SUMMARY FOR EUROPE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4870, 26 September 1877, Page 2

SUMMARY FOR EUROPE.

INTRODUCTORY.

It is now more than two months since the Assembly began its deliberations, and, so far, bufc little progress has been made. The table of fche House of Representatives ia litttered with Bills of no general interest to the Colony, and time has been largely wasted on debates personal and acrimonious. Charges preferred from time to time

against the Hon. Mr Ormoxd (a member of the Ministry) in relation to Hawkes Bay land transactions culminated in a debate anything but creditable to Parliament. Mr Ormond, who had long nursed his wrath, delivered a bitter personal invective, .which came with greater force by being deliberate, studied, and given with tbe greatest coolness. No sooner was it delivered than it was matter of general regret .•with all parties that it had been Tittered, but ifc produced a debate iv which accusations and denials were ■bandied in language more plain than parliamentary. The position of Ministers was greatly weakened by this illadvised speech, and by the verdict ' against them on the Waka Maori case,

and liow a want of confidence motion is

impending over them. The debate on t~*~: local Option was marked by excessive intemperance of language on the parfc of ythosis who would enforce total abstinence :by compulsion, and by a dignified protest on the pai t of Mv Swanson, who raised his voice against the violent terms terms in which ih-r) licensed victuallers : were condemned. Tiie a!terations ia the Education Bill as ib struggled through Committee have bec jn in ono direction ''••—that ot the Victorian Bill, fre?, compulsory, and secular. The District Railways Bill has bren favourably -received as regards its principles, bufc is regarded as open to considerable improvement in detail, and Government is likely to accept many of the proposed s amendments. . The proposed central "Otago line (known also as the Strath-' Taieri line) is receiving much attention, and- will erelong be probably com-, inenced, despite a considerable amount of narrow-minded opposition. Of this line, which will open up the heavt of the "country, instead of being carried, like .all previous lines, along the sea coast, ifc; • has been well said that ifc is the initiation of the public works policy of the future.