The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, JULY 12, 1886. POLITICAL CORRUPTION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2344, 12 July 1886, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY, JULY 12, 1886. POLITICAL CORRUPTION.

A month ago we referred to a cloud, then no bigger than a man's liund which hovered on the Ministerial horizon. The District Railway Debenture scandal was then an opeu secret, but the thing was s>o monstrous, and the persons implicated occupied such high positions, that no one cared to refer openly to the transaction, The report of the select Committee, which runs hs follows, "Your Committee having been appointed to enquire into and report whether any member of the Legislature negotiated for, or claimod or received any commission or other remuneration for promoting the passing of the District Railways Purchasing Act, 1885, or for negotiating the sale or purchase of debentures issued or to lie issued by the Government, have the honor to report as follows: —They first of all took tho evidence of Mr J. Steward the inomber for Waimate, regarding whom unfavorable reports have been in circulation in connection with the sale of certain district railway debentures. Thoy have also taken the evidence of Sir J. Vogel, Mr J. C. Buckland, and Mr Peacock. They have perused correspon dence between Mr Steward and the Official Liquidator of tho Duntroon and Hakateramea Railway Company, and the correspondence between Mr Steward and the Rotorua Railway Company. Your Committee have agreod to the following resolutions: (1) That while the evidence adduced does not warrant your committee iu reporting that Mr Steward was directly influenced by any pecuniary consideration in his'efforts to secure the passing of the District Railways Purchasing Bill through the House, they are nevertheless unable' to conclude other than that he considered in all probability he would be able to bring about a sale to the Government orthalnsuranceAssociv

•turn's of the Waimato and possibly tins Duntroon imil Hakateiam'eii Railway Debentures, and thus securo the receipt by him of a largo commission on the transaction, (2) That Mr Steward, in concluding tho negotiations presumably attached importance to his influence as a member of Parliament, as, in his letter to the Hon B, Campbell of date September 28, 1881, soliciting that gentleman's assistance in obtaining authority to sell the Duntraon and flakateramea Euilray Debentures, ho says" 1 have influence in two different quarters, which will enable mo, I think to get a bettor price than anyone else would," (3) That it is manifest -from tlid evidence of Mr Peacock, a member of tho House of Representatives, and Director of the Kotorua Railway Company that the Board appreciated the position, and the . consequent influence of Mr Steward as member of Parliament in dealing with the Government fop the sale of the Company's debentures, and that the payment of a Commission was apparently! secondary consideration to that of securing his services in the conduct of tho negotiation for tho sale. (4) That your Committee are of opinion that while Mr Steward has avoided any technical breach of the Disqualification Act, they unanimously regard the transactions referred to as calculated seriously to reflect upon and impugn the integrity of any members of Parliament engaged therein, and to give rise, as has been the case in this instance, to public scandal. (5) That it may be fairly assumed that had tho Government dealt directly with the Company the amount of commission might have been 6aved to the colony. (6) That it is greatly to be regretted that neitheivMr Stoward nor Sir J. Vogel, at appears by their respective evidence, recognises any impropriety in a member of Parliament acting as a paid agent in making a sale to Government."

now enables the press and the public to discuss the affair with freedom, It will be noticed that the language of the report is extremely guarded, but if there is any meaning in it at all it suggests the idea that the Colony has been plundered, and tho Colonial Treasurer is at least a consenting party to the nefarious transaction. The Wellington papers seem puzzled as to how the raattor should be treated, 'lhe Post, which is the Ministerial organ, tries to throw ridicule ail the Committee. The Press expresses sympathy with Sir Robert Stout, who has plainly to choose between his loyalty to the Colony, and his loyalty to his colleague, and the Times regrets that such a scandal has occurred. In one sense we do not share the regret expressed by the Wellington morning paper. Since the advent of the present Ministry there have been so many questionable transactions in which the colony has suffered at the hands of all classes in the community, the money of the people being diverted from public uses to private benevolences, that we are glad that one of them has at last been held up for public inspection. W« do not suppose that the House is particularly anxious to deal with the present scandal, but thanks to the publicity that has now been given to it, members dare not treat it with indifference. It would not suit Sir Robert Stout to go next year to the country with a blot on the Ministerial escutcheon such as the report of the Select Committee reveals. Of course Sir Julius Vogel has yet his opportunity of exonerating himself from blame to the House and country, but the fact is ou record that he has failed to do this with the Select Committee, which, no doubt, has carefully obtained and considered all the facts of the affair.

Th Wairarapa East County Council m eets to-morrow morning,

The various Committees of the Masterton Borough Council meet this evening, being the night preceding the ordinary meeting of the Council.

Messrs Lowes & lorns hold a sale of stock at the Society's yards, Carterton, to-morrow, the entries for which will be found in tha auction column. An advertisement in our columns notifies that the •' Rod Lamp" in Queenstroot indicates where the public can bo supplied with pure drugs and chemicals—the shop of Mr H. E, Eton, Thurndon Medical Hall.

Mr F. H. Wood adds to his Taratahi stock sale to bo held on Thursday July 16th, eight springing cows and heifers, fifteen calves, and twelve two year old steers and heifers.

We are requested to remind owners of sheep who have not sent in their returns to the Sheep Inspector's office, Masterton, of clause 21 of the Act, which has a penal clause attached to it to the extent of £2O for any one failing to send in the return by June 30 th, ■ The R.M. Court to-day has been occupied with tha settlement of a foncing dispute between Dr Hosking and Mr H. S. Wardell, R.M. who occupy the range of hills on the east of Masterton known as Taumata-Kaihuka, "A" block. Mr Bunny and Mr Beard are counsel for each litigant respectively, The Supreme Court criminal sittings commenced at Wellington this morning, there beiug fifteen cases on the list, The Judge, in his charge to the Grand Jury, said the cases were of the simplest kind, and none called for any remark. A true bill was found against Cornelius Tole for larceny. , Mr George Beotham has given notice that he will, on Tuesday next, ask the Government if they will place a sum of money on the Supplementary Estimates for the purpose of importing the natural enemies of the rabbit-(l) for the purpose of importing on account of the Government ; (2) for the purpose- of subsidising the efforts of associations, by assistance calculated at £1 for ill on amounts raised fur the above-mentioned purpose. Messrs Lowes and lorns report that at their sales on Saturday tho room was crowded. They atartod with land, and the Tinui proporty was passed not reaching the reserve, but sections in the township of Alfrodtou were all sold at satisfactory prices, after which tney sold a quantity of poultry, horßes, and produce., Fowls realised from 2s to 3s per pair, horses £6, potatoes 3s for inferior and 4s to 4s fid for the best table sorts fowls wheat 3s 9d, feed oats 2s fid to 23 lOd, and 2s lOd to 3s for seed sorts. A large consignment of Nelson fruit trees concluded the sale, all selling at what was considered good priceß.

The Oddfellows Ball has now become an institution that is looked forward to every yoar with great interest by those who delight in a good dance and a select company. Sweethearts, wives, sisters, and daughters always keep themselves disengaged that their husbands, lovers, or brothers may not -miss the pleasure of their company at the annual ball held under the auispic'es of the Loyal Masterton- Lodge- of Oddfellows. Visiting brethren and officers are invited to the foast, and it is a reunion that is looked forward to by many with great pleasure. The event takes place at the Theatre Royal on Wednesday July iilst.

Tho St Matthew's Church annual meet-, ing is advertised to take placo un Tuesday July 20th. The business is to elect a churchwarden and vestry, and to receive report and accounts. The Masterton Christy entertainment to-morrow evening, promises to be as successful as any yet held here, judging from tho assidous way in which tho members are practising.; The programme is a long and varied one, and finishes with a lively nigger farce. Members are requested to attend rehearsal this evening at the Theatre at 7.30 sharp. Messrs Howard and Willkms announce tlut they have opened a gasfittiug establishment in Queen-streot opposite Messrs Muir and Dixon's Coach Factory, Thev havo an extensive stock of trade requisites and should be able to gratify tho wishes of our business people in that respect. Among theiu are two, three, and five light gasoliers, globe ball lamps, single and double brackets, all pattern's, pendants suitable for shop windows 'with innumerable burners, T lights with shades and reflectors, in fact everything that a complote establishment requires. They have also everything necessary for manufacturjng.a,ny kind of burners mi the premises. ,

During the last: two months I 'have sold 60 . Men's Heavy 'Whitney Overcoats at lGs (id, and hnvo remainiug juiit 35 more, which I intend selling at 15a 9d, I have ako .just landed 24 Men's Hoavy Boaver Overcoats that I am selling at 28s 6(1, that are honestly worth 455. Boys' Overcoats from 9s Od. Youths' N.Z, made Tweed Hats 3s 6d, Men's Tweed Suits frofti lßa 6d,. Inspection solicited. Note the addteßS— I The Wairarapa Clothing Factory, next tho Empire Hotel, Masterton. Couaiis, Colds, Biionouitiu, 4c., are quickly cured by using Baxter's celebrated ' Lung Preserver." Tills old established, popular medicine is pleasant to the palate, adn highly extolled by tho mombere of the medical, legal, and clerical professions.' gold by all Patent Medicine Vendors. See testimonials in advertisements.-fAnvT.l

I aw going to make a speoiality ol certain lines during the next' •mouths. At the present time I am running Macintoshes and Overcoats at prices which defy any house in the Wellington District' to approach. By sending the length which you require in inches, you can be supplied with a grand Tweed Macintosh .for 27/6, honestly worth £3.. Give me a trial, John Thordurn, the People's Clothier, Wisstreet. Wellington.—fAnvT,] Venetian Blind nnd Revolving Shutter tnanu factory. All Bliudi guaranteed of the very best description. Price list on application to R. W. Henn (late Henn and Hansen.) Poneke Steam Venetian Blind and Revolving Faetory, Wellin(rton,-Ai)vr.