OBSERVATIONS

Observer, Volume X, Issue 624, 13 December 1890, Page 3

OBSERVATIONS

(By the 0.M.)

ON THINGS IN GENERAL.

|||i||R JUSTICE CONOLLY was indiscreet enough, uffpfijl during the progress of the Huntley case, to \|gj|lf|l refer to ' the Labour gang.' He was quite W|ggsft right in his resolve to protect witnesses against any possible maltreatment or intimidation by Trade-XJnionists ; but the expreasion ' Labour gang ' is offensive, and would not be used by any person in a judioial frame of mind. # * #

Frank Lawry, the only unselfish politician — he who so magnanimously presented the Manukau seat to O'Rorke — most emphatically declares that he will not resign Parnell seat in favour of the rejeoted Speaker. Lawry is always frank, and I suppose he considers his duty was fully done when he relinquished one Beat. Perhaps Major Hamlin will now oblige.

R. W. Cbick, who was recently expelled from the N.S.W. Parliament, for accusing the Speaker and Chairman of Committees of corrupt jobbery to the tune of £3000, has been re-elected by his constituents. The inference is that the electors believe his accusations, \rhich I formerly characterised as ' probably true.'

The libel action against the Ham'ke's Bay Herald is brought by a Mr Fred Cassin, whose name was mentioned by that paper in connection with a monetary transaction between a Mr Simpson and a Druid's Lodge at Napier. Mr Cassin proceeds by criminal suit against Messrs Dinwiddie and Walker, proprietors of the Herald. The accused promise to make it lively.

I said last week that the Atkinson Government was dead, and the result of the election proves the truth of the forecast. There are many difficulties in the way of forming a stable Governmant with Ballanoe at its head, for Grey's retirement will not fully consolidate the Liberals. If Stout were in Parliament, a strong party might be formed, that would hold office for three years ; but I fear that a Ballance-Piaher Government will soon collapse, and that the quidnuncs are not far out in their prediction of a dissolution before the end of 1891.

Dr. Collins, Auckland Hospital Surgeon, is a good man ; but he has a fault, as the best man on earth has. That fault has led to Nurse Arnibaldi lodging a complaint against her superior officer, and the doctor is in a sense on his trial for neglect of duty. It will probably be found that the Auckland doctors' strike and boycott of Collins are at the bottom of the present charge. Anyway, the Hospital Board members will have a most friendly feeling towards their doctor, on account of the special difficulties of bis position, with nearly all the local doctors opposed to him.