OUR COMMONS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1059, 11 September 1879, Page 2

OUR COMMONS.

Mr. G. 51. O'Rokke, who has onco more been returned for Onehunga, is another of the oldest members of the House of Representatives, and he is also entitled to the honor of being classed as one of the most popular members personally. Without exception, he is the best posted man in Parliamentary rules in Parliament, for, in addition to having been a member of the House f-~x somethirg like twenty years, if our memory does not deceive us, he for many years occupied the position of Chairman of Committees, was Speaker of the Auckland Provincial Council, and was last session chosen Speaker of the House of Representatives, a position for which he received an admirable training under Sir David Munro, the most dignilied and impartial Speaker the House ever had to guide its deliberations. Mr. O'Rorke is a goodnatured Irishman, a politician possessed of more than the ordinary amount of ability, and a man of undoubted honesty. For some time he was a member of the Government of which Sir Julius Vogel was the head ; but when the abolition of the Provinces was proposed by the Ministry, with that independence of action which has over characterised his career, Mr. O'Rorke left his seat on the Ministerial Benches and deliberately took up a position upon tho Opposition side of the House. Few men would have taken so bold and independent a step ; few politicians would have thrown up office, its honors and its emoluments, for the sake of a principle ; and though the then dominant party, including Sir Julius Vogel, the Premier, who had been pleased to own Mr. O'Rorke as a colleague, endeavored to heap ridicule upon him for the dramatic manner in which he relinquished place, pay, and power in support of a principle, every man who admires bold and honest action, must admire Mr. O'Roike for the course he adopted. We are certain that no member of the House will regret to find the genial member for Onehunga onco more an occupant of a seat in the Senate Chamber. Mr. O'Rorke will, wo have not the least doubt, be again eleoted Speaker, a position which he is preeminently fit to occupy. Mr. A. J. Richmond, the chosen of Nelson suburbs, has sat in Parliament for some years ; but he has failed to acquire reputation of a Colonial nature. He is still unknown beyond the boundaries of the small Province of Nelson. Ho is a fit representative for a constituency wedded to " Sleepy Hollow." Mr. G. B. P. Ireland, who succeeds Mr. Bastings in the representation of Waikaia, is another of the unknown and untried division. Judging by his speeches, he appears to be a man endowed with a fair amount of ability, and doubtless, with a short training, he will prove a useful member of the House. In the return of Mr. Ireland the Good Templars obtain a reliable advocate.

Mr. W. IjARROX, who has been re* turned for Caversham, is another new member. He was, if we mistake not, a member of the Dunecliu City Council for some thne ; and lias generally taken an active interest in public all'airs. Ho la-f-l" 1 , the power of public speaking, but pi f sesses a large share of cuirnuoa sense. His return for Caversham was somewhat of a surprise, for ho had 110 mean opponent to compete against in the person of Mr. Cutten, a man of position and iniiuence. The Hon. J. T. Fisher has once more been returned for Heathcote. Although a member of the Ministry, and nominally one of the leaders of the House, he does not actually occupy so distinguished 4 position. He is unquestionably the weakest member of the Ministry, and, like Mr. George M'Lean of old, he would, we feel sure, admit tl.e correctness of this verdict. When the Grey Ministry was formed, it was necessary to secure a Canterbury member, and as neither Mr. Montgomery nor Mr. T. Evans Brown could be secured, the position was offered to Mr. Fisher, who, not without some amount of hesitation, accepted the portfolios of PostmasterGeneral and Commissioner of Telegraphs, j

jp ft very estimable man personally. was certainly n»*»r »»ten»I««l f»>r p, )B itioa in which he h*» been placed; instead gaming support for the Jjjtry, ho has primal a of wrakk jit-health. has v«ry materially interdwithMr. Fishers usefulness, andon jcore, we think, ho wnuldgladty retire, gjj George Grey has been returned for ■jgtthurcii, it seems highly probable jjlr; Eisßerwill do so. Should this w correct, there seems some doubt as Alio his successor would be. The oJtJaml members would probably insist hx another Minister being ob taine*! frotu province, and in, the event r>f their eomptiedwith,Mr.. Reader G. , fl (l would probabty be chosen ; but the Jlington members may claim the right Java that Provincial District repreintK'l in the Ministry, and ahoatd they f/tuk mantle of office would meat upon Mr. Hryce. ug >fc.. \Vakei"Xe.e.x>, who- for the second w h;w been for Geruhiirie, and 0 owed his into- Parliament to r influence of Sir ? W. Stafford and r misting vote of the Keturning OtEcer, un<i««» ti" o Tiabty one of the rising men the ||(i" / . ising in a doable sense, , w lnl,,*f IT.! is undoubtedly coming to j front as a politican, he was in the e House ever rising to spuak. Mr. nfeetield can speak too, as every one Divs who reads the Ttmaru Herald, of licfi, lie is the editor. He is, perhaps, u 0 £ the most ready speakers tn the justs, and hits out vigorously, bat he is ))J B to lose sight of facts in his atjipfcj to make a point against his ponnnt. He was originally a civil ser„t, but he left the Government service it nought the more dignitied, respectable, lorioua, and useful sphere of Journalj. Sir E. W. Stafford was the wolf that .jfed this Romulus or Remus ; it was in;that gentleman that he recuivedpoliti- ; nursing. It was to support his patron it Mr. "Wakefield was first returned to rliiunent; but, having once become main ted with the ways that are dark wtiaed in the Supreme Legislature, he nfcoff on his own account. He deserted 1 step-father, and allied himself with • Julius Voget, for whom he for a time ifesßtad great admiration. His next va was to assist in dislodging the linson Government —the Cabinet left [inil by Sir Julius Vogel—and placing George Grey in power. Disappoiritnt ;i:;;un awaited hint, for he was riot lulled in the Ministry. But Mr. Wakeil v though disappointed, was not beaten, I once more he turned his coat, bccomi l 'red hot' r member of the Opposition, then very nearly reached the height hit ambition, for it was very generally loit that Sir William Fox would include pushing young member in his Cabinet ; the dissolution put an end to his ics for a time. By the exercise of inline, decency, and some amount of t,. Mr. Wakefield may yet become a niatur, and when he docs it wtil be (rusting to note how he performs the llos of "his office, for he has condemned many Ministers that the public are juus to learn the claims he can put tli to be considered a fair and competent

Jr.. D'. A. Wnccvh.; k,, who has just iiiuluuted for Waipa, is a son of Mr. F. litaker, late Attorney-General. He is a icitor by profession, as well as proprieuf tliu Waikato Times. Ife is an inlijiuif, trustworthy young man, with a »i knowledge of New Zealand politics, jwvur. Ins heart is in the right place, 1m is a Liberal." As usu;d. when il|iiii).-:if,ion journals have any if -:n*c I•, to'politics of a return >1 candi'iar.e. i\'v,.nu him as their own. [.'-t i;s teM L.-pen tile best «i au ri: ■-n: v, that Mr. taker, jun., has eho.-en the I'-ftrr t"--tliat lie is an Imn.-ss supporter »f jtrt'SiMifi adminis!.rati"U, ;>ii'liha", if we not greatly mistaken, there is a limit political eareer in store for hiui. lias much of the ability of his sire., hilling of that whieh is undesirable preventative of the people. He is Hie ni.'iu to t;ike n.ilvn.iifnue of hU itiirn to enrich himself and friends.