Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. Thursday, April 6, 1882.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1058, 6 April 1882, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standard. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY MORNINGS. Thursday, April 6, 1882.

Great alarm has reasonably been expressed throughout England as to the presumably coercive nature of the Government proposals for a rsform of Parliamentary procedure, an alarm which, despite the protestations of liberal members and the adulatory tone of the Liberal press, has by no means subsided. It is well known that the Government proposes a considerable amendment of those rules of the House of Commons which relate to the conduct of debate, and politicians of all shades of opinion are agreed that a reform of this kind is not only necessary, but imperative. For the past two years the House of Commons has been subjected constantly to indignities in the obstruction of debate, more worthy of a howling mob of fanatics than of the parliamentary representatives of the British nation. That these obstructions must be dealt with summarily, and by a firm and judicious reform, is admitted on all sides. It is likewise admitted that the principles of this reform must be on a similar basis to that which underlies the French cloture. Beyond this we have only assumption to go upon. Whatever the line the Government takes, we know, as yet, nothing definite as to its application. Cabinet Councils have, doubtless, been occupied to a certain extent in the fashioning of a mode of procedure more consistent with the dignity and the practical utility of Parliament, but to suggest that the Ministry is intent upon a series of proposals which must imperil the rational exercise of political opinion, and alienate the sympathies of a large body of its own supporters, is to suggest the outrageous improbability of a suicidal policy. It is probable the Government will go no further, at the outset, than to test the feeling of the House by a series of resolutions or skeleton proposals, of which only the principle will be insisted upon. It must be remembered that the Government of the day is not, and never can be, so far paramount as to be able to coerce the Legislature. The House of Commons will always be its own master, and any set propositions for its guidance must be loyal to the sentiment of free debate, to be at any time acceptable to the House, or in accordance with the national desire. What is now desirable, and sought for in such accordance, is the imposition of a check upon palpable obstruction. A majority of two-thirds of the House can always protect itself and ensure a due progress in the business under consideration; but even a majority may stultify its action unless it proceeds by rule, and on well recognised lines. What the Legislature seeks to do is, in fine, to expedite business, to ensure a substantial outcome from earnest intelligence, to redeem old pledges which factious misconduct has virtually shelved, and to satisfy the claims of the country to long deferred reliefs and amendments. It would assuredly be unjust to prejudge the action of the Government, but on the other hand it must be conceded that any measure cramping the liberty of the House in free discussion must be viewed with suspicion, as conferring doubtful benefits. It is easy in the pursuit of fleeting shadows to lose the clutch of prosaic but sustaining substance. Hitherto the freedom of the nation has been upheld and sustained by freedom of debate in representative Parliament. No one can contemplate the surrender of that freedom of debate without recognizing the fact that in sueh surrender is jeopardized that political freedom which has been from the first establishment of Parliament the active motor protecting and sustaining it, and which has earned for it a reputation second to none among the Empires of the world. Hence the necessity for handling

daintily and with caution the doubleedged weapon with which the Govern ment of the day ask the representatives of the people to arm them by the introduction of the cloture, the necessity for the principle of which is acknowledged as being rendered paramount by the misconduct of the Irish obstructionists. The principle then being generally acknowledged as necessary, it remains to be seen what dimensions i this growing tree will assume under the guiding hands of its fostering planters. It is a tree which will need the most careful and attentive pruning and training, for its tendency is to assume a wildness of growth which otherwise will outstrip the efforts of the gardener and so be productive of a fruit containing a poison more deadly and destructive than the upas. Thus the necessity, while introducing the principle, of departure from the internal domesticities of the cloture pur et simple, becomes more and more vividly apparent. It may at some future time become as necessitous a measure in the interests of this Colony as it now is in those of the Mother Country—and with such a possibility in view, the study of the introduction of so foreign a feature in English legislation becomes to Colonists doubly interesting—and causes us to watch with anxious eyes, for the arrival of mails which shall give us definite intelligence as to the popular receipt and ultimate carriage of this “ black swan ” of Parliamentary reform.

Dr. Burton continues to progress favorably towards recovery. The following tenders were received by Mr. J. R. Morgan, yesterday, for the erection of a five-roomed house at Patutahi, for Mr. L. Mclntosh :—A. Stevens, £ll2 ; T. Willshire, £123 10s ; C. D. Berry, £145 j R. Houlden, £149. We are indebted to the courtesy of Mr. Shrimpton, Postmaster, for the receipt of a copy of the “ Postal and Telegraph Guide ” for the current quarter, which is replete with all necessary information regarding its subject.

Mr. Charles Hubbard notifies elsewhere in our columns that as he is leaving for England to-morrow, Mr. E. C. Smith, of the Murewai, will accept payment of any moneys due to Mr. Hubbard, and is empowered to give receipts for the same.

Mr. W. P. Finneran, Architect, invites tenders for clearing and carting away debris, and taking down, breaking, and piling present walls from foundation on the late premises of Messrs. Carr and Sons. Specifications may be seen at Mr. Finneran’s office, Childers-street, where tenders are to be left by noon to-day. The Sydney Evening News makes the following extraordinary statement: —“ It is notorious that the recent cricket match between the Australian Eleven and the English team was a foregone conclusion. Four members of the English team are accused openly by one of their colleagues of having received £lOOO to lose the contest.

The Chairman of the Arai Highway Board invites tenders, to be received at the store of Messrs. Nicholls and Co., Te Arai (where plans and specifications may be seen), up to 5 p m., of Thursday, 13th inst., for cutting a drain and repairing a portion of the Oweta Road, also for carting sand and fascining a portion of the district road near the Murewai Hotel. We would remind Volunteers that the time for leaving baggage at the drill-shed for conveyance to the Camp at Roseland, is two o’clock this afternoon. Pipe clay and button racks will be in great request. Parade will be held at 6.30 p.m., and at 7 o’clock the men will march for the Camp. The Officer Commanding hopes to see a full attendance of members at parade. With reference to Mr. John Allanach’s advertisement in another column, all travellers will be glad to learn that he has succeeded in obtaining good and sufficient paddocking accommodation for horses. This was a much felt want in the district of Tologa Bay, and all persons journeying in that direction may now rest assured that both creature and animal wants will be attended to at the Tologa Bay Hotel. The Wairoa Guardian says:—A mob of 3000 merino wethers crossed the ferry en route to Mr G. G. Burnett’s property, Gisborne; the sheep, which appeared in excellent condition and highly creditable to the driver, were under the charge of Mr E. W. Bousfield. There are two more large mobs shortly expected, 4000 for Col. Whitmore, and 2000 for Mr J. Sutherland, late of Mohaka. The total number of sheep which have passed through this year must be considerable, and largely exceeds the number that went through any of the last three years. The Borough Council are enjoying the dole e far niente so richly earned by the delay of Mr Skey’s report on the Waheriheri water submitted to Dr Hector’s office for analysis. At the present rate of proceedings we may expect the advent of the water supply to be contemporaneous with that of the millennium. We fear the Borough Engineer will hardly live long enough to give the Gisborne folk the benefit of those views which evidently inflate him to so dangerous a degree. It is a long time to look forward to for a decent tub, but perhaps the Councillore don’t care about water much. The Engineer’s vigorous and conclusive defence of the Council’s action, or rather inaction, regarding sanitary matters, proves, so far, to be “ Love’s labour lost.” Happy Engineer to serve such energetic masters !! ! Happy masters to possess so powerful an advocate in their Engineer I ! I From the Napier Telegraph we learn that a batch of fifteen “ long sentence ” prisoners were removed from the Napier gaol and despatched, under escort, per s.s. Kiwi to Wellington. The following is a correct list of those removed, together with the offences for which they were imprisoned, and the terms of imprisonment from dates of committal :—John Symonds, stealing in a dwelling house, ten years’ penal servitude and a further term of five years on expiration of first sentence for escaping from confinement ; John Langhan, manslaughter, twenty years’ penal servitude ; James McGregor, unnatural offence, ten years’ ditto; John Boyd, alias John Hatton, breach of Railway Act, fifteen years’ ditto ; Arthur Barnsley, forgery, four years’ ditto ; William Henry Shaw, arson and embezzlement, four years’ ditto; Robert Gallagher, bigamy, three years’ ditto ; Fred. Day Rendle, letter stealing, six years’ ditto ; Thomas Lee Warner, forgery, two years’ hard labor; Peter Sorry, larceny as a bailee, two years’ ditto; Robert William Donald, burglary, two years’ ditto ; Hetekia Mutu, cattle stealing, two years ditto ; Hari Wahu, larceny, two years’ ditto; William Darvill, accessory to a larceny, two years’ ditto ; Alexander Parsons, sheep stealing, three years’ ditto. The firstmentioned five will, on arrival at Wellington, be forwarded on to Lyttelton gaol; the others will be employed at Wellington in building the proposed new prison at the rear of Mount Cook barracks.