The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 1886. Mr Gladstone’s Sympathisers.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1273, 25 June 1886, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 1886. Mr Gladstone’s Sympathisers.

Some days ago a number of the members of the House of Representatives and, wc believe, one or two members of the Legislative Council, despatched a joint cablegram to Mr Gladstone expressing sympathy with the English Premier in the defeat of his Home Rule proposals. There can be no objection to any colonist or any number of colonists expressing their sympathy with Mr Gladstone; we have no doubt that very astute statesman would accept the expression for what it might be worth and direct one of his private secretaries to acknowledge the attention of his antipodal admirers in a stereotyped note of graceful precision or in ponderous flux de mots. But the cablegram to which we have referred might, very naturally, be mistaken for an expression of sympathy from the united Parliament and people of New Zealand ; the framers of the message have been particularly careful to make it appear as a representative communication. But, as a matter of fact, the cable is an entirely private affair, and counting the whole of the signatures, including those of members of the Legislative Council and three Maori representatives, they number less than a majority of the Lower House. We do not suppose for one moment that the whole of the signators deliberately schemed to misrepresent the colonists of New Zealand and mislead the British public, indeed we are perfectly satisfied that a very large majority of these sympathisers would deprecate any attempts being made towards such ends. But it is more than probable that the cablegram will convey a very erroneous impression to the minds cl the British public, and even to the minds of British statesmen. Neither Mr Te P. Te Ao nor Mr Wi Pere are recognised in English political circles as authorities upon the Irish question, hut when their names are associated with those of thirty or forty other members of Parliament and attached to a message expressing sympathy with Mr Gladstone in his efforts to obtain Home Rule for Ireland, these worthy gentlemen may be regarded as Representatives of the people, expressing the views of the people, and not, as they really are, individuals entirely ignorant of British politics and indifferent as to the character and merits of the proposals they ostensibly applaud. The matter is not of very grave importance; it is not likely to materially affect the approaching Parliamentary elections in Great Britain nor to have any intimate bearing upon the solution of li e Irish difficulty, but we think those members of the House of Representatives who desire to forward the cause of Home Rule might have adopted a less objectionable course. It would bnve been presumptuous and futile, a 1 d highly unconstitutional, to discuss the matter in the House, but the originators of the movement might, in common fairness, have taken some steps to guard against the possible misconception to which wc have referred,

The Public Works Statement will be de

livered in the House ol Representatives to night.

A very animated debate look place la Com- I mlttee of the House of Representatives last | evening upon the Law Practitioners Bill* The Premier opposed the passage of the measure and was made the object of very spirited attacks by Sir George Grey and Mr Scobio Mackenzie. The member for Auckland East said the Premier’s knowledge of

law was very slight, and Mr Mackenzie said Sir Robert displayed no mark of high education in his writings in the newspapers or, in anything from his pen. He had gained his high position by force of natural ability, and should not put a bar to others doing the same. Mr Iveas, referring to the Bill, said he knew many solicitors whom he would not em-

ploy to conduct any business for him, and many others who could not speak half-a-dozen sentences on the floor of a Court. He contended that 75 per cent of the members of the House were more capable of transacting law business than 75 per cent of the legal profession. —Mr Ivess can hardly be regarded as an unprejudiced judge of the respective merits of members of Parliament and solicitors.

A welbknown grocer named James Fullar-

ton was found dead in his shop at Timaru last evening by his son. The son at first thought his father was lying asleep t and went away, returing in about half an hour. As his father was still lying in the same position as when ho saw him last, the son called a neighbor’s attention to him, and sent for Dr. Molnytre, who, on arrival, pro. nounoed that life had been extinct for some hours. An inquest is to be held.

The installation of officers in connection with St. John’s Lodge, 1811, E.C., took place at the Masonic Hall last evening. The ceremony o£ installation was performed by P.M. Bro. C. Braddell, of the Somerset Lodge, assisted by P.M.’s Bros. C. O Books and E. G. Crisp, of the St. John’s Lodge, and the following officers were duly installedl.P.M., Bro A. Curtis; W.M., Bro R. Friedlander ; 3.W., Bro 11. M. Jones J J.W., Bro 0. Hawson; Secretary, Bro Curtis; Treasurer, Bro C. C. Books ; S.D„ Bro A. Orr; J.D., Bro C. Hogg; organist, Bro H. Gates; Steward, Bro C. Jephson! 1.G., W. J> Hayes; Tyler, Bro. R. Cullen’ After the ceremony of installation had been concluded a ball was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall.

Mr Alfred Bentley, Secretary of the Brisbane Turf Club, has requested us to advertise a “consultation” on certain horse races. Our respect for the law, and a lively recollection of the proceedings of the Sydney Turf Club, prevent us accepting the very liberal terms offered by Mr Bentley.

A slight fall of snow took place in Ashburton at an early hour this morning, A heavy snow storm is reported from Christchurch, and the weather appears to have been boisterous throughout the colony. Messrs Mark Scott and Thomas Sealy were the only candidates nominated to til] the vacancies in the Tinwald Town Board to-day, and were declared duly elected. A novel point was raised in the Court at Christchurch yesterday by Mr o;ringer, the solicitor, in defending a case for the sale of liquor after hours. He called attention to the fact that, thought the amend ing Licensing Act of 1882 provides that com mittees may issue extended licenses for 1 o’clock, there is no amendment made of. section 184 of the Act of 1881 which natures midnight as closing time for those hotels to which extended licenses have ’oeen granted. Therefore, bo contetvdea, that it was no offence if an hsAc.l which was granted an 11 o’clock 'license was kept opened to midnight. The Resident Magistrate was inclined to consider the point fatal to the information, but reserved his decision.