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Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 4, 11 October 1871, Page 2

Tx the Legislative Council, an important question was raised by the Hon. Mr. Waterhouse, formerly Prime Minister of ISouth Australia, but now a Wellington settler, in the Wanganui district. It had reference to the administration of the Waste Lands, and to the course of legislation connected therewith. Mr. Waterhouse pointed out several Acts in which he thought the powers granted under the Constitution Act had been exceeded. This may have been the case, hut it must be remembered that wo are practically independent of the Imperial Legislature on all questions of purely domestic policy. The Waste Lands of the Crown have been handed over absolutely by the Imperial Government to be (]ealt with in such a way as to the Colonial Parliament may seem expedient; and although we may technically have exceeded our powers, practically such has not been the case. But the question of irregularities on the administration of the domain lands of the Crown is altogether different. There have beeri gross irregularities, much jobbery, and ninny serious plunders, which will ultimately' cost the bountry dear to repair. Mr. Waterhouse moved the following motion : “ That an address be presented to his “ Excellency the Governor requesting “ that he will cause such steps to be “ taken as he may deem necessary, in “order to remedy the numerous illegalities which have taken place in the “ administration of the waste lands of “ iiie'Crown, and also to prevent the “ recurrence of such irregularities for “ the future,” The Legislative Council did not debate the motion, the Minister of Justice, Mr. Sewell, being the only speaker beside Mr. Waterhouse. The Government declined to say anything on the political question raised by the motion, but would agree to a general inquiry as to p3iother irregularities had taken place. Xo man knew better than Mr, Sewell that such was the case ; but it is the genius of representative Government to postpone and push out of sight unpleasant facts. Accordingly, he moved an amendment, which was adopted, in the following terms : “ That an address be presented to bis the Governor, requesting

“ him to cause inquiries to be made into “ the various Acts and Ordinances “ relating to the waste lands of the “ Crown in the colony, and the administration of such laws and ordinances, “with a view to ascertain whether any “ and what illegalities or irregularities “ have occurred in relation thereto, in “ order that suitable remedies may be “applied to the past, and that a re- “ currence of such illegalities or irregu- “ larities may be prevented.” Very different was the next subject which was brought before the Legislative Council. With Reference to the Speaker’s costume, the motion was as follows: — “ That in the opinion of the Council, “ the Speaker of the Lcgistative Council “ should adopt the same costume as “ that adopted by the Presidents of the “ Legislative Councils in the Australian “ Colonies.” Mr. McLean (not the Defence Minister), in moving the foregoing resolution, thought a great deal depended on the clothes, as did also Mr. Waterhouse, who seconded it. The first-named gentleman, a pure Highlander, advocated the creation of a colonial peerage ; the last-named gentleman conceived that a heavy wig would add dignity to the Speaker, and inspire members with a becoming respect for the Council and the gravity of its proceedings. “ There was a vast “influence (he said) arising from the “ mode in which people dressed them- “ selves. There was a philosophy of “clothes, and it was by no means “ desirable to ignore their power.” Mr. Waterhouse is unquestionably right, notwithstanding Pope’s well - known aphorism— Worth makes the man, want of it the fellow : The rest is only leather and premella. But according to modern notions (and it must have been pretty much the same in Queen Anne’s time), “leather and premella” has by far the best of it. Worth in rags is one thing; worth in fine clothing is an entirely different commodity. But the dignity of a horsehair wig worn in a semi-tropical climate, and a badly-ventilated room, can hardly add to the comfort of the head on which it is placed, however much it may be calculated to inspire awe in the minds of the groundlings. Captain Traper, also a Highland gentleman, evidently thought so. He hoped they would not go back to the times of Rip Van Winkle, and select a costume abolished throughout the civilised world. For his part, he trusted he should never see the grey hairs and venerable countenance of the Speaker disfigured by an abominable horsehair wig. And we sincerely trust so also. Captain Fraser has liimself the snows of many winters on his brow, and with him, as with the Speaker of the Legislative Council, it may be truly said that the hoary head is “ a crown of glory.” The motion, need we sav, was withdrawn. There was a trifling difficulty which the mover did not foresee. It would have been impossible for the Speaker of the Legislative Council of New Zealand to have worn “ the same “costume as that adopted by the “ Presidents of the Legislative Councils “ of the Australian Colonies.” The Motueka Election Petitions Committee, and the prosecution, Munro v. Luckie and Collins, for libel in the ‘ Nelson Colonist,’ led to a discreditable passage of arms in the House of Representatives, in which Messrs. Fox and Gillies and Sir David Munro took part. The charges which Sir David Munro and Mr. Fox preferred against each other of “ loose swearing ” and “ in- “ accurate swearing,” if true in whole or in part, must lower the character of our public men in the colony. And all we can say of the affair at present is that we are inclined to believe both spoke the truth, we mean so far as their statements in the House are concerned. The “ telegraph libel case,” with which everyone is familiar, came up repeatedly in the Assembly, and the management of the telegraph department was challenged on more, than one occasion. The Government always fenced the questions put to them; but Mr. Stafford has carried a motion fo.i a committee of inquiry, which will doubtless probe the matter to the bottom.

Ix our sub-leader of yesterday wo called the attention of the public to the fact that from the site of the Thames Gas Company’s works being situated in the town of Shortland, Some nuisance to its inhabitants would be caused, and we also referred to a letter from a correspondent signing himself “ W.,” which appeared in our issue of Saturday last. We have since gone more thoroughly into the subject, and learn from' the best authority that the works of the company will be constructed after the latest improved patents ; that not only will the smoke and sulphur arising from them be entirely consumed, but also that tar and other offeusiye matter will be converted into colors, and their rcsidium conveyed to the sea by a covered drain, from which no offensive odours can escape. The present site was chosen !rom its being the lowest freehold land that could he conveniently obtained, and wo are told that had the works been erected as is suggested on the other side of the Thames, the expenses would have been most materially increased with no corresponding advantage to be derived. As for a report which appeared in the Auckland papers, that the company were sinking two pits to find a foundation and were stopped by water, we beg to state that from our information we fiud that the pits were suuk for the very purpose of finding water required for the works. AVc also learn that the plant for the Company has already been ordered from Glasgow, and that tenders will be called for this month for making the foundations of the works, erecting the chimney, which it to be 120 feet high, and for houses intended to serve ns residences for the officers of the company. We are informed that the Secretary of the Thames ltillc Association has received ft challenge from Mr. Chamberlain, of Greymouth, West Coast, offering to give a friendly match at 400, 500, and (100 yards, competitors ten, Wimbledon targets, any position, number of shots at each range five, with sighting shot at each range, Government arms and ammunition, to be fired simultaneously, on November the 11th. We have no doubt our representatives will be forthcoming, and do credit on the occasion. The late accident at tararu : a good example.—Wc liavc received from a lady who is quite a stranger amongst us, but whose visit here will long be remembered with pleasure by a large section of the community, a donation in aid of the wife and family of the poor fellow Atkinson, who is now a patient in the hospital in consequence of injuries received by the late accident at Tararu. The fair donor is the first and, we wc are sorry to add, the only person, at present, who has left anything' at our office for this benevolent object. We hope, however, her good example will be followed by many as it is, from hear, a really deserving case. Beauty and talent arc united in the donor, and when to these gifts is added the God-like attribute of charity wc are presented with a picture which will long be remembered by us. We shall be happy to receive further contributions in aid of the family (which we hear is a most respectable one) which has been deprived by a very sad and unexpected .accident of the earnings of its natural protector. There arc several summons cases to be heard at the Police Court this morning, in which sureties of the peace arc called for in consequence of abusive language arising out of neighbours’ quarrels, which afford fertile subject matter for petty litigation. The report on the Flagship claim left at our office last night bore no signature, and consequently could not be inserted.