THE Bay of Plenty Times. Wednesday, September 22, 1875.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume IV, Issue 317, 22 September 1875, Page 2

THE Bay of Plenty Times.

Wednesday, September 22, 1875.

“THE SPIRIT OF THE TIMES SHALL TEACH ME SPEED.” KING JOHN, ACT IV,

It really seems as if the Opposition tactics were derived from the Plaza do Toros at Seville, and if as the Members of the Opposition had formed themselves into a corps of Baridilieros to harass hy incessant though singularly despicable darts the occupiers of the Ministerial .Benches ; but altho’ pretty experienced in this skirmishing —may m* say nagging—kind of game, Sir George Urey is no Matadoro, and ho must see that all his efforts are

vain, and all hopes of dealing a Wow to the Government futile p'' over skilful lie may ho in' of attack, wo, however Z. : ■ maintain that it is one derogate? himself, both on account of his position, and of his status as leader a party professing to fight f or C interests of the people of New Z-oah i Wo can best put this clearly hW our readers hy allowing what' C George Grey has been 'doin'* reference to one particular i Uattf C’ and hy pointing out what he sW ; have done. Ever since Sir C.W became our Superintendent, we ha!' had rumours upon rumours ofL! l!; riblo dealings iu the Land PurcW 1 Department, inuoudoes have W " broadly cast about, and, in the addtZ* to tlie .Provincial Council, an acca^ ' tiou was distinctly brought the Government that chased worthless land for the IV vince. A Provincial Council Con. mitteo was appointed to make et quiries in this direction, and wore voted for witnesses’ expenses * wo know so far, and that evident vcas taken, but we are not aware th| the ivpori has been published to % world, thought-lie charges were prettr loudly expressed. Then, came a serir of recriminating telegrams, &c. ( |}C tween the Premier and the Super inteiidont re the Tairua affair, follow: up by the issue of a writ against i-

Mackay, which wo have reason t; believe was afterwards withdrawn And so wo expected that when & George took liis scat, he would a; once mo ve for the appointment of a Committee to enquire generally he the management of the Land Purchase Department. This would have boon the straightforward manly way to ham. opened out upon the Government a question which is really and truelyoaj of vital importance to the Norther;" Island. But instead of this, what has. been done ? A Tairua Investigates Committee has boon appointed bofor* * which witnesses are examined, it i; well known, on subjects conuocki with band purchases north of Auckland ; Sir George, in every one of hu speeches, harps upon the string his ignorance of how tho money impended by Government in land purcliases lias gone, uothwithstamiin: that a full statement lias boon kip' before tho House; casts iiiuoudoti broadcast, and, in fact, chucks dirt freely around in a style more befitting . a municipal councillor than an HGovernor. 'Had ho openly attack! tho Land Purchase Department aid asked for a Committee to enquire inti it, no Ministry would have dared ti refuse; ho would have boon baokoi up by tho country, and could haw churned tho title of an honest investigator. But when all attempts at having a direct general enquiry bh shirked, as was actually done in the case of the Pinko swamp sale, wlira Ministers offered tho most amp means for investigation, and mi George objected to accept them, v then* begin to wonder whether thenarc any actual grounds for these accusations, and whether they are not, to return to our former similes, mere Bandilleros thrown to indue* irritation. Wo, the people of thi? Province, have a right to tell* our Superintendent on a tor which is really one of life or death to us, that if he lias tho least grounds for believing that any thing approach ing to corruption is to be found in aiw one of the departments of the General Government, it is his duty to fearless])’ speak out and demand the fullsearch ; but wo object to the half an>: half imiondoe stylo which he k? adopted, and which redounds neitha to liis credit nor that of the Proving LA him lay liis finger on tho sore, i he can find it, and boldly proclaim it existence; such a course would Hy a gentleman of his standing. cannot, however, but think that Impolicy he is now following of proddug hero and there in tho vague hopec|; finding a pimple, is mean in tho es- _ treme. It is with regret wo have a speak thus of a man whom, in cos* mon with all other colonists, *- deemed ourselves bound to J IOE T for his past work; but ho has tom-T us, as one of the organs of tlio Proving to speak out. We cannot hope ty any advice of ours will be appreciateby so eminent a member of society* Sir George Grev, but we really hint to him that we, and po* others, are very tired indeed ot y New Zealand girl who appears m j manv of his speeches as the successive elevation of her from a low station through top ferent grades of Provincial Council etc., to the high and noble <hg m W Superintendent and possibly • Governor, —.