The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1880.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 504, 31 March 1880, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1880.

This most important nows that the cable has announced, for a very long time, is that the Imperial Parliament has boon dissolved It was confidently asserted by the most sanguine of the Opposition that Lord Boaeonslield, foreseeing certain defeat m too impending election, would hold on till the last hour of the seven years Parliament; they will therefore be very much snrpiised at th' 3 sudden move made by bis astute lordship. But to keen observers the coming event has been casting its shadow before for some months. It could hardly be supposed that so old a statesman as Mr Gladstone would have exerted himself, as he did in [Scotland, had ho had no good reason to suppose that the hour was at hand. The care with which the Chancellor of the Exchequer at Leeds replied to Mr Gladstone’s attack was still more significant. It was also thought probable that the Government would go to the country, for a fresh lease of life, while the memory of its victories over savages was fresh, and before the cost of those victories was made known. But when Lord Beaconsfiekl sent his recent message to Ireland, enquiring whether that country thought that the United Kingdom should maintain its place at the head of European affairs, the politician’s heart stood still ; for he knew that he had come to the end of the feast and the beginning of the fray. That crafty and indirect' appeal to the patriotism and vanity of the English, and the subtle insinuation that appeal contained regarding the object of Home Rule and the tendency of Liberalism, were not meaningless, but were one of bis lordship’s smart tricks, and as such they were no doubt recognised by his lordship’s opponents.

There is no doubt that.Lord Boaconsfield is a statesman worthy to live in the same age as Bisraark, although he pursued his ends in a way very different from that adopted by bis German rival. The Prince astonishes the world with his blunt outspokenness, his contempt for long-winded diplomatic phrases, and by his being ready to bring up all the forces of the Empire he has made, to support his most trivial word. The Earl, on the other hand, loves durkness rather than light, he uses dummy hands which are kept folded before your eyes while he engages yon in a charming, but strangely meaningless conversation, his real hands being, the while, busy beneath his cloak picking Vf«ir pockets of canal shares, islands, and cities. But the re is as much craft in the blunt bluriings of the Prince as in the “ ways that are dark, and tricks that arc vain” of the Earl, and, as far as we know Punch's query remains still unanswered

Lizzie, or Dizzy, The deeper which is be ? In his dashing foreign policy Lord Jloaconsfield is the Pitt of (his generation, only he flics at smaller game, which, however, may he the world’s fault for not providing, just now, hvger game to fly at. His Government It: s hemi mm hy two- striking features. The fir--t is ! -j'e fe f, 'vn-::;-'- 1 --a- tli- j eleventh

anco. He and liis followers have been kindly proposing that the business of the next Parliament should be to deal with the affairs of the British people. This is an unmeant confession of the chief wrong that can be laid to his charge, hirer since the year 1876 he has been pursuing his own schemes, legislating for India, picking quarrels with Russia, propping np the unspeakable Turk, holding Congresses, deposing Kings, Khedives, Ameers, and Chiefs, and, m general, flattering his royal mistress. JBntsuchthings as reforming criminal law, dealing with the tremendous problem of pauperism and poor rates, protecting the tillers of the soil from the idiotic caprices of landlords, extending the franchise, readjusting representation, and remitting taxation, have been beneath the dignity of Lord Beaconsfield’s Government. Goldsmith accuses Burke of narrowing his mind, and giving to a party what was meant ior mankind, but the very opposite is true of Lord Beaconsfield, and of the House of Commons that has followed him so faithfully. They have given to mankind (Oh, heritage of woe !) what was meant for their country, and now, forsooth, they talk of devoting the next Parliament to domestic affairs. But they have launched their country upon a career from which she cannot so readily disentangle herself, even it she wished; They have entered into engagements which cannot bo broken by a General Election. The accidents and catastrophes taking place in the continent of political cobwebs that Lord Beaconsfield has woven, will engage the attention of many Parliaments not yet elected. The Government have pleaded against Mr Gladstone’s charge of extravagance in the War Department, that their predecessors, by long neglect of fortifications, and the like, had rendered greatly increased outlay inevitable. But may not the plea be hurled back with ten-fold force with regard to the neglect of the real business of the English people ? Is ilio rule to be established that one Parliament is to give seven years to foreign policy, and the next to give seven years to home affairs and to neglecting, or undoing what its predecessor did. When the home and foreign legislation of a country cannot be carried on side by side, and be kept abreast of the necessities that arise, it is evident that there is something rotten in the state. The second great characteristic of the Beaconsfield Government has been its enormous military expenditure. No idea can yet be formed of the cost of the Zulu war, and of the yet unfinished Afghan war. No doubt the cost has been so great that it was not thought desirable to make it known before the elect ion was oyer. Mr Gladstone pointed out, whnn in Scotland, how Mr Disraeli had, on a former occasion, misled the county on the eye of an election, with regard to the cost of the Abyssinian war. That war had been estimated to cost three millions and a half, and on that understanding an election took place, although, long before the dissolution, Mr Disraeli’s Government had known that the war had cost nearly nine millions. The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in his reply to Mr Gladstone, carefully avoided thi# point. Now if tine Abyssinian war, in which 5,000 men wer«*engaged for a few months, and which not a man was lost, cost nine millions, what will be the cost of the Zulu war, in which 30,000 men have been engaged for a much longer period, and in which great disasters have occurred ? The Government have carefully left this question for the new Parliament to ask and answer.

We anticipate that the election will result in a small majority for the Government. It is almost impossible for the Liberals, with their present divisions, to win. Theircamp is divided among Whigs, Liberals, and Radicals; Monarchists, Republicans,and Democrats; Church disestablishes, Permissive Bill enthusiasts, and Home Rulers. These sections may, among them, number a numerical majority, but, being wanting in a common bond of unity, they will break up before the outset of the solid phalanx of the Conservative ironsides.

Mr F. R. Jackson’s Hawera stock sale will take place on Friday next, particulars of which will be found elsewhere. Mr John Winks has been elected a member of the Patea County Council, Hawera Riding. It will be seen by advertisement elsewhere, that Mr William Colson has purchased the goodwill of the Carlyle Meat Bazaar, and will conduct the business solely on bis own account after the Ist April. The Native Commission left Carlyle for Wanganui in a private conveyance yesterday afternoon, a large number of natives being present to witness their departure. The Minister of Public Works is expected in Carlyle to-day. We believe his visit is in connection with railway works.

At the R.M. Court yesterday, the principal cases down for hearing were against Land Tax defaulters. Eight persons were summoned, the whole of whom. paid the money into Court, with costs.—lL W. Foreman v. G Dyer, claim £l3 16s 9d ; adjourned until 2nd April.—A.bchultze v. A. R. Pye, claim £2 15s 6d ; judgment confessed, costs ss.—Two other cases were withdrawn. Several members of the Native Gommis" sion, accompanied by the Chairman of the Patea Harbor Board (Mr Sherwood), visited the Heads on Thursday last to inspect the works. After carefully examining all that had been done, one of the Commissioners : .•■.id the- Harbor Board deserved credit for roe manner in which Ihp works had been pushed on ; whereupon!'-Mr Sherwood replied, Plenty of credit is <iil ; we require' ; t >rv>kc the harbor a decided success.”

A public' meeting, convened by Mr G. F. Sherwood (chairman of late meeting , on railway matters), was held in the.Town Hall last evening, in consequence of the following telegram having, been received from Major Atkinson, which we consider of a very satisfactory natpro Wellington, March 27.—-To Mr Sherwood.— He Carlyle Branch Railway, it has been arranged by Government that the Hon Mr Oliver is to finally determine the line to be made, on the ground. He will leave here about Tuesday, [yesterday] for Carlyle. There is no intention of permitting the vote to lapse. It is good till 30th June, some time before which the works will be under contract.— H. A. Atkinson.” —After the reading of the above by the Chairman (Mr Sherwood), Mr W. Aitchison proposed, seconded by Mr J. Whelan, “ That the Chairmen of the Harbor Board, County Council, and Town Board be appointed a deputation to wait on the Hon the Minister for Public Works, on the occasion of bis visit to the district, re railways.” An amendment was proposed by Mr W. Cowern, seconded bj' Mr Lett, “That this meeting bo asked to nominate gentlemen, residents of the town and district, as a deputation to wait upon the Minister for Public Works on his arrival, re the railway site.” The resolution was carried on division.—Proposed by' Mr H. I. Davis, seconded by Mr J. Whelan, and carried unanimously, “ That the Minister be urged to proceed with all possible despatch with the construction of the whole line from Waverley to Stratford.”—The meeting then adjourned.

Our friend, the Carlyle correspondent of the Wanganui Herald , lias been having u parting fling at us. He says : —“ Mr Joseph Ivess, newspaper proprietor, has been here several days in connection with the Patea Mail, and a newspaper to be started by him at Huwera next month. The Mail is to be enlaiged, and as soon as machinery and office accommodation hftve been secured, will come ou! three times a week. Mr Ivess will no doubt effect many improvements in the ‘ get up’of the Mail, for which there is any amount of scope. Mr Black, the late proprietor, will, it is understood, be taken on as manager.” For the information of the correspondent in question, we might state that the “ get up” of the Mail is ijt keeping with the proprietor’s pocket, and not with other people’s. Ward & Co., of Wanganui, desire lo call the attention of die residents in and around Haivera and Normanby to the fact that they have Replenished their ■Stock at JJawera. It is now complete loiih every requisite in Drapery & Clothing, and articles marked at prices which cannot fail to give thorough satisfaction to one and all. Cull early and inspect for yourselves.—-Address : Opposite Prosser s Hotel. — Advt.

In spite of the reports of the war correspondents of> the Opposition journals (says the Taranaki News of Saturday last), peace still reigns at Parihaka and on the Waimate Plains. The great Prophet at Parihaka, like ail pseudo oracles, speaks ambiguously, and bis speeches are variously interpreted. In his last speech some see nothing but threats, of war, < while others see in H nothing, but. promises of peace. Much interest is taken in To Whiti by the natives assembled attheOrakei parliament in Waikato, ami Aperahnma Taonui, of the Ngapuhi tribe, has, in imitation of him, assumed the role of a prophet, and is drawing numbers to hear him. Sydney Taiwhanga, a school-master, lias bet a horse that the roads on the Waimate Plains will meet, and a Ngapuhi native who was present at the last Parihaka meeting says that the roads would not meet. To Whiti is evidently in a corner ; he dors not want to fight, and his spiritual power is insufficient to stop the roads, but he must stop them or his reputation will be gone.

11l ii recent circular issued by (he New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, wc find the following, which should be of vast importance to our tallow exporters—“ With regard to New Zealand tallow especially, we would remark that a large proportion of low ‘ dreggy stuff’ has found jts way hither during the year, and by reason of an exceptional demand for inferior qualities, for Continental use, has made prices which, .in comparison with those procurableforinodium to fine descriptions, are quite abnormal. Shippers will do well to bear in mind that those prices wore realised under circumstances which are of extremely rare occurrence, and that, as a rule, such tallow is most difficult of sale."

The following paragraph from the Wellington Post should interest otir Cadets • An accident occured in Wellington the other «fciy through the bursting of a gun, by which oneof our Artillery cadets, named R. Grigg, very narrowly escaped losing his life, or sustaining severe injuries. Grigg was firing at the butts with one of the old Enfield carbines supplied to the corps, the guu burst about five inches from the muzzle, scattering the fragments in all.directions. One largo piece struck Grigg on the shoulder, but merely glanced by, doing him no injury. His escape, however, was almost miraculous. The carbine was a very old one, and apparently unfit for service. It is very necessary that some system of inspection should be adopted by which it may bo ascertained that the cadets are not armed with weapons which may reasonably be expected to “go off” in an unexpected and most perilous way.

Bishop Redwood (says, the Wanganui Herald) is about to pay a visit to Rome, according to thernles of the Roman Catholic Church, which render it necessary for those Bishops whose dioceses arc at a distance from the Holy See to appear in person 01 by deputy-at least once in five years. His Lordship will proceed by the next San Francisco mail steamer, leaving Auckland in a few days.

The Taranaki News says;—Hawera is about to experience the truth of the adage, “ it never rains but it pours.” Ours neighbours have for a long time been hoping for the establishment of a local newspaper, and now they are nbonl to have two, of bi-weekly issue and doub.e-demy size. Messrs Galvin and Co. have issued prospectuses of the Hawera and Normanby Star, and Mr Ivess is about to start the Eaubera Times. Just as Brigham Young of happy memory was said to be much married, even so will Hawera during the coming winter be said to be milch papered.

A man who was recently sentenced to two years’ imprisonraentiri Wellington for obtaining money by false representations, had previously spent £1 of his plunder in taking a ticket in a sweep on the Wellington Cup. His ticket drew Hailstorm, and the value of the prize was £2oo—a nice little sum with which to start again when his sentence expires.

The Taranaki Herald's Hawera correspondent telegraphed as follows on the 29th March amusement has been caused here by the •* special” of the Lyttelton Times stating that Kemp had gone to Parihaka to ask Te Whiti to j >in him in fighting the pakehas, and that war was imminent. As everybody knows, Kemp has not been near here, and the telegram wa» simply a sensational one, for South Island purposes. Great astonishment is expressed at the Government allowing this man, who is trying to thwart them, to have a tent in the camp, and being recognised by some as an official correspondent. He has done everything, by correspondence, to try and complicate affairs ; and his knowledge of natives and native affairs is simply childish. —The Constabulary leave Otakeo to-day, and camp at Oeo, six miles further north.—The Royal Commissioners, accompanied bj? Mr Parris and Hone Pihama, visited and had a sairsfactory interview with the three leading chiefs on the W aim ate Plains— Manaia, Kokere, and Tito Kowaru. These chiefs were shy of interviewing any Government officials prior to the Parihaka March meeting. They arc now more favourable to a peaceful settlement of the Waimate difficulty . As they are entirely under the influence and guidance of Te Whiti, their views indicate a speedy and peaceful settlement of the whole question.