Notes and Events.

Manawatu Herald, 31 October 1893, Page 2

Notes and Events.

A Mr F. H. Fraser has been orating in Wellington, he desires to serve his country and receive the salary attaching thereto. This is not novel, but some of his remarks are, he having discovered that can* didates " should have gome guiding principle." We do not know, as Mr Fraser did not explain, how he arrived at his conclusions about our State Sohooli, but the statement " They had been told that their schools were godUafi aohoolo, Ht denied that in Mo " la Bomethint new but not true. It is to be hoped that be understands th« )a»guaf§

he used, but if our schools have no religious teaching What else are they but godless ? Immediately after this the speaker referred to Bible reading in schools and then admitted the difficulty as to asking the t&achers to comment upon the reading as " they had all sorts and conditions of men as teachers." The gentleman, of course a Liberal, appears a little mixed. It was an unfortunate reference that Mr Fraser, in his struggle to make matters about the Bible clear to his hearers, made to Jerusalem. Many present must have had forced upon their minds the kind of animals known as " Jerusalem ponies " which, applied personally to the speaker, would not have been received by him as a mark of estimation. He almost deserved it, if the report of his speech is correctly given. He was trying to illustrate the difficulty of introducing Bible reading into schools and said " Suppose a boy was unable to pronounce the word ' Jerusalem ' correctly, and was kept in in consequence, could that boy be expected to have any reverence for Jerusalem ?" According to Mr Praser all religious teaching must be made sweet to the Hcholar, and no steps must be taken to compel him to learn how to pronounce or spill any word used in the Bible. Our old friend has evidently discovered that Jerusalem "•is- a- hard road to travel I believe." We have no space to give Mr Eraser's speech, we are sorry as it is instructive. He is evidently, one who believes what he is told and that is sure to condueo to his success as a politician. "He had heard but hoped it was not true, that (the " Railway Commissioners) had said they would not keep men after they were 85 years of age." He omi'.ted to mention from whom he had heard the statement and whether he had . endeavoured to confim the rumour by application to the Commissioners. It appears not a very high-class remark to make at a public meeting. Mr Fraser is to be congratulated on one fact that has sunk into him. He asserted that he was born a Liberal, and would continue so, (and this is the statement as it appears in the N.Z. Times report, though the italics are ours) " but he would use his conscience on all subjects on which lift had to vote." This was bringing out Mr Fraser's opinion of modern liberalism in a peculiarly marked manner. Though born a Liberal he would, if returned, use his conscience ! There is hope for the party yet, There is a split in the Govern ment party in Wanganui. Captain Willis is to be opposed by a Mr James Aiken, and Mr Aiken has made a speech. The Herald says the party has its own representative in Captain Willis and Mr Aiken had; better, give it up, and this is why it things' so "Mr Aiken told his hearers that he is a firm believer in the Liberal policy of the late John Ballance, but that he would not, if elected, follow Mr Seddon, Mr Ballance's successor as leader of the Liberal party in New Zealand, but would range himselt nudcr the banner of Sir Robert Stout." The Herald but a tew short months ago announced that the late John Ballance had desired that Sir Robert Stout should succeed him, but Mr Seddon having successfully "jumped" the position, it is wrong now for any Liberal to dare to say he approves of Stout in preference to Seddon. Amongst Liberals it is a question of men and. not measures ! Mr Seddon, the Premier of New Zealand is otten " bowled ont" but it does, not so often happen to the Premier of England. It does happen sometimes and the last example occurred only in September when Sir F. Milner, M.P., addressed the following letter to Mr Gladstone : — Dear Mr Gladstone,—- May I ask you if you acknowledge the accuracy of tb>' enclosed verbatim quotation from a speech you.made at Derby, Oct. 2Q» 18&7, . It is so totally at variance with your statement in the House, both- to Mr Chamberlain and Mr Chap} jn, that I think there must be some mistake, or else you have for gotten the circumstances which caused you to declare that Mr Parnell and his colleagues were " marching through rapine to the dismemberment and disintegration of the empire." I am alway anxious to anoid misrepresentation, and therefore, before making use of this passage from your speech at Derby I should be glad to know if you admit tbte-accuracy of it." The report was as stated in the letter. It was an awkward question and called forth * the following evasive reply :— Dear Milner, — I am desired by Mr Glad* stone to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, and to say that in view of the great pressure of work upon him be cannot undertake to verify the quotation enclosed.