Untitled

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 397, 26 July 1866, Page 4

Manawatu Block.—A correspondent of tbe Wellington Independent, of 3rd July, writing from Manawatu on the 28th, says : Archdeacon Hadfield and Parakaia, that most hairsplitting of Maoris, left here last Monday on their way to Wellington, for the purpose, it is said, of taking action in the law courts, to frustrate Dr Feathers ton’s negotiations relative to the Manawatu purchase. It is well known that the Archdeacon is decidedly unfavorable to the sale of the land, and I learn, through good authority that another distinguished dignitary of the church in Wellington, and a settler in our own neighborhood, would not be sorry if tbe negotiations failed. However, I trust they will all be disappointed—and, indeed, judging by what I hear of Mr Bullet’s success in obtaining signatures to the deed, I have every confidence that the negotiation will soon be brought to a successful issue. Narrow Escape.—The Lyttelton Times, 11th July, gives the following account of a narrow escape :—“ On Monday evening last, a very narrow escape from a serious, if not fatal accident, occurred near Felton’s Ferry, on the North road. E. G. Kerr, of Kuiapoi, was returning on horseback from Christchurch, about six p.m. wheu, on near-

ing ona of the turns in the road, shortly after passing Felton’s Ferry, he observed something which appeared like a rope, stretched across the road. He. was unable to rein in his horse—which was going at a smart canter in time, and barely contrived to stoop in the saddle, before bis hat was violently jerked from his head. On returning to examine the cause of the mischief, he found that one of the telegraph wires which cross the road at this point bad slipped from the poles, and was thus suspended some sis or seven feet from the ground. Mr Kerr tried to remove the wire, but failing in this, left a person in charge, and at once rode forward to Kaiapoi, and informed the police, when a telegram was immediately despatched to Christchurch, and steps taken to prevent farther danger. We are since informed that the wire was dislodged from its beater by a cart coming in violent contact with the post at the corner of the road. It is to be hoped the proper authorities will adopt some plan to prevent the wires being so easily dislodged, especially where they cross the roads, in future, as any one comm** in contact with them whilst riding at a smart pace could not possibly avoid being dragged from his horse, and probably killed on the spot. On a dark night it would be impossible to see the wire; and Mr Kerr may be considered peculiarly fortunate in his narrow escape.” The Present Session of Parliament. —Another day of the present Session, making twelve in all, and yet little or nothin** has been done. The House of Representatives, on one hand, seems to be conscious that a fierce struggle, involving the stability of the Ministry, is approaching, and it would appear that it hesitates to precipitate that conflict. The reason for the passive conduct of the members of Government is not so obvious. It may, with justice, be attributed to one of two causes, either the Government is afraid to take any steps to initiate a policy, feeling uncertain, or rather unpleasantly certain, as to the result which would follow; or that it really has not a policy, and is compelled to exist, as it were, from hand to mouth, taking each day, and waiting each day, for ideas from the House, and referring everything which could be so treated to Committees. One gallant member of the Government may usually be seen sitting in his corner seat, rarely absent, rarely speaking, rarely rising, except to make some formal statement, or to go through the dumb show understood to represent the seconding of a motion. A second, who might be first, sits rises and speaks alternately, relying on the application of elegant expressions of approval to femi off dangerous questions and acknowledging his inability to grasp large subjects, by shifting the responsibility on the shoulders of various members of the House. A third unit of the Government may be seen at any sitting, quietly resting one, if not two of his legs, in elegant attitude on the settle, in a style which conveys to the spectator au idea that if he cannot be useful, he, at ail events, tries tobo ornamental; an idea which a constant attention to the state of moustache and whiskers would strengthen. A fourth member the spectator would have little chance ol seeing, as he apppears to think that too much publicity might render him a vulgar object, for he bis deeply immersed, in the recesses of his official den, in a policy with which he is to startle the House by-and-bye.—Wellington Independent, 14th July.