LONDON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 746, 19 April 1881, Page 2

LONDON.

(FROM OUR OWK CORRESPONDENT.; February 7,1881. Storms in Parliament, and storms out of Parliament, seem to be the only things thought of at the present time. The Irish members and their doings take up the whole time of our representatives, hereditary and elective, to the total ex-

clusion of everything in the shape of useful domestic leeialation. The Laud question, the Education question, and a host of other urgent matters will have to shift for themselves as best they may. Farmers want better laws, mercantile

men _ want an extension of commercial treaties. Shipowners complain, sailors complain, but whatever (he wants and complaints of any class may be, it is quite evident that the "Irish Brigade," ns the followers of Mr Parnell are contemptuously caled, have succeeded in putting a sk,d on the Government coach wheel that will not be taken oft till such time as Irish grievances have been taken in hand and redressed. Whether the remedies for Irish distress which are to bo shortly submitted to Parliament will be sufficient to calm the excitement in Ireland, time will prove; but, for myself, I very much fear that the proposals of Mr Gladstone s Cabinet will be found totally inadequate. The Government seem rather o suspect this themselves, or thev would hardly have pressed forward a Coercion Bill to deprive the Irish people of their constitutional rights had thev not felt conscious that the promised Land Bill would fa 1 far short of the demands of the. people of Ireland. The land laws mav not be suitable for the Irish, but after all I very much fancy poverty and not op. pressive laws is at the root of the disaffection, Too many people and too little land. The obvious remedy for this is clearly immigration. Thousands are going, and many move would follow had they the means, and.l cannot but think | that half the money which will be Bquandered on extra police and soldiers would have been better applied had these poor people been helped to land where there is room for them, instead of being "coerced" in a country too small for its population, Of course nearly all make for the United States, and the very best place for them, for there land is a drug, and people scarce. New Zealand is too much like the Old Country, more suitable for people who, in addition to industrious habits, have their pockets pretty well filled to enable them to make a good beginning. Even that übiquitous individual " the oldest inhabitant" can scarcely call to mind such a winter as we have had, and are still enduring. Whole trains snowed up beyond the power of steam either to press onward or to successfully beat a retreat. What with the Wind, the rain, the snow, and the intense frost, to say nothing of most serious floods, you may safely set it down that England is about the most unendurable place of residence on the face of the:earth; A good joke' happened the other day. The Teetotallers having arranged for the annual airing of their orochets in Parliament, their Com-mander-in-Chief, SirW, Lawßo'n, left his country residence in Cumberland to take command of the Gold Water'party in person, but before the worthy Baronet got half to London, the- train into a snow drift; aridjthere it for six and thirty mortal hours before even'

would hardly meet with many sympathisers during the period of his involuntary imprisonment. As for; his fpllowers in the House, left in the lurch without a leader, they of course were "knocked out of time" directly., Boniface may therefore breathe freely and sleep comfortably for another twelvemonth. Strong aa ;the Liberal party are, taken as a whole, there is a general impression that this session wiU hardly be got over without a severe strain, Many think the Conservatives will ere long be again entrusted with the affairs of this country. One'thing is certain, the Liberals neither give satisfaction at Home, nor are they able to maintain peace abroad., A war at the Cape, a war with. Ashantee (which seems almost inevitable), coupled with disaffection in Ireland, and irritation in England will, I fear, before long make Mr Gladstone's position as Premier untenable, NoKTHOMBRIAN.