POLITICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1217, 28 June 1895, Page 15

POLITICAL NOTES.

[R.A.L.] THURSDAY, JUNE 20.

IN THE COUNCIL. The day of the opening has a festive air somehow. The men-of-war pound the fact into the mind of the public by gun fire. We all look seaward, and our eyes fall on blue smoke in thin wreaths scattering away fast before the keen southerly breeze in the bright sunlight over the dancing water. The ships are flying bunting, and look wonderfully well with their burnished sides and their brilliant overhead colouring. All the public buildings are brilliant too, the Government Insurance pile looking especially handsome with its flags on every pinnacle, the New Zealand Ensign dominating the whole body of bvtnting. Prom the tower of Government House the Royal Standard is flying broadly lighting up the surroundings with a rich gleam of colour. No one is to be allowed to forget that this is Coronation Day. It is likewise opening day, the coincidence being confusing to many, who fro about complimenting Her Majesty's officers for bringing out all their flags and much of their powder in honour of the legislators of New Zealand. Half an hour before the appointed hour every seat in the various spices reserved in the Council precincts is occupied, and a large crowd of belated ones is drifting round seeking admittance or making the best of things. The front of the Parliamentary Buildings is the centre of attraction, for that way, according to the precedent established last year, the Governor will enter the Parliamentary precincts to open Parliament. As the hour approaches, Lady Glasgow, accompanied by two of her daughters and Miss Goring, come to the Council. The Speaker escorts them in, doing the honours, and they are duly installed in the accustomed seats to the left of the chair, in front of _ the ladies who have the entree to that specially reserved portion of the Chamber. Presently the D Battery on the tennis ground begins to bark, and soon after His Excellency comes up the drive attended by an escort from the Ueretaunga'Mounted Rifles. He is received by the Wellington College Cadets (under Captain Firth), who form the Guard of Honour. A very smart corps, sir. A little blue they are with their long stand at ease in the cold, and two or three have to fall out. Why so early in such weather? His Excellency. is met by the Council officials and brought to their Chamber with a promptitude which tells of the discipline gone through by all concerned a year ago a thing no one ever requires a second time in his life. The thought am?ears to bo in the mind of "Black Rod " as he announces " His Excellency the Governor," and it also animates his voice with the sense of beneficial contrast. His Excellency in tho grancle tenne of his naval rank, wearing his orders, marches in, saluting to the right and left. The attendant train of uniforms is, we observe, larger than usual, the officers of the household and the Consular dignitaries being reinforced by a contingent from the men-of-war with their captains. In due course the faithful Commons are summoned and appear, behind the Mace, following the lead of the Chairman of Committees, who, in the absence of Sir Maurice O'Rorke, i 3 doing duty as Speaker. Mr Guinness accommodated in the big chair, the Ministers align themselves on one side of him, the Mace and the officers of tho House being on the other. The Premier looms large in frock coat and bright buttonhole, and looks fresh and fit. The Minister of Lands looms larger, and looks nearly as fit as his chief. Education stands between his burly colleagues.and all three assume anair of interest, as though about to hear a good story they have never heard before. Mines is not in front with his colleagues, but research reveals him sheltering under thetallform ofCaptainßussell, away in the ceutre of grouped faithful Commons. His absence is compensated for by the prominent presence of Mr E. M. Smith, who, with his white waistcoat, is aligned with the three Ministers first named.

As the reading of the Speech proceeds, there are people who, catching the proposal for a new Minister, say "Hem!" and as they do so they point to the prominent figure in the white waistcoat.

In the centre of the fifty representatives, the broad face and broad shoulders of the senior member for Wellington rise up conspicuous over the lesser heads. A tall promontory not far off is seen through the dimness of the afternoon to assume the likeness of Major Steward, and conveys the impression that the Major is communing with a higher power in those upper regions. The clever face of Patea is revealed by a swaying move of the man in front of him, and he appears to be boring into the core of the Speech with an uncommonly sharp instrument, to which he occasionally gives, a sharp turn with a peculiarly meaning smile. Not far from him the rugged lineaments of Wairarapa frown on the scene and the sentiment ; near them the dark visage of Masterton is lightened with a smile _ of approval, which threatens to break out into a roar of triumph, and probably will do so as soon as

its wearer reaches the terra firma of " another place." Captain Ettssell is not observed to move a single muscle ; he stands at attention and makes no sign—quite the correct attitude of the Opposition Leader. His allies and lieutenants are not so commandful of their features. They smile and leer at one another sportively, evidently promising each other good sport. On the faces of Ministerialists there is a different look, the look of the gentleman who summed up the proceedings of " Pleeceman X" on a certain occasion in Trafalgar square by exclaiming in great admiration, " Hain't 'e a givin' it to 'em !" Ministers on their side stand listening each with the vague air of a man who thinks he hears the sound of a distant waterfall, and doesn't care very much whether he does or whether he does not.

On the Council the Speech seems to have a certain calm, soporific effect,if wo may judge by the attitude of more than one worthy councillor.

The Speech is read by His Excellency in his best business manner, brisk and alert, aud then he goes out,shaking hands with Mr Guinness and the Premier, and saluting the rest of the Assembly. Thereupon the Council does a short stroke of business and adjourns. Just a score of Councillors were present. Amongst the rest we noticed the Hon W. C. Walker, who has returned after a long absence from the Colony. IN TH.K HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. After their return from the Council Chamber the faithful Commons are very soon < at work in the deadest earnest. The thing noticeable about these honourable gentlemen is that they appear to be sitting there as if they had not moved from there since the last sitting day. Even to the lounging, the weary expressions on some faces, the tired heads leaning on elbowed arms, and the air of boredom, the illusion is complete. It is very evident that the second year of the twelfth Parliament finds the House completely au fait in every respect, losing no time, <■ making no sacrifices to lack of experience. I Lack of experience! There never was such I a businesslike gathering of the representative ( clans. They stood ready for the word to j "go," and when the Acting-Speaker said it ' an avalanche of notices poured down on the i devoted table, which in a brief moment lay J buried under a vast heterogeneous collection } of notices of motion. Bills, papers, questions, details of committees, of everything that can get upon the table of the House on any pretext whatsoever. Never within, the memory of the oldest inhabitant has such an array of business been formally announced on the opening day. In the crowd of formalities there is not much to notice, save that in the gentle babble there ocaasionally arises a sharp note. One moment it is the voice of constitutional principle which will not allow Sir George Grey's leave of absence to be moved for without notice. Another, it is the voice of candour which wants the Government to be candid about the rumoured appointments to the Legislative Council. Anon the mention of the Tariff Commission produces smothered exclamations, and again, it is the insinuating charmer from Taranaki, who wants to move something about.the new Minister, who he thinks ought to belong to the North Island. The gentle babble thus interrupted is brought to an end with Mr Pirani's notice of motion for the A ddress-in-Reply ; and soon afterwards the House, which has taken the Governor's Speech as read—thereby depriving the Acting-Speaker of a fine chance for declamatory effect—adjourns, and the. first day is ended. FRIDAY, JUNE 21.

Till three of the o'clock darkness within and darkness without, and dimness of formal business. The rain patters on the roof, and the voices mumble without even pattering in the Chamber. At three o'clock the business brightens below, and the light is turned on above.

Of course it is the question of leave of absence to Sir George Grey. " Notice of motion No. 1. The Hon the Premier." Mr Sedden moves for leave for one month, it Ward has written Sir Georgo was coming, he didn't come, he is not well: without saying any more he leaves it to the House. Mr Button, one of the Auckland members, seconds, without any further language, superfluous or otherwise, leaving the way clear for anyone who wants to develop the other side. Captain Russell develops it. He is sorry, but it is a duty. Great respect for Grey, greater respect for the Constitution. No evidence that Grey wants leave. He quotes May and another, to prove that he can't have it even if he wants it. O'Connell's case, Rothschild's case; in each the men had objected to take certain oath ; weren't allowed to sit till they agreed ; wouldn't agree; new election. The point, he thinks, is that they were nut members till they had taken the oath.

Sir Robert Stoat remarks Grey absent for third session, and takes up another line, more modern, more close, section 130, Electoral Act. Provides that permission must be formally given; something- more than the ordinary temporary leaves given lasb year, and renewed periodically Such leaves not satisfactory of the Act ; doubtful whether bir George is a member at all; Sir Robert thinks he is not. Oath nothing to do with it: oath or no oath, may be member ; but insufficiency of leave fatal. Doesn't say he is sorry at old man's fiasco. Mr Bell backs up both legal brother and political chief. No evidence that Grey has authorised anybody to interfere. Astonished that anvbody should talk about ungraciousness and that sort of thing. This is a matter of dry constitutional law, not sentiment Mr Crowther rebukes the lawyers. Fie! Declare another election, Auckland would put Grey in again unanimously in spite of all the precedents of all the lawyers. Hear, hear from Sir Robert Stout. Mr Crowther says, no business of anybody but Aucklanders. Mr Button stands by his two colleagues, and by the city of Auckland. Thinks but little of the legal contention. Not only bad in law, bat inexpedient in fact and unworkable. Fancy the oa'se of a man duly eiected and prostrated with long illness, which he regards as temporary. Is a year s absence to be fatal to him P If so most grievous. Mr E. M.i,Smith says, Grey not a member ! Absurd, and the House roars. But Taranaki only goes the harder for that kind ot music. A large review of the noble services ot Sir George Grey he gives in brief. Dr Newman ranges up ot iris friends of Wellington, and gives a sho. at the target of constitutional principle. Not sentiment this, Sir. . , The Premier replies deprecating this sort of thing—most unusual, most unprecedented : can't remember such a thing in his experience. Grey never objected to take.any oath, therefore Russell's quotations fall. Session 1893 nothing to do with the matter. Sir

Robert's attempt to make capital out ©£ 1893 Sir Robert interjects that he never founded! any argument on '93. The Premier wants to* know why, in that case, he said anything: about it at all ? They skirmish, and they smile, and they finish their little rally. After '"93 Grey at head of poll—everything condoned. In 1891 leaves sufficient. Sir Robert mentions that his point is that they wore not.. The Premier waves his arm over that. Payment of Members Act settles the question of: membership. He reads the clause. Principle; is that sickness absences count as attendanceSettles question in one act, in fact. Then ho develops all the circumsliancea. Eulogises Grey s dwells on his great services; regrets the whole episode ; it is due to some reasons not mentioned in the House ; he won't mention them therefore ; he will only say that the Leader of the Opposition knew he had made* a mistake —looking, smilingly, at the Captain opposite —he regards to-day's proceedings therefore as the cover for a retreat.. Captain Russell breaks into a smile, and says a word or two in good humoured deprecation. The Premier ends. He is sure that Grey will be pained when he tears what has happened. Without more ado he goes to th vote. The ayes are fairly strong; not a single "no" is audible. Leave granted on the

voices. Aftei that, monotony of formalizes, enlivened by a little skirmish about Bellamy's, to the advantage of that favourite institution, and then dinner at the usual hour.

Evening. ' add kess-in-reply.

Perhaps it's the dirty night, perhaps it is* that the debate on the Address is not popular as a show, but the galleries are not by any means full. Mr Pirani is, however, in good form. He is not the kind of man that requires an audience. Plain, business-like, earnest, with a certain unvarying ring of independence in his voice, Mr Pirani is always the same. As a speaker who has neither good' nor bad moments, he maintains his level ever. He plunges into the Speech quietly, as he faces the House in evening dress, and has acknowledged the big round of applause with a slight flush on his face. Through the whole variety of subjects he goes, making hia comments in his precise way, ticking off each point with that usual unflagging business air of his. The House listens to him with pleasure, and an occasional laugh. Mr Pirani wants some provision for cutting up the new holdings. "Under the present system, Sir, a> man can't do that for 999 years." The House roars, and the little nian is so earnest and intent that he looks surprised. But it is only for a moment.

The Midland Railway, he quite approves the business of the seizure. Advances for settlers, he regards as a failure, because the members of the Board have too much to do. Licensing he is firm upon. Mr "Ward he honours, together with the success of his mission. The Government has faults, but it is the best possible Government obtainable ; hones 4 ; and capable. When he has read the Address he sits down and gets another round of applause. Mr Maslin follows with a certain air of confidence, and no fear of contradiction. He speaks as one of whom it is said in the lobbies that he didn't feel quite at home here last session, but he- has been home and back ahd.he is all right. He speaks without notes, and with a full confidence the Government, tempered by flashes of independence which being'"" bluntly expressed bring up smiles all round. He, ..gets chaffed a little, and does not suspect' for a while,* which makes everyone enjoy it. When he gets near the end ho says he won't weary the House. There are crie3\of "Go on, go on ' in patronising keys. , The South Canterbury man says, "No, I really don't think I will;" and a laugh goes round, at which he looks a little before he joins it'good humouredly. Captain Russell, who follows, is sarcastically sorry that he has, in obedience to the usual custom, to follow the two Government supporters. They have been so harsh, he says. There is a pleased guffaw behind the Captain. It turns out, on examination, to be the salute offered to the Captain's sally, by his friend and supporter of Wairarapa. Wairarapa is the sole occupant of the second Opposition bench, and behind him, across the sea of empty benches, reposes Mr Button presiding judicially. , ''■:.. Encouraged by the salute of the only active follower of his widely-scattered brace, the Captain launches into much playful satire, going through the previous speeches with practised ease, amusing the House with that broad banter of which he is a master. When he has applauded the modesty of Mr Pirani, and predicted that Mr Maslin will not be a Governmoat supporter long, he gets to the Speech, and he bowls through it in bold, fluent style, with occasional passages of polished banter, pne of -these deals with Parihaka.

"No mention of it in the Speech, sir. I never saw the Premier look small, sir. But I wasn't at Parihaka." -The thing is so well done that the House and the two Oppositionists roar. , This introduction . takes the Captain into the whole Native country, from that he travels to London and encounters the Treasurer ; he gets back to New Zealand, finds Ministers everywhere except in Wellington. *' Nary a new Minister for/ me," he says, but not in those words. He talks business shrewdly, does not go into anything very deeply, and ends rather unexpectedly by declaring that as there is a, great deal of work to do he will reserve himself for it. The Minister of Education follows Captain Russell, in the same strain of banter, delicate and sharp., He fails to detect a gleam of sincerity in the Captain's speech, except in his expression of regret that he had to speak at all. He chaffs " him in this way for some l:itle while, ending by complimenting him on his style of criticism, to which Ministers can find no objection on the score of its spirit. The kind of criticism they have reason to complain of is very different. Attacks on wives and daughters and the infant children of Ministers ; that is the kind of thing which is unprecedented and unfair. He compliments the Captain on his freedom from that sort of thing. After which he traverses the Captain's arguments. One after another he takes them and handles them, going from grave to gay as the humour takes him. When he gets to the surplus there is a little passage of arms. The Captain wont allow that there is a surplus. t Mr Reeves maintains the surplus. They exchange thrusts. "Even Sir Robert Stout," says the Minister," admits the surplus," and the surplus is hidden in a peal of laughter. When he has dealt with Captain Russell, Mr Reeves gets to the mover and seconder. " Loyal, serviceable, genuine " are the adjectives he has for their candid criticisms. He compliments those gentlemen.

Their criticism is of the kind likely to improve the Liberal Party, not to destroy it. Ministers never object to that sort of thing. The Party applauds, and the House adjourns a little after half-past 10, on the motion of Mr Mills, the Gov eminent whip. Members disperse discussing the events of the day. TUESDAY, JUNE SS> A few formalities and then Privilege, which Hike the wind and the rain no man can gainsay. Sir Robert Stout" a motion for a committee to enquire into the absence of Sir George Grey. Sir Robert opens the ball, and we have an hour's discussion, perhaps a little more. Sir Robert sticks to the legal question, the Premier and Mi- Button meet him on that ground, Mr Crowther reinforces them with sentiment, dwelling ruggedly on the services of the absent man, and on everything about him which may appeal to the feelings. Mr Duthie, who is in his place for the first time, and looks well after his voyage round the world, gives the latest news of the veteran. He spreads it out for the House to see, he holds it up in detail for the House to measure, he waves it about as, it were to try the strength of the stuff. The House murmurs a little as if to say the stuff is good. Mr Duthie sits down, leaving in the air the picture of a foeble old man* burning with anxiety to return to his representative labours, fret- i ting himself to fiddlestrings because adverse fate in the malevolent guise of infirmity interposes, feeling keenly the. slightest wind of criticism playing over -his bowed head and trembling form. Mr Duthie's evidence, as that of an eye witness and sympathetic New Zealand er with a proper'regard for the history of Mr country, makes an impression, and the picture he has conjured is effective. Sir Robert, in reply, rakes over the arguments of the other side, has a little good humoured passage at arms with the Premier and the Hon John McKenzie, and as everybody, including the two Ministers, finishes laughing, he divests himself of all personal consideration in the matter, by reiterating his respect for the law, and by declaring that if the law has been obeyed, an Act of validation would smooth matters over as completely as the most exacting veteran might require. The House prefers to do it another way, and by 45 to 8 decides t. 6 leave thing 3 as they are. /'■''.'

Sessional committees '* set in, but before they do so there is a little. skirmish over the proposal to appoint 15 members a Tariff Committee. There is a suspicion that the proposal is a device to shuffle the tariff out of the way, there is some discussion ■ the Premier scorns the insinuation,; there is some bantering, and the House is divided by the suspicious patriots. After that the few committees in the Bill get appointed, the dreary proceedings being enlivened by a quip from Buller at the expense of a printer's error. Committee to report "upon questions relating to the railway."; "Will the Minister kindly tell us what railway this is ?" says Buller with an. air of profound innocence. The House' laughs, but no ■Minister says anything, and any one who looks carefully at the Order Paper sees a vacant space between .''railway" and the comma by which it is fpllowed. Palpable misprint. .< ~/ The committees settled, the debate on the Address comes up, and.apparently at the outset has a narrow escape of collapse. No one takes any notice of the Speaker's formal question about ah'yoneswantirig to speak, and it is not till Mr Pirahi■■is*actually on his legs ready to.reply that Sir Robert StDutg ets up to carry the debate on. , Sir Robert-lets'■us*know at once thsfc he has lots to say, for he fires.a shot at the Standing Orders. '"'" Autocratic rule of this so-called Democratic House." That .is what prevents him from enlarging on all the sins of the Government and their shortcomings.. At the outset he chaffs the mover and seconder on their ■ ' breezy independence," then he knocks some more fur off the fur seal, where Captain Russell left off, and'then' he sets his teeth and plunges into the fray. Consols, Advances to Settlers, Land for Settlements, iSative Lands, Co-operative System, tHe State Farm, the Uriwera Expenditure, these and many other things he holds up to scorn as desperate failures, and he varies that expression with great polemic gusto. He holds up eaoh bird of bright plumage, declares emphatically that once it was a beauty, deplores its death, and throws the carcase at the Government. Which he explains to mean that he is a true Liberal, who admires the Liberal measures as well meant, but condemns the men .who have brought the m to naught; ? , , For the Fair Rent Bill he predicts a similar fate, and after some more hostile demonstrations he comes to his main attack. Like the Lion Rampant he bears his way through Mr Ward's loan circular, treading its various statements under foot. He shakes the Treasurer savagely about the three millions of unpledged securities, the guaran- ; teed debentures;the swplus, and the whole list of things which the Treasurer has had to bear the brunt of in the columns of various Opposition papers. ' " A 'shame and a disgrace," "Bogus prospectus such as rotten companies bring out," and other expressions forcible but sufficiently polite for Parliaments emphasise his meaning, and give vent to the warmth within. He ends with a fierce rejection of the criticism which dbmands concealment of these things as the test of patriotism. To define the noblest patriotism he quotes some noble lines, and lands his warm, nervous peroration in the midst of a burst of applause from the whole House. The Premier takes possession of the floor for a reply, and then dinner; men leave discussing the speech, and prophesying heavy weather later on. ' EVENING. After dinner this anticipation is realised. The Premier, who has a full house, tackles the three millions unpledged at the start, and he pounds the senior member for Wellington for founding such serious charges on a newspaper report. ' „ ,■ The Opposition fire a volley across nis course, and Sir Robert says " revised," " The Agent-General." The Premier sticks to it without any abatement of his vehemence. He has seen two newspaper reports contradictory of the other. "Wait for the Treasurer" is the point he works up to. . . ' - ■ J , , . Then he comes up with Sir Robert and his figures. Canada 3 per cent: went off at .£103; yes, sir. But it was guaranteed by the Imperial Government. The dramatic pause which follows is filled with jeers by the Opposition, but Sir Robert makes no protest. Canadian history, Canadian finances and resources he gives us rapidly tor purpose ot comparison ; and having made the comparison finds it greatly to our advantage. The history of the Canadian 3 per cent.

loans he goes into with much detail of quotation. As he waves his paper, he says he is very glad he had those few minutes of the dinner adjournment. He quotes four issues of 3 per cent.—lßol, '92, '93, '94—gives the price in each 'case ; brings out .£94, <£92 0s 6d, £95 7s 6d, .£97 9s 2d; works out the average dS94 9s ; compares it with New Zealand £94 8s 9d. The Ministerialists cheer the dramatic point with much enthusiasm. The Premier continues his attack along the line of figures. Mauritius and Ceylon loans. Sir Robert has omitted to say that they were Imperially guaranteed. The last 3 per cent. Ceylon loan which he had flaunted at the Government, that was issued at a price 25s less than ours, and the sum wanted, £450,000, was not covered, the subscription being a little over £300,000 only. Sir Robert says he was giving Exchange quotations, not the rates of issues—a remark which the Premier replies to with a wave of his arm, after which he proceeds to deal with the many points of the circular attacked by Sir Robert, and when he has done he pronounces that document perfect in every particular ; and while the Opposition roar with derisive laughter, he looks as if he were aghast at the Agent-General's moderation. When the noise subsides he makes an eloquent reference to that officer's personal honour. _- After that he covers a vast amount of ground; more figures, surpluses and such things come on to his anvil, and get hammered by that hammer which is, always beside him and generally going. Once he has to rebuke the Opposition for interruptions. "I never interrupted the senior member for Wellington, neither did they, sir. My remarks are very unpleasant to them, but that is no reason for them to interrupt me." On he goes through and over Sir Robert's points, keeping up the steam with great vigour. He throws various missiles at Sir Robert— Hansard, his opposition to certain things, his predictions that have not come off, his finance when in power—" remarks don't apply to the hon gentleman, who only on one occasion had a very small surplus." He speaks warmly of the unemployed, throwing back Sir Robert's criticisms, and ends with a fervent hope that nobody will do anything during this debato to lower the honour of the country and traduce every man, woman and child in it. The House, which has listened throughout his allotted hour with interest, gives him a burst of applause. Right out of the hand-claps up springs Patea, whom the House receives with pleasure as a capable speaker, who is sure to amuse them, and give them an instructive example of style and delivery. He begins with a compliment to the Premier ; "' on this the first occasion after his 50th birthday." The Opposition think he is getting off some deep joke, and go off into peals of laughter, which, proving infectious, travel round the house. When the House quietens he goes on to show that he is very much in earnest, and he pays the Premier a very manly compliment—referring to his fine half-century, his proud position, his example of how_ industry, energy and persistence may attain to any position. With his hand on his heart, he wishes his hon friend " Many happy returns." He goe3 on to hope, if he may be allowed to be critical, that as time goes on " he may give us less to criticise and more to praise." Some of the Opposition greet this with laughter, but Patea will not leave them under any misaprehension of his mind in the matter. "Animated, Sir, by the same desire as the hon gentleman —a desire for the public good —I will now proceed to the work of criticism." The House gives him a burst of applause. He takes up Mr Ward, admits the loan has been a grand suceess —the Opposition don't applaud—certain things have been imputed to him ; let us wait till he comes back. But as for Agent-General, fall upon him right away ; for he is not coming back. That is his line. He enters the region of Finance, and stays there for some little time, tossing figures about with clever carelessness, much after the manner of a juggler who keeps several, knives going at a time. From Finance he soon gets to Fancy. Fancy takes him to Parihaka, and there dwells with him with happiost inspiration.. Some Maori had compared the Premier to a white crane : a bird " rare and beautiful," says Patea with an inflexion which explodes the House into laughter, and as the House laughs he eyes the Premier comically. White elephants he thinks the Government knows more about just now, animals which have replaced the old-fashioned red herring ; but the White Crane is a new thing. He takes the Premier to Parihaka as the White Crane, " personally conducted " by the member for New Plymouth, and at every turn he roasts the bird, and bastes him with pungent humour to the great delight of the House, while some of the Opposition have narrow escapes of asphyxia. Wairarapa is purple, Mr Duthie seems unable to get his breath, Wakatipu is holding both his sides, Mr Bell is laughing for once without a break, while Mr Button honours the occasion by shaking a small reef out of that permanent judicial smile in which the House is wont in critical moments to seek support. The White Crane is informed by the Prophet to speak. " If you have anything to say, say it." The chronicler is aghast, he strikes into an. attitude of pain, he looks plaintively at the Premier. " Has it come to this?" he asks. " The first of the Pakehas addressed thus by this savage!" He develops the sketch with first-class histrionic power, encouraged by the laughter that ripples in front of his words, is tossed up on either side of them and tossed far to each wing of the House, and swirls away after them like the wake of some lively craft dancing over the sea. But the White Crane was never known to refuse an invitation to speak, says Patea, keeping up the show. He works away at the adventures of the White Crane, and he certainly does not vary his sketch by any lines that can show the Premier's side of the story. ' , When he works out the vein of humour he gets back to the ordinary world through the "damp, dark bush," in which he stops to apostrophise the Minister of Labour. " Is it possible the hon gentleman is going to send men, women and children, who have as yet committed no crime, to try and make a living on ten-acre sections in suoh country ?" Having got back to the world of civilisation, he solemnly fails to find anything there to the credit of Ministers, and rounds off with a low pitched denunciation of "Fads and Fancies," which merges into a brief eulogy

pitched in an even lower key of '' that glorious country." Mr W. G. Russell deplores the quantity of midnight oil expended in the preparation of the undoubtedly excellent fancy sketch we have just had ; he wrestles with his figures, and fails to find any facts in his collection. He throws light into the damp, dim forest, and shows us happy homes and prosperous settlers, he follows Patea everywhere with a certain bulldog tenacity not unmixed with volubility. From Patea he gets to the Speech, and comes to the assistance of the Government in many ways, making particular eulogy of the boldness of the manner in which they have handled the Midland _ Railway. Before he finishes he makes an important statement. " Last year we supported the Government solely for the sake of our election pledges, but now we have realised that they have prudence, care and judgment, and we will support them for that reason." The Premier, particularly, has shown his strength and character in resisting pressure and upholdiner a prudent finance. He will support the Premier. Mr Duthie comes briskly after with his team of words in capital order. He whips them up sharp into the wake of his senior for Wellington, and he keeps them cantering along merrily to the tune of ditto, which we get very energetically from their hoof-beats. He has been in London, sir, and he speaks from experience. Ho astonishes the House by telling: them that he knows (by some accidental circumstance) that the report of Mr Ward's speech relied on by Sir liobert is quite correct, but he thinks we ought to let Mr Ward speak for himself. As for the Agent-General, he sends his team into the wheel tracks of Patea, and when that road is past, he flics over the plain of general politics, jolting over all the tussocks, and holding tight as ho rasps over the rocks.

Mr E.M. Smith deals with the Tory press with an abruptness that raises laughter. He reads poetry which does the same, especially when he says, " If you want any, apply to me ".! with a broad hand on a broad heart he says it. He tells his version of Parihaka. Invitation, great rejoicings, all spoilt by Mr Hammond's stupid intrusion. He likewise ventures on the subject of iron and other resources, and I think he may have said something about the proper thing to do with them : spend money, and so forth; and he is interrupted by supper.

After supper Mr Smith finishes, Mr Crowther follows with inter alia some rebukes of the flippancy of New Plymouth, more in Yorkshire sorrow than in the anger of the West Riding. Major Steward comes to the support of the Government with an air of high philosophy, and after him Mr McLachlan gives rugged point to the argument from Canterbury. Wairarapa, who has been spoiling all day and night for the fray, adjourns the debate at the hour when yawning is privileged by high dramatic authority. We go away thankful that the hour is early —comparatively.