THE UPPER HOUSE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 231, 25 September 1873, Page 4

THE UPPER HOUSE.

The Wellington correspondent of the Auckland Star writes:—

There is a serene repose about the chamber of peers tbat cannot fail to produce a solemnising effect on one passing from the whirl of life and the rude encounters of the plebeian hall of the Legislature. Is it in the stillness of the atmosphere tbat has never been disturbed by tbe fierce assaults of a Luther Shepherd, the defiaot declamation of a Bunny, or the rolling thanders of a Webster? or ia it the venerable aspect of those hoary bearded sages, even as the beards of the reverend seniors of the conscript fathers quelled the spirit of the impetuous Brennus, and made the conquering Gauls teel themselves io the presence of the tutelary Gods of the conntry? Or is it tbe consciousness tbat yon are in the very presence of the bulwarks of the country's liberties around which tbe bellowing waves of the wild democracy and rabid revolution can roll and lash in vain? Or wherefore is it that you feel that inward consciousness of being in the Presence on entering the chamber of Peers? In general contour it little differs from the chamber of the chosen of the people. It is smaller and more compact, but there is the same everlasting scarlet draping the walls, and hanging in festoons in every conceivable place where scarlet flannel can be conveniently suspended. In the Lower House lam informed the drapery is to promote acoustic properties, but in this compact little chamber snch necessity could never have arisen, and the hearing could never have leeD defective, and the only conclusion I can arrive at is that the lords have scarlet because the commons have. The appearance of Major Richardson, the Speaker, conduces to the solemn dignity of the place, his snow white hair and severe judicial looking countenance when in a state of repose beiug iu keeping with tbe requirements of such an august assembly. He is located in an alcove formed by two chimney hobs, on a huge scarlet chair bung around with scarlet curtains. On the opposite side of the chamber ia a structure that arrests the eye of the stranger, and prompts the irreverent question "What the d is that ? " It is a wooden framework of a single rail, over which a man conld step, and under which a man could crawl. Yet it is opened with official dignity as a messenger from the lower chamber enters it — for it is the bar of the House, and it does one's heart good to see the solemnity with which the officer from the Commons approaches as with a document, and the gravity with which the officer of the peers bows as he accepts the package, and bears it with sublime decorum, and iayß it before the Speaker. On either hand, to right and left, on two row. of settees, the meinbers listen with calm dignity to the progress of debate. And here I wili candidly own that in common with the outside world I was nnder the erroneous impression that tbe Upper Chamber was the refuge of the inane and senile, and that vigor, and intellect, and eloquence must be wanting because the members have not entered into the fold by the door of popular election. And I record my conviction that despite all tbe hostile criticism that has been hurled against the lords, and despite the advantages claimed for free popular choice, the Upper Chamber, as at present constituted, compares exceedingly favorably with the House of Representatives. And while there is probably a little more self-assertion and assumption of independence which must be inherent to anything removed out of the reach of popular control, there must from the nature of things be an exemption from considerations that so palpably bias the minds and warp the judgments of the

Lower House. For while few in the Council can wish to gain anything from Ministerial smiles, it is only too painfully Apparent tbat a goodly proportion of members in the Lower House have their mouths wide open for the sweeties tbat may be dropped there from Ministerial fingers. There is a large proportion of fluent and intelligent speakers in the Council, some of them at- times really eloquent, and very few indeed below mediocrity, and I do not hesitate to say that no system of popular election, however desirable in other respectß, will prod oce from New Zealand colonists a chamber which would not be honored by the intellect and eloquence of such men as Sewell, Pollen, Miller, Hart, Bonar, Waterhouse, Campbell, Mantell, Stokes, and others who now occupy seats in the nominated chamber.