NEW ZEALAND: GENERAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 29, 17 July 1902, Page 20

NEW ZEALAND : GENERAL.

Thk three plague patients in hospital at Christchu roh have reoovered, and will be released when their condition justifies such a course. A NEW gejser has broken out in the Spa Grounds at Taupo, a spring having suddenly become active, throwing up water 10ft high, and going off with a loud report. A party of 180 Australian troops and the New Zealand Contingent visited Windsor last week at the King's invitation, and 1 unshed nt the Castle. The Union Steam Ship Company have received a cablegram advising that their new intercolonial steamer Moeraki was launched at Dumbarton last week, in the presence of the Bight Hon. Mr Seddon (Premier of New Zealand) and his daughter. Mb. Seddon was absent from the Eirpire Coronation banquet at the Guildhall last week owing to the serious illnesß of his wife. A later message states that Mrs. Pcddon is weak, and her condition still occasions anxiety, though slightly better. Mb. Francois Lelievre, the last snrvivor of the band o' Frenchmen who nettled at Akaroa before the British took possession of the poninsnla, died on Saturday, at the ripe age of ninety-three years. 1 The London Lancastrians bar.queted Mr. Heddon at the Hote' Cecil on Saturday. Earl Derby presided. Mr. Seddon said tha the proposal that the colonies should definitely contribute an Imperial levy waa a great error, ft would be sufficient if help were given in an emergency. In the Empire's extremity the oolonies would not consider the matter of cost. At Hororata, Canterbury, early last week, a young horse attached to a dairy cart, while left for a few minutes unattended, bolted and got out of sight of the owner. Search was made without success, till two days afterwards, when the horse and cart were found fonr miles away, on the Selwyn riverbed. Strange to pay, not the slightest damage had (Bays the Prest) been done, and nothing was loftt oat of the cart. Even on the rough riverbed a capsize had evidently been avoided. 'It only wants a large population in New Zealand to make landlordism as bad here as it has been in Ireland,' said a delegate during the debate on land tenure at the Farmers' Union Conference in Wellington on Saturday. He went on to say that if the resolution before the meeting — urging the giving to Crown lessees the right to acquire the freehold — was carried, the Union should alter its name from the Farmers' Union to the Landlords' Union. Bays the Montreal True Witness of a recent date : Rev. H. W. Cleary, the scholarly patriotic Editor of the New Zealand TABLET, of Dnnedin, acd a journal which has rendered yeoman servioe to the cause of Catholicity in that progressive country, called at the composing rooms of the True Witness a few days ago. Father Cleary is in the prime of vigorous manhood, and is both enthusiastic and praotical. He expressed convictions regarding the possibilities of Catholic journalism which we believe will be realised ere long. * The Sydney Daily Telegraph, commenting on the New Zealand Budget, says that it discloses a very enviable position. Not only is it satisfactory in respect to the Government and its finance, but the Colony undoubtedly continues to enjoy the prosperity which set in ten years ago, and still gives signs of progressive improvement. The paper refers to the shrewdness of its commercial representatives abroad in obtaining such a large share of the South African trade, and commends the Government scheme of email settlement, which is a notable achievement, and, like the surplus, an enviable one. Sib J. G. Ward (says the Tuapeha Times) has already succeeded in impressing not only the House but the country with his valuable business qualities which have received striking illustration since the opening of the session. His urbane and conciliatory manner is in pleasing contrast to the demonstrative and less considerate manner of the Premier. He has the instinctive habit of moving along the line of least resistance without forfeiting a single advantage, straining the loyalty of his supporters or arousing the hostility of his opponents. All this, among other valuable results, makes for economy of time, whioh is an object of importance not only to members of the House but to the country. It leads to sound legislation, but it conserves the physical strength and mental freshness of members, and saves the country the cost and the disgrace of those barren and frequent wrangles that might have been avoided by a greater exercise of tact and conciliation. ' The quality of mercy is not strained ... it is twice blessed ; it blesseth him that gives and him that takes,' so wrote the immortal Shakespeare. We make u»e of the foregoing quotation in view of the fact that a movement is on foot to ask the Government, in connection with the forthcoming coronation festivities and as a recognition of the thankfulness of the people for bis Majesty's restoration to health, to remit the remainder of Benttnces on prisoners now undergoing imprisonment for first offences. Many of theee were, up to the time of their lapse from rectitude, good citizens, and there is every reason to believe that if the clemency of the Crown were extended to them on this auspicious occasion they would again become useful members of society. Their discharge would relieve the State of their maintenance, and the ends of justice would be nerved by the lesson which tht y have already received, should the Government adopt this course, discrimination will be necessary, as only firet offenders whose record had been previously good should be set at liberty. We believe that neither the State nor society would Buffer by such an aot of clemency.