The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 1888. NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1910, 4 August 1888, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 1888. NOTES.

The news, if correct, that the movement m the American Legislature to omit imported wool from the free list was unsuccessful, will be welcomed by New Zealand wool growers, as it is believed a good market can be found m the States for the disposal of colonial wool. The proposal to admit wool duty free was not carried by a very substantial majority, the figures being 120 to 102. There has been a well sustained effort on the part of the Australian Governments to have our wool sent to Ameiioan mills direct, but the high duty has been a bar to success. Now there seems nothing m the way, and should a trade be likely to develop, it will benefit New Zealand to an extent whioh will be a material help to us m a great variety of ways.

We have been told from Wellington that Mr Valentine, member for Wakaia, entertains the idea of re-establishing the Dunedin distillery. He has been making all necessary inquiries respecting the cost of manufacturing the best whisky and gin, and he is of opinion that the industry can be 'made to pay fairly well, even if no protection is given to it by the Government. From a legal opinion obtained, he is sure that distillation can be carried on m the colony by notifying the customs authorities, so that the same duty can be charged on the colonial spirit as that imposed on the imported article. Mr Valentine recently inspected the distillery buildings m Cumberland street, Dunedin, and he considers them admirably suited for the purpose. We are also told that m moving m this matter Mr Valentine has the interests ofthe farmers m the colony at heart, and he is actutatcd only by a desire to benefit them. We think there are many other ways Mr Valentine can show bis public spirit without establishing a distillery m Dunedin or elsewhere. The first and the last one m Otago was rather a costly item to the country, and there is more reason now than ever that no encouragement whatever should be given to the distillation of spirits m New Zealand. The idea that farmers would benefit by a distillery is bo much moonshine. As it is now, there is not enough barley grown m the country te supply local demand for we have ship, ments landed here from San Francisco and still the price of barley rules fairly higb. So far as tho benefit to the farmer would be concerned tho story will not tell.

Excessive smoking was the prime cause of the cancer m the late Emperor Frederick's throat. At least this is what the scientists say, and perhaps there is some truth m the assertion. Medical men of standing, who make such statements should be pretty correct m their conclusions. The fcmperor was a very heavy smoker from an early age, and a clay pipe was his favorite medium for the burning of nicotian incense. A Paris journalist interviewing Dr Fauvel, asked, " What • about smoking as a factor m a sore throat V* " W ell, I certainly am inclined to classify the habit as a predisposing cause of a cancerous larynx. My reason lies m the broad fact that cancer of the larnyx is the appendage ofthe smoking sex. To ten cancers of the larnyx amongst men we find only one amongst women. Of course this is no proof. But it sets one thinking nevertheless, especially as there exists such a disease as smoker's cancer." With a duty of half-a-crown a pound on tobacco and seven shillings on cegars and cigarettes it is likely there will be a falling off m the revenue derived from there sources so that cancer and sore throat may be expected to correspondingly decrease.

Apropos of tbe proceedings m the local Court on Thursday, when tho question of market tickets was decided, the following from a Southland exchange may be read with interest : — " 'Although on pleasure bent he had a frugal mind.' He was a canny Scots farmer located m the vicinity of Dipton. He wished to visit town — just to peep m at the rink, buy a few things, and have a orack with acquaintances. So he took a ticket for Ryal Bush— 3s 9d. A fellow-traveller remarked, *Why, I thought you were going to Invercargill V •So I am/ was the reply. * What are you getting out here for V ' Just to take a return ticket to and frae luvercargill to this place. That will cost me Is Bd. Noo, you see my fare from Dipton to Invercargill and back, if I went through on one ticket, would bo 10s 4d. By booking to Ryal Bush and there getting from the guard a return ticket, my travelling expenses will come out — Dipton to Ryal Bush, 3s 9d ; Hyal Bush to Invercargill and back, Is 8d ; Ryal Bush to Dipton, 8s 9d ; total, 9s 2d, as against 10s 4d from Dipton to Invercargill and back. So you see I save Is 2d, which pays for my day's luxuries. I shall havo a stick of tobacco, a box of matches, tho clay's papers, and a long slepver, with a penny to the good for charity.' In a homely way the loregoing illustrates forcibly the want of gumption on the part of those who have the arranging of fares on the lines."

The defeat of the Government m their attempt to assume control ofthe Legislative expenditure, which has been m the hands of the Speakers of both Houses hitherto, has resulted m the bringing down m the House a revised estimate of the expenditure necessary for the current year. They are a reprint of last years estimates, and total up <jo £16,025 as against £14,955 proposed by the Government. The Speaker of the Legislative Council proposes to increase the salary of the clerk of that chamber by £50, and that of the clerk-assißtant by £15, but a reduction of £20 is mado m tho case of the interpreter, and £50 is knocked off the item of contingencies, so that tho proposed aggregate vote stands at £1495, or £5 less than was proposed by tho Government. Though the Speaker of thh House of Representatives affirms the prinoiple for which he contended by bringing down his Estimates unaltered, ho has circulated a list of amended salaries which ho intends to move when m Committee of Supply. This list places the salaries of permanent officers at the reduced amounts which tho Government had napaed m their Estimates, hut provision is made for two interpreters instead ot one, thus adding pue more palary of £225. The proTifipa

for extra clerks and extra committee reporters is reduced by £250, contingencies by £25, Hansard reporters by £50, passages of members by £300, gas and fuel by £50, electric light, etc., by £100, and expenses of witnesses attending committees by £100 ; while £25 is added for the translation of statutes. The amended amounts will show that the sum of £630 will be saved if the Estimates as amended by the Speaker of the Lower House are passed m toto.

The member for Sydenham was evidently serious over his proposal that executions should be carried out by electricity instead of hanging, m New Zealand. He is under the impression that the gallows tree is but a relict of barbarism, and perhaps he is not far out. It has, however, been hinted that an interested constituent of Mr Taylor's has invented a machine for giving capital criminals the happy despatch, and hence the interest to put something m the way of a supporter. Execution by electricity has been talked of for some time m the f* tates and the Legislature of New York has passed a law favoring it. It is said that the agony of the punishmont will consist m the preparations for it, death by this means taking place quicker than instantaneously, m some immeasurable fraction of a second. A doubt, exists, however, as to whether the new law can be carried into force as it is said to be at variance with the Constitution of the Republic, which forbids cruel and un usual punishments, the method proposed being certainly unußuaL