JOTTINGS from WELLINGTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4476, 21 July 1893, Page 2

JOTTINGS from WELLINGTON.

(By Out Own Correspondent,) Weobesdav; " Pride Goeih a Fall Beautifying WeUinjtm.—Th N.Z.L, md Ml. Go., A'o Excitement,— Giumh from tfo Table of the llov<f„ —The Ofipnlkn Sink- Fight'— "Th Fiji k <h Zi/i'3. —" Vm , Police Proteciion." A certain section of M,H,R,'a have been accustomed to consider that they have n sort of divine right to walk in and out of tbe Departmental Offices at all hours, requesting heads of Departments and their subordinates in tomt of lordly command to perform their biddings on the instant. They do not deign to enquire 'no offices are open for the trarialubn of publio business or not. A certain M.H.R., who hails not a hundred mile 3 from the fair city of Auckland, received rather a rudo shock on this point the other day. The member in question is usually rather inclined to owrdrceß, and generally appears in top-lmt, frock coat, and spats complete ; all fitting too freely, especially the top-hat, which completely overshadows ihe little man. Now, it happened to bo raining, as it sometimes does in Wellington, and the member had discarded his shiny "topper" for a somewhat seedylooking travelling cap, and wrapped up in a venerable "ulster" he looked anything hut the radiant; object he usually is, The hour wus between one and two, when tho offices aro closed to tho publio (M.H.R.'s included) to enable the overworked and wearied Civil Servants to refresh the inner man and to generally recuperate themsetaufor the afternoon's toil, Now iho Mffij? ! under notice is not gifted with the most courtly politeness in the world, nor is he renowned for the urbanity of bis style and demeanour. In fact, to put it mildly, he could never poso as a second Chesterfield, though ho might have been a success as an Old Bailey browbeater, Not seeing anyone about our friend enquired of a messenger where tbe Commissioner was. He was told "at lunch I" Was the Deputy Commissioner in? No. Was tho Chief Clerk in? No. Was anybody in? No, he must call after two, the office is olosed now. Now this would have satisfied most people but not so our member. He insisted on being attended to at once and commenced to air bis own sweet blarney on the messenger, desiring him in peremptory tones to find someone to attend to him instantly, The messenger is a man of action, and of few words. He simply seized the surprised M.H.R, by the collar and the seat of his inexpressibles and promptly i running hitn out of the buildings, said, i " Here, get out of this, we are not ■ going to have any of you unemployed I ' hagitatois' loafing about here." The ) worthy man had mistaken tho sacred , person of an M.H.R. (and Parlia- ■ ment in session too) for an unemployed deputationist, I have not 1 heard that the impious messenger is . languishing in the vaults of Parliament House, but the M.H.B. is moving heaven and earth to obtain redress for tbe gross insult to which b i has been subjected at the linjfljjKc'/ ' menial. He is meeting wfthlittia sympathy for he is known and is—- ' well—not loved. i 1 I saw an oxtremely handsome il» * luminated address tho other day, ' which is to presented to a highly esteemed settler in your district as a ; mark of appreciation of his public 1 services in various capacities for many years past, but more especially in regard to his services on the Bench. I refer to Mr Button Boys, J.P. The ; address is signed by 80 or DO influential settlers in your district, and i has been most beautifully and artisti- , cally engrossed and illuminated by Messrs Bock and Co., of this city, I do not know whether the address is intended as a surprise, but if so I maybe excused fo( making public a fact which came quite accidentally under my notice, A very excellent movement has just been started mainly through the endeavours of tho indefatigable Messrs Woodward and Anderson, to form a society, on the lines of similar organisations in America to plant our streets and vacant lots with hardy evergreen trees ond shrubs. Hitherto, nothing has been attempted hero >o beautify the town in any shap#<jr form. The hills have been cut away for reclamation purposes, leaving uueighily slopes of yellow clay all round the oity, which greatly detracts from tho appearance of the town upon entry by sea. Our main thoroughfares, such as the lower end of Lambton Quay, Willis, Manners and Cuba, Streets aro squalid and narrow, and here tree planting is out of the question, although it was solemnly proposed, Much might, however, bo done in the outlying streets in the way of planting, the slopes of the hills • on the town side of Port Nicholson could b9 grassed and trees planted, that hideous bank of clay, usually covered with gorse, known as the Terrace, might be easily-plj|M wjth deciduous trees,and be mVpfttleasfc sightly, Thero is, of course, plenty of room on the Thorndon and To Aro reclamations for tho planting, but it would require the infusion of somo fresh soil as the "soil" at present, is composed of atones and yellow clay taken from the hills, aforesaid. Tho wind in Wellington not however conducive to arboriculture, the trees planted on the Thorndon Explanade last Arbour day by the anited action of wind and wave are in a very depressed state, The objects of the new Society are to be highly commended and who knows but that with time and patience, the streets of the Empire City, mas. eventually bs transposed and shady bowers. The great Oity \4 Paris with its leafy boulevards is a notableexample of what can be aoliievedin he direction of street treeplanting. Let us emulate. Councillor Anderson enthusiastically exclaims that Wellington is "ono of the pretty snot. i n God's Earth," whilst oiliff 'orlipe experience express in tbe plainest terms that our city is "tho dingiest hole in this sublunary planet". Let us endeavour to merit the one opinion and removothe reproach of the other. Tree planting will bo a great faotor in ' effecting both. It is a remarkable fact that tbe suspension of the N,Z. Loan and Mercantile and Agency Company, Ltd,, has caused little or no excitement in Wellington, thechiefbusiness centre !of the Colony, nor indeed in any I other part of (sew Zealand. This is

• men of substancennd wealth, to whom the tempoiary inconvenience arising either from the payment of calls or tho with-holding o? account sales is not a matter of pressing momeflt, Tlioy can afloid to pay and to wait. It. is fortunate that it ia so for'the Colony's sake. There arc aevoral large shareholders in Wellington, and I leafn tbat jyour distrioii funisbes an important portion of large holders of llie Company's stock. The direct result of the suspension at present, so far as Wellington is concerned, has been todiiorta oonsiderablo amount of business info the hands of piiyate firms jjjjch>would no doubt havo (jffne to tliQ «,Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. It is a notablo fact that the Opposition wero noser so compact and so united a body n they are in this, the last session of the pre, int Parliament. They can praotically hold their own this year in the conduct of Parliamentary business, and they havo shown on more than one occasion that they arjysally (now a power in tho leader, Mr RolHon, has shown that he is possessed of considerable fighting powers when brought to b;iy by tho almost ioaullerable inßolcnco of that distinguished Ministerial journalist, Mr W. P. Beeves. Mr ltolloston is not the man to ofl'end or hurt anyono's Mings with deliberate malics aforethought, but the taunts, jeers, and interruptions to which he bus been subjected from the Ministerial benches, moro paitioularly from one quarter, have been enough to luako the mildest manuored man bliow his teeth and perhaps become a little too personal or warm in his strictures, if Mr ltolleston litis offended by indulgence in per.on ilitioa he has douu so under much pro - vocation. Mrßolleston is usually a model of kindly and gentlemanly consideration, but goaded into retaliation by studied insolence, he has perhaps lor the nonce excusably forgotten the punctilious politeuesß which characterises liis general bearing as leader of Wppwliou and which has hitherto been an excellent example to the other side of the House. Not only has Mr Kolleslon displayed his lighting capabilities but ihe marked contrast between the style of the Opposition speeches and those delivered on the other side of the House has teen very noticeable. Tim Opposition have demonstrated cleaily to the country that all the debating talent lies with them. I have never listened to a more masteily speech than tbat delivered by Sir John Hall in tho financial debate. Mr Bcobic Mackenzie was good, of course, as be always is, but he made the great mistake of carrying ungenerous wnrfaie into tho enemy's camp by his allusion to the mortgage over the NcwfaaIml Tims, held by Mr Mocarthy, the well-known wealthy Wellington brewer, and Chairman of the Wellington andManawatu Railway Company, As is usual when "Scobio" speaks, the galleries of tho House are packed, and last night wa3 no exception to the rule, for standing room was not obtainable at half past seven. Messrs Fisher and Hutchison, although not - strictly speaking, Oppositionists, are in fine fettle this year, and as the heavy artillery of their eloquence is directed against tho Government, they are immensely serviceable as supports to the Opposition torces. In the opinion of mauy, this formidable couple arc the finest speakers in the m House, and listening to both recently I to agree with this statemeritinTwgfl measure. Persistent rumours aro|flying about! in reference.,to the disafiection which exists amongst. the members of the Government party, and really upon examination and enquiry it would appear tbat there are reasonable grounds for the report. For instance Mr Earnshaw pretty plainly showed tho other night his dissatisfaction with the Government in the matter of their attitudo towards the Direct Veto Bill, he eyen went so fnr as to openly threaten them. I learn that milny of tiio members returned on the "labour" ticket hold tbe same opinions as theso so boldly expressed by Mr Earnshaw. The member for Peninsula has hilherto been regarded as one of the stauncbest of supporters, but if it was not an ingenious display of " bluff" hu has shown that even the patient and nnquestioningsupport lie has so freely given in the past may not infallibly bo relied upon in the future. Tho Minister of Labour is more impopular than ever this year and he does not even spare his own party from tho lash of bis bitter and insolent tongne. Amongst his colleagues be is equally disliked and looked upon as tho Jonah of the Cab! Mr Seddon's hectoring manner also givos much offence to his followers. Ihe Government's shilly-shally policy in regard to the Women's Franchise is also looked upon with a suspicious eye by their supporters. These and many other causes of irritation are slowly but surely creating discontent, which might easily at any time break out into open mutiny, It is an open secret tbat even if Mr Cadman is returned again to Parliament,that the Qoyernment have no intention of re-instating him as Native Minister, and even if they had Mr Cadman has no desire whatever whatever for office, and would not accept. Ttt£pvernmerit also know very wellJpPought to do so, that the question of propriety alone is a completo bar to Mr Cadman taking office again this Parliament, Why, therefore, is tho universal question, do they not free the position and fill up the vacancy, in the Cabinet, The only reply possible ia that they are mortally afraid of giving offence by toak ing a selection from amongst their Auckland followers to the exclusion of the other hungry aspirants for office, It is a lamentable confession of political cowardice and so apparent tbat the device wi\\ ildo'A ilB own ends. The of another wasted WClfflPrera is before tho Jiouso, as tho Financial debate ißnot likely to wind up beforo Friday. There are many yet burning to air their eloquence, and the Government seem determined to worry the debate out to the bitter end, In the meantime questions and private business is bankinlWfju the order papor, tc the annoyance of both sides of the Houee alike. I notice your Mr Hogg has a long notice on the Order Papei in which be poetically describta the " working-man" selectors as" a bold peasantry, their country's pride," and wants the Government to lend them money on their leaseholds on the SO' curity of the improvements, in ordei that they ("the bold peasantry"] may bo beyond the reach of the " treacherous aid of private money lenders." It is said that the fact o! Colonel Fox having now received his formal appointment as Commandant for the term of five years may bt

) vomunmt intend to substantially giye ; effect to the recommendations made t in the recent report on the Defences a and tho Volunteers. A day will be . set asido at an oarly dato to discuss . tho report, when the Government will 9 onlighton the House as to its inten--1 tions regarding the recommendations 1 rnadu iu the Report, f Either tho police aro becoming t utterly supine, or the force in tVel- ) lington is far below requirements, for i certain it is that burglaries aro almost t matters of nightly occurrence. House--0 breaking and robbery with assault 1 seems to flourish, It is absolutoiy 3 unsafe, without exaggeration, to pass through certain streets in Wellington at night time just now, as you run the • risk of being " sand-bagged " or gar- > otted before you know where you are. > Tho police are, apparently, powerless . to prevent crimes, which aro of far too i frequent occurrence to he regarded - with equanimity, The force here > requires reinforcement at once, and it t is a crying scandal that the persons ) and property of citizens should bo so i inadequately protected as is now tho f case. I am estonishnd that Strong > representations on the subject of n • larger police force for the city havo I not been made to the Government > beforo this, as it is notorious the town i is under-manned.