Manawatu Herald. THURSDAy JUNE 11. 1896. Liberals Both.

Manawatu Herald, 11 June 1896, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAy JUNE 11. 1896. Liberals Both.

♦ The last days of the present Liberal Government appear fast approaching as thß handwriting on Ward Farmsra' Association and the Horowhenua Block is too, too plain. Liberals both, men are ready to applaud the deeds of the other, hardly a year has elapsed since one was received on the Wellington wharf with brass bands and much shouting, and the* other presided at the political banquet that followed. What is the position today of the Colonial Treasurer, J. G. Ward, and Hir Walter Lawry Buller? Within the past three months very much interest has been taken in the movements of both these public men, and curiously so, the result of careful investigations into the acouraoy of their dealings with the public has, almost simultaneously, not resulted satisfactorily to their good name. In the proceedings in Dunedin we have our Colonial Treasurer admitting that " he was responsible to the Bank for £96,000, and the valuation of his property was £4,800, so that at present he was hopelessly insolvent." As far as we can gather, Mr J. G. Ward wa3 the real Association, and it was under his careful guidance ; thus as we have not yet had any independent check on bis administration of the public fund 3, we can only imagine the state they are in by the manner the affairs of the commercial institution known as the J. G. Ward Farmers' Association have been 6hown to be. By this test the sooner Parliament secures another Colonial Treasurer, and one not connected with the pre3ent Ministry, the better. The total indebtedness of the Association and Mr J. G. Ward to the Colonial Bank was £166.000, and this amount was under sale to a Mr Leen Smith (whom perhaps our readers will remember was sent Home to help on our industries, and whom the Premier told us in the Public Hall would do his best to assist the flax trade) and Reid, for the sum of £67,000. The shareholders being offered the loss of £100,000. The muddle is very disgraceful for a financier, but the financing appears to have bean more disgraceful still. In one case mentioned in the Dunedin proceedings the Association wanted money to meet their balancesheet about the 80th of June last, and drew upon a London firm for £30,000, which they placed to the Association's credit. The draft was ' supposed to be supported by warrants for oats, but on the 13tb October the draft was cancelled. The draft was nevei* sent forward and the oats were not in the stores. Mr Vigers, one of the Official Liquidator's, says : — It was at the Bank's suggestion that the transaction was carried out. He himself effected the negotiations, instructed by Mr Mackenzie, the General Manager." The artful dodge of drawing upon a distant firm to provide immediate funds has been re-

sorted to before, and may have been sanctioned by bank managers, but that it; is reckless, dishonest, and misleading to do so, when there is nothing on hand to justify such a proceeding, cannot be gainsaid. To know that oar Colonial Treasurer and the high official of the Bank of New Zealand indulged in these transactions is not at all assuring. The worse part of all appears to be the statement that the Colonial Bank held as security (1) a promissory note of the Hon J. G. Ward, dated the 19th October, 1886, for £55,150, payable on demand, when the Bank must have known, as Mr Ward pays he was, hopelessly insolvent. One of the conditions of the amalgaraa tion of the Colonial Bank with the Bank of New Zealand was that certain debts on thu •• C " list should be written off, in other words, aban doned, and the Liquidators say 11 this promissory note (for £55,150) represents the amount written off the account of the said Association and credited to it." The Premier's and Treasurer's best friend Sir Walter Lawry Buller has been declared by the Horowhenua Block Commissioners to have done many things he ought not to have done and nothing that he should have done. They recommend that proceedings be taken, (and if the Minister for Land survives as Minis ter this session th«y will be taken) to test the validity of the transfers and leases given by Kemp to Sir Walter Buller, and if set aside, the Crown should acquire the land. With regard to the dealings between these two parties the Commissioner reported thejr thought the Courts would view Sir Walter Buller's position with Kemp was euch that the leases and mortgages must be set aside, Now • that the disclosures have been made and Parliament meets to-day it may be taken as a pretty sure thing that the session will probably be a remarkably short one and the Premier will not object to an adverse vote being carried so that he can appeal to the couutry. We hope that members of all colours will have sufficient backbone to insist on as independent a commission, as that of the Colonial Bank [ liquidator?, being set tip to report upon the stability of the Bank of New Zealand as the disclosures of the J. G. Ward Farmers' Association cause a very uneasy feeling from the fact that those who took part in financing the Association and Bank, both unfortunate, are now directing the Bank of New Zealand.

The Department of Justice are only holding Courts at Levin on condition that they have the use of the Wirokino Hoad Board office free of charge for a fixed term. At the Te Horo cricket club social last week Mr J. B. Htansell happened to be present and was pressed to sing, which he obligingly complied with, and also sang a duet with Miss Smith. It is currently reported in London that one principal object of M Kennedy's visit is to float a Company to take over and amalgamate two leading breweiies in New Zealand, says a correspondent, and it is thought that he stands a fait chance of succeeding in this attempt. Councillor Engels expressed his opinion the other day that the Local Government BUI would never be passed. We also think so. The report of the Horowhenua Commissioners will put Sir Walter Buller out of the running for the Otaki seat. Mr Fraser's chances will be looking up. The following excellent motto " Prepared to win without exultation, and lose without humiliation " was wired from America to England in the late ohess match between the two nations. Mr Kebbell, the chairman of the Horowhenua County has been appointed the delegate for for his County to the conference to be held in Wellington. Four prisoners charged with setting fire to the Ayrshire Downs woolshed, Queensland, have been found guilty of arson. Martin has been sentenced to 15 years penal servitude, and Loyola, Bowe9 and Crawley each to 10 years' penal servitude. Tenderers mast remember to deposit tenders for scrub ontting by to-night. See advertisement. Mr John Spelman is repairing many vehicles and wheels at his shop. At the last meeting of the Horowhenua Council it was decided to take one member from the Otaki Hiding and give it to the Wirokino Biding. The milk trade makes business. Mr R. H. Barber is building a spring dray for Mr John Smith, of Moutoa, which he requires to convey his milk to the creamery. It is remarked by the Fruit Orower that " The New Zealand fruit growers have taken very much to the growing of Japanese plums, for which a large demand has been created." It adds that this fruit was practically unknown to Europeans twentyfive years ago, and that it has not, up to the present time become generally known to growers in Great Britain or on the Continent. It is suggested that New Zealand producers should make a good thing out. of the growth of Japanese plums, which would probably find a ready sale. A quiet wedding was celebrated up the Otaki Biver, at Messrs Jones Bros.' residence, Kai Hinau, Otaki, on Friday afternoon last, the contracting parties being Mr Frank Perm, one of the proprietors of this journal, and well known in Otaki, and Miss Kate L. Jones, second daughter of the late Mr William Jones, widely known in Wellington in connection with the Provinoial Government service, and more recently as Clerk to the Hutt County Council. The officiating clergyman was the Ber. W. Dawson. The bride was given away by her brothar, Mr Fred Jones, Miss Pinny acting as bridesmaid, and Mr Herbert Jones as best man. The bride was the recipient of many presents. — Mail. Major Lotbaire, of Stokes murder notoriety, received an ovation on his arrival in Brussels. Mr B. N. Harden sned Mrs M. Hattie in the Feilding Court on Friday for £25 2s 6d, value of a portmanteau and content* stolen from tht hotel on Easter Monday. Judgment was given for the amount •lajmed with costs.

Australian wool is now admitted duty free into Japan, an Aot to that effeot having come in force on April Ist. It is expected that tl-.s will give an impetus to the manufacture of woollen goods by the Japanese, and will stimulate the wool trade betweon Japan and the Australian Colonies. The valuo of wool exported last year from the colonies to Japan amounted to £43,110. A Hit of the things which the present Cabinet is keeping steadily in view says Truth, would fill a volume nearly as large as the Colonial Doomsday Book in which is put down everybody's little piece of land, and what it would sell for by auction. Messrs Bowie and Travers have been appointed aurfaoemeu for the Wirokino Biding, and Messrs McGonegal and Shearman for the Tokomaru Biding. The bailiff notifies a sale of property seized in the cases of Rhodes v. Mort n sen, and Allen and Hartmann v. Mortetsen. The sale will be held on Wednesday unless the goods are previously redeemed. There will be Mass in St. Mary's on Sunday at 11 a.nv, and evening service at 6.30 p.m. Messrs Abraham and Williams hold a stock sale at Colyton on Tuesday. Cherry plums are ripe about 'Xmas, therefore it is surprising to see a ripe one at this season of the year. A week ago one wae to be seen in Mr Whibley's garden, a perfected second growth. Mr Wilson inteads calling the various committees on the frozen meat question together on Saturday next, to meet in Messrs Abraham and Willi&ms' rooms, Palmer 3 ton, at 12 o'clock. The Government has confirmed the appointment of Mr J. Mackay as Govern ment Printer. The following is the team chosen to represent the Foxton Football Club on Saturday next on the racecourse against the Pirates :— Full-back, H. Lyall ; threequarters, P. Robinson, B. Robinson, W. Molntyre ; halves, B. Wallace, F. Warner ; forwards, A. Synions, J. Lee, A. Shadbolt, W. Liddell, J. Desmond, 0. Bobinson, B. Wallace, D. Gardner, J. Webater. Should the Pirates forfeit, the above team will play eighteen 1 play»fs pioked from the second team. Play commences at 1.45 p.m. sharp. The usual charge will be made. Tenders are invited for cutting and grubbing gorse and ploughing. Tenders close on Monday. The advertiser who knows how to advertise, manages even in this smail matter, to kill two birds with one stofle. Mr Edmund Osborue has purchased that valuable section at the corner of Main and Clyde streets, opposite the Bank of Australasia, from Mr J. C. Thompson. The jury brought in a verdict that Mrs Locher was not guilty of shooting Norbury on the ground that she was insane when she committed the deed. She has been ordered into custody until the Coionial Secretary's pleasure is known. Mr B. Spelman ha 3 a houss of three rooms with scullery to let. Certainly the most effective medicine in the world is Sanders and Son's Eucalypti Extract. Test its eminently powerful effect in Coughs, Colds, Influenza ; the relief instantaneous. In serious cases and accidents of all kinds, be they wounds, burns, scaldings, bruises, sprains, it is the safest remedy — no swellings— no inflammation. Like surprising effects produced in Croup, Diphtheria, Bronchitis. Inflammation of the Lungs, Swellings, &c, Diarrhoea, Dysentery, Disease of the Kidneys and Urinary Organs. la use at all hospitals and medical clinics ; patronised by His Majesty the King of Italy ; crowned with medal and diploma at International Exhibition, Amsterdam. Trust in this approved article and eject all others. — [advt.] One of the drawbacks of country life, at least to the small settler, is undoubtedly the increased price he has to pay for any articles of clothing or general drapery, by reason of the extra charges for freight or carriage. This drawback need exist no longer, for extra charges are done away with under the new parcel system whioh has been inaugurated at Te Aro House, Wellington. Under this system any of the parcels advertised will be sent to any address in New Zealand, post free, the prices charged being exactly the same as those at which the goods are sold over the counter in Wellington. As may be imagiued, however, this liberal offer is only extended to cash customers, and all orders for advertised parcels must be accompanied by cash for the amount, before the order can be executed at Te Aro House, Wellington. In illustration of the system we will give an example. Take for instance No. 7 parcel, which contains 7 yards of double width stylish fancy check tweed ; 2 dozen buttons and Bilk and twist to match ; 2 yards of body lining and 4 yards of skirt lining. This complete parcel will be Bent, post free, to any address on receipt of 153 9d, from Te Aro House, Wellington.