Our Wellington Watchman.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2718, 6 October 1887, Page 2

Our Wellington Watchman.

Wellington, October 5. With regard to matters political,.! would like to say that we are now Buffering the calm before the storm, only I find that every New Zealand paper has used those identioal words immediately prior to every Parliamentary session, and-as.Mark'-Twain, said concerning, the words '• Butcher'd to make a Koman holiday—they become monotonous after one has heard them a few: thousand times. Anyhow, political matters are remarkably deathly, and rumor itself sleeps* • Ero'these lines reach your readers,, however, there will be, I trust, something more to write about,. It is to be hoped- that the Opposition will justify the confidence which the country has placed in them by getting, steadily to work \ts soon as possible, and that we shall have 'during the coming session a holiday from those childish personal recriminations which pre-eminently, distinguished the session of 1887. As the loquacious Dargayille, the boss bore Ivoss, and a few more of the same kidney will be conspicuous by their absence, there "will be a better .show of getting some real business done perhaps..

' I see there is a movement on foot here to present Mr George Fisher, M'H.E,, with a testimonial in recognition of Ms public services, and of the valuable assistance he has rendered to his political party. Although' the testimonial business in New Zealand ispretty well worked to death, I think if anyone deserves recognition of this sort it is Mr' Fisher, who bas> sacrificed a lucrative appointment, for the sake of. politics.- -Mr Fisher's' pamphlet and speeches on Bir Julius, Vogel's celebrated Financial State.merit of' 1887 gave that statement, a terrible fall, ana did. muoh to contribute to,the defeat of the Government, and all Sir Julius Vogel's eloquence, expended at .Wellington/just -before the eleotion, entirely failed- to set Humpty Dumpty up again., 1 At the same time,! the testimonial business .is workedvery. low - downin New Zealand. Not buly do we testimonialize Ministers, - Station-Masters, Railway Clerks and Police Constables

for simply doing wliatthoy are paid to do, but I verily'believe , there are some testimonial fiends: ijvho 'would make a presentation to {a Chinese market gardener, relinquishihg busi-. 'ij ness prior .to his retuiatdtbe land with the. modest 1 competence ' , I ,qbtain?d by -the x ,Sale of rotten Vege- '>, 'j tables.;■■ Iremember some, yearsMffl : ' •presentation mftnia perfect fn'uisatice.•"•'Atwe*yft, /:} ..proposEd; was. brp.ught. to-pre- •; .sent some ■ M jewel for some-reason, or another. At. last, iii'ci cerfain'important lodge, a : meek-spoker;'and . generally silent ■young memfcer.,. arose, and made• a really exquisite speech,; siting forth . the many estimable qualities of a .brother whom he did not at first name,, After" almost drawing, tears pin the , 'eyes of the attentive , and sympathy® brethren, he - wound,. up ,hy : thrilling peroration, and a proposal to present a Brother Smith with a suitable jewel in commemoration of the fact that Brother Smith's" infant son Tommy, " Had cut his first tooth that morning," - That killed the testimonial bugbear in that lodge, and in others when the story got about. lam extremely sorry to see that

such a number of lawyers, or alleged lawyers, have been elected to the new House, as • I -have repeatedly stated .uiy.humble opiiuon that there; are; far too manyoF these gentlemen m New . Zealand for. the good of.the - country. Individually, "or in their' private capacity, lawyers are, no doubt, just as white, as their fellow .men, but immediately three or four, lawyers are gathered together, Satan takes the chair, and they raise a little .' sheol of their own. It is a great grief to mek. that little Samuel, the New lawyer, has been returned, His Nisi Priw air was about the most cruelly aggravating thing which one could

witness in the House last session. Downie Stewart and Samuel sat near each other, and I confess to . having frequently experienced an unholy desire to tie their tails together, and throw them over the-clothes let them fight it out like two.Kfflpy cats. I know that this was a fetoptationof the Evil One, but still it existed.

, Talking about lawyers there is au agitation in Sydney in favor of bringing in a bill similar to Sir George Grey's Law Practitioner's Bill, which would-have the effect of practically abolishing the legal -monopoly and would permit any person .having a'case before-the Court-to nominate any layman to plead, Ac., foiv.him..' , I certainly fail to see why a man who has a lay friend who is a talented liar should . not take advantage of the fact. ItaA like physic is hedged round witljppf immensity of humbug an unnociissary mystery. Someone once said --that a lawyers' legal. knowledge was most ( frequently only the guage of a layman's ignorance. . , ...

We have been having three or four days of the most cussed-weather .conceivable. After dispensing .and fondly, imagining ;Summ.e£|Kon us,, we have' had to light" up. fifjn and take our great coats oui< of paiwn. It is too bad. People hero , suppose that Captain Edwin was, a. Government man and, in his chagrin at the defeat of his party, has turned ou-the foul weather tap.

' Next week I liope to resum'e my Parliamentary- Sketches. Tliere ■ -will be'a number of new men in the House, and let us devoutly hope some of them will condescend to befuniiy^