The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY. MARCH 26.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 176, 26 March 1878, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY. MARCH 26.

The visit of Sir George Grey, on Wednesday last, will be long , remembered by the inhabitants of Akaro.i. Putting aside the question of novelty in the sight of a Premier '*' on the stump," it could not fail to be otherwise than highly interesting to his hearers to listen to a clear exposition of the intended course of action to be pursued by the Government, the measures proposed to be introduced, and the reasons which have led to their adoption. It might be fairly argued, that a cause, which required the Head of a Government to make a tour round a colon) , for the purpose of gaining supporters by force of oratory and sensa-

tional effects, must be a weak one : but, on the other hand, the explanation given by Sir George Grey is at any rate worthy of consideration, and lias much of truth and sound common sense in support of it. He argues that it is righl for the people to know, and, as far as possible, understand the measures that their legislators intend to bring forward for the good of their adopted country, so that instead of " surprise legislation," that is, the introduction of laws of which the people have heard, and know nothing, they shall have laws framed on their advice, and based on the knowledge of their wants. The argument hears on the face of it an appearance, at least, of frankness and open dealing, that could not fail to strike a sympathetic cord in the hearts of ths public, though of how much real value such political statements may b« is another question altogether. Without wishing to detract from the apparent sincerity of the Premier's motives, or expressed opinions, it should still be borne in mind that the poor-man's-frivnd trick is a very old one with politicians, and that it wore better to take all such utterances cum grano salts. The policy enunciated by Sir George Grey is essentially a liberal one, a policy such as is bound to be popular with the masses, and the abuses that have crept into the Legislature through Ministerial influence, and the undue exercise of that power which wealth and position gave to a few ruling families, have led to the turn that political events are now taking, and which it will require skilful guidance

and consummate statesmanship to prevent gliding into the other extreme, an evil, which of the two might be the worse. It is needless for us to repeat the Premier's speech, suffice it to say that we most thoroughly agree with him in the necessity for reform in the laws relating to taxation, and the electoral and educational systems. Sir George Grey seemed to make it one of his most important and impressive points, that this colony is destined to be a " great nation." There is, doubtless, a license in prose as well as in poetry, and this expression of the Premier's is a species of prophetic figure of speech. We can readily understand that New Zealand will sustain a reputation as a thriving and prosperous colony, inhabited by a hard-working and intelligent people, but where the " greatness " will be evinced, save in the magnitude of its national debt, we fail to discover. Coming, however, to what is of more immediate and direct concern to the Peninsula, the promise of Sir George Grey that, if practicable, Sir John Coode should visit and report on the Lakes Drainage and Akaroa Railway Scheme, will be received with the utmost satisfaction by all interested in the progress of this most important work. The report of so eminent an engineer must have considerable weight with the Government, and should it be favorable to the scheme, will tend considerably to bring the work to a speedier completion. It will be the duty of the Trust to take every advantage of this offer of the Premier's, and to use every endeavour to bring so desirable an assistance to their aid, as an inspection of the proposed scheme, and the locality itself, by Sir John Coode. Ministerial promises have, for the most part, had a reputation of bearing a startling resemblance in their ultimate fate to pie-crust, but, for the benefit of the district, we trust that this is an exception to the general rule. Altogether, as we have said before, Sir George's visit will be long treasured in the memories of those who had the pleasure of hearing him. If his political views were not accepted by all, his courtesy and kindliness of manner won universal respect and esteem, while his splendid powers of oratory may be productive of good by leading some to emulate them.