Our Wellington Letter.

Opunake Times, Volume VII, Issue 320, 1 October 1897, Page 2

Our Wellington Letter.

Wellington, September 23, THE OPENING OP PARLIAMENT. The Ancient Greeks and Romans placed great faith in omens, and so do many latterday prophets. Some of the happenings of today were ominous of evil days in store for somebody. The first shock was a mysterious little paragraph in the Ministerial morning journal under the heading of Political News “ The Hon. J. McKenzie has kept to his house for the last two days. Some say he is doing this to ensure rest, and others —but there are countless rumors in the air.” For the Government mouthpiece to publish such a canard regarding its former hero who used to be described as the “ Highland Chief, with the big claymore who smote the Opposition hip and thigh ” is a change of front that is ominous indeed. In another column was a telegram narrating the harrowing news that the deficit in Mr Ward’s estate was £ !)B,G3G, and that the elect of Awarua said he had no offer to make to his creditors. During the morning the news of the death of Mr H. S. Fish came, A breezy morning turned into a windy dusty afternoon, and as 2.30 approached the weather was decidedly disagreeable and boisterous. Our new Governor approached the entrance gates in style behind a splendid four-horse team, which would not be guided to the scene of action, Three times was a round turn taken out of them and still they objected. The situation was comical. The gold laced officers, the guard of honor, the band, the police, the spectators were prepared to do their duty, and at every failure on the coachman’s part to steer his chariot to the drive their hearts were in their mouths. The fourth attempt, with the aid of a couple of mounted police, was successful, and Lord Ranfurly,in a Windsor uniform blazing with gold lace and accompanied by his aide-de-camps and the military and naval officers, proceeded to the throne and delivered the speech prepared for him. THE SPEECH. It was the longest winded and emptiest ever heard in the chamber. A careful perusal of it proves that Doctor Seddon is the author, for the bombast and bad grammar is all his own. It covers five solid pages of foolscap, aud about half of it devoted to Record Reign gush, to repeated references to the Mother Country and our kinkred, and to what he did himself, A few of the tit-bits are worthy of reproducing. The speech fairly boils over with loyalty, as the following sentence proclaims ; “ The enthusiasm everywhere shown on the part of Her Majesty’s subjects gave proof of their loyalty to the Throne, their reverence and personal attachment to the Sovereign, and their appreciation of the benefits—political, social, and moral—that have accrued since Her Majesty’s accession.” In one case Her is printed with a small h, in the other with a capital letter ; but let that pass, the puzzle is what the word “ accrued ” means here ; benefit may be bestowed, conferred or awarded, but “ accrued” is worthy Mrs Malaprop. The learned Doctor propably had in mind the term “ rents paid and accrued,” which his colleague of land uses when endeavoring to prove that Pomahaka and other State bargains are splendid investments. Next comes a sentence that our onetime Democratic Premier desires to keep up his acquaintance with the Royal Family, It reads thus:—“ln fitting recognition of the hospitality of the British Nation ” (there are fond memories of the Hotel Cecil and Royal carriages here) and as an evidence of our attachment (query—is the tender passion meant here or is it a mere facon de parler like the “ accrued ” benefits ?) to the Throne and Royal Family, my Ministers (i.e., Dr Seddon) are of opinion that the invitation to their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York to visit Australia and New Zealand should be renewed.” Just so. It would cost a few thousands and a title would then be inevitable. Then the wordy speech goes on to relate how the “ Prime Minister ” of (?) of New Zealand visited London, where a hearty welcome was accorded to the “ Premiers ” (mark the distinction between himself and the other fellows) and the “ Colonial Defence Force Contingents ” (we never heard of these parties before) and the representatives of the colonies visited the principal towns in England, Scotland, Ireland (another injustice to the Quid Dart) and Wales, and everywhere the greatest hospitality and goodwill was manifested.” How in the name of the nine parts of speech the principal towns manifested hospitality “ perhaps themember who will move the Address-in-Reply will interpret, for the schoolmaster has been very much abroad in State documents since the departure of straight-out Socialist Reeves. Then he proceeds to tell of important matters discussed between the Secretary of State and the Colonial Premiers, and the following unconsciously humorous admission is made ; “ It was decided advisable to publish only the decisions arrived at, together with the speeches of the Secretary of State for the colonies and the first Lord of the Admiralty ” This shows that Mr Chamberlain is a wise man. By this clever move he economised the Imperial Printing Bill and saved us the task of wading through pages of turgid oratory It is also stated that '• When received these will be laid before you.” And the next paragraph begins “ The Secretary for State has forwarded to the various Colonial Governors a despatch containing a report of the conference between tween the Colonial Office and the Colonial Premiers.” This implies that there were two conferences, aud that one despatch has arrived and the other is expected. Then follows another out pouring of soulful polysyllables on the “self sacrifice of those who formed the Contingent in undertaking, in the interests of the colony and the Empire, (mark the order of precedence), so long a journey, and devoting so much of their time without fee or reward, cannot be too highly commended.” The nominative case is a long way from the verb it governs here, but that is the result of inflation. The Maori race and the Kolapore Cup are both utilised to spread out the jubilation here. After that a page of padding about the Napier floods and nothing in particular, and then a statement regarding the 11 Prime Minister’s ” gallant deeds in respect to cheap freights on produce, about which Mr Buchanan will probably join issue, and then comes a paragraph which forshadows the establishment of an intelligence bureau to keep the world acquainted with our doings. It reads thus ;— *• The dearth of Information supplied to the British public, especially in the provincial districts, and to foreign nations with respect to the colony and its prolucts and resourses, calls for attention, and remedial measures will be submitted for your consideration.” Of course, when this department is fully equipped the labors of the Prime M.nister aseshibited in the Speech from the Throne will be flashed through the cable to St, Helens, and the Victorian aud the Morman Bishops and President McKinley will enjoy the production at breakfast next morning. That there should be a censorship of New Zealand intelligence set up is evidenced from a paragraph in the Financial News of August 9th, published under the authority of Reuter. It was evidently manufactured with much ingenuity and care and gives quite a new interest in the affairs of Mr Ward. Here it is in full; “ Wellington, August 7, —During the examination in bankruptcy of Mr Ward, late Treasurer of New Zealand, before Judge Williams, the liquidator and his solicitor declared Mr Ward to be not guilty of dishonesty or impropriety. The manager of Mr Ward’s business stated before the Judge on oath, that Mr Ward had known nothing of the business during the last four years ; that he had believed in him (the manager) most implicitly, and that Mr Ward had nothing to do with compiling the balance-sheet. Mr Ward publicly stated that he would work to repay every one who had lost money either in England or the Colony, and that he anticipated being able, under the Liquidation Association (sic), to pay 10s 6d in the £. The late Chairman of the Colonial Bank said in the course of his examina-tion,-ou oath, before the Judge, that it was shameful that the Association should have

been forced into liquidation. Reuter.” What a consolation it must have been to London creditors to read on August 9th that there were hopes o£ Mr Ward working off the £98,000 he owes; and what a shock they will receive to-day when they read that the same Mr Ward said “he had no offer to make-’’

As for the rest of the Governor’s speech, it promises the following cast-off clothes of the 1896 session for wear this year:—Legislative Council Reform, Eight Hours Bill, another Bank Bill, Juvenile Depravity, Usury, State Fire Insurance, Master and Apprentice, Local Govermn* n' Lands, for Settlement, Mining, Old Age Pensions, Beet Root, and CommerciaT Travellers. Of a surety the Liberal Ministry is in a bad way when it presents a twice-laid banquet such as this to Parliament.