The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, SEPT. 5 1905.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1550, 5 September 1905, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, SEPT. 5 1905.

THE VOUCHER “ FICTION.” The now Liberal, party can fairly lay claim to pre-eminence in one direction* For colossalcheek ” their equal has never before been known iiithe history of the colony. They are smart men, and their ways are smart; but the colony has had more than enough of them. First the , number and details of a voucher were given ; Mr Fisher had to admit his mistake on that point when the original document was produced, and shWa to be for payment to Mr Sneddon. Then a further fish, ing expedition was permitted, and that has completely failed, and now the party want a further enquiry, even though the whole of the evidence taken has been made public. Leading Oppositionists freely admit that the charges have been proved groundless, and that deep injury has been done to the Premier’s family.' The Christchurch Press, one of the leading Opposition papers in the colony, after acknowledging that the AuditorGeneral would be absolutely impartial in the .matter, . thus deals with the case : “For some weeks the members of the New Liberal Party have kept the country in a ferment over a supposed act of corruption which has had no existence outside of their own heated imaginations. We do not know whether they fully appreciate the humiliation of their position, especially after the very emphatic manner in which they pledged themselves over and over again to stand or fall by the truth of their charge. For our part, we cannot conceive anything more calculated to bring upon the party the contempt of right-thinking people, or more likely to impede honest, clean, and straight-forward attempts to reform the Administration than their conduct, throughout the whole of this squalid business. For squalid this scandal has been throughout, whether we look at the ignominy of its birth, the shameful manner in which it was exploited by the Liberal Party for purposes of self-advertisement, or the degradation in the tone of our public life involved in the fact that important business of the country has been brought to a standstill for weeks, while one of the highest officers of the State has been employed in clearing away the mud so recklessly thrown.” The Press then gives a little of the history of the affair: “The New Liberal Party started off at the beginning of their official career with a brave flourish of trumpets and loud professions of their intention to bring about ‘ efficient and honorable administration of the colony’s affairs, free from party bias.’ How have they gone to work ? In the first place this mare’s nest of ja mythical voucher was brought forward as a prodigious discovery, which was to wreck the

Ministry, and establish the New Liberal Party on the highest pinnacle of public distinction. They were so proud of it that they rushed through the country, making an exhibition of themselves at so much a head, and they did their utmost to inflame and prejudice the public mind on a matter which, above all things, called for calm and judicial investigation. In public speeches and in newspaper interviews, even while the enquiry ordered by Parliament was proceeding, they asserted that the voucher had a genuine existence, and would yet be found. Is this the way in which the conduct of affairs is to be kept free from ‘ party bias,’ and do they seriously believe that an ‘ efficient and honorable administration ’ is to be brought about by inviting or encouraging subordinate officers in the Public Service to tattle about papers which pass through their hands in the discharge of their duties. We have already expressed our views on tbe subject of Mr Bedford and his ‘ typical telegrams,' and the breach oj confidence on the part of his informant, whoever he may be. But even in these things the ‘ New Liberal Party ’ hardly showed themselves at their worst. Can any right-minded person feel anything but loathing at the gordid wrangle over the dead Minister's wreath, or at the action of ‘ New Liberals' who could ransack the Registrar’s office for the death certificate of the child whom the Premier lost in the early years of his married life ? If these things are not enough to make the veiy name of ‘ New Liberalism ’ stink in the nostrils of the public, we do not know what is.”

The Press does not blame Mr Fisher so much as his associates, as he was evidently, intoxicated with vanity at finding 1 himself in Parliament; while Mr Bedford is to some extent excused, on account of his youth and immaturity. “Mr Taylor, whose chief fault is his invincible bias and eagerness to impute the worst motives to an opponent,” states the Press, “ seems to have greedily seized on the story of the voucher, and to have been only too willing to uso young

Fisher as a moans of attacking his old antagonist. Mr Lauronson, in adopting the same tactics, added tho fresh turpitude of betraying a leader whom he had boslavorod with adulation and supported with servilo docility in the past. We do not envy either of these gentlemen their feelings at the present moment. For ourselves wo hope that tho work of genuine roform will go on in spite of tho ignominy which has fallon on this spurious movement of tho ‘ Now Liberals.’ Wo aro ardently desirous of seeing tho prosont Government displacod by a more high-minded administration, but we wish to displace them by clean methods. Thore must be no eavesdropping among Government clerks, no prying into the wreaths on dead men’s graves, no divulging of ‘ typical tolograms ’ by confidential servants of tho State. Above all, wo venture to assort, thore must be no re-opening of the domestic sorrows of political opponents—no flourishing death certificates of their childron before excited audiences at political meetings. Reforms which can only be brought about by such questionable means as those will hardly bo worth the name.” This indictment from the headquar-

ters of the Opposition is as forcible as anything that could be said by supporters of Mr Seddon.

A white fox terrier pup lost on Saturday ie advertised for. Tho annual mooting of the Cosmopolitan. Club will be hold in the Club room, Bright street, on Friday evening at 8. The West End Football Club plays Patutahi on the letter's ground next Thursday. Shanghai advises that the interrupted oablo to Japan, via Formosa, is restored, but working slowly. At tho Police Court yesterday, before Mr W. Common, J.P., Peta Hape was fined 5s and 2s costs for drunkenness. The wheel tyre osbo against Mr John Dover (Mr G. H. Lysnar) was withdrawn at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. The following is the latest connection with the Gisborne Telephone Exohange : 834, Colonel Porter, “ Heatherlea," Kaiti. Mr 0. Watson, cab proprietor, Bright street, has a notice to the public in this issue. Ho has a first-olass landeau for hire, his telephone being 832. On Monday next the Rice Dramatio Company produce the popular drama, “ Queen’s Evidenoe," at His Majesty’s Theatre.

The adjourned annual meeting of the Te Karaba Raoing Club will be held at the Te Karaka .Hotel od Saturday evening next. A grand popular concert is announced for Friday evening next, when Mr Dudley Trent will make his farewell appearance. Several leading amateurs will assist. A corner section on Childers road, containing three acrc3 and a six-roomed house with every convenience, are offered for sale by Mr Lissant.Clayton ; also firstolass building allotments on exceptionally easy terms, close to bus route. Mr G. Wildish, saddler and harnessmaker, Peel street, has a special business notice in this issue. He is agent for MoYeigh’s famous saddles, and is in. an excellent position to supply the requirements of settlers. Among the now businesses opened in Gisborne none offers more attraction than Paris House, Library Buildings, Peel streot. A flret-olass Block of millinery and children’s outfittings is offered at exceptionally low prices. Orders are taken for plain sewing. An important sale of household furniture is announced by Messrs Bain Bros, on account of Mr E. Quinn, at the latter’s residence, Palmerson Boad, on Friday next, at 11 a.m. The sale will be without reserve. Particulars {$ will be advertised in a future issue. At the send-off to Mr T, Guthrie Bowie, Mr Gilbert Anderson likened the Christchurch Meat Company to a technical sohoo! for the training of experts in the meat trade, so great was the demand for the Company’s employees by other meat companies. On Friday next (states the Hawke' Bay Herald) the Napier Main School first fifteen will prooeed to Gisborne to play a return match with the Gisborne boys. The Napier lads are being coached by Mr M. B. Grant, and are also receiving instruo tions from Mr A. C. Norris, who has arranged to give them several addresses directed to develop their knowledge of the saience and fine points of the game. The present Government is recognised all through the Empire as the best friend of the democracy the world has yet seen, and its system is quoted by all democrats as the wisest and best extant. It is also a body kept in power by the people it has served so well, and has not sacrificed, but carefully carried out, the principles of its polioy, and in spite of the traducers, remains firm in the confidence of the people. —Waihi Teiograph. We owe something to the Conservatives, TI ey kept the millionaires away. They managed this country so that the capitalists must have thought it a sort of barrer rook in the ocean. When the mistake was discovered the working man was in posses sion, and it was too late for the millionaires to arrive. We hope for their owe sakes that the members of the Wernher Beit, Eckstein group will keep away.— Christchuroh Times. An Auckland paper states: ” The othet day a writ was issued in Gisborne for arresi of a man named Cooke, charged with horse-stealing. The man was traced ta Rotorua, where ho left the horse be was alleged to have stolen at one of the local stables and vanished. The police couldn't find him anywhere, un'il one of the force suddenly stopped and said : ‘ Bedad, did you say his name was Cooke? Then it’s in a kitchen we’ll find him.’ And sure enough they did find him in the kitchen of one of the boarding houses.” The Hawke’s Bay Herald on the vouoher inoident: — ll Whatever the explanation may be, it is clear that the charge made by Mr Fißber has completely broken down. We are sorry, under these circumstances, that Mr Taylor was not oontent to iet the matter drop. We do not believe that any further inquiry would explain the origin of the mistake, and even if it did, it would nut affect the question of Captain Seddon’s conduct. It would be much better if the new party would own up to their mistake and express regret at it. We should then feel more sympathy with them and be ready to admit that on the information in thoir possession they were justified in asking for an explanation from the Government. As it is, they have Idone the Government more good than can bo counteracted by all their attacks, how-

ever vigorous aod well titjjed. We dq not suppose thpt anything more fortunate for Mr Seddpo could have happened, It was another instance of the Premier’s luck, and Mr Seddon was quiok to see what jvo I advantage it gave him and tg use it with the best effect.” Opotiki is to have a social to-morrow night, as the following discussion at the Oootiki A. and P. meeting will Bbow:— Ths secretaiy said it bad bee., decided at the annual meeting to call the settlers together to discuss the question of show or no show, and in the event of the {orrper tp obtain suggestions towards improving the sqhedule, Mr Arthur said his experience of such meetings only meant that half a dozen would attend, and they would be no farther on, The president said the ider was to get the farmers together and ge suggestions from ihem. Mr Addis sail meetings like that did good in any case They might make it a sort of Bocia jathering. Mr Arthur thought that woulc >e rather out of place. A social gathering was not the place at which to transacl business. MrTabb: But you can’t do it at any other kind of meeting because you can’t get the people there. Mr Hammond said if the show was going to be left to half a dozen people the best thing they could Jo would be to drop it altogether. Mr Arthur objected to the proposal, as it was not on business lines. Mr Addis: Well, we have tried otber means without success ; let us now try this. Mr Tabb : We a-e great ones for experiments in Opotiki aoy way—let’s see now this will work. It was resolved to hold a social] gathering on September 6tb.

The Ventura left San Francisco at 3 p.m. on September Ist. Mails despatched from Auckland via San Francisco on August 4th arrived in London on September 2nd.

Tho Shaw, Savill, aad Albion Company's Karamea urrived in London on the 26th August.

The New Zoaland Shipping Company’s Kaikoura, front Wellington, July 14th, arrived in London on tlio 25 Sh August.

Two doctors and a nurso at Hobart bnvo boon charged with tho murdor of a woman by illegal operation. Tho oloquont proaehor, Doan Howoll, died suddohly at Ormondvillo last night. • Throo shooting tragedies aro reported this morning, onu at Gore, one at Napier, and one at Hollonsvillo.

Mr T. E. Taylor has returnod post haste

to Wellington, and in order to do this abandoned a meeting ho had announced. Possibly anothor soandal is about to burst. The Tasmanian Legislative Assembly refused to enact legislation for the compulsory life insurance of civil servants, and raised the retiring ago limit to 70. George Kitchen, of Avooa (Victoria), attempted to kick a football; his legs went from under him, and one of his kneeoaps split.

The Napier Gas Company have chartered the Kamona to load 1940 tons of screened coal at Newcastle, and have arranged to load 1300 tonß of Point Elizabeth Ktato coal at Greymouth.

A meeting of members of the West End football and hockey clubs will be held in the Reoord Reign Hotel at 7.30 this evening to make arrangements for a sooial to wind up the season. Dr. de Lisle, district health officer, con-

demned and seized in M, Laaoelles’ auction room at Napier 2£ cases of tinned salmon sent to the mart for sale by a Port firm. A small portion of the consignment had been sold before the seizure, but this was traced and withdrawn.

M. Lionel Terry, a gentleman measuring 6ft 4£in, arrived in Napier on his way to Wellington from Auckland on a walking tour. Mr Terry, who is the author oi a forcibly written pamphlet entitled " The Shadow ” dealing with the Alien eurso, is walking to Bee the country. He has so far experienced delightful weather- and has oovered 685 miles since July 19. Mr D. M. Orr, produce and commission agent, Dunlop’s buildings, notifies that having large quantities of Canterbury potatoes arriving and regular shipments from Hobart, he is able to quote wholesale buyers’ lowest current prices. He has also large quantities of onions, oats, apples, etc., arriving every alternate Wednesday. The steamer Moana hed a rough time at Napier on Friday night. Two hawsers parted at the breakwater, over £SO worth of damage being done, and the vessel baviDg to be tendered in the roadstead. One man fell into the water and missed bis passage, and a lady had her toe very badly out on the gangway. The passengers duly appreciated the change when they got up in Gisborne to find the sea in the bay quite calm.

Madame Heller’s lecture on Sunday evening was very largely attended, not- ■ withstanding tho wet weather. The speaker was greatly applauded and attentively listened to in her defence of spiritualism . against the criticisms of ohureh ministers. To night Madame Heller will bring before the publio a warning against fraudulent mediums, and also explain the different mediumships, at Townley’s Hall, 8 o'clock—silver ooin admission. The Whangarei Press has the following item :—Some amusement was caused in Bank Street on Sunday evening when some young ladies emerged from one of the churches, each in the company of a young man who had been courageous enough to accompany them inside. The Johnnies who had been in the habit of roosting on the rail outside to await the coming of the fair ones resented the new arrangement, and a rough and tumble ensued, much to the amusement of the onlookers.

By the vast majority of New Zealanders —that is to say, by all who can exercise common sense and who love fair play—what was paraded so confidently a few weeks ago as a vouoher scandal is now recognised as the sorriest of farces. Some day we may discover how it oame about that those who appear to have given outside information of what thpy thought was transpiring in their offioe, decided that they had seen a vouoher receipted by “ B. J. S. Seddon ” and written “in a youthful band.” —Napier Telegraph. A man who would die of shame if his friends saw him drunk in the street, will yet debauch himself, and perchance his family, in the privaoy of his own house. We venture to say there are cases of this sort in Ashburton and mayhap in Mataura, and we fear that drunkenness may be added to the list of those dreadful secret sins which seldom rear their ugly heads in the light of day, but which, as every social worker knows, spread mischief and misery among thousands every year.—lnvercargill Times.