CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2614, 3 June 1887, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

PLETffiO PNUEMONIA. ' TO TUB EDITOR. Sir,—The following extract from the Pall Mall Riulgnt of .February 3rd, 1887, may bo of interest as bearing on the question discussed on Saturday by the Pastoral Association, During the lale Colonial Exhibition a reporter of that paper interviewed Professor McEauhran oi' Canada, who is F.R.C.V.S,, principal of tlm Montreal Veterinary College and Chief Government Inspector of live stock in the Dominion. Amongstothor interesting information about Canadian stock the reporter received this answer to the question, " Does cattle disease exist to any extent in Canada, Professor Mcliachran ?" " Wo, thanks to the fact that since. 1875 wo havo enforced a stringent system of quarantine The importation of cattle into Canada has been very large—on the average, from 1,500 to 2,000 head—during the lust six years. Yet we have been practically free from disease all the time. Since 1879, wo, havo detained all suspected animals in quarantine for three months (ninety days) The period of quarantine was increased from a few wceka to three months, Neither pleuro-pneumonia nor foot and mouth disease ever visited Canada, since the establishment of the quarantine system, and Canada from one end to tho other, may be said to bo absolutely free from any contagious disease of any kind. I am, tfec„ Arthur Rawson. MR R. S. HAWKINS' ADDRESS. [To the Editor, J Sir,—On opening the Daily a day or two ago, there dropped into my hand an inset, which, on examination proved to bo the expected address from Mr 1». S Hawkins to the electors, Having placed himself before the public, Mr Hawkins will, I presume, submit to such criticism as the press and the electors may think (it to subject him to, without complaining that undue advantage has been taken of the weak spots in his armor. The first point that must strike the reader of the address is that Mr Hawkins has attempted to seize time even''before it has a forelock. There was no vacancy for him to ste: > into, but lie saw no indecent haste in bespeaking one. Not knowing what would be the .shapeof llio district which lie is anxious to represent, nor even its name, he addresses himself to the " electors of Wairarapa North Oouniy," apparently oblivious of tho probability of a borough which would muster about one-half of the total number of electors boing included within its boundaries. He will probably rectify the mistake at an early opportunity, for otherwise the good people, of Mastertou might conclude that he does not want their support, and repay him in his own coin by ignoring him at the ballot box, In his own mind Mr Hawkins will probably say to the borough, " I hate you, yet I know that I cannot do without you. 1 ! Like a good many others, I have been a good deal puzzled over the third paragraph. What is there that is threatening or degrading in the '• development of a spirit of Imperialism f Can a new country degrade itself by'drawing closer the bonds of common interest which bind it to the

parent 1 Or is there anything discreditable in being a portion of one of the most powerful empires in the world? It' so, I fail to seo it. Indeed, I take a pride in being a subject of her Majesty in this far oil' country. The explanation appears in paragraph five, in which Mr Hawkins announces himself as a Republican, and a disciple to Greyism. Let the electors make .no mistake about this. Let them read the paragraph.'carefully,,'ari'd compare it with a statement in .the preceding one, "I.am loyal only to the Democracy," and I am much mistaken in the people of the Wairarapa if they do not coincide .with me. The statement" that the colony "acquiesces in the interesting ceremonies .of a mimic Court" appears to be very deliberately made, and it is as as misleading as it is deliberate.. The colony does not acquiesce, but assists in maintaining her Majesty's representative with ni dignity becoming to his position. If tho Governor thinks that it is proper to maintain certain coremonies at Government House, he lias I presume, as much right to insist on them as Mr Hawkins has to insist upon manners in his own house. Mr .'Hawkins has apparently been severely exercised over tho question of gender, for in tho paragraph under notice lie speaks of the colony as masculine, feminine, ftnd neuter in succession, This is oneway of getting over difficulties which he may adopt. Ho might say " He, she, or it" whenever occasion arises. If that form of speech would not be exactly euphonious, it would, at .any rate, have the merit of being original,' and strictly in keeping with his first address, His faith in a pure democracy and his consequent horror of titles bestowed by the Sovereign is probably sincere. 13uc how if that very romote chance was to be realized, if be was to be elected a member of the House of Representatives, and if—still moro remote change—be were to occupy a prominent position in it 1 If he then were to see a glittering staHianging within his reach, would he kneel down and say " Lead as not into temptation ?" I trow not. Like Sir Robert Stout, Sir George Grey, Sir Graham Beny, and many other professional democrats be would find it convenient to change his opinion and say that after all these titles and decorations had been very properly instituted in order that the Sovereign might make a suitable acknowledgement in return for impor tunt public services rendered, and that lie would not be acting with good grace were he to decline an honor that had been olfered to him, Following the line thread of seii3o which runs through paragraph tivo I conclude that Mr Hawkins is of opinion ■that tho colony is likely to fret under the present "interesting ceremonies;of a mimic court," the inequalities of rank created by the distributions of titles, to become jealous of the "actions of other states and costly ornaments and military establishments. (he does not say whethei local or foreign), and that it will seek separation from the mother country. I .trust the electors, wherever Mr Hawkins may offer himself as a candidate, will bear this carefully in mind. I shall not begrudge him the votes of those who would think that the colony would gain by separation, provided those who think otherwise prove their loyalty by voting against him. I shall not say at present anything about paragraphs six to ton, though they contain much that, must have gone far to induce a prominent member of tho House of Representatives who read the address to say that a candidate who would issue it would surely not obtain more than ten votes. I am sorry that in paragraph twelve, Mr Hawkins advocates the continuance of the expensive County system; but I should lay myself open to a charge of insincerity, were I to say that he has taken me by suprise, The system has giveu hiiir wh.it little local celebrity he possesses, and it would therefore be absurd to expect him to turn against it, I must ask tho electors to read carefully the following portion of paragraph twelve, together with the preceding one, which 1 also quote " As the central authority (meaning •' the County) grows in strength, and " in the confidence of the ratepayers, " new duties should be entrusted to it," Paragraph eleven" The various " legitimate functions of local bodies " should be consolidated, and their "multiplication for every different " purpose stopped," Is it possible to conceive anything more impractical and contradictory 1 On the other hand the functions of these unfortunate legislative footballs are to be defined forthwith, while on the other they are to havo them enlarged by degrees. Mr Hawkins fails to see that he is chasing a phantom; that it would bo impossible to pass a measure, under which additional functions might be entrusted to thoso bodies which had matriculated, and that it would be equally impossible to legislate by dcgreis without seriously disturbing the then existing system, In paragraph fifteen wo aro told that' tho perpetual anxiety to legislate appears to have its origin in tho ignorance or vanity of legislators.' Tho simplicity with which some people tell tho unvarnished truth without knowing tho real import of their words, is occasionally the cause of a good deal of enjoyment to their fellows. Were Mark Twain to see tho paragraphs ho would probably tell tho author that he had rung the hell every time; that he had scooped the pool. The address I itself is ample proof that there will not bo a candidate in the colony at the approaching general election more anxious to legislate than Mr Hawkins, I fchall leave him to explain as to which of the two causes, or .how much of either, is responsible for his candidature. I am not surprised that in the succeeding paragraph he should express "profound confidence in the integrity and public good -faith of the masses of the people," for candidates aro in the habit of indulging in such flatteries; but what in the name of common sense is the object sought by continuing with the remark that" men only flatter those they mistrust or fear?" loan only think of one explanation that is at all feasible, namely, that it is a tiuth thougtlessly uttered, and therefore the more valuable, I have only one more point to

notice, namely the remark "I have 110 money to spend on agencies or electoral, machinery I" As the Corrupt Practices Act sets its i'ace resolutely against the expenditure of money on such purposes, it is, perhaps lucky for Mr Hawkins that, he finds himself in a position--which usually is not an enviable one, for as a rule ■ people do not break the • law when they are without opportunity, When Mr. -Hasvk-ins-wliJfesses'the electors, hV'will"'[wraps'"explain hiß address differently to tfjtiit- IThftVedpne, but 1 promise hjmJ.wili listen, : to. hi" speech, as • well- as;-riiosrthat nmf bi. V made by other candidates on future / occasions,"and that I shall pick.'boles,a.whereover I, in my own opinion, canfl servo a useful purpose by doing so. Ifjl Mr Hawkins does not like the tfiOrougHWr ness of my searching, I can -offer him no apology for it, nor can I say that I shall feel sorry, because I believe that lam contributing my' mite towards averting a danger that is threatening the district. „ I.arn (fee.. JON'OTUS,