Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1896.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7794, 5 December 1896, Page 2

Poverty Bay Herald. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1896.

jMjl Kkddo.n* remains in j)nwer but wilh his wings clipped. It i 3 a mutter for hearty congratulation lluO tho standard of the House of Representatives has been raised by a better class of men being sent to Parliament. Though the Government havo a majority— and a substantial working majority— they havo not tho uuwieldly and servile following which they commanded after the elections of 1893. The men who compose their party are for the most part meu of more independent character, and we do not expect to hear of any more written pledges to support, the Premier through thick and thin. There are still a few Hoggs, Lawrys and Duncans left, bub generally speaking the House has been rid of its " dumb dogs," and included in the Government party are men like Messrs George Fisher,' O'Regan, and Larmieh, who will not be driven nor submit to be placed in the extremely awkward positions that many of the members of the last Parliament were forced into by the sting of tho party whip. Several Independent m ambers have been returned, and these gentleman practically hold the balance of power. Messrs J. W. Kelly, I'irani, and G. J. Smith, have in election speeches declared most emphatically against such methods of Government as have prevailed in the past, and may be depended to voto staunchly as Independents. The feeble Opposition of the last Parliament has been converted into v, vigorous organisation, against which the Premier will have to seriously reckon in all his public acts.* Tho return of such a strong Opposition party must; be tuken as an indication of the changed sentiments of the people, and the Premier will be a very foolish man if he does not read the writiug on the wall and mend his wava. The people have plainly declared that the days of autocratic misgovernment must be ended. Tho new Opposition embraces a number of very able men from which a strong Cabinet could be formed. (Japtain Russell's return for Hawke's Biiy will on all sides be hailed with general satisfaction, and it is a noteworthy eign of tho decline of Seddonism in that district that three strong Oppositionists have been returned for tho HawJce's Bay scats. Kveryoue will welcome the return to Parliament of the Hon. Mr Rolleatou, an able and honoiublc gentleman, and the most popular victory of the elections will be the return at the head of the Dunedin poll of Mr Scobie Mackenzie, whose powerful eloquence and keen satire will be ono of tho most elective agents in keeping the Government in check. The leather-lunged Mr l f ish is back for Dunedin, and when he is opposed on the door of the House by Mr George Fisher, it will be like old times again. With thesD two gentlemen on the boards the talking power of the House can hardly be said to have been curtailed, but by tho absence of Messrs " Riocurton " Russell and McLuughlin, and Taranaki's shining light, Mr t£. M, Smith, Parliament loses in loquacity, if not in polished eloquence. Amongst the members defeated wlio " never will bu missed" must be classed Messrs Caruell, Hall, Willis, und Macintosh, whilst it is to be regretted that Mr K. McKenzic, of the ]jullcr, was net added to the number. Amongst the " old hands " who have gone down are tho veteran Mr Alfred Saundcrs, tho Nestor of the House, our old representative Mr W. Kelly, Murfideu Thompson, and the vcnerablo William Hutchison, lor so many years tho pride of Dunedin. The Opposition loses two staunch men in Dr Newman and the Hon. IS. Mitehelsou, but tho hitter's defeat must be set down as due to the late hour at which, after ninny refusals, he entered the contest. Tlial loss is compensated to a certain extent by the infusion of new blood into tho party, i Iv Messrs McLean, Waaon, Brown, Hunter, ! ' Lethbridge.JThompaon (Ohuhu), Curaon, and : others they have pniued soino promising i

legislators. Summing up, we should say the results of tho election are satisfactory and encouraging, aud should tend to a restoration of confidence and return to good government. It is the best possible thing which could have happened to MrSeddon to have a strong and healthy Opposition and not too subservient a following. If he knuckles down to his altered circumstances and walks circumspectly, he may retain office for some time to come and make an able and good administrator, but if he continues to follow the impulses of his own strong will he will surely come to grief. Tin: Hon. Mr Carroll's return for the Waiapu seat by such a substantial majority shows that he has lost none of his popularity aud personal attractions, and he is to be complimented upon the result. Mr Carroll will make a worthy representative, and i his promises arc fulfilled the district should have no reason to regret their choice. Mr Fitzßoy sufFered an honorable defeat. It was a brave effort on his part to come —an utter stranger to the district — to attempt to oust so redoubtable an opponent as Mr Carroll, a Minister of the Crown, happeued to be, aud we must all admire his courage and the indomitable perseverance anil endurance with which he travelled over this wide electorate, showing how thoroughly he had the cause he was fighting at heart. The Opposition party will be under a debt of gratitude to Mr Fitzßoy for coming to their assistance, and everyone to whom the candidate has mude himself known during the past few weeks cannot but regard him with respect. Finally, we must again express our satisfaction at the kindly spirit which prevailed throughout the contest, and pleasant miinner in which the result was received. The voice of the people has plainly declared that the time is not ripe for prohibition The "top lino"' advocates seem to have failed right along the line, and in most constitu. encies thero have been strong expressions against any manner of reduction in the number of present licenses. The country will probably have a rest from agitation on the prohibition question until the next poll comes round in three years' time, though tho temperance advocates will probably use their best endeavors at the election of licensing committees in March next Ito secure strong committees to insist upon the proper conduct of the pulblic houses in accordance with the law. That is an object to which the publicans themselves, if they studied their own interests, should not bo antagonistic. The bulk of the people in the community desire to see the law under which licenses arc held strictly carried out, and tho liceused victuallers would be strengthening their tenure if they set their hearts to conform to the law. The cry of the extremists bus been that regulation cannot be effected ; but people of moderate views think otherwise, and want to know why the Licensing Act should not be carried out and obeyed us perfectly as any other law of the land. Mr J. Booth, S.M., returned to Gisborne from Napier this morning. The 'Frisco mail comes to hand to-morrow afternoon by the s.s. Te Anau. The monthly meeting of the Whataupoko Road Board, which was to have been held yesterday, was adjourned till Friday in next week, owing to there being no quorum present. Candidates for the London College '"of Musio examination are requested to be in attendance at the Holy Trinity Church schoolroom on Monday afternoon at 2.30 o'clock. The monthly meeting of the Pouawa Road Board was held this morning. Present : — Messrs Harris (Chairman), McFarlane, and Holden. A quantity of routine busiues was transacted, and accounts amounting to £3 3s were passed for payment.