PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1758, 8 October 1879, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY ITEMS.

PBt Teiegbaph.] WELLINGTON, October 7. The Greyites being unable to agree upon any leader hare put the leadership of their party into commission, such commission consisting of Messrs Macandrew, Gisborne, Montgomery, Ballance, Pyke, and Shephard. The two last are of course chosen for their consistency and incorruptibility. The party is very jubilant over the accession of Mr Pyke, and Mr Pyke looks happy over the promise he has received, and the importance he has acquired, but there is no corresponding depression in the looks of their opponents, whose gains are believed to be greater, both in quantity and quality, than their loss by Mr .Pyke, The new Ministry has been formed without rthe slightest hitch or difficulty of any kind. ..all the Canterbury members cheerfully acquiescing in the selection of Mr Rolleston, ..and the Otago members giving in so far as to allow him to bo Minister of Works. Mr 'Whitaker is a power amongst the Auckland members, from whom it was, to say the least, .difficult to select a suitable member from the Houee<of Representatives. Mr Bryce took a good deal of persuading, but he is a member who will command confidence in the House as a man of very temperate and judicial mind. (His health is not as good as could be wished. -Compared to the late Ministry, they are a* Cue lot of men, all respectable in podnt of character and of ability, and, compared to what will be offered to the House to , lisplaco them, such men as Pyke and Shephard, it 'is unnecessary to say anything. The weakness tie date i Opposition has always been BU p TOaad to .lie.in the large number of men w ho were known to be qualified for office, and vtho might be demanding it; bnt the result. HflSiPraved that no such weakness existed, a 8 n 0 i. Tiniatry was ever formed with so little difficulty i <ur with a more complete absence of all petty jealousies K>r rivalry. Their party will thus I ' e >alhnoat as superior to their opponents in poi uniliy .and discipline, as it is in point of fcatoUigence, character, and debaWhen* ha'll V.uao met,at 2.30 this afternoon, expecting to hea * premier’s statement on the present he had the cool assurance to get up and read & om » book and a newspaper some speeche * c£ Disraeli in 1868 on the Irish famine, ai. 'd the .three cheers that were called for. It wa '« until after he had done this and the H. bad gone to the Governor with the addre w and returned, that he concluded to inform the House, in the fewest possible words, th. ,ho and his colleagues had placed their n 'tignaUons m the Governor’s hands, and that they had been accepted. An announcement that was received with cheers. ~ The late Government party are' evidently unable to shake Sir Geo. Grey off, a nd unable to go on under his leadership, but in point of number they are a very formidable ~PP°" sition, and one that will demand grei't tact and generalship on the part of .■heir opponents. . . The following list of the new Ministry ail'd their portfolios is as accurate as possible under present circumstances : —Mr _ Hall, Premier and Colonial Secretary; Mr Whitaker, Attorney-General, with seat in the Council; Major Atkinson, Treasurer and Commissioner of Customs; Mr Rolleston, Minister of Publio Works, Immigration and Education ; Mr Oliver, Minister of Lands and Mines j Mr

Bryce, Native Minister; Tamoana, Native Colleague. _ , It is understood that Sir George Grey e followers have been unable to prevail upon him to resign bis leadership of the party, and in consequence of the,party being unable to fix upon another ■ leader, they decided to appoint a committee of management, who will regulate, and decide as to tho line of action to be adopted by the party, tho Committee to consist of Sir G. Grey, Messrs Macandrew, Montgomery, Ballance, Sheehan, Pyke, and Shepherd. , It is also understood that as soon as the new Ministry is proclaimed, the earliest opportunity will bo taken-to table a motion of want of confidence, which will be moved by Mr Macandrew. Mr Whitaker accepts Mr Hall’s invitation to take the Attorney-Generalship and a seat in the Upper House. He leaves Auckland for Wellington to-morrow. THE SYDNEY EXHIBITION POEMS. The following poem, which was written by a resident in Christchurch, was oneof the unsuccessful competitors for the prize offered by the “-Sydney Morning Herald,’’ which prize was awarded to Mr Kendall, whose poem was published last week. The names of the judges were not disclosed;:— <• To fruitful strifes and rivalries of Peace/’ i In : jousts of old and friendly tournament, In merry carnival, or manful sport, In lordly least whereto the red wine lent •A passing gladness that seemed little short Of bliss immortal, men have made their court To happiness, and they from many lands Done sacrifice to joy in peaceful bands. Oft .too have nations met to celebrate The triumphs gained in blood, when spoils were borne Through thronging streets, where thousands .ran elate To see the captive crowds pass by forlorn, While victors, bearing robes that had been worn By thousands fallen, sought the sacred fane Tc praise their Gods that thousands had been slain, In later days another, higher chord Is struck by those who play on human hearts, The patient watchful Fates. Not now the sword Is monarch of men’s thoughts, nor strength imparts The fame of Gods. To-day divinest acts Hold only second place, and fairest feast Hath lost its spell, is wine and flesh of beasts. A newer region of the universe This onward swinging world has found, wherein A kindlier rather rules and seems to nurse Barth's dwellers. So mankind at length begin To know mankind, nor hold it mortal sin That men should differ. Now at length the sense Is dimly felt of use in difference. There-fore these thirty years, at divers times Have nations, hearing each its proper spoil In foreign cities met from all the climes And each set forth the product of its soil; And whatsoever had been won by toil Or wrought by skill of man was there displayed, And no man for bis treasure felt afraid. In th’ upper world already wonder fails At scenes likes these, and custom’s dulling might Hath made these worlds of gathered bales Seem common. But as fyet no sonthern light Had seen such concourse ; for in most men’s sight These lands were merely names, nor was it shame That many scarce' had heard Australia’s name. A hundred years of ever-growing dawn Have o’er Australia fled ; but now at last She sees the fulness of the risen morn And well-forgetful of the weary past, Her lot among the nations hath she cast. A new world greets the old world on this day, And this is what the new world hath to say " A word to all our guests ere yet the key Is turned and doors of this huge hall unfold. And busy men discussing that they see, Wonder of art or nature, new or old, For adding comfort or increasing gold, Shall miss our meaning, deeming that the whole Is mere display, man’s pride without man’s soul. “Oh friends, who eastward sailing, on this day Are here from lands whose men by deeds of yore, Through ages striving on an upward way, Have made this world of men seem somewhat more Than dreary pageant passing to the shore Of nothingness, who gave a certain breath To manly life and meaning unto death, "Accept our love, the love of this young land And those who therein tarry, strong in hope, In purpose firm to add a newer strand, A newer strength unto the twisted rope Of man’s endeavour, which alone shall cope With Nature’s secrets, drawing into light The hidden things of long-enduring night. “ Our hearts are full and glad that ye are here To bear a kindly part, not come to mock Our birthday merriment with cynic sneer, Nor yontbfnl faith in time’s enchantment shock. As brethren are ye here 1 as brethren lock Their hands with elder brethren’s we would add) Our strength to yours to make all life less sad, "Ye neighbours too, who westward with the day Have hither journeyed—neighbours ye of time. Though ’twixt your land and onr’s the waters sway On half the world is laid, since yet your prime, As our’a the future hides—from whatso clime Ye come, your presence here we gladly greet And linked with you the dawning times would meet. “From West or East, to-day may ev’ry guest Who does us honor, standing on the line Where hist’ry’s farthest Bast beneath the West Of newest Ufa is lost, behold the sign That man is young on earth, that sun’s can shine Where th’ utmost future knows the dimmest past, Time’s circle closes, hope survives at last, “ Nor do we dwellers in this colony, Whereto the world ,hath gathered, seek to find A special favor or a sympathy That covers not the whole. We’d rather bind More closely bonds of kin, that in one mind, As is their mission one, the sisterhood Of Australasia may go forth to good. “ Only we speak, as eldest, and your hosts, For all the sister nations who have burst In this new world upon the foolish ghosts Of age-long savage life. No last, no first, No voice contending ‘ this is beat or worst,’ Be here for aye, but only one strong sense Of noble toil, one mutual reverence. 1 Now learn our purpose. Ye are met, oh friends To keep Australia’s birth fete. Here this day, To which some lustre cv’ry nation lends, We Britain’s children dwelling far away On lands that ages knew not, have to pray Your kindly grace. In this wide garnered store We pledge the living world, the world passed o’er. This is Australia's birth fete. This fair morn The men of ev’ry race that land doth own Now first assemble since the world was born In peace for works of peace beneath the zone, To bless and welcome nations that have grown To manhood now, though not a century Since white jswi’fl home was here has flitted by;

“We then, the young, have bidden yon, the tried By years and deeds. But think not that this rite Is done, this ample altar raised for pride. They are onr token that while days bring light, . . . 4 While, still onr sons go on from might to might, They’ll aid the human creed of amity By which all men and nations joined shall be. “ Nay i *Tis not pride, though very proud are we Of this our Home, and jealous of your praise. This work an emblem is for all to see The purpose that we have for future days That, come what may with honor, in the maze Of time, Australia’s pride ’mongst men is still Their union, and her motto—* Peace 1 Goodwill I ’ ’’ Such is the “ Hail,’ and such the blunt free speech Of first-born nation on this continent, First heard to-day—a word that soon shall reach The seats of power, a fruitful message sent Abroad that shall not fail of its intent, Though long and very hopeless seem the track That word must travel ere it cometh hack. But it shall come. The sun shall surely rise Upon a day, when all that’s here begun Shall be regarded then with clearer eyes By men who shall behold the work well done, Australia’s place among the nations won, And looking back npon this time shall bless The small foundation of her mightiness. Who says such thoughts as hers are vanity, An artless reflex of her soul’s desire, Air-pictures painted by fond fantasy, Born because careworn men must still aspire From deeps of misery, and shall not tire Though still old griefs new-robed reward their pains And nature’s iron law supreme remains 2 Such sounds of mocking rise from sea and land With bitter laughter mingled. Everywhere When brother lays his hand on brother’s hand Their greeting is but mutual despair That life hath purpose, or that other care Than man’s is found. “ The reign of ordered chance “Is all,” say they, “ And hope is ignorance,” Well may Australia smile to hear such wail From men who think that they of all men first Have proved self-worship truth, the flimsy veil The soul indeed—a comedy rehearsed Since tongues first spoke. Australia knows at worst There is no ruler nature, but a tool For those who will whereby the good may rule. Amongst the million heroes of the past Her’s are but few, and though their memory Is green within men’s hearts and shall outlast The fame of men more talked of. yet will she Of these not idly boast. Each hill and tree That homestead sees sees their best menu--ment, Which age shall spare when many lives are spent. Against the words and works most noised abroad, Man’s guile with man proclaimed in ev’ry book, Barth rich with blood, the prowess of the sword, She sets her victories of spade and crook, Not fearing that when time fulfilled shall look Upon these works and those, her millions raised, Their millions sunk, which work shall most be praised. And yet—Forbid it, Fate —if years should bring An hour when home and right shall make demand That dwellers here, or sons of theirs should fling Peace implements aside, and take their stand ’Fore God against some foe to lift the brand, Australia hath no fear that on that day Her sons their part in war shall feebly play. Such days be dreams : nor is it well to cast A boastful challenge to the coming years Belying hope that in this temple vast Of Peace is shadowed, hope that sorrow’s tears Australia may make less, that whatso cheers And heartens men she still may multiply, Nor in that purpose fail while time goes by. Nor were it well she saw, though hope be strong, The days that out of this one day shall grow ; For surely she will have her share of wrong Her children are but babes, and tears must flow And hearts be saddened, therefore not to know Is better, lest too soon the cloud be cast, And fear of fate that must be borne at last, Tis said to one man only hath this grace Been given for some good that he had done, That whatso he would do, before his face The deed perfected in the deed begun Should rise to view, and all that from that one Should flow. This boon he sought that he might choose The good, and ne’er the power to act misuse, ’Tis said that, being so blessed at his own prayer. This man beneath a ghostly terror fell. Nor could he tarry ’mongst men anywhere, But fled into the wilderness to dwell And lonely lived, nor dared he use his spell In worldly doing, for whatever he Would do, he saw some ill therefrom would be. Therefore, whate’er betide of bad or gool From this commencement, neither host nor guest Would seek thereof a knowledge : neither would, In looking for the morrow, cursed or blest, Forget to-day: and though they may not rest From bright forecasting, surely it is well What days of gloom shall come none can foretell. Yet nought may bribe th’ immortal nerves that thrill Through all life-shadows for eternity Now touched by God’s and now by human will, And bear the past through all the times to be, Not losing aught. Therefore, though not to ese Be blest, their subtle forces man must dread That stamp each rising day with all days sped. But now what answer make th’ assembled crowd, Toilers and traders, poor and rich of earth, Unto Australia 2 Will they, praising loud This giant building and its goods of worth, Not note the builders 2 Will they making mirth, With thoughts on barter, ask at what in gold May hope be quoted, how ’tis bought and sold ? Nay ! they’ve no heart to lift the voice of scorn, If none for gladness. O’er them hangs the past With all its griefs, of all illusions shorn. They know how few things in this world stand fast, That only sorrow seems indeed to last, That neither toil, nor thought, nor perfect skill Hath e’er prevailed that bane of man to kill. To give back hope for hope they may not dare Who see the shadow brooding o’er mankind : Nor may they bid the rising world despair. Who know that new-born sorrow still doth find A new-born gladness, and that both entwined Are life, that life for ever holds to view A distant better which man must pursue. Therefore they will not answer ; but the hand Is not withheld, and many earnest eyes Speak kindly. Thus Australia joins the band Of nations seeking means that may surprise Time’s secret of content, which still defies All search, but being sought for still unseals New good, and sorrow’s solace still reveals.