The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 1891. GENERAL BOOTH'S CRITICS.

Profeww Huxley enjoys a well earned reputation as one of th« fore .most scientists of the day. His devo tion to science does not, however,, fwevmt his noticing the fwcii'l mov ; e Bfceaftß oi; the time—ns is" yc^edby hj» unsp»rl«4^ dissection of Genera* &ss* ,

great scheme for the amelioration of j the poverty-stricken masses of "Darkest J England." The learned professor takes pains to shew that he is dealing with the scheme on its merits, and m the the midst of his most scathing denun ciations interpolates the doubtless sin cere opinion that Mr Booth has philanthropic and religious objects alone m view. Professor Huxley, like many others who have devoted the most of their lives to the study of the illimi table, is hampered by excessive timidity m his excursions into social questions. Alarm is the key-note of the manifesto which he has issued on Mr Booth's scheme. Its certainty of success, so far as attracting and maintaining great numbers of people go, is what he dreads. He does not think that the success of the Salvation Army hitherto is more remarkable than that of the Franciscans, the Jesuits, the Quakers, or the Mormons ; and noticing the dis crepancies of the doctrinal foundations from which each of thesa great move ments set out, he finds it diilicult to suppose that supernatural aid has been given to all of them ; still more, that Mr Booth's smaller measure of success is evidence that it has been granted to him. With the examples before him of what happened to the Franciscans, who, founded as a medicant order, speedily became " one of the most powerful, wealthy, and worldly corpo rations m Christendom, >vith their fingers m every sink of political and social corruption," and to the Jesuits, whom he describes as " the hope of the enemies of the Papacy," he is forced to ask what guarantee there is that, thirty years hence, the general who then autocratically controls the action, say of 100,000 officers pledged to blind obedience, distributed through the whole length and breadth of the poorer classes, and each with his finger on the trigger of a mine charged with discon tent and religious fanaticism; with the absolute control, say, of eight or ten millions of capital and as many of income ; with barracks m every town, with estates scattered over the country, and with settlements m the colonies— will exercise his enormous powers, not merely honestly, but wisely ? Here comes the Professor's doubt as to the future. Will the person who m thirty years wields the authority now exer cised by General Booth be imbued by the same spirit as the founder of the organisation 1 Who is. to say that the Salvation Army, m the year 1920, shall not be a replica of what the Franciscan order had become m the year 1260 ? Professor Huxley fears thfit the movement may result m a greater social evil than those which it is m tended ' to remove. Ignorant religious fanaticism, the degrading effects of blind and un hesitating obedience to unlimited authority, these the eminent scientist considers will be worse than starvation, intemperance and harlotry. "It is a greater eviJ," he says, "to have the intellect of a nation put clown by organised fanaticism, to see its political and industrial affairs at the mercy of a despot whose chief thought is to make that fanaticism prevail, to watcli the degradation of men, who should feel themselves individually responsible for their own and their country's fates, to mere brute instruments ready to the hand of a master for any use to which he may put them." Such is the opinion of Professor Huxley. That lie takes hot into consideration the dif ferent social conditions of the present day compared with those that sub sisted six centuries ago is characteristic of a man of science, and fatal to his premises. Tlie day has long passed when any individual can so autocrati cmlly rule any mass of men—even with the assistance of the deepest ignorance and fanaticism of the time —as to be able to subvert established social, political or religious order. Mr Booth's scheme may not be, is not, perfect, but that it constitutes any menace to society we decline to believe.

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The R.M.S. Coptic left Plymouth for Wel lington on the 28th inst., ten days late. The Wellington newspapers do nofc regard with favor the nomination of Mr W. C. Smith for the Chairmanship of Committees, £3 is the full value the people of Auckland put on the hide and head of Musket, but for whose fame that city would be almost un known. The Thames Anti-Compnisory Vaccination Society have decided to petition Parliament to have the compulsory clauses of the Vacci nation Act repealed. The Canterbury Acclimatisation Society has decided to recommend that the season for shooting native game be from Ist April to 30fch June, and imported game from Ist May to 30th June, both days inclusive. The "Dunedin Star" points out that Parliamentary biographers are in error in saying that Mr J. C. Ward is the youngest member who has held Executive rank. Sir Robert Stout was only thirty-three years oi age when he became Attorney-General. A man named Alex. McK.ee, formerly coal dealer in Christchurch, was arrested thereon Thursday on a warrant charging him with the larceney as bailee of a horse the property of William Martin, at Melbourne, about January 3rd. It is alleged that McKee sold the horse and left for New Zealand with the proceeds. Following up the impeachment of sma grazing runholders in the Swinburn an^ jj,ock and Pillar districts, the ranger has reported to the Otago Land Board that there are four settlors in the Kurow district who have not f tilfillad the condition as to resi dence. The libel action Meikle v W. C. Webb and the " Lyttelton Times " Company is set down for hearing at the Supreme Court sitting at Timaru in February. The ease arose out of the "Times" criticism of Mr Meikle's starting at the Geraldine and Timaru Spring Meetings, and a letter signed hy Mr Webb and published in the " Times." The " Era " of November 22nd says that Mr '.uscotr.be Searelle, with his wife, Miss Blanche Peyton, left England on Friday for Christchurch, IJbw Zealand, to fulfil a promise to eat his QhyltmtM dinner with his father, aged eight-one, and his mother, aged seventy-nine. Mr Searelle will meet with a sad disappointment, for his father died last week at Christchurch.

The following is the statement (from the Mercantile ancf Bankruptcy Gazette) of the liabilities and assests in the estate of James Johnston of Springfield, farmer. Liabilities;— Sg^kjwkl—Trust and Agency Co., Ltd., first mortage <Q?> 317 acres, £1600; Charles Tolan and ijTisl ''Mm, of .Springfield, second mortgage on 31? swe/j, £9»0; Charles lolan, o( Springfield, third meffteags on 317 acres, ft'iOO. Total secured £%*%<*■ Ifi-Wlunder Bros. £9 10s; A. Od'Mi^mtY (Jou&Gyjl &»; P. and D. Ij)iuican M Kfe j W.- Anderson. £'4 ? ,D. Miller £13; John Orr£3oo; Willing and L&wi3 i' 4 ; George Jameson £4; Charles Toltui £50 ; rf.'i',. Steel and Son £4; Ke«ry -Zander £35} (Js sd.;' iw.ii sundry small accoimte, Total unsecured £AiM 4? ,V.(' /• A;'.s«l:i:—3jrt p,<3j'C3 at Springfield valued'at £3J7Q; stQcic', eha^-tels and crops £50^. M^J ww.i» £3^70. i Deficiency JE3O4 4a sd.

Ciptain Edwin forecasts heavy gales from the northward changing by west and south ward between midnight to-day and 3rd February. A corrected cablegram gives tha less satisfactory news of the opening of the London wool sales that prices were equal to those of the earlier—or lower—part of the previous series. The Dunodin sales on j Thursday were firmer for crossbreds, bub [ merinos were disappointingly low. Nominations were made to-day for the Borough Licensing Committee of Messrs R. Alcoin, R. S. Bean, T. Bullock, A. Harmon, H. M ; Joaes, D. McLean, J. Orr, J. Scaly, J. W. S.iAvle, and I). Thomas. Messrs Alcorn, Bean, Jones, Orr, and Sawle were I nominated m the Templar interest —without this being stated it would be difficult to dis tinguish the two sets of candidates. A man named Robert Kurts, proprietor of a clothing establishment recently opened m ( Auckland, was arrested on Wednesday on a charge of larceny as a bailee m Melbourne m m November last. The amount involved m the charge is £5, but it is believed that the further charges will be preferred. The accused was admitted to bail m sureties of £<iOO. It is a fact perhaps not altogether without! some political significance that the present House of Representatives only contains one member who possesses an Imperial distinc tion. The late House contained no less than six gentlemen who had received special marks of her Majesty's favor—Sir Geo. Grey, j K.C.B. ; Sir Harry Atkinson, K.C.M.G.; Sir John Hall, K.C.M.G.; Sir Maurice O'Rorke", Kt. ; Mr Larnacb, C.M.G. ; and Mr Richardson, C.M.G. The previous House contained seven such members, as Sir Robert Stout, K.C.M.G., also sa> m it. Now Sir John Hall is the sole representative of such distinctions.—" Post." The advantages of light reading have found a champion m the Dean of Worcester. Distributing the prizes at the Leamington High-street School for Girls, Dr. Gott is reported to have said that " boys and girls who got heavy reading needed something lighter and he believed that m England we had the purest and brightest light reading that had ever been given to any age or any country. He contended that light litera ture would m a material sense change the world m whicsh we live, and it opened up a new and better world for us." An Invercargill telegram says:—"Not withstanding the interdiction by the District Grand Master of intercourse 1 Masonically of the English, Scottish, and Irish Free Masons, with lodges holding under the Grand Lodge of New Zealand, the three luvercargill Lodges, Victoria, 1.C., St John's S.C., and Southern Cross, N.Z.0., oa, Thursday by tacit consent assembled togetner to attend the funeral of Bro Wilfred Wolfe, Past Master of the first named Lodge, a deceased brother highly esteemed by all the fraternity, and people of Invercargill. We may mention that there has been no interdiction, nor in tention of any, against any person Free mason or not, attending any funeral, Masonic or otherwise. The Invercargill reprssenta tive of the Press Association evidently wishes to make capital out of the matter. The monthly general meeting of the Ash burton Cycling Club was held on Thursday evening. There were twenty-nine members present, and Mr W. H. Dunnage occupied the chair. Dr Tweed wrote accepting the office of Vice-President. Messrs W. St. G. Douglas, M. Scott, and William Pattman were elected hou members, and Messrs R. Curtis, Dowell, H. Curtis, R. Frizzel, H. C. Craighead, A. Pilbrow, and S. Boyle were elected members. It was resolved on the motion of Mr Murray, seconded by Mi- Mitchell, that any gentleman wishing to become a member who has raced as a pro fessional will be accepted, but cannot run until he has been reinstated by the Alliance. A long discussion took place m connection with the track, after which it was resolved to leave this matter m the hands of the delegates who had been instructed to wait upon the Council. The Club Run was fixed for Thursday next, to start from the Post OMice at seven p.m., when all riders are invited 10 attend. It was decided to go to Winslow and back. General meetings ox the Club were -fixed for the last Thursday m each month. It was unanimously resolved to ask Mr D. Thomas to accent office as one of the Vice-Presidents to the Club. The matter of a badge for the Club was left m the hands of the Committee.

The Rev Charles Clark makes his reap pearance m Ashburton to-night, choosing for the subject of his Lecture Entertainment his " New Dickens Letfcure." This is one of che most popular m Mr Clark's repertoire, and its illustrative, humorous, and dramatic recitals, afford great scope for the versatile talents of the lecturer. The rev gentleman's last appearance m the colonies was m 1879, and no one who heard him then need be re minded of the extraordinary success with which his lectures were attended. His wanderings at an end, Mr Clark went from the Cape to England, and for seven years had charge of a Baptist Church at Euling, near London, where he remained till 1887, since which time he has been living at Clifton, Bristol, preaching and lecturing constantly throughout the provincial towns of England. The word " lecture " scarcely describes what Mr Clark's entertainment is. Besides being an orator of the very first magnitude, Mr Clark is endowed with very rare dramatic talent, which enables him to portray the principal characters of Dickens, Thackeray and other authors to the life, while his memory is something prodigious. In an interview with an Auckland journalist recently he is reported to have confirmed the statement that he could read a newspaper leader off once and then recite it almost ver batim. Mr W. T. Holmes, who has been appointed general manager of the Bank of New Zealand m the colonies, was to leave England to take up his appointment by the s.s. Orizaba on January 2nd. It must bo a matter of congratulation for the shareholders of the Bank and all others concerned m its welfare, that the directors have been able to secure the services of a gentleman so eminently qualified to deal with the important and varied interests that will be committed to his charge. Mr Holmes has been for twenty five years m the service of the Bank of Madras, and on various occasions has officiated m the highest appointments m the institution. Since 1882 he has been manager of the Colombo branch, having being sent there at a time when the island was on the verge of ruin, consequent on the failure of the coffee cultivation. Through the trouble some thx«3 that followed that period, and m the no less critical condition of things brought about by the failure m 1884 of the Oriental Bank, Mr Holmes steered the Bank of Madras with exceptional ability and judg ment, and his directors were not backward m expressing their satisfaction at his prompt and efficient action. It is no secrect that on several important occasions Mr Holmes' advice was sought by the Government of the Island a>id acted upon much to the public advantage. Mr Holmes will bring to the councils of the Bank of the New Zealand directorate a clear mind and an unbiased judgment, and their action m reference to his appointment will meet with universal approbation throughout the colonies. — " Herald " correspondent. r '

TELEGRAPHIC.

HOME AND FOREIGN.

[PER PBE.-tS ASSOCIATION.] London, January 28 and 29. Isolated instances of outrage and damage to property continue to occur among Scotch railway men on strike. The strikers at Perth have resumed work. It is announcer! to-day that a.South Australian Joan of £1,200,000, at 3| per cent., with a minimum of 98, is to be placed on the market on February 4th. It is expected that the loan will realise a half per cent, premium. In the House of Commons the Con sph-acy Act was rejected by a maiority of 36. ' The death is announced of Lieut- General the Hon. Sir' Arthur Edward Hardings, X.C.8., Governor of Gib raltar. " Truth " states that the Governor of Queensland wishes to retire, but Lord Knutsford has prevailed on liiin to continue m office. General Booth starts m July for Africa, India, and Australia. The prospectus has been issued of the United Australia Bank, with a capital of £2,000,000, m £10 shares. Mr Bradlaugh is unconscious. His doctors, were, however, able to acquaint him with the action of Parliament m expunging the resolution forbidding him to take the oath. The French Government refuses to recognise the right of Victoria to terminate the Postal Convention ex cept through England, and intends to surcharge the colony with 7d upon each letter passing through French territory. Italy expresses surprise at the action of Victoria, but has not yet indicated what she intends to do. Mr Raikes, Postmaster-General, advises Victoria to continue the Con vention until the Postal Congress meets m Vienna. Washington, January 28. A suit instituted by iKherchants of St. Louis to test the validity of the McKinley Tariff Act has resulted m favor of the Act. An apn.eal has been lodged. There is a renewed, scare about Indians. There is some excitement m New York at the action of J.-iy Gould, the well-known capitalist, who threatens to withdraw from the S fcock Exchange owing to a quarrel with the directors. A Bill has been intro cluced into the Senate sanctioning the ilortnation of a company with a capital of .£1,000,000, to work the cable between. San Fran cisco, Hawaiian Islands, Samoa and Japan. It is proposed the Treasury shall subsidise the undertaking to the extent of £4-0,000 a year for fifteen years. i The total number of deaths by the colliery explosion, Pennsylvania, ■ is 196. The appeal of Canada against the seizure of a fishing -vessel m Behring Sea has been referred to Dr. Field, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United! States. He states that it being a political question he cannot adjudicate on it. Washington, January 29. The opposition to the free coinage; bf silver m the House of Representatives is increasing. Rio de Janeipo, January 29; A measure similar to the Torrens, Land Act has been made compulsory m Brazil. Paris, January 29. The Chamber of Deputies has re jected the Treaty with Dahomey, which is equivalent, to a declaration of war. The French Pacifiic squadron has been ordered to Chili. Valparaiso, January 29. | The rebels have captured Coquunbo and Laserena. Government troops defeated the rebels at Pisaqua. Bkklin, January 28. Germany is endeavoring to obtain a portion of the territory m the Malay . Peninsula. I

AUSTRALIAN.

Sydney, January 28. South and Central America have been declared infected countries. Sydney, January 29. The Gas Company lost £33,000 by the late strike. In the return Intercolonial Cricket match, Few South Wales m the first innings made 465. Moses 147, Gar rett 75. Victoria made 189 (Watters 106 and 191 ; Blackham 50). Turner for New South "Wales took fifteen wickets m the two innings for 174. New South Wales won by an innings with 85 runs to spare. Each colony has now won twenty-three matches.

INTERPROVINCIAL

Auckland, January 29. The principal event at the Regatta was the champion whaleboat races, for which the first prize was £90, second £25, and the third £10. Four crews entered—The Waitemata (Auckland), Manukau, Wai tara, and Hauraki (Thames) Clubs. The race was splendidly contested. Passing the Queen street wharf the Waitari crew spurted and assumed the lead which had till then been held by the Waitemata crew. Turning the mark buoy che Thames crew, who had been entered as a post entry, forged ahead and took level posi tion with the Waitara men, the Waitemata last. From the Ponsonby mark boat to the finish the race was a splendidly fought one. "'■ faiiara were, m front till within a few lengths of the flagship, when the Haurakis suddenly spurted and shot ahead, winning by a couple of feet amidst great enthusiasm. The Waitara were second, and Waitemata a bad third, while the JM annkau were a long way m the rear. The sailing races were very successful. Wellington, January 29. The following notices appear m the "Gazette ": — Regulations under the Government Life Insurance Act, amended regulations respecting the introduction of stock into New Zealand,. the appointment of Mr A. J. C. Cadman to the Cabinet and to be Commissioner of Stamps, list of clergymen within the meaning of the Marriage Act, notification thac the examination of mine managers will be held on February 24th, the revenue and trade returns for the quarter ending December 30th. The Bank returns are as follows:— Bank of New Zealand, liabilities 14,342,845 3s 7d, assets L 6.862,367.862,367 18s : I Union Bank of Australia,, L 2,714,743 9,« [L 2,531,683,531,683 16s Id; Bank of New South Wales, L 2,130,211 17s sd, L 2,475,170 2s 4d ; Bank of Australasia, LI, 177,403 2s Bd, L 1,491,076 17s 7d; National Bank of New ; Zealand, LI, 315,037 3s 6d LI 93-4,509 Xla 10d ; Colonial Bank of New Zealand, LI, 526,190 12s 3d L 2,473.801,473.801 17s sd. T0ta15—L13.236.429 8s H 147,768,610 3s 3d,

Blenheim, January 29. j A telegram received m town this even ing states that- the Wakamarina Gorge claim has been pumped dry, and that groat excitement prevails m Havelock. There is about ten feet of shingle to move before a bottom is reached. A largely attended meeting of property holders, this evening, unanimously passed a resolution to the effect, that the five underwriters were guilty of a breach of faith m not reducing the rates as promised when a water service and tire appliances were obtained. The premiums are now 4 per oont. with a special borough rate of sixpence m the 2. Rbefton, January 29. At a public meeting to consider the circular issued by ihe Fire Insurance Companies re the electric light, a resolu tion was carried:—"That as during seven years past the Insurance Companies only lost £200 and received 'bstM'een £7000 and £8000, their present action m threatening to cancel the policies is arbit rary, unreasonable, unjust, and deserving of censure;" also—"That this meeting pledged itself to support any foreign com pany opening up business m Reef ton." A Committee was appointed to enquire into the method adopted at Blenheim to carry out local insurance, and also enquire if it was possible to establish a similar institution.

SPORTING.

AUSTRALIAN SORATCHINGS

[PEK PRESe ASSOCIATION.] Melbourne, January 29. Ronald has been scratched for the Australian Cup, and Daniel, Umalopogaa,s, Essex and Ronald for the Newmarket Handicap.

Natural Selection.

Mr G. M. Thomson, of Dujnedin, m a paper read to the Science Association, gave the following case of variation m sheep and perpetuation of the new character :—" In the district of Strath Taieri, m Otago, some years ago, certain sheep on one of the runs—probably the progeny of a single ram— were found to be evidently short-winded. Apparently the action of the heart was defective, for when these sheep were driven they would run with the rest of the flock for a short distance and then lie down panting. The result of this peculiar affection was that at nearly every mustering those short-winded sheep used to be left behind, being unable to be driven with the rest. Sometimes they were brought on more slowly after wards, but if it happened to be shearing time they were simply caught and shorn where they lay. As a result of this peculiar condition a form cf artificial selection was set up, the vigorous sheep being constantly drifted away for salo, etc., while this defective strain increased with great rapidity throughout the district, for whenever the mobs were mustered for the market, shearing or drafting, these cranky sheep (;is they came to be called) were left behind. The defective character appeared iv every succeeding generation, and seamed to increase m force, remind ing one of the Ancon sheep referred to by Darwin. At first, of course, the character was not re'eognised as ' heredi tary,' but as the members of this cranky breed increased to a very serious extent and spread over the district, it came at last to be recognised as a local variety. When the runs, on which the sheep were abundant, were cut up and sold or re leased, m smaller areas a few years ago, the purchasers found it. necessary for the protection of their interests to extermi nate the variety, of which hundreds were found straggling over the country. This was easily and effectually done m the following manner. As soon as a sheep was observed it was pursued, but after running for a couple of hundred yards at a great rate of speed it would drop down panting behind a big .stone or other shelter, and seemed incapable for ;i time of rising and renewing its flight. It was immediately destroyed, and m this manner a useless-—but to the naturalist a very interesting—variety, was eliminated.

In Re Irrigation.

O Rakaia ! O Rakaia ! Thou giant of the plain ! With speed terrific rushing forth From Southern Alpine chain ; Thy melted snows m fury wild Down precipice and hill, Carve out m channels deeply filed Thy course, Rakaia still. Then on thro' narrow gorges pour Crumbling thy banks to mould, In rapid currents to the shore Spread waters icy cold, When roaring to thy river bar In flood at thy full height, Thou terrible Rakaia Who may withstand thy might ? And when thy waves together rolled Thou crawlest like a snake, Whose treach'rous coils slowly enfold And crush the prey they take ; In thy calmer moments, saunt'rer, When thus thou feignest sleep, Through thy waters the poor wand'rer May God m safety keep ! Yet, thou giant dread of nature, The active mind of man Which subdues and tames each creature, To use thee too shall plan. And first two splendid bridges high Across thy bed he throws ; And then from mountain ridges nigh, Thy stolen wealth that grows, And whirling down each wave of thine Buried m sea remains, He'll rescue form the eddies fine To fertilize the plains ! With wise and cunning hand he'll guide Streams from above thy gorge, And spread the tiny brooklets "wide Past orchard, farm, and forge ; Where silence reigns, nor song of bird, Nor tree kind shade supplies, In leafy groves sweet notes are heard, And children's voices rise ! And see where once the tussock grow On the poor stony soil, And widely grazing sheep, but few, Repaid the settler's toil, Now fields of clover, oats, and wheat j Wave m the freshening gale, Thousands of sheep contented bleat, And harvests never fail > O Rakaia ! O Rakaia ! Thy treasures quickly yield ; Arise, O man, and use this power To bless both hearth and field ! ______________ Zara.

Corn Exchange Report.

The following is the Corn Exchange ,-. report for week ending Friday, January 30, 1891 :—Farming operations are now m full swing, and the town presents an especially quiet appearance on market days. Only a few lines have as yet been thrashed and put on the market, and from what we can learn he prospects m Igenaral are not so gloomy as was at one time expected. The samples submitted are bright and clean, but not heavy. The outside demand is only of a reiail nature. JJealers' are waiting for a more decided development of the markets | before launching into larger speculations. Milling Wheat.—Old, has a fair enquiry among local millers, and whole chick wiieat is wanted m small lines. ; Oats are dull with plenty of old and new offering at our quotations. Barley remains inactive. Grassekd.—The enquiry for Ryegrass is brisk, and farmers should hay« no trouble m effecting sales. Cocksfoot is also asked for, [ but prices asked by growers has precluded ! business up to the present. I Quotations are a3 follow :—Wheat, Tuscan, 3s 8d; Pearl, 3s 6d to 3s 7d; Hunters, 3s 4d to 3a 5d ; whole chick. 3s to 3s 2<\; broken, 2s 9d to 3s. Oats, milling, Is 8d to Is 9d; short feed, Is 7cl to Is 8d; Danish, Is 6d. Barley, malting, 3s to 3s-3d; feed, Is 9cl to 2s. Kyegrass, town machine dressed, 4s 9:1 to ss; farmers' machine dressed, 4s to 4s 6d; ordinary, 3s to 3s 6d. Dairy Produce, butter, factory, 7d to 8d ; farmers', keg, 6d to 7d ; cheese, small size, 4£d; large and medium, 3^d to 4d. The above prices are those paid to farmers for delivery, f.0.b., Lyttelton; sacks extra.

The Markets.

(per press association.) London, January 28. Eight thousand quarters of Austra lian wheat, prompt delivery, sold at otS,

DUNEDIN WOOL SALES.

Dunbdin, January 29. The third series of wool sales was com menced to-day, when there was a good attendance of buyers. The effect of the nejvs from London was that competition was brisk throughout, and prices for choice halfbred were rather firmer. Crossbreds, too, were m better request, and showed an improvement. Earthy, discoloured and badly got-up wools were neglected. Greasy half-bred, light and bright, realised 9d to 12^d; do, heavy earthy, 7d to B|d ; do, crossbreds, 7d to 11-|d ; merino dull of sale and disappoint ing, prices ranging from s|d to 10|d ; scoured merino, 15d to 16-J~d; do, cross bred 12d to 14£ d.

LONDON WOOL SALES

London, January 27. The wool sales opened firmly at the early rites of last series. Competition was keen.

The State of Russia.

The year-book issued by the Statistical Central Committee oithe Russian Ministry oftha Interior (says "The Times," of November 27) is an interesting publica tion, throwing much light on the condition of the Russian people. According to the work, the estimated population of Russia is 110,828,676 souls, of which about 100 millions inhabit JSuropean Russia {without Finland) and the Caucasus. Marriages aro constantly on the increase, their number m 1888 being 871,476. In the same year 4,085,741 births were regis tered, against only 2,593,116 deaths. The increase of population is consequently 14\S \)gv 1000, this percentage being ex ceeded by no other European'state. The numberof violent deaths, however, is very hioh, and on the increase, beinw 44,427 m 1887, against 42,985 m 188(3. Of thes£ 2575 and 2585 respectively were suicides, and 3738 and 3608 respectively homicides. Of all diseases typhus exacted the most victims, and raged throughout Russia. The numbers for 1887 showed 289,682 cases of the disease, and .15,858 deaths. Immense damage is done to property by fire. About 90 per cent of the fires were due to incendiarism, and four-fifths of the damage was caused m the, country. Astounding details are furnished m the year book of the indebtedness of landed property. It is stated that 268 per cent, of such property (24,548,813 dessiatines) are mortgaged to the extent of 632,154,719 roubles, the annual interest paid being no less than 41,409,32! roubles. For public instruction 7,000,000 roubles, and for sanitary purposes 9,500,000 roubles were expended. Education is still much neglected. In 1886 there existed only 897 intermediary schools, with 130,287 boys and 80,099 girls. In 39,003 elemen tary schools. 1,570,115 boys and 455,167 girls received instruction. There has been somewhat of an improvement m these figures during more recent years, but, according to Western notions the Russian Empire is still as far as ever from possessing a proper system of education.

The Late King of Hawaii.

King Kalakaua, of the Sandwich Islands, whose death m San Francisco is just announced, was on the whole a favor able specimen of a dusky monarch. Black kings are declared on the authority of one of Dickens' characters to be cheap—" and I think," the speaker adds apologetically, " nasty," As far as regards our own special black king, Tawhiao the First (or is ib second ?), we should hardly be at the trouble to quarrel with the description. Certainly anyone who has been at th« '^palace," up at the unpronounceable Northern capital of the " kingdom," will acknowledge the latter attribute as apply ing to the case, King Kalakaua, however (who by the way was a pure-blooded Hawaiian native), presided over a king dom which has known the blessings of constitutional government for the last 50 years, and the natives of which have been highly civilised for a much longer period The Hawaiian Islands, which were first constituted into one kingdom by Kameha meha the First m the Waterloo year, are a conspicuous example of successful missionary enterprise. The American missionaries took the country m hand on the death of the Second Kamehameha (who died m England m 1823, as did also his Queen), and m a comparatively short j period of years they made the arts of reading, writing, and arithmetic more widespread than they are m many parti of England itself. One of the results was the establishment just half a century ago of a regular constitutional government, consisting of a king, House of Nobles, and House; of Representatives. When the number of Kamehamehas had gob up to live, it seemed to the fifth about time to still further liberalise matters, and the constitution .was again revised m that direction. Then they got a k|ng who was not called Kamehameha-^a change one would have supposed to be by this time almost unconstitutional —but he, possibly owing to the too violent wrench from established custom as regards his cogno men, only survived two years. Upon* his death m 1874,"Kalakaua, a leading chief was elected King by the Parliament (an admirable arrangement, by the way), and was duly anointed, crowned, and all the rest of it. How immensely the Hawaiian Islands have since advanced m commer cial importance all New Zealanders know ; and we also all remember the sensational "revolution" ot three years ago, when the King was compelled to once more i revise his constitution and extend the franchise privileges.' It would appear, however, that while his country's coristi* tution was being revised his own was being undermined ; and he/ died of the most insidious of all diseases; m a foreign limd.~.^Witn;^s, >i;i "■ A - * -\;">ri

PARLIAMENTARY.

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

WEllington, January 29 The Council met'at 2.30 p.m. THE BANKING CONTRACT. Mr Htuvens gave notice to 'ask if the Government will continue the contract on which the banking of the colony was carried on. THE PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARY. Mr Pharrvzyn moved that m the opinion of this Council, the Government should placa £10,000 on ihe estimates for erect ing a fire-proof building for the Parlia mentary Library. The motion was carried by 16 to 8. The Council adjourned at 3.30 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. SIR. GKORttK GREY. Mr Shera gave notice to move that a respectful address be presented to His Excellency the Governor, praying him to appoint Sir George Grey to the Legisla tive Council. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. Replying to questions it was stated that Government would communicate with the Agent-General, and request him to furnish all information with respect to securing 1 better markets m Europe for New Zeal i ar-d frozen meat; that the Manawatu i Gorge Railway would be opened on Tues day, 10th February ; that the Govern ment proposed to proceed with the classification of the Civil Service during the recess, and that a Bill would probably he brought down next session for the classification and regulation of the whole service ; that the Government intended to go into the whole question of the in cidence of taxation during the recess, but he (the Premier) could not give an absolute ■ promise now. that the property tax would be abolished ; that there were no records m any of the Government Departments of any cablegrams having passiid between the late Government and the. Agent- General relative to the retirement of the latter; that the Government would brine; m anamendingßill providingthat acandidate should not be liable for costs through the error ot the Returning-Officer or other officer of the Crown, when the candidate has not been a party to a breach of the Act; that very serious complaints had been made of dummyism m the sale of lands iv .South Canterbury, recently held at Christchurch, and it had been reterred. to the officers of the department to make inquiries ; that inquiries would be made into the best means of mitigating the small birds nuisance, and if necessary a Bill brought m dealing with it, THB ADDRESS IN IIErLY, Mr Duncan resumed Uie debate on the Address-in-Reply. He was glad to see that amendment of the Land Act was pro posed as they were all aware that some alteration was necessary, and he hoped that the present Ministry would see that m every district there would be provided land m sufficient areas for small settlement and easy of access. He complimented the Government on the reference m the Speech to the relations of capital and labor. The late Government, he said, had postponed the elections till December m order to prevent men engaged m shear ing from recording their votes, which had a prejudicial effect m the South Island. The majority m favor of Mr Bajlance was not, as Mr Scobie McKenzie had said, due to the accident of the labor troubles,' but _to the maladministration of the Atkinson Goveanment, Mr Mooro thought that the late Govern ment had taken the right course m sum moning Parli'iment at the earliest, possible period, and he also gave them great credit for their honest attempt to place the affairs of the solony on a sound financial basis.

Mr Kelly (Invercargill) deprecated those frequent references to the labor party. He was one of that party, but he desired to represent the whole community, and not any particular class. Mr Dawsou disagreed with Mr Scobie McKensrie that there was nothing m the Governor's Speech, as the questions of land settlement and agriculture were the greatest questions of the day. With respect to the advice of the member for Mount Ida to the labor party, he might say that those members had been sent there to represent the electors of the colony, and they were quite capable of looking after themselves. He had great faith that the Government would initiate a policy such as would be beneficial to the whole of New Zealand. Mr Rolleston had listened with great attention to Mr Pinkerton's speech, and had come to the qoncluaion that he was a thoroughly representative man, not repre senting one class. He could not compliment the Minister of Education on his speech the previous evening. It was m marked contrast to that of Mr Pinkerton. With regard to the present Ministry nobody had paraded more than th,os,e gentlemen their desire to settle the lands. The Premier had told them last night that m 1878 he had refused to sacrifice the public estate, but m 1878 that gentleman had also refused to sanction a policy of pro tection. Why, the whole desire of Mr Macandrew, the late member for Port Chalmers, was the sale of land for cash, and the Ministry of which he (Mr Rolleston) was a member, found them selves embarrassed by a wrong policy which they had to. amend as soon as possible. Respecting a Department of Agriculture, he was surprised to see that hst session votes relating to agriculture were steadily objected to by those wh» now proposed to establish that Department. As to dummyism,he believed that last ses sion an honest attempt was made to $top the practice, but an obstructive parfey m the Hpuae frustrated the'efforts of the late Government. The Premier had asked for three or four months to prepare the Gov ernment measures, but he maintained that if their policy wa.s not prepared beforehand, they wwe not fit to carry on the Government. He concluded by pro posing the following amendment tq the Address :—"To assure your Excellency that the adjournment of the House fora suitable recess, instead of its formal prorogation, would be m the interests of true economy, whilst saving expenditure m payment to members, which would not be jnstified by th« time occupied m deal ing with the business which is proposed to be submitted to us during the present session." The debate was interrupted by the 5,30 p.m, adjournment; The House resumed at 7,30 p,m. Mr Saunders resumed the debate. He said tljac his opinion was that the late Government had honestly endeavoured to put as many settlers as they could place on the land, and he hoped that the pre sent Government would carry out a similar policy. If he had any hand m forming the present Government, he should say let the senior member for Dunedin (Mr Pinkerton) take a seat on those benches, and show the labor party that they were desirous of doing every thing to promote proper relations between labor and capital. He could no& unjcleil stand Mr Moore's remark that thp colony was m a more prosperous condition that it was m a few years back, for they were now paying £255,000 more annually for interest than they were paying when Sir Harry Atkinson came into, office, and he should like to,fcjiqw wheiW that was a sign of e^Gapuii^T,! administration, 1^ n.ew government woro ent^leci 'fe> p*~' t^e they asked fox i\\ ftr4e? to **" "iiy policy which, ho bfili#Y-Wi w*- 1, , <:'i>eP arl a good of the #W, ."■■■■" ould oe for the had »J«" -of sa^ -^ r RoUeston ,»iaAe a serious blunde»in proposing

I the amendment, as it applied to that {.wf'-y which brought the members from their homes when quite initialled for. The new Government hiid not yet. had rime to I<j< -k into the finances <>f tlie colony. A financial statement had re cently 1 een issued by the late Treasurer, but mly that day n voucher had been presented fov £11,000 which hau not been provided fur m that statement, and which was largely for salaries. He did not know 1)op- many more p-ivmenrn of this* kind wpu d have to be ma:lo. Mr JJolles toi's motion was practically one of want of confidence, and m tlinx'li-Tht the Go vernment accepted it. He challenged Mr Rollpston to take issue upen it, 'Mr Bryce said that Mr Balance's posi tion ia \raitin.:,' to luive four months of office uncontrolled by the House was such n,* hud never been occupied by any leader before, especially by one who claimed like Mr Ballance to be Liberal. Was it conceivable that the government of the colony should be handed over to a man who had not- the approval of the House at all % If Sir 11. Atkinson were at present m the House m his usual health, who should say he would not possess a majority ? As to Mr Ballance there was no public qu^stioh on which he was not ready to hold one opinion to-day and another to-morrow. By their act-ion the Government were calling upon their party to vote themselves a double hono rarium, but he hoped that they would consider the question and that the full amount would not be voted. Mr W. P. Reeves said that Mr Bryee was very generous, but the Government would accept nothing from him. Mr Bryce asked what right the Government had to four m.mths of office uncontrolled by the House ? They had the right of the majority at the general election. He denied that there was an organised sec tion of the Opposition which repudiated Mr Ballance at the elections. Consti tutional principle demanded that the Go vernment should have resigned office when they saw that they were m a minority, aa the Stout-Vogel Government had done under similar circumstances. With re spect to the two sessions, next session would be one of the longest an<3 most arduous held for a long time, and the honorarium then to be paid would not : nearly compensate for that session. The proposal of the Government, therefore^ was practically that members should r.e ceive £250 for sixteen weeks' work. Ihe Government were not responsible for this session at all, and the Opposition now wanted to escape from the unpopularity their cwn action had brought about. Mr Fergus said that when the Govern ment brought down their policy they would be ignominicusly driven out of power. Notwithstanding all the tricks they had used to keep themselves m office their proposal with regard to the second session Would, he felt sure, be scouted by the whole country. Mr Thompson (Auckland), who had been returned as "independent," said that he was willing to give the present Ministry time to bring down their policy, and he would not take any part m opposi tion till that policy was disclosed. He would not. vote on the amendment as a. party man, but according to his own judgment, Mr Rees asked whether it was fair or just by a catch vote of this kind to attempt to displace the Ministiy which had only just taken their seats, b«for« they had an opportunity of placing their policy before the House.

Mi-Thomson (Bruce) would not support ; the amendment. ■l Mr Duthie considered the tinxe asked for by ihe Government altogether un called for, as ths men composing it were of business capacity and could easily master the details of their policy. Mr McEenxie (Clutha) did not acre© with (he amendment. Touching on "the-, question of taxation he said that, a Land and Income Tax. was essentially a class, tax, and under it some of the wealthiest, people m the colony would escape. Mr Mills (Waimea-Picton) would rote against; the amendment, as the Opposition were responsible for members being there at present. .Sir John Hall said that the Act never contemplated that for a sojourn often day* m Wellington they were u> receive ±-150 He regretted that mombera of the Government had taken up the attitude they had done over this question. Look ing at the reductions that had taken place m the Civil Service, and the reduction of expenditure m many other ways, he tnonght it extremely undesirable they should pocket £150 for this short session. As to the contention of the Government that the late Ministry should have resigned after the elections, it was true that a majority of members were not returned to support Sir Harry Atkinson but it was equally true that Mr Ballade did not secure a majority at the elections, and on that ground alone the late Govern ment took the proper course m callin* larhament together. As to Judge Edwards, if he were not now removed or if his appointment were not valid, the Premier would be responsible f or »11 the mischief that would occur. Mr Buick hoped that the Government would make some material alteration m th« incidence of taxation, and would also endeavor to secure a closer system of land settlement. . ' Mr Swan would not support the amend ment. Mr Macarthur commented on the facfe that there was nothing about Education or Protection m the Governor's Speeuk. He 5 said that by certain conversion operations it would be possible to save £500,000 within the next four months. That amount should, of course, be used for the reduction of the public debt, and not for thd purchase of political support He should vote for Mr RoUwhmY amend ment;

■ The amendment was then put and losfc by 35 to 24, and the Address-in-Replv was carried. r The foliowing is the division list on the question that Mr Rolleston's amendment be added to the Address-in-Reply: Ayes, 24.— Messrs Blake, Bryce, Buck- S U, CX? Uchanan ' Dufchie, Fergus, Goldie, Mall (bir John), Harkness, Lawry, Mac ujthujv Mackenaie, M. J. (Mount Id*), Meredith, Mitchelson, Moore, Newman, Richardson, Rolleston, Swan, Taipua, Thompson, R. (Marsden), Thompson, T. (tity of Auckland), Valentine, Wright. JNof<s, 35. -Messrs Ballance, Buick, Oa«man, Carncrass, Earnsliaw, Fisher, Gmnness, Hall-Jones, Hosfg, Houston Hutchison (Waitotara), Hutchison f^ it y of Dunedin), Joyce, Kelly (Inverc^inf Kelly (East Coast), McDonald, M. c lntosh ' McKen3ue(Waifcaki), Mills (W^ea-S ton) O'CW Palmer, Parata, Perceval, Pmkerton, Rees, Reeves (InantrahaaV Reeves (City of Ch,i,tcbWh,. 3dS£ Saunders, Shera Smith (Kew Plymouth) Smith (Waipawa), Tanner, Taylor, Ward ,x> PA^ Rhodes, Mills"; (Porfc Comers), R USS eU, Wilson. Noes, -Messrs Duncan, Fish, Daw S on» Carroll. The House rose at 12;3O a.m.

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HOME AND FOREIGN

(Received January 30, 10 if; „ \ COLONIAL DtfnS, } Speaking « Sf *H? .Exchequer "S^ i^ duade the Colonial Governments to modify the extreme itttitu.de taken up by them m regard to the taxation of British goods impottsd into Australia^

GOSCHEN ON BANKING.

GO&CHEtf Itefemng to Bariug Bros, disaster

TOTS ASHBtTBTOiy GITABPIAy, ffBIDAY, JANUARY 30, 1891.



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