BEHIND THE SCENES.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 395, 24 December 1889, Page 2

BEHIND THE SCENES.

It is strange that there should be so much anxiety on the part of Ministers to deny the truth of what has leaked out in respect of the workings behind the scenes. .It proves how uneasy they must be in their own consciences, It no one is inclined to pay attention to rials which come from such a source, when remember the cosy billets which have >n provided for so many friends, the pointment of Colonel Trimble as a Land urt Judge being a recent glaring instance, e Wellington Post ridicules the idea of icing any value on what Ministers themves may have to say on ths subject, and itinuesSome months ago there was a Hour that Messrs Fulton, Downie Stewart, lentine, and Dr Hodgkinson were likely to elevated, but it was officially contradicted, d the contradiction was received with just as lOh respect as all such official utterances are those who know their real significance. The jaent announcement will command exactly 1 same amount of credence. We have had uetty considerable experience of Ministries d Ministers, and we can unhesitatingly assert that we never met with one of the flatter who would hesitate to unequivocally contradict any statement which had found premature and inoonvenient publicity. They invariably make extraordinary allowances for the slip, which is always possible, betwixt cup and lip, and for the fact that circumstances so frequently alter cases. The general form of contradiction is that there is “ no truth ” in the assertion, that such and such a thing has been done, or certainly will be done, and they salve their consciences with the reflection that so loog as the affair is not wt fait accompli their contradiction is within the limits of truth. Now, in this matter of the appointment of certain members of the Legislative Council, we do not suppose that the warrants have been absolutely signed, and we may be quite sure that if the present Parliament is to meet again, the Government would be very sorry to part with such sturdy henchmen in the Lower House as the gentlemen indicated. If their seats were rendered vacant by their elevation in such a manner, their successors would almost certainly be Oppositionists, prepared to denounce in the most bitter manner the very act which afforded them an opportunity of entering the House. Ministers would not like to run this risk; and we have no doubt that they do not at present intend to call any new members to the Legislative Council during the recess. We are, however, equally confident that they have pledged themselves to certain members, that when this Parliament shall be no more, they thill not be reduced to the unpleasant, expensive, and doubtful necessity of wooing the suffrages of one of the new constituencies, but shall find a refuge in the serene shades of the Upper Chamber. Perhaps some of the gentlemen who have been promised this preferment have been indiscreet and have let the secret out prematurely, and hence the possible rumour which Ministers have been so prompt to contradict. If once it is determined to dissolve Parliament without another session being held, we may be perfectly certain that an announcement of several elevations to the Council will follow, and Mmieteis will then be able to argue that circumstances have so entirely altered that their action will be perfectly consistent with their present denial. In the meantime the members designated will have to wait patiently for a little time for (he fruition at their hopes, and the attachment of the prefix “ Honorable ’’ to their names. Of course, as there are still 42 membersoftheLegis lative Council, there is not the slightest public or Parliamentary reason for any addition to the Council. The number of members is even now too large in proportion to the reduced number of members of the elective branch of the Legislature, and no new appointments should be made except under most exceptional circumstances, until the number is reduced to under 30.

The language used by the Post is very straightforward, and a few months will enable us to judge of its accuracy or otherwise. If the statements are not realised the satisfaction will be even greater, for it is well known what 5 lot of good can be done by exposing political intrigues ; and by previously directing public attention to the scheme that is being worked the schetpara frill naturally be forced to hesitate and feel a shame which Mould not at all affect their conscience if their plot had succeeded without being found out previous to its accomplishment. The Post concludes its article as follows:—It will be little short of a scandal if four or fl re Government supporters are provided with lite seats and pensions as a reward for their thick and-thin support of the Atkinson Ministry, but, unfortunately, such “jobs” form a tacitly recognised feature of our system of government. The ’’outs” are always chary of too strongly condemning such transactions, because they know that their virtue is not superior to that of the “ ins,’’ and they expect similar consideration and leniency when, in their turn, the positions are reversed, and they jiayp to provide for their friends. If any private member exhibits any virtuous indignation, hip conduct'is frowned upon as unseemly, and be is promptly sat upon by both sides. We shall be surprised |f the embryo Councillors have very iongio wait, the Ministerial denial notwithstanding, for the happy Rotpent when tb.ey shall emerge from the chrysalis slate and ba ab.o to flaunt their new honors in the face ol the indignant Uipayer, who will have to bear the cost,

THE OUTBREAK OF INFLUENZA. The remarkable outbreak of influenza which has taken place in Berlin and other places must make life very uncomfortable to thousands of people in the old country. While we are finding -fault with the extieme warmth of the weather, many of our brethren across the sea are having a much more miserable time of it, no doubt sneezing es if they were trying to dislocate their necks. The influenza spreads with extraordinary rapidity. The present is by no means the first outbreak of the kind. There were great epidemics in 1762, 1782, 1787. 1803 and 1847. As a general rule (says a well informed writer) it appeared to originate in some parts of Asia, and to travel westward throughout Europe and on to America. In this respect it resembled certain cholera epidemics. It is also a little singular that the last two great influenza years in Europe were also years of terrible cholera epidemics. This coincidence seems to have excited attention at Home, and some people are apparently apprehensive that cholera may again make its appearance. Whether there is scientific ground for this fear we are unable to say. The two classes of disease have nothing in common with each other, and the closeness of the respective outbreaks may be merely a coincidence. It his, however, been observed that a severe epidemic is often preceded by another epidemic of a less virulent disease. However, the whole question, so far as we know, has yet to be thoroughly investigated, and it is very probable the increased attention now given to it may have the effect of clearing up what is at present obscure. There have been various theories to account for the wonderful manner in which influenza diffuses itself. The Italians of the 17th century, a standard authority tells us, attributed it to the influence of the stars, whence the name which it still bears. Ihe theory most in favour now, it peed hardly be said, is the microbe theory, which is made to account for so much. It is held that the disease is caused by certain minute organisms,(distributed over wide areas, and that these when introduced into the bodies of those attacked multiply indefinitely, and so become a fresh cause of the spread of the disease. It has been known to diffuse itself over ths whole of Europs in six weeks. Even-vessels at sea are not exempt. In the epidemic of 1782, Admiral Kempenfeldt, when eff the coast of France, had nearly alt his squadron striker! down, and was oblige! to return to England in consequence. The same thing happened to Anson, whose squadron was off the coast of Holland. Fortunately, influenza, although a very disagreeable, is not a very fatal disease. Ths average mortality is stated to be about 2 per cant. Still, even thia, owing to the very large number of people attacked in a oom munity, makes an appreciable addition to the death rate,