The Late Session.

Parliament hurriedly closed, that the representatives might reach their homes before Christmas. A handful of members have succeeded in bringing the whole Parliament into disrepute. By obstructive tactics, pure and simple, they kept back almost all the business till the last few days; and then anxious to get away, allowed the Government measures to pass without any check of wholesome criticism. We are sorry to note that the absurd « military defence » expenditure is to be continued —the plea being that the half-million already sunk will be useless unless certain works are completed. When all is done, the defences will be about as effective as Don Quixote's pasteboard visor; besides requiring a costly department to maintain them. In other branches, the work of retrenchment has been undertaken in earnest. Our chief regret is that the Government is pledged to call Parliament together again in about three months. This will seriously retard the necessary administrative work in the interval; and, if any conclusion may be drawn from recent events, the next session will be chiefly occupied in unprofitable wranglings over petty details.