The Globe. FRIDAY MARCH 15, 1878.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1255, 15 March 1878, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY MARCH 15, 1878.

Our evening contemporary —The Star —appears to have lost his head altogether at the prospect of the visit of the Premier to Christchurch. All who do not sec in Sir G. Grey the embodiment of honour and high political virtue, who venture to suggest even that there are two sides to a question, are alternately railed at and treated at with pity. But the Star's zeal js hut of recent origin. Six weeks ago. our contemporary held opinions regarding the Premier, almost identical with those expressed in our columns. If, therefore, we cannot cast our principles to the wind with the alacrity of the Star, ho might have pity upon our infirmity. Below we print extracts from two leaders which have appeared in the columns of our contemporary in proof of our assertion. Our readers can judge for themselves of the value of the opinions of a journal which’ can completely change front, in so unblushing a manner, in the course of a few weeks : (From the "Star,” Feb. (From the "Star,” Ist.) March 12).

He [Sir George Grey] Sir George Grey, with is in ’ some danger of all the vigour of au being set up as an idol apostle, despising rest, by many of our fellow- scorning inglorious ease, colonists. He seems al- has gone from centre to ready to have taught centre preaching the himself to believe that faith that is in him; and he is one—another in- though we may differ in stance of the fallacious- regard to some of the ness of his judgments, sentiments to which lie Now we have no belief gives utterance, no one in popular idols, be they can honestly doubt his never so beautiful. Wor- sincerity. That he is ship of this kind never sincere, that he is full of brings good eitherto the his subject, and deterworshippers or him to mined to the utmost of whom they bow down, his ability to carry it It tends only to an ex- into law, no one who has aggerated self-deception watched his progress can on both sides. But if it pretend to doubt. The could be necessary to leader of a Government erect a popular idol in and of a party might reorder to avert some great main in Wellington and evil, or attainsomegreat carefully study the progood there is scarcely posals to be submitted a man in the colony to Parliament when it whom it would not be meets, and. coming down more safe to apotheosise to the House, deliver an than Sir G. Grey. Better, able and effective speech, we honestly believe, commanding attention would be a stock of wood, and respect. Against his a veritable Maori idol, sincerity no one may lift or a mummy from the. a voice; yet in the case sacred cave at Kawhia. of Sir George Grey we Wc have not the smallest have the extraordinary wish to underrate the spectacle of a Minister good that Sir Q. Grey devoting himself to a has done in his time, or great work-in short, the to detract from his un- preaching of his policy questionable talent. We to the people under his only urge that "talent care in every place of ■perverted is a more dan- consequence in the cogurous species of Joolisli- lony, and yet 1)0 is aessthan natural pan- chaVged with insincerity. city of intellectual What proof must a man gifts, and tenfold more give after this to be dangerous when it is deemed sincere ? applied to public af- Political authorities, fairs. By all means let whose names are far 'Sir George and his pro- brighter than Sir George posals be i adged fairly, Grey’s, or of that of any but do not let the people public man we have on blindly accept the latter this side of the globe, without rigorous esami- lay it down as an axiom nation, simply because that there is no such they are made by the thing as political rest, former, who has once A community must go and again shown himself forward or go backward, able to act vigorously in The beam of the political a crisis, but never proved balance cannot rest on a himself a legislator, or a level. The happy medium person able to appreciate is unattainable, and if it the effect of present ac- was, a staud-still policy tion on the future. We is altogether a mistake are aware that in this for a young community, matter we are assuming There can be no rest; we what is for the moment must go forward. That an unpopular position, there is ample need of though a couple of year s reform; that there is will probably not have plenty of work to do; passed before it is ad- that we mpst set our mitted, even by those house in order and prowho are just now the gress as becomes us,is the most thoroughly in- gospeloftheGovernment. fatuated with Grey doc- We are told that it is all trines, that fhe view here “sham,” that he is a taken is the correct one, “deceiver," and that namely, that Sir G, Grey, there is no “ sincerity whatever his merits, is in Mm. We believe that no hero, and as unsafe such language is vain, a auide as could well ano. that it wdl fj.aye up be chosen in the length effect whatever m me. and breadth of the judicing those to whom colony. As the spouting it is addressed. The Premier of a Ministry language of Sir George who controlled him he Grey is felt to be truth, would eerye a the facts to winch he celleut purpose, keeping appeals are undeniable, the public in good tem- and he has given abunner, while his platitudes cl out evidence Oj smwould not deceive the cerity and devotion in most simple. But as the support of his policy, men of action, he has We have had too much shown him seif pot pos- “misrepresentation and sessed of those scruptys abuse,’ and 100 little which circumscribe the reason. When next such actions of most men. It a course is .attempted, it is In* misfortune, and is to be hoped that it Will matter for the pity of he accompanied with a others- but for those definition of some of the -others to pretend blind- extravagant figures in ness to the true bearing W(Wph it is clothed. We of such a course as that will be glad in the meantaken in regard fro the time to learn wjmt a Laud Bill, or to overlook public man must do to the fact that the Pro.- p§ deemed sincere, and mier continues to tflory wfiepejii statesman lu it, and is therefore in New 55ejdaprt hgs ever not ufib’kely to repeat it, given great, r proof Of ehould occasion require, sincerity in any cause is,to commit treo.Cfwy J**” I“*® g ? lvea against the public. Bet- St Uewge Gfey i ter by far let ,§i» George Grey understand f Ol . all that that is mode of obtaining au end which HeW Zealanders will not permit, however desirable the end may appear. Once let him fully recognise that he will not gain but greatly lose in popularity by attempting such unconstitutional shifts,aud he will probably abstaiu from them for the future, and may thus become of real use to the colony, ami adequately fill a place which, many think that no ot)i«r could so well fill. But for people to accept him, obliquities and all, unsparingly to extol him, obliquities and all, to pet him and praise him, as though he were the jdeul statesman whom .all time been occupied in .evolving, is to treat him with .gross injustice, and bring themselves into contempt.

The proposals of the Canterbury Tramway Company are now before the public. At the last meeting of the City Council a report was made of the result of the interviews between the committee of the Council and the promoters. What the company require from the Council is a lea«o or right to use a pprtiyn ,ef the roads under the control of the Council for a period of twenty-one years, having also ,a right to lay .rails thereon. The route proposed is from Cathedral square to the Railway Station, Rapauui, and Addington. The company also .propose to carry all road metal required by the Corporation free of charge. The .committee appear to have had some objection to grant the right for twenty-one years willful some power oi termination at a shorter period ji the Council t&yygkt

fit. They therefore have inserted a clause enabling them to determine the lease at the expiration of fourteen years, and there is also a proviso for the aequiring of the plant if they desire to work the tramway on their own account. Of the wisdom of the first of these propositions there can bo little’ doubt. Circumstances may arise which render it very desirable that the lease should be determined, and therefore the retention of their power to do this after the lapse of a certain time is a wise precaution. The terms offered by the company are, we think, very favorable. They propose by means of their lines to open up communication with parts which at the present are not served adequately either by railway or otherwise. The large districts of St. Albans and Addington are cases in point. It may be urged that the latter has railway communication, and this is true; but it is practically of no use whatever to the residents as a means of communication with the city. When landed at the railway station they are nearly as far from their destination as when at their own houses. The proposed tramway will, however, supply them with a speedy and cheap means of reaching the city. As regards St. Albans, the traffic is carried on by means of omnibus, and even with such inadequate convenience the number of persons travelling is very large. It is a well-known fact that increased facility for travelling means increased traffic, and a line of tramway between Papanui, St. Albans, and Christchurch, at the reasonable fares proposed to be charged, means a very great increase in the already large number travelling. This being so, besides the convenience of serving the railway station, we hope the Council will accede, without any further delay, to the propositions of the promoters.