The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas Et Prevalebit. MONDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1883. Our Annexation Representatives.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1062, 1 October 1883, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas Et Prevalebit. MONDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1883. Our Annexation Representatives.

The New Zealand Government was rather behindhand 11 in answering the request of Mr Service, the Premier of Victoria, to join the Conference to be held next month in Sydney, for the purpose of discussing the annexation question; but since it became known that two representatives were to be sent, speculation has been rife as to who would be chosen. It was reported that the choice of the Ministry had fallen upon the Hon Thomas Dick and tne Hon Richard Oliver, but this was regarded by most people as a mere canard, coined “ out of the wealth of the wonderful brain ” of that inscrutable class of journalists, the Parliamentary correspondent. Messrs Dick and Oliver make very tolerable heads of departments, but tor the Government to send them as representatives of New Zealand to an intercolonial Conference would have been something very like a slight to the Victorian Premier, who has taken up the affair with such enthusiastic earnestness. In fact, it would have been tantamount to faying that the annexation question was regarded as of little moment to this colony, and that we had sent two Ministers to take part in the Conference who had no special knowledge of the matter, and whose presence would be absolutely useless. The name of Sir George Grey was also mentioned by Dame Rumor, and the only objection to him would have been that his ideas on B this, as on most other subjects, are theoretical rather than .practical. The Government, however, have put an end to all speculation hy the announcement that the present' Premier, the Hon Major Atkinson, and the Hon Frederick Whitaker have been chosen, and we venture to say that this choice will be applauded by politicians of all shades of opinion. The late Premier has for many years been one of the most prominent figures in New Zealand politics, and his utterances in the Conference will have great weight. It is generally believed that Mr Whitaker does not attach much importance to the schemes of annexation that have been promulgated; that, in fact, he looks upon the Conference as simply useless. Even if this surmise be correct, it will make little or no difference, while it may be an advantage inasmuch as it will tend to check the ultra-enthusiasm shown by some of the annexation advocates in Australia, notably by Mr Service himself. In a Parliament consisting mainly of amateur legislators and theorists with impossible fads, Mr Whitaker stands eminent among the very few statesmen worthy of the name in New Zealand, and there is cause for congratulation that he has. decided to take a position that he can fill so worthily. Major Atkinson’s practical mind and knowledge of finance, this latter being one of the most important elements of the question, will further strengthen the Conference, and we may be certain that the interests of the colony will be well looked after by the representatives chosen. That the result of the Conference will be a reversal of the decision given by the Home authorities, we feel pretty sure. The able memorandum drawn up by Sir Dillon Bell, and signed by the Agents-General of the colonies interested puls the question so clearly from every point of view that the curt and cold reply of Earl Derby is difficult to understood, unless the summary sent by Reuter does not fairly represent what was said. The English press comment adversely upon that reply, and it is evident now the matter has been fully stated and the intentions of the colonies enunciated, that a change of opinion has taken place. The most ■forcible argument in our favor is certainly the fact of France intending to deport her criminals to islands in close proximity to our shores, and this is the point that the Secretary tor the Colonies seems to ignore almost (entirely. The Conference will no doubt lay especial stress on this particular, and with a strong public opinion in our favor at Home to back us up, we may rely that Lord Derby will be forced to accede to our wishes. It need not be said that the proceedings of the Conference will be watched with interest throughout Australasia, as all the colonies recognise that the question is of vital importance to our future welfare.

William Best, who had his arm broken about a week ago at Springfield, is progressing favorably in the Hospital.

Onr Rakaia correspondent telegraphs: —A man named Thomas Corkhill while bathing was drowned on Sunday at the Kyle beach. His mate who tried to save him had a narrow escape. A man named Georgs Reid was received into the Hospital on Saturday afternoon suffering from a broken leg, he having been kicked by a horse at Longbeach.

The vital statistics of Ashburton for the past month are as follows ;—Births, 27 ; deaths, 10; and marriages, 4. Ihe following were registered during the quarter ending September 30 : —Births, 88 ; deaths, 24 ; marriages, 10. The following entire Clydesdale horses were sold at Ohristchuroh on Saturday:— Pride of Scotland (imported), 180 guinea?; Young Vanquisher (imported), 430 guineas; Ivanhoe, 55 guineas; Clydesdale Hero, 27| guineas. The following are the Hospital returns for the month of September ;—No. of patients in thedlospital on ihe Ist Sept., 12 ; admitted during the month, 9 ; discharged, 8 : remaining on the 30th, 11 ; deaths, 2 ; No. treated during the month, 21. A Wanganui settler was charged on Saturday with failing to take reasonable precautions to clean a flock of infected sheep after receiving notice from the Inspector to do so. The defendant was fined 3d each on 120 sheep and costs. An information has ‘bean laid, and a warrant Issued, against Te Aropetera, the Maori Chief who interfered with Thorpe’s survey at Murimotu. Two constables left Wanganui for the latter country on Saturdaymorning to endeavor to execute the warrant.

The usual big gooseberry competition, which has now become an annual institution here, will be held as usual in January. Many of last year’s competitors said that if they had thought of it earlier in the season they would have easily beaten the winner by pruning the bushes ; and as this is the time to prune for large fruit, it would be well if intending competitors take warning in time About noop on Saturday an altercation took place in Dunedin, which has caused some excitement. Mr Ashcroft, a journalist, when coming out of the Post ffice, deemed a remark made by Mr Smith, solicitor, standing there with a friend, to be insulting. Mr Ashcroft asked Mr Smith to repeat the remark, and, on doing so, the former struck him with a stick he was carrying, but the friend succeeded in preventing further hostilities.

Our Rakaia correspondent writes : Notwithstanding the ve y uninviting weather of Friday night, a fair number turned up on Saturday to play in the match Married v. Single, bub not enough. Sides were • chosen by Messrs Lyttelton and Oxley, and in spite of the sloppy state of the ground and a heavy hail storm lasting some 15 minutes, a good and close game wai contested, Mr Lyttelton’s party winning by five runs. Some very good style was displayed by Messrs Eeid, Lyttelton, Dixon and Wilkinson. The body of a mail named Patrick Moran was found lying in a drain on the Longbeach estate on Saturday. The deceased was subject to fits, and it is surmised that he was seized with one while working on the edge of the drain. Moran went .to work at the usual time on Saturday morning, and as he did not return at the dinner hour his mate went in search of him, and discovered hia body about 5 o’clock in the afternoon, one mile and a quarter from the place where he had been at work. An inquest was held to-day at Scott’s Hotel, Tinwald, before Dr Trevor, coroner, and a jury, of which S. Corrigan was foreman. After evidence was taken a verdict of found drowned was returned.

The quarterly meeting of the Rakaia vestry was held at the Parsonage on Friday. Present—Rev Chambers and Messrs C. N. Mackie, Chapman, Allington and Dixon. Mr O. S. Mackie wrote tendering his resignation, as he was about to visit the old country. Mr R. Davies also tendered hia resignation, as he was leaving the district. Both 'were accepted with regret. It was decided not to fill the vacancies on the vestry until a larger meeting of members cniild be in attendance. It was resolved to endeavor to have the amount of insurances on some of the churches in the district reduced. After disposing of some other routine business the meeting adjourned, with a vote of thanks to the Chairman. The Otogo Cricket Association met on Saturday evening’ It was mentioned that during the coming season two teams, one the Incognito from Sydney, and another from Tasmania, would be likely to visit Dunedin. The prospects of the coming season are excellent, as nearly all Clubs in and around Dunedin have intimated their intention of joining. In answer to letters forwarded ,to Melbourne and other large colonial towns particulars regarding the various grounds were received, and went to show that Dunedin has the least area of public grounds used for cricket, and that every other city was more liberally by their . Corporations. Mr Maitland was re-elected President, and Messrs Cohen and Rose Vice-Presi-dents.

The Right Hon W. E. Baxter, in his address at the fifteenth annual Congress of delegates from co-operative societies in Great Britain and Ireland, held in Edinburgh, spoke of the deliverance by cooperation of so many from “ the fancy profits of the credit system.” He said further that “ during the ten years, 1872 to 1881, the societies in this enlightened part of the world—(laughter) —had done a business amounting to 1>24,303,662, and made a profit of E 2,107,401, which with reference to the share capital employed, gave a dividend of 65 per cent per annum, or more than double that which bad been realised by their friends on the other side of the Tweed. Debt was the bane of the nation—(hear, hear)--the curse of the landowners, so held down by mortgages as to be so only in name, as well as of artisans who had books with all the petty tradesmen around. They could not, of course, get rid of credit altogether; it had its advantages in mercantile affairs ; but in the ordiuary transactions of domestic life it ought to have no place, and it would surely go out when co-operation came in.” (Applause). The wrestling match between George Robertson (the present champion in the Bcrder style) and Joseph Strong took place at the Dunedin Caledonian Society’s ground on Saturday afternoon. A stake of LIOO and the Society's championship belt depended upon the issue. Strong stripped a little over fourteen stone, whilst Robertson, the halt-caste, nearly turned the scale at seventeen stone. The first fall occupied a lot of time, as the men were very cautious about getting a hold. The first lime they locked after an obstinate tussle, Strong wriggled out of his opponent’s grip and claimed a fall, on the grounds that the latter had broken his hold. The judges, however, disallowed it, and on closing again Robertson got the best grip, and after a few moments of intense excitement, crossbuttooked his antagonist. After a long interval for rest the men again met, and once more the superior strength of the half-caste proved too much for his more scientific opponent, and thus won the first two falls, and was declared the winner. A good deal of amusement was caused by “ Captain ” Jackson Barry, who, at the close of the match, stripped and tried a fall with the gigantic champion. The latter literally sat down after a fictitious struggle, and allowed the gallant ‘ ‘ Captain ” the honor of a victory.

Duncan Carmichael was acquitted o£ horse stealing. Maud Hamilton was convicted of robbery from the person. Sentence was deferred.

The Fall Mall Gazette observes :—“ A book on banking in Australia is published by Messrs Blades, East, and Blades. It summarises the statistics and traces the growih of banking in the Australian colonies in a very useful manner. The author, who is evidently acquainted with the interior of the working of at least one of the Banks concerned, speaks very well of those which have survived and pro pered, as most of them have. The original idea of Australian Banks was to employ the capital which seamed over abundant in Eng and in Australia, where it was deficient. On the whole, it has been a practical success, but at first there were great risks; and even now the state of banking and indeed of other business in Australia varies widely every few years. The author avers that, as a rule, losses have faced and not hidden, and that the Banks are now reaping the fruits of a long course of judicious management. He even states that the losses they have incurred are quite small when compared with the losses sustained by" Banks in London, the provinces, or Scotland ; and finally he states that the history of the Eastern Banks cannot stand comparison with the Australian, as only a few of the Eastern Banks now survive out of sixteen or seventeen established. It will not bo forgotten that Australia and Australian Banks have respectively produced and dealt in an appreciated article—gold— and have been lucky in so doing. That they have avoided ruinous lock-ups in wool, land, etc., is due to caution and skill.”

A correspondent who recently visited a Maori pah in the Rangitikei district thus discourses on the manners and customs of the natives :—“|l enteredfthe room in response to a deep bass growl, in English, of ‘ Coma in.’ The atmosphere was something oppressive, the room was filled with tobacco smoke; about seven or eight Maoris were lying around on the floor, some on blankets, others on the are boards, all smoking vigorously. Having settle ! my business, I was glad to escape into the open air. Here a different kind of suffocating smell greeted my riVstrils—a frowsy smell of steam from a boiler full of dirty clothes, which were being washed by an old Maori woman who squatted on the ground beside the boiler. Close alongside was another wrinkled aboriginal of the feminine gender, apparently making bread, and a few feet from her was a third woman engaged in a maternal operation which I call ‘ prospecting.’ Squatted on the grass, like her neighbors, she had in her lap a girl’s head, back part uppermost, the rest of the girl’s body being stretched on the ground at full length. Industriously the old woman went about her work of ‘prospecting,’ and frequent were her ‘ finds.’ Her eyes glistened as she came across the ‘ color,’ and tenderly but firmly she grasped the precious ‘ nuggets ’ (between her thumb and finger, which moved to and from jher mouth to the girl’s head. This was rather a sickening spectacle, but on inquiry I found that the Maoris go on this principle— ‘ I kainga ahau ete kutu, narira I kaingo te kutu e ahau,’ which, to the observant reader it will be sufficient translation to 'say, ‘ He eat me, therefore I eat him.’ ” i

The Timaru Hera'd gives the following account of a very unseemly squabble, terminating in the arrest of the two offenders, which took place on the Market Reserve yesterday afternoon :—Shortly after two o’cl ;ck a Mr Graham, who does, not believe in the Salvation Army, mounted a four-wheeled timber waggon on the Reserve, having also used it the

previous Sunday to deliver an address from. This wagon had previously been used as a “chariot” by the Salvation Army. Some little time after Mr Graham had taken up hia position the Army arrived on the Reserve in full force, and Captain Smith requested Mr Graham to get down, which the latter refused to do.

Capt. Smith then mounted the “ chariot” and pushed Mr Graham oft, causing him to fall ’into a pool of muddy water. Tho latter again mounted the vehicle, only to be again turned off, after a scuffle. He was proceeding to make a third attempt, when Constable Daily interfered, and arrested the two combatants on a charge of committing a breach of the peace and marched them off to the lock-up. They were subsequently bailed out, to appear at the Resident Magistrate’s Court at eleven o’clock

this morning. The spectacle was an amusing one to the larrikins, and an unpleasant one to those who respect the' Sabbath as a day of peace, a day of rest, and in the true sense of the word a holy day. As regards the merits of the case itself, we, of course, cannot express an opinion until it has come before the Court. We do feelj this though, that it is high time the old wagon was removed from its present resting place, and steps taken to allow people residing in the vicinity of the reserve to enjoy quietness on Sunday afternoon, and not have their ears saluted lime after time with the beating of drums, tbe blaring of trumpets and the screeching of tin whistles. A little more of this sort of thing and parents who regar i religion as a solemn reality will find, despite all their endeavors to counteract the tendency, thair little children looking upon it as one of the most ridiculous and amusing things in existence, far more comical indeed than a Christy Minstrel farce. The Marlborough Express has inspected the model of a very ingenious wind motor made by Mr John Smith, and Mr Jones, in his employ. It consists of a large windwheel of twenty-six blades, connected with a governor and fan, which appears at first sight to be the usual regulating fan. To convey a somewhat approximate idea of the machine to our readers, wo will attempt to describe its action briefly. On the windwheel revolving, each revolution lifts a connected crank, which in turn raises a rod working a pump, or any other machinery to which such motive power can be applied. The wheal will work this piston rod up to a certain power ; beyond that, however, in order to provide against too great an increase of the number of strokes caused by the impingement of a heavy gale on the wheel, there is a governing fan behind, which, when the wind exceeds the maximum velocity required, carries the wheel side on to the breeze. The regulating fan at the back, by a clever yet simple contrivance, swings round parallel with the line of the wheel and the governor, and the wind then not having so large a surface to play upon, the awheel maintains its uniform speed. On the wind lessening, the governor falls back to its proper place, and the wheel automatically again faces the bre.ze. Messrs Smith and Jones have taken steps to have the machine patented, and an idea of the value of the invention may be gathered from the fact that already nine persons who have seen the model at work have ordered windmills of the same class to be erected on their properties. The first of these orders is a wheel which will be 14ft in diameter, and will stand 25ft high. It is estimated to lift at the rate of 6,000 gallons of water daily from an artesian well.