The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER, 18.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 122, 18 September 1877, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER, 18.

Tun proceedings in the- New Zealand Parliament during the last few days have been such, that we trust, for the credit of the colony, they will never be repeated. Charges were made, which, if true, must overwhelm those, against whom they were made, with infamy ; personal, attacks, characterised by an intensity of bitterness almost betokening a_ malignant spirit, have taken place, indeed, the distinguishing characteristic of the debate has-been coarseness, bor-

dering on vulgarity of language. "The origin of all this was in this Wise. Mr Rees moved for a Committee to enquire into certain land transactions in Hawkes Bay. There was nothing in the motion itself, certainly not in what Mr Rees said, to evoke the terrific storm of words which followed. The Hon. J. D. Ormond, Minister for Public Works, rose, and, in no measured terms, commenced an attack on Mr Rees, whom he taunted with having been bankmpt. and declared that he only wanted the Committee, in order to go behind the Courts of Law, to fish out evidence 1 to be used in actions then pending. Mr Ormond next assailed Sir George Grey, declaring that when Governor he was associated with Mr Cox, Hon. Henry Russell, and others, in endeavouring to obtain possession of the Native lands, In violent language, Mr Ormond denounced those low practitioners who encouraged the Natives to engage in litigation for no other purpose than to suck them dry. This roused Mr Sheehnn, and in him Mr Ormond found that he had caught a tartar. Beginning his address with the words of Coriolanus — " Measureless liar, thou hast made my " heart too great for what contains it"—

Mr Sheehan met charges by countercharges, which, if only half true, were sufficient to damn the reputation of any man or set of men. He at once admitted that he was concerned for the Natives in several actions then pending, five or six of which were against Mr Ormond himself. He mentioned that on one occasion he refused £2000, which had been offered to him if he would settle an action on behalf of his clients for £10,000, but he refused, and, persevering, obtained for them £17,500, and then, "lowclass practitioner" though he was, he had only charged the Natives £250. He broadly declared that Mr Ormond's" clerk bad spoken to him of " the error of his ways," and hinted that if ho would amend them, a District Judgeship would be found for him. During the debate which followed Mr. Cox completely cleared the character of Sir George Grey from the aspersions that had been cast upon it by Mr Ormond. Mr Rees admitted that when in Westland he had, through mining speculations and becoming security for others, been compelled to seek the protection of the Bankruptcy Court, but that since, he had, after reserving sufficient to mainhis family, devoted his earnings to the payment of his creditors in full, and. that next year he hoped to be able to accomplish that end. Ministers, of course, took up the cudgels on behalf of their colleague, and pointed out that Mr Ormond had been attacked on previous occasions, both by Sir George Grey and Mr Rees, but as Mr Montgomery said, even supposing that it were so, it would not justify the onslaught Mr Ormond had made, which was done, not in the heat of debate, but in cool blood. Various were the methods proposed for dealing with the tangled question. By some it was proposed to remit it to a committee, others contended that it was one a court of law should decide; at length the previous question was moved, and carried by a majority of seven, and thus the matter was shelved. Ministcis have thus achieved a victory, but it is an inglorious one, their prestige, their moral power is gone, for despite all that can be said to the contrary, the public will believe that there is something concealed which ought to be revealed, something hidden which ought to be brought to. light.

To the lover of good old English games and sports, the recent mild .and genial weather, so fine, indeed, that it may be justly said to be summer, naturally suggests, foremost amongst other seasonable recreations, the noble and manly game of cricket. In past years but little general interest and participation has been shewn in this game by our fellow towns-men, although in the lew matches we have played, we huve come off victorious, shewing that there is good local material from which a really formidable club might be formed. It would have been better, perhaps, had we been defeated ; then, it may lip, our amour propre would have been offended, and some proper spirit roused, within us to practice, and so retricvo lost ground. We cannot too strongly condemn the apathy that exists amongst us in all these manly, and we may say, national sports, which so cha-r racterise the out-door amusements of the men and youths of the old country, and which have gone so far towards forming that- stamina, physique, and manliness of character, for which tho British nation are so justly renowned. ■ However, with the return of summer once again comes the season for cricket, and' we' trust that this year may mark a vast improvement in the matter of our play and practice. We hope to see cricket clubs established in all the Bays, and a healthy rivalry displayed, each towards the other, and their respective merits tested by at least a match and its return game.. Here, in Akaroa itself, we have the nucleus of a club already formed, wanting but tho hearty co-operation of others to render it an effective and creditable representative body of players. The groat drawback all along to the scientific progress of the game in Akaroa has, of cource, been the absence of any suitable ground on which to play or practice ; but, with very little trouble a very fair practice pitch, could be made, while for matches', there is better ground at French Farm, on which, we believe, some few pounds have already been expended by the members with a view to this year's cricketing. Obstacles there are in our way there is no doubt, but it is not for us .to. sit down and tacitly give in to them, we.shotfii. rather be the more stirred 'upi to. overcome"' theni. To-nigljt :'the' Akaroa Cricket.

Club hold their first meeting, at Mr WagstafFs Hotel, to which all interested in the game are invited. We trust the the invitation will.be numerously responded to, and that an attendance wil) be presented that 'shall'give art earnest of better things in .'.this, respect foiy the present season. Without any reservation, all our young men,.all who are able to piny .cricket or not, should be there tonight, and enrol themselves as members of the Club.