The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1885. DESPOTISM.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2093, 12 September 1885, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1885. DESPOTISM.

9 The reply given by the Premier to Mr Tuknbull's question, whether it was correct, as reported in a Press Association telegram, that the charge preferred against Baron Mollwo for taking money at the doors of the Theatre at Masterton on Sunday, had been withdrawn by order of tbeMinister ofJustice, ismostunsatisfactory, because, while it gave no reason, it showed that one Minister deliberately went out of | his way to meddle with the duties of another. The only argument that Mr Ballance can bring forward in support of his action is that he is Minister of Defence, and that as such he has a certain amount of control over the

police. It cannot, however, be argued with the slightest show of reason that this is meant to be applied to the administration of the civil laws of the country. It was a mistake to take the proceedings, and the case would most certainly have been dismissed it it had been allowed to proceed, if for no other reason, for the simple one that beyond getting on the stage and lecturing, the defendant hud nothing whatever to do with the entertainment, The ends of justice would therefore have been just as well served if the case had gone on. Why, we ask, do not Ministers, display un equal degree of officionsness in other cases that are brought under their notice, and in which their inter, fererice is often vory desirable? Many an unjust and malicious prosecution is allowed to drag along for days, and, perhaps months, and not a hand is stirred. Why did not the Minister of Defence, who, for religious reasons, took a personal interest in the matter, go to his colleague who has charge of the Department, and ask him to give instructions to the police to abandon the case 1 We can answer the question for him without fear of being; contradicted, It was because lie knew that the request wouid not be complied with. Acts of this description interfere with the administration of justice, and the Minister who is arbitrary enough to stay a prosecution, may also be found to possess a sufficient degree of narrowmindedness and despotism to order prosecutions were they would be entirely unnecessary, A very few steps in this direction would lead us back to the intolerance of the middle ages. The case was one in which it was the duty of the police to judge whether it should be taken up or not, and when it was taken up,then it should have been allowed to go before the Magistrate, The Minister was not supposed to know officially whether the information was laid under the Police Offences or any other Act, and the fact of him possessing knowledge on that point betrays that he has been meddling, The remarks which were made by the Resident Magistrate, Mr Stratford, were exactly to the point, and show that there was a danger of the' independence of the Court being undermined.

In Committee of Supply lust night the Minister of Public Works said reductions could be made as follows Hamilton-Grahamstown line, ,£11,000; Napier • Woodville, £65,000 ; Main Trunk, £48,000 ; East and West Coast, £149,000 ; Picton Southwards, £8,000; Livingstone branch, £8,000; Otngo Central, £25,000 ; Waiinea Switzers, £10,000; addition to open railways, £20,000; Huntley branch, £11,500 ; Helensville northwards, £20,000; total, about £375,000. These figures differ very little from what we have already published. We think all the reductions are very reasonable, and as they stop further borrowing at the present stage, an important point has been gained. It will be seen that most of these reductions have been carried in Committee.

A one-legged schoolmaster in Southland has just had to pay £75 to soothe the feelings of a jilted Dunedin dressmaker. She wanted £IOOO, but the jury thought £75 would patch up the crack in her affections.

Notice is given in the Gaiette that statements of real and 'personal property must, under the Property Assessment Act, be sent in to the Commissioner of Property Tax, at the Government Buildings, on or before Octobor 21st. Forms can bo obtained from any postmaster or local assessor, but the duty of procuring them is cast upon the public. On Sunday morning there was quito a sensation among the Maoris across the Wanganui river. A young Maori who is subject to asthma took ill and swooned away, As he did not come to after the usual interval, his brother felt his pulse, and not perceiving any movement, said that lie was dead. The Maoris thereupon set up a tangi but in the midst of their lamenting (says the Herald), the apparently dead man returned to life,

A bagful of historical documents, relating to proceedings which led to the siege »f Carlisle by the Scots after the battle of Marston Moor, has been found under a beam in the triforium of Carlisle Cathedral by some workmen who wero doing repairs. The documents bear the dates 1642 and 1C43, and they must have been hidden under tho beam 240 years ago, They liave beon taken possession of by tho Dean and Chapter, who intend to have them examined by experts. A Southern paper calls the hill from which Mr McKerrow and party observed the eclipse, Otauhauao. The new name is supposed to have been given because a dog barked at the moon when it began to obscure the sun, A sale of considerable interest will be held by Mr P. H. Wood on the 18th inst. Mr Wood has received instructions from Mr A. R. Wallis, builder and contractor, of Clareville, to sell by public auction a quantity of builder's machinory, timber, undertaker's requisites, horse and trap, etc. The sale will be without reserve.

Messrs Hercock and Shute, who ivere appointed a deputation, at tho last meeting of earners, to wait on the Minister of Public Works, relative to the freight of wool on the Railway, proceeded to Wellington on Thursday, and interviewed Mr Richardson at 11 a.m, yesterday, being introduced by Mr G. Beetham, M.H.R, Mr Maxwell, General Manager of Railways, was also present, The object of the movement on the part of the carriers having been explained, Mr Richardson promised that a reply should be forwarded by next Tuesday week, on which day another meeting of carriers will be held.

The annualmeeting of the Grey town Cricket Club was held on Thursday night, Mr J. Tully, President, occupying the chair, From the balance-sheet submitted it appeared that there was a credit balance of £2 8s 8d in the Bank, and that the othor assets wore valued at £3O, The number of members on the roll is 45, A voto of thanks was passed to the members of the Working Men's Club for their liberal donations to the funds of the Club. The following officers were elected President Mr J. Tully; Vice Presidents. Messrs J. P. Russell and W. C. Buchanan; Hon. Treasurer, Mr W, Knell; Hon. Secretary, Mr M. Vamham; practice captain, Mr H. Hawke; Committee, Messrs G. Jackson, H. Udy tertius, W. Judd, J. Maguire, J. Eccleton and W. C. Cuff; Match Committee, Messrs J, Maguire, H. Hawke, H. Udy, and W. Judd. Custodian, Mr D. P. Player. The offer of Mr Cuff to give the use of a paddock free of charge was accepted with thanks. It is intended to open the season on October 10th, with a match between the married and single members of the club,

The weekly meeting of the Masterton Freethought Society will be held in the Theatre Royal to-inorrow evening.

Anew advertisement from the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co, Limited, appears over'our leader.

The Salvation Army intends holding extraordinary meetings, led by the "Musical Couple" to-morrow, 'v

Mr P. H. Wood will sgll a' further consignment of clothing, drapery, etc., from Mr J. McDowell, at his rooms, Greytown, on Tuesday next,

Our German readers will be amused to learn that there resides atDunedin a man named Demel. It is proposed to run him for Parliament.

The ofhcial declaration of the poll for the election of three members of the Masterton Borough Council is made in another column. It will be seen that the numbers have been raised by one all round.

Members of the Masterton-Opaki Jockey Club are reminded that the annual meeting takes .place at the Club Hotel this evening, Some important business is likely to be brought forward.

Messrs Lowes and lorns add to their stock sale for Wednesday next some 32 head of cattle, comprising quiet young cows, 18 month steers and yearlings, No business specially affecting the parishes in the Wairarapa has as yet been transacted at the Diocesan Synod at the present sitting in Wellington. A motion by the Rev W. E, Paige to the effect that the annual election of vestrymen and churchwardens should be held in Easter week was withdrawn.

Between five and six thousand young salmon were taken out of the hatching boxes of the Acclimatization Society yesterday, and conveyed by Mr Macara to the Forty-Mile Bush, where they were to be liberated by Mr McDonald, the Society's custodian, in the yarious tributaries of the Manawatu, These rivers appear to bo well adapted for salmon, aud it is hoped that ere many years have passed, they will be sufficiently stocked to afford sport to anglers,

An important auction sale of sections in the township of Pahiatua is announced by Messrs Banner and Liddle, of Napier, through their auctioneers, Messrs T. Kennedy Macdonald & Co. There are two hundred sections in all, ranging in extent from a quarter of' an acre to four acres. The land is among the highest in the township, and well adapted for business purposes. High prices have of late been obtained for land in Pahiatua, showing that the public has faith in the future of the place, and the sale should therefore be looked forward to by business men and speculators. The sale takes place on the 25th inst.

Professor Rice gave his second entertainment before a good audience last night. As on the previous occassion, the programme opened with mind-reading, and, as before, he always found the article thought of, or drew a very good sketch of it. Each successful test elicited loud and most flattering applause. He explained how he read what persons present had written on paper, and the simplicity of the trick, no doubt, created as much surprise as the trick itself. Tho threo little boys who assisted in tying a watch and key on two pieces of braid and then held the ends, created immense amusement, and the ease with which the Professor took them of? and put them into the pockets of two of them, was a great surprise. An immense amount of fun was created by the Professor's efforts to mesmerise a dog. The canine produced had a half dead and alive sort of appearance, and . the indifference which he displayed for some time kept him out of the influence of the power. He however eventually succumbed, and allowed a pin to be put through a fold of his skin without wincing, Two out of the four men who volunteered to be mesmerised were after a little trouble subdued to the will of the Professor, and behaved in tho most amusing manner, There is a matinee this afternoon, and for to-night a complete change of programme has been promised. This will bo the last opportunity of witnessing this really clever performance. 1 wish most sincerely to thank the many visitors from the Wairarapa for their liberal patronage during the last three weeks, and beg to inform intending purchasers that my whole stock of Clothing, Hats, Hosiery, Ac. &c., will stilt be offered at the net cost price for cash, up till the ond of the present month.—l am, John Thorburn, Clother & Outfitter, Willis-st., Wellington. Know Thyself.-Professor A. E. liice, the celebrated Physiognomist and Mindreader will give to those desirous of consulting him, tho opportunity of procuring accurate and carefully-written descriptions of character, with charts and advice respecting choice of occupation, education, management of children, self-culture, marriage, &a. Call at the Club Hotel. Charts 10a Gd and as each.— [Advt.] Venetian Blind and Revolving Shutter Manufacturer. All Blinds guaranteed of the very best description. Price list on application to R. W. Hen (late Hen and Hansen.) Poneke Steam Venetian Blind and Revolving Shutter Factory, Wellington.—Advt.