OUR MENTOR, THE DAILY NEWS.

Opunake Times, Volume II, Issue 62, 5 February 1895, Page 2

OUR MENTOR, THE DAILY NEWS.

In its issue of Friday last the News trotted its high horse out, and duly mounted, with lance in rest, has taken a tilt at us, but w r e are here yet, and come up smiling. The News twits us with our youth, and graciously admits “ its only fault has been in assuming to know move than it really does.” Dear readers, just fancy a newspaper having only one fault. We congratulate ourselves. By way of returning the compliment of our ancient contemporary—long may it live—we may reasonably presume that it is in its dotage and has forgotten most of what it ever did know, or it would never have brought forward such absurd arguments and statements as appear in its issue under notice. Firstly, it claims to have shown that some of the main planks of the country programme cannot be legally carried out. The fiVst statement it deals with is that “ It was stated at the Stratford meeting of ratepayers, and the statement has been sown broadcast, that the revenue from the breakwater could be taken for the purpose of paying interest, and thus reduce the amount of rate.” It then goes on to quote a statement made by us in our issue of Tuesday last, in which we stated that such was not the intention of the country ratepayers, and assumes that it w 7 a3 its article which caused us to know more than it thinks we know. Well, we may inform our contemporary that wo know, if it does not, that there is no legal doubt about the could. If the Board chooses to apply the surplus revenue, after paying cost of collection, &c., towards payment of interest, they can legally do so. As far as we are aware the News itself was the first and only one, as far as its circulation goes, to sow any such statement broadcast, and consequently we took the earliest opportunity of enlightening it and the country ratepayers. It then boasts of the immense sum—£Boo we believe—which the New Plymouthites liberally subscribed to prevent the breakwater being washed out to sea, which would have reduced the value of town property by 50 per cent. Such liberality on the part of people having £861,000 worth of property iu the town, besides their business connection, should be recorded on a brass plate and attached to the safest block in the structure for posterity to admire. Why, the people in this small district subscribed nearly twice that amount to provide shipping conveniences, audit is thought nothing of, besides having to pay interest on the cost of original construction of New Plymouth’s breakwater. In then states we put put forward differential rating as one of the main planks in the proposal for reform in harbor matters. We shall feel much obliged to the News if it will give us the date of the issue in which we advocated any such thing in connection with the present election, or in which we ever stated that the Harbor Board had any power to make any such reform. Until it does so we must hold it guilty of wilful prevarication. We have always held that the system of an even rate was totally unfair, and that the rate should have been a differential one: and now hold and state that the country would be quite justified in endeavoring to get the Act amended so as to make the rate differential. Even our ancient contemporary will admit that if such a change were brought about by amending the law it ■would become legal, and this is all the opinion or advocacy we have ever given the matter. We stated that the country members would see that neither the Land Fund nor rates were used for repairs or extension, and the News says they have not been so used and asks, “ Then what does our contemporary want ? ” Well, in regard to this matter we will enlighten it. One of the present members of the Board stated that certain repairs, dredging, &c„ would have to be gone on with even if the Hate Fund had to be encroached on, and by the return of country candidates we want to see this prevented. And what is more to the point, we shall prevent it. If the News had been represented at the Harbor Board meeting when the foregoing statement was made it would not have made such a misstatement as it does in saying it was sure such a thing was never contemplated by any one ; or, may be, the party who made the statement got the News to sup* press it, the same as it suppressed the information, by request, as to the recent damage. Its reference to the position of affairs in the event of a receiver beiug put in is too childish to be taken notice of. The News puts forward one yery cogent reason why country ratepayers should be pleased at having the rate to pay, vix., “A large number of travellers during tho passage from Wellington to Auckland

prefer the short sea trip of the West Coast to the long sea trip of the East Coast.” How would a poll tax on travellers do for revenue producing purposes ? The News says “If all that is wanted by the country districts is fair representation on the Harbor Board, we are sure no reasonable person in New Plymouth will object to such representation.” We are sorry to say so. but we can come to no other conclusion than that the News knows nothing whatever of what it is writing about. It may. be, however, that it does know, and in that case a very large majority of the people of New Plymouth are anything but reasonable. We are not prepared to swallow such a statement, however, when we have absolute proof that it is, to put it mildly, contrary to fact. When MiMaxwell, whom we look on as the only elected country member, was nominated for a vacancy in 1893, Mr Fookes, who is a resident of the town, opposed him ; therefore, Mr Fookes, according to the News, cannot be “ a reasonable person ” ; but what does Mr Fookes think of himself ? Out of 833 who voted in the town we get the appalling fact that 211 were not “ reasonable persons,” as they voted for Mr Fookes, and there were 121 who came up to the standard of common sense laid down by the News, who voted for Mr Maxwell. In conclusion the News says, “We want men who will administer the affairs of the harbor in a reasonable, businesslike, and impartial manner.” We can assure the News that those are just the sort of men we are sending them, as they are all tried men in their respective districts who have shown their ability to manage their own district affairs, and will accordingly meet with the approval of our contemporary. It says one sore point in some quarters is the refusal of the Board to divide the district into ridings, and suggests a largely signed petition in that behalf. Very com! It would be imagined that any one who had arrived at maturity like the News would have looked round and seen that the colony is divided into electorates, that counties are divided into ridings, that the Charitable Aid Board is composed of representatives of various local bodies, that boroughs are divided into wards, &c., and have arrived at a different conclusion, and been prevented from putting forward such an inane proposition.

We have to acknowledge receipt of a complimentary ticket from the Secretary of the Egmont Racing Club. The first publication of the woman's paper will appear on Wednesday next. It is to be called “ The Emancipator,” is to be edited by Mrs Lousia Adams, and published in Wellington. The Government hope shortly to complete the purchase of theßotomanaha-Parakarangi Block in the Hot Lakes district. It comprises about 107,000 acres and includes the famous Tikitapu Lake on the Eoad to Wairoa and Tarawera.

The founder of the greatest circulating library in the world, Mr Charles Mudie, started as the proprietor of an insignificant little stationer’s shop in London. He lent books, and out of this system sprang Mudie’s.

The proposal of the Bev. H. Van Staveren that there should be some place provided by the State where men could be sent who spend their money in drink and allow their families to starve has has been warmly supported by several newspapers throughout the Colony. The Pall Mall Gazette declares that the First Lord of the Admiralty proposes this year to build four first class cruisers, four of the second class, two of the third class, 20 torpedo boats, and 20 torpedo destroyers The cost is estimated at £6,500,000. A loan of at least £5,000,000 will be rcquirad for coaling stations. Mr Wayte, Government Dairy Expert, who has been inspecting the factories in this district, has been ordered to the district north of Auckland where his services are anxiously enquired for. It was the Government intention to leave him in this district for three months. Taranaki certainly loses a thorough practical dairy expert. Tho first meeting of the Tariff Commission is called for Monday. Major Steward, M.H.11. has been apppoiuted chairman, and Mr E. W. Kane secretary. After taking evidence in Wellington the Commision will proceed north to Napier, Wanganui, New Plymouth and Auckland. The report is to be made by the end of April. Mr John Sawers, chief dairy expert for the colony, has arrived in the district and on Wednesday last visited the Stony Kiver sale in Company with Mr N. King. Mr Sawers met with a large number of settlers, who eagerly plied him with questions on dairy matters, in particular re milk testing by Babcock testing machines to all such enquiries he evidently gave satisfactory answers. While in the Urewera country Mr Cadman obtained the consent of the natives for Mr Gordou, chief Inspector of Mines, and Mr McKay, Government Geologist, with a party of prospectors to examine the place where gold was alleged to have been found some time ago, and the party has started on the expedition. If the prospectsjare encouraging the natives have promised to allow mining operations to be carried on. The direct steamer Tokomaru will leave Wellington on February 7th, due in London March 24; the Manapouri leaving Bluff on February sth, and the Mararoa leaving Auckland on February 6th connect with mail viaßrindisi, leaving Melbourne February 12th due in London Maroh 19th; correspondence need not be specially addressed. Mails for Australian Colonics via Sydney, per Talune, close at Auckland at 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 19 th. Tho Government have decided to make concessions in the railway freight for the carriage of coal and timber intended for foreign export, and the. freight on road metal for tho local bodies has been reduced to about one half. Farmers, station owneis, meatfreezing companies and dealers are to receive a rebate of 20 per cent, on the carriage of sheep, but must give an understanding that the whole of their sheep shall be moved by rail when requiring to be moved.

A contributor to the New Zealand Herald says:—People not in the know would be surprised if they knew all the little influences at work in connection with the appointment of teachers to country schools, In many cases the matrimonial element is a very strong factor. Cases have been known in the Auckland district where a single young man has been selected for a school apparently for the purpose of relieving some prominent resident of one of his too numerous daughters. In some instances he succumbs, and in others he doesn’t and after a fair trial the people begin to believe he thinks himself too good for their daughters and be has to make room for a more likely party. Match-making mothers with marriageable daughters always take a deep interest in these appointments, and can sometimes make it pretty warm for the unfortunate bachelor who will fall into th'°ir snare. All the members of the Board know of many interesting incidents of this character, but df course (boy arc hardly public property.

A heavy draught horse is advertised for sale. Mr W.D. Seott notifies entries for his stock sale which takes place on Friday, 15th inst. Mr C. J. Brodrick, architect, Hawera, has a card in this issue, to which we call the attention of our readers. The New Plymouth Harbor Board notifies dates and place's at which a poll will be taken for the return of six members for the Board. A crop of oats, estimated to yield over 80 bushels to the acre has been harvested near Masterton. Mr G. W. Rogers notifies that from the Ist inst he has reduced the price of meat owing to the decrease in the price of fat stock. A cablegram from St. Petersburg - states that M. de Gier's death was due to .heart disease, complicated by inflammation of the lungs. It is not believed that his death will cause any change in Russia's foreign policy. The Hawera County Council calls for nominations for the election of three members for Waimate riding, one for Okaiawa riding, and one for Mangatoki riding. Nominations must be in by next Monday, 11th February, at noon. Mr W. D. Scott notifies a clearing sale on behalf of Mr S. A. Breach, who has decided to give up cropping. There will also bo offered a line of well-bred pigs. The sale will take place on the farm, full particulars of which appear in our advertising columns. Recent statistics show that there are no fewer than 3,458,(505 Germans living outside of Germany, while only 472,807 foreigners have taken up their abode in the Empire. In Great Britain there are 53,501 Germans, as against 12,534 English dwellers in Germany.

The other day a doctor living not 700 miles from Wellington wished to conduct a post mortem examination of the remains of a Maori woman who had died rather suddenly. The father of the deceased girl, however, strongly objected. He said..“ You the doctor go to school learn all about the body and give him the proper medicine. Now you say you don’t know and want to cut up my daughter. No fear. You- go away.” The doctor left.—N.Z. Times.

A replace advertisement from MrNewcomb, of the late firm of Messrs Neweomb and sey will appear in our next issue. Mr Newcomb has bought out. Mr Massey's interest in the business, and in future will conduct the business on his own account. He is now holding a great clearing sale at slaughter prices, in which every line of the large and fashionable stock is included, both in Hawera and Opunake. A meeting of those interested in forming a musical society at Eahotu is convened for next Monday evening, in the Town Hall, Eahotu. We hope to see a full attendance and a lively interest taken in the matter. A good society should be established there as there are a good number of musicians in that district above the average in ability and if they will only attend and take an interest in the matter a good society should result, which would provide pleasurable amusement to its members, and ail'ord pleasurable enjoyment to the public. The Frankly Eoad correspondent of. the Daily News writes:—l suppose it is not generally known that the strata containing the petroleum for which boring is now in progress at the harbor, is supposed to run through the centre of our district, towards the mountain. It is a fact that certain wells put down by house holders further up the road contain at certain times so much of what is apparently kerosene, as to be for the time undrinkable. When Mr Booth, the borer of the now abandoned well, first commenced operations ho was so satisfied that this was the centre of the oil-bearing country that he arranged leases with many landholders in the district, reserving- the first right of boring should the venture at the harbor prove a success. That it wa3 a success, and that it was for the time being ruined in some manner and for some reason not yet explained, there can be no doubt. However, let us hope that the present patriotic and enterprising company may meet with all the success they deserve, and that in course of time, the streams draiuing our district shall carry to the centre of the town, not the sparkling temperance beverage at present in evidence, but a good, thick, strongly odorous and proportionately valubale stream of petroleum. Truly of our district it may be said " that its future still lies before it." May the coming of that future be soon, and its prosperity, like petroleum, inextinguishable. Certainly the best medicine known is Sander and Son's Eucalypti Extract. Test its eminently powerful effects in coughs, colds, influenza; the relief is instantaneous. In serious cases, and accidents of all kinds, be they wounds, burns, scaldings, bruises, sprains, it is the safest remedy—no swelling —no inflammation. Like surprising effects produced in croup, diphtheria, bronchitis, nflammation of the lungs, swellings, &c.; iiarrhcea, dysentry, diseases of the kidneys ind urinary organs. In use at hospitals and medical clinics all over the globe ; patronised by His Majesty the King of Italy ; crowned with medical and diploma at International Exhibition, Amsterdam. Trust in this approved article, and reject all others.