The Globe. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1878.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1242, 28 February 1878, Page 2

The Globe. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1878.

“What tvill the Premier say to us?” asks the Dunedin . 'Evening Star. With Auckland and Wellington he was tolerably successful. The former we arb told is the “ great emporium of the Southern Seas,” and Wellington is “the mart iu which should centre the whole trade of Now Zealand.” The Star is naturally anxious to know what kind of compliments the. Premier will lavish upon Dunedin. “We are really curious,” says our contemporary, “ to know what is left for us. He may say, perhaps, that Dunedin should he the Edina or Atheus of the Pacific, shedding bright rays of intelligence over the Australias generally through the medium of the Otago University and the Girls’ High School, or he may drag in our mineral resources; but then he would have nothing left for Hokitika and its neighbouring nomad encampments. One safe hit wo would, with all humility, suggest to him to make. He can compliment us on our public men and our public bodies; descant upon the disinterested patriotism of the Chamber of Commerce, the sagacity of the Harbour Board as embodied in the chairman ; the successful administration of the Education Board; and the secret wisdom of the ‘ happy family ’ who govern the High Schools. He may instance the Waste Lands Commissioners as an example of the perfection of ‘ misfits,’ and take honour to himself for the latest addition to their number. This will be much wiser than raising unpleasant questions in connection with the Land Fund, the malversation of justice, the vetoing Bills which have passed both Houses, and other eccentric developments of a ‘ liberal policy.’” Our contemporary has evidently less faith than we have in the manifold resources of the Premier. Unlike some of onr public men, he has the wide realm of imagination and fancy from which to choose. Even after he has successfully tickled the ears of Otago audiences, lie will not be at a loss for subjects upon which to praise the people of Canterbury. Have wo not set the rest of the colony a bright example of Christian humility ? When the Colonial Government have smote us on the one cheek, we turned the other. When they have taken away our coat, we have left them onr cloak also. Not only have wo meekly submitted to the “ highway robbery” of onr laud fund, we have humbly handed over our railway returns _tp the colony, to make up the losses incurred iu managing those miserable political lines iu the North. But mono than that, we have stood quietly by, and witnessed the placing on the estimates of large sums for public works iu those districts of the colony iu which the Ministry is most strongly supported, while wo have been left entirely out in the cold, Surely, if there is any portion of New Zealand which deserves the sincere gratitude of the Premier, it is Canterbury. She has given up all, which she hitherto regarded as dear, for his sake. But if the contemplation of these virtues becomes somewhat tiresome, Sir G, Grey "could gasffy turn to a very different display. If the study of pure unselfishness is somewhat uncongenial, he could refer to the bright example set by the Lyttelton Times, of a purely selfish policy. He can quote what our contemporary had to say of himself when he took his sent on the Treasury Benches, and compare those remarks with the fulsome adulation which ho now receives at its hands. Then he was referred to as “Premier by surprise,” as holding “ extreme views,” given to the use of “ exaggerated language,” and being politically “unreliable.” Now that he has succeeded in placing himself by “ superior skill iu party warfare at tlie of a large party, how different the tone of bur contemporary. With fl keen instinct for being always on the winning side, the Times soon succeeds iu finding that Sir G. Grey jy the man who is wanted at the present time, and so pjjr contemporary gives'him a blind and unreasoning support, and 'the' Premier might enlarge at length upon the beneficial effect such cpuduct must exorcise upon the mind of the community. There are other subjects upon which he might dwell at some length, such as the splendid services rendered to the country by a suburban constituency in adding one of its brightest ornaments to the Ministerial team. He might point to the career of the Hon. Mr. Fisher as a worthy example for the youth of the colony to follow. By his own unaided exertions, and the use of his great t/ihmts, he has raised himself to his present high position. What lie has done others may do. It is true, of course, that those talents have hitherto hud dormant. Until Sir G. Grey discovered that ho possessed them, the Hon. Mr. Fisher was looked upon as a rather commonplace gentleman indeed, who would have had some considerable difficulty iu explaining ids views on any of the great questions his Government propose bringing before the country. Some ill-natured people arc unfeeling enough to insinuate that Mr. Fisher's great merit in the eyes of tlio Premier is Ids unquestioning obedience to the behests of Ids chief, and that as Sir G. Grey dearly loves autocratic authority, he is fond of surrounding him? self with a sot of men who have implicit belief in him, and who blindly follow ids demands. All those insinuations are no doubt without foundation, but as they are belieyed in some qumiere. Sir G. Grey might take the opportunity v hen in Christchurch of bearing testimony to the great ability of Ids Canterbury colleague, and the immense service lie is rendering tho colony as Postmaster-General. But wo have indicated subjects enough upon which Sir G. Grey might with advantage enlighten us on when ho arrives here,