The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, September 22, 1910. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 895, 22 September 1910, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, September 22, 1910. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

We congratulate Cr Speirs upon his very capable handling of the gas purchase loan proposals at the public meeting held last Tuesday night. A perusal of the report, published elsewhere in this issue, should satisfy ratepaye-s that the sanctioning of the loan is in the best interests of the town. We do not say that the works, if municipalised, are going to be profitearning straight away, but by careful administration the ratepayers should not be called upon to make up any deficiency. Neither do we say that, for at least seven years, can any surplus profit be anticipated in relief of rates. The consumers must be the first consideration, and the objective should be a reduction from ros per iooo feet for lighting to 7s 6d, and cooking and heating reduced in proportion, A reduction in price will add to the number of consumers, and the greater the quantity of gas manufactured the cheaper will be the cost. As we have previously stated, the ratepayers will be acting wisely by sanctioning the loan, which we hope to see carried next month.

It is rumoured that the amending legislation to our gaming laws, promised by the Premier during the earlier part of the session and upon which certain resolutions were carried in the House, are hung up because of the Hon. “Go-Bung” Millar’s objection to the clause dealing with bookmakers. The Hon. Mr Millar confessed to the House some time since that he had gambled all his life and intended to do so to the end. He stood out as a champion of the bookmaker and said if this class of human parasite had to go then, to be consistent, the totalisator should go too. There is a certain amount of logic in Mr Millar’s reasoning, but of the two evils it were better to retain the lesser until public opinion is educated to the necessity of a clean sweep. But it seems strange that Mr Millar should so dominate the Cabinet as to delay the promised Bill. Cabinet is certainly not a happy family on this measure, but it is strange that there should be any hesitation in bringing down the Bill, seeing that the feeling of the House has been taken on the subject. Simpler differences than these have brought about Ministerial resignations.

The Rev. J. Paterson, pastor of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Broken Hill, caused rather a sensation in church on Sunday night (September ix). The early part of the service proceeded as usual,

but after Mr Paterson had announced the text for his sermon he suddenly exclaimed: “My dear friends, I cannot preach to-night. I have suffered a great loss in the death of my father, but not one member of the congregation or even one church official has been to see me and express sympathy with me in my bereavement. I did not wish to speak of this tonight, but I could not help it. I have written to the presbytery in Sydney, and asked to be relieved of this charge.” Mr Paterson next gave out the hymn “ Lead, Kindly Light,” and further remarked, “ I don’t want your sympathy now ; it’s too late.” The service came to an abrupt termination. Although the Rev. J. Paterson, who died in Sydney recently was one of the fathers of the Presbyterian Church, he was known to very few people in Broken Hill. His death was, however, referred to at St. Peter’s Anglican Church by Archdeacon Pritchard. The rev. gentleman has since regretted handing in his resignation and states he was suffering from mental collapse, and is now convinced of the sympathy of his congregation. The resignation has been withdrawn. Mr Paterson ought to look for a more congenial occupation.

Cardinal Moran, in opening a new church at Sydney, made a strong attack on Freemasonry. Referring to the paucity of news cabled regarding the Eucharistic Congress at Montreal, be declared that some misleading cables were sent to this country, which was evidence of the control of Continental Freemasons, and it was owing to their influence that an event wherein the whole civilised world was interested was so briefly mentioned. He warned people to be on their guard regarding some of the cables sent from the Old World. The Cardinal does not lose an opportunity to heave a brick at the head of this fraternity. We were under the impression that sectarian bitterness was vigorously debarred by Freemasons and that this great institution is founded on charity. But possibly there are different brands of Freemasonry whose evil ways are foreign and unknown to the English, Irish, Scottish and New Zealand constitutions. We are led to believe that Roman Catholicism has nothing to fear from Freemasonry under the above constitutions and it seems uncharitable for the Cardinal to make such harmful references.

On April 30th last there were 21,522 sheep-owners in the Dominion, being an aucrease of 336 over the figures for the previous year. Between them they owned 24,269,620 sheep, an increase of 788,913. Owners of from one to 200 sheep totalled 6100 ; from 200 to 500 sheep, 5464 ; 500 to 1000 sheep, 4,313; 1,000 to 2,500 sheep, 3663 ; 2,500 to 5,000 sheep, 1128 ; 5.000 to 7,500 sheep, 378 ; 7,500 to 10.000 sheep, 166 ; 10,000 to 20.000 sheep, 233; 20,000 and over, 77. The respective numbers of owners and sheep in the adjacent counties are as follows, the flocks being in parentheses Oroua, 182 (170,212); Kairauga, 133 (116,305); Kiwitea, 263 (340,203); Pohangina, 139 (i49,075); Mauavvatu, 142 (149,705) ; Horowhenua, 166 (167,935).