The Hastings Standard Published Daily. THURSDAY, JULY 23, 1896. ARE HANSARD REPORTS WORTHLESS?

Hastings Standard, Issue 75, 23 July 1896, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily.

THURSDAY, JULY 23, 1896. ARE HANSARD REPORTS WORTHLESS?

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

Our esteemed contemporary, the Evening Post, waxes wroth because a matter reported in that journal as having occurred in the House does not appear in Hansard. It was in reference to the action of the Speaker in apologising to the Minister of Lands for having hurt his feelings by his ruling in the case of Mr McKenzie saying unkind things about the editor of the Post. It will be remembered that on the day following that on which the Minister of Lands received his rebuke, Sir Maurice O'Eorke rose and in an apologetic manner said he was not aware of the extreme provocation the Minister had received, and denied any desire to wound the susceptibilities of any member, adding, to the general surprise of the House, " that he hoped the matter would be overlooked by the Minister of Lands." If the Speaker did not make use of the last sentence, more ears than those of the Post reporter have been deceived, for the words have appeared in the

reports of " specials " in a number of North Island journals. When the Hansard report was circulated it was noticed that the sentence in question had been omitted, and there was no equivalent for the words mentioned. This naturally raised the ire of the newspaper people, and the Post has a scathing article in justification of its reporter. Until the Speaker gives an explanation it would be unfair to condemn him ; but there is nothing new in the omission from the Hansard reports of remarks made on the floor of the House. Ever since members were allowed unlimited freedom in the correction of their speeches the system has been abused to a disgraceful extent. Only those newspaper men who have taken important speeches can contrast their reports with those appearing in Hansard, and it is not too much to say that many of the brilliant remarks credited to politicians are happy aftee - thoughts. Since the time-limit was inaugurated members have been in the habit of inserting remarks they intended to make but which time did not permit them to make, and have erased statements they have made which they would probably not have made had they not been pushed for time. It should be said in common fairness that Hansard reporters are far from being infallible, and that members have just grounds for the complaint that were their speeches allowed to appear uncorrected they would at times be credited with opinions perhaps at variance with those they possessed. But the system is abused, and, there being a natural desire to pose to the constituencies in a favorable light, advantage is taken of proofcorrections to meet the ends of certain members. From experience we know that the fastest reporter in the gallery cannot take a speaker like Mr J, Ci. Ward verbatim and that the slowest of the followers of the winged art can report Sir Maurice Q'Rorke's measured words with ease. If the reporter is to blame in this instance the House will no doubt have something to say on the incompetency of the staff, but if the words have been omitted because they were hardly becoming from one in Sir Maurice O'llorke's position then something should be done to curtail a privilege which is much abused. LOCAL AND GENERAL. A letter from our Gmahu correspondent will appear to-morrow. The S.M. Court will be occupied tomorrow morning with about 40 breaches of the borovgh bye-laws relating to wandering cattle. j In the Native Land Court this morning ! Poukawa investigations of title was resumed. The case is likely to occupy j some time. There was a poor attendance at the Flumpton Park Coursing Meeting yesterday. In the Meanee Domain Stakes Balfe took the prize, beating On Trial. I In the Sapling Stakes Waterfly and | Waterfall divided the first money. The rain up country must have been more severe than in town as the Ngaruroro is reported flooded to-day, the Maraekakalio coach being unable to get through. Telegraphic communication with Waipukurau has been inconvenienced by breaks in the wires. An alarm of fire was given about 5.30 last evening and crowds of people hurried down Heretaunga road in search of the supposed blaze. It turned out to be some rubbish burning in a back yard, and that there was no necessity for alarming the town over the affair. To-day the marriage of Mr Thomas Thompson and Miss Annie Carswell was solemnised in the Hastings Presbyterian Church, the Rev. A. S. Morrison, M.A., officiating. There was a large attendance of relatives and friends. The bridegroom was for a short period connected with the Presbyterian Church here, while the bride has been very closely identified with it almost since there was a Presbyterian church at all in Hastings. She was one of the first scholars in the Sabbath school, she has long been a teacher in it, has been the Secretary of the Band of Hope, and assiduous in every good work. To mark the very high esteem which is generally entertained for the bride and bridegroom by the congregation a social was held on Tuesday evening in the church by the Sabbath school teachers. Short addresses were given by Mr Morrison ami Mr Campbell, the superintendent of the Sabbath school, in which they bore testimony to the high Christian character of Miss Carswell, and then Mr Morrison on behalf of-the Sabbath school teachers presented her with a handsome eightday clock as a memento of her long connection with the school. As to to-day's ceremony, the church decorations consisting of arches of flowers and prettly bunched knots and heaths and evergreens was the work of Mrs D. McLeod and Miss Collinge. The dresses require a lady's facile and graphic pen, but we are crediby informed that the bride was dressed in creme cashmere and silk with white veil. The happy couple are to take up their abode at Opotiki. There are lots of good wishes for their future happiness. Three local records were taken for the phonograph yesterday afternoon, when Mr Sam Ridgway was " taken " in the songs " Sleeping Camp" and " Let me like a Soldier fall,' and Mr Broughton in a " waiata." These may now be heard in the Kinetoscope premises. The attraction of the marvel of the age is as great ' as ever, and Mr Whitehouse should have no reason to regret his visit to Hastings. It is understood that the management of the Opera Company intend holding their practices each week until the opera will be produced, one for principals and two for the full strength of the voices. We understand that Mr George Ellis has generously placed the Princess Theatre at the disposal of the company free of all charge, and as the conductor has availed himself of the offer it is likely that the remainder of the rehearsals will be held tbsr*

Horse owners are reminded that entries for the New Zealand Grand National Meeting (minor events) close to-morrow night. By some means Mr Hill's report on the pupil teachers' examination reached the newspapers in an incomplete state. Miss Emma Pickering, of Hastings, was announced as having failed, which was not correct, as she received sufficient marks to qualify for a pass. The young lady in question is to be complimented, as the examination was by no means an easy one. Messrs. Duder Bros., of the North Shore, Auckland, have been fined Is and costs for employing their carters after then- shop had been closed on the statutory half-holiday. Mr C. J. Penfold, Secretary of the Melbourne Club, whose death was announced last week, was an old resident of Christehurch, and was Secretary to the Canterbury Jockey Club from 1882 to 1890. Neil's Compound Sarsaparilla. A household medicine for purifying the blood and toning up the system. In large bottles at 2s 6d at Neil's Dispensary, Emerson street, Napier, and all leading storekeepers.—Advt. Stop that Cough by taking Neil's Balm of Gilead, a positive cure for coughs, colds, chronic bronchitis, influenza, &c. In large bottles at 2s 6d, at Neil's Botanic Dispensary, Emerson street, Napier, and all leading storekeepers.—Advt. Neil's Celebrated Liver Tonic, a pure botanic remedy for all affections of the liver, biliousness, jaundice, yellowness of the skin, indigestion, &c. In bottles, 2s and 2s 6d, at Neil's Botanic Dispensary, Emerson street, Napier, and all leading storekeepers.—Advt. Neil's Corn Cure removes either hard or soft Corns. A few applications only necessary. Is per bottle at Neil's Dispensary, Emerson street, Napier, and all leading storekeepers.—Advt. " Drunkenness is not a sin—simply an excess of conviviality," say's a thirsty philosopher. " Nothing like a good skinful of whisky for a bad cold." Don't belive it, my friends, take that unfailing remedy, Woods' Great Peppermint Cure for one shilling and sixpence.—Advt.