OUR HOME LETTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5657, 5 January 1880, Page 2

OUR HOME LETTER.

The Houses of Assembly were prorogued on the 19th of December, having been in nession from the 24th of September. Parliament iva.3 first convened for the nession of 1879 on the 11th of July, but a vote of want of confidence in the Grey administration having been passed, the Premier asked for a dissolution, which was granted. A general election took place, and the House met again on the 24th of September. In previous monthly summaries we have narrated the course of events, and how the Grey Ministry was succeeded by a Ministry of which the Hon. John Hall was Premier. In our last summary we narrated how the atticks of the Opposition on the Hall Ministry had failed. In ithe latter days of the session, indeed, the party formerly led by Sir George Grey was completely broken up, and it is difficult to conjecture what shape the different sections of the Opposition will assume.

A few days before the close of the session cablegrams were received from jLondon, stating that the whole of the £5,000,00010 an had been placed on the London market, and would be raised at once. Itwa3 doubtful whether this could be done, or whether only £3,000,000 could be raised at present, so that the news caused the Government to make considerable alteration in their plan of dealing with the public works. New Zealand is not to enter the London market again as a borrower for three years. The money "which the Government will receive now ■will enable the Government to make payments which are due, and to carry on the most pressing and advantageous work 3. It is proposed that in future the revenue received from land sales shall be devoted to public works. Thus the Government ■will be enabled to continue the construction ■of railways and roads, and will not be forced to bring these ' public works to a sudden stop. By the j new system of taxation, also, the finances of the colony will be reestablished, and in future the Government ■will be le3S dependent upon borrowed money. Al-.hougli it was quite hopeless for the Opposition to attempt to oust the Ministers, some brisk attacks were made during: the concluding days of the session. The proposals of the Ministry with respect to the new tax on property, and the increases of the Customs duties, were the subjects of hostile criticism. The Government were also bitterly assailed for the proposals they made to take up some branch railways that had been commenced under an Act enabling private companies to construct line 3 with a partial guarantee from the Government. The companies had failed, and the Ministry proposed to assume the responsibility for certain lines which they thought of importance to the colony. The Ministry had to give way to some •extent as regards the railways, but the session closed leaving them in a strong position. Ministers remained in Wellington for some days after the conclusion •of the session, but, with the exception of Hie Premier and Mr. Bryce (Native Minister), they are now enjoying the Christmas holidays at their home 3. His Excellency the Governor is now at Auckland, having come by invitation of -the Auckland Jockey Club to see the races at Ellerslie.

With respect to native affair 3, matters are noi in a quite satisfactory position. Hewi has gone back to the interior, and i.a3 apparently ceased all attempts to make any arrangement between the Government and the Kingile3 ; while Tawhiao, the Maori King, remains in flulky seclusion. Within the last few weeks, confident statements have been made that the Government intend to take possession of the Waimate -Plains, on the Weßfc Coart of the North Island, to complete the survey, and to put settlers on the land. It will be remembered that this land was confiscated fifteen years ago, that nothing was done till last summer, when the surveyors ■were turned off by natives acting underthe orders of Te Whiti. The Government have acted as if they intended to do something of the kind. They have continued to augment the force of Armed Constabulary in tho district. till now it amounts to upwards of 800 men. How the natives will act is not known. Their leader is the well-known fanatic Te Whiti, but he has only a comparatively feeble following. Te Whiti says he will do nothing, but he professes himself confident that Divine power will interpose to prevent the Europeans from taking possession of the Plains. In any -event no serious disturbance is feared. Tho colony is now too far advanced to be mateiially retarded by any native disturbance.

Messrs. Foster and Grant, the representatives of a number o£ Lincolnshire farmers, are at present in this part of ITew Zealand, and. are visiting Waikato. Their object is toreport upon the colony for the benefit of those farmers in Lincolnshire who intend to emigrate. It will tend greatly to the advancement of the colony if any considerable number of English farmers, possessing some capital -and considerable skill, were to come here. Messrs. Grant and Foster are travelling and making their observations in as unobstrusive a manner as possible.

On Boxing Day, disturbances took place -at Chris tchurch and Timaru. At each of these places there is a friendly society called the Protestant Alliance Friendly -Society, and the members were marching in procession when theiy were attacked by a body of Irish Catholics. No great damage was done, but a strong feeling ha 3 been expressed all over the colony that such attacks .must be put down. The 'Catholic bishops and priests have severely reprobated the conduct of those who attacked the processions. A number of arxssts have been made, and probably those proved guilty will be made an example -of. It was expected that the riots would be renewed at Timaru on New Year's •Day, but nothing of the kind took place, .although there was abundant opportunity.