Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1882. THE WORK OF THE SESSION.

Evening Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 46, 13 September 1882, Page 2

Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1882. THE WORK OF THE SESSION.

? In another column we publish a list of the Acts passed during the session, which practically concluded yesterday. It is true that Parliament may continue nominally in session for a day or two, until there has been time to print the numerous Acts whioh have gone through in the last fortnight or so, but it ia not at all likely that any further business will be transacted before the prorogation, which is expected to take place on Friday. Therefore, wo may take the list in question as representing tho legislation of 1882. It can hardly fail to striko anyone perusing tho long string of titles— ll2 'in number— that the Statute Book of 1882 is a remarkably bulky on«.

Probably most people will be astounded to learn how many Acts have been passed after all the waste of time which admittedly has occurred. It may be said that much time could hardly have been wasted if such a mass of legislation was accomplished in a session, even though, it did last four months. The answer to this is that the first three months were almost totally wasted so far as legislative progress went, and that nearly all the work was done in the Laat month. To this there is an obvious rejoinder that if such a vast amount of legislation was turned out in a month, it could not have been well and carefully done, but the Bills i must have been " rushed " through. Paradoxical as it may seem, we say unhesitatingly that not only are all these apparently inconsistent views substantially correct, but also another view, which might seem at first sight to controvert both, is no less accurate. That there was frightful waste of time in the first three months no sensible person will dispute. That either side was solely blameable for this, it would be grossly unjust to assert. We did not shrink from speaking out very plainly on several occasions, or from pointing out the course which in our opinion ought to be promptly taken to remedy that evil. We observed with much satisfaction that that course was subsequently pursued with very favourable results. We have said that neither side can be held exclusively blameable. Both no doubt were under the influence of that timidity which is bred of uncertainty as to relative strength. When once they summoned courage to join in open battle, the spell was broken, and the public business made progress. But, although both sides of the House must share such blame as attaches to the earlier proceedings of the session, it must in justice be remembered that they were in a large degree paralysed by the existence of that feature in modem Parliamentary experience, in which the acute eye of Prince Bismaeck has already detected the weak point of Parliamentary Government — namely, a third -party. Tho whole theory of Parliamentary Government is, as tho Prince shrewdly pointed out, based on the supposition that there will be only two parties. Introduce another, and you have a disturbing element which always threatens to upset the best-founded calculations. The House of Commons has already found this out and so have we. The pure Geeyite party in this Parliament, as in its predecessor, is an element of disturbance whose full effects do not appear on the surface, but are nevertheless very real and formidable. This has paralysed the regular Opposition party during the whole session, and it reacted on the Ministerial side by producing disorganisation and disaffection owing to the absence of a common adversary. It was only when this nightmare of doubt and dread had at last been shaken off that tho House could make up its mind to attack seriously the work set down. But when it did wake up, it awakened to surprising energy. An enormous quantity of valuable legislation has been produced in the last three or four weeks, and the exception which otherwise might be taken to this rapid progress on the score of inadequate consideration falls to the ground in view of the fact that most of the measures had been before the country for months, and even years, therefore had had full opportunity to be considered and discussed. It was so with the Consolidation Bills — forming in themselves a most important and useful work, especially those relating to judicature reform— also, with the Loan proposals and the Local Government measures, while these last had the special advantage of being directly submitted to the bodies mainly interested and being endorsed with the cordial approval of an overwhelming majority. There ia no reason why, under such circumstances, these Bills should not have been speedily dealt with. On the other hand, the Native Bills and the Land Bill underwent full and ample debate. So, upon the whole, wo regard the result of the session as decidedly satisfactory. Certainly, wo regret very much the needless failure to pass a new Bankruptcy Bill ; but, to our mind, oven this is compensated for by the absence of any attempt to encroach upon the freedom of debate, as was threatened by introducing "closure," or some other form of Parliamentary gag. If the mere number of Billa passed be any criterion of the session's value, it may bo mentioned that the number passed this year is much larger than in any of the three sessions of the previous Parliament. In 1879 there were 90 Acts passed; in 1880 there were 83; in 1881 there were 77 ; and in 1882 no fewer than 112 have reached the Statute Book. If relative value be taken into account, then tho comparison is yet more favourable to the session which now only awaits the formal prorogation to become a thing of the past. It is pleasant, after such an unpromising beginning, to be able at the end to give such a good account of the first session of the first Parliament elected under manhood suffrage.

It is understood that the prorogation of Parliament on Friday will be performed by Commission, and that the Speaker of tho Legislative Counoil (Sir W. Fitzherbert) and the Premier (Mr. Whiiaker) will bo two of the Commissioners, Sir G. Whitmore probably being the third. Batepayers are reminded that the annual election of City Councillors takes place tomorrow. Thoro are three vacancies to be filled, viz., in Cook, Te Aro, and lambton Wards respectively. 'J he oai.didatos for the representation of Cook Ward are V.r. S. Brown and Mr. A. Wileon ; for Te Ato Ward, Mr. T. Dwan and Mr. R. Millor ; for Lambton Ward, Mess ra. GM. Aldrioh, S. Danks, and A. Young. The polljng will oemmence at tho various booths at 9am, and will be discontinued at 6 o'clock in the evening Followig is a list of the booths:— Cook Ward— At the Forester's Hall, Tory-street ; Te Aro Ward— At the shop adjoining Mr. Asher's, Manners-street; and Lambton Ward— At tho Corporation Buildings, Bran-don-street. Close contests are anticipated in each oase. The Botorna's English and Australian moils arrived by tho steamer Penguin this afternoon. The Hospital Committee of the City Council ore to meet on Friday evening next to consider their report on the late enquiry. An acoidont of a painful natnre happened in Cambridge Avenue yesterday afternoon to a little girl named Harriet Bonsom, whose parents reiide in that locality. It appears that about 4 o'olook a young man named Franois C. Tattersall was riding down the avenue at a rapid pace, and failed to perceive the little girl standing in the middle of the road. Ihe horse knooked the ohild down with great foroe, and caused her to utter soresm after eoraam. The aooident was observed by Mr. Sydnoy Smith, the manager of the Tramway Company, and two others, and with their assistance she was conveyed to her home. Dr. Cole was promptly in attendance, and an examination of her injuries diso'osed that one of her thighs hod been broken, in addition to whioh she has sustained several bruises. An information for furious riding has been laid against Tatteraall, who only arrived from England by ship a few days ago. Passengers by the railway complain of the nuisasoe oansed by the carcase of a horse lying on the beach about a mile on the other aide of Ngahaurarjga. The stench is said to be intolerable. If tho nuisanoe is outside the jurisdiction of any sanitary authority, surely a few men might be told off from the Railway Department to bury the body. Dr. Johnston, coroner, left for Great Britain, via the Sonth, by the s.o. Wsnaka this aftornoon. It is understood that he returns in a few months. Peter Shisky died at the Asylum last night, and an enquiry into the cause of his death will be held nt the institution tomorrow afternoon by Mr. Edward Shaw. Deceased was admitted to the Asylum about six months ago, and was 40 years of age. Two mites— brother and Bister— found their way this morninp to the beach at the bottom of Harbour-street, where they had gone to play, and one of them— tho boy— accidentally slipped over the breastwork into the water. The accident was luckily observed by Mr Pownoeby, the proprietor of a Willis-street oyster saloon, who rescued the ohild without difficulty. It had sustained no serious injury. The little oouple wero umblo to give any account of themselves beyond the very enlightening piooe of information that their name was Smith. Mr. Pownosby oonduoted them safely off the spot, and instructed tho girl to take h3r brother home without delay. In Chambers yesterday His Honour Judge Richmond granted an application for a complete execution of the deed in the estate of W. J. A&hton. It will be seen by advertisement in another oolumn that Messrs. Edward Pearoe and John Duthie have consented to act as a Board of Advice for the Mutnal Fire and Marine Insurance Company of New Zealand. The manager is to be congratulated upon having obtained the services of two gentlemen bo well known and so highly esteemed. A telegram h\s been reoeived by the Manager of ths National Insurance Company to the effojt that the Hroamia, reoently report d aahoro in the Manawatu river, had disohar«ed a portion of her cargo, and the leak was stopped. She is expeoted to came up the river to-day and discharge the remainder of her cargo at the wharf.

The proposed Wellington PpuH-y, Pigeon, Canary, and Dog Show, promises to be very suo esßful. At a meeting held last evening at the Central Hotel, Mr. C. HUI in the chair, preliminary arrangements were made. The final appointment of judges, the fixing of Bpeoial prizes, and (owing to several suitable halls being offered) the place of exhibition were deferred The number of entries promises to far exceed the space to be alloted to each class in the programme. The Committee appesrs determined to render this, their initiatory show, a complete success. Considerable interest is being evinced in the approaching contest between the Wellington and Sydney football teams, and there will doubthss be a very large attendance on the Newtown Park on Saturday to witness the matoh, whioh will commence at 315 p.m. The New South Wales mea left Onehunga for thiß port by the s.s. Hawea this morning, and are expected to arrive here on Friday morning. A meeting of the Committee of Management ia to be held this evening to make final arianeements for the reception of the visitors. The Match Committee have seleoted the following to represent Wellington on Saturday : — Messrs. Beard, Campbell, Cooper, Harvey, Hiraahberg.Heenan.Morison.M'Master.M'Cardell, Peat, Bobertß, Bonaldson, Bomerville, Thomson, and Udy. "New Babylon" was repeated by Mr. Bland Holt's company last night to a large and appreciative audience. To-morrow evening this popular play will be produced for the last time, the company appearing in Auckland on Monday. A oonjuring entertainment was given at the Tinakori-road sohool-room last night by Mr. Cecil Keyworth, before a large number of school children, the building being crowded. There was some complaint that owing to the ohildren in front being allowed to stand on the forms those at the book were not able to see anything, but otherwise the entertainment passed off very successfully. At the Christchurch B.M. Court on Thursday, Joida Thomaß, who had been arrested in Wellington, was charged with deserting his wi r c and threa children, and leaving them without adequate support. Complainant stated that she did not wish her husband punished, but merely that be should support her. He had left her four weeks ago for Wellington, telling her he had employment with Bland Holt's Company. She had only 10i then, with three children, and had reoeived no money since. In answer to the Benoh (we learn from the Lyttelton Timeß), defendant said he had no intention of deserting his wife. He hod at present slight prospects of getting employment, but if he had not been arrested ho would have reoeived £7 or £8 on Saturday next, and he would probably have obtained employment in the Government Printing office, Wellington. His Worship eaid aooused must provide for his wife and family ; and an order was made for £1 per week. There was an exoellent attendance at the Priccesa Theatre, Tory-street, last evening, to listen to an address from Mr. Alex. Wilson in regard to bis views on municipal matters. Mr. E. Morris ocoupied the obair. Mr. Wilson, who spoke at some length, condemned the system of drainage generally, and pledged himself that, if eleoted to the Counoil, he would see that Cook Ward was properly provided with drains He characterised the city drabs as great engineering failuroß, and promised to use his beat endeavours, if eleoted, to get a oha r go in the engineering staff. The speaker reterrcd to the question of legal expenses, whiob, in his opinion, were something enormous, and advocated tho appointment of a permanent solicitor to the Counoil at a fixed salary. He would even go further than that, and move that the offices of Town Clerk and solioitor he amalgamated, in order that a large saving might be effeated. He was in favour of the construction of a graving dook being proceeded with at once, and pointed out hew necessary it waß that a large port like Wellington should possess such an adjanot. Ho ws.s also favourable to the immediate prosecution of tho To Aro reolnmation works, and was of opinion that the amount necessary for the purpose could be raised on debentures in the colony, by doing whioh the money would be kept in the place. The spoaker oonoluded by expressing a hope that the electors would show their appreciation of his opponent's oonduot in not coming forward with an address by placing him at ths bottom of the poll. In rep'y to questions, Mr. Wilson said he was not in favour of increasing the Mayor's salary, as he considered the present state of the finanoes would not warrant such a step. He would do his best to get rid of the present engineer, and to abolish the oliquo in the Council. He was not in favour of taxing places of worship. A voti of confidence was passed to the candidate, and the meeting terminated. The Committee of Management of the Benevolent Sooiety held their usual weekly meeting at the Corporation Offices yesterday afternoon. Present— Mr. J. G Holdsworth (Chairman), Revs. H. Van Staveren and P. Kerrigan, Councillors Allen and Brown, and Messrs. J. F. Smith and B. Smith. Mr. Johnson, tho Believing Officer, stated that in oonsequonoe of information whioh he had received, he had informed Detective Crowce that it had been reported that a ohild belonging to a man and woman living in tho suburbs was subjected to cruelty by its father. The matter had been taken up by the police, who had forwarded a report to the effeot that the child, who was only nine months old, was in a very emaciated oondition, and appeared to be suffering from some disease. The enquiries mado had also elicited that the parents were given to quarrelling, but no proof cou'd be obtained that the infant had he3n beaten, as alleged. The parents resided just outside the oity boundary, fo that the Benevolent Society were not liable in tho matter. Thoy lived in the Hntt County, aid it was the duty of the Counoil to attend to the oase The action of the Keliovine Officer was approved. Tho Believing Offioer mentioned that the husband of a woman now under his control had not latterly oontnbuted towards her support, apd he wished to know what further action ha should take in tho matter. 'J he man had been ia the employ of the Uiron Shipping Company, but was believed to have missed his vessel at Dunedin, and his wife had not 6oen him since, nor had she received any money from him during the time he had been away. Tin committee deoided to postpone further aotion for a time in order to give the traant an opportunity of returning. Mr. Van btaveren brought up the case of a woman who had been left in destitute circumstances owing to the misbehaviour of her husband. The man was a good tradesman, but had been drinking so heavily that he had been obliged to go to the Hospital, and his wife and family were now suffering. The woman was unable to support the whole of her ohildren, and he thonght the committee should take some aotion in the matter. The Chairman considered that it would not be wise to interfere between the husband and wife, and a resolution to that effect was agreed to. None of the other cases brought up were of publio interest. Messrs. J. H. Bethuce & Co., held a sale of landed property, company shares, and general merchandise, at their mart yesterday afternoon. There was a good attendance, and satisfactory prices were realised. Mr. E. M. Simpson was the purchaser of part of seotion 17, township of Maaterton, with dwellinghouse erected thereon, at An undivided half -shore cf seotion 966 in tho City of Wellington was sold to Mr. Capper for £10, and part of section 21 at Greytown was knooked down to Mr. Tzard at .£SO. A paroel of 30 shares in the We Uington Gas Company were disposed of at the rate of ,£lO 53 per snare, and 115 New Zealand Shipping Company shares were sold at jG I 15a each. The bidding for the merchandise was very spirited. A correspondent, signing himself " Spectator," writes complaining that, owing to bad management, a large proportion of the audience at the entertainment at the Tinakor-road Schoolroom hut night were unablo to see or hear anything. He suggests that the platform should have been raised. The Wanganui Herald's attenti m has been drawn to the cx ; atence of a gambling saloon m Bidgway-stroet, where young lads are to be found at all hours both night aud day. The amount of money whioh is passed in this den is said to be enormous, and every variety of gambling seems to be indulged in without let or hindrance The Herald has heard of ono young shopman in town who has lost over .£2OO of late in gambling on the premises roferred to, and it would seem that the police are lax in their duty in not taking some action in the matter. At an anniversary banquet reoently given by Mr. Cyrus Field in London, the Western Telegraph lines were brought into the room and messages interchanged with Amerioa. These messages were delivered at their respeotive addresses, and the replies to them were received baok in the room in the following periods : —From the President at Washington, 2 hours 10 minutes ; from Mr. Seward, at Washington, 2 hours 22 minutes ; from several persons in and near New! ork, average 1 hour and 45 minutes ; from the Governor of Cuba, who apologised for the delay cause i by his residing at a distance from Havana, 2 hours 24 minutes ; from the Governor of Newfoundland, at St. John's, 88 minutes ; and from Heart's Content, Newfoundland, 6 minutes. But even these performances are threwn into the shade by an ordinary message sent from London to San Franoiecd on Ist February, 1868 The wires on this continent were joined up for experiment from Heart's Content to California, and ths message was eont from Valentin, at 7.'21 a.m.. tho acknowledgment of its receipt was reoeived back in Valentia at 7.23, the whole operation having only occupied two minutes; tbo distanoa travelled was about 14.000 miles ; and the message arrived, ao-' oordiutf to San Francisco time, at 20 minutes past 11 on ths evening of 31st -January, or the day preceding that ou which it left Fugland.

Charles Colliogi, greengrocer, has filed a declaration of insolvency. Messrs. Bidey & Co. will sell tomorrow, furniture, &o. Mr. George Thomas will sell to-morrow, potatoes.