ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 283, 7 August 1874, Page 3

ESSENCE OF PARLIAMENT.

What we are to do to make our column readable this week we hardly know. Members—even Otago, members—have ceased to abuse one another or the Press. The Premier glibly peroates in-unchecked jubilant style:—" There must be no suspension of the policy of progress. To borrow only so much as is required is not inconsistent with the principle that it is perfectly legitimate to improve our estate by the expenditure of borr rowed money upon purposes of a reproductive nature." Is excusably self-laudatory, too: " The difference between New Zealand three or four years since, laboring under a feeling of profound depression—enterprise within it dormant—its landed estate unsaleable—and the New Zealand of this day, instinct with life and enterprise, the value of its property immeasurably increased, and its revenue so bountiful that its rulers have difficulty in deciding how to dispose of the large surplus, is too patent to allow of any doubt as to its significance."

The Thames district, in Auckland, must have gone ahead amazingly of late, the population is given by Mr. Sheehan as being nearly 12,000. This, of course, is exclusive of Maories. This large population only returns one member to the Assembly, while fifty-six members in the House do not represjnt 5000 people apiece, some of them, at least one, not 1,000. This really seems to be a legitimate grievance that Auckland has, and we hardly wonder at Mr. Reader Wood's denunciations of Mr. Creighton's absence in Dunedin, instead of representing his Auckland constituency. That gentleman, however, excuses himself in the «Star' on the ground that, no matter having cropped up in the Assembly affecting his constituency, his absence does no harm. A very lame excuse. We thought, at any rate, a member who did his duty had something more to do than to do watchdog duty over anything that might crop up relative to his appreciative electors—that he might rise even to initiating measures locally favorable. However, this is a matter that does not concern us or Mr. Reader Wood, and may very well be left to the constituency and its member. Mr. Andrew had heard of a case where some of a jury who had found a man guilty, on trial for his life, afterwards signed a petition for reprieve and inquiry, on the ground that the evidence was not sufficient to convict him. This cropped out on an argument that firemen should not be exempted from serving on juries, as not only were they heroic and philanthropic, but also intelligent, and their intelligence should be retained on juries. They are, nevertheless, to get off, and a Bill is being passed through all its stages to exempt them. Mr. Tribe had been informed that many very valuable papers were at present in a most insecure condition; consequently, he moved and carried a proposition that a safe and fire-proof building should be erected or obtained for the safe-keeping of records and documents of Colonial importance. Comparing smill things with great, What about our miserable shanty of a Court House at Naseby, in which so many thousand pounds of revenue are collected, and documents representing valuable properties are placed at the mercy of the winds, not to speak of the possible flames—a building that would not pasß as a wash-house at an immigration barracks? ' Hansard' has opened our eyes a little with regard to the gold duty disallowance. Mr. J. C. Brown put a very pointed question as to the direct and indirect pressure of the Provincial authorities, and moved that all correspondence should be produced. Mr. Vogel was not aware of any correspondence. One telegram, which was not sent officially —(of course not) —was received, in which the Provincial Government stated—(not officially)—that, as they believed the General Government were suspending action—(not doing the killing business quick enough)—until the arrival of the Superintendent, they would prefer that the Ordinance should be dealt with—(assented to, no doabt, Mr. Reid) —without waiting for his arrival. Mr. Vogel added: He could state positively, and without equivocation, that the Government came to a decision upon their own motion, and that they were alone responsible for the decision arrived at. W e quite believe that: As has been already explained, the reason was the inefficiency to prevent imposition of the Ordinance itself. Nevertheless, the fact remains that the effortwas made by the Provincial Government, in a private telegram—or, at any rate, a non-official one—to procure the disallowance before members had an opportunity to represent the question in its true light in Wellington. On the second reading of the Otago Waste Lands Bill—a Bill to extend the deferred payment system—Mr. Mervyn made a valuable suggestion, that the area of sections should be extended to 350 acres.

Mr. Mervyn, too, put his question as to the Naseby Sludge Channel, to question No. 1 getting an unqualified No for his answer; to motion No. 2, some days later—on the afternoon, indeed, after the "Government had been communicated with from the districtgetting from Mr. Richardson an explanation "that, since the honorable member had put hia motion on the Order Paper, information

had reached the Government which altered the whole complexion of the affair. Ti±e application first made to the Government was quite different to what some of the people interested in the district intended it to be. He understood now, however, from a short and hurried glance at the papers, that the Government would be able to meet the wishes of the inhabitants of the district, and they would therefore reconsider liJatßiinatter." A little backing up of a good a thing it is. Sir Cracroft Wilson seems to think that as the ecclesiastical element is the stumblingblock in the House of Lords to the passing of the Deceased Wife's Sister Bill, so an obstacle will arise in our Upper House—in this case, the Scotch element. He related from his own experience the following anecdote, which, in results, was not a favorable augury for the measure the gallant old knight supported:—There were two daughters of an illustrious man, General Sale, who married two officers. One. of the officers died, and the sister who married the other officer also died. Thus one widow and one widower were left, and they, after a lapse of some years, agreed to get married.. As there was a State Church in India, the proposal created considerable disturbance, and there was a great deal of talk and gossip about it. In fact the parties did not know what course to adopt to get married. They were staying at Simla, and knowing that there was a mission station about ten miles off, in a very pretty valley, the officer indicated to the functionary in charge of the station that he desired to be married. Tho mission clergyman stated that he had no objections to marry them. They were married, and came back to Simla. Some religious persons used to pass them by with averted eyes, but others, who were content to call themselves "miserable sinners," held out the right hand of fellowship to them. He never heard that they were at all miserable and unhappy in consequence of their marriage; jbut they met a'very untimely fate, having been both cut down in the mutiny. Writing to the Agent-General re Asiatics. Mr. Vogel says; " If such a mode of selection as adopted by Mrs. Howard continues, it. will prove very disastrous to the cause of tmmigration. A few disreputable noisey women of the clasi found in workhouses were sufficient, to destroy the comfort of a whole shipload of respectable p.ople, and knowledge of the chance of mixing with such company will deter the better sort whom the Colony really wants from taking advantage of the scheme. The result in the Colony of the landing and distribution of such women as are complained of, and of such immigrants as the young men Mr. Allan states he has ascertained, to be professed thieves—one a ticket-of-leave man—is a natural feeling of indignation and dismay. Be good enough in each case to cause a searching inquiry, and report fully the whole cir o imstances that led' to the arrangements for the Cork workhouse" authorities shipping their paupers as emigrants Also inform me what officer of your department accepted as free emmigranls such young men. Mr. Macandrew has moved the second reading of the Southland Waste Lands Act Amendment Bill. It required a Bill of this kind to prevent the bulk of the waste lands of Southland being sold in large blocks to speculators. Our telegramsinformed us, last week, that the land office was rushed when the Southland lands were again put in the market at £l, and £2, according to Koyal Commission Classification. It will be remembered that the price was raised last year to £3, for a time, to stop the enormous sales in blocks. The Premier stated that the Government had decided that it would not be advisable to let the Electoral Bill interfere with the imperative business, and would consequently defer its consideration till a late period of the session. They probably might not again bring it down.—Has this anything to do with a sensational telegram, in the ' Daily Times,' that it was proposed to bring down a measure to make one Province of the North Island, and a Federal City of Wellington, and force a dissolution on the proposition. Of course, if there is to He another session, as seems certain, an electoral bill is not a necessity in the meantime—if not, it might be. A correspondent to the ' Guardian' says he bails with delight a statement of the eccentric " Parson Andrew" ' that the illustrious stranger who blazes in the heavens at present (clouds permitting) is the forerunner of strife and commotion in political circles, quoting an old saying, " Cometa fulgit, ent bellum." As far as we can see, however, there is but little chance of the prediction being fulfilled, at least during this session, as beyond an occasional petulant growl from Mr. T. B Gillies, no one ever attempts anything having the least shadow of opposition to thepowers that be.

We intended to have noticed the question of distillation duties, and Mr. Maeandrews amendments, but we got so foggy over the whole matter—nearly as much so, if it worn possible, as the Commissioner of Customs himself —who, bye-the bye, rumor says, is to take his fitting place in the Upper House at the next elections and not woo a Dunedin constituency, that we content ourselves by quoting Mr. Stafford who recognised that there was very great difficulty in the question. He had no confidence in the figures of the Commissioner •f Customs, but he knew that the introduction of licensed distiller'es had done a great deal to put an end to the prac'ice of illicit distillation. At one time when he was in office no less than forty-one illicit stills were actuully discovered in the Province, not to speak of those which had been unknown. Beverting back to the altered representation question, the ' Wellington Tribune ' srvs that Mr. Wood hit the inil upon the head and brought out the right ring when he saidMembers called themselves the representatives of the people and not of land or sheep—hear—or shares, and he should like exceedingly so see population the only basis on which a redistribution should be attempted. Had he thought there would have been auy chance of the motion being carried, he would have moved the insertion of the words, " upon the basis of population." Bravo Mr. Wood.

The 'Star' correspondent, who, in our introduction of this column, we announced our intention to filch from, cannot help having a laugh at Mr. T. L. Shepherd. The upshot of it all may be, as a contemporary thinks, he will be martyred into his M.H.R.ship again. It may be so. We believe there are worse Otago representatives than the member for the Dunstan, egotism aud aIL At the risk of assisting in the martyrdom ourselves, we reprint the last bit of fun extracted from him, thus reported:— Another paragraph in the * Guardian' has* exercised not a little the member for the Dunstan. It was read carefully by him, and it is even Baid he remarked to a friend—l wonder whether it would be the member for Tuapeka—that the cup was nearly full; that the last feather had almost broken the camel's back; that another malicious statement would almost induce him to enter an action for libel against any transgressor of the fourth estate, and mulct the offender very severely, either in coin or liberty. "Penny-a-liners," as he terms them, must now beware. There is a rumor of the hon. gentleman going into holy orders, adopting a clerical life. After the rumor got current, the following was found in Bellamy's:— " In vain to Ministers Shepherd beseeching Tries hard and fast for a snug little place; Returning to Dunstan men say he'll try preaching, Turning children of tinkers to vessels of grace.

He thinks it will pay, and be better than hanging, To skirts of a party who hate him like smoke;

But to me the brave T.L.S., in pulpit exhorting, A wolf in sheep's clothing to him wire a joke.

But perhaps, after all, if t the thing really happens, It could hardly be easily bettered; T'were worth a ' Jew's eye' to hear him expound

The Gospei according to Shepherd." Whether this be true or not whether another Parliament will see him in his accustomed place—- is a question that will doubtless be answered according to the "predictions " of each of your readers. But should he not again be able to write M.H.R. after his name, there is another man ready to take his place—quite as tall, but lean like Cassius, and almost equally objectionable. I allude to the individual popularly termed the "Buller Lion," but whom the " divinity that do hedge" a member of Parliament style an "esquire," who dwells where the sleepy hollow can be found. The Hon. Henry Kussell, be Iter known as " Lord Harry " is about to enter an action for libel against the ' Guardian' for reporting what is said not to have a particle of truth in it—that his Loidship had been excluded from Government House and his Excellency's levees on account of misconduct.

As wa conjectured Mr. Waterhouse introduced the Deceased Wife's Bister Marriage Bill into the Council. Mr. Stokes moved that it be read that day six months. Colonel Brett said he had promised his dear wife that he would vote against the measure, as she had a handsome sist r of whom »he was jealous. The same gallant Co.onel seemed to think feminine beauty preponderates in his fimiily, fo>' he informed the Council earlier in the week that he had four handsome daughters, who he wou.d not. allow to li-'e near the proposed Boys' College in Canterbury, :is they would be .in danger of receiving missives that would be calculated to be offensive to their dignity and sense of propriety from these very uncouth young men.

The forests debate, which is too big for us to handle in this column, is to bs the bone of contention after all. Mr. Stafford is backing up Mr. Vogel'in the warmest manner. Ho said the members who had advocated the second reading, and then were letting the Bill d:-op, were,, either pot in earnest or were p"aving With the* subject in a manner unworthy of their positions. They were not taking the course the country had a right to expect of them, when' an 'important national question was affect el He p-iid a high compliment to the Premier for the care and attention he gave to tlie subject, and appealed to the Premier to proceed with the measure and to assure the House that lie was in earnest. Mr. Vogel immediately said that, the feeling with which the Bill was received, not only by the House but by the country, was evidence of t'e warmth of feeling of the c.. untry in favor of State forests. The Government desired most earnestly that the Bill should become law., this session, and every exertion should be used to that end. Mr. Stafford expressed his pleasure at hearing that and honed the Government would not be too sensitive about amendments made bona fide for the purpose of carrying out the intention of the measure If the Provinces exhibited antagonism, it would be for'the House to consider its po ition towards Provincial Governments, with respect to measures affecting the Colony. The experiment was worthy of the Legislature attempting. Mr. Wakefield challenged the Superintendents and. their tails to" spc k out honestly. The Superintendents are dead against it but Mr. Vogel means to push it through.

Judge Ward, rumor says, is not coming well out of the Select Committee's hands. The ' Southern Cross' has the following telegraphed to it, - which has been re-tele-graphed to the ' Daily Times;'—" At the close of the examination some amusement and hilarity were produced by this question, which Mr. T. B. Gillies put with his usual sardonic twinkle: Did you, in Dunedin, Judge Ward, say you had had a row with all the other Judges, and now you were to have one with Judge Chapman.—Judge Ward: I cannot recall such a statement; but it is very likely I did, for there was this dispute imminent—and what you may choose to call a row happened years ago with • the other Judges.—The Committee does not appear to be making much headway.

Upon the Otago Waste Lands Act Amendment Bill being committed, twelve new clauses were introduced. One for increasing the area of land to be set apart for deferred payment was opposed by Sir Dillon Bell and Sir Oracroft Wilson.- A clause, proposed by Mr. Me'rvyn, increasing the area allowed to a person on deferred payments to 310 acres, passed, and the Bill was reported with amendments. Mr. Macandrew has presented a petition signed by 214 miners and others, urging the Government to construct an open sludge channel for the Blue Spur tailings. THE ESCORT OZ. DWT. *» .( Naseby ... 227 0 § !« iSfc. Bathans 0 0 gM J Macraes ... 0 0 ' Palmerston 0 0 — 227 0 Cardrnna 0 0. Queenstown ... ... 256 0 Arrow 323 0 Cromwell ... 481 14 Clyde . 175 0 Blacks 240 0 Alexandra 294 0 Teviot .'. 364 0 2360 14

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