NOTES BY THE WAY.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8174, 4 May 1895, Page 1

NOTES BY THE WAY.

(By Timothku.s.

Tho wch of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together.

Tho Hon. John M'Koirao has again spokon. This timo ao Hastings. Ho mado statements at Dunedin that ho lias to go to Hastings to ov plain away. In Dunedin ho said that tho Government know ten months boforo tho Bank of Now Zoaland crisis that thatciisis was coming. But let us have tho Honorablo John's own words : Dunedin Srcixjn Feb. 20, 189/>. "The (Government wero well aware for at least ten months boforo they woro called upon to legislate that the Bank of New Zealand was in .1 weak condition," Hastings Speech, Ai>ril 18, 189.5. "He explained that when ho said in Dunedin that tho Government knew ten months beforo the passing of tho Guaranteo Act that thu Bank was weak, he meant that the (Government knew that it was not in a strong position, but did not know that it was iv dire distress," Tho intelligent roader will soo that this honorablo gontlem tn instead of oxplaiuing away tho statement that ho mado in Dunedin, but emphasises tho fact that the Government knew ton months bofore the orisis that tho Bank was weak — that its position was not strong » It was not in diro distress. Of course not, Tho Ministry, probably ton months boforo, congratulated themselves that their anticapitalistic legislation had brought* tho Bank of Now Zealand and other financial institutions and men into '• weak positions," and it flattered tho lion John to iind tho Bank of New Zealand on its knees to tho Government. Tho Govornmont accolorated the crisis, and ihon pledged tho colony's credit to tho tune of two millions to remedy tho ovil. But tho point to bo observed now is that both tho l'remior and tho Treasurer at tho timo solemnly declared in tho llouso that thoy know nothing of tho condition of tho Bank of Now Zealand until a fow days boforo thoy introduced tho Guarantee Act, and in tho faco of this Mr M'Ken/iio says tho Government know ten r months boforo. Which of thcao highly honorablo gontlomou is worthy of tho greatest credouco ?

Tho Pomahaka estate is ovidently nob so valuable as whoa Mr John Douglas sold it to tho Govorumonb, Tho Government gavo Mr John Douglas L 2 10s 111 a hurry for tho property ; and as tho sottlcrs who havo gono upon it havo discovered at their leisure that Pomahaka is nob worth it. It will take John M'Konzie a littlo longer to rcaliso that Pomahaka is nob worth what was paid for it, Tho (Stipendiary Magistrate lias decided — with all tho improvements added— that Pomahaka is only worth L 2. Sonio people may say that tho Stipendiary MugiativUos do not know anything of tho valuo of property, but it will generally bo admitted that thoao who disagreo with tho Stipendiary Magistrate havo no special knowledge of tho Pomahaka csthte. The settlers aro tho best judges. They havo said that thoy are unablo to pay the rent, and alitoady 0110 of them — Williim Uwy —has asked to bo released of his leaso ; and another — Thomas Chapman — has apphoil for free grafting ovor tho unoccupied sections. Yet Mr John M'Kon/.io loudly exclaims that tho Pomahaka is the brightest jowol in his land administration. It's a sorry sight tho othors will present* if Pomahaka is the best. But not content with ro ioving Mr John Douglas of ono bug-bear, a movo is being made — another petition, of course — to get tho Government to purchase tho Mount Royal estate, also tho property of Mr John Douglas. Wo hopo Mr John Al'Konzio will not beo Ins way to purchase this magnificent estate at LlO,OOO more than its valuo, and at tho increased price lot it to tho settlers at high rentals. Ho will never hole.ss see Ins way to bring in a Vuit Rent Hill to rcduco tho rents of Ciowu tenants. Tho lion, John M'Kon/.io oponly ridicules what ho calls tho sacred lights of property, [and so tho honcbl, thrifty man who has invested his savings in a freehold suffers— is robbed, in fact— by tho legislation of Communist M'Kenzte. Men of " right color ' havo their estates bought. Thoy aro thus rolioved of taxation. Those who aro nob "Liberals" will havo to pay increased taxation. Notice the inducement then ollored to becomo a " Liberal."

Ib has dawned upon tho Taieri farmers that tlioy aro nob being tteatod fairly by tho Government. Their lands aro suffering througli tho acts of tho minors using tho waters of tho river. Their riparLm lights aro being disturbed by tho miners sending down washings into the river rondoring tho water unfit for Btock. A land suit, I understand, has ended in favor of tho farmors, and the miners luve appealed and askod tho Government to hupply them with funds to fight tho fanners. Tho Government recognise in tho miners a moro numerous body, and havo exceeded to their request. Tho farmors now ask the Government for nssistanco to carry on tho htigaion against tho minors. This is a charming position for tho Government to bo placed in, and surely tho necessities of tho farmors aro as urgent as tho requirements of tho minors, and tho Govornmeub can* nob possibly declino so reasonable a demand viewing tho assistance rendered to tho mining community. If they don't assist tho farmers thero be bo another charge of favoritism ;' and if tho Government assist tho foamers and tho miners to carry on a courso of litigious actions they cannot with any protenco of fairness declino to assist employers against employed and vice versa. It is a matter of indifteranco who uhimatoly wins, tho Govornmont pays tho piper. When they givo cheap ('{) money to farmors what is to hinder them giving to minors money for nothing 1 They'll tako it out of tho surplus, and ib won't bo missed.

Tho rcd-tapcism that hems in tho conduct of public affairs in tho colony is woll-known. Evory now and then instances of anomalies and absurdities ayibo through mon in seemingly responsiulo positions being unable to oxorciao that amount of discretion their experience and ability havo qualified thorn to uso. But this has nob always attached to tho oflioials, but tho publio havo boon inconvenienood and annoyed through rank oflioialdom, There was onoo a merchant of Ctamaru who took out a return ticket from Oamaru to Dunodiu and Wok. Happening to got out at Mahono ho was virtually fined for not computing hia conUftot, IJu aiwod tho Uailway Popart^ mont carrying him twelve miles, but wtti pomp-ollod. to pay tho cUUovuuco between , tt)9 priQQ q{ thQ vtmen t|oK«t Vmwu I* n

and tho cost of a single from' Dunedin to M >heno. Tlio latest of a different sort is this : A stationmastor of a country station was in want of a slock of matches, and was ordorod to obtain prices locally. Ho required a storekeeper to give a price for ouo thousand matches ! Tho storokoopor gavo tho price, but does anyone imiigiuo that tho station umster bought % Ho had to send tho prico for ono thousand matches to Wellington, and when it is reported to bo sati-faotory tho IUOO machos will bo taken delivery of. In tho meantime the Rtationmaster will bo required to provido his own matches or borrow thorn from his noighbour.

Tlio Reverend Sam Jones, of American fame, lms evidently novel ways of illustrating his subjects. Ho was holding " a mission " in Tennessee recently, and folding his hands acrosa his chest Sam said solemnly : "I want all the women in this croAd who h,we not spoken a harsh word or harbored an unkind thought toward their husbands for a month past to stand up." One old woman, apparently on tho shady side of sixty, Btood up. " Como forward and give mo your hand," aaid tho proachor. Tho woman did so, whereupon Jones said : " Now turn around and lob tho audience see tho bast-looking woman in tho country." After taking her seat (ho great roviv.list addressed the men: " Now I want all tho men in this crowd who have not spoken a hard word or harbored an unkind thought towards thoir wives for a month past to stand up." Twenty-seven groat big strapping follows hopped out of tho audience with alacrity. " Como forward and give mo your hands, my dear boys.' Jones gave each ono a vigorous shako, after which ho ranged all of them sido by sido in front of tho pulpit and facing tho audience. He looked them over carefully and solemnly, and then, turning to tho audience, ho said: "I want you all to tako a good look at tho twenty-seven biggest liars in the State of Tennessee."