Wellington Notes.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2084, 24 June 1887, Page 2

Wellington Notes.

Immediately prior to the prorogation of Parliament, the Opposition endeavored, but without success, to ventilate the subjects of the travelling and other expensesof Ministers. Said Ministers were, however, too smart for them, and evaded discussion by putting up one Government supporter after another to talk the matter out. I have now before me the return called for during the session, which shows the ' Expenditure upon maintenance of each Department of the Colonial Govern* ment for many years, and from this return I extract the following items which I commend to the notice of the Electors ; 1880-81, Ministers Trav. Expenses, L 1174 1885,-86 „ .. 1100 1886.87 ~ ~ *385 House allowances were as under ; 1880-81 Ministers’ House Allowances 430 1885.86 ~ ~ 550 1886.87 .. .. .. Now comes the item of Ministerial Residences : 1880-81 Ministers’Residences cost L 1.104 1885-86 ~ „ ».Bia One Minister, it is said, is very fond of superior lace curtains, aud lace curtains are very expensive. So are Patriots, apparently.

Recent advices point to trouble brewing for the English in India Russia has for long been intriguing in India, and though many persons aver that an Indian mutiny can never again happen, those who know the country best know also the detestation with which the natives—Hindu and Mabommedan alike—regard our rule. The natives have an ancient prophecy to the effect that a Ranee, or Queen, from the West, would rule over them ; but that a ’• grey-eyed man from the North'' would deliver them. 1 wonder whether Russia is that grey-eyed man, and if so, whether the natives would relish that iron rule ? just now, when all the world is celebrating the Queen’s I übilee and rejoicing in peace, it may savor of pessimism to recall the fact that England’s great national jubilations have too frequently been almost immediately succeeded by national mournings. Yet such is the case, a notable instance being that Great Exhibition of 1851 which, designed to inaugurate an era of universal peace and brotherhood, was closely followed by sanguinary wars.

Regarding the jubilee, the most loyal are becoming heartily sick and weary of the whole business, and are only consoled by the reflection that the majority of us are not likely to assist at another similar event. It is no disloyalty to say that the inconvenience caused by partial suspension of public business is very grave and is not compensated for by a holiday which no one in this dull weather seems to care for. and but few take advantage of.

Sir Robert Stout and Major Gudgeon proceeded by the Rotomahana to Lyttelton, en route for some unknown destination. Let us hope this event has no political significance, and that the Premier has no intention of declaring war with any country. Really it is bard to say what he will do next; having passed through an intensely radical and republican lit. he is certain to suffer a conservative reaction, and it is just possible the Major and Sir Robert are off on an Expedition with the fell put pose oi annexing the antartic circle.

Wanted a Riding Matter! The Evening Press gravely reports (certainly this is the dead season) that a young gentleman “ narrowly escaped a serious accident " in Willis street, this weak. The young gentleman ia question, we learn, took his feet out of the stirrups and fell off his horse. What a state of unutterable dulness we must have arrived at when a leading newspaper records such bosh.

If we want real liveliness w« most go to the country for it. Among a number of other papers some ene has kindly sent me a copy of the Wairarapa Observer of June 18, in which a marked paragraph headed "H. O. G.” appears. Looking over this interesting little journal 1 am disposed to think that for unadulterated Billingsgate it takes the Colonial cake; but the Hog article is about the foulest thing of the sort that the century has produced. Who reads this sort of stuff ? The average settler and bushman is surely as intelligent as tbs average dweller in the city. He is even more so, because having less amusement he is thrown on his own resources and reads and thinks more than the city man; and yet I am sure such drivel, and venomous drivel at that, as this Hog article, would not be tolerated here. Aube same time, apart from his uncleanliness ot expression, this Observer man is almost amusing in his heavy buccolic manner. Some one, it appears, has dared to ask the question " What good has Mr Bunny done?'’ This, to the ordinary person appears a tolerably harmless question, but it sends the Observer person into such tangled delirium that he goes off at once into a species of maniacal poetry with a refrain which reminds us of some touching little verses beard in youth;— Who ran to lift me when I fell, And kiss’d the place to make it well ’ My Bunny 1 I mean—My Mother ! This Carterton peer asks—

" Who led them out oi the mire and made the Wellington Provincial Council &c., &c. ? My Bunny P " Who went into office when the rivers were unbridged ? My Bunny I and so on, from all which 1 gather that ’ My Bunny’ is a Wairarapa celebrity whom the Observer artist in bad language is going to run for Parliament. Well, I wish •• My Bunny ’’ every success, and his Observer friend a good strong disinfectant wherewith to wash out his rather soiled mouth.