Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5156, 1 October 1877, Page 2

It 'is currently reported that a good many members of Parliament,are likely to lose their seats under the Disqualification Act. In addition to the names previously mentioned, those of Messrs,’Larnach, Lusk, and Bastings are now spoken of as coming within the provisions of the above enactment. Mr. Larnach, it is alleged, has. participated in a Government contract for the supply of railway sleepers. Mr. Lusk, it is said, has done something for a municipality which , brings him under the statute, and Mr. Bastings is stated to be disqualified as a mail contractor. As regards the Upper House, an alleged participation in a contract for sleepers for the Napier and Waipukurau line may jeopardise the seat of the Hon. Henry Russell. Whoever first raised this disqualification question' has certainly stirred up a political hornet’s nest in our legislative halls. Whether there are any more gentlemen than those already mentioned in either House, who may ha- brought into the same category, .we do not know, but without going further, this is a pretty good batch of disqualified legislators,-presuming, for the sake of argument, that they are disqualified, for one session.

Thebe was considerable excitement in town on Saturday when the Evening Post published “ special cable news,” dated London, 27th, confirming telegrams received from Reuter some days previously as to the result of the battle at Biela. The “special cable'news" gave the number of killed and wounded with mathematical accuracy. As the telegraph cable between Singapore and Batavia had been unworkable for a couple of days, the Post's news came with no small freshness, and caused conjecture to pronounce that it had been obtained by the use of pigeons. But when the Press Agency (who’act for Reuter) furnished the Press with news from Europe five hours after the Post people had received theirs, it was felt that the cable must have been put in working order again. It is true that Reuter’s latest telegrams contradict his earlier, as well as the confirmation given to these by the Post’s “ special.” The Russians have riot, so far, been badly beaten at Biela, nor have the losses been anything like those stated by the “ special” of the Post, but nevertheless it must be admitted that our contemporary has published telegrams dated London, 27th, which are contradicted by Reuter’s telegrams, dated London, 24th. Between “ specials ” and Reuter’s the public will soon have to discriminate in its acceptance of news.

Yesterday news of a “native difficulty,” which may or. may not prove serious, was received in town. A telegram from the Press Agent states that Mr. Montgomery and his family, who. occupy a farm about eight miles from Wanganui, had been turned off their land by certain natives who claim it as theirs, and he adds that urgent measures are necessary. A telegram received the same day, by the Inspector of Police from the officer in charge at Wanganui, modifies this considerably, as his telegram only goes so far as to say that the, Montgomeries had been ordered to clear out, or tike tho consequences. This might or might not he a mere empty threat. Later in the day the same officer sent another telegram stating that in his opinion there was “ no probability of any i disturbance.” It would certainly appear from this that the Press Agent at Wanganui has rather overstated the case. In matters like this it would be well for the representatives of the Press Agency to confine themselves to facts and not give their opinions as to probabilities. The chances are that the version given by the police officer is the more correct one, and we trust that it is. At all events it does not seem likely that within a few miles of the populous town of Wanganui the natives are likely to; go to extremes, as

they are quite cunning enough to know that they must get the worst of it. The arrival of the next mail from Wanganui will no doubt bring full particulars''of the affair, which it is evident has arisen*from a disputed title to land.