The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 1879.
The address of the Attorney-General in Dunedin the other day, although it would not have taken his and fence; by surprise, would nevertheless have made those who listened to his bold and manly expression of opinion set up their ears. So rarely is it in these limes that we hear an independent expression of free and untrammeled thought of a really honest politician, that it must have been quite refreshing to listen to such an out-spoken, fearless, ’public servant as we have in the present' Attorney-General. Mr Stout is one of those rare, gifted, truth-loving, highminded gentlemen that one feels no hesitation in trusting with the most important interests which concern their welfare, politically, socially, or financially. At the very outset he betrays a decision of character and strength of mind that forms quite a contrast to the namby-pamby sort of speeches we have been accustomed to hear, or to read of for some time past. One can respect even an enemy when he believes- he states what he thinks and really believes is right. Mr Stout is one of those of whom it may be said he fears not the face of man. It would be well for the great mass of this colony to have the views he enunciates speedby carried out. Most of flie measures introduced last session had for their object the welfare of the many, ns against the monopolising tendencies of the action of the few. It cannot be denied that a great, amount of discontent prevails with the grasping, money-grubbing propensities of the wealthy classes. Litlle thought seems to be given to Ihe future good of the colony / the main object of the wealthy possessors of large blocks of agricultural land in the colony seems to be how to make the most money out of their estates, and how best they can defeat the tax gatherer. The measures introduced by the Government last session, taken one by one, must bring conviction to ovorv unbiased mind that
S,lr George Grej' and Ida Ministers ( ; se'ek not their own good, but the good of , the hard-working classes of New Zealand. [ Eew can be blind to the fact that a groat j blunder was committed in aleniating from ; the:crown so much land in large blocks."[ Hud the Government retained some hold j ; upon those lands much of the increased j value of tiie land would have,.been for the J benefit of Government instead of going to i fill the pockets of absentees or speculators who are prepared to realise at any moment when they are called upon to contribute a share of the country’s expenses. We never were favourable to selling land in large blocks, it only'placed money in the bands of a reckless Government to spend in a lot of rotten wooden bridges and. such like works. • We"always ad-.yocatod-am. still advocate letting land on lease or purchase on deferred payments. Blame is attached to Mr Rolleston for opposing a measure for carrying this out. It was one of the greatest mistakes Mi Rolleston committed his not pushing ahead such a measure-'when it would have been of great use to do so. At the present moment ; over TOO,OOO acres of land are let out on purchasing clauses in Otago Province and over £25,000 yearly income is coming in from these lands. Double this area could have been let out on similar ; or even more favorable terms in this province, ami nearly three times the amount of annual revenue derived from it, apart from the number of families that might have been settled in happy homes. This would have been a valuable source of income when our land sales cease. It is gratifying therefore to find that Mr Stout still holds the same opinion in regard to this matter as he did before he entered Parliament. It is yet possible to do much in this way with the pastoral lands of this Province ; 5000 to 10,000 acre blocks could be sold, or let with purchasing clause, at five times the rental per annum that is promised for the next tenor twelve years. Only the other day, a block of land of some twelve to fifteen hundred acres of wild pastoral country was let by theowner at four shillings an acre per annum, and this witUout a shilling’s worth of improvement upon it. This is proof of what could be done with much of the runs in Canterbury, if put in the market. It is more than likely a measure to effect this object will lie one of lire measures brought before Parliament next session. We have good reason for believing greater reforms are contemplated for next session’s work than have yet entered the minds of those out of the Government secret. Mr Stout does little more than recapitulate the measures that have been before the country. But others of even greater moment;'necessitated by the almost entire collapse of our land sales,' will have to be boldly faced. Much has been made of the present movement to collect the Land Tax. The opposers of that tax try to throw every obstacle in the way of its accomplishment ; but this will be found to be only beating the air. A glance at the printed forma in circulation will convince any individual with average intelligence that more information is sought for than appears at first sight. A halfpenny tax is simply introducing the thin en<l of the wedge. If it is contemplated by the Government to remove entirely the- duty still remaining upon such necessaries of life as tea and sugar, the revenue must be raided from other sources—a heavier land tax, a property and income tax, and beer tax worthy the name, must all be borne with if the colony is to hold its own and keep its credit good. Any attempt to lay heavy burdens upon the small farmers would be. a short-sighted policy- No class work harder for their living, or more fully deserve the short-lived prosperity they have lately enjoyed, than the agricultural fanner. They have submitted to the duty on grain being removed without a word ; they pay high prices for their land in most instances, and they labour hard to improve their holdings, to make them their own ; to put a tax upon improvements would be,to kill the goose that lays the golden egg ; Mr Stoat’s views with-regard to triennial parliaments are also in accordance, with the tone of public opinion, but his proposals for increased representation go too far. Universal suffrage will not suit this colony—at least so long as so many carry their swags. Democracy would soon be mobocracy. If this is carried out. the floating population are not educated up' to a standard to warrant our legislators in giving them this power. Without some qualification, our Local Ehction Act would soon be inoperative for good. Regarding the views' expressed by Mr Smut in connection with the Legislative Council, we must also enter our dissent, in so far as that we do not think it advisable to destroy our House of Lords ; but it might be well to limit their number, and to make a portion elective. The honorarium of £2OO a-year, to gentlemen acknowledged to bo placed there as much for their riches as their intelligence, is a perfect' absurdity, and should be speedily erased,from the statute book, if they have not the good sense themselves to lead them to refuse it. The matter of an elected governor must be one of Mr Stout’s diversions, used as a decoy, or rather as a bone, thrown to the Opposition to pick while he is looking after the carcase. It must be one of Mr Stout’s vagaries so common, too, with all men, and merely shows : ' that no man is i perfect. It has to be remembered, however, that the Attorney - General is but young in office, and like all beginners, is liable to go to extremes, but I there is good hope of a man being cured of his shortcomings when he is possessed of so many brilliant gifts as Mr Stout possesses. With Mr Stout’s firmness, a man who can speak so independently, and act so independently, can well afford to. listen to the advice of his friends when they endeavour to show him his shortcomings. In the local matters which Mr Stout dealt with, we are not deeply interested. One measure passed last session requires more than a passing notice. The law of entail has caused so much strife and bloodshed in families of nearly all nations for the last eighteen hundred years, or longer, as must lead every well regulated nnnd to rejoice that a measure has been passed that will prevent a repitition of such tragic events in this country. If for nothing else the present Attorney-General’s name will be made honourable mention of in ages to come. Nothing is more natural than a father of a family bequeathing nearly all that a good providence has blessed him I with to one son, leaving all the others, ' who are also his flesh and blood, to 1 struggle on penniless in the world, ’while
a profligate, it may bo, is spending bis substance, or rather the substance of his brotheftlumd sisters, in riotous living, and for this, if for nothing else, the late session-'of Parliament'>as not* barren, more could not'be dime than was-donddt may he set down to; a d issatDfiedycliqutl,' who set themselves' up as jqhstvuctionistfi, and because they could uofeget their way of things'they would not JeP the Government have their way; however good their measures might be. Had Triennial Parlments been a part of the constitution this opuosition to the will.of. the people would hot have been heard of. However, a good time is coming. With such indepen-dent-minded gentlemen as Mr Stout, who possesses great administrative abilities ; Mr Sheehan, his" suavity, ready tact, and adaptability to make himself all things to all men ; Mr Macandrow, with his great practical knowledge, ami with Sir George Grey at the helm of affairs, who possesses more Governmental knowledge than any man in this colon}', and with a largeness of heart to take in the case of the lowest unprotected sufferer in any part of the colony, the country need not fear mismanagement or neglect of their interests The electors, notwithstanding this, will not need to stand idly by. No one who has been so long accustomed to ran wild over the length and breadth. of_ the colony, and of this province especially, who have been accustomed to call all that , they see their own, can he expected to give up their assumed rights without a struggle. We ma}' therefore expect to see the monied interests, and the squatting interest, and the aristocratic interest put forth all their dying force when they see that tli.-ir craft is in serious danger. 13e united, be firm, be strong, and when the day of trial comes victory is yours.
'll: uric a Parsonage. —At a meeting- of the Temuka Parsonage Building Committee ] i cl cl ou Tuesday evening it was resolved that the contemplated gift auction be held in the Volunteer Hall/ Temuka, on Thursday, the 13th February. In a future issue we shall beable to name a place of deposit for intended donations. The Late Rough Weatheh.—lt appears that on Tuesday, the time we were having a heavy rain almost without wind, heavy westerly gales were blowing in other parts of New - Zealand. At - Westport and Nelson there was a furious westerly gale on Monday night. On the same night and on Tuesday it was blowing with such violence at Wellington as to overthrow some buildings in course of erection. If we rightly recollect, whatever wind we ourselves bad came from the southward. ' Deith of. a Clydesdale Entire. —Mr John Cramond’s horse the Marquis of Lome died very suddenly on Wednesday evening after a short sickness, from inllammation of the bowels. Mr Durham, V.S., was sent for, biifc before he arrived the horse died, the inflammation being of a very severe nature. ■ Post Office Delivery. —Over and over again have complaints been made about want of delivery of letters and papers from our post office. We have only to say it depends upon the townspeople themselves whether or not this is done. They have only to memorialise the proper postal authorities to have a daily delivery, and it will be done here as well as it is done in other places not larger than Temuka. Temuka Cricket Clue. — A meeting of committee of this club was hold on AV odnesday evening, six members of committee being present. It was resolved to accept a challenge received from the Vv inohestor club to play a match at Temuka this at'te.inoon. Play to commence at one, and the match to be played out, if possible. The following were chosen to play for Temuka: A. E. Cox,, MTntosh, Gariy on, Brown, Hunt, Wood, Roberts, McFariane, S. D. Barker, Tavernier, and D. Craig. Emergency : James Hay, Hardeastle, and Hayhurst. Mr J. McFariane was elected a member of committee vice Mr Strangman, -who has left the district. A challenge from the secretary of No. 1 Company of Volunteers it was decided to decline, with thanks. The following resolutions were passed unanimously : That the, material of the club bo only used by members. —That no one be recognised as a playing member until his subscription bo paid. — That an advertisement bo inserted in the Temuka Leader calling upon members to pay their subscriptions to the treasurer without delay. The Suicide at the Waitohi,— lt appears somewhat strange to us that no medical evidence concerning this case was thought necessary or advisable- As strict matter of fact, perhaps, a medical' examination Of * the body of the deceased would have been useless, but it is, we believe, customary for such an examination to bo made in such cases. According to the evidence given at the inquest as reported elsewhere some such evidence was sought —from the constable in charge. Now it is quite too much to expect from a police constable that he shall bo able to certify to the immediate cause of death in cases of the kind. There may often be, as no doubt was the fact in this instance, no great difficulty in determining the cause of . death, but, on the other hand there may be difficulty, and to make sure of' the truth being arrived at it were better to adhere to the ordinary custom of obtaining the; assistance of a qualified medical man. The treatment of the body of the unfortunate girl subsequent to the inquest was such as does no great credit to the humanity of those concerned. The body was placed in the coffin in the same state as when viewed by the jury, except that it was simply wrapped in a sheet. It was carted down to Temuka and buried without ceremony and with the rope still about its neek! Pleasant Valley.— On' Thursday the children attending the Pleasant Valley , y ’bool were given a treat “ under the willows ’ on Mr Hardcast-lo’s farm near the school. The afternoon’ was spent in various amusements, ruimin o ' races, Ac., for prizes, the pastimes being interrupted about 4-.30 by tea. The provisions were provided by the ladies of the district, and were just such as youngsters consider the right, thing for a school treat,, were of various kinds, and ample in quantity. A considerable number of the parents-of the' children and some friends from a distance were also entertained at tea. About seven an adjournment was made to the schoolroom. The room was hung with ferns and. boughs, so that it looked like a bower—anything but a place that a boy should crawl “ like a snail, unwillingly,” to." The chairmanjof 'the committee, Mr Hardeastle, distributed the prizes gained by the children through the lat e cx : animation of the school by Mr Hammond. These prizes consisted of good books purchased with funds collected by subscriptions in the neighborhood. The official report on the examination was not to hand, but Mr Hammond had kindly sent the pass list and an unofficial letter, in which he stated that the result of the examination was very satisfactory. Of 38 chib Iren presented in ■ the standards only three had failed to pass, and the failures were those of children who had not attended regularly. , The following is the class list: —Passed ’. Standard V., Ist. Annie Hardeastle ; 2nd, Katie Bennett; 3rd, Katie Ifardeaatlo. Pass id 'Standard 111. ;
Ist, Edward Bennett; 2nd, James Best; 3rd, i G. Hardcastle., Second division : Ist, P. Lysaght; 2nd 1 ; AeTatham ; 3rd, C. Lysaght. Passed Standard IT.: Ist, Annie Grcgon ; 2nd,* W,. Best ; 3rd, ! Ada.-Beckley. Second division :' Ist, Margaret Higgins ; 2nd, May Whittaker ; 3rd, .Itevbert Bennett, Passed Standard i I. : Isty Mary .Lysaght j 2nd, I). Oregon ; " 3rd, E. King..; Below Standard T. ; Ist, Austin Lysaghti’AJnd, T. Bennett; 3rd, P. Grogon-; 4th, 11. Guilford. After the distribution of prizes small spelling bees were held among the children in their different classes. The bec| were very well managed by Mr King, the schoolmaster, the words being given in rounds of increasing difficulty" so that each child was encouraged" by being able to spell the words given at the outset. The parents present wex*e evidently greatly interested in* this part of the evening’s entertainment. These class bees were interspersed with readings and recitations by the more proficient of the children. . About nine o’clock the chidren sang a verse of “ God Save the Queen,” and were dismissed to theirhomes. Several of the elders, however, who had not had enough exorcise in the field, remained for some time after to enjoy a daucc. Temuka. Mechanics’ Institute. The annual general meeting of the members, which was called for last night, had to be postponed, owing to but few turning up at, or for an hour after the time appointed. Tire turn-out of the Fire Brigade-was the counter attraction, and it proved altogether too strong for the meeting to compete with. The meeting will therefore be held next Friday evening at 8 p.m. Sickness in- Tehuka. —We arc very sorry to hear that Mr Leo has lost another child through that terrible scourge diphtheria. This makes, wo believe, the fourth death from this cause within a few days. Many parents are taking the-precaution of keeping their children from school for fear of their receiving the infection from those coming from those coming from dangerous localities. . Yesterday not‘more than fifty children appeared at school. It is to bo hoped that parents residing near places where the disease has made its appearance, will have sense enough to keep their children from school. Temutca Fine Brigade. —This ■ brigade turned out last night, and a useful cud being placed before the member, a first-rate muster was made. The engine was taken down to Mr Lee’s where diptheria recently, broke out with such virulence, for the purpose of using, the domestic drain, and thoroughly watering the premises. Water ; was readily obtained from the creek on the opposite side of-the road, and there was no lack of hands to force it. to the required spot. Seeing how how willingly people turned out last night, we were impressed with the idea that if something useful could bo found for the engine to do on every practice night, there would seldom be occasion to report that a practice was poorly attended. Reaper and Binder Contest. —Tim competition for the .prize offered by the Agricultural and Pastoral Association for the best reaper arid binder, took place on Thursday, at Mr Boag’s farm.. The M'Cormick was the victor, the Osborne, which .von the trial, last year, running close up.
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Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 114, 18 January 1879, Page 2
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3,291The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 1879. Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 114, 18 January 1879, Page 2
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