MERCILESS MR. MASSEY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 134, 15 September 1910, Page 4

MERCILESS MR. MASSEY.

If Mr. Massey, leader of the Opposition, were to be judged by his public utterances, few would credit diim with being the warm-hearted citizen die really is. Politically, Mr. Massey is peculiarly quixotic, and the particular windmill he must attack at every opportunity is Government newspaper advertising. He tilted vigorously at it at Palmerston North the other day, and the burden of his attack seems to be that it is a very wrong thing for the Government to discriminate between newspapers and their political colour, that the ordinary cut and dried Government '"ad" is part 01 the party machinery, and that therefore Government "ads." for party purposes should be sent to any Opposition paper that might be nominated by Mr. Massey and his party. One might believe that Opposition papers that might at some future time be published, would be strangled at birth by inability to obtain the sustenance of Government advertising. Figures that have been published many times, show tihat the Government does not discriminate in the slightest degree, except that it has pleased itself in the matter of new publications. It is ridiculous for Mr. Massey or anybody else to assume that newspapers, on either side of politics depend on Government advertising, or that the bottom would fall out of any of them if Government advertisements are withdrawn. The functions of a political Opposition and its leader are very necessary ones, but for a man who claims to be a statesman to perpetually ihammer this particular tack on the head when there are spikes worthier of his sledge to be smitten, is weak and undignified. Mr. Massey has disclaimed any financial interest in any Opposition paper that does not get Government advertising, so that he is merely demanding "justice" and fairplay for his party. Up to the present we do not remember ihavihg read any stirring speeches by Mr. Balfour on the iniquity of obtainihg State envelopes from the Liberal stationer Smitih, while Brown, the Unionist stationer, depends only on the British public for his living. We are never permitted the mental spectacle of a tearful Brown pleading with the British Opposition to use its powerful influence for the sale of his envelopes. The idea that any Opposition readers are being debarred from a tremendous privilege in not being able to read an'advertisement in a favourite paper suggests a public interest in Government advertisements that seems exaggerated. Whether the country will throw out the Ward Government for not including a paper or two in its list of advertising mediums is not known,' but that Mr. Massey deems it to be a matter of tremendous importance is certain. And, anyhow, it is a singularly simple subject on which to base a fervid oration, and the subject can be used at every social Mr. Massey attends between now and the general elections. And in the meantime, the country is not necessarily in a state of extreme agitation about these advertisements; and it is not known whether the country regards Mr. Massey as a humourist or a statesman.

Whilst crossing the IPa tea Bar on Tuesday the Mana went ashore on the south side.

The Uruti Dairy Company has sold its output at ll%d, subject to the adoption of pasteurisation. Whenuakura is consigning its output.

The weekly sessions of the Hope of Egmoiit juvenile temple, No. 25, 1.0. G.T., was held in St. Mary's Hall last night. The following programme was given :-r Kecitation, Bro. H. Buttimore; recitation, Bro. G. W. Hartnell; song, Sis. A. Loveridge; recitation. Sis. I. Connett; recitation, Sis. M. Boeock.

At the last monthly meeting of the Otago Farmers' Union Mutual Fire Insurance Association the secretary reported that new business to tlio amount of £4840 had been received since iast meeting, bringing the total insurances to date up to £141,440. Fixed deposits amounted to £960.

The Taranaki Scholarships . Endowment Bill, wiucn was brought down by Governor's message oil Tuesday, provides that in future the iaranaki scholarship endowment lands will be administered by the Land Board. Under the present Act, the land is administered by the Public Trustee, who, however, has 710 official powers. Under the proposal the revenue will still be paid over to the Public Trustee for scholarship purposes.

Mr. Alfred Jordan, champion draughts player of England, reaches New Plymouth this evening at 5.30, and will exhibit his remarkable skill during three evenings, playing with local exponents. Mr. Jordan has not lost a game in New Zealand, and he is capable of playing (and generally beating) 20 or 30 players at a time. Mr. Grfeiuer is, presenting a gold medal to the player who makes the best stand against the champion. According to some first hand information, bushfelling is not now such a lucrative occupation as formerly (says the Waverley correspondent of the Pat'ea Press). Not so very long ago £1 lUs was generally given per acre, but now the common price given is £1 5s and sometimes £1 2s Gd. The correspondent's informant thinks the bush ■ nowadays is not so good as formerly from a bushfelling point of view, and a man cannot therefore fell the same area.

The weekly session of the Egrnont Lodge, No. 112, 1.0. G.T., was held in St. Mary's Hall last evening. The C.T., JSro. 0. Pepperili presided. The programme for the evening ("Kindred Societies night) was :'s lollows:—Pianoforte solo, Mrs. Moverley; recitation, Sis. L. Whitej song, Bro. Norman; recitation, Sis. B. Coniiett; recitation, C.T. Bro. C. Pepperili; recitation, Sis. M. Eocock; recitation, Bro. A. White; comic recitation, Bro. G. W. Hartnell; •pianoforte solo, Mrs. Moverley. Mr. Cocker gave a short address. The committee of local ladies and gentlemen instrumental in raising the iund for the purchase of a piano for the Old People's Home, have arranged a series of concerts. The first of the series was held at the Home last night, when the following- programme, given by representatives of the Whiteley Church, gave great pleasure to the inmates:— Piano solo, Mrs. Ambury; duet, Misses Buckpian; song, Mr. Hudd; song, Miss Blake; recitation, Mr. H. Joll; song, Mrs. Ambury; song, Mr. Osborne; trio, Mr. Mrs. and Miss Ambury; song, Miss Blancliard; duet, Mr. and Miss Ambury; song, Mr. Blanchard.

Over a quarter of a million people visited the Japan-British Exhibition on Bank Holiday (August, Ist), and the New Zealand Pavilion attracted a constant stream of visitors from early morn till late at night. Indeed, the pavilion was uncomfortably crowded at times, and the staff had an exceptionally busy time distributing descriptive literature to those specially interested in tihe Dominion. A special vanload of 20,000 Government publications and New Zealand shipping companies' pamphlets was exhausted before the pavilion closed in the evening. Numbers of New Zealanders were also seen in the crowd, and all were delighted with the popularity of the Dominion's fine exhibit.

Word was brought in on Tuesday thai a large seal was stranded on the beach near the mouth of the Waingongoro (says the Hawera Star). Constable Hadler at once went down to see that the animal was put to sea. This was necessary in terms of the Sea Fisheries Act, a clause of which specifies that in such a case "a reasonable effort shall be made to restore a seal to the sea." After a long struggle and many fruitless attempts, with the assistance of three men he at last succeeded. Some idea of the difficulty and danger of the operation may be guaged when it is known that the •eal was fully seven feet long and about six feet in girth. He had a magnificent row of teeth, so sharp that a shovel put into his mouth was oent and a piece oi hard wood was bitten through without the . slightest effort. A rope was eventually got round its neck, and it was by this means dragged to the water's edge. The animal was evidently as glad as his captors, as it then wasted no time in putting out to sea, and soon disappeared through the breakers. Last year the New Plymouth branch or the W.O.T.U. forwarded a gift of clothing to the West Ham Baptist Central Mission, London. The goods .reached London in November, as did two frozen sheep sent by Mr. Okey, M.P. An acknowledgment has just been received from the Sisters in charge of the Mission. The letter states, inter alia: "This is a terrible poverty-stricken district, and life is very hard for our people. Hundreds are constantly out of work, except for an occasional day's employment, and this of course means semi-starvation for the families The children run about in the streets barefooted and hungry, and, as the men cannot get work, the women have to become the wage-earners, and a pitiful wage it is—sliirtmaking. at Cy z d per dozen, trouser-finishing at 2s per dozen, sack-making at Is per 100 —and the utmost they can earn Sn| thils way, even by working long hours, is ss, Cs, or 7s a week. Meanwhile, the home has to be neglected, and the little ones live in the streets. You can imagine, therefore, what a joy it is to them to receive a quite unexpected gift of a warm garment or a joint of good meat, and what a real delight it is to be your almoners. Please thank everyone who helped, if it is not too late to ask you to do so, and tell them how intensely we appreciated their kindness."

It is evident, says a message from New York, that the Cook-Peary controversy respecting the claims to the discovery of the North Pole will be renewed. Mr. Loose, who swore at tile outset that Cook enlisted liis help in faking maps of the Arctic regions, which he used in substantiating his claim to the discovery of the Pole, now state® that friends of Commander Peary paid an associate of his for making affidavits impugning Dr. Cook.

«-w * vin o appeared in the Times: My father was born in 1750, and I was born in 1810 (when he was 09). I attained my 91st birthday on the 3rd of last month (June). That is to say, our joint lives have extended 100 years. My relations think this is unique, and I have been persuaded to let you know, as I am told it, at any rate, is a record which beats anything that lias vet been made public.-I am, yours faithfully, Letitia Jane Forde, Normanhurst, Compton street, Eastborne."

"How many members know the conditions on the back of their fire insurance policies?" asked Mr. T. M. Wilford in the House on Thursday afternoon. "I will give this advice gratis. Look at the clause referring to reinstatement and arbitration. If you look at the arbitration clause you will see on all policies issued since 1308 you cannot arbitrate, for the insurance company has the unassailable right to reinstate notwithstanding the fact you may object. You are absolutely required to abide by that condition of reinstatement. You cannot sue, and you cannot go to arbitration unless the company refuses to reinstate."

hat is understood to be a very remarkable case of disappearance happened a few weeks ago. Two bovs employed by a well-known shipping firm in Wellington went to Sydney for a holiday. It seemed they had a good time and came back to join the direct boat from Sydney to Wellington. Finding her sailing put ofl for an hour, they left for a walk up the city, and since then nothing has been seen or heard of them. One is the son of a well-known sea captain, trading to Wellington, and the other is the son of a doctor in the Wellington province.

An incident which might have had a tragic ending occurred last Wednesday in. one of the Auckland hotels, being checked by the prompt action of a bar attendant. A man ordered a glass of beer, and was seen by an attendant to put something into the glass. The man then went out, leaving the drink untouched, but returned immediately with another man. He called for the beer which he had ordered, but it was refused, and an examination of the contents subsequently disclosed that it contained a sufficient quantity of a noxious drug to kill three persons. The men were strangers, but it appeared to be the evident intention of the one who was "standing" drinks that the other should take the doped liquor. The strange action of the man led to further developments, which showed that he was of unsound mind, and he was handed over to the authorities.—Star.

Lying at death's door now in the criminal ward of an asylum in Hanover, Prussia, is Major Rathbone. This old officer was one of the aides-de-cjimp of President Lincoln, and was with the President at Ford's Theatre in Washington the night on which the famous American hero was assassinated by the actor Booth, Ratbbone is well remembered in. connection with that historic affair, for he was stabbed whilst trying to save his master's life. Some years later the major was appointed American Consul in Hanover, and it was while occupying that post that he murdered his wife. He was, however, declared to be insane, and was therefore sent to an asylum, whare he has been ever since.

Notice has 'been given by the Wairoa Harbor Board of its intention to raise a special loan of £78,000 for the purpose of constructing harbor improvement works.

A number of residents at the upper end of Rangitikei street had a peculiar if not startling, experience on Thursday morning (writes the Palmerston correspondent of the Dominion). About two o'clock a business man heard a hammering going on, which ceased for a> time and then went on again. Alter listening for a time he came to the conclusion that burglars were at work on his safe in the factory adjoining, so arming himself with a weapon of offence and a bull's-eye lantern, he sallied forth. After inspecting the whole of his premises without discovering the whereabouts of the mysterious noise, he started further afield, and in the street came across a well-known divine who had also been disturbed from his slumbers by the same mysterious sounds. The hammering still went on at intervals, and on closer investigation the cause was at last discovered. A drain had been dug alongisde the New Zealand Dairy Union's factory, about two feet deep, and into this an unfortunate' horse had managed to roll, with its legs in the air. It was the battering of its hoofs occasionally against the wall of the factory that had aroused the people in the neighbourhood. The horse had wedged itself so tightly in the drain that it took several hours to extricate it, and the job was at last accomplished by lie aid of a block and tackle. The animal was not seriously hurt, and will be fit for work again in the course of a few

In the course of the hearing of a civil Action at the Auckland Supreme Court a month or so ago a white-haired contractor, who stated he had been amongst horses for the past forty years, mentioned that in alighting from a horse he simply threw the reins on the ground. Mr. Justice Edwards, who was on the Bench, though such a practice to he dangerous, and said that though he owned a horse in his younger days he was never so careless as to throw the reins on the ground, always tying them to the saddle or to a fence. "Perhaps a different practice exists amongst experts," he added. The veteran contractor, despite the judicious opinion, firmly adhered to his previous statement. A young Aucklander, who is employed on a sheep farm in the south, read the paragraph referring to the matter, and he writes to say that the contractor's version correctly indicates the prevailing practice. He says that none of the shepherds, or anyone employed on the station, would think of tying the reina of a saddle-horse to a fence or to th« saddle. The practice is to drop the reins over the head of the horse, and let it graze. iSome horses will not stand if tied up, but with the reins on the ground are safe not to go more than a few yards if left for any length of time. —Star.