JOTTINGS from WELLINGTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4397, 19 April 1893, Page 2

JOTTINGS from WELLINGTON.

[By Uur Own Correspondent.]

Wellington, Monday, It would appear that the fate of the totalisator is Blowly but surely being sealed, and that mainly by the grasping greed displayed by the various Racing Clubs throughout tho Colony, in tbe imposition on the public of the totalisator tax, which was intended by law to be borne by the Club's themselves. It is a short-sighted policy, and will eventually result in killing tbo gooso that lays tho golden egg. .There is no doubt that the totalisator is decaying in popularity, and the Racing Clubs are doing all they can to hasten the climax. As a case in point, with a larger attendance this year at the Wellington Racing Club'B Autumn Meeting, the total amount put through the three machines \va» less by some £SOO than last year. The Bame result is noticeable at nearly all the big meetings in tho Colony. Mr W. 0. Smith will stand a very good chance of succeeding with the Total-. isator Abolition Bill, which he intends to bring down again this session, and the Racing Clubs have only themselves to thank if the use of the totalisator is abolished, Should the total • isator be abolished, it will, of course, bring down with a orash many of the mushroom Racing Clubs, who only exist by tbe percentage wrenched from the public, and will serioußly injure tho fiuanocs of the leading Clabs who have been reaping an ill-gotten harvest from the profits derived from the machines. Altogether the abolition of tho totalisator will not be a matter for muoh regret under the existing stale of affairs. If racing, that 11 sport of kings," is only to be bolstered up by the blood-sucking polioy now existing, the sooner it is knocked on the head in this Colony, the better it will be for tho community at large,

The Liberal Association of Wellington doeß not appear to bo altogether in a healthy and flourishing state, Out of a city of something like 35,000 inhabitants tho total member, ship is but 151 and out 'of that num» ber only 89 had sufficient enthusiasm for the great causo to pay more than the qualifying one shilling entrance fee. Tho Presidents and Yice-Presi* dents appeared to be as anxious to scuttle from another year's office as rats from a sinking ship. Apparently tho" Liberals" of Wellington aro no different from any othersootion of this community, and they require a lot of working up to "enthuse" them with tho holy zeal which isneoessary to keep the great cause moving, Judging from the annual report and the annual meeting the ether night a dry rot seems to have set in, which will ero long causo the Liberal Assooiation fabric to topple down ignominously, unleasremedial measures are promptly taken. The N. Z. Times too, has most unkindly damped their ardour, in common with similar organisations throughout the Colony, by doprecating tho issue of those gorgeous programmes teeming with revolutionary reforma and Socialistic innovations, | programmes which their souls lovo, and which they fondly imagine will Bpeedily change the wholo current of i social life in this Colony, making an ideal State of New Zealand like unto I Morris' ideal England as set forth in bis Sooialistio and Utopian romance, " News from nowhere." It was very unkind of the 'Times,' they might have let the poor sonls alone, they must do somothing to justify their existence if it is only by the issue of impossible and utterly impracticablo schemes for the regeneration of New Zealand. Anyhow the faot remains that the Wellington Liberal Association is limp-Hrery limp indeed,

Mr 0. H. Mills, M.H.R. for Wai-mea-Picton, is now in town urging the Government to take over the PelorUß Tramway, at a cost to the Colony of £20,000, with a farther expenditure of £I,OOO more to carry the line into the bush of the Bai Valley, in order that the heavy timber in this district may be got at and utilised for building and fencing purposes' in the treeless Wairau and other places. In return for the outlay the Colony is promised the splendid profit of £200,000 within a very few years, in addition to whioh profitable employment for two hundred men is guaranteed for the next twenty years or more. The idea was first mooted by the Pelorua Guardian, with which paper Mr Mills has some connection I think, either as Editor or proprietor, and it seems rather curioaa'that' almost simultaneously with the appearance of the article mooting the proposition, Mr Mills should be found over here urging the scheme upon tbo Government. Mr Mills was also at one| time,'if I mistake hot, concerned in a syndicate consisting largely of Wellington people, which was formed for sawmilling purposes in this very district. It would be well, therefore, to.Bee that '.'log-rolling,'.' literally as. well as figuratively, is not being inv dulgcd in upon this occasion. The 1 proposition is very tempting upon! l j>»per, and the quality gf {lie fjm.berj

may be all that It is said to be, but my impression is that tbo bulk of it is fit for nothing else bat firewood and for fencing purposes/and that very little, comparatively speaking, is suitable for building. Of course, the establishment of more sawmills would be a grand tiling for the district, and the royalties arising from the cutting of the timber on the Grown Lands may amount to the sum stated; but it is to be hoped the Government will approach the matter with caution. Mr Mills, althongh an amiable and conscientious man, is sometimes seized that it is his mission to m everytiii&g straight, and he may have been mistaken over this matter as he undoubtedly was in the stand he took up regarding the Ghemis case, both in the Houso last session and out of it since.

My information conveyed to you last week regarding the appointment of a successor to Bishop Hadfield in the See ol Wellington seems to hare aroused some indignationinthebreasts of the laity who aro unanimous in supposing that"! the sele'ot|j!} of the ltev. Mr'lngra'm was dWto the machinations of the I may calm their perturbed spirits by remarking that the Bishop had nothing whatever to do with the matter, he was not even present at the meeting of bis clergy, nor did he make any recommendation in reference to his successor in the See. As a matter of fact Mr Ingram was proposed by a country clergyman who baa been on anything but the best of terms with the Bishop for some time' past. As to the statement that it was "hole and comer" meeting that may at once be set aside as the convocation of the clergy to called in accordance with the usual custom in this Colony, in order that a selection should bemade. The lay members of the Synod will bavea full opportunity ofjudgingof thn merits of the gentlemaryESetf tho question comes beforSWrVktho next meeting of the Synod, but it iB v. hardly likely that any recommendation from the clergy will be set aside.

The Government have not yet decided when the commission, whiobhai been appointed to enquire into the Ell caße, will commence its investigations. Possibly the failure of the Harpers in Christchurch baß a good deal to do with the delay, in fact it is highly probable now that even if the commission did find a verdiot in Mr Ell's favour that itwouldnotbeof very much benefit to him, There is however no doubt that failing any satisfaction to be obtained from the Harpers, Mr Ell has a strong claim against the Colony. The Government decided Borne time ago to appoint Mr C. C. Graham, R.M,, and Mr T, Thompson, M.H.R, as Commissioners, but these gentlemen have not yet received their commissions. For the credit of the Colony, especially as a publio officer is implicated, it is only just and right to all concerned that this matter, which hns now been before the House for some years, should be investigated, and a decision arrived at at once and forever.

The typhoid eeaßon ia now in full blast, and this fell disease has carried off several victims during tho last week, amongst them being poor young Mr Tringbaal>«fl&&L «toflW& ; bo well and favourably nJßßjttyour • district. There are many hospital, and the doctors report the disease is generally pretty prevalent. I suppose until the drainage scheme is completed we must continue to look with equanimity upon thiß decimation of the youngest and strongest of our community. The prospect of the drainage operations themselves is not onlivon* ing, for with the sewetß laid open on all sides thero is sure to be a great deal of fiiokness. Mr Mestayer, tho newly-appointed Drainage Enginoor, is now at work with his assistant* preparing the plans, but it willba some months yet before aotual operations are commenced.

Tho Academy of Fino Arts has hid upon an excellent notion for" raising the wind," in the shape of an art union, of articles made by the ladies of Wellington and sent in for compete tion. Prizes will be given for the beßt articles made, and tho articloa themselves become the property of the Academy, and will be disposed of by an art union to behold on tho last three days of tho present/eek, A committee of ladies hajflfeeh energetically working for sSHyipaSii, and an interesting oxufmon should be theresult, Some novel competitions aro proposed, such as a bachelors' sewing competition and other novel devices, The Art Union should being in a considerable sum and bo tho means of establishing the nucleus of an art gallery in Wellington.

Amongst other amusements taking place this week is the usual Thursday popular concert inaugurated' by Mr Robert Parker and Mr E, B. Williams. These concerto havo" caught on" wonderfully and orowded houses all through the winter months may be anticipated, Tho very best local talent available has been procured and people oan listen to good music rendered by capable artists, for the very mod e rate oh Brges of 18 and 6d. The PolJard Liliputian Opera Company, at the Opera House, still continue on their successful oareer, whioh may he expected to continue to tho end of the month, when their season closes. The productions of this company are noted for, the completeness in the matter of scenery and dresseß and for the careful attention sgßia paid to tho minutest stago cßils. The staging of "Aladdin" was the finest,! haveßeen'in, the coloniesand as a spectacle of the most gorgeous character was worth going miles to see, «La Mascotte " was alsomag*. nificently staged. /One of the b/,,t little entertainments to be founr' m town just now is Cadzow'a Y A^m \ Comedy Company at tho HalLMrCadzowhajboorahearaia theWairarapa sohis Merita os a singer are well-known,' outlTOld state that seldom aV jea . one come across a finer, ?vjeeto r , 0 ~ culti . vated tenor voioefjan «,..,. m nn jmmsetiork, ot\y e l!inaHHflook. mgforward;to the alvJSnhf London hereontheletMa y /Lonnen,th 8 cre , ato r, ° f Kllaloe," « Ballyhooley," and ''Enascarthy" i B / fcjL member of the company. Of course, a great deal 0 f the show is in the "hosa and doublet "line.