PEARL FROM PARLIAMENT

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 4, 28 July 1900, Page 12

PEARL FROM PARLIAMENT

IT is no secret that there were " wigs on the green "at a recent Government caucus, and that the language of certain irritated individuals was frequent and free. However, there is some degree of peace in the disturbed camp once more. Mr Gilfedder's ear is still in the same old place, the shifting process not having been attempted, while the Premier meets his docile followers with a smile that is gradually approaching its former warmth and broadness. King Eichard is not at all pleased with the new party called "the Boxers," and, being a bit of a boxer himself, it would be well if they were to lie low at caucus meetings. v ♦ Oh, yes, New Zealand has its "Boxers." This is the name given to a strong and compact section of the Government party, who refuse point blank to agree to the project of having two additional Ministers, and the accompanying proposal to raise Ministers' salaries. The " Boxers" include members like Messrs Syms, Gilfedder, " Eoddy" Mackenzie, and others who have hitherto been regarded as " out and outers" in their support of anything and everything the Government might propose. The whips have made desperate attempts to combat the new movement, but it is strong and growing. It is now long odds that the proposed " rises" won't be asked for. The "Boxers" don't object to the Premier getting, say, JGISOO, and Mr Ward £L2OO, but they scoff at the very idea of Walker, Carroll, and McGowan calmly voting themselves i>l2oo a year, with £'250 a yfear house allowance. As to Mr Duncans appointment the "Boxers" think the portfolio should have gone to either McNab or Hogg. » • * Napier Telegraph goes straight for Captain Russell for his speech and vote on the Grattan Grey business. Napier people must have rubbed their eyes and wondered what had come over the Telegraph, for, as a rule, it preaches the doctrine that there is no political goodness outside the member for Hawke's Bay. But Editor McDougall has had a long and bad attack of the ultra- Jingo fever, and the very name of poor Boer is enough to send him into a fit of indignation. • • * He was over from the West Coast upon dredging business, and, night after night, s,at in the gallery, listening to the debates'' and taking the mental measurement of members. The last day of his visit eventually arrived. " Just fancy," Jje said to a friend, " I have heard every member of the House but one speaking." " Yes ; and who is the one you haven't heard ?" " The white-haired old gentleman who sits to the left of the Speaker." The friend laughed heartily. •' Why," he replied, "he is not allowed to speak. That is the chief messenger." • * * The Hon. J. G. Ward may consider himself a very lucky man that his Chambers of Commerce Bill was killed by the "Lords." Mr Ward was making up a lot of lost ground in the good opinion of the mercantile community, and many who at one time were inclined to judge him harshly were becoming quite prepared, even favourable, to the idea of his succeeding to the Premiership when once Mr Seddon makes up his mind to give the political show best and retire to some snug haven, such as the Agent-Generalship. But this wretched Bill, which people, rightly or wrongly, view as an attempt on Mr Ward's part to get level with some of his old critics and opponents in the commercial world, put everything back, being quoted as a proof of Mr Ward's determination to re-open old sores and to be vindictive. The Council has killed the Bill, and the sooner — for Mr Ward's sake — the whole wretched business is forgotten the better. • * • It is generally supposed that Sir Maurice O'Rorke holds the belt, as Speaker, for Australasia. But he doesn't. George Kingston (in South Australia) was Speaker for eighteen

years, which is one year longer than Sir I Maurice's record. Next to Sir Maurice ! conies Robert Officer, of Tasmania, who ruled the Tassy legislators for sixteen years, and .Francis Murphy, who was Victorian Speaker for fourteen years. But Sir Maurice beats them all for tact, dignity, and firmness. He is the best political product that ever that sleepy little place, Onehunga, has sent forth. r* # * Mr Silas Spragg, who has been appointed Chief of the Hansard staff, is one of the most capable and accurate shorthand reporters in the colony. Moreover, he is a thoroughly conscientious man, so that the Committee have made an excellent choice in filling the vacancy. Mr Spragg, who is connected with the staff of the Otago Daily Times., has been a member of the Hansard staff for the last sixteen years. There were some suppressed whistles in the Government camp when it transpired that Mr Tanner, who was one of the straightest chairman the Railways Committee ever sat under, had been dropped from this position by the party, and Mr Roddy McKenzie substituted. What does this mean ? Somehow, things don't seem to be too amicable in the Government camp, and the story goes that an Opposition whip waits patiently now outside the Government caucus room to pick up the broken pieces of the next man with a mind of his own who is thrown out. * • • Some of the alleged loyal Government supporters appear to be keeping a keen eye on the prospects of office in the event of Mr Seddon's health compelling him to go to England and Mr Ward taking charge. This is recognised by some of the schemers of the party as their opportunity if they are not previously provided for. One house of cards was built up the other day in the lobby in this way : — Premier and Treasurer — Mr G. W. Russell. Works — Mr Robert Thompson. Labour, Commerce and Industries — Mr Tanner. Lands and Agriculture —Mr Tom Mackenzie. Colonial Secretary and Justice — Mr Ell. Native Offices — Mr Hone Heke. Railways and Education — Mr Hornsby. "Ah," said the constructor of this Cabinet, " that would be a very strong combination if Thompson and Mackenzie would accept. But the odds are considerable that they wouldn't."

The Government made a big mistake in sending down Edwards, the ex-Wai-kato pedagogue but present Liberal " organiser," to Waihemo to try and keep " Tarn " Mackenzie out. Up to the time that Edwards appeared in Waihemo, " Tarn " was making speeches in which he let the Government down very easily, confining his attention to the frozen meat trade, cable questions, and ignoring the existence of party politics. But when Edwards began poking around, and telling the free and independent that Guffie was the man for Waihemo, " Tarn " 'got his back up, and he most vigorously "warmed the jacket" of the Government's emissary. Tne Dunedin Star, which, as a rule nowadays, is strongly Seddonian, rejoices over " Tarn's " victory, and says ' that the " utter discomfiture of this paid peripatetic personage " (Edwards) "is one of the most gratifying features of the election." * * # The worst of it is, for Mr Seddon, that whereas Mr Mackenzie would have come up to Wellington, pledged to neither party, but bent upon playing his part as a genuine Independent, free on the one side from Seddonian influence, and on the other, judging him by his nrst speeches, not in the least inclined to indulge in mere " party " Opposition bickerings and backbitings, he is now, through the interference of the man Edwards, who, of course, must have acted according to instructions, naturally prejudiced against the Government. Mr Seddon is a clever man, but he makes mistakes sometimes.

Wm. Dunn and Win. Hoar Frost were the names of parties to a mining suit heard in Dunedin the other day. * * # Although things are admittedly brisk in Wellington , pavement inspectors are numerous, and include many possessing high educational qualifications, who are unable to secure berths. Fact is that there are far too many accountants, bookmakers, and clerks now-a-days to meet requirements, and those frowned upon by the Goddess of Good Luck have perforce to take whatever offers. - One English M.A. may be seen daily toiling with pick and shovel. He is not long out, and amuses his fellow-workmen by frequently asking if they ever strike gold when laying water mains or such like. Gold in Wellington

The fact that suitable recognition of the services rendered by Mr Sydney James, to the Dunedin Jockey Club is to be made by members of that body is not to be wondered at, seeing that Mr James occupied his late position 'of ''secretary for the long period of thirty-eight years. Mr James gained his first " Colonial experience" in Adelaide, and subsequently in Melbourne. A thorough sportsman at heart, he was one of the first members of the Melbourne Hunt Club, and a regular follower of the hounds for a number of years. In those days in Melbourne, the members of the hunt either went overnight to what was known as Mother Atkinson's roadside public-house, where many a jolly time was spent ; or started from town before daybreak, where Mr George Watson picked up stragglers at the site of the Junction Hotel, St. Eilda. Mr James, at that time, lived in the Gardener's Creek road, now part of the township of Toorak. "What is now the city of Prahran and town of Windsor was all bush, and this ride in the dark, with fallen timber -and rugged, unformed water-courses in the way, was rather " interesting." Mr James says he used to be extremely glad to hear the tootle of Mr George Watson's horn to prove that he was near his destination. Mr James was a secretary prior to the discovery of gold in Otago. He is now verging on 70 years of age.

C. Smith, the cash draper of Cuba-street, is in it. His great " end of season sale" is proceeding, and, by all accounts, he is giving everyone who calls in something extraordinary in bargains to repay them, for their trouble. In this age of worry, work, and war, those afflicted with these troubles should make it their aim not to worry about things they cannot help, but at the same time not to suffer complaints they can help, such as corns and toothache which can be cured with Barraclough's Fro* gandra for corns, and Barraclough's Magic Nervine for toothache. There should be many bright spots in every man's life if he strives to make them, but with these harrassing complaints our enjoyment is reduced to a minimum. These troubles can be overcome at a very small cost by using these valuable cures. Mr H. J. Barraclough, the proprietor, offers afree sample box of his Progandra-to any address in the colony, while applied for by letter, or both can be had of any chemist from the Bluff to the Bay- of Islands.