"BROUGHT INTO FOCUS."

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 432, 10 September 1880, Page 2

"BROUGHT INTO FOCUS."

(CONTIIIBUTED TO THE AKABOA MAIL.)

The most dreary—the, most prosy— the most verbose—and the most impractical and useless session that has ever marked the annals of Parliamentary history in this colony has at length come to an end. Neither Government nor Opposition have proved equal to the occasion, nor done other than lessen their own self-respect and diminish public confidence in its representatives. Ministers have shewn themselves lamentably deficient in administratire ability 5 their supporters have blindly followed the party in power, and the Opposition—if so disorganised a following can be termed as such—have played the role of a disaffected, disorderly rabble, under no restrictions ot good leadership or common sense. What has been done? Can any one put his finger on a line m this political page and say," C'est unfcrit accompli?" Is there anything tangible to be extracted out of this three months' weariness and verbiage? Nothing— absolutely nothing—except an enormous expenditure of public money entailed on an already overburdened and much distressed country—capital sunk with no, vestige of a return. " Ex nihilo nihil fit " is a fitting epitaph on the tablet of Session 1880, while constituencies will do well to adopt it as their watchword at the next general elections.

, The " disturbance" of which Mr Pyke, the Member for Dunetan, was the sot disant " innocent cause," and in which he was the prime mover, was a fitting termination to the sessional proceedings. .Finis coronat opus. But "whether the House best consulted its dignity in accepting his npology (save the mark!) as expressed is a matter of opinion. W.e have been told that the reading of a certain novel, yclept " Jack Shepherd," in which that individual is written down a hero, has been more productive of crime than any other published work. Hero-worship is an element that enters largely into the composition of most men, and—well, M.H.R.'s are only human : speaking from experience, very human—and it will not be surprising if tho little scene of last Friday was to be repeated again in the House by some member seized by a morbid desire to wake up some morning and find himself famous. This will, however, in a great measure depend upon the result of Sir William Fox's motion to exclude the sale of intoxicating liquors from Bellamy's.

After all, it was too much to expect of hon. members that, that very clelicafe and frail organism politely termed brains could stand any extra strain. When the imbecility in even an ordinary sitting was so apparent, was it to be wondered at that a stretch. of 24 hours should develop into insnnity ? In the interests of humanity—and putting the interests of the country, as he does himself, secondary—the wearied legislator'must not be overwrought. It is most expedient that under no circumstances should he come forth in his true colours.

The departure of Sir Hercules Robinson and suite, despite certain lachrymose paragraphs that have appeared in the columns of the Evening Post and N.Z. Times, will not be the cause of much lamentation in the " upper crust" of the Empire City. Although " such divinity >. doth hedge," etc—and all that bunkum about those in " high places " —these are the days for "calling a spade a spade," and the unvarnished fact remains that »* the present representative of royalty amongst us, together with his household, are very unpopular, and have shown toleration, but nothing more, to the so-called " society " of Wellington. Although agreeing with a Christchurch paper that colonial society is in a " pulpy " state, still, representing as it does in its ranks the foremost people of the colony, that society lias a ..rjght to expect courtesy and respect, both of which have in many instances failed, and in a very marked way at the bands of -»• » the Government House party. In fact, were one speaking of ordinary mortals, certain actions and sayings that .have come to light as emanating from that ** quarter, would be termed snobbishness; but then, of course, that is perfectly out of the question when regarding distinguished personages. In that case a tuft-hunting age speaks of "aristocratic air," "brusqueness," " quite too charmingly candid," and "so original, you know." , In the sporting world, doubtless, His ».. Excellency's departure will call forth sincere regret." Sir Hercules bears the name of an ardent and true sportsman, and his association with colonial sport would have given that tone to it which it stands so much in need of. In clearing out his own stables, Sir Hercules —*""' will have but little trouble ; but had heT" remained here and been instrumental in __j clearing out the corruption from the T present colonial stables the Augean rtask would have been worthy of his mythological prototype. H, *■ The Home News of last mail conveys the information that a high class magazine is about to be published in Wellington under the title of The New .- Zealand Review. The Wellington papers are strangely silent on this point, and beyond giving currency to the report afford no further information on*.the subject. Should the statement prove «. correct, a want will, be supplied in the «, literature of the colony that has long been felt, and properly edited and canvassed the publication should prove a success. ' . . ■ ■ ■ : '■■ $*■ 'i■,i -■ ■ ■

~; : .!.:. . nii- , 'T.ilw.iy is essentially :'.,■ i -,!( vi ''ill management, if not iHvrli'f--.:." , , >->n Or part of those pledged in i!-'.::;r; mi; ii- h< , cecity and ultimate •:; ii : v ii; '':!<! matters not been pro--,•.;.-;(in,;"'■ .L i,- ' over, and allowed to <]>■.{. Ii:!»!!!(!, ■!(■■•. progress would have • Ivi'i; ,'v 'ih'lv hi.ids' with the work as to n.Mifr.ilis" the H'l'ot of the Royal Comurs>i hits' report and the reduction iii'inii. .\s it is, the Peninsula may thank their rpprfwiitative for what they h-ive gft, but should not hold him blameless !h::l. thw h.-ive not got more. ASBESTOS.