Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, SEPT. 18, 1898. The Word "Only."

Manawatu Herald, 13 September 1898, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, SEPT. 18, 1898. The Word "Only."

A little word of four letters— only — was a souroe of some discussion at the last eleofcion of Councillors, its meaning being very properly raised by the Returning Officer, who beinj? unaccustomed to the peculiarities of local law-making, was inclined to direct that a certain action should be taken by the voters as against what has been previously understood to be necessary. The election was for three Councillors and the voting paper contained the namos of five candidates. When asked early at the commencement of the voting, by electors, how the paper was to be marked, the Eeturning Officer said, pointing at the same time to the directions how to vote on the voting paper, that three names must be left nncancellfid. The actual wording of the footnote is " He must leave only three names uncancfilled or the votiug paper will be invalid." The Returning Officer very shortly after wards telegraphed^ to the Solicitor for the Municipalities for guidance, and refrained from further advising the voters. Though assured, by custom at anyrate, the Returning Officer was wrong, yet viewing the matter without prejudice from his point of view we had doubts as to whether his contention that the voters must exercise a selection of three candiates was not the correct one, as so much depended on the' interpretation of the word v only." Our legislators, in their wisdom selected a word to signify their directions which can be read in any manner which it may please the user of it, as the Contury dictionary gives the meaning to be " No more than ; merely ; simply." So that whichever way you read the word, the contention of the Returning Officer, or those oppospd to his view would make the command upon the directions to read. Thus "He must leave only three names uncancelled " can be read "Hp must leave no more than three names uncancelled ", or " He must leave merely three names uncancelled" or " He must leave simply three* names uncancelled." By this we arrive at the conclusion that the Returning Officer by two to one has the right on bis side. The advice received from the solicitor bore ou' the accepted usage of this word in elections, as he said that it only meant •• not more than." To pup p-u-t this contention the solicitor referred to section 81 of " The Regulation of Local Elections Act; 1897 " but this merely directs that the votar shall draw a line through the name of each candidate for whom he desires not to vote. He also mentioned section 85 and the third clause of section 50 which have no bearing on the subjeot. It is evident that there is no sound authority for accepting the word •• only " to mean •• not more than " as it can just as easily be quoted as meaning something, whioh on a voting paper, would be a striking contradiction. We have not noticed this point having been previously raised, possibly from our having acquired a habit of accepting anything that i? told us as being the correct thing, but the Returning Officer being new to the colony and having been trained to consider the value of words saw the difficulty at once. It would appear as well if the direction to tbe voter, as well as to the Returning Officers who have to be guided in the acceptances or rejection of voting papera by these directions, was so worded as to be free from any future misunderstanding.

Messrs Abraham and Williams hold a stock sale at Palmerston on Thursday. What has always been expected. The Manawatu Times learns that the interest of the late A. P. Stuart in the well-known Wirokino sheep and cattle station and other properties has just been purchased by Mr John Davies, who has been for many years in partnership in the property, and who during the whole of the period has had the personal management of the estate. M.' Lockroy, the French Minister of Marine, has substituted six battleships in the Channel squadron in place of smaller vessels of the coast defence type, and has also strengthened the Mediterranean fleet. The Times says that Li Hung Chang still retains the position of Grand Secretary, but will probably resign. The late Viceroy Szuchuan has replaced Li Hung Chang on the Tsung-li-Yamen.

An eye-witness states that General Gordon's head was exposed on a pole for three days at Omdurman, and his body thrown into the Nile.

Great heat continues throughout England. The thermometer recently stood at gideg. in the shade. It is the hottest September for 30 years.

Mr J. Duthie entertained the members of the Opposition and a few friends at dinner at the Wellington Club on Saturday night,

Two spans of a railway bridge in course of ereotion over the St, Lawrence at Cornwall, Ontario, fell and precipitated 100 workmen into the river, with the result that 30 were killed.

Mr P. Hennessy a short time ago seenr. J some three acres and a half on the N irbiton road, at a cost of about £30 c.n acre, cash, Land around Foxtc 1 has thus an established value, and tlisre are cash buyers for land that suits.

There is a difference in the value of the two islands, the South showing an advantage of over six millions.

The Pope, commenting on the Tsar's disarmament proposal, says international arbitration would be preferable to disarmament ■

For an up-to-date example of Satan reproving sin we have that of Mr Fisher reproving Mr Taylor for such a degrading and disgraceful speech.

Mr J. W. Walsh just lately has been fortunate enough to secure a couple of acres at Norbiton, adjoining part of his land there. It is rather a feather in the cap of the valuer of the Borough to state that the deal was made on the strength of the valuation as Mr Walsh offered to buy at the valuation price and the seller accepted that basis. This land changed hands at £30 an acre cash.

The Cortes is secretly debating the treaty of peace with the United States. Republicans and Carlists fiercely reproach the Ministers with fists and sticks.

The Opposition and Left Wing deserve the thanks of the colony for the blow they have struck at the secretive and unconstitutional practices of the Government, says the Post.

Hair specialists calculate the rate f growth of human hair at half an inch every 30 days.

Mr Justice Pennefather holds rattier pronounced opinions on the majesty of the press. " Newspapers," he is reported to have said during the hearing of a case at Dunedin, "are the enemies of the human race, and I am afraid they are too strong for us."

Japanese children are taught to write with both hands.

At Wellington on Friday, William Hodge, a hand employed on the Westralia, was sent up the main mast head to fix a block. He slipped and fell on the deck. His head struck an angle iron. He was killed on the spot. He was 24 years of age and a native of England.

Wooden shoes in France are produced to the extent of about 4,000,000 pairs yearly.

Snakes do not climb trees by coiling round them, but by holding on with the points of their scales.

The Hon. W. G. Ward speaking the other night declared that the increase in the amounts on deposit in the banks and savings banks was a sign that the earnings of the people are increasing ! He was very soon told that it was only a sign that the people were frightened to invest their money in legitimate commercial enterprises, and the colony was thus kept back.

The Stipendiary Magistrate was to have held a Court in Foxton on Thursday, but being ill the local Justices have been asked to sit.

So far as is known, pews were first placed in English churches by the Norman nobles, but it is certain that for many generations these private boxes for worshippers were neither numerous nor allowed to any but persons of the highest rank. Formerly the people sat on rude 3-legged stools placed round the church ; and the next step was to wooden benches without any back.

The capital value of all Counties and Boroughs is £138,591,347 being an increase on the valuation made in 1891 of £16,366,318.

The capital value of the Borough of Foxton is £160,051. The unimproved value is £42,412, and the value of the improvements are £57,639.

Mr Andrew Tonson, who is completing a couple of cottages at the beach, went to Palmerston last week and whilst there he was assured of many families who were anxious to run down here and take his houses directly they are finished, , This he looks on as very encouraging.

Mr C. Rees' tender (£927) has been accepted for the erection of the Otaki Cottage Hospital. The other tenderers were : — Messrs F. Hunt, £1414 ; J. A. Jacobsen, £1468; J. and A. Wilson, j£is3i.

In the contest for No. 3 Ward in Palmerston the successful candidate out of the three contesting was Mr Haydon, Mr R. Edwards being close up, losing by only eight votes.

Straying fowls are a monstrous nuisance in a garden, the fowls one owns are bad enough, but those belonging to a neighbour are too bad. You cannot remove them to the nearest pound, as you cannot even remove them out of the garden, if they wish to stay there. All this is admitted, and the law permits a person so annoyed to kill them but not to make any beneficial use of them, and hereon hangs a tale. A gentleman who believed one of his neighbours owned poultry which visited his garden and thus annoyed him, gave notice that they must be kept away. This not being done he sent a written notice intimating his intention to slay any further disturbers of his peace. The warned one took no notice, and he was, or was not, as the case may be, surprised when three dead fowls were handed to him one morning. We are informed that he never objected, but had them served up in due course for dinner and thoroughly enjoyed them, but — he says they never were his fowls.

The Advocate says, the recent rise in the price of fibre has, to some extent, revived the flax-industry. A new mill has just been erected by Messrs Bryant and Alport, and commenced operations a day or two ago. The mill is in a good locality, on Mr McKelvie's property, close to Lake Omanuka, where there is at present, the only supply of water for such a purpose. Flax is Abundant.

The unimproved value of land is apparently not a stationary one, as the last valuation makes the unimproved value of lands in the colony £8,613,349 more than the 1891 valuation.

The Valuer-General states there will be no necessity for another general valuation at all if the attempt to keep the present one up to date is successful.

The total value of the Manawatu County is £357>i99.

The Indian river, in the Klondike district, is the home of the moose and cariboo. The huge horns of the former are to be found by hundreds in all directions. They are shed every year, and can be picked up anywhere. The moose is, however a very wary animal, and a hunter must know his business well to secure one where so many men are about. The forest fires, too, have driven the animals miles away into the interior, and the hunter who gets one is extremely fortunate. The meat sells in Dawson at x£dol., about 6s per Ib, and a good moose will dress at 700 or Boolb.

The Rev Frank Isitt will visit Foxton on Saturday, and will preach at the Methodist church on Sunday, and lecture at the Public Hall on Monday and Tuesday.

A purchaser wants two tons of Derwent seed potatoes. Send price to this office.

Applications for the position of Town Clerk must be sent in by Thursday afternooo.

Mr McQueen has a few articles of furniture tor sale.

Applications are wanted from fly boys, catcher and engine driver for the Waikawa hemp mill. See advertisement.

The Borough Council invites tenders for labours only in the erection of about ioo chains of fencing.