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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5490, 31 October 1878, Page 2

The Electoral Bill has followed the Beer Duty Bill aud the Companies Income Tax Bill iuto the Limbo of the waste-paper basket. If the Ministry will now advise his ■Excellency the Governor to veto the Laud Tax Bill and tho Customs Duties Bill, the symmetry of Sir Georgo Grey’s groat stump policy will be restored. Ha would theu have the satisfaction of being able to say that, with much effusion, his Government had succeeded in doing nothing, and we have no doubt that he would show with the eloquence of profound conviction that the course which ho aud his friends had taken was that which would be most conducive to “ the happiness of the wholehumnnrace now existing, and of the countless millions of the future, for all time.” Tho Legislative Council have been improving Mr. Macandrew’s “ little Bills.” The Railways Construction Bill, whilst still retaining some of its very original features, has boon greatly modified ; that curious piece of mosaic, the Public Works Amendment Act, has been amended in some very important particulars, and honorable gentlemen have exhibited so much confidence in, and consideration for, the Minister of Public Works, that they have used every precaution which pressure of time permitted to prevent him from making all tho railways in Otago at once whilst tho money lasts, and from leaving to tho rest of the colony all the prospects of tho future. Ou the whole wa think that the estimation in which tha Legislative Council is held by the people of tire Colony will not be lowered by tho events of the session, aud that there is good ground for thankfulness that the Constitution has imposed such a salutary check upon those follies of the wise, which sometimes afflict purely representative legislative bodies when tho ferment of party is working strongly. The valedictory compliments of the close of the Parliamentary season were exchanged last evening. Major Atkinson reviewed with pitiless precision the events of the session, and contrasted the promises of the stamp with the performance ou the Treasury Bench ; to this, Sir George Grey made a reply, in the old character, of which his friends did not feel proud, and of which we shall have more to say anon.