OBSERVATIONS

Observer, Volume X, Issue 603, 24 January 1891, Page 3

OBSERVATIONS

Off THINGS IN GENERAL.

(By the 0.M.)

IpfeABLIAMENTARY affairs now occupy a large •wifb sbare of P u bH c attention, and will probably wlUr co * or som ® time to come. After trying to igjjKy bluff people into the belief that he was not wl defeated, Sir Harry Atkinson has at last accepted the inevitable. It is now generally expected that his resignation will be followed by the Governor sending for Mr Ballance, and the next step will be the formation of a Liberal Ministry, which I trust will be a strong and progressive one.

I note with pleasure that during the sitting of the Australian Association for the Advancement of Science at Cbristchurch, the Hon. G. W. Cotton will read a paper on ' A State Bank of Issue.' This is a branch of science that is in great need of advancement, and I hope the discussion of the subject will lead to practical results.

The Napier public have at length bnen aroused over the case of the woman Mary Jane Hobbs, who died from fever in Napier Hospital, after being bundled about all over the country, charged with lunaoy, etc. The News demanded an inquiry into the sacrifice of her life, through negligence or other cause ; but so far there is no indication of the authorities taking action in this direction.

The Chamber of Commerce appears to be satisfied that the present methods of dealing with native lands are stupid, dishonest, and disastrous alike to the Maori and pakeha, so it has appointed a committee to draw up a petition to the Government on the subject. The members of the Chamber are not altogether in favour of Mr W. L. Eees's proposals ; but the Government who will receive their petition will be a Bees Government, and I trust that it will deal with this burning question in a manner worthy of their professions and beneficial to the colony as a whole.

A batheb queer quirk has arisen in the WhitakerHutchison libel action. The Chief Justice, in Chambers, allowed Mr Hutchison's pleas that he should be allowed to enquire into Sir Harry Atkinson's and Mr Mitchel's complicity in the dark doings alleged against the Government and the Bank of New Zealand. Thereupon Sir Frederick Whitaker appealed — though it it is hard to see what concern of his it is to defend other people's interests ; and the appeal must be heard before another Judge of the Supreme Court, sitting in Banco. Until this appeal is disposed of, the trial cannot proceed ; but it might as well go on, since no Judge is likely to contradict the ruling of the Chief Justice.