WEEKLY BULLETIN.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5504, 16 November 1878, Page 2

WEEKLY BULLETIN.

■ (From the New iSuALAND Mail.) The character of the European intelligence, which in our last bulletin we described as sensational, has improved, and the latest advices from the centre of disturbance appear reassuring, or, at least, more rational. It is unfortunate for plain jog-trot journalists like ourselves that a popular taste for intellectual drams, in the shape of sensational telegrams, should have developed itself, and that the inexorable law deduced from experience relative to the relations of supply and demand should rule the market for mental as for physical wares. The unfairness is, that the charge does not, like a beer or whisky tax, fall upon the consumer, but is borne by the unfortunate journalist who is made to be the distribucor of the unwholesome stimulants. A growl over the monthly bill which represents to ua the blessing of being connected with all creation by " wire" may we hope under the special circumstances be forgiven. We learn't yesterday that the Emperor of Russia desires faithfully to execute the Treaty of Berlin, and that it was only to bring about peace that he seemed to provoke war by persistence in occupying Turkish territory So much for the East. In the north-west the Imperial troops have advanced to Quettah, and mean to stop there, the purpose being also peaceful, and to prevent the Ameer of Afghanistan from committing himself. If all bo true we may rejoice, for a war botween Great Britain and Russia would bring calamity upon the world, in which we should largely suffer. Native affairs are quiet. Ministerial "blowing" has, we are happy to note, nearly ceased; the late mission to King Tawhiao in search of a condescending testimonial of confidence and approval, has failed. Hieoki is at Parihaka ; the Native Minister is at Dunedin ; MoLean, the unfortunate camp-keeper, with the bullet in his brain, is buried. "We are as bad as our predecessors," says Mr. Sheehan ; "give us seven years." So mote it be. We have printed in another column the Railways Construction Bill in the form in which it was first introduced by the Ministor for Public Works, and we have printed also the Railways Construction Act as it wa3 finally passed into law. The confidence of the House of Representatives in the present Government did rot extend to giving the absolute appropriation of six and a quarter millions of money, all at once, which Sir George Grey modestly asked for, and with it the power to rnakoMr. Proudfoot, of Dunedin, a benefactor of the human race by applying his Tapanui patent for the construction of railways on the deferred payment system, to the whole Colony. It was what Major Bueitman's committee called "a crate Mordl Ide'e," but the House is not advanced enough as yet To coolcUfata die Poaudlfool, llkowlso do

Goot unii Druo, in tho American style of party husbandry. The big figures were drawn like teoth from the first " Hddle pill," and tho necessai-y appropriation for tho possible expenditure of tha current year upon each of tho lines was made instead. The Legislative Council insisted that the responsibility for each undertaking should bo borne by tho whole Exocutivo—the Cfovornor-in-Counoil —and that tho country should havo such additional security as tho professional certificate of the Engineer in-Chief can afford, against carelessness or reckless haste in expenditure upon unsuitable or impracticable lines. Notwithstanding tho official protest against log-rolling in the matter of expenditure on local works which Mr. Macandrbw made in his Public Works Statement, the weakness of the Miuisry, and a desire "other things "being equal to help their friends," produced a little activity in "squaring" baulks at tho closo of the session. We have printed from tho Public Works Appropriation Act a schodule of tho votes for " looal works" in tho yarioua districts of

the North Island, and we venture to recommend the local bodies interested in chese votes to lose no time in securing their expenditure. It is a chance which will not probably recur. The elections fur the County Councils show that the people are beginning to value those local institutions of selfgovernment the more as experience shows how much good can be effected by their means. The Hutt County Councillors have received a public acknowledgment of their past services by a reelection ; a local magnate so distinguished as Mr. Bunny was amongst the • iefeated candidates. The election of Mayor for the Borough of Wellington increases in interest. The candidates are active and eloquent, and the event may turn upon the point whether the " working man" is able to discriminate between facts which ho can verify and glib assertion without proof. The working man, is we have said, is a ratepayer, and although he may be amused by chaff, he willnot, we think, bn oan'rlir hv it.