Wellington.
(From Our Own Correspondent.)
As an indication of the state of business in Parliament," the acting Premier to-day moved, That, for the remainder of the session, Government business take precedence on Wednesdays’. Tins was opposed by the Knight of IKaiWaiu',) who has! ’ several private bills on hand, all for the Benefit of the human race and the unborn millions, and the motion was/carried by 42 to 29. , This afternoon Mr Taylor, the “ funny man ’* of the House, and one of the Christchurch representatives, gave notice of what at one time was an annually recurring motion, but which during later years has dropped out of sight. I refer to a motion to the effect that 1,500 acres be purchased on the Canterbury Plains, and laid out as a township; and' that the seat of Government be established there. People put down the proposal as being merely one of Mr Taylor’s little jokes, and even property-owners in the Empire City do not feel the, alarm they once did at similar proposals. The position of the Government at the present time is anything but a dignified one, as, apparently, they merely hold office by bowing down to the behests of the “ Skinflint ” party. At anyrate, that party holds the balance of power in,its-hands, but with all its astuteness jts action Has placed its members upon the horns of a dilemma. Government, you will remember, agreed at the dictation of that party, which numbers about a dozen members, to reduce the Estimates by £50,000. The Opposition has gone one better, and wants to make a reduction of some £86,000. Now, if the “ Skinflints ” are honest in their 1 desire for economy, they must consistently with their prim ciples support the latter proposal, but, being Government supporters, they very naturally don’t' want to see the Opposition placed upon-the Treasury Benches. At Friday evening’s sitting! £960 was knocked off the Colonia Secretary’s Department, much to the annoyance of the Government, the reduction being carried by, a majority of only one. . Such is. the temper of the House, that I would hot : be at all surprised at this new “ roar for retrenchment ” proving confusion to the Government, who say that the reductions cannot be taken out of services, but that salaries must be cut down. Government have taken up this position on the question, “We can’t reduce the Estimates, but if the House chose to do so, good and well.” The design is,; in yiew of the approaching elections, to throw, upon the Opposition the. unpopularity that will inevitably attach to the party that goes in for retrenchment in any shape or form. Government, has not the back-bone to nail their *cblours3o the maSCtantl thereby court certain defeat.
The Hutchison Charges Committee continues its daily sittings, but so far the basis upon which the enquiry should be conducted' has hot even been settled, and the general, and I think the correct, opinion is the whole thing will end in smoke. The difficulties placed in the way,by Government renders proof of the accusations impossible. The moral effect, however, is clearly in favour of Mr Hutchison, and it will take some time before the mud which has defiled the Ministerial garments will be scraped off. Amongst/those who have ~ given evidence before the Committee ap- ; pointed to enquire into the flax industry are Messrs J. Holmes (Holmes and Bell), W. Pollard, and Seymour, M JLR., well known in the Wainm r A lot* Of- 1 valuable evidence ikboihgL taken as to the best means of fostering the industry, and I believe that the result will be beneficial to that industry. It is very probable that a sub- ' stantial bonus will 1 be given for the invention of a machine that will treat the fibre in a more economical manner, and render it' better able" to compete with its manilla and sisal rivals in European* and American markets. A dastardly, cruel case of robbery and assault took place a few evenings ago, the'victim being an old man, 1 a cripple, and the alleged offenders being two strong young men. The parties were all more or less the worse for' drink, but* that was no excuse for decoying the man to an out-of-the-way! vacant section of ground on pretence of finding a walking-stick that he, had lost,*and there setting upon him and; brutally assaulting him, and “ running through ” his pockets, and extracting therefrom the’ magnificent sum of some eight.! shiUings.J . Accused have'/b een committed to take their trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court. I don’ttkhbw-Whether any! of your lady-readers have ever attended one of Lady Onslow’s ‘reception> parties. )If not, let me advise them to take advantage 6f the opportunity the first time it offers. It is a popular falacy to supposh that the entre-id' these gatherings is confined to real blue-blooded aristocracy and scions of nobility. •., We; do not keep any goods of that description in- Wellingtoni The “ /honest;; men and bonnie lassies,” for which your district is celebrated, are the moral, physicial, and intellectual equals of those who are invited to tfie receptions
of the affable Lady, who bo well does the honours of Government House, so that they need experience no diffidence if ever they are fortunate enough to obtain an invitation, about responding to the courtesy. Of course, ladies gentlemen—l use these - words in theirs true sense—are mot with there, and yet, like,Jhe poets, there are, those whose “ blood has run through scoun- , drels ever since ' the flood. ’ ’ Pater, ! however, might object to the expense r of fitting out Mater -in a manner : be-. -
coming the august company, so that unless their purse is as deep as the pork butchers or : retired publicans’, wives, or are no more frightened at being deep in the drapers’ books as the needy Civil servants’ better halves (there classes comprising a substantial modicum of the attendants at the gathering), I would'advise them to be ; not “at home ” when the invitation arrives.
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Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 1, Issue 55, 5 August 1890, Page 2
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993Wellington. Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 1, Issue 55, 5 August 1890, Page 2
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