THE HNANGAHUA TIMES. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLYWEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1882.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1052, 22 February 1882, Page 2

THE HNANGAHUA TIMES. PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY-WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1882.

It is now definitely understood that Parliament will positively be called together for the transaction of business in May next, and the session promises to be a most eventful one. In the North, Sir George Grey and other members of the Opposition are already mustering their forces, and in the South, Mr Macandrew is also marshalling the opponents of the Government, whilst throughout the whole Colony, a gentle simmer of political excitement is being got up, which will probably end in one of the toughest political battles that has raged in the Assembly for some years past. The position of the Government is by no means a safe one, and Ministers are _well aware that they have a hot time before them. They are sparing neither pains nor, promises in order to conciliate the constituencies in every direction before the time of trial comes, and, following the example of Sir George Grey, one of their number, Mr Rolleston^ after stumping the Southern Island has gone North to woo the districts in that direction. At present both sides either are, or profess to be, confident of victory. The Opposition claim to have a majority of at least eight, some of the more sanguine even setting it down at y ound dozen, whilst the Ministerial supporter? declare that they can gather an equal or even larger number of Government followers., From a careful comparison, we are inclined to think that the Ministry will find itself in a minority, but they have a great advantage in having recognised leaders in their army, whilst the Opposition, even if numerically stronger, have no head, no one that will follow, but are split up into small sections that will not coalisce. For instance, Sir George Grey has a small but; band that would support him in any absurdity he might suggest, and would not give in their 'adhesion to any Ministry in which he was not the prominent figure. "Whilst a great many who are bitterly opposed to the present Government would lather keep it in office than risk the return of Sir George Grey to power. The same may be said as to Mr Macandrew^ Though a very good lieutenant, and ruling absolutely amongst his southern he has not &c matosajpjin him for a leader, and no majgniy would be' satisfied with him as such. When he essayed the role on the present Ministry coming into office, he failed in the most ignominious manrer, and during the last session subsided altogether. The consequence was that each member, hostile to the Government, fought on his own hand, and in the confusion and disorganisation that followed, Ministers had no trouble in retaining their seats. It is true that Mr Ormond nearly succeeded in catching an adverse vote, but e/en if he had done so the majority would haye been made up of such incongruous elements tlutt it would speedily have dwindled and fallen away, and his term of office would have been but brief. His defeat at the late election, and consequent exclusion from the House was a lucky event for the Government, as he probably could have knitted together the

tangled political threads of the present, and secured a following that might have v/on a victory. As it is at present, unless amongst the new members, there is some one to be found capable of leading and consolidating the opposition, the Government, even if in a minority, are likely to retain the reins of power. Should such a one arise, or should any of the old mem b rs \ ' j show tact or ability sufficient to achieve the task, the days of the Hall ministry are numbered. The trump card that the Government will play will be asking, for the sanction of a new loan, notice that they will make such a proposal having already been given in the speeches of some of its members. A s is usual, there will be the crfctomary scramble for loaves and fishes attend ant on the money to be raised, and its apportionment will be greedily contested by members from all parts. The ministry possess in an eminent degree the art of what, in the slang vocabulary is^si^gted . keeping people ''in a string" §nc(r fj||sne loan i^a^lutely^dMpbsed of some members will .hesitate to vote, adversely, lest" tl&y&Lk they hope to secure should be ruthlessly snatched away. It is rumored that this projected loan will be made a casus belli, and that the Opposition, or at least a portion of it, will make it the ground of a want of confidence motion. If this be true, and the Opposition really prove to have a majority, a unity of interest may cause the the disjointed fragments to come together. It is not likely that the proposition for the loan will be rejected in such a case, but the argument would be, that whilst, in order to complete arterial communicatthroughout the colony, it is highly desirable that money should be obtained the House had not confidence in its expenditure by the present Ministry. This may prove ad captandum logic to many for, as-members of the party ousting the Government on this ground all voting with it would exp«ct a large share of the spoil as a reward idt their support Such a battle, on such grounds, should it come off will lead to some hard promising on either side in order to secure votes pro or con. There are many other questions on which the Government will be attacked and, like the policeman in the Pirates of Penzance, the Hon. John Hall will probably find that " A Premier's lot is not a happy one " even should he weather the storms that are brewing. We shall refer to other points of attack on a future occasion.

The many friends of Mr 6. 0. Bowman will be glad to learn t]jat he is now much improved in health, and able to leave his bed, to, which he has been confined for many weeks past. Mr Bowman has had a very severe attack of rheumatic gout, but it is thought that a few weeks residence in Nelson will now completely restore him to health. A meeting of the committee of the Reefton Athenaeum was held in the Reading Room on the 16th instant, there being present Messrs Preshaw, Carew, Sampson, Steele, and Broad. It was moved by Mr Carew, seconded by Mr Sampson, and carried, that the old journals and illustrated papers be sold to the * best advantage. Resolved that the offer of Mr Broad to get up three public entertainments in aid of the funds of the institution be accepted. The secretary expressed the hope of being able in three months time to raise sufficient funds from this source, supplemented by donation, to forward an order to London for £50 worth of books for the library. The meeting then adjourned. At the Melbourne Exhibition some beautiful architectural designs, models of mining plant and machinery, and such like were displayed, the whole of which had been made out of ordinary corks. Some very pretty pictures werej also shown of farm-yard scenes, made wholly with different shades of mosses and lichens, and which at the distance of a few yards could hardly be detected by the spectator from an ordinary painting. Most of these productions were the work of ladies and children, and were much commended by the jurors. Our Ahaura correspondent Bays : — The election petition was finally settled yesterday in favor of Mr Mcßeath. The election of Licensing Committees for the Licensing Districts of Reefton and Murray, will take place to-day. Thq monthly meeting of the County Council will be held at the usual hour today. Mr James Stevenson announces a sale of mixed cattle or. the ground to-morrow at 2 o'clock at Boatman's, on account of Mr F. Boardman. The stone in the bottom of the Imperial shaft is now 3ft., with a greatly improved show of gold. The race-horses Bide-a-wee, Native Cat, Half-caste, and Rowden have arrived, and are stabled at Cochrane's loose-boxes. Golden Stone was found yesterday in tlie Western lease. It appears that a tunnel, which had been found driven a di - tante of 90 feet, has been cleaned out, and after some driving had been done, gold bearing stone was met with, which, considering the repute of the locality, might lead on to the continuation of the western reef in the Just-in-Time. We take the following from a Christclmrch contemporary:— "A Conference of gentlemen representing the several

Temperance Societies and a committee of , the Licensed Victuallers Association, consisting of Messrs Hioms, Deal, Richardson, Keane, and Allen, was held this morning in Mr T. S. Weston's rooms. The Rev. H. C. M. Watson, who was voted to the chair, explained the business of the meeting, which was to ndminate five gentlemen to constitute the Licensing Bench for the present year, in the four districts of Christchurch. After considerable discussion it was unanimously agreed that the following gentlemen should be nominated, Messrs Harman, Peter Cunningham, R. Westenra, J. E. Parker and Arch. Harris, and receive the support of the association and the several temperance societies. A vote of thanks to the chairman and Mr Weston, for kindly placing his chambers at the services of the committee, terminated the meeting. If the electors can be induced to accept the gentlemen thus nominated. Christchurch will have an excellent Licensing Bench." A tender has" been accepted for the Wellington New Post Office, at £22,444. Only the tirst half is to be . gone on with at present. The successful tenderers are Messrs Barry and M'Dowell, a Wellington firroy of contractors. They built the new "|u£reihe -Court there. It' is noteworthy ; that five out of the six Wellington tenderers were within a few pounds of each other (the sixth being some thousands higher, and quite out of the running). The four Dunedin and Christchurch tenders also were very close together, but with an average of £4000 higher than the average of the Wellington men. Mrs Langtry's costume, on the occasion of her recent debut as an amateur actress, was dainty but simple. She wore a pink dress of a very delicate shade, with lace disposed about it, and a panier. Her lace collar showed the neck and throat ; it was the counterpart of the one in her last portrait by Mr Millais, and her only ornaments were a diamond clasp. On one hand she wore her wedding-ring, on the other a small diamond* and a couple of bracelets decorated her wrists. It appears that the troubles which have come upon the Baronesß Burdett-Coutts, in consequence of her marriage with Mr Bartlett, are increasing. It has transpired that her ladyship's sister, Mrs Money-Coutts, has brought an action to recover something like £80,000 a year, and that the trial will be pushed forwai'd as speedily as possible. The point involved, it is understood, is whether Mr Bartlett-Coutts is an alien, and as such debarred by the will of the Duchess of St. Albans from inheriting any portion of the property. Mr Coutts was born in America and has taken out letters of naturalisation in this country ; but no doubt it will be contended that the late Duchess meant to exclude an alien bom, as otherwise any foreigner could circumvent the object and aim of the will, and secure the heiress by simply becoming naturalised. The investigation into the accounts of E. J. Agg, lately accountant of the Lands department, Melbauagt-hg Mr Eaton, of the report vhereorf submitted to Government. JlMx Eaton finds that the total amount pi the defalcations was £2,104 2s Id., made up of the following items: — Forged vouchers £997 4s 6d ; deficiency upon advance account, £306 17s 7d ; deficiency upon deposits from contract surveyors, £800. The forged vouchers were 31 in number, each of which were entirely ficticious.