The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1883. The Ministry

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 70, 15 November 1883, Page 2

The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1883. The Ministry

♦ The appointment of Mr Mitchelson as Minister for Public Works, in the place of Mr Walter Johnston, who resigned, has been received by the Press oi the whole Colony with mingled feelings ot astonishment and disappointment. A noticeable feature in the various criticisms on this action of the Premier, is the absence of a single line that may be called positively adverse to Mr Mitchelson. One journal states that this gentleman was a good and useful carpenter ; another, that as the manager of a sawmill, he has few equals and no superiors in the Colony; a third, that as a dealer in kauri gum his talents are undoubted ; and a fourth, that as a storekeeper, he is a brilliant example as to what can be done in dealing with the Natives and gum diggers for blankets and sardines. All are silent as to his qualities as a member of the House because he was equally reticent in his place in Parliament, aud gave no opportunity of judging of his calibre. One good feature in all is that his integrity is unimpeachable, I and his word can be relied oq by all men. One journal hints, as at one time the new Minister occupied the position of an employed oi Mr Dargaville, that in order to humiliate the latter gentleman, and so be revenged on him for the remarkable cbargcß he made against the lion. Mr Whitaker and Major Atkinson, ot political and ali other kinds of dishonesty, durinar the last session of Parliament, Mr Mitchelson was given a portfolio. That Mr Dauga- \ ville has undoubtedly panted for this ' distinction with all the desire and ambition of his disposition, there can be no doubt; but that Mr M it chelson was made a Minister to simply annoy another member of the House is too absurd to be believed for a moment. For ourselves we believe that the gentleman in question waa elevated Irom his obscurity for the very excellent reason that he was tbe best Auckland man of the Atkinson party available. It was no doubt considereu by the Government that in order to strengthen their own hands during the coming general election and to weaken the powers of the Grey party, whose stronghold is in Auckland, tbe claim?of Auckland dare not be overlooked, and any other than an Auckland representative called to the Mi> -it. try. If they bad done so we do not believe a sine-la candidate would be returned on the Government ticket during the next election; even the position of th • Ministry during the next session would have probably been menaced. It was not likely then that .Major Atkinson, astute politician as he W, would appoint anyone because'he was <yen specially qualified for any post in the Ministry, either than an Auckland man, whon by so doing he woul . weaken his own party. Looking through thejli.-?t of Auckland mi. in hers, and having a knowledge of many of tbeir general political characters, we are firmly persuaded the Major has made the best selection possible. Jt is en the cards that tbe new .VI mister may turn out even better than his best friends believe. We wj»i hear

lis view- and opinions probably at a .anquet to be given him on his arrival n Auckland, either yesterday or.today, tvhcu the political world of the Colony will be enlightened on the subject.