The Daily Telegraph FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1881.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3017, 25 February 1881, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1881.

The meeting last night was dull, and although the attendance was large a quiet decorum pervaded the proceedings that solemnly suppressed any inclination that might have been felt to impart electoral jocularity into the business of the evening. The two" members on presenting themselves were well received, and it was evident they had lost nothing of the popularity and the confidence which had placed them at the head of the poll at the last election. Mr Sutton was the first to address the meetiner, and we were glad to notice that he had less to say about men and more about matters of public importance than has previously characterised his speeches. His reference to Mr Bryce was a graceful tribute to the only man who has attempted to break down the veil ot mystery and humbug enveloping the Native Department, and whose resignation cannot but prove a very serious loss to tbe country, if not to the Ministry. The Hon. Mr Rolleston may make a very good Native Minister, but until some better explanation of Mr Bryce's resignation is given than has yet been vouchsafed there will always be the suspicion that Ministers preferred to lose a colleague than have a difference of opinion with a certain personage who is credited with old-fashioned views with respect to dark-skinned races. Mr Sutton's history of the Patetere block, though not new, was well-timed, as it revived recollections of the mischievous character of a public department, the administration of which used to be secret. Nothing shows better for Mr Bryce's reforms than the bringing to light of such transactions as the Patetere purchase instalments. Outside native matters Mr Sutton had not very much to say. He was satisfied that county government was better than provincial ; he was better pleased with the property tax than any other form of imposition, and he suggested that the colony could save money by making the Government debentures negotiable at tbe post offices. Captain Russell followed, and showed how it was that Ministers were unpopular ; with an empty exchequer retrenchment had become a necessity, and as the great army of civil servants hadall had to suffer, enemies had been made of the sisters, cousin 3, and aunts of at least 10,000 individuals. Tne burden of his speech, however, was a defence of the education system. In this Capt. Russell was quite at home, and being quite convinced himself he went a long way to convince his hearers that the extravagance of tbe system was its best economy.