The Wairarapa Daily MONDAY, MAY 4, 1891.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3801, 4 May 1891, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily MONDAY, MAY 4, 1891.

" Butchered to make a Roman holiday" expresses tho Ministerial policy with the civil service. . In old times the lloman Emperors were wont to amuse the people by letting them see a few Christians torn to

pieces by lions and tigeis, and in much Lhe same way the Ministry appear to be pleasing King Mob by worrying Christian civil servants, The latest method of torture seems to be the Commission. We were led to believe that conietbing was terribly wrong in the public trustdepartment, and in hia last issue our local contemporary, who is supposed to be behind ibe scenes, epitomises the affair as follows : The enquiry into the Public Trust office is developing facts of an astoundingiy scandalous nature, The evidence show's that the estates of deceased persons have not merely been grossly nialadministered, but valuable family relics, jewellery, etc, have been deliberately sacrificed. Some of the chief officers arc unduistocd to be seriously implicated, and the enquiry must be followed by a wholesome purgation, if not by a series of public prosecutions. We had understood that the Civil servants implicated had been called upon by the Government for au explanation, and it might perhaps have been as well to have waited for such defence as they might have to offer before pronouncing them guilty, but they are evidently prejudged by the party in power, and it will be idle i on their part to explain. The main charge brought against them appears to be that they, as officers of the Public Trust department-, have purchased articles of value at public auction which were sold on behalf of intestate estates. According to our contemporary " valuable family relics have been deliberately sacrificed," but if this be so, the auctioneer who sold the articles must necessarily be implicated, and how distressing it most be to the feelings of Mr Kennedy Macdonald to have to act as a Commissioner for the detection

of an auction scaDdal. On the face of it there was doubtless indiscretion on the part of the officers of the dgpartnient in making the alleged purchases, just the same as it was indiscreet on tbe part of the Minister for Lands to put a family connection at the head of the Stock department:, but nothing is yet disclosed which goes further than this. It is indeed somewhat astounding that so much should be attempted to be made out of so little: If two or-• three Civil

Servants were able to sit as a Commission on some of the leading supporters of tbe Government, what astounding revelations would be made! What flagrant breaches of the decalogue would be revealed ! Is there not a certain amount of hypocrisy in tbe manifestations of ministerial virtue with which the public have been

favoured'? A man may not openly buy an ait ; cle by public auction,which he fancies, if it has previously passed through bis hands as an officer of the Public Trust department, but if that man happened to be a village settler inste-d of a civil servant with a variegated po ice record against hica he would have tbe respect and confidence of the party and a personal couiplimant paid to him bv tlic Premier Dare our lo al

contemporary publish a full audi

correct list of the various civil and criminal informations which have been laid against a certain friend of his to whom he recently introduced the Premier ? There must, cries our contemporary, be " a wholesome purgation if not a series of public prosecutions," but if all who deserve chastisement receive their due reward, we think we could name a number of prominent Ministerial snpporleis who merit a more severe punishment than tho officers of the Civil Service Department. We have known, indeed, even a civil servant, high in favor with the Liberal party," commit a series of offences, each one more grave than those which are alleged against the present men, and he received promotion. We should ourselves have felt disposed to w 't till all the evidence for end against the accused in the present commission was before the public, but we feel it is essential that the officers who are attacked should have fair play, and that they should not be told by a Ministerial organ before their defence is lodged that they have grossly muladministered estates, and that the enquiry will be followed by a wholesale purgation, or in other words by their dismissal from the service.

Tho Masterton Privato Quadrille Assembly opens the season in the Temperance Hall on Friday evening next.

The total expenditure of the TarafcahiCaiterton Road Board fur tho past year was £1458 Is 9d. At its next meeting the Board will make a levy of f d in the fj. for the ensuing year. l'be Knights ot Labour intend runnine several candidates at the forthcoming Borough election, the object being te do away with the contract system in municipal matters. Messrs Johu Georee, W. Fulcher, J. M. Miller, A. Eoss, D. Aitchison and John Morton have been elected by the Kaitawa householdei'3 as school commissioners.

The opening of an assembly of the Knights ot Labour at Danevirke has been postponed until a few persons can be obtained who are foolish enough to become members. Tne next district meeting of the Knights of Labour is to be held in July, at Masterton. A Special Settlement Association has been formed in Canterbury to take up 2000 acres of land in the Mangahao. The population of the city of Adelaide and suburbs is 138,G00.

The influx of Russian Jews into Australia has been protested against by the Trades Hall Council of Melbourne.

Twonty-ono pairs of opossums have been liberated in Canterbury by the Acclimatization Society and private individuals.

The price of a largo loaf of bread in Blenheim is 7d cash and 8d bojked. This is in consequence of the recent rise in flour.

A man named James Mayes, platelayer at Arainoho, dropped dead on Saturday morning from heart disease. tie leaves a wile and large family.

In view of the interest now being uken in trotting matters, several residents of this district arc having sulkies constructed.

Special services were held yesterday by the Salvation Army on the occasion of the visit of the " Musical Troupe", under the command of Stall'-Captain Robinson. The congregations were unusually large, and the meetings characterised by great enthusiasm. The flaximll of Messrs Tringham and M'Kenzie, at Kahautara, was partially destroyed by fire on Friday night., Betides a quantity of machinery, about two tons of flax ready for the market was destroyed. The loss is estimated at £U. J. Evangelistic addresses were delivered by Mr W. Gome Johnston in the Theatre Boyal j esterday afternoon and evening. Despite the unpropitious weather, the congregations were fairly large. The subjects of the addresses were, "The Coming Government" and "Four Working; Men," both of which handled in a masterly manner by Mr Johnston. Great excitement was earned in Queen-street on Saturday night by the announcement by s dejected-looking individual in loud and pitiable tones that he had been waylaid, garroted and robbed, and by his frantic cries of "Police !" it is presumed the man is suffering from the D.T 's. It is supposed that the lire by which the house ot Mr. R. J. Chapman was destroyed on Friday night, originated in the roof of the building and wis the result of a defect in the chimney. The man Harry Morley, charged with breaking and entering the store of Mr. C. J. Trapp, at Alfredton, will be brought before Colonel Roberts, R. M., this afternoon.

At a Salvation meeting at Manpatainoko the other ni.jht, says a correspondent of the E.<:auunvr, knee drill was proposed and the lights were turuud low (to add solemnity to the scene;. A boriiy-hauded son of toil was seen to be grupjng about under the seats. A sister noticing this addressed him thus, " Friund, are you Booking salvation V He answered "No, I'm looking for my hat."

We remind our readers of the grand vocal and instrumental concert to be given in St Matthew's schoolroom this evening ai a farewell to Mr Robert Gan-. All the leadmg vocalists of the district are taking part, and will be assisted by Miss M. Hill, the well-known soprano of Wellington. With such names on the list as Mrs Mueller, Miss Lowes, and Mefißra Moore, Coleman, Pray, and Jackson, a capital entertainment is assured.

A meeting of the Masterton 1 rotting Club was held in the Empire Hotel on Saturday eyoriDg last, Mr (J, A. Pownall occupying the chair. It was resolved that the Club amalgamate with the Metropolitan (Jlub. Messrs Smyth, Falloon Bros., Hone, Shaw, iTraser, and J?Teary were appointed a committee to draw'up rules and submit to next meeting. The Secretary was instructed to convene a meefcir.g by postcaid for Saturday next for the election of officers, adoption of rules, etc. Several now members were elected, tho total ship now being ninety. So far this season we have had extraordinary success in our dress depirtmcnt. Sales have been frequent and large, thu testifying most completely to the excel- 8 lence of our selection and the first-class value we are offering in autumn and winfer dress fabrics at Te Aro House.

THe fiiic displ -y we have continuously made in our windows since the opeuiu? of the season, and the various fabricr whether ticketed or not, have been the subjects of most favorable comment, and these have been duly appreciated bj satLfactory purchases, at Te Aro House. The prices we have quoted are for sterling goods, boturht direct from the manufacturers, and specially selected by our London buyer. They are, therefore admirably suited to the requirements of both our city aad country customers, and we shall be pleased to tend patterns of them, free of cost, on application toTo Aro House.

It would be very easy to quote lowes prices, but these are not the test of value, yuahty for quality we claim, and rightly too, to be the cheapest house for dress fabrics in the province. The contkuous and increasing support which this departn.ert receives is the surest proof of this at Te Aro House.

I:- :s no matter of interest to our cu3tomers to be informed as to the number of hands we employ in our two dressmaking departments. Suffice to say that our rcomß are the largest and best appo : nted in the colony ; that we have the best available talent; that our reputation for excellence of tit, tin'sh, style is widely and favourably known ; and that we have two large staffs of competent assistant dressmakers able to cope with any amouut of order.*, at Te Aro House.—iovr.