The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, MAY 14, 1886. THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1416, 14 May 1886, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, MAY 14, 1886. THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Tin-: Governor’s speech is a limehonoured incident of our constitution, and although it annuallyjbecomes more enigmatic and more euphuislic, it still forms an interesting part of our parliamentary ceremonial. The speech delivered yesterday, and which we published by an extra last evening, has one conspicuous merit—-it is brief. The authors—and we need hardly tell the most unsophisticated of our readers that in this particular instance His Excellency is merely the mouthpiece of his responsible advisers —appear to have set about their task with a determination to reveal absolutely nothing of their intentions. They have succeeded admirably. Remembering Hclaune’s exhortation to “ Think all you speak ; but speak not all you think,” they have confined their well turned sentences to a laudatory notice of the benignant sway of our gracious Sovereign, and a promise of good things to come. Tut we have no serious fault to find with the brevity of the speech delivered yesterday. Some years ago it was the practice of our Governmeots their policy with considerable minuteness in the speeches “ from the throne.” But of late years the practice has been honored by its breach, and politicians generally have recognised that a long and acrimonious debate on the Reply is, save in very exceptional cases, an undesirable interruption to business at an stage of the sessions. The most rabid uncompromising opponent of the present Ministry would have some difficulty in framing an indictment on the Governor’s speech. Both sides of the House must agree that a year memorable throughout the British dominions as the one in which Her Gracious Majesty enters on the 50th year of her reign is appropriately distinguished by the assumption of the most friendly relations between the native and European populations of this colony. No one can object to our railways and other public works being continued on a scale “ consistent with the circumstances of the colony, and in the manner most calculated to secure sound economical results.” Possibly some member —the gentleman representing Parnell for instance —may challenge the assertion that New Zealand is affected much less than other countries by the prevalent depression but the Colonial Treasurer’s cheerful view of the colony’s resources will hardly, in the abstract, be made the oasis of a want of confidence motion. It is gratifying to learn that His Excellency’s Advisers fully recognise the “ importance of keeping down the expenditure to the lowest limit consistent with meeting the requirements of the public service and the wants of the country,” and if the statement, that “ the finances of the colony are in a sound coudition,” carried conviction with it we could rise from a perusal of the report of the speech with feelings of unmingled satisfaction. The promise to introduce a measure intended to provide a better system of local goverment, and the assurance that the points in the contract between the Midland Railway Syndicate and the Government, requiring the ratification of Parliament, are of an immaterial nature, will be received with satisfaction by the people of this part of the colony. We earnestly hope that the session now commenced may be followed by the satisfactory and economical results alluded to by His Excellency’s Advisers.

Who shall despise the day of sma'l things ? Mr Keene, who introduced the silver-grey rabbit in the Kaikoura dialiict, certainly d'd despise the day of sma'l things, and Mr 3. D. Lance at the meeting of the Woolgrowora Association in (Jin stchnruh on Wednesday tolls the story : —“ jSomo twenty throe-years ago Mr Keene, on his way from Kaikoura :o Christchurch, came to pass the night v>. f h us, and he 'hen told us with groat glee that ho had at last succeeded in impoicing a few couples of a boaufujl silver-grey rabbit, and had just turned them out at 'iv. icomb. 1 entreated bhn most earnestly to return home 1 in t re morning (no matter how imporhu t his business in Christchurch might be), and not to leave home unti 1 he had killed every rabbit that he had turned out, showing h :- n that in my opinion the allorna*'.ve was ruin. My remonstrances wore of no avail, the prospect of a few days’ good shooting was too templing Not many yearsjaftcr this, we fiid the Jsheepearrjing capach.y of Twyncomb very much decreased, and a large annual expenditure for destroying rabbits. Mr Keene was, I j behove, the first person that used phosphoiised oats in this country. Uo was recommended to do so by his neighbor, Mr Bullen, who now has his letter, in which he thanked Mr Bu"cn for having introduced him to phosphorous, which he had used with great effect. This letter which I have seen, I should say from

memory, was written some fifteen years ago. I do not wish to dwell on the sequel of the story. I am afraid my early anticipations proved true, and rabbits, and nothing but rabbits, ruined poor Keene. What I wish to bring under your notice is that wo are seriously threatened by this silver-grey rabbit. It is furtile for us to waste our time in trying, to ascertain how it was allowed to get 'he hold of the country that it now has—if any

enquiry into that matter is to be held it will bo held in another place—but what wo have to do is to see how its further encroachments

can be stopped.”

The difference between genius and talent is that the former is a perpetual, never-failing spring ; the latter is merely a cistern that has to bo filled up from time to time.

Cremation is making its way in Gcinany —Germany of all countries. I’robably *hc more tolerant altitude of ecclesiastic dignitaries and authorities generally may have something to do with this success. It is announced that while the Prussian High Consistory maintains a negative position—neither authorising nor forbidding the observance of burial rites—the Bavarian Consistory n'lows the clergy to consecrate bodies before they are removed to bo burnt. The chief ecclesiastic of Gotha, however, is a broad-minded man. He permits the full ceremonies of the Church to be gone through.

The Irishmen of Melbourne forwarded this cablegram to Hr. O’Doherty. M. I’.: —"Bequest Mr Parnell to thank Mr Gladstone, on behalf of the Irish National League of Australasia, for his efforts to grant Homo Buie to Ireland.” The Lcagao forwarded another £SOO to the parent League iu Dublin, making a total to date of £2,000 as Australia’s contribulation to the Irish members’ fund.

An English exchange thus speaks of the high character and principles of the Shetland Islands heromc Elizabeth Mouatt ; Elizabeth -Mouatt has declined the offer telegraphed to her by the manager of the Uoyal Aquarium, The salary offered was £lO per week, and travelling expenses paid, i'iio heroine of the Columbine is not, as was as liist stated, a widow, but an uumarded woman, living, with her halfbrother, Thomas Hay, a fisherman crofter, on a small farm at tieautness in the Shetland Islands. Thu object for which Elizabeth Mouatt set forth on her fateful jouuey was to consult a physician at Lerwick, Last spring she had a stroke of paralsis. and has been ever since more or less of an invalid. In Edinburgh a fund has been opened for the resented traveller, whose adventures have been almost unparalleled in seafaring history. On the second day over £SO had been subscribed. The rejection by Elizabeth Mouatt of the proposals to make a show of herself recalls the case of Grace Darling, to whom, after the wreck of the Forfarshire, where she distinguished herself by her heroism, unoimous otters were in vain made by managers of Loudon theatres to exhibit herself on the stage.

The was a good house at the Oddfellow: Hall last evening on the occasion of U

second appearance of the Kickards-Kayner Company, The piece which had been selected for the.cvening’s cntcriaiumeut was the comedy of Spoons,” which passed oil excccdinly well. The following is from tins morning “ Timaru Herald It has been lately stated that Mr Alphous Hayes, J.P., of Waimatc, would probably consent to become a condidato for the representation of that electorate in Parliament at the next election, but it would now appear that he is desirous of declining such honor, on tho ground of his inability to devote sullioieut tune to legislative duties, his own business engagements necessitating his undivided attention. It is at present believed that Major Steward may regard himself as sure of his seat.

Mr S. W. Alcorn advertises a quiet cow for sale, to calve in a “week.” It read : “To calve in a month” in our issue of yesterday. The second meeting of the Piurapton Park Coursing Club was held on Thursday. The St Legcr was won by Mr 11. P. Hill’s Champagne, tho runner-up being Mr W. G. Judges’ Quintana. Mr It. P. Hill’s Waitangi won the May Cup, Mr T. Howe s Grace Darling being the runner-up.

A meeting, in connection with the establishment of a branch of the Farmers’ League, was held at Nowlands on Tuesday last. There was a large attendance, nearly all the farmers in the district being present. Mr Lloyd was voted to the chair. After considerable discussion, it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Hotten, seconded by Mr Lill, “ That this meeting form a branch league of the Central League.” It was also revived, on tho motion of Mr Allan, seconded by Mr Hotten, that the chairman should confer with the Secretary and Chairman of the main League, and then call another meeting for the purpose of enrolling members.

At tho first meeting of the Tradesmen’s Coursing Club yesterday, the All-Aged Stakes were won by Mr Kelly’s Fly, Mr Nicholls’ Vanity F’air runner-up. The Puppy Stakes were divided between Mr Kelly’s Sorrel and Mr Whelan’s Thunderbolt.

Tho official declaration of tho poll in connection with the Sydoeham elect o.n look place yesterday. The corrected, result of the voting is as follows :—K. oM Taylor, 438; J.L, Soft, 418; S. P. Andrews, 230 ; S. G. Jolly, 2 ; informal. Ifo

The annual report of the Intent Office shows that 425 letters patent were applied for during 1885.

The accounts of the Public Trust Ollioe, laid on the table of ,tho House of Beprescutatives yesterday, show transactions during the year amounted to £512,070. railway revenue returns for the financial year arc completed and show a net profit of £357,070.—The total cost of the railways up to date is £13,021,830, but of the opened lines is £12,172,012. The railway revenue has fallen short of the Treasurer’s budget estimate by £08,582.

The racehorse Loonata was burnt to death in a stable, which was destroyed by tiro, at Gisborne yesterday. It is proposed by the Shaw-Savill Albion Company to send the s.s. Arawa to Timaru in July nest to load fro/.en mutton.