The Daily Telegraph. THURSDAY, MAY 29, 1884.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4010, 29 May 1884, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. THURSDAY, MAY 29, 1884.

This day week the General Assembly meets for the despatch of business. As the Premier said in ono of his addresses, with regard to the prospects of next session it is impossible to prophecy. He would be a wise mail who could do so. But Major Atkinson went on to say that "if members would not go on with the country would be pnt to the expense of two sessions in the year instead of one. He hoped the Assembly would see its way in a'short session to accomplish the necessary business of the country, and thus avoid the expense which otherwise would be inevitable. -The elections could take place earlier in the year, so that no great'loss of time would be incurred in ascertaining the feelings of the country on the larger questions submitted to it. Of course, this was a matter entirely in the hands of the House, but he thought it right to make known to the country the opinion of the Government on the subject, and as Parliament was only two years" , ' old, he hoped the House would see the wisdom of not putting the country to the expense of two sessions in ono year." Exactly. There is but one interpretation to.put on the enunciation of the opinion of the Government. It plainly points to the intention of Ministers to put a stop to want of confidence debates by dissolving.the House and appealing to the country. .Major Atkinson does not say that this course will be pursued only in the event of a hostile vote, but that it will be followed if members will not go on with the business of the country. A threat of this kind, we imagiue, Tnll not deter sharp criticism, nor suppress a free expression of opinion concerning the actions of Ministers during,the recess. Itis absurd to suppose that the House can be bqunped into silence. On the contrary, the Premier's words invite an obstruction of public business, as a reward is held out that there will be two sessions, and a donble honorarium if the work.of the country is not gone on with. But if the Ministry find themselves in a majority they are certain to be assailed by motions of want of confidence, and the debates that will arise therefrom will occupy the usual time of such discussions. When these cloud storms have been' dispersed the ordinary business of the session will have to be brought before members, and some legislation will have to be passed to effect reforms calculated to please the electorates prior to the general elections. The Christchurch Press" is of opinion that the Ministerial scheme of Civil Service reform alone should take many ! weeks of : careful consideration. Then there are the amendments in the various electoral measures, of which some intimation has been given, which, are sure to occasion discussion. Not that =wo (says the Press) look forward to much practical business being done, even were the Government leading a compact and loyal party. The last session of a Parliament is seldom remarkable for useful legislation. Members aro too busy arranging for the coming , struggle in the country to be ■willing , to devote their time to practical work. In the present instance the Government are unfortunately not at the head of a compact and enthusiastic party. They may have followers sufficient to keep them'in office for the session, because they do not see any prospect of a more satisfactory Ministry being got together from the other side oven were Ministers to resign.' In these circumstances all that the Government should attempt to accomplish is the passing of such measures as are absolutely essential for the public safety, and then to prorogue. The people of the colony have ceased to hope for anything satisfactory ■ from the present Parliament, and the best thing the Government can do is to put an end to its existence with the least possible delay. A eetuen has just been completed of the number.of sheep in Netr Zealand in May, 18S3. Though the date is not very recent, the return is of interest, especially as it gives, for the first time, a classification of the different classes of sheep in the colony. The figures are as follows :— Male. Feaule- Total; Merino sheep 3,250,733 4 084 499 7,315,232 Lonjfwool sheep 432,322 769,417 1,201.730 Crossbred stieep 1,837,502 2,351,850 4,789,35S 5,520.557 7,785.772 13,306.529 —For May ISS2, the total was 12,500,597, so that during the year our flocks have increased by some 806,000 sheep. To the above figures have to be added the numbers , of sheep held in Stewart's Island, Chatham, and other adjacent Islands. These, at the time of the last census in 1881, amounted to 77,746, winch, without any allowance for subsequent increase, would briug the total, in May, 1883, to 13,384,075. In view of th 6 fact that the recent decline in the value of wool has most heavily • affected crossbred qualities, it is so far satisfactory to find that co large a proportion of New Zealand sheep are of the Merino breed, at the same time it must be borne in mind that the cross-bred is much more valuable for the purpose of freezing.

There was no business tills morning at the R.M. Court. His Honor Mr Justice Gillies will preside at the next sittings of the Supremo Court at Napier, that will be opened on June 9. At the adjourned meeting of St. Paul's congregation lust cvoning it was decided to limit the expenditure on the enlargement cf the church to £250, and a committee was appointed to consider the best manner of expending that amount. The district school at the bush settlement of Heretaunga has lost its teacher, and con- ■ soquently has been closed. The attendanco was very small, and the master probably thought ho was wasting his time by stopping there, and so he took what is termed "French leave." " '. The Wairoa Guardian of the 24 th has the following: —"We are extremely sorry to have to say that very serious rumors are afloat with roference to Mr H. T. Williams, who has not been hoard of for about a month! "We arc informed on the best authority that extonsivo defalcations in the County Council and Harbor Board accounts have been discovered." In another column wo publish our own correspondent's report of a meeting of ratepayers at Mohaka, at which it appears everyone was agreed that that- ; district should .not bp included in the ratable area for the Napier harbor. It is not very, likely that Mohaka will bo asked for a sixpence, but no doubt the enterprising settlers of that district will condescend to accept . any advantages that may , derivable ; from a harbor such as reduced freights and insurances. " •■:;■' ''.. ■ ; "

Tenders are invited by the Borough Council for the boiler formerly used in connection with the " low high pressure water supply." It is understood that, a considerable portion of the splendid estate belonging- to the Catholic Mission Station at Meanee will, at an early date, be cut up into suitable sized sections and offered for lease by auction. The report that Mr J. Buchanan -will again offer himself for the representation of Napier "against all comers" obtains some confirmation from the further report that Mr J. Sheehan has definitely decided not to come forward for this constituency. The mortal remains of Mr E. Sutton w-ere consigned to their last resting place this afternoon, the funeral procession being very Ion"- Nearly all the shops and hotels were partially closed throughout the day in testimony of the respect in which the deceased gentleman was held. Dr Atterbury, M.D., who arrived at Napier by tho ship Northumberland, has decided to practice his profession at Woodville. The settlers of that district have cause to congratulate themselves on securing the medical services of one who has attained to so high a position in his profession.

Mr C. L. Margoliouth opened business to-day in those promises recently in tho occupation of Mr Ryan, next to the Daily Telegraph office. Mr Margohouth, than whom no one is better qualified by experience in such matters, resumes his old business of land broker and valuer, auctioneer, and general commission agent. The resignation of his seat in the House for Ashburton by Mr Wright removes, probably, tho only opponent the Napier *~ Harbor Bill would have found in the General Assembly. His former acquaintance •with Napier, and his connection with the original abortive scheme for giving this port a harbor, together with the correspondence he has maintained with the avowed opponent .of any plan for giving, us first-class shipping accommodation, lead to the belief that Mr Wright would have found it impossible to have given an impartial consideratiou of the Harbor Bill. We are therefore very glad he has resigned. Mr G. Becker gave another proof of his good sense and sound political views at the Mohaka meeting the other day. Mr Becker urged the meeting to " wait till all the candidates for the East Coast came and solicited their suffrages, and then let the ' electors ask each of them what they meant to .do for the good of the district, and tho country generally, and then support the best man ; but they should not now commit themselves with pledges. Mr Ormond, for instance, was the greatest enemy the East Coast over had, from Tongoio to Gisborne, but for all that ho would go to Napier, and lose his vote for the East Coast to get him in, for he was the finest statesman in New Zealand."

The Key. de Berdt Horoll will commence V on Sunday fortnight a series of addresses in St. John's Church in the evenings on the religions of the world. In these addresses Christianity will be compared with the creeds of Brahma, Buddhism, Confucianism, Aztecism, Judaism, the Faith , of Ancient Rome, tho Paganism of Greece, and some others. In the concluding lecture tho subject dealt with will he, "HasChristianityfailcd.'" As Mr Hovell is a distinguished Sanscrit scholar; , has spent some years in India, and in a word is thoroughly conversant with tho Subjects which he will handle, the lectures ought to prove more than usually acceptable, more especially as we understand they will bo dealt with in a popular manner, and will give much information on subjects but little understood.

It will be seen from a telegram in another column that the English Derby has resulted in a dead heat, the first time on record. There have been dead heats for both the Two Thousand Guineas and the Oaks, but we can find none for forty years in the Derby. The first favorite, who was second in the One Thousand Guineas, secured the third place, while one of the dead heaters, Harvester, who was third in the Two Thousand Guineas, was reported as likely to be scratched, so the horse must have been amiss, which reminds one of the story of Apology before winning tho St. Leger. The trainer of the " sporting parson " came to him and said the horse would have to be scratched, as she had only three legs. The reply was, as all Yorkshire was on her, she •would have to run. She did run and won. A Napier sport is said to have taken the two dead heaters against the field at short odds. " The Story of a Century, 178-1 to 188-1," was the subject of a very entertaining and instructive lecture delivered in the hall of the Working. Men's Club last night by Mr A. B. Thomson, head master of the Napier district school. There was a good attendance, and Mr Murphy occupied the chair. Mr Thomson, opening his lecture with an account of the loss of the American colonies by' England, graphically sketched the most salient points in the political, religious, and social histories of England, Ireland, and France for the century. The great wars which occurred during the period were vividly described, the account of Napoleon's occupation and disastrous retreat from Moscow being a capital exhibition of word painting. The political reforms, the discoveries in science and art, and tho social advancement of the countries named were dwelt upon, and proved most interesting. Mr Thomson wound up an able address of an hour and a half's duration on the acl-

.. vantagesof universal and national education, showing what it had done for tho advancement of the masses in the past, and what it would be likely to accomplish in the future. The lecturo was one of the best we have heard Mr Thomson deliver, and would have given satisfaction to a more pretentious audience than that assembled in the Working Men's Club last evening. A hearty Tote of thanks was accorded to Mr Thomson by the audience for his address, and the entertainment was brought to a conclusion by vocal and instrumental music. Last night at the Theatre Royal a double bill was again presented by the Willmott Company. The opening piece, "Delicate Ground," dragged very much, but in " Pygmalion and Galatea" the company was seen at its best. It is not too much to say that in what we consider Gilbert's masterpiece the performance was far and away the best this capable company has presented in Napier. The two leading characters were filled, by Miss Crawford (Galatea) and Mr Teece : (Pygmalion). The lady throughout in an emotional part was a complete success. The innocence of the being born but yesterday, and the love for the sculptor who had called her into being, *~were the two prominent points of Miss Crawford's delineation, and her representation, can only be. characterized as the best piece of acting she has favored us with during the season, and throughout she played the part in a subdued manner which did not fail to; please the audience. Mr Teece has had few opportunities to display his.talents during the week, but last night ho was completely successful, and in the declamatory parts he never once ranted, and gave much promise of even better things in the future. Miss Lawrenco as Cynisca filled her part creditably, and in the curse scene was more effective than her i admirers could have anticipated. The art patrou and his wife, tho low comedy characters of the piece, were in the very capable hands of--Messrs Rede and Wilkinson respectively, the shrewishness of the latter being provocative of much mirth. Miss Amy Johns and Mr Alexander did the little V required of them well. Between the pieces Miss, Johns sang "Ehreri on the Rhine," for which she was encored. To-night the company will appear at Hastings, when a capital double bill will be presented, the charming comedy of " Withered Leaves " being followed by the burlesque of " CinderaUa," in which there is much good singing and dancing. It is.impossible to remain long sick or out of health where Hop Bitters are used. See another. Analysis has demonstrated the spirituous element of Wolfe's Schnapps to be absolutely pure, and the highesb medical authority sanctions its use in preference to any other preperation where a stimulant is required.—f Advt.]