OUR WELLINGTON LETTER.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3954, 31 August 1881, Page 2

OUR WELLINGTON LETTER.

(fbom ouk own co-respondent.)

Wellington, August 27

The sole political event of the week has been the stonewalling of the Bepresentation Bill, commenced at 2.30 on Weduesday, and continued without iatermission for 36 hours. It was a plucky protest on the part of the Nelson members, assisted by Bastings, Beeves, and Seddon, against the iujusfice which they believe is being do- c to Nelson in reducing the number of members. Of course they were out-voted in the end, but I am not at all sure that the battle is over. There are 91 schedules to the bill* and if each one is contested, as is threatened, months must elapse before they can be passed. Should these tactics be followed, it may be that the Government will be forced into a compromise.

During the stonewalling Capt. Itussell did his best to act the part of mediator, and throw oil on the troubled waters. As a matter of fact, however, there was nothing to mediate in, and there were no " troub'ed waters." The wearisome debate was throughout conducted in the most good naiured manner. Dick Seddon wanted, as a matter of course, to get' up a shindy, but Dick would fight his own shadow if there was no hing else about.

In view of the present state of affairs, it is utterty impossible to predict when the session will end. if, may collapse suddenly within a fortnight, or it may be protracted into November. There is any amount of business yet on the Order Paper. That, however, goes tor little when members get tired of the session, and agree to a slaughtering of the innocentrs.

When Mr Driver entered the House the other day for tba first time this session a good many members showed him by their muiner that they did not approve of his shirking his business as a legislator. For all practical purposes Eoslyn has been disfranchised for the past two years. In the official printed list giving the Wellington addresses of lion members, Mr Driver is distinguished by the words "address unknown."

It is an old sayiug that oue may drive a coach and four through any Act of Parliament, and one would feel inclined, to agree with the saying, when in wading through the Public Health Amendment Act, 1576, it is found only to provide for the registration of the carrying on the trade of purveyors of milk, and for the cleanliuess of the utensils by which the trade is carried on. But what about butter, cheeses cream, &c. Ought not these articles of daily consumption to be as carefully looked after as milk ? A great deal of correspondence of late has been published in the Various papers under the heading " Death in the milkpail."

Constable Gordon some time ago collect d samples of spirits and milk from various hotelkeepers and dairymen iv the city for the purpose of submitting them to Dr Skey, the Governmeat analyst. Dp Skey has made his report. It is not yet made public, but it is believed to be adrerse to the vendors, and it is not at all improbable that prosecutions will take place under the Adulteration of Pood Act 1870. An information has already been laid agaiust a man nameJ ycarmelli for introducing too much of the cow with the iron tail into his m'.lk, to the tune of some 10 per cent. It is high time something were done to prevent people being poisoned by the various poisons, that under the guise of food and drink are supplied to the public.

Black swans are at Home almost as rare as white elephants, but io the Wairarapa lakes they appear to be altogether too plentiful. Settlers iv the Lake district complain bitterly of the damage done to their crops by swans browsing thereon. During the past three weeks a fisherman of the Lakes gathered nearly 50 dozen eggs from amongst the reeds upon the shores, which he has turped to profitable account by bringing

them to Masterton, and selling them at 4s per dozen. The Lyons Tourist aud Pleasure Com* pany have just completed a rery successful engagement here, and are leaving to-day (Friday) for Napier. I am pleased to learn that Mrs Hall ihc wife of the Premier, who lias of late been much indisposed, is better and able to leave her room.