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Evening Star, Issue 3002, 2 October 1872, Page 4

The Legislative Council. —Mr Waterhouse finds in the present temper of the Council it is impossible to cany his resolutions for making that Chamber an elective one, and has withdrawn them. Bearing upon the question is the recent resignation by Mr John M'Lean of his seat.in the Council—an event, insignificant as it may appaar, having some political importance. Referring to it, the Oamaru correspondent of the fVaikouaiii Herald says : —“The hon. gentleman is unmistakeably an honest politician, and what he says he means and may be depended upon. He has not stated publicly his raasons for resigning his seat, but, by reference to Hansard, 1 find that towards the termination of last session he boldly stated in a debate upon the Harbor Improvement Bill that the Cquncil, as constituted, was not of that independent character'that should make men ambitious to have a seat there, and that he would take uo further pait in legislation which could he moulded to any shape or form by the Ministry of the day. At the time, I, with others, thought this to be only an impulsive expression of momentary indignation, but he has kept his word, but I understrnd that the step he has taken is not without a motive, viz., to call the public attention to the fact that a nominee Upper House for New Zealand is a break on legislative progress, and the position of its members such as should not be restrained by honest and independent men. If he ever returns to Parliament I believe it will be as a representative man elected by the people. It would be well if other members of the Council were to follow his example. A young man who had come into possession of a large fortune by the death of his brother, was asked bow he was getting along. “ Oh,” said he, “I am having a dreadful time. What with getting out letters of administration and attending a probate court and settling claims, I sometimes wish he hadn’t died,”