OUR MONTHLY LETTER HOME.

Southland Times, Issue 1665, 19 November 1872, Page 3

OUR MONTHLY LETTER HOME.

A. most unsatisfactory session of Apteeinblv was brought to a clo.«e on the ; 2-ith of October, by the prorogation. Two changes of Ministry and one long party fL'ht, continued with unabated bitterness to the end, make up it 8 history. There were no principles at stake, the only question to be decided was whether the section of the House which adheres to Mr Stafford, or that which follows Mr Yogel, should administer the government of the Colony. By a happy combination of skill and fortune the Yogel party managed to see the session to an end without another Ministerial crisis, although from the state of parties and the temper of the House it was impossible to predict that the peace would be kept for a single day, and Ministers certainly did not lose much time in re leasing the legislators from their arduous duties after the Appropriation Bill had passed its third reading. Avoiding the rock on which it was too apparent their predecessors had been wrecked, the distribution of Government expenditure for railways among the various localities, the Government contrived to satisfy all by promising to none. A long list of railways, of which many will not even be commenced before next session, appeared in the statement of the Minister of Public Works ; but the question as to which were to have the precedence in point of time was wisely left unanswered. Only those lines were to be undertaken which would pay working expenses from the first, and beyond the enunciation of this guidin? principle, no specific information could be obtained. A new Railway Bill, authorising the expenditure of additional sums on the various lines, which the rise in the price of iron and the rate of wages had rendered necessary, passed the House of Representatives, but was thrown out on the second reading by the Legislative Council. As the Government would have been helpless without the authority conferred by this enactment, a muster of the Ministerial adherents in the Council was made the next day, the standing orders suspended, and the Bill passed into law. The Ministry are i:nw free to pursue their policy of making railways for the next eight or ten months without I let or hindrance ; and as the powers conferred upon them are ample, and money is to be had just now for the asking, the country has a right to expect that by the time the next Parliament assembles they will have something handsome to show in the 3hape of finished work of a permanent and reproductive kind. The manner in which the contracts for the lines now in process of construction were arranged by the Government with Messrs Brogden and Sons, without any public competition, sjave, as might have been expected, much dissatisfaction, and pro yoked many hostile comments, although it was done with the express sanction of the House, conferred the previous session. It has accordingly been decided that after existing arrangements with Messrs Broaden, and Sons are completed, J all future works shall be let by public tender — a step undoubtedly in the right direction, so long; as care is exercised to secure substantial guarantees for the performance of the obligations undertaken by the contractors. The fact that there could be no doubt of the ability of Messrs Brogden and Sons to complete in a satisfactory manner whatever they might commence, reconciled many to the idea which was generally entertained that that eminent firm were receiving a somewhat high rate of remuneration for their services. We have had so much experience of unsatisfactory contracts, entered into by parties who never intended and could not be compelled to carry them out, that it was felt there was some comfort in making an arrangement which one could reasonably expect to see the end of, even if the figure should be somewhat high. The Minister of Public Works, Mr Ormond, being also Superintendent of Hawke's Bay, resigned his seat in the Cabinet shortly alter the close of the session, according to an intimation pre- I viously made to that effect, and was ' succeeded by Mr Richardson, one of the members for Christchurch. Mr Richardson, although he has not developed much Parliamentary talent as a debater, is said to be a man of ability, and being a practical engineer and contractor, ought to understand the business ot his department. Mr Donald Eeid, the Provincial Secretary of Otago, having been dismissed from that office by the Superintendent when he accepted the portfolio of Public Works in the Stafford Government, is understood, to have been offered his old status in the Provincial Executive since the defeat of the Ministry with which he was connected. This offer, however, Mr Reid declined, trusting no doubt that he will be able to reinstate himself, without being at all obliged to the Superintendent, when the Provincial Council meets. Mr Batbgate, late Provincial Solicitor, having been appointed Commissioner of Stamps and Minister of Justice in the present Colonial Ministry, has resigned his Provincial appointment, and the Superintendent has requested the remaining members of the Executive to resign also, that be may form an entirely new administration. They have not yet complied with his request, but as he has the power to dismiss them

j it is probable that their refusal will make very little difference in the end. So the matter stands, however, for the present, and iudeed it excites but very little interest, the prevailing feeling regarding Provincial politics and politicians being that it would be a good thing for the country if we wore rid of them altogether. The half yearly criminal sessions of the Supreme Court in lavereargill, -which commence to-day, will bo marked by a larger number of serious cases than usual, the calendar comprising no less than sis criminal charges, all of a grave character. This district has hitherto been remarkable for its freedom from tht? more serious forms of crime, and it is to be hoped that notwithstanding the present exceptional list' of offences, it will long continue to enjoy this privilege. The criminal statistics of New Zealand compare very favorably with those of the "other Australian colonies,- a result i attributable no doubt to the absence of the old convict element from its popula- ; tion. The demand for labor of all kinds -continues unabated, and much work thafis wanted, and for which there is the money to pay, cannot be done for want of hands. A small instalment of the expected immigration has reached as, in the shape | of about; a hundred workmen, with their wives and families,, imported by Messrs Brogden and Sons, and about two hundred and fifty Government immi- < grants are expected to arrive shortly. \ But the district could readily absorb ten J times the number. j Business continues brisk and signs of i steadily increasing prosperity are everywhere apparent both in town and country. The crops, which in the early J part of the spring appeared somewhat backward, have been wonderfully refreshed by late seasonable rains, and the prospects of the harveat, so far aa it is ! yet possible to judge, may fairly bo said ' to be good. Favorable anticipations are also expressed regarding the clip of wool, some of which has already arrived in town, and is now awaiting shipment. The export trade of the Bluff Harbor is now daily increasing in importance, and will no doubt before long be enormously augmented by the completion of the Mataura railway, and at a later period, by the Wmton-Kingaton line. When these works are finished, the Bluff will be the outlet for the produce of one of the largest agricultural and pastoral areas connected with any port in the Colony, and cannot fail to assume a position of corresponding importance and pro sperity. .