Marlborough Times. MONDAY, MAY 30, 1881.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume III, Issue 238, 30 May 1881, Page 2

Marlborough Times. MONDAY, MAY 30, 1881.

The telegraphic .summary of the speech of rlie Premier, the Hon. J. Hall, which we publish in another column shows the deliverance to have been certainly the best of (he pro-sessional utterances t hat have yet been given, and is a marked contrast to the diatribes with which two of the greatest of the Opposition members— Mr Macandrew and Sir George Grey —have favored the Colony. The Leeston address of the Premier is

clear and concise from beginning to end, and contains an admirable summary of the past session, together with a plain indication of the future intentions of the .Ministry in respect to the legislation of the coming session. Mr Hall states that the foremost measures will be those relating to electoral reform, including the Regulation of Elections Rill, the Corrupt Practices Prcv< iLion .Rill, and the measure relating to the Redistribution of Seats. He informs us, in reference to this last item, that the Bill of last session cannot he again introduced because the census report just taken would destroy the population returns used in preparing it, and therefore we pprehend the measure will not come on until late in the session, as it will doubtless take some time to accurately prepare the necessary returns from the materials just collected. An excellent feature which it is proposed to embody in the .Regulation of Elections Rill is the extension of the hours of polling, which will greatly add to the convenience of the workingclass, a class by-the-way, which Sir George Grey directly accuses the Ministry of attempting to disqualify from all electoral privileges. The proposal to have all elections upon the same day is one to which a number of objections might lie raised, but at the same time there is a deal to be said in its favor, ft is certain, at least, that under such an arrangement there would he little chance of a man voting at each of several elections ill districts where he might have property, as is the ease at present, and thus the settler who is registered under the residential qualification will have an equal power with the property-holder who has freehold qualifications in several localities. To some this may appear unjust, but it will certainly be admitted that it is carrying out one of the principles of universal sullVage to its fullest extent. Mr Gall, in common with most intcl ’ rent men, totally objects to the pr isal of fSir George Grey to sweep av • the Legislative Council and a n : i mated Government. He is, how; . or, in favor of the plan suggested by Mr ('urlis for improving the constitution of the Council, the main principle of which is that its members should be elected by ballot of the House. The plan has much to recommend it, and it is probable attention will be directed to this reform so soon as other pressing matters have been disposed of. If such a plan were adopted there would he fair grounds for hope that ability and intelligence would be themainqualitieations considered instead of wealth and stupidity ; and tl ere would also be less opportunity for an unscrupulous Premier to pack the Council with his supporters. Such a thing lias been done, and done within a very short time before the present Ministry came into power, and it will manifestly be a benefit to the Colony to protect and ensure the purity of its highest legis lative body. It is stated by Mr Hall that it will be sought to abolish the law of entail so as to pi event land being locked up. This proposal alone is a sufficient, reply to the denouncers of the Ministry who have so persistently asserted that the sole desire of the Government was to legislate in j

favor of the landholders. In reference to railway construction it is slated that Government will favorably consider r iy proposal to assist in making approved lines by granting land subsidies, but will not be pre- ! pared to adv. ate a large ex •endituro [of money upon public works : and | while we fear that our owmli,strict will i not bo able to avail itself of the means indicated to push on its railways, we cannot but recognise the wisdom of Government deciding to allow the development of the Colony, for a time at least to depend more upon its own e('Forts and resources than upon borrowed capital. The Hospitals and Charitable Aid Bill will also conic on for discussion, and we can only trust that this vexed question will be delinately .and justly settled. The Licensing Bill of last session is to he re-submitted, and a clause added by which working men’s clubs will be required to obtain licenses, and be subject to police supervision. In Marlborough we are glad to be able to state, publicans arc not called upon to compete with these institution, but in other parts of the Colony they have become a crying evil, and it is high time some decisive step was taken to regulate them, both in the interests of the public and the publican. We are glad to note that a measure dealing with the question of Chinese immigration wiil be introduced, and we trust it will be of such a nature as will effectually check the importation j of these undesirable birds of passage, ! who add nothing to the permanent; wealth or prosperity of any country j in which they set foot. r J he announce- | ment that measures w' 1 be intro- ! duced iiv the Statutes Consolidating

uui.ni iky uuu uu;o v, uiioiiiiuixuipi; Commission, which will free the Statute book of no less than eighty' Acts, will he received with general approval, the only regret possible being that rlie number of Acts to be consigned to the limbo of oblivion is not greater. Taken altogether the programme of the Ministry is a comprehensive and good one and leaves little to he desired. Wo can only trust that the work of legislation on the important subjects mentioned will not be delayed by factious opposition.

| Tenders close at noon on Wednesday next ! for certain works required by the Spring Creek Road Board. Tenders close at 4 p.m. to-morrow for certain contracts invited by the Wairau Road Board ; also for work required by the Awatcro Road Board. Wc remind lovers of sport that a pigeonmatch will be held at drove Town on Thursday. Those desirous of competing are requested to send in their names to Mr W. Robinson. A telegram to the Melbourne Ay<‘ says that Edward Trickett, the well-known Sydney oarsman, will not return to Australia. Ile has decided to leinain in England, he having become the landlord of a sporting tavern in the village of Barnes, on the Thames. In a recent issue we advocated the establishment of an additional weekly mail service between Pieton and Havelock, via the drove and Mahakipawa, and now note with pleasure that tenders arc invited for its conveyance, 'renders will close at the Chief Post-office, Blenheim, on Saturday next. We omitted to mention, in our issue containing the Volunteer shooting on tho Queen's Birthday, that the following amounts were given as Range prizes,— Captain Robinson LI, Lieut. Rogers LI, Sergeant Griffiths LI, W. Clark LI, R. Priddle LI 10s, 11. S. Bush os, A Friend os ; making a total of Lti.

The settlers in Waimato County have subscribed a sum of money for the purpose of testing the existence of gold in that district, and are now advertising tliata reward of LoOO will he given to the discoverer of the first payable goldfield in the County, and a further sum of LIOO to the discoverer of any second goldfield that may become payable. The example is worthy of imitation elsewhere. A dividend of oightponco in the pound is payable to creditors in the estate of the late Thomas O'Sullivan. On Friday and Saturday evenings the Diorama of the American War attracted fair houses, and on Saturday afternoon the children's matinee was largely attended. The entertainment will he repeated this evening w hen valuable presents will lie distributed among the audience. The members of Court Blenheim, A.O. F. are summoned to attend a meeting of that Court to be held on Wednesday next. The business to he transacted is*very important, and includes consideiation of a proposal to transfer the sum of LI (id from the management fund to the sick and funeral fund. We understand that a very careful and exhaustive calculation has boon made and it is found that by transferring the amount proposed, (lie sick fund of the lodge will he placed iii a thoroughly sound position. Wo are glad to note that a recent suggestion we made has been promptly taken up, and that an entertainment in aid of the funds of the institute will take place in the Lyceum Hall on Friday evening next. We trust all interested in the instution, and this should mean the whole of the general public, will put in an appearance, and that this entertainment will be first of a series to enliven the winter evenings.

There was a large attendance of footballers at the practice held on Seymoursquare last Saturday. Sides were chosen and a very close game was contested, the forward [day of one or two of the players being especially noticeable. There were several players from Avatere and Pieton who took [tart in the game. The match against the Awatcro team will take [dace on Saturday .lime 11th, when we hope to see the local men to the front. A meeting of the committee will he held to-morrow evening for the purpose of choosing the team.

Thursday next, the 2nd of June, is the day appointed for the great pigeon match at Drove Town, when judging from the names of the gentlemen who have already promised to attend, there will lie a grand trial of skill between some of our host shots. Tt is proposed to commence the First match at 10.30, and adjourn to luncheon at 1 o'clock, and as there is a large number of birds to he got through we think it will he wise to make an early start. Wc hope our sporting friends will he favored with fine weather, as we feel sure that nothing will he wanting on tho part of our old friend Mr Robinson to make the match an entire success.

With reference to the paragraph from tho’Otago copied in our last issue, which stated that the Blue Spur G.enluittec recommended Miss Maeklin for appointment as Assistant Mistress, wo arc requested to state that she lias not applied, and knows nothing of the matter further than was given in the ii'/Vi/ess. The Head Master of the Blue Spur Schools, Mr Neil succeeded Maeklin in Queenstown, and perhaps hence the recommendation. Miss Maeklin lias no intention 1 however, of accepting the appointment.

In last issue wc mentioned that a portion of our telegraphic news had been sent to the olfiec of the i'Jx//rc.<s in error, and that our contemporary had retained the copy in his possession for an hour and a half. On Saturday a very lame excuse for the detention appears in our “ truthful " contemporary. It appears from this that the usual practice in this model daily paper is to leave telegrams lying outlie table for an hour and a half after their receipt. We can only say that if such is the, practice of the Expm*, it is one peculiar to itself, and is the reverse of that followed by any other journal. This is not surprising, however, and wc arc content to take our contemporary’s word for it. Wc will even go further than this, and assert our belief that these telegrams did lie upon his table, opened. But there is one feature in our contemporary’s treatment of this matter which may be justly held up to reprobation. He admits that he read the telegram addressed to us, and then proceeds to reveal the personality of our correspondent, a thoroughly private matter, and one usually withheld from the public. Most men, with a spark of honor in their composition, would have felt it a bounden duty to preserve a secret which chance had acquainted them with, more especially when connected with the business of a rival. Our contemporai v, however, does not appear to understand the meaning of honor, and any reflection we make upon him in this direction will, we fear, have little effect upon his improvement. .Regarding the statement that the contents of the telegram were the

same as published by him two or three days previously, we have to remark that news which we published on the same date (the •27th) under date 26th, was published by him under the heading “ This day," in his issue of the same date. A careful comparison of the two journals will also reveal the fact that our telegrams are usually a day in advance of our contemporary. On Friday last they were not, for an obvious reason. His assertion respecting the previous publications of these telegrams affords another strong proof of his proficiency in the art of lying deliberately. We would willingly express this opinion more gently if it were possible, hut the occasion calls for a strong remark.