THE PUBLISHED DAILY. FRIDAY, MAY 2, 1873.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1480, 2 May 1873, Page 2

THE PUBLISHED DAILY. FRIDAY, MAY 2, 1873.

At intervals during the last few years a discussion is carried on in the Press regarding the best means to be adopted for reforming the constitution of the New Zealand House of Lords. It has long been admitted that its present constitution is most anomalous and highly objectionable, and the unanimous opinion of the Press of the Colony appears to be that the sooner some - change is made the better. A nominated Upper House, whose members are chosen at the caprice of any Government, who neither represent the wealth, intelligence, or opinions of their fellow-colonists, is simply a relic of olden times that bears no relation to the state of democratic political feelings in the Colony, and ought to be at once swept away. The only qualities for which the member 1 * of the Upper House have of late years been distinguished are their inability and general obstructiveness to the measures passed by the Lower House, for the simple reason that a collection of nominated o'd fogies, whose ideas are limited by the last thirty years, cannot possibly keep pace Trith the young enterprising spirit which has of late been displayed by the members of the Government, arid seconded by the true representatives of the people. The Upper House does not now fulfil its presumed character. It is not the representation of property as opposed to popular representation. There are men in the Council who could not stand the test of a property qualification, and who owe their elevated position to political exigencies, to personal favor, and to circumstances which would not have exercised any weight whatever had they been compelled to undergo the ordeal of election by the people. No greater contradiction could be afforded than by the fact that whilst the members of the Legislative Council are, by a fiction supposed to represent the wealthy or propertied class, they are paid the same amount of honorarium which is awarded to the members of the House of Eepresentatives, who, if the Upper House represents wealth, may he said to represent the work-a-day people, and who generally gain the honor of being the representatives of the people at considerable cost and trouble. It is a significant fact that just before the meeting of the Assembly the Government organ, the Wellington Independent, has spoken out on this subject, and demanded that the Government should take it up next session. It says that — " Any reasonable reform in the direction we have indicated would be heartily supported by the people, and it is a question which has become so necessary to be dealt with, that neglect would simply be a confession that the Government is afraid to approach it." This is no idle suggestion, aDd judging by the quarter from which it must have been inspire J, we may confidently look forward to the introduction of some measure during the coming session for an entire change in the constitution of the Upper House. What that change is likely to be is only a matter of speculation as yet. It must take an elective shape, as the bare idea of the continuance of nomineism in any form would not be tolerated by the colonists for a moment. There are many difficulties in the way of creating an elective house,- all of which have been experienced in other colonies, such as the term for which theae elections shall be, whether for life or a period similar to that of the members of the Lower . House ; what can constitute a higher franchise than the one at present in existence ; but the experience of other colonies, if profited by, should be sufficient to lead to a satisfactory change being brought about. There is another plan proposed by the Independent, and which may very possibly prove to be a sketch of a proposed Government Bill on the subject, thrown out for the purpose of eliciting an expression of public opinion on the question. It is as follows :— " That first of all the number of the members of the Council should be largely reduced. At present there is a 'most anomalous disproportion in the number of members of the two Houses. There are forty-nine nominated members of the Legislative Council, and seventy-eight members of the House of Representatives— and , it is possible that the roll of the' Upper House may be increased; ad libitum. Surely there is no necessity for forty-nine members to check the possible hasty

legislation of the lower chamber. The number of members of the Upper Houses of the various Australian [Parliaments is much less, and we may safely say that thirty would be a sufficiency here. Then we should propose that the various electoral districts of the Colony should be formed into groups, each of which should return one or two members as the population of each group would justify ; and that the member or members for each of these grouped districts should be elected in exactly the same manner as members of the House of Representatives — upon the same qualification and under the same franchise. We should then obtain not only a popular Upper House, but secure probably the best men which could be found to take seats in it. Representing no particular locality as members of the Lover House do, they would be removed from the petty local influences which often demoralise members of the House of Representatives and would be able to deal with public questions with deliberation and in a broad spirit, whilst at the same time they would have the grand feeling that they were acting for and responsible to the people. Of course such a system would make it inevitable that an Upper House so constituted should have the power of dealing with every public measure whether a money bill or anything else, but the fact that the members were responsible to the people would prevent opposition to the wishes of the lower chamber except when there was good grounds for believing that this House had acted under extreme impulae or without due consideration.

Intelligence has reached Hokitika that Mr Yogel will in the course of a few days call at Nelson, on his way to Wellington, and we understand that the County Chairman will proceed to Nelson by the Kennedy, with the intention of interviewing the Premier upon several matters of public importance. It might be as well, when the steamer calls in here, for a deputation to interview him, and impress upon him the necessity which exists for his including among the " matters of public importance" he is to lay before the Premier, the speedy construction of the Brunnerton Fail way.

As showing the increased value of property in town, we . may mention that a small cottage in Albert street was yesterday sold forL2ls.

A meeting of the shareholders in the Greymouth Coal Company is called for to-night, at Waters's Union Hotel, at eight o'clock, for the purpose of electing directors.

An alteration has been made in the arrival and departure of the up-country mails. In future the mails for Reefton, including all the intermediate stations, leave here on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and arrive in town on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Constable Robert Steele has been appointed gaoler at the Greymouth Gaol. Tn No. 2, South Larry's, they have driven sft into the tunnel, but without yet cutting it through, evidencing that thej have got a first-class body of stone. The show of geld in the face also shows better than ever. It is understood that about 100 tons of stone will be taken from the Golden Ledge and crushed at Anderson's battery, in order to test the payableness of the reef. Crushing was commenced on Tuesday last, and the full quantity will have been passed through, the batteries in the course of three weeks. Two of the batteries were employed on stone from Anderson's claim. A meeting of the Tender and Contract Committee was held at the office of the County Chairman on Wednesday afternoon. A considerable number of the roads and tracks recommended by the various Uoad Boards throughout the County were authorised to be constructed, and the Committee adjourned. The coach traffic between Hokitika and the various outlying centres of population is said by the Times to be increasing daily, and in many instances the fares are extremely low, but the latest instance of cheap travelling is afforded by the Hokitika and Kanieri Tramway Company, which notifies that passengers will be taken the whole length of their line for the sum of sixpence. A sitting of the District Court will be held at Ahaura to-day (Friday). The business Avill be chiefly in Bankruptcy, but there i is one rather important case on the listDay v. Petersen— an action for damages for alleged breach of agreement, about the purchase of a farm and dairy near Ahaura. His Honor Judge Harvey arrived at Ahaura on Thursday evening. On dit one of the members of the Provincial Council of Nelson, recently on his way to attend his legislative duties, had his luggage carefully and elaborately labelled M. P.C.— the initial letters of the "handle " to his name. A constable in the Nelson Police Force, was also on board, and his "bandbox" was simply and modestly marked with M.P.C., the initials of his name and occupation. The luggage got mixed, and the confusion is said to have been caused by the steward imagining that M.P.C. might stand for " Member of the Provincial Council," or "Murphy, Police Constable," just as people chose to read it. Tuesday, 29 th April, being the anniversary of the establishment of St. Mary's School, Ahaura, the children observed it as a fete day. The little ones, to the number of about 40, were treated to a picnic, and by permission of Father Pertius all the children living at Ahaura, who do not attend the school, were invited to join in the festivities. The children were taken across the Ahaura river in Gough's punt free of expense, and on reaching the rendezvous near Jellies farm they enjoyed themselves for some time at suitable sports and games. They were then invited to the residence of Mr D. M'Kenna, where the youngsters with their relatives and friends accompanying them were entertained by Mrs M'Kenna and the Misses M'Kenna. The children were here allowed to continue their amusements in the open air until near sundown. In the evening there was an exhibition of "phantasmagoria" at the school house, for the special pleasure of the young ones, and the wondera of the magic lantern were displayed for the amusement of the young and old alike, who thronged the place set apart for the audience.

The rush up the Waitaki Kiver, Okarito, is beginning to cause a little excitement. There are about forty miners at work, all of whom are getting gold. At the Five-mile Beach, Okarito, some ( good finds are still obtained. Although the ' ground appears all to have been previonsly worked, yet solid blocks are found that pay handsomely. Longley and party dropped on to a piece of good.luck the other day in taking up some ground that almost every one else considered duffer ground. A party had previously worked in it and abandoned it. The returns from this lj»st week quite astonished some of the party who are new chums at digging, this being the first claim that they ever worked out. : , ; The General Government received by the last mail information from the Agent-General I that he has called for tenders for the conveyance of 1200 tons of railway material to Lytteltpn from either Sunderland or Hartlepool. The only tenders received were one at 70a per ton and one at G7a 6d. The

Agent-General, however, discovered that the tenders were not genuine, as they purported to.be, and he made arrangements with Shaw, Savill, and Co to ship the material for its destination in a first-class vessel on the 31st of March, the rate of freight being 55s per ton. A shipment of rolling stock is to be made in June. The Parsee and Woodlark, for Auckland, and the Michael Angelo, for Dunedin, will each bring out a quantity of machinery for the workshops for the manufacture and repair of certain railway material. The lastmentioned vessel also brings a large quantity of cylinders for the Waitaki bridge. 350 tons of rails for the Dunedin and Clutha Railway will be brought to Port Chalmers by the Michael Angelo and the Glenory.

The Independent says that the New Zealand Coal Company, which only a few weeks ago was mooted, bids fair to be in a position to commence operations in a few weeks more. Of the 1000 shares known to have been applied for, 700 of them have been taken up and the first call actually paid upon them. That the remaining 300 will he as freely assigned there is very little doubt, as the names down for them are unimpeachable. This looks like business.

The London correspondent of the Otago Daily Times writes as follows :— " It is rnmored in Dublin that the Prince of Wales is about to visit Ireland, and that he will be installed President of the Order of Chivalry, a new grade recently established or revived in Masonry, and that the event will be celebrated by a grand MdMuric entertainment and ball at Dublin. %