The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 145, 7 December 1877, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7.

We had, hoped that ere this Parliament would have "been prorogued, that the weaning talk would have ceased, and that' honourable members would now be enjoying, in the bosoms of their families, that rest in which we are sure their arduous exertions for their country's good justly entitle them to. The present session, when it commenced, was said to be likely to be exceedingly short ; instead of being remarkable for its brevity, it has reached a length never before known in New Zealand, and still it keeps on. There are, however, unmistakeable signs that the end is near, members are flitting by twos and threes from the scene, business is being rushed through both Houses with all haste, and probably next week all will be so far completed that his Excellency will be enabled to give the members leave to go home to eat their Christmas pudding. The legislative halls will then be deserted, the army of clerks, short-hand writers, and a host of messengers, will be disbanded, and all the remains of active life to be found in the Parliament Houses at Wellington will be the house-keeper, a messenger or two, and that important functionary, the cook at Bellamy's. Sic transit gloria mundi. This much sired end will not be -arrived at without another struggle or two. The "L*san Bill'" does not seem to be greatly relished even in the House of Represent;!fives, and it is extremely probable that the Lords will throw it out altogether, xln additional loan of four millions added to our already large debt, means ultimately, so much additional taxation .for the people to pay, and our representatives ought to pause ere they give the Government the power of incurring such a large extra liability. This proposal to borrow an additional sum of four millions seems a most curious phase in that grand scheme of economy and, retrenchment which was so pre-eminently -to distinguish Sir George Grey's administration. Major Atkinson—whose government was accused .of "gross incompetency, extravagance, and of knowing nothing of Finance—only proposed to take £58,000 from our Land Fund, and to borrow two millions,* Sir George Grey takes the whole of the land Fund of Canterbury, and requires also to borrow four millions. The fable of the frogs, who, being dissatisfied with the mild rule of King Log, prayed Jupiter to send them a more active king, and got a stork, that devoured them, appears likely to become a reality in New Zealand.

The expenses of the session about to close will be enormous, and this too, in a country in so impoverished a state, that Ministers declare that they do not feel justified in sending for Sir William Jervois to advisee as to the best means to be adopted to repel the attack of a hostile foreign force. Another singular phase of economy and retrenchment! Why has the session been spun out to such an interminable length ? Has the amount of business transacted been so great that it has been impossible to get through it ? Not so, for the real business is now being rushed through at the close of the session. Time has been wasted, and the people's money lavished away in a fierce struggle for place, power, and pelf; a struggle in which the amenities of debate have been forgotten, and which has been disgraced by gross personality, descending at times to scurrility. We trust, for the credit of New Zealand, that we " ne'er shall look upon the like again."