The Evening Star FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1872.

Evening Star, Issue 2986, 13 September 1872, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1872.

Mr Stafford lias evidently had great difficulty in forming a Ministry, and has at last made up what must be considered, in a showman’s estimation, a very happy family. It has often happened that a man gifted with peculiar aptitude for the task, has so far overcome the natural antipathies of animals as to lead thorn to dwell in peace one with another. We have seen a smart Scotch terrier, a cat, a hare, a rat, and a mouse in the same cage, apparently very cosy and comfortable. The dog did not snarl and growl and shew his teeth at the cat, nor did she set up her back and spit at him. The hare munched away at her green food, quite content with what was provided, and the rat and the mouse crept into their corners, seemingly unnoticed by their more lordly and dangerous companions. But it w r as, after all, a hollow peace, maintained because not one of the occupants of the cage had anything to desire. It seems very doubtful how long it would have lasted had the owner of this mixed assembly forgotten to feed them at their appointed hour, but had allowed the gnawings of hunger to override the habit of suppressing natural instincts. Wc suspect that the lives of the weaker would hare been but short, and the end a quarrel between Snap and Pussy for the garbage. Very much of this miscellaneous character is the present Ministry. Two notions only seem dominant in them ■: the lust of place and power, and |)ersonal hostility to the late Treasurer very loose ties, indeed, for harmonious action. Judging by their antecedents we cannot imagine that there is any such bond of cohesion as to lead them to unity of purpose in conducting the affairs of the country, Mr Sewell has not displayed such talent and devotion to Now Zealand’s interest, nor such consistency in his political career as to lead to any great confidence in his singleness of purpose. Mr Gillies, though in many respects an able man, lias an infirmity of temper that will hardly conduce io his working harmoniously with persons of such exacting dispositions as Messrs Stafford and Reid. What Mr Curtis is we hardly know. He may be the hare as Mr Sewell is the rat of the party; and then we have an addition in Mr Fitzherbert, who may safely be considered the fox of the Ministry. He knows his own value and has named his price. He has made his name and will not give his services for nothing. He is one of the Superintendents who will have to resign should the new Cabinet weather the session, and his reputation and experience are such that he is considered so valuable by his colleagues as to be bought at the price of a Commissionership of Crown Lands. We think it quite likely that this heavy price for such questionable help may not be quite so satisfactory to the country as it is to himself, and wc should imagine to the Ministry. Not very long since one of those industrious scribblers who write long letters about matters they cannot understand, which are published in the columns of our morning contemporary, found fault with the arrangements made for Mr Gisborne, in the event of the resignation of the Ministry. We do not see that he finds fault with Mr Fitzherbert’s bargain, although the one was only just, and the other is indefensible, Mr Gisborne was induced to resign a position which he had filled witlr honor to himself and advantage to the country for, we believe, twenty years. His departmental knowledge was invaluable, and aided the late Ministry in those arrangements which have worked so well for the country. No community lias a right to expect that any man should sacrifice a fixed and certain income for the mere honor and transient emolument of

Ministerial office. Had Mr Fitzherbert been in such a position, we should have found no fault at the sale he has made of his services. But there is no analogy. He is called upon to resign his Superintendency—a merely temporary office at a moderate rate of salary —should the Ministry of which he forms part live out the session and have a lease for another year. In that improbable event, he will receive a salary nearly equal to the value of his unexpired term of Superiutendentship. Very possibly before that time arrives Ur, Feathekston may be recalled, and in the end Wellington, returning to its old love, miglitj place him in his old position in preference to Mr Fitzherbert. The wily statesman has thus made a snug nest for himself, and may smile at the political storm and turmoil that sooner or later must unseat the Stafford Ministry. No matter what happens he is safe. He gives up nothing of any moment to himself—ho merely changes uncertainty into certainty. Verily the bargain is a good one for Mr Fitziierhert, if not for the country.