills. The aichitect is Mr. John Whitelaw, who may be congratulated on designmg so handsome and comfortable an edifice. It is bemg erected by Mr, W. Jacques, of Sydenbam, and will coat about £700. Almost the

whole of this amount has been subscribed within tha last two months in sums of from £1 to £50, and it is confidently expected that by the time the house is ready for occupation the lema nder of the money will be forthcoming. The ground is a recent purchase from Mr. Paddy for tho snm of £IRO. The land was subject t> a lease of two jiinrt to Dr, Gosset, who hns very generously w lived his right in favour of the purchasers. The presbytery, when finished, will serve as the headquarters ef the Ellesmere district, and from there the Rev. Fathers Chervier (rector of the parish) and Ualbwachs will work the congregations of Leeston. Southbridge and Sband's Track.