The Taranaki Herald. FRIDAY. FEBUARY 11, 1870.

Wanganui Herald, Volume X, Issue 2703, 11 February 1876, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. FRIDAY. FEBUARY 11, 1870.

The Victorian Premier, Sir James McCulloch, has given notice of motion of a Standing Order which will have the effect, if carried, of breaking- down the " Stonewall." The rule is a strong one ': when the previous question is moved the resolution will have to be put without debate or amendment. The full meaning iglhat when the majority tliink that a motion has been sufficiently discussed, it may at once stop the discussion, and that any member may, by moving the previous question, give the majority the opportunity of exercising its power. A Standing Order jf similar import existed at one ] time in New Zealand, but was expunged as being- unconstitutional. During- last session in our own House, while the debate on the Abolition question was proceeding, it was suggested that the Standing Order should bereintrodueod ; and it was supposed to be this that was meant by Mr (Stafford when he said there, were means of compelling 1 th' 1 minority to yield to the majority. Some very good judges, •< however, of the powers and privileges of Parliament denied the capacity of the majority to carry the Order itself, and there were grave doubts of the constitutional character of a rule of the kind. On the oilier hand it was maintained tnat as the Order would be. discussed in the House and not in Committee, • a member could only speak to it once, and the requisite majority being forthcoming*, it must ultimately be carried. This is the " iron hand " to which Sir James McOulloch alluded when he stated that the majority must triumph. The new Standing Order »vould give to the majority a very absolute power, and is entirely opposed to that spirit of concession which is supposed to be essential to the working of representative institutions. It is impossible to say when such ]

an order might not be used to serve the tyrannical purposes of an unscrupulous party, or to impose on the country a measure to which a large majority of the electorate may' bo opposed. It is quite true that if such an order had existed last session, the Abolition Bill would have boon carried in the orignial form ; but wo aic very strongly of opinion that the compromise effected was infinitely ]>io(V)';il>le to the " brute force " which would have iirbitnirily carried tho measure. In considering' a subject of this kind wo must look beyond the mere question which tho introduction of n new constitutional principle may effect. The action of a minority al a particular time, can only bo a mere matter of opinion ; but the status of minorities underlies the basis of our constitutional fabric. That the majority must rule, is a truism which admits oi no dispntejbut no competent authority has over maintained that it shall rule without those checks and limits which are necessary to secure deliberation. This great result in Parliamentary govern ment is attained by an organized opposition, by forms which prevent sur- | prises, and. by a second chamber. The position of parties in Victoria is at least interesting. The Opposition say they will force a dissolution of Parliament in order to test the opinion of ihe electorate on the question of a fresh tax. The Government insist that the House is competent to decide the question without an appeal to the country. No doubt the Government arc in the right. But still Mr Iliginbolham's constitutional doctrine is the sound one. The Opposition are not justified in resorting- to the weapons "they are using 1 , and the Government arc all wrong in the defiant course they have pursued. It lias been said that Mr Higinbotham is paradoxical. That may be true, but a very able writer (Mr , Bagcliot) lias pointed out that the work- 1 ing 1 ot the English Constitution is paradoxical from beginning 1 to end. We have no hesitation in saying that the action of a minority in refusing supplies in order to ibice the Government to appeal to ilie country is tinconstitutional. But we would not say it would be unconstitutional if the Opposition took the same stand upon a Bill to impose fresh taxation. We cannot say why' the Opposition have not taken this course. Their present action is obstructive of the exercise of all the functions ofi^-frATfii'jimciit lin the second case, ticular measure. Let it not be supposTd that in writing of the constitutional aspect of the question, we prefer the taxation proposals of the Government to those of tho Opposition. We have already discussed the merits of the question. We think it unfortunate that in fighting' for a principle of taxation, there should any doubt exist as to the constitutional form employed. The public mind is distracted when two great questions, radically distinct from each other, are before it at the same instant for settlement. For the danger is that they will be confounded, and no clear opinion expressed on either. Mr Higinbotham is lost to Victorian politics from the general confusion which has ensued.

It has been suggested that Poxton be declared a port of entry, and we must at once say that a more practical step to forward the interests of the rapidly extending township could not be taken. Foxton has a good future before it, and will grow quicker thao. ever once railway communication is established. This will bo completed in a month or two, when we may expect to see a large increase of shipping, and ere long direct fez-ado with some of tho neighbouring colonies. Its shipping, even now, will compare favorably with that of more than one port of; entry in the Colony, and the rapid increase in the population of the district is a guarantee that there will be no falling ofE. Only lately ' there were a number of vessels lying in the river, their masters patiently awaiting their turn to go to the solitary wharf with which the port is provided ; and this is by no moans an unusual occurrence. Once Poxton is declared a port of entry, those who are interested in the expansion of its trade will probably see the necessity of following still further in the footsteps of other places, and by forming a Harbour Board make some needed improvements in the river. We commend tho proposal to the favorable consideration of the Government, and feel sure that the interests of Poxton, which have so long' been overlooked by the Provincial Government, will not be ignored.

The Typographical Society in Dunedin is causing some amusement,if nothing else. By the last mail we received a number of printed protests, circulars, replies to Keed, appeals to the working classes, and other things. We should imagine that while Mr Deed's staff is satisfied the public has no ground for complaint. In the lI.M. Court to-day (Friday), W. Prin was brought up for having stolen certain articles of M r earing apparel from Messrs Bridge & Ward. He pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to three months' hard labor. Patrick Ritchie being suspected of unsound mind was remanded for a week. A number of civil cases were adjourned.

Scarlet ievev was fatal to 251 persons in Melbourne and suburbs in tho mouths of November last. The deaths from the disease during the four months, August to November, both inclusive, were 509. The deaths from (he same cause for the four weeks ending 25th December, were only 155. Kor the week ending the lth, the fatalities were 10 ; 11th, -10 ; 18th, 88 ; and 25th, 37. By tho Manawatu this (Friday) morning arrived one of tint class oL' settlers which is .so desirable in a country only just being settled. The gentleman we refer to is Mr Pearce, who, with a grown up family, came to Wellington per Commonwealth. Mr Pearce has brought with him a small shipload of agricultural and other implements, all of which arc calculated to come in useful here. Besides this there are a number of well-bred pigs, superior dogs, a Devon cow, and, most valuable of aIJ, six or seven loug-woolled Devon slioep, which are, as far as we know, the first of tue kind brought to New Zealand. We are pleased to see that Mr Pearce has selected this coast as his future home, and have no doubt but he will find little difficulty in selecting a suitable place ou which to begin operations. !New Zealand could do with a large number of settlers of the same class. A cyclone has passed over the province of Albay, Hongkong, doing serious damage to the properties, and ocoassioning the loss of about 1,000 lives. Two hundred and fifty persons were charged at the Liverpool Police Court, one Monday, with drunkenness in the streets on Saturday and Sunday. A week before the number was 201. The drunkards have been ste'ulily on tho increase for several weeks in Liverpool. The Aucklaud Gas Company have declared a dividend of 7.1 percent, on the capital of the company for the half-year, equal to 15 per cent, per annum. Those desirous of obtaining ad cuiulein degrees in the New Zealand University have to send in an application to that effect addressed to the Registrar, Christchurch, on or before the 22nd proximo, accompanied by evidence in support of the application. This (Friday) morning there were landed six sheep of a breed which will be new to most breeders in Now Zealand. At a lirst glance they would be taken for Lincolns, but a close examination shows that their wool is a deal fiver and softer than that of either Lincolu or Leicester. A slight dash of the Merino given to the former would produce wool nob unlike that borne by these sheep. They are called the long-woolled Dcvou,and English breeders. It is claimed for them that they have wool much softer and finer than the Lincoln, while at the same time there is no difference in the weight of the fleece. They are hardier than other longwools, and thrive on indifferent feed. Their carcase, we should say, is not quite as heavy as that of the Lincoln. They are superior looking sheep, and should thrive on some of the higher land where Liucolns have been found too heavy. At Peuhurst Sir JohnO'Shauassy said, in explanation, that his scheme of giving local bodies more powers included the paymeut by them of the local police, as in England. At a meeting of the Sir Julius Reception Committeo in Wellington the following arrangements reported in the Post were made : — " It was resolved further, that arrangements should be made with the captain of one of the ships in port to fire a gun on the Arawata being signalled in sight, so as to give geueral notice of her approach, and to enable all to be in readiness; also, that the captains of all the ressels in the harbour should be invited to a.ssist in the demonstration by hoisting flags, firing guns, and discharging fireworks. It was proposed that three carriages should be in waiting at the wharf, that for Sir Julius Yogel himself, to be drawn by six horses, and driven by Mr Andrew Young, a member of the committee. Mr Krull undertook to see Lady Yogel, a nd ascrtain her wishes as to being present on the wharf, with the view to providing for her suitab'e accommodation. It was decided that the address should bo presented on the Wharf before Sir Julius entered his carriage, and that on his proceeding to his house, he should be escorted thither by a torchlight processiou as lareje as possible ; that the various volunteer corps in the city and their bands should be asked to take part ; also the the various friendly societies. Captains Moss and Hutchins stated that the Central and Wellington Fire Brigades both would be prepared to do their best to further the object they all had in view. The order of the procession will be arranged to-night. On her passage up the p s Manawatu passed the Arawata off Terawiti, and being pretty close to her, three hearty cheers were given for Sir Julius Yogel, who came ou deck, took off his hat, and thanked the enthusiasts in a few brief sentences. The steamers were going in opposite directions, and there was of course little time to spend, but the scene must have been most satisfactory and pleasing to all on board the two steamers. Mr Baird, Provincial Engineer, accompanied by Mr Barton, also in the Engineers' Department, arrived in town yesterday, (Thursday) afternoon. They are paying a visit to this coast for the purpose of inspectj ing roads,etc, aud will doubtless find enough to do. Tho tide being unusually high to-day (Friday) the river was again covered with rubbish floated 1 away from the Pnfciki wharf. Some good pieces of wood were secured by several nersons always ou the look out for such windfalls,

There is some malice in the statement of the Post about the legal profession in Wanganui. There have been cases of most scaudalous overcharging, but there are many solicitors in* Warganui who make no higher charges than do the solicitors of Wellington. We must say that under the present editor, the Post finds most congenial employment in casting dirt at everything and everybody connected with Waugarmi. The editor who received many favours from the people here, some of which he lias forgotten to acknowledge, has commenced showing his gratitude in the most systematic manner. A man named P. ititchie, working on the lline liange at Mr Chuvtou's, was last night brought in on suspicion of lunacy, and this morning remanded for 7 days. A well-attended meeting of the Representative Reception Committee was held at the Commercial Hotel last (Thursday) right, Major Noake occupying- the chair. Tlic names of Messrs J. Thomson and J. Pawson. were added to the Committee. Jfc was resolved that the latter gentleman, in conjunction with Mr AVard and the Secretary, bo a Managing Committee. After some discussion it was left with the Secretary to make arrangements for the lunch oq the day of the arrival. It having been proposed that a picnic should be given, it was decided to arrange one for the clay on which the prizes will be presented, the same day having also been chosen for the cavalry tournament. Both will come off at Anunoho, aud we need hardly say that a better locality for the tw ocould hardly have been chosen. This concluded the business, and the mcotiue dispersed. We remind the theatre-going public that the Wheeler Troupe appears for tho first time to-night.