Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1895. JABEZ BALFOUR.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5004, 19 April 1895, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1874.] FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1895. JABEZ BALFOUR.

Akikh many years, that Prince of Swindlers, Mr Jabez Spencer Balfour, is to be brought to justice, but be is not to face tlie Judge (done, bis colleagues of the Liberator swindles will appear with him, Whatever might have been tho share of the others, there is no doubt Jabez BalI four was the chief, With brains to 'develop every conceivable kind of fraud, and with suavity of manners and a countenance capable of assuming the most rigid piety, and the whole non-conformist field to work in, he had ample scope for the exercise of his powers, and what he was able to accomplish by way of fraud, is now generally known The collapse of the Liberator (societies, was a crushing blow to many; un-1 fortunately it fell with. painful severity on tho aged, and those physically incapablo of earning a livelihoood.

When the crash and the exposure came, the sanctimonious and philanthropic Jaber. Balfour skipped away to the .Argentina, and in Salta, he began all over again; the eminent financier started with a brewery and with ill-gotten gains bribed and corrupted the officials,and for a time enjoyed immunity from arrest. Lady friends are said to have visited him in his exile. So also did the British Consul, Balfour was seized and appeared before the Salta justices; ovorytbing looked fair enough for a speedy return to England. Inspector Tonbridge, of Scotland Yard, was sent from London to the Argentina, to bring back the fugitive. This happened many months ago, but with the aid of gold which in tho Argentina is at a heavy premium the officials of one of the most rotten and corrupt South American Republics, were bribed, and so successfully did the golden gifts work that at one time it seemedas though Jabez would never set foot in Eng. land. The Salta officials stuck to Balfour to the last, and even went aboard of the Tartar Prince,to carry i him back to Salta,

Jabez Balfour isas illustrious now as he was in the good old days when m yet them was not a breath of suspicion to sully the reputation, and the Liberator and its aHiatod socj? eties were in full bloom, In those days he was known as an able fijiiancier and a philanthropic and

devoutly pious, God-fearing 1 man. He was ft member of the House of Commons, and Mr Spencer Balfour, M,P,, wns respected. There were other Balfoursin tho House of Commons, illustrious men in their way, but Mr Spencer Balfour commanded a great deal of attention. Notwithstanding that his first baptismal iiame was Jabez, he was by common consent called Spencor Balfour as being more euphonious and convenient. When the Liberator crumbled and Balfour showed his dupes s>, clean pair of heels he was stripped of Spencer as cleanly as Dreyfus, the French traitor officer was stripped of epaulettes, and since then everywhere he has been spokon of and written of as Jabez Balfour, pure and simple, and as such he will be known to posterity as the greatest financial fraud of the century.

"It is an ill wind that blows nobody any good " is a gag that is as old as the hills, and the truth of it is being confirmed on the case of Jabezßaifour. The yeai "Donovan" won the Derby, and tho pious Jabez hired a coach and took down with him a few distinguished friends. As it is usual on such occasions, the traveller with the camera was instructed to "take the group.'' An enterprising individual has obtained ono of- those photographs, had it reproduced in lithograph form, and the street-hawkers of London are selling copies like hot cakes at one penny each. The picture of Jabez at the Derby and the picture of Jabez in the dock should be instructive . to. the' hordes of company promoters 'and 'thieving Directors that are now so common in the great city. :__

: Mrfj. A; Cameron, who ■ .The .. ropresonts a Masterton Mastkbtox syndicateatCoolgardic, Syndicate appears to be making •AT . headway, In a private Cuoloaiidie. letter he writes; " I returned the other day from a visit to our claim at th > Broad Arrow. Two shafts, 400 yards apart, have been sunk to a depth of 30ft on the reef. The stone is a kind of slaty-blue coloured quartz, and carries good gold throughout. In some places it is rich, and the gold has always a rough and shotty appearance. The reef can be traced through the whole 24 acres which constitute the claim." The Western Australian QohljkUs Courier, referring to this mine in its issue of 16th March, says;—" There have been on view at Reynold's Hotel somo splendid samples of stone from the Australasian north. The specimens were taken from a depth of 20ft, and carry splendid free gold. The property is owned by a local syndicate, who evidently pqssess a valuable mine, Tho claim is situated twelve Utiles N.\V, of tho Uroatl Arrow."

A Northumberland lady has purchased at £2C3O the sepulchre wherein Christ was laid outside of Jerusalem. At the llccfton Assessment Court the Midland Eailway Company got the Comity valuation reduced from £25,850 to £20,838, An old lady, Mrs Doyle, in her 80th year, swam across the Laehlan, at Forbes, New South Wales, the other day as an encouragement to some young girls who were somewhat timid while bathing,

A Wpsporf firm lias been instructed to cjiaitcr two ships for the local Coal Company (o carry coal fo San Francisco. Travelling jn this district has been somewhat rough during the past few days, but wo are assured by a pioneer settler that it is nothing to be compared to the good old days. Then, when a river was in Hood, a rope would be thrown across it, aud a passenger who desired to" journey on " was tied to one end of it and pulled through the torrent, ff flje passenger had the sense to keep h)s mouth sliut duripg fyi? process, lie came out tho otj(cp sjdp 'in fair order, but if he opened it ho had iobo" polled" on arrival, till tho the wntor he had takeii ji during his brief trip through the stream was ejected. The approach to the Hurunuiorangi Bridge on the eastern side is washed away and the same Hood cairied off about #OO worth of timber that had been placed tlippc by the Board to strengthen that particular part. The Gladstone Hotel w.a.s threatened, and the occupants, with the exception of the licensee, Mr J, Sexton, left (he nrcmises during the height of the gale. The hotel is the property of the Wajrarana, South County Council and they will have to take immediate and effective measures to protect the reserve or the ratepayers will be heavy losers, says the Observer. The KokoUu Bridge js all safe at present, The bank that used to keep out the water at flood time at Kokotau is ail broken away and every fresh will now spread over the properties there, Mr J. Jiaton, Mr \V, Herriek, and Mr J. licnall. being the greatest sufferers by the present Hood. 'Jommuuication is kept open between Gladstone and Carterton via l'onatahi, and tlm mails, ono day late, were brought out yesterday. Mr I, Pike, we regret to say, lost (en fows and two draught horses, all valuable aninials. Since the Weights and Measures Act has been put in force (says a London paper), cellars which used to hold two tons of w(, now only hold one and a half tons, The coal sacks have also grown eight inches in length. During the recent storm 7.55 inches of j sain were recorded at Waihakekc.

It is reported that Mr MeKei row, of Morrison's Bush linn, lias been a great loser through the Hood, having lost about 1000 sheep on his low lying flats at Mohiki and Jlahara. The Master-ton Mutual Iniproycment Society will meet this evening, when important business will be transacted. The other morning a gentleman brought into the Pahitttita Herald office what ho ealleda" Good Friday potato." The tuber was In tho shape of a cross, and it isa-veritable vegetablemoustros. ity and weighed'lib (ioz, Mr 0. Pragnell notifies the arrival of I new waterproofs and mackintoshes.

The firsthand ot co-operative men sent out since the formation of the new Government s/ihcnie, have now started work on the northern ead of the Alfred-ton-Weber road, and will work to mept the party now engaged at the southern end, says the Post. The gap still remaining is some 12 miles. The men are reported as the best gang of co-oper. ative workmen yet sent out Twentyone from Wellington, four from Palmerslon, eight from Palmtua and Woodville, and one or two local men. Two thirdsof them are deemed tobe bom fide settlers, anxious to mako homes for themselves. In the vicinity of the work avo a number of forfeited sections, and a surveyor has been sent up to cut these up into 50 to 100-aere sections, which the meiiffjllbe given under lease in perpetuity, working parf time on thoir sections and part on the road. The men have, however, petitioned tho Minister tor Lands to mako none of the sections less than 100 acres. They conßidor that with the assistance of the Government work they would bo able to make suoh progress with 100-aere sections that they would be able to make a living from them when'the work is done but that 50 acres would not be sufficient for are ncarjy all marficuj but there are.somp single ,men wJho are engaged to bo jnafljcdahdliope ,tp .establish homes for' themqcl.ves avjayfrom'.tlietomis. As jlipy.arpat present jn a locality .which '.would ])e difjcnlt to get at till' they have completed the road, tho Government js I supplying them with stores.

Copies of the Stock and Branding Act can be had on application to the luspector of Stock, at a cost of Is. Tho U.S. Government has informed Great Britain that it regards tho landing of British troops atNienragua as inimical to the interests of the United States, Northern Queensland is apparently adopting the Continental Sunday as its own. The Australasian mentions that cricket matches there are often played on Sundays, At Charters Towers football matches aro regularly held on Sundays, and thousands of spectators come to view the game. Baxter's great steam morry-go-round, with galloping horses and rolling boats, will conclude its season in Masterton this week. On Saturday aficePunch and Judy show will also be given, Messrs E, E. Hornblow and Co,, call nttcntion to their sale on Saturday next, which includes threo shares in the Wairarapa Fanners' Co-opcratiyc Association. Owing to the unfavourable weather haying prevented many persons attending service at St, Matthew's Church. Mastciton, on Easter Sunday, it has been decided to present the offertories on Sunday next 21st inst, to the Yicar. Mr Carkcck, the well-known surveyor, has, it is stated, satisfied himself that a road can bo made from Shannon to Ekotahuna, and declares his readiness to uudortako to construct a horse track with easy grades, for £BO a mile. During his recent visit to the South Island, Mr McKerrow, Government Land Parchaso Inspector, visited 30 properties, with a total area of 120,000 acres, which arc under offer to the Government, says tho Post. Reports are published that Field Marshal Yamagata, of Japan, who took a prominent part in the Coram war until he was invalided homo through illhealth, is really the Arch-Dako John cf Austria, who has been miss'ne since 1889.

Count Caprivi, the ex-Chancellor of the German Empire, is reported to have declared that it is necessary that Egypt should he neutral territory, and that Great Britain ought to withdraw from thero in the interests of general peace, and not- wound the dignity of Geimauy. The enquiry into the circumstances attending the late (ire at Grcytown, has resulted in an open verdict being returned. Children's Easter Festival Services will be conducted on Sunday nest at St Matthew's Church. Mr C. E. Brenincr, County Engineer, who has just returned from a tour of inspection of the roads between Maitcrton and Wha-eama, informs us that considering the abnormal rainfall and the high Hood, the damage dono is not so great as might have heen expected. He expects to have this line quite clear in about a week's time. Messrs Simms ifcMowlcm will continue the sale of George Johnston & Co.'s assigned stock to-morrow at 1 o'clock on tho prcmises.tyucen Street, next Queen's Hotel. The goods include 2 handsome tea bins, 2 spring carts, 2 sets harness, -1 il-ticr show tables, 10 doz brown teapots, assorted sizes, 10 doz nest jars, ni(ils, spouting, turnip and grass seeds.

The following team will rcprcsont the Oriental Football Club against all comers, on their ground, Lincoln lioad, on Thursday next, at 3 p.m. sharp : Full-back —£. Harlund; three-quarters —A. Bennett, F. Fellingliam, H. liagge; halves—H. Marsh, C. Webb; forwards -A, Owen, B. Bennett (capt), J. Parker, J. Wickens, J. ltedmoud, C. Wellington, W. Warner, W. Welsh, H. Finlayson; emergencies—J. Johnson, J. Henry, It. Sorcnson, J, Kershaw, W. Sutton.

Mr C. H, Williams, of 85, Willis Street, Wellington, has just commenced aii important industry which has hithcrtq been very much required. W« refer \o the trade of electro-plating, gilding etc. Electro-platers are few and far between in this Colony, an,d we arc sure that Mr Williams' enterprise mil meet with its due roward. Mr Williams lias imported the latest and best machinery, baths, dynamo, otc., and he is competent, from his long and varied experience in this highly scientific and diflicult trade, to turn out the best work in the Colony. Wairarapa orders will receive special attention, and Mr Williams guarantees that all work entrusted to his charge, will "bp executed under his own immediate supervision. Careful attention is dirccteij fp Mr Williams' announcement in our business columns. A Featherston correspondent writes; —"A meeting of milk suppliers of tlio New Zealand Dairy Farmers' Union was held yesterday afternoon, their being about 20 suppliers present. On legal advice reccived.it was unanimously resolved to throw oil: from the Union, and to start a cheese and butter factory for themselves. Messrs Murray, Jackson, and J. S. Cundy were elected delegates to go to Wellington and interview Messrs Cook and uray and the Loan aud Mercantile Agency Company, to see what terms pould he arranged abouf, the erection of a factory, Over 500 cows were guaranteed in the room, and it'is estimated fhat a guarantee of 700 could bo obtained." A Bush resident had an awkward experience this week says the Pulikiiiq Herald. He was bopd for the old country on a holiday visit, but prior to his departure from amongst his old friends he was entertained at n" free and easy." Tho fun was fast and furious and was prolonged until the rocky streaks of dawn betokened tho approach of another day. Then all was bustle [aud confusion, for the train left at an early hour. Tho traveller's traps were hastily thrown together ; he was bundled into the coat'li alter them, amidst a plenitude of handshaking, and in a few moiuonls ]$ jjal gone. But the sequel remains, ills final exit had been so hurried that the wanderer fed forgotlpu to take with him his Bank draft, t)fe loss of which he soon discovered. The draft will imjr be sent aftor him, and like tile' littlo boy with (.lie celebrated soap, he won't be happy till y gpfs jf, '■

The members of the Mastei.ton Municipal Fire Brigade, who visited Dlen r ' heim during tho Easter holidays, sjieuk 1 in glowing terms of the reception and treatment given to them during their itayin Blenheim andaltliough defeated in the friendly competions in wiiieh they engaged, the visit will be long remembered by them as the most enjoyable outing they have had for a long time. Ycry great interest appears to be taken in fire brjgadc matters by the tradespeople of Blenliejin, and they are possessed of a very fine plant, including cue stationary and one portable steamer, the former being used to force from the Omaka river, through water mains laid ("own in the principal streets, a high pressure being obtained in a few mijm.tcjs after the outbreak of any fire, The frionilly jdsjt of pur local team appears to have added to the already large interest taken by the litenheiiniles and they have promised a return visit, aboutnextChristmas. Thccompetitions in which the visitors took pait, woro the Five Men Engine and Fivo Men Hydrant Competitions. In the former they were beaten by four seconds, and in the lattor by one fifth of a second. Our men escaped the greater part of the gale atPicton, whioh residents there say was the worst for many years. What price'/ Ask, listen, and wondor, Look at the new drosses, and the jackets, and macintoshes, and millinery. Loek at the clothing, mercery, and house furnishIfIRS, CJid cloves, and marvel when you hear the price nalnod." You've never heard anything like it before. Jotfya been used to getting, your money's' soitb Wub'o you'vodone yjur shopping at Foofpr's, Bui these extra reduced rates, these extra low prices, they almost exoed belief, and but that you take the goods away in exchange for the prices quoted, you would bo inclined to doubt your semes, ond to faney that thinga wore not what they seem. Walk round the shop, price everything, go somewbeje'elsetgo everywhere,! price everything . at'the other and'then by every fcr:e ' of circumstances 'and'from ,the strongest : conviction that It Is the pttiper thing to do I you'll come h# to spend' your .money at the cheapest ami best shop in Mastorton, L, J. Hooper and Co's Bon MarohS. -Adyt.