RECEPTION OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 4072, 20 June 1882, Page 2

RECEPTION OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

The following description of the House and Major Atkinson dunng his delivery of the Financial Statement we take from tho Lyttelton Times .•— What the hidden attractions may be that to the feminine mind make the Financial Statement of a Treasurer, with the remains of a severe cold in his head, attractive, I am not prepared tc 'state off-hand, but that " The magician t x figures," as Mr. De Lautour dubbed Major Atkinson in his speech on the Address in Reply, has dazzitedVEairer eyes thanHhose of the stern and shrewd members of the Opposition, I shall ever stoutly maintain. Upon no other ground is the largo attendance of Indies in the gallery this evening to be explained. Long before 7.30 the space set apart for knitting and bonnets was filled from one end to the other, and far more attention was paid to the Major and his feats of financial legerdemain by its occupants than is generally accorded to speakers on ordinary occasions. The Strangers' and Speaker's Galleries were also well filled, and the space behind the chair was also crowded, when, shortly after 7.30, the Treasurer rose and unfolded his Budget to a full House. After apologising for the long delay which his illness had caused in laying the statement of the Colony's finances before the House, and thanking hon. members for the consideration with which they had treated him in allowing him to postpone such an importnnt matter forso long, he proceeded, amid applause, to read the Statement. Its delivery occupied a little more than an hour, and the various points were received with very slight marks of approval or disapprobation. The only incident of the hour was the telegram announcing Mr. Ivess' return for Wakanui, which was passed from hand to hand round by the Chairman, delight appearing on faces belonging to the Opposition ranks, and corresponding disgust on those allied to the Ministry. The Treasurer appeared still weak from his late illness at the outset of his journey through consolidated and Sinking Fund surpluses and deficits, but as he went on the figures themselves seemed to invigorate him ; his voice grew stronger, his speech more forcible, and when he rose to reply to the criticisms showered upon him ir*m the other aide he shook off all langour, and was as hard hitting as ever. The Major is always a favourite, even with the Opposition side of the House, and a storm of applause greeted his defence o£ the financial proceedings of his own Government.