The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1880.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 509, 17 April 1880, Page 2

The Patea Mail. (Published Wednesdays and Saturdays.) SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1880.

GRAIN FOR PATEA. Wheat has to he fetched from Canter* bury to keep the mills going in Paten. Outsiders would stare with incredulity it told that the richest province in Now Zealand is unable to raise wheat enough to supply its own wants. If it pays to import from Canterbury, the growing of wheat should surely be remunerative to the Patea farmer, unless—and this is a delicate supposition—the settlers in this favored district are making such fat profits from grazing that they have no time to calculate the chances of doing well out of wheat. Grain and stockfeeding ought to work well together in this district. Oats yield immense crops off the Patea soil, but wheat is strangely neglected. «. ■ IMPERIAL POLICY. The resignation of the Beaconsfield Government is now all but une fait accompli. The illustrious “ imperialist” who has guided the British Empire through the perils of that endless Eastern question during the recent spasm of Russian ambition, is now brought to the humble attitude of a

leader distrusted by his own followers The naiion, or a ruling majority, have boon satiated with a policy of far-reaching imperialism, not because they disapprove of the things done or condem the objects aimed at, but rather, and solely, because the cost is too heas'y. The Empire has gained renown, and has extended its boundaries, bnt at an expenditure of blood and money and aching unrest which are too exhausting even for the greatest and wealthiest people that ever aspired to the grand destiny of a governing race. The noble Earl who loads the Conservative party is a fallen hero. He is a master of phrases, and of him wc may say that “ all is lost but honor.” He tried to broaden the nation’s foreign policy at a time when the whole British people were groaning under financial difficulties of fearful severity. The experiment was inopportune, but every intelligent observer of foreign affairs mast approve the objects of the Beaconstield policy, and must concede that bold sagacity lias governed its methods. The grand old man is gone, or is on the point of bowing his retirement. Who is to succeed him, and what is to bo the new policy ?

BREACH OF PRIVILEGE. The most impudent attempt, within recent history, to influence a Select Committee of Parliament by improper means, has had a termination which will amply vindicate the dignity of the Imperial Parliament as the highest court of the realm. The hero of this scandal was a West-end lounger named Grisscll, the dissolute son ot a once famous railway contractor formerly in partnership with Sir Morton Peto. Grisscll had been leading the life of a vagrant gentleman nut at dhows. Ho was a pattern snob, for having been raised through his father’s exertions to a superior grade of society, this fellow's superiority was shown by railing at “ City people” as low schemers engaged in trade, while this elegant snob’s daily business was to cheat tradesmen who gave him long credit. Being hard up for funds, and hearing that some “ business people” were interested in opposing a proposed new bridge over the Thames, into which a Select Committee was enquiring, this Grisscll offered to the agents of the “ City people” that he would procure the decision of the Committee in their favor, for a private payment of £2,000. To show that he had some secret wires by which he could work the Committee, he offered to get the chairman to put to any witness any question the agents might suggest ns a test. This looked like conspiracy between Grisscll ami some member of the Committee. The agents drew the tempter into a trap, and then laid the whole plot before the Committee. It turned out that Grisscll was familiar with the chairman, Lord Henry Lennox; hut nothing was shown to discredit the chairman, who appeared to be ignorant of Grissell’s plot up to that point. Then Grissell disappeared, and only returned from France within a day or two of the recess. Being called to the bai, reprimanded, and imprisoned, ho had to be liberated from Newgate gaol within a few hours, Parliament being then proroged. Grissell fancied he had cheated the House of Commons by surrendering to its jurisdiction for only a few hours’ punishment, but lie was mistaken. The man was rcarrosted on the Speaker’s warrant at the beginning of the present session, and was committed again to Newgate, where he remained when the last mail left. Serve him right. This double arrest shows the peculiar power of the House of Commons, a power which our Colonial House of Representatives will claim in like manner when occasion arises. The House can arrest and imprison, but only while the House is in session. As soon as the House adjourns for a recess, its powers of imprisonment lapses, and the gaoler at Newgate no longer recognises the power of the Speaker’s warrant. This carious jurisdiction, which is absolute while the House sits and is superseded by the Courts of Law when the House adjourns, has resulted from historical contests between the Queen’s Bench Court and the Commons House of Parliament. It is the outcome of the long straggle between the Sovereign and the People. The House will not permit any power in the realm—Debtors’ Courts in particular—to arrest members of the Commons while the House is in session ; but the House claims, on its own part, to arrest any person whatsoever who may he guilty of a “ breach of the privilege of Parliament.” A member s greatest privilege now-a-days is to make’ his speeches long and strong.

ASSASSINATION. ct Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.” The Emperor of All the Russias is probably the least happy man in his vast dominions. He wears talismans and charms to escape daily dangers from pistol, dagger, bombshell, and electric mine. He never goes beyond his apartment without a steel shirt. He is surrounded day and night with a cordon of police detectives, and a second cordon of military guards. His letters and despatches have all to be opened by other hands before the Czar sees them, lest there be some malefic enclosure to destroy life by inhalemcnt or by explosion. His food must be carefully tasted before the

imperial animal can be fe<V The White Czar is a prisoner within his own palace. He is free to go abroad, but only at the peril of life. To him the sun and the stars bring no comfort. The face of nature wears a sickly smile. The song of birds mocks the imperial ear with a joy he may not share. He is a captive bound fast within the toils of a huge conspiracy, whose height and breadth and depth no man knowoth. The head of the Russian imperial tyranny is governed by a tyranny more relentless than his own. Ho is hemmed in and oppressed by the machinations of a “ Secret Committee,” which threatens his life at every turn ; and, though foiled often, is waiting with ferocious patience for yet another fling at the poor crowned tyrant whose life is in their hands. They are pursuing a short bloody road to a freedom they cannot define, believing only that political liberty of any sort must be better than the organised tyranny which terrorises over the Russian people. They are working their way to the light through assassination. Freedom’s battle, once begun, Bequeathed from bleeding sire to son, Though baffled oft, is ever won. The Czar finds secret warnings laid by invisible hands on the table of his innermost sanctum; and the Committee’s dire manifestoes are placarded inside his triple-garrisoned stronghold. He is the appointed victim of the secret assassins of a Nihilist Vermgericht. The Czar has escaped five deadly perils within ten months, and is threatened with five times five perils more. All this is the price paid for governing a people with the imperious hand of despotism. To relax the system would be to confess that Russian Imperialism is a mistake. The White Czar is but the head of a system which his fathers practised with a tyranny even harder than his own. He is liberal according to bis light, but it is a liberality of whips and slavery and shrieking starvation. Yet the poor Czar is to be pitied.

LAND POVERTY. Agricultural depression in Britain has been enquired into by a Royal Commission, which lias nut yet reported its recommendations. One part of the enquiry has related to a scheme for bringing the waste lands of Ireland into cultivation, by a system of loans advanced at low interest to owners of waste bog who are willing to recover and cultivate it. A second part of this scheme is that, where owners will not act, the bog and moorland shall he purchased by the Crown and allotted among local farmers, under conditions as to tenure and improvement. This is coming near to the Colonial system of settlement and sale on deferred payment. It is now stated that the Royal Commission have agreed ad interim to recommend that this scheme for working waste lands in Ireland should be put into operation as a means of alleviating distress among the farming class. The Government would have to purchase waste lauds out of the Irish Church surplus fund ; but the impending change of Administration may cause some delay, though a Liberal Government is not likely to trifle with a question affecting so serously the condition of Ireland. * SELLING BOYS. A correction reaches ns from Waverley as to the reported sale of two hoys by a father who found himself unable to support them. It appeal’s to have been “ an ower true tale”—true in .the main fants, but exaggerated in particulars Neighbours will talk about things uncommon, and they will even have their joke, the which wo hold they are freely entitled to. In this case a father agrees to let out his two lads, and they are to work for masters who engage to feed and house them—to give them a good home. So far, good. There is an indenture written to bind the bargain, and that indenture costs ten shillings. The other boy is bound only by oral contract. The father is a plasterer, 66 years old, lately from Tasmania, ami unable to earn full wages. Hence he lets out his hoys to earn their bread till better times. The man’s neighbours hear this transaction reported, and not knowing the smaller details they naturally exclaim against it as an unusual kind of transaction. The payment of a fee of ten shillings gives it, they would say, the appearance of a sale. A sale gets spoken of as an auction, and auctioneering implies a knocking down to the highest bidder. All this is so easily accounted for, that we cannot see reason for more ado about the affair than a formal statement of facts, and a protest against their improper construction. The father comes out of the affair satisfactorily, so far as we are informed ; but it is not the less true that all such transactions are to be viewed with jealousy, and persons concerned in them must not be surprised at the comments of neighbours.

Electoral Forms for the registration of Parliamentary voters will be issued to subscribers of the Mail throughout the county, with our next publication. A Collision between the Dunedin ship Calypso and a steamer, on entering the river for London, resulted in the Calypso sinking. Crew and passengers saved ; cargo valued at £87,000. A Boy charged with killing another boy at Invercargill was yesterday committed for trial. The Lincolnshire delegates expenses to this colony were £I,OOO.

The Homeward ’Frisco Mail of March was delivered in London last Tuesday.

Waitotara. —Mr E. N. Liffiton is appointed assessor to the Waitotara District, under the new Act. Tenders tor leasing 36 acres of meadow near Carlyle, formerly occupied by Mr Davis, close'at noon to-day. Waverlev .Rifles are to be specially reviewed to-day,-at half-past two.

Volunteer Inspections are to be held in this district by Colonel Leckie, who is com ; ng from Wellington to review each corps in detail, in order to certify their condition to the Government. Tliis is an annual inspection, and importance should therefore be attached to it by our Volunteers as a special occasion on which they ought to show up in lull strength. The monthly inspection by Major Noake would become more interesting if the men entered more heartily in the duties of soldiering. The formation of a hand in each district would impart a new interest and pleasure to the parades. It is to be hoped that the failure of previous efforts is not to be taken as "“final.

The Railway Extension from Kai Lvi to the Waitotara river is to be opened about a month hence. Our Waverley correspondent says the mails and passengers will be ferried over the river to meet the coach for Patea and Taranaki. This will be some advantage to the travelling.,public in the way of comfort and cost; but the sooner these broken ends of a through line are pieced up, the better for this district and for the colony.

The Wairoa Light Horse will bo inspected by Colonel Lcckie to-day, at 10.30 a.m. , and the Wavciley volunteer corps at 2.30 p.m. There will doubtless be a good muster of both companies.

Waverley Cadets —An effort is to bo made to start a cadet corps of Volunteers for Waverley. This will be brave news for the young men who are on the verge of boyhood, and ambitions to shoulder a musket and show how fields may be won. Some of our cadets are very eager to try their hand at settling the native difficulty. Let them wait with a soldier’s patience till affairs become critical, anil then we shall roly on them as the inner line ot defence for each town and settlement.

More Uxemim.oyed arc coming from Wellington. About 25 single and 5 married men are expected at Wanganui to-day, to work on the Mnrimotu road, under the County Council’s directions. The wages fixed by the Government are 2ls for single men and 2Ss for married laborers, the wives coining with them.

The Schooner Falcon has safely reached Patca, in spite of the late rough weather, during which there was keen anxiety as to the fate of this little craft, which was supposed to be seriously overdue. Captain Leslie, informs us that ho left Lyttelton on the Cth, at 2 p.m., the wind north-west, with northerly and variable winds up to Capo Campbell, The gale from the north-west during Friday and Saturday last prevented the Falcon from rounding the cape until the wind slackened, and ho got round on Saturday night. On Sunday morning, about 9 o’clock, a southerly gale caught the schooner about 5 miles this side of Cape Campbell, and became so strong that he ran the vess'd under Mann for shelter, remaining till the weather moderated. Leaving at G p.m. on Wednesday, the Falcon arrived off Patea river on Thursday night, too late for the tide. Captain Leslie ran in yesterday, at 1 p.m., under a very light wind. The Falcon brought a full cargo of wheat, consigned to Mr Payne’s mill at Kakaramea.

Carlyle R. M. Court. Robert Parker, a man employed at the the boil-ing-down works at the Patea Heads, was brought before Captain Wray, on Wednesday, charged with being drunk and disorderly. Constable O’Brien deposed that on Tuesday the defendant was drunk at the quay-side, and took a small boat intending to land at the boilingdown works during a raging storm. The swell from the bar was so dangerous inside the Hoads that Parker was in great danger of being upset in the surf and drowned. He was rescued by another boat sent by Captain Bonner, and was taken into custody as being noisy and incapable of taking care of himself. The magistrate gave Parker a severe caution, and discharged him.—At Friday’s sitting of the court the following civil cases wore disposed of:—Mr Tapi in sued F. Williamson, Waitotara, on a promissory note for £SO. Defendant did not appear, and jndgdment was given by default, with £4 l‘3s costs. Mr R. W. Foreman, Manutahi, sued W. Redley for £2 9s No appearance, and judgment by default, with 5s costs. Mr Foreman also sued D. Pellat & Co., Woodville, for £l3 13s 6d, goods supplied to defendants and their employes. Defendants disputed their liability for goods obtained by their men, and there was also a contra account. Judgment for plaintiff for £7 Is 9d, and £1 6s costs. Kakaramea.— -A resident who was dissatisfied with the Land Tax valuations, suggests that a public meeting should be called at Kakaramea, with the object of securing satisfactory valuations under the Property Assessment Act. Perhaps a preferable mode of rectifying any apparent error in valuations under the present Act would be the usual form of appeal, which admits of independent evidence as to values.

Three Oalvrb at a birth are reported from a farm neap thd Patea river, Whcnuaknra side, occupied by Mr Clague. All were found alive, two doing well; but the third one died from neglect of the mother, the weakest baby having been loft among the flax, whore it was found just alive, but too weak to recover. Football is being inaugurated this season by a general meeting of the Patea Club, to be held in Carlyle this evening. Football and cricket are favorite pastimes in this bracing coast climate ; and increased interest is to be imparted to football this coming season by a series of good matches between the Carlyle team and others in the adjacent towns. Several new-comers are joining the Carlyle club, and an unusually strong team is likely to make this season a notable one, and perhaps earn for the Patea club a reputation throughout the county.

At Normanby, the dispute as to the proper site fo” a Railway Station has had the same effect in delaying the work as at Carlyle. Mr C, E. Gibson stated to Mr Olliver and Mr Blackett that “ it was a party of speculators who had bought the land and cut it up. He believe that Mr Rees had recommended the station on the Southern Extention, on account of some sections which had been given to him.” This puts Mr Rees under the necessity of making some public explanation ; but as he is now absent in England, there must be some delay in putting this delicate matter right. It is to be hoped that Mr Rees’s explanation, when it comes, will be satisfactory.

Accident at Waverley. —Mr Alex. Howie met with a very awkward accident on Thursday last. While helping to break in a young horse, he got kicked, receiving a severe eat on the temple, an ugly scar on his cheek, and a severe shaking. He has since been confined to his room, but is likely to be soon about again.

Waverley Church Service.— Notice was posted in the township that the Rev Mr Thorpe was to address the members of the Church of England in the schoolroom on Sabbath afternoon. Some few townspeople assembled at the appointed time, but owing to the boisterous state of the weather the reverend gentleman’s arrival was delayed, and the audience dispersed. A meeting was called for Wednesday evening, to hear Archdeacon Thorpe explain the scheme of Church extension, but there were not enough residents present to constitute a meeting.

Waverley- Waitotara Raimvay.— The station-master’s house at Waverley is nearly completed, and will for the, present be used by the engineers on the line. The cuttings near the township are mostly in hand, and we may expect to have a train running in twelve months. It may bo promised sooner, hut we may reasonably expect by that time to see it an accomplished fact.

Mb Deliver and Mr Blackett have been visiting Auckland this week, and wore at the Thames on Wednesday. They are expected at Wellington by the middle of next week, when the various questions as to disputed routes for Railways and Stations in this district will come under the Minister’s revision. Wanganui Jockev Club. —At a meeting of the Wanganui Jockey Club held on Wednesday, a motion by the Chairman, seconded by Mr Higgie, That no two-year-old horses be allowed to start for a race over one mile in length, was lost. The date of the next meeting was fixed for the 19th Juno, the following programme was agreed to:—Handicap Steeplechase of 175 sovs; Maiden Race of 75 sovs ; Grand Stand Steeplechase of 50 sovs; and Consolation Race of 30 sovs. A motion for a Hack Steeplechase was rejected. Nominations, 15th May; declaration of weights, 29th May ; acceptances and general entries, 12th June.

The Weather has been very mixed. Gales prevailed from Saturday till Wednesday with, varying force, calming down about noon on Wednesday. The harbour bar continued impassable outwards during four days. The Patea steamship could not leave fur Wellington by Tuesday’s or Wednesday’s morning tide, and was delayed till Thursday, a lovely calm day, when the “ Patea ” and the “ Clyde” both sailed, the latter for Wanganui. The bad change began with the rainstorm of last Friday and Saturday, this being renewed on Sunday afternoon, and followed by south-west gales up to Wednesday morning. The latter part of the week has presented the contrast of a sunny calm, compensating by delicious bracing air for the previous discomfort. The heavy rain was absorbed so quickly in this sandy mould, that persons unaccustomed to the delightful climate of Patea would be puzzled to account for the dryness of the soil and the inviting freshness of the deep grass. Here is a unique balance of conditions which ought to make the grazing lands of Patea famous throughout the world.—Our Waverley correspondent also writes : We have had very boisterous weather since Saturday, with a good downfall of rain. This has come most opportunely for the farmers, as the pasture was getting dry. The showers being very heavy, must have done much good to the grass, and will be advantageous to farmers, for most of us know Irom experience that stock-raising and not cropping should be considered as best suited to the soil and climate along this coast.

A Road through Native territory is to be constructed through Tnknkino’s land to the Upper Thames, and the Government have sent £3,000 to the local County Council for the purpose. We cannot make out whether this is a special donation towards opening a through road, or whether it is a part of the county subsidy. The Fire at Mr Gilligan’s farm, near Carlyle, is still a mystery as to its origin. When the straw stack was first seen to be burning, a man with a swag was met on the highway, as if coming from that direction. He was searched for that night and next day in the town, but no stranger answering to his description had called at any inn or accommodation house in Carlyle. This strengthens a suspicion that the fire originated through a swagger” making his evening bed under the lee of the stack, and set fire to it accidentally in lighting his pipe for a smoke. There were 200 bags of oats near the burning stack, in a line with the wind, and they had to be removed twice over by the firemen to put them quite out of danger of the flying sparks and flame.