Evening Post. TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 1879. POST-SESSIONAL SPEECHES.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 383, 1 April 1879, Page 2

Evening Post. TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 1879. POST-SESSIONAL SPEECHES.

Of all the useless speechifying which goes on in this Colony — and there is a great deal of it— the speeches which members of Parliament seem to delight in making about this peiiod of the year are the most useless. The reason is obvious. The events of last session have by this time grown flat and stale as a twice-told tale, and as Ministers themselves possibly have not definitely settled their policy for the coming session, outsiders can scarcely speculate bo long in advance as to its pro- | babilities. Within the last few weeks we I have had speeches from Messrs. Wallis, 1 Whitaker, RollesToh, Morris, Montgomery, and Wason. It is not easy to ' find anything new in all their speeches or anything which would have been mussed if left unsaid. The cacoethes toquendi seems, however, to grow strong at this "silly season" of the year, and we are quite prepared to see it extend even yet within the next few weeks. It is rather singular that two-thirds of the members who have lately addressed their constituents are members of the Opposition. If there were anything remarkable in their speeches we might be led to suspect some concerted action and design in this, but the reported utterances fail to disclose the least trace of anything of this kind. Captain Morris seems to have entered upon somewhat wilder flights of imagination than any of the other speakers, but even his speech fails to reveal any indication of the possession of a policy among the party in which he occupies the position of Whip. Mr. Wason -was, indeed, the only member of the six who had a sensible reason to give for speaking at all, and that reason is one the existence of which we sincerely regret— his intended retirement from the House. Mr. Wason is certainly not a brilliant politician. He is somewhat given to making drearily funny speeches, but he is a man who impresses those who see and hear him with the idea that he is ft gentleman ; and the impression is a correct one. It might have been possible to "better spare a better" — politician. Mr. Wason, like Captain Morris, has been a Whip, and this fact gives some j little importance to one part of his late speech. He very truly told hia constituents — " It was a fine thing to boast of your independent vote, but he contended that no Government could be carried on if every member voted according to his conscience. Without a sacrifice of minor details, no Government could be carried on. The cry of independent vefcing waa a despicable one. His experience was that independenceand log -rolling went together. Your independent member tried to be all things to' all men. The Opposition had been compelled to conciliate the independent members." These be words of wisdom, which constituents would do well to remember. Beyond this, we search his speech in Vain for anything worth noticing. This, as We have already said, is the natural result of addressing a political meeting at a time when the past has practically ceased to interest and the future has not comI menced to do so. This brings us to the point, when is the interest of the future likely to begin ? Mr. Wajsost teUo us independent members are a nuisance. We entirely agree with him ; but there must be two or more parties if there are not to be independent members, and it is very difficult tjast at present to know where to find anypartiei at all. The four Oppori.

tion members who have spoken have only shown uaity on one pomt — unqualified condemnation of all that the Government did last session. They have not indicated, however, the possession of any general party principles themselves. The two nominal supporters of the Government who have spoken were almost aa severe in their criticism of the action of the Ministry, although, perhaps, a little more just than the others. They too failed, however, to show any basis of party union. It is surely high time that Ministers began to make some preparation for next session. Rumour has it that Parliament is to meet in less than four months ; indeed, its meeting cannot well be put off later ; and yet very little collective consideration can have been given by the Cabinet to the proposals to be made when Parliament does meet. It is time that Minister* came a little more together, and after considering what they intend to do, permitted one of their number to do as Mr. Ballance did a few I weeks later than this time last year — 1 afford the public some indication of the nature of the policy on which the Government will endeavour to unite their party next session. Until this is done it is really of no use for any more members to address their constituents. The events of last session have been talked bare, and no longer interest the public. What is wanted now is something to awaken a fresh interest ia the future.

The claims to vote sent in to tbe Registrar number for Wellington City 169, of which 17 are claims to registration under the lodgers 1 franchise. At the meeting of the Education Board today, the Rev. J. Patterson stated that he had waited on the Government with a view to obtaining a school site for Newtown. The Minister promised to recommend that Reserve No. 14 should be set aside for the purpose. The Board therefore resolved tbat all that part of the city of Wellington situate north of John-street be constituted into a separate school district. Our contemporary, the New Zealander, announces to-day its change of proprietary from a joint-stock company to a private firm The price of tbe paper has been increased from a penny to twopence. Tbe New Zealander to-day, fn its opening manifesto, declares tbat it is no longer " to bo considered merely the exponent and advocate of Ministerial opinion," and that it " will start on tbis second stage of its career absolutely unfettered by any promfco to blindly support the Grey Ministry or its members, either collectively or individually," whi'e it is not going to follow that up by "running full tilt against them." On the contrary, it holds that there are men ia the Ministry to whom respect is due, and they are promised our contemporary's support " whenever it can be given without infringing the principle we have laid down." His Excellency the Governor and Lady Robinson have accepted the invitation of the Choral Society to be present at tho public performance or " The Messiah," at the Opera House, on Tuesday next. The total of subscriptions received by the Union Bank on behalf of the Kaitangata sufferers amounts to £62 16s. The creditors of the Rev. T. Porritt met this morning, but the debtor was not present- Mr. C. A. Baker was appointed trustee, with power to take the necessary steps to test the legality of the bill-of-sale granted to Mr. Bowden. It was announced tbat the sale of the bankrupt's furniture had been postponed for a week, but a notice from Mr. Bowden intimated that he had seized the contents of tbe house . under distraint for rent. It was decided that the trustee should summon Mr. Porritt to be present at an adjourned meeting. A meeting of creditors of Mr. John Beard, builder, was held this morning. The statement of accounts filed showed liabilities of £1,400, aud assets of £30. It appeared that Mr. Beard had for fourteen years been trying to retrieve his position, but that his debts (which arose from losses on contracts) had dragged him down. His first loss was on a contract for building the Congregational Church in Woodward-street. The creditors decided to recommend Mr. Baard's immediate discharge, aud appointed Mr. C. A. Baker trustee to take tbe steps necessary to gire effect to tbe resolution. At tbe RM. Court to-day, a little boy named Charlie Chapman, 9 years of age, was brought before Mr. Manstord, under the Destitute Persons Act. It appeared that the little fellow arrived by the Wakatipu yesterday, having been given into the charge of the chief officer by the boy's aunt at Sydney. She gave him a letter to a man named Prince, employed on tbe wharf, who it appeared, had b .-friended the boy previously, and was the means of his being sent to Sydney. Mr. Prince, however, felt that he could not undertake^'ie burden of supporting the child, and gave information to the police, by whom the boy was brought before the Court. It was stated that the boy's father was formerly captain of a vessel, but had given way to drink, and wa9 now supposed to be at Wanganui. Mr Mausford ordered the boy to be sent to Burnham Industrial School for two years, as a neglected child. The bodily removal of St. Peter's old Church, Willfs-street, was commenced at 11 am. today, by Messrs. Murdoch and Kose, the contractors, who have been preparing during the last fortnight tor the undertaking. The operations proved most successful, the large straggling building being moved bodily fully twenty yards in tbe first hour without the slightest injury to the building or its contents, the motion indeed being hardly felt inside. It is expected that the old building will be shifted entirely off tbe site of the new church before tbe close of the day. A somewhat amusing scene occurred in the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning during the hearing of the ca«e in which a young Irishwoman was charged with neglecting to support her mother. The daughter violently assailed her mother ia the richest of brogues. The mother retaliated, and for a few minutes the Court wag filled with the din of Hibernian vituperation. The giant form of Sergeant Anderson was seen hovering between the women, vainly endeavouring to pacify them, while Mr. Mansford was for a considerable time unable to make himself heard. At length, however, the daughter having talked horself red in the face, and the old woman showing symptoms of collapse, the stream of eloquence ceased, and some degree of quiet was restored. The creditors of George T. Robinson, billposter, having failed to elect a trustee, Mr C. A. Baker has been appointed to that position by the Registrar. As there has been some misunderstanding as to the trade the Rangatira is to take up, we may state it is to be between Wellington, Wanganui, Taranaki, and Manukau. ' The Associated Insurance Companies advertise in our columns a reward of £200 for the apprehension and conviction of any person wilfully setting fire to premises. It is satisfactory to see that the public indignation is becoming at length thoroughly aroused at the gross negligence displayed by the Corporation in regard to that most dangerous and fatal nuisance, the Kent Terrace drain. We hope that a deputation from the residents in its pestiefrous neighbourhood will wait on the City Council at the next meeting to urge tbe necessity of immediate steps being taken to abate the deadly nuisance before any more lives are sacrificed to its baleful exhalations. Mr. D. Hall, the City Missionary, gratefully acknowledges the receipt of the following subscriptions in aid for March:— Mr. W. H. L., 10s ; Mr. D. L., £1 Is; Mr. C. M., 10s ; Mr J.C. C, £1; Mrs. D., 4s; Mr. G. T., 10s; Mr. E. A., 10a : Mrs. W., 153 ; Mrs. 8., 2s 6d : Mr. J. M., ss; Mr. W. U, £1 Is; Mr. E. H. C,los. Total, £6 18s 6d. Mr. Charles Bright delivered a lecture on " Evolution" at tbe Athenseum Hall last night. There was but a small attendance. The lecturer clearly placed before his audience the well-known views of Huxley, Darwin, and ! other savants, and he was listened to witb attention. "The Mariner's Compass" was repeated at the Theatre Royal last evening, and will be again placed upon the boards this evening. The case of George England, who is charged with wilfully damaging the property of Charles England, at the Hutt, has been adjourned for another week on the application of Dr. Buller, in order that the inquiry into the sanity of the prosecupr may take place before the other charge is heard. The following: is tbe complete list of prisoners yet sent for trial at the sittings of the Supreme Court, which commences on Monday next :— i Earnest Wagner, false pretences (2 charges) ; Walter William Bacon, larceny ; William Henry Parnell, cutting and wounding;! Charles Mills, forgery and uttering (2 charges); Peter Regan, attempt to commit rape ; William I Hart, larceny in a dwelling house ; Thomas i Williams, embezzlement; John Honey, attempted suicide; William Langley, larceny; James Shearer and Peter Ventoo, robbery from the person; John Connell and William Shaw, robbery with violence from the person; George Adams, alias Elms, and George Richardson, robbery. Up to the present time not a single civil action has been entered for hearing at the coming sittings of the Bupreme Court. The unfortunate affray on board the Loch Fergus appears likely to delay the vessel for some days. She is now nearly ready for sea, but the captain will be called upon to give evidence at the Supreme Court. Fortunately the Sittings Of the Court Commence on Monday next. The conference between the City Council and Chamber of Commerce, which was to have been held to-day, has been postponed until after a committee meeting' of the Chamber, which is togbe held U-momtw.

Some of the Kiwitea settlers are cultivating successfully hemp and other fibre plants. As some inaccurate statements have been circulated relative to the American barque Albert, now in this port, we have been requested to state tbe real facts, which are as follows: —Frank Clark,who shipped at New York as cook to the vessel, was attacked on the voj age with consumption, and is now quite an invalid although able to walk about. He desired to be admitted to the Wellington Hospital, but as he may live some months, and as the hospital is not intended and indeed has not accommodation for incurable cases, he was not considered eligible as a patient Captain Erskine, however, and tbe American Consultr Agent, Captain M'lntyre, procured the medical attendance of Dr. Diver, who has advised that the sea air may be beneficial to the patient and much preferable to tbe air of a hospital. Clark has a roomy and comfortable cabin all to himself, is supplied with every comfort, including good and nourihing food, soups, jellies, &c , is most kindly treated and attended to by Captain and Mrs. Erskine, and has received since his arrival much kind attention also from Mrs. M'lntyre. So much for tbis ridiuclous slander as to Clark being treated witb. *' inhumanity." The Halcombe Hotel was sold by auction on ; Friday for £5000, Mr. Southcombe, Waitotara, being tbe purchaser. A Blenheim paper says that Mr. Henry Redwood has been invited to act as one of the judges of horses at the next Victorian Agricultural Show, and also at the Sydney International Exhibition. The electoral rolls in Raugitikei and Manawatu appear likely to show a large increase tbis year. The Manawatu Times states that there has been & greater demand for registration forms than during any previous year. Constable Purcell, of Foxton, and the versatile Dr. Rockstrow have been at loggerheads, and the Rangitikei Advocate says that tbe latter has demanded an official inquiry. Tbe catus belli was, we believe, tbe guardian of tbe peace telling the justice of the peace tbat if he had made a certain statement he had economised the truth. Mis. Welch will open her first Quadrille Assembly to-morrow evening in the Arcade, Manners-street. The entrance will be from the side door. Another good " spec " at a land sale is recorded by the Manawatu Times. At Messrs. Thynne, Linton ie Co.'s land sale Mr. Thomas Cooper bought a section of 54 acres iv Bunnytborpe, and Mr. Peirs Warburton a similar section. Mr. Cooper immediately after the sale bought Mr. Warburton's section at an advance of 10s per acre, and a day or two afterwards Mr. Cooper sold both sections at an advance of £2 per acre, thus making a profit of £174 on a total outlay of £316. A meeting of the Newtown ratepayers will be held this evening to consider tne drainage question.