Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 1905. THIS PREMIER AND MR MASSEY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3504, 1 April 1905, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 1905. THIS PREMIER AND MR MASSEY.

In his speech at Auckland on Wednesday, Mr Massey, the Leader of the Opposition in tile House of Repi'eu sentatives, gave a Comprehensive BUmmary of the political situation from his view.point. His remarks, which contained feplLs to statenleiFs made Some days ago by the Phrmieu to Auckland electors* wCfC, as far is riiUy be judged at this distance, just gravely rendered, sober and reliable outlines of matters needing adjustment. Whilst he did not launch out into wholes Me COrldeniUtioß Of the adnihiistAttidU dr the party now in power, he detailed sufficient instances of unstatesmanlike dealings to make thoughtful persons pause and consider a moment whether things w‘oi'o altogether as the PitUtfiEh: I would have them seem. Mr Sisud.in i has said that the Opposition to-day possesses no policy, and has ChUl lenged Mr Massey to put one forward. The latter has accepted the challenge, and formulates the planks dt his party’s programme as follows :-=(i) Giving Crown tenants the rig'ut to acquire the freehold ; (2) reform of the Legislative Council by making it elective; {3) the establishment of a Public Service Boat'd ; (4) restoration of proper audit of public accounts; (5) proper settlement of n dive lands ; (6) reform of the local government system ; and (7) economy in public expenditure. On the other hand, Mr Massky contended, the Government had now no policy, and its conduct of various departments of tne public service was utterly unbusinesslike and might prove disastrous to the colony. It will be interesting to obtain a straight-out reply from Mr Seddon regarding matters referred to in the speech, and he will indeed be a greater tactician than we give him credit for being if he can so explain away the apparent blemishes on the course of administration under his regime as to stem the current of public feeling, which is surely, among the thoughtful portion of the community at any rate, setting in for a change.

We give a final reminder of the concert to be held at the Public Hall on Monday night. There is sure to be a large audience. The Borough Band will play outside the hall prior to the commencement.

We understand Carter Bro=., of Montoa, have purchased a section of land adjoining their present property, from Stevens, Eas*nn, and Austin, being part of the M Aoa Estate, at a satisfactory figure. A railway guard named Harry Carr, white attempting to board the train at Hastings on Thursday evening, slipped and fell on the line. The carriages passed over his body, death resulting. By advertisement in another column, it will tie noticed Mounsey and Co. have received instructions to sell the whole of Mrs E, Ashmore's furniture and effects at her residence, near Foxton Cemetery, on Wednesday next at 1.30 p.m. Rough-riding c mtes f s have become a craze at Taih.ape. The nromoters of the last competition felt so satisfied that a d >y’s sport is being arranged for May 3rd, to include buck-jumping for amateurs and profession aL. Lassooing, running, horse jumping, pack horse competitions, etc. About £6O is being given in prizes. The replace ad-ertisement of G. H. Stiles wiil appear in next issue, and which announces the pleasing fact to the Foxton public that the autumn goods are now opening and a visit of inspection will be cordially welcomed. We understand that a selection o' goods worthy of a city will be display ,«d at their house next week.

At a well attended meeting of members of boxton Racing Club held last night at the Club’s Office, the question of improvements necessary to the course was considered, and finally it was decided that £SOO should be raised to carry out the work. A committee was appointed to go fully into the matter, and devise ways and means.

The charges of perjury against Constables Howley and Gibson came on before*the Stipendiary Magistrate at Wellington The allegation is that in the police prosecution charging James Kennedy with keeping a brothel, the constables in question swore they saw Kennedy in Wellington on December 26 and 27, whereas he was away in Palmerston at the tir*e. Howley was committed for trial. The case against Gibson is proceeding. A lady teacher who has resigned trom the service of the Nelson Education Board and received an appointment in another part of the colony, wrote to the Nelson Board asking for a “ satisfactory ” explanation regarding a certain appointment, and in the course of her epistle referred to a certain school committee as “ mean, contemptible body of small intelligence." The Board would not deign to forward a reply. A report was current in Christchurch on Monday that the Cabinet resented Mr Sedion having committed the colony to an expenditure of £20.000 in connection with the proposed Exhi bition in Christchurch, and that a majority of the Ministers were opposed to the grant being made. The Press referred the rumour to its reporter with the Ministerial Party at Waiau, and received the following telegram from him in reply:—“Mr Hall-Jones says the report as to opposition to the Exhibition grant is incorrect."

To-day is the Ist of April, and, as is the Usual custom, the " sni ill fry ” are further educating themselves in the art of deceit.

Mr G. P. Donnelly, who has just r-'-Uilhied from a visit to inland Patei, whites vdfv to the press alruit the way the rabbit pest Is spreading on the Owh »ok i native b'ock, recently abHudrt.ied bv Stu-lh >litl * Brou, and nlvj anl-.n.'f.'-i ;■. B i chine and K-nvMca ranges. He '.ne.v; iv-mpt and dedUve action being taken, and assistance being given to settlers to cope with the pest) he says, a farther large afea of ndtiVd l.triJ is likely to be abandoned, for the natives will he tlfl> able to pay rates and taxes on it, and the expense of destroying the rabbits Will tlldrl bill oil tha State.

It is nothing Unusual to go front tidiiie td iidar news; But; perhaps the following paragfabll WhidK dppeafed in (he “N :w Zealand Times” of yesterday, from the pen of their Palston North “ special,” will piOVe Interesting news to our readers 11 Foxton is hardly a town of'advanced ideas,’ hilt there are ud le‘s3 that three ladies standing for eledtidn ihd municipal elections.” Truly tfial “ special ” is of very “ advanced ideas." The paragraph is evidently meant to read Plcton, where, we understand, the services of three ladies have bean requisitioned for municipal seats, At the meeting of the Hospital Board at Palmerston on Thursday, Mf E. Godbehere'pointed out that in Connection With the revision of the local Act the matter of Feiiding, Foxton, and Holcombe's representation on the board should icceive attention. There was no affinity of interest between Feilding and Foxton so far as hospital Flatters afe Concerned, and their being bracketed together resulted in dlsfranchisemenl to one. The chairman edrisidered the question hardly came within the scope of the proposed revision, but it was decided that the executive report to the next meeting on the subject.

liven the 1.0.G.T. fanlily do ddt always conduct their meetings in ail arninable manner. At Thursday night’s meeting the question of a church parade was commented upon, but it was not till one of the chief officers suggested that the temperance advocates parade Main street in full regalia that warmth was put into the discussioni This suggestion raised an objection from a brother official, and the two leading light tea-drinkers had a lively combat. We have it from a reliable source that the air at times was sultry, but eventually the storm abated, and all was peacefully calm ere the meeting closed. Surely if the cause is worth fighting for, there should be no objection to wearing a “ bib ’’ in the sight of ones fellows?

A meeting of the North Island Bands’. Association was held on Wednesday at Palmerston North, when the balance sheet of the recent Auckland Contest was received, showing a credit balance of £390, After making various deductions, the Auckland committee offered the executive £zz 43 as its share of the profits, viz., 15 per cent. The President (Mr Cohen) and secretary (B, Holbein) were instructed to obtain further information on the subject. Messrs Bently (Melbourne) and Devlin (Sydney) were nominated as judges for the 1906 contest at Hawera. Other nominations are invited from associated bands.

"THE REVIEW OF REVIEWS.” The " Review of Reviews ” for Australasia, just to hand, is well up to the high standard that popular magazine hasrcached. In the Australasian section, pride of place is given to a most readable and informing article on " Australian Artesian Water Supplies. ’’ The information it gives about the extent of our great underground seas will probably come as a revelation to many people. So much has been written" lately about the wonderful Japmese art of self-defence, commonly called “ Jin-Jitsu,’’ that a finely illustrated article on it by H. Irying Hancock is specially appropriate. The American Pre-ident has ordered the system to be taught in the United States Military Academy. Valuable hints for self-dafence may be got from the article. The character sketches deal with Rev. Hugh Price Hughes and Canon Liddon, and are of a specially high and interesting character. The reviews reviewed and leading articles from the best magazines of the world give the reader a comprehensive vie w of the world’s dongs. The book of the month makes very interesting reading. Its subject is, “ How Many Persons am I ?—A New Theory of Multiple Personality.” It is most fascinating, and opens up a vast field of conjecture as to the actual composition of our very complex natures. Altogether, the March “ Review of Reviews ” makes a very fascinating compilation. Mr Henry Stead, who arrived from London sixteen months ago to take over the “ Review ’’ from the former company, announces that he departs for England, and that Mr W. H. Judkins, well known as a social reformer, who has been associated with him under the new regime, will in future edit the magazine.