PARLIAMENTARY SKETCHES BY Our Wellington Watchman.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2619, 9 June 1887, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY SKETCHES BY Our Wellington Watchman.

■ Wellington, Juno G. ■ I really- am unable to see apy diflerencu in the political situation since last I wrote.; The Opposition is perhaps a trifle more, and-the Government it trifle less cocky than before, that is about the only ciiango. An. engagement all along' the line- was anticipated in connection ' with Mr Bttllatice's Village Settlement scheme, but up to this date (5.30 p.m. Tuesday) it' lias not como off, We have had, it is true, several skirmishes—mere affairs of outpostß—but no regular engagement. It is a case of " one funky and the other afraid." A dissolution appoars imminent, but no one knows what the next movement may bring forth, At the same tirao members ,are no. doubt anxious to get .back .to thoir constituents, in- order - to, prevent poaching on their preserves. I would that for the next few months the electors of New Zealand had but one mind, and that mine; they would, make, in that case, a pretty clean sweep of the present House, and give new men a show, New members Could not bo worse than the majority of old ones, and it would be some time ere the greenhorns learnt politics, and " politics" I only uss as an euphemism for something worse,

Monday afternoon was frittered away in an interminable discussion on the merits and demerits of John Lundon, and Mr Taylor of Sydenham voiced the general feeling, -vlien he said lie" was ft-sick of a Win. that 'ere John Lundon's name. It was eventually determined to postpone tho discussion until the evening, when the returns called for would he presented, and wo went on to the consideration of the West Coast Settlement Reserves Amendment Bill, Writing of an Amendment Bill reminds me that out of a total of 36 Bills on the order paper of 6th June, exactly 18, or one half, were AuwvMcnt Bills. And yet wo continue lo select (alleged) lawyers as our representatives, though quite half our Bills are so badly drawn that they have to bn amended. When will the people find out thai lawyers ate the greatest muddlers on earth of everyspcciesofbusiucss 1 ! Thpirbusiuess ami living depends upon muddling, and tlioy earn their living. Mr Samuel had a clauso—just n little clause—wliioh he wished inserted, There is a great deal of clam about tho Hon Samuel, Major Atkinson supported the amendment, but Mr Taipua wanted the Bill held over, to which tho Native Minister would not consent because the Billthough under consideration for the past tiiVce years—required consideration.

When the Houso assembled in the evening it was a very thin one and members'looked bored to death, knowing tliey were assisting at a farce and n pretty tame une at that. Sir Georgo Grey lias moved down to tlio benches occupied by the lead«rs of the opposition and keeps his eye very closelv upon the Premier whom ho lovetli not". On resuming discussion on the West Coast Settlement Act Amendment Bill, tho Premier gave one of those revolutionary declarations regarding hind and the sacredness of land with which we are' now so well acquainted and which hare longceased tostir our republican pulses. Incidentally the discussion turned upon the administration of the Public Trust Office, which should—l have had some experienco of that dreary departmental fraud-be called tho " New Zealand Circumlocution Office." Mr Wi Pere thought that tho statement the Bill hud originated in tho Public Trust Office was a strong argument against the Bill, and the House appeared to cordially endorse tbesentiment.MrSamuelalthoiigb opposed to the Native members on the Bill,abused thePublicTrustOfficeodffi. I think lie called it tho incarnation of red tape—ov « words to that effect'" as they say at Courts Martial. Ac the samo timo though, Mr Samuel thought no Government Department could be worse managed than the Public Trusts, and though this wis that department's bill, ho yet thought- that having gone on (muddling) so far they had better continue. This at least was the only logical deduction, and this Sir George Gtey deduced. Thereupon little Mr Samuel became liufl'y. He put both his hands in bis little pockets, arched his little back, and looked as impertinent. as a small and cheoky boy who knows the schoolmaster may not ome him Some years ago there was a classical piece of poetry very fashionable in London among Mr Edwin Wakefiolds friends tho " lower ordors." It ran, if my'memory serves me, us follows:

" I'm a chickalcorj bloke with my one, two, three, Whiteclmpcl vas tho town as I vas born in: Who would catch mo on the hop, or on mv tivey top Must get up bloorain earlj in tho mornin'." ■Will Mr Samuel pardon mo for remarking that when he is angry and' knowing, he might sit- I really blush to write it-for the Chickaleery bloke! Well, the Maori memborastuck manfully to their guns, opposed tho bill tooth and nuil, and eventually Mr Ballance had to give them tins to reconsider the bill, aod he moved to report, progress. Tuesday, June 7, 2,30 p.m. : A thin House, Sir Julius Yoge(' and Mr Oriuond fought out a littl/ and uninteresting publio grievance, and said hard things of ono anotbfer, but as these episodes are tbe rule and not the exception thwe is no necflsity to enlarge. The only member; who appeared to pay the smallest attention to tho row was Mr Ross, who sat upright, beaming from a distance upon the combatants with his ■ amiable,

[ tolerant smile, as one who would say " Yes, my dear sir, we've all done it, : I've even been tliero myself," Then the Premier moved that we proceed to the orders of the day, and we proceeded accordingly, and 88 wo got to the Public Revenues Bill some of the vacant seats were filled. Mr Duncan, whom I have neror heard speak before, said something in a Foreign Jwaguage, presumably Gaelic,, and- the Maori members are allowed, interpre* ,'ters I ain unable to reproduce, the hon. . j gentleman's remarks, We wera sooi again on the track of tHe everlasting ["village settlements, and both Major Atkinson and myself opined.t),ie matter should be brought to a close.' The 4 Major required a distinct.statem'ent what the Government intended to I in the matter, and of the oxaot-position of the eternal Lundon. Then Mr Ballaace proceeded to give the desired information, and il any member was wiser afterwards, I must congratulate that member upon his unearthly penetration. One thing, however,,* was abundantly evident. The Government gave up their friend Lundon, who, it was asserted, had nevor tyien an officer of tho Department,, though he appjiara to have ordered tho other.oflicers about. Mr Fisher said a. few words, and acted, as usual, tlfo red .rug to,-Sir Robert's 8u11,.. Fisher complained of the unauthorised disbursements ■.inado - by. Governmeiit m coiinectiou ;witli.,t|ese settlements, and to. tho. gust dared to speak of constitutional Law—that being, of course,. a. subject of which Sir Robert possesses tlio.iupnopoly. ' But the debate flawed,, both Premier and Minister of Lands sudden- S; ly became ■■ 'unable as Uriah,, jfoep. " Mr Montgomery made a few rcmajja,' in an unknown tongue, and - Nfl? Hursthouse dreamed of m?rry Motaeka—wherever that is, l!y the way, Mr Hursthouso gets a good deal of sound and health-giving rest in the House, But if he sleeps, 'tis tho sleep of the wary and wiry terrier-one eye opened, and both ears cocked. Let but an hon. member refer to Motueka in the softest tones, and Motueka is " on guard" immediately, ready for any rat that .comes along. Mr Ballance said the Government intended in the next two or three months to put 150 families on the land in various parts of New Zealand; but if the Opposition objected they would not. Mr Buchanan said a few words quietly, but impressively, as he usually speaks. Mr B. is one of those gentlemen who do not—if I may use tho expression—blathor, Mr Sutter would lib to know how the Ministry proposed to finance. for theso families, and Mr Richardson,- in a very good little speech, poioted out that the land policy was re,sponsible fc- jjfc unemployed cry, wbL-h was only h'fjjpl in the largo cities, and not in'the country. He bow of many men with money, who had lately come to the Colony, but who,, unable to obtain' land on reasonable terms, bad goue

Tuesday, 7.30 p.m. A meagre House, with Mr Scobie SlcKcnzie on his legs, We had tho usual reference to the British 1 House of Commons, and then the Premior suddenly forgetting Lis: 'umblen&ss-' " wrestled" with Scobie who ho declared Lad given no new ideas but had ' only picked up sorapa of information from other members. Then our Robert became both "cocky" and patriotic. He mounted one of his high horses and galloped about in tlio pasturages of • pure patriotism and land policy. But we are getting cynical, and even Dur-. gaville, who docs not like rivals in the high falutin business, forgot to applaud ■ This kind of entertainment soon A .. generated into a kind of tion and answer—between Scobie \W \ the Premier, and the bluid of Scotland ' waxed warm. Stout set out to mako < an election speech, of the type witb which New Zealand is tolerably familiar, but Mr McKenzie's interruptions disconcerted him, and he tailed off. • There was some little exoiteineut, and it struck me some gentleman in the stranger's gallery kindly assisted, with applause and audible remarks at tho debate. Eventually Sir George Gre/ arose, "Thy question," lie said" before , the House .vas the establishment of a ■ nation. Some of us have passed st long life in establishing nations, and • we surely may be heard when these

wild theories are pat forward." Then Mr Dargaviile let off tho regulation laugh. " The lion, member for Auckland City West laughs," said Sir Grorgo, Dargaviile denied this but said "I'mlaughing how, Sir Georgo," Sir Georgo looked pt him for a moment," It doesn't matter," he said, simply. The lion, and venerablo member then addressed himself to question generally, frequently rudely interrupted, I grievo for the - honor of New Zealand to say, not only by the Premier, but by the professional larrikins of the House. He was very severe upon the village settlements, and indignant about the discharge of . .. some persons connected therewith, but . whose name did not: transpire., He declared that these village settlements had not been given to the pemployei Ho had heard that two maiden ladles had been given laiid, : They surely were not unemployed, Some one said, " Wo don't know that," raising a laugh in which Sir Georgo joined, Tho asjed „■ citatKJrtian's speech was, it must bo - admitted, severe, but neither vehement • nor in any sense—except a political one-personal. That it was not coarse goes without saying. I" think the whole House was astonished and disgusted It Sir Rohcrt Stout's rejoinder Writing in cold blood and sonA* hours qfter the cvont, I can only truiJjF" fully .characterise that rejoinder jw brutal, Sir Robert so far forgot tho respect due by every man to extreme oldpge as to taunt Sir George with hi J loss of memory, witlr his' lonely agd forsaken condition, with the wreerhe (according to Sir Robert's 5* .statement) had missed. Worse, he attempted to mimic Sir George Grey's mode of .speaking, ociOft- . ■ sionally weak and tremulous tones. ;. , Such an exhibition waa.hsver previously made by the Premier of any ' country. I will say no more, Sir Robert coldly listened to by wen bii ' colleagues, resumed his seat amidst chilling silence, ; . y Nemesis was on hand, Mr.Fergus large of limb, powerM of. voice, an 4

handsome ot feature arose, gnvo ono tug at his great beard, opened Iris big cheat and—crash! let Sir Robert have it straight from the shoulder, Tlio 1 lion Premier," he said, " has just in most admirable languageadmiarably depicted his own character. When vc remember, a few years ago, his fulsome ad- . tnir&tion of llip Hon gentleman he has so shamefully vilified,, whom he designated'.' the greatest statesman in the Southern hemisphere," we must •' ■ -be astounded at such a disgraceful at* •' -tack] I'have-never had the admira- : - tion for the hon, the member! for v. ; Auckland City East, that the. .Premier hut 1 should• have, been I • • ashamed to use the language. he has. Lfc (L»nd Cheers), The hon Premier ™ Waxed eloquent when he spoke of the -• ■ career Sir George Grey had before him. ' •' I would use tlifi same words to the '• Premier, "He lias missed his career • ■ ais disgusted his best friends," Mr •' Fergus (continually applauded) went • on to declare that Sir George had lifted • ■ boththe Prenier and Minister of Lands horn insignificance to prominence " Long after the Premier is dead and ' forgotten," he declared, "the name of; Sir George Grey will live ■ in the history of New Zealand/.'. The • Premier had lifted himself into a little • .-'prominence, but he Inid dragged fame in the dirt to satisfy his own mean ■■ ambition, and now lie deliberately down tlie ladder by which he '=■ had ascended, But his name was now ••••■ received with demon and ■ scohi • wherever it was mentioned, and at the greatest public meeting ever held in i this country he was derided. M this ' and more was said in loud, ringing 4 "'tones, and in a manner thoroughly W^earnesf. ■ ' 10.30. Mr Fergus is finished. I have had enough of these wrangles, and will go, And this! and this! is New Zealand's Parliament. God help her! I say it reverently.