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 company—can sing a good song or tell a good "yarn" in the most approved style, and is much in request at social functions. When his natural indolence is for the time overcome, he can speak with telling effect: in fact, he is one of the orators of the House of Representatives: and there are few empty benches when "Jimmy" is opening the floodgates of his eloquence. The Opposition in Parliament is led by Captain Russell, a wealthy squatter from Hawke's Bay, one of the richest districts in the colony. Tall, and still retaining a decided military bearing, he is courteous and kindly in his demeanour. There are seventy-four members of the popular Chamber, the House of Representatives, four of them being Maoris. Each of the white members represents about 10,000 constituents: and all but one of the natives require the assistance of an interpreter when addressing the House. As a rule they only speak on matters directly affecting the native race. The nominated Chamber is known as the Legislative Council. Unlike members of the powerful Upper Houses of Victoria and Western Australia, who are elected on a wide property basis, Members of the Legislative Council here hold their seats, as in Queensland, under writ of summons from the Governor, and are very cavalierly treated, on occasion, by the Representative Assembly. Two members of the Council are aboriginal native chiefs. Formerly members were appointed by the Government of the day for life: the term now is seven years, though Councillors may be re-appointed. Female suffrage, as in South Australia, has made but little difference in politics. Of the 319,000 adults of both sexes in the colony, the extraordinary proportion of 96 per cent, are on the rolls, of whom 76 per cent, voted at the last general election. It is a remarkable fact that 197,000 men, almost the full number of adult males in the colony,