The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1884. REJECTION OF THE DISTRICT RAILWAYS BILL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1256, 23 October 1884, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1884. REJECTION OF THE DISTRICT RAILWAYS BILL.

The rejection of the District Railways Leasing Bill by the Legislative Council is an event which is calculated to increase the popularity of that body enormously. I'his measure is one of the many which Sir Julius Vogel has forced upon the Lower House, He has provided something of a very relishable nature for every section of the House. For Otago he has provided the Otago Central Railway, and the leasing of the VYaimea District Railway ; he has purchased Messrs Turnbull, Sutter and Steward in South Canterbury with the taking over of the Waimate District Railway ; Middle Canterbury members have the Methven line on their hands, and Christchurch, North Canterbury,and West Coast members have the West Coast Railway to make. In order to secure the Nelson members he has promised to construct a branch line to connect the West Coast line with Nelson ; the North Islanders must bow the knee to him to set their trunk line made, and the Aucklanders are to have facilities for developing the South Sea Islands trade. It is thus Sir Julius Vogel has been able to exercise such extraordinary influence over the House. He is completely regardless of the consequences : be has no stake in the country ; it does not matter to him one straw whether we have all to become bankrupt or not ; and consequently be has not hesitated to bring forward the pet jobs of every district in New Zealand so as to secure the support of the majority. Mr W. J. Steward, of Waimate, would not dure to oppose the District Railways, because a number of bis constituents are interested ; the Christchurch, West Coast and Nelson members would not dare to oppose the West Coast line, because they and their constituencies are interested. Then Sir Julius Vogel has made it a condition (hat if they F ass one measure they must pass all ; that is; Mr Steward must help to carry the West Coast Bill if he wonts assistance to get the Waimate railway taken over by the Government, and the Christchurch members must help Mr Steward as a quid pro quo. This is the secret of Sir Julius Vogel's influence. He has made a job for all, and he has made it a condition that all the jobbers must help each other or else their “ felonious little plans” will fall through. Such unscrupulous conduct, such disregard for the public good, and such disgraceful corruption, is looked upon as cleverness in America, and we are afraid we are beginning to regard it ranch in the same light in this colony. But though we may stand alone we must differ from those who regard Sir Julius Vogel as clever. He has shown in these matters that he possesses

"Low cunning, which Nature, kind indulgent parent, gave To supply the place of wisdom to the knare.” By cunning tricks he has secured a following. He was not idle during the first three weeks while Governments were being made and unmade. He discovered the weak points of all ; he has worked upon the weaknesses of the majority, and thus puses now as a mighty genius, who lias succeeded in securing a majority in a House that he found in a chaotic state of disorganisation. -If Sir .Tillius’s measures were all carried they would result disastrously, but, as a patriotic Englishman said once under similar circumstances, “Thank God, there is a House of Lords.” The Legislative Council have evidently resolved that they will not have responsibilities thrown upon this unfortunate colony, by a political adventurer who panders to the prejudices of the representatives of monopolists and money-rings. The District Railways Leasing Bill is the first policy measure that has reached the U pper Chamber from the Lower House, and the Council gave evidence of their determination to put down “Yogelism” by rejecting the measure at once. The attitude which the Legislative Council have thus assumed gives us hope that the corrupt jobbery «t Sir Julius Yogel will meet a check. It is true that the Government has power to swamp the Council bv ca'ling members favorable to their policy to the Upper House, but it. is hardly probable they will do that. They

liave, it is true, called Mr Reeves, one of the proprietors of the Lyttelton Times, already, but that may be regarded as a reward for the sycophantic manner in which that paper has truckled to the Yogel Government. As regards the resolution given notice of by the Premier, and published elsewhere, we do not expect that much will come of it. The object of this is to empower the Governor to lease the District Railways by a mere resolution, but it is scarcely possible such a thing will be done either. Resolutions passed in the Lower House need not go to the Upper House, it is true ; but this is a rm.tter involving probably a million of money, and it will be necessary to Appropriate money for giving effect to it. The difficulty would thus come to the surface afresh and the resolution be rendered inoperative. At anyrate, we feel confident the District Railways Bill is knocked on the head, and we are heartily glad of it

IRISH POLITICS, That was an amusing bit of information which came all the way across the seas by the Zealandia a few days ago. According to this the people of Mayo were going to reject John O’Connor Power and the Rev. Isaac Nelson at the next election, and send in their stead to St. Stephens Captain Boycott and Mr J. W. Nally. Messrs J. O’Connor Power and Nelson, we were told, were the nominees of Mr Parnell, and their rejection would be the people’s protest against the autocratic sway of the latter. Evidently the writer of this thought nobody here knew anything at all about Irish politics as his statement has no foundation in fact. Mr J. O’Connor Power and the Rev. Isaac Nelson will undoubtedly be rejected by the electors of Mayo : not because they are Parnellites, but because they are not Parnellites. At the time of the last general election, the cry on which Irish members were elected was Home Rule. Messrs J. O’Connor Power and the Rev. I. Nelson (Presbyterian) were elected as Home Rulers, but sometime afterwards thdParnell party was formed. Up to that time Mr Shaw (ex-Epis-copalian minister) led the Home Rulers, but on Mr Parnell coming to the front the party split up. Amongst those who never supported Mr Parnell was the Rev. Isaac Nelson, and though Mr J. O’Connor Power supported him fora time, but he has since seceded and is now looked upon as a renegade. There are few men in Ireland now more unpopular than the latter gentleman, because not alone has he seceded from the National ranks, but, despairing of forgiveness, he has gone over to the enemy, and is doing all he can to annoy the National party. These facta will show that it is untrue that Mr J. O’O. Power and the Rev. i. Nelson’are to be nominated by Mr Parnell. They would be the two last men in Ireland be would think of supporting. As regards Captain Boycott, we know that he has returned to Ireland ; that ho has settled down quietly ; that he has come down from his high horse, and has not since tried to ride rough-shod over the people ; that he has taken his defeat in goodpart, and that his conduct in generall is rendering him more popular every day. This is the first intimation we have had of his intention to enter Parliament, and we may say we do not believe it. Captain Boycott is not likely to become a follower of Mr Parnell, and none but a Parnellite can gat elected in Mayo. However, a great many leading men who stood aloof from Mr Parnell at first now see the good lie has done and are enlisting under his standard. If Captain Boycott has done this ho will be elected without trouble. The name of Mr Nally is not a familiar one. If we remember rightly, Mr Nally is a rather eccentric, but very learned, gentleman, who has some new ideas he wishes to put forward. He is, if we mistake not, of the notorious John Rae class—who was both an Orangeman and a fenian. At anyrate no man but a Parnellite will be elected for Mayo, and Messrs O’Conner Power and the Rov. Isaac Nelson are not Parnellites.