The Hawke's Bay Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY AND THURSDAY. THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 1867. NEWS BY THE ENGLISH MAIL.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XI, Issue 488, 27 June 1867, Page 2

The Hawke's Bay Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY AND THURSDAY.

THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 1867. NEWS BY THE ENGLISH MAIL.

“ Xid/ius addict ns jurors ia verba inagMri?

Ot t F: I‘itinn rporrirdirKr tbft iirobable 0 0 -■ ■ - i

course of parties ia relation to the Reform Bill before the British Parliament have been fully realised by the course of events, —the Liberals having shown themselves completely at a loss as to the course of opposition they should pursue, for the concessions to the people made by the Conservatives are certainly and decidedly more than the Whigs would have ventured on, and considerably more than what is pleasing to them. Still, it was almost out of the question that they should oppose the measure on such a grouud. No other course, however, seemed open to them, especially after Mr Disraeli had sacrificed that part of the bill relating to the dual vote. Accordingly an arrangement was made to substitute a rating for a householding suffrage, that none but persons paying a certain fixed amount of rates should have a vote. The alteration would have been fatal j:o the character of the bill, aud also ol the Liberal party, who began to feel that they could not face their consti merits on the principle of withholuing a boon which the Tories were willing

to grant, ami to this it must have come, for Mr Israeli would not have gone '<ut on a defeat, but would have uppealed to the country by a dissolution and a new House of Commons; so

that opposition on that point was abandoned by the most far-seeing and conscientious of Mr Gladstone's party. Mrj G., Hading that if he would succeed in j ids opposition to the bill, he must give more than Mr Disraeli was proposing, did not give up, but went to the othei extreme, and proposed an amendment to the effect that the sulfrage should include all householders, whether ratepayers or nut, but it was by this time so evident that factious opposition and the desire of olhee was the ruling motive, that even this move did not succeed, and the Government party were triumphant on the division by a majority of 22 —310 against 288 votes 1 Mr Gladstone felt as if deserted by bis party, and bas resigned the leadership of the Liberal party, and left for Paris, where he has an engagement in the great temple of art and science as a commisioner over one of its depart-

merits. The Parliament has also been very busy discussing the provisions of a bill for the amendment of the licensing system, introduced by Mr Graves, M.P. for Liverpool, and although suffering violent imposition from the Licensed Victuallers’ party, headed by Mr Roebuck, nevertheless passed | through committee, and stood lor its second reading on the Ist May. The Reform question being disposed of, the next to occupy the attention of the Government seems to be the Liquor Traffic. The Bill in question concedes the right to owners and oc-

cupiers of property in any district to veto the issue of licenses ra certain cases. Mr Roebuck was at one time a vigorous supporter of the beer-house system, denying that existing demorali/ating was owing to it, or that demoralization bad been increased since the passing of the Leer bill ; but now they are the objects of his contempt. He said in the House, “ We all know the pretext on which beer-houses were set up—to meet wkat was considered

a want, and supply the people with home-brewed ; but it is a farce —they do no such thing.” He also in 1833 presented a petition from 4000 persons , in favor of the system of beer-houses, almost all the siynatures being the marks of the petitioners. He has now

pion of the publicans. Mr Graves’ bill will probably not pass, but it is not likely that another session will transpire without the Government itself taking up the measure and passing a compiciiensivc mil.

A war with Spain has but just failed of becoming a fact from the Spanish authorities taking the right view of the question in time. There were two Leila causa —one the illegal seizure and confiscation of a Gibraltar vessel called the Queen Victoria, aud the other of older standing concerning the Tornado, With regard to the former the Imperial Government took a decided atti» tude, sent an ultimatum, and removed our ships from Malta, which had the desired effect, the Spanish Government admitting that the seizure was illegal, aud making apology with offers o' compensation ; aud so war was averted —happily for both parties.

The P'rench Exhibition, referred to 1 above, was opened on the date ap- : pointed [lst April), bat in a sadly unfinished state. It was supposed that it ; would he finished in about a mouth. It does not promise to be as successful as it was supposed it would be —it having transpired that, in order to rais ■ funds, monopolies had been granted to speculators for everything likely to be required by spectators —to the very scats. The consequence is that people stay away, nut willing to pay the prices for necessaries that it is anticipated would be demanded. Tnere was great dread amongst the lower orders of Paris that the time would he one of unparalleled distress for them, owing l jlo the high prices of food; but the, !present system re-acts against itselly and if visitors stay away food will be! cheap enough, notwithstanding the monopoly. The only other matter of interest to us is the trial of ex-Goveruor Eyre Our readers will be glad to learn that he has been triumphantly acquitted, and though his enemies are anxious to “ try again,'’ the disgust of the public at such uncalled for persecution will 1 probably avert such proceedings.