The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 1898.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 272, 9 April 1898, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 1898.

Tub speech of the Premier at Hamilton on Thursday evening was as usual most convincing to all who have not carefully studied political mat ers and the administration of his ministry. To those who have, the contortion of facts was no doubt interesting as a mental exercise, but could not fail to excite disgust in those who appreciate and look for high character in our public men. The Premier complained of personal feeling being introduced into politics and the personal characters of political men being assailed. The Premier knows full well that this has never been done except where the exposure of administrative misdeeds has reflected upon the characters of those who have been guilty of them. We never remember to have read any attack upon the private characters of political men for the purpose of damaging them in their public positions. For our part we have never made one, and we may add that none but the veriest pariah of our profession would bo guilty of the meanness. If in criticising public actions the characters of the men criticised sull'cr, the fault i 3 theirs, not ours, as it is always the action we condemn; not the man,

The Premier defended the Bushy Park transaction, and claimed for it that it was legitimate iii every respect, and that the sons of the Hon. Mr MoKenzio were not afforded any special facilities or terms, and quoted from the speech of Mr Fraser to convince his audience of the truth of his assertion. At the risk of being accused of making a personal attack, we will repeat the facts. The estate was in the hands of the Realisation Board, of which the Premier was and is a member, and draws a salary for his services. It was alleged by the Minister for Lands that the estate had been advertised. It never was, except in the following general terms : " The Assets Realisation Board are prepared to receive and consider offers for the selling or leasing of any one or more of their properties in any part of New Zealand. Full particulars can be obtained on application to the general manager, Wellington." Surely an estate worth £17,624 was worthy of a better and more definite advertisement than this. Several substantial people made inquiries as to what price the estate would be sold at. The reply received from Mr Todd, the chairman of the Board, was that the estate would not be leased, but would be sold by auction in March. On January Bth the McKenzies made an offer of £8 per acre, no cash to be paid, but a m' rtgage to be taken at i\ per cent. The money was advanced at that rate by a Government Department. No other person has ever been able to get money for less than 5 per cent., and no other settler has been enabled to get an advance up to the full estimated value of a property. These are the facts, and the Premier never made any attempt to deny them, except in general terms Surely this is a piece of maladministration of the grossest kind, if even a stronger term may not with justice be applied to the transaction. As to the Pomahaka estate, the Premier practically admitted that too high a price had been paid for it. This estate was purchased from a connection of the Hon. Mr McKonzie. This may of course be only a coincidence, and the officials of the department be solely responsible as stated by the Premier. It is hardly necessary to again allude to the German Syndicate business, unless it be to state that what the Premier said in regard to it has not in the least altered our opinion that his holding the dual position is indecent and injurious to the credit and character of the colony. The precedents he quoted are not analagous, and if they were the fact would not alter the position one tittle. We refrain from writing any more concerning the expenses of the trip Home, further than to point out that no other Australian Premier asked more than £IOOO for his expenses in upholding the dignity of his colony. The Premier made light of the Wellington election, and claimed that the voting showed that the Liberal party had not lost adherents in that city. If this be so, the Liberals are outnumbered, otherwise they would have put their man in. There may be a majority of Liberals, but the result proved conclusively that Seddonites are in a minority.

Mr Seddon denied absolutely the statements made by Mr J. Hutcheson in his address to his constituents in Welington. Mr Hutcheson says that Ministers were not prepared to proceed with the business and that the unequal appointments to committees were deliberately made in order to compel the Opposition to obstruct business. He also denied that the Bill for providing technical education was purposely worded in such a manner as to leave the door open to subsidise denominational schools. It is for the public to judge pending further revelations which of the two has told the truth. Clearly one or the other has not. Mr Seddon made as much capital as he could out of a statement by Captain Russell that the Opposition had stonewalled. As Mr Hutcheson pointed out, the position was such that they would have failed in their duty had they not done so.

Mr Seddon spoke in most favourable terms of the prospects of the sugar-beet industry, and explained that he had withdrawn the Bill because be found that it would not be supported by the House, and he was not going to court defeat. With his majority at his back he could have easily carried the Bill. It is desirable that Mr Seddon's advice should be taken, and the matter not be allowed to drop out of notice. It is the industry of all others that would bring prosperity to this or any other suitable district in which it may be started. The Premier expressed surprise that, the speculation being such a good one, Government assistance should be asked The probably correct answer to the question is that capitalists are afraid to venture their money in the country without some security, that their interests will not be endangered by hostile legislation.

The Premier has the power in an eminent degree of carrying a meeting with him, but when his speeches arc calmly considered when they appear in print, there is very little in them, and that little is not all gospel, unless it be that according to Seddou. On Thursday he took our advice and made the attempt to confute one or two of the charges brought against the Government, but we think we have shown above that our charges are not capable of being explained away to the satisfaction of logical minds.

In our next issue we shall deal with the policy of the Government, as laid down in the speech, and other matters dealt with,

We have not space sufficient at our disposal to deal satisfactorily with so long a speech in one issue.

Cli monts is to bo executed in Dunedin Jail at 8 o'clock on Tuesday morning.

At the Hamilton Auction Mart this afternoon Mr Knox will offer a lot of useful farm sundries, as well as furniture, etc.

Our local market prices, owing to the holiday yesterday, arc this week corrected up to noon of Thursday, instead of Friday as usual. Mr W. J. Hunter advertises full particulars in this issue of Mr G. S. Dixon's clearing sale at Cambridge on Wednesday, 27th April.

Several members of the Mt. Eden Lawn Tennis Club are visiting the district during the holidays, and on Monday next a series of games will be played against members of the Hamilton Club.

We learn through Mr Lang, the member for Waikato, that the Premier's visit to Otoiohanga is to make arrangements for the immediate survey and disposal of the King Country lands suitable for settlement.

A meeting of the Hamilton Regatta Committee is convened to be held in the Commercial Hotel, Hamilton, on Thursday evening next, at 8 o'clock, when business of an important nature will be transacted.

In the local appearing in our last issue, re the harvest festival at Kopua, the fruit was supplied by the Rev. 11. Young, whose daughter also led the singing. Through some mistake the name in each instance appeared as Wilson.

Messrs McNicol and Co. will hold their annual sale of turnip cattle at Ohaupo on Wednesday, 25th May (Tuesday—usual sale day—being the Queen's Birthday). They will also hold their fourth Sheep Fair on Thursday, 26th May. An Assessment Court for the Borough of Cambridge was held at the Courthouse in that town on Thursday, by Captain Jackson, S.M. There not having been any objections lodged, the roll was duly certified to and signed by the Magistrate.

We have been requested to intimate that the services at Christ Church, Kihikihi, will be as follows from and after the 17th inst. :—Service every Sunday at 7 p.m., with the exception of the third Sunday in the month, when it will be at 11 a.m.

The annual sports meeting of the Waipa Amateur Athletic Club will be held at Pironcia on Monday next. As will be seen from our Pirongia correspondent's notes in another column, everything poiuts to a most successful meeting, and we hope the expectations will be fulfilled.

The following alterations have been made in the list of church services as published on Thursday :—There will be a celebration of the Holy Communion at Christ Church, Kihikihi, at 3 p.m., with evening service at 7.30 p.m. The celebration of the Mass at Ohaupo at 8 a.m. has been cancelled.

The inhabitants of Cambridge can have an enjoyable afternoon's sport to-day by attending the polo match that will be held in Mr Jas. Taylor's paddock at 3 p.m. We are told the match will be New Chums v. The World. We can certify that the fun will be fast and furious, i.e., if it is like the one held last year. Some of the applications for relief sent in to the Napier committees by sufferers from the bush fires are strangely worded. Here is an extract from one by a widow : " I have in family four dairy cows, two pigs, a horse and two little children, all these being by my first husband, and two goats in full milk, and. a baby by my second husband. Ali of the animals was lost in the fire."

At a meeting of the Pay of Plenty Jockey Club last week, it was decided to offer a stake of £25 at the next annual meeting, for a Hunt Club Steeplechase. All entries must be accompanied with a certificate from the master of the Waikato Hunt Club that the horse entered has hunted during this season with the Waikato hounds in Tauranga.

At the Hamilton Creamery 12,530 gallons of milk were received during the month ending 31st March last. This is a serious drop from the corresponding month of last year, when the supply was 24,769 gallons, almost double that of this year during the same period. So unfavourable a season has not been experienced since the dairying industry was inaugurated in the district, some ten years back. The Methodist Convention held in Trinity Weslcyan Church, Hamilton, yesterday, was well attended aui a vciy interesting and instructive time was spent. We regret that pressure on our space precludes us from giving a resume of the papers which were read and of the discussions which followed. Rev. Dr. Hosking presided in the morning, Mr J. 1). Mciville in the afternoon, and Mr W. S. Allen in the evening.

Pastor D. Steed will preach tomorrow (Sunday) in the Public Hall, Cambridge, his subject being : " The Second Coming of Chiist." Quite astir has been made Vy believers in the Second Advent, who have claimed to be able to tell the month in which Chiist would co'me. Mr Steed holds that such teaching is unscriptural, and results in bringing about a contempt for the Bible. He believes the Bible has much to say concerning it, which will be in harmony with history and commendable to our common sense.

The excursion train from Auckland yesterday was largely patronised, the second-class accommodation being severely taxed. A considerable delay was caused near Pukekohe, owing to one of the two engines breaking down. Temporary repairs, however, wore effected, a'ld the train was able to proceed. The return train was not quite so crowded ; many, no doubt, remaining for a few days in the various contres. The majority of the carriages were lighted with the new gas, and it certainly is an improvement on tiie old time lamps.

As will be seen from an advertisement on our third paj>e, Madame Shoesmith's Concert Company will visit Hamilton on Wednesday next. The company comprises some first - class artists, the names of whom arc sufficient guarantee that the programme will be above the average. The company will, we understand, be assisted by Mrs Whitaker, Dr. Kenny, and other local talent, and the Hamilton Brass Baud and orchestra will also play selections. A few seats will be reserved, and may be booked at Captain Keid's photographic studio, vietoria-street.

On Thursday afternoon, some boys started a tire on the derelict steamer, Kangiriri, which for some years lias been lying on the bank below the Traffic Bridge, at Hamilton. During the evening not much notice was taken of the fire, but shortly after mid-night the matter was brought under the nonce of Cous'.able Forbes, and he at once took steps to put it out. It seems a pity that a connecting link with the past history of our district—as the old steamer undoubtedly was—should be allowed to decay away in such a manner, and we think wc would not bo out of place hi suggesting that steps should be taken to secure some of the sound timbers for u*e in the erection of the proposed library building at Hamilton, to serve as a memorial of the Maori War.

A Malta correspondent of the Times wiites : " A remarkable example of the admirable spirit which iuvpircs the Naval Service has been recently displayed in the case of the Barflcur, battleship, Oapt. R. N. Custancc. This vessel, which iu the ordinary course would have been ordered to England this month, was instead suddenly despatched to China. The oilicers and men went away with the utmost enthusiasm, and men whose time was up for pension at once volunteered to complete the commission. Indeed, so strong was the spirit that it was found impossible to get volunteers to remain behind in the tender."

About half-past nine on Thursday evening a house of five rooms in Hamilton East, owued and occupied by Mr Jno. Dixon, was totally destroyed by lire. Mis Dixon, who had only returned home a short time previously, in endeavouring to lift a lamp from the" table, let it fall to the lloor, and the kerosene at ooce caught alight and set fire to the wall paper. Mrs Dixon rusr.ed out aud gave the alarm, but no one responded lor some lime, and being alone she was only able to save a few clothes and articles of bedding. The flames spread rapidly, and before assi-t----ance arrived it was impossible to approach the house, which was quickly consumed. The house and furniture were both insured in the Royal Office, but owing to the holiday yesterday we were unable to ascertain for what amounts.

A young lady named Miss Cary was brought into the Waikato Hospital yesterday by the excursion train from Paeroa suffering from a compound fracture of the leg. It appears that Miss Cary was being driven to the wharf at I'acroa on Thursday afternoon in a bus, when an opposition vehicle came along. The inevitable race for first place ensued, with the result that Miss Cary was thrown out, and a wheel passing over her leg inflicted injuries as above. The young lady was at once attended to, but it was thought best to send her to the Hospital for treatment and nursing, and she was accompanied thither by three lady friends. Some considerable annoyance was felt by the party at the delay caused in getting a conveyance to take the suffer 3r to the Hospital. We are informed that a telegram was sent yesterday morning notifying that Miss Cary would be coming by the train, but nevertheless it was nearly an hour after the arrival of the train before a vehicle was obtained to take her to the Hospital

A very extraordinary case has just been before the courts from Ceylon, and is now being much commented upon by the Anglo-Indian press. A Mr Lemesurier, a young man of good family, holding a high position in the Ceylon Civil Service, became a convert to Mohammedanism, and signalised his change of religion in a way that shocked the community even more than his renunciation of Christianity. A few years ago he married a charming young lady of good family, and now he has deliberately married another young woman on the plea that being a member of the Mohammedan faith, he is entitled to more than one wile. The second wife is also English and of very good family, and prior to her arrangements with Mr Lemesurier to become his pecond wife, also embraced the Moslem creed. Mrs Lemesurier No. 1 absolutely objects to the proceedings, and has brought bilit for judicial separation. To this Mr Lemeauriej: replies that two wives are necessary to him, and that the English law has no right to interfere with a loyal subject's " religious views'" The Judge, however, holds that the man's status in Ceylon is a Christian status, and that au Englishman turning Mohammedan is subject to English law, except in matters belonging purely to the domain of religion. And there the matter remains pending appeal.