CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 11, 12 December 1890, Page 15

CHRISTCHURCH.

(From an occasional Correspondent.)

The big event of the general elections is over, and the attendant excitement is beginning to subside. As I anticipated, the Liberals have scored a great victory. The " trio," upon whom Christchurch Conservatives has expended so much bottled-up wrath, during the past few weeks, left all the other city candidates to occupy the unenviable position of the proverbial " little hoat." Mr. W. P. Reeves may well be proud of the victory which he has achieved for himself and his colleagues. Ido not think that it is at all claiming too much for him to attribute to him the lion's share in the victory. Upon him has fallen, all through, the task of bearing the brnnt of the battle and of defending himse'f and his comrades. He was made the butt for all the wrath of tbe Conservative party. At him chiefly, the abuse of the Conservative organs was directed. Of coarse, the reason for this is obvious. He is regarded as the one most dangerous to the peace of landgrabbers and " rings " of every sort. Mr. Perceval and Mr. Taylor were not looked upon as being of so formidable a type as Mr. beeves. They were not regarded by those " whom it might concern " as probable authors of unpleasant enquiries rr land transactions and other impertinences of a kindred kind. Therefore they were let off comparatively lightly. Mr. Reeves could console himself for the vituperative excesses of his opponents, with the reflection that if he were really estimated by them as a nonentity, they would not waste so much powder and shot upon him. However in spite of all the opposition, and pretty powerful opposition it was too, he has been returned with flying colours, and there is now but little doubt but that he will be in the next Ministry. Ooe of the pleasantest features of the political partnership between Mr. Reeves and Mr. Perceval was tbe unselfish manner in which they worked together. When they stood together in the Times office and looked out at the dense applaudingmass of people who were rejoicing at their return, Mr. Reeves and Mr. Perceval must have derived an additional glow of pleasure from the thought that they had worked so legally shoulder to shoulder. The two principals of the "dauntless three," are practically starting now upon their political career. The last three years have been little more than a preliminary canter over the political course. The next three years will try them more severely, and prove conclusively of what stuff they are made. Both gentlemen have splendid prospects before them. Both are yoUDg men to whom ambition now promises, in all sincerity, almost any place which they choose to carve for themselves in the future history of the colony. Both are high principled, honourable young men, possessing fine natural gifts and all the advantages of intellectual cultivation. A great trust haß been placed in them by the people. They must have felt conscious of the almost awful nature of that trust as they looked upon the sea of upturned, enthusiastic faces which met their view on Friday night. Men who could receive such confidence, and then provo false to it

would be base indeed. Such men Messrs. Reeves and Perceval assuredly are not. I think one could place one's life upon their honour. So lam sure that in their start all admirers of brilliant young colonial talent will wish Messrs. Reeves and Perceval every success which can be crammed into a long and honourable career in the service of their adopted land. The morning after the election the Press gave short biographical sketches in " Men of the Time " style of some of the newly-returned members in other parts of the colony. This was done gravely and soberly ; but I think, all the same, that it was done iv a satirical spirit. It must have been terribly crushing to the aristocratic tone of the great Christchurch Conservative organ to find that such terrible social revolutions as those which had, in some instances, occurred. Possibly, in the opinions of the Press, the only remedy left for this lwful state of topsy-turveydom wnioh permits shoemakers and tailors and swaggers to rub shoulders in the House with landed proprietors and other similar specimens of superior flesh and blood, would be the old prescription prescribed for Ireland. If New Zealand be not forthwith towed out into the sea aad immersed until every democrat in it possessed of a vote, and every shoemaker and tailor are turned into ripples, it will be impossible for any proper-minded member of the " hupper suckles " to breathe the democratically-polluted air of the God-forßaken land of the Maori and Moa. John has had to get up and let Jack sit down with a vengeance, and it is intensely funny to observe the desperate effort which the Press makes to grin and bear the new state of affairs without telling the democrats what it thinks of them and their candidates.

For the Avon, of course, Mr. Stead never had the ghost of a chance. No more had Mr. Rhodes for Heatbcote. Mr. Hoban had a creditable fight for Rangiora. A young man who polls five or six hundred votes upon his first attempt to enter political life has every reason to feel satisfied at having done very well in making a beginning.

Altogether I think that the Catholics have a right to congratulate themselves upon having a good many members of the new Parliament upon their side in regard to the education question. I have heard that Mr. Rhodes, of Temnka, is a convert in this matter, but cannot vouch fcr the truth of the statement, which may be only a canard.

Mr. W. Rolleston is already spoken of as the successor of Sir Maurice O'Rorke as Speaker of the House. lam really sorry that the fine mannered, courtly old Irish knight was defeated. He was an admirable specimen of the grand gentleman of the old school. His manner of rising from his chair, or sitting down was such as a kin? might envy, but could scarcely hope to imitate, Our William of Halswell has the grand stately manner, but he still lacks that indescribable magnificent air which adorned our " Only Speaker." On Friday next the Brothers' school will break up. The following day the Brothers will depart for their annual holiday. From a fellow passenger of theirs from Sydney, I learn that our old Redemptorist missionary friends, Fathers Vaughan and O'Neil, who are now in Auckland, are in splendid form for the commencement of their labours.