Summed Up.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 545, 16 December 1890, Page 3

Summed Up.

[lyttxltox times.' Tse return of Mr Richard Beeves by the narrowest possible of majorities reminds us that Richard of luaugahua is not the first of hie name who bae entered the House of Bepreseutaiivee on the strength of an advantage of one vote. It also reminds us that Mr R. Beeves’ return reduces the untried element in the new House by one man. Nevertheless, that element is very large. The Conservative newspapers seem to think it too large. It is difficult to satisfy newspapers who, co long as the last Parliament was still alive, were for ever calling for new blood and a clean sweep They have now got what they asked for,' yet they moan dolorously. We can only presume that they Wanted the electors to reject all the Liberals and return all tbe Conservatives, and that the electors have preferred to apt in rather a different manner. There are some members, We admit, whose defeat we are sorry for—numbers on both sides of the House. There am also one or two men who did not stand whose withdrawal we regretted, e.g., Messrs Ormond, Whyte, Withy and Dr Fitchett. The Bouse has lost a clever lawyer in Mr Samuel and a promising young bore in Mr Marchant. Mr Menteatb was an able mao, well read, refined, a dry but thoughtful •peaker. Mr James Aden’s defeat has interrupted a career of some promise. With fair ability Mr Alien had great industry, a good character, and independent means. Thus be was able to devote hie whole time to politics. He meant to climb tbe ladder and Would, we doubt not, have done so had not ths J»me fate overtaken him that he helped to inflict on Sir Robert Stout. We would sooner have seen Mr Allen returned than Mr J.mes Mills, who, however smart a man Of business be may be, is one of the most feeble and useless po.iticians we ever saw. Commerce and politics are certainly different things. Yet Mr Milla is not much feebler than was Mr Beecham, who bad not the excuse of inexperience which the member for Pon Chalmers has. Mr Beetham has eat in the House for many years, and beyond getting plenty of money foe me district and discharging the duties of Government whip good-emperedly, we can |by no good of him. As a speaker he eas pain and grief to listen to. Yet be did not •peak |o badly as Dr Hodgkuuon ; and Dr Hodgkinson did not speak so badly as Mr peldwiek; and Mr Fel iwick was an orator Compared to Mr J, 0. Brown; and Mr J. C. Brown was preferable to Mr J. Miles Verrail. With the exception of Mr Feidwick. v« cannot My that the country has lost muck in losing thus legislators. Nor can we pretend to •01 tow for Mr John Kerr, or tor Colonel ytgeer, or tor Mr Hoary Fitsuerbert, or fui Mr Thus, Tanner, or even for the amiable and inaudible Mr leard. Mr Tanner was almost M big a bon as Dr Hodgkinson, which ii •eying a good deal. Mr Hobbs was not to big a bore because be did not talk so often Pirt • comparatively cheat mao, Mr Hobbi teas marysttousiy well disliked. Mr Bcuce gu tbe other baud, was not a bare, and hat not a* enemy in the House. Though not I debater, his oratorical talent was too gteat t< make bio speeches in the House anything bui sgreeable. Mr Bruoe, however, was essentially a platform speaker, never seen at bn beet in Parliament. Very different was D Fiiohett: it is difficult to imagine him “ chap ing” on a pisiform at all. But he was i pretty little debater, II is a pity that be bad t< give up politics, for he had good sluff ii him. Mr Boss is gone: few m n livin; have ever heard him speak. Personally h WM • kindly old gentleman with a pink am cherubic countenance surmounted by ai aureole of snow white hair, 01 course h Was Callgl “ the cherub.” Mr Moss, on th Osbas band, had no hair at all, and was calle paaaaudrs. He bad the most beautiful void bf any tnsn in Parliament, and with nd beautiful voice be Used to pour forth doleir vaticinations about everything in general an

jeremiads on one thing in particular—tbe downfall of Provincial im-iiiutions, Mr Mors was particularly disliked by Hit Harry Ar Bisson, Mt though that rather endeared him to th* Opposition if djd not make jthem like his speeches. Mr J. B. White bad a shrewd, Siting W‘t of bie own, so neat and quiet thsl Itupft men look no note of it. But as a humorist Mr Pyks was—when in the vein—facile frinceps. But though 'gu amusing man, Mr Pyke was a bad member, and we Cannot mourn over bis defeat by Mr Boobie Mackenzie. Mr Mackengies views are not Mrs, but he is the best set speaker in BarUameat, is g painstaking political student, A cultured man, and as favorable a specimen of a Tory m we know, dU Arthur, defeated on the East Coast, WM one pf ibe best looking men in the late House; he wss not in it long enough to be-* feme noted for nagh| else. Mr Seymour, a Shairman of ftennuitiees, knew a

great deal more about the Standing Orders than anyone now left, except Mr W. J. Steward. Mr Seymour was a thorough gentleman, and a silent faithful Atkinsonian. No wonder Sir Harry regrets his loss. Mr Dodson was another silent Government man. Mr Fulton was not. silent. He sat alongside Sir John Hall, close behind Ministers. Sir John was head nurse to the Cabinet; Mr Fulton posed as under-nurse. He made a respectable Chairman of the Waste Lands Committee, and would have made a respectable anything else. He was the most utterly respectable man we remember to have seen. As a speaker, he always seemed laboring under an overwhelmingly conscientious desire to be fair—and he always shut his eyes in the end and voted straight out with his party. Mr Barron, that honest Ishmaelite, is gone. He always found his brother members all obstinate, and all in the wrong. Mr Lance has fallen after a brave fight, and the Stock Department will escape one vigilant critic. Mr Walker will not longer expose the misdeeds of the Railway Commissioners and the inconsistencies of Sir Harry. Kindly, honorable companionable, Mr Walker was better liked on both sides than usually is the case with strong outspoken party men. He was as popular as Mr Hislop was the reverse. Mr Hislop has fallen, as we foretold, and well as he desetved his defeat it has been so cruelly crushing that we have no feeling for him but pity. Wa have named most of those who have passed off the stage. Mr Cowan, of the white moustache, has vanished < Mr Jones and Mr Taiwhanga are dead. Mr Lougbrey entered politics at one election only to quit them ere the next. Mr M'Grvgor, tbe cheeriest of whips, has had harder luck. His departure waa not voluntary, Brief indeed is the life of tbe average Colonial politician. Moat members come and go before half the Colony baa got used to tbe sound of their names,