BROKEN FAITH.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1344, 5 June 1878, Page 3

BROKEN FAITH.

[“ Colonist.”] When Sir George Grey succeeded in displacing the Atkinson Ministry, the colony was promised in many solemn and impressive words, that favoritism, whether of persons or places, should no longer prevail in the administration of public affairs. From the land transactions of Mr Whitaker and his friends in Auckland, to the excessive expenditure in proportion to population procured by Mr Ormond, as it was alleged, for the benefit of himself and other owners of large estates in Hawke’s Bay, every undue advantage for an individual or for a district was denounced with an amount of warmth, not to say violence and fury, that was generally accepted as sufficient evidence of sincerity. Our columns show that we at any rate were not without misgivings, and while urging a fair trial being given to Sir George Grey, certain of his colleagues were never mentioned without some expression of distrust, prompted by their conduct in other positions. It was said that when Mr Larnach undertook the task of forming a Ministry, his Excellency the Governor entreated him to obtain gentlemen, if possible. No one supposed that this referred to mere social standing or the possession only of such training as would enable the chosen to avoid violating the laws of etiquette at a dinner or ball. The strict observance of every ;honorable engagement, the rigid adherence to truth, the inflexible determination to do justice to all, and the possession of an unblemished reputation were implied in the Governor’s simple request.

The posts were distributed, Parliament was soon prorogued, and the time of action came. Whether Mr Larnach had duly respected his instructions, the people of the colony, who know the history of those he selected, must judge for themselves. At all events where doubt existed it was pleaded that the memory of long past errors should not be allowed to operate as a permanent bar to employment, but that an opportunity should be afforded of showing, to speak mildly, a large amount of discretion. The prejudice, or as some might prefer saying, the overweening affection of Mr Macandrew for Otftgo and all belonging to it, was seen, by every person who knows him, to be an unconquerable obstacle to the appreciation of what is just by his narrow and obstinate mind. “ Take all and give nothing ” has always been his maxim, and when the tenders for the Port Railway were invited, credit was given by those best informed to the desire to smooth the way for Sir George Grey’s visit, rather than to any desire to treat Nelson with fairness. However, the invitation was given, and men accustomed to honest dealing never dreamt that any new excuse for delay could or would be sot up. The Premier came. He dwelt on the rights of the people, on his resolve to treat all men and places as equal, and his honorable sentiments evoked the most enthusiastic applause ever heard from a Nelson audience. Had this trifling work been considered still in doubt, he would “on behalf of the working men,” have been severely questioned. All seemed so honest, so sunny, that a doubter would have met a sorry fate. The Premier went. The object of the advertisement was answered, and to Mr Macandrew, as Minister for Public Works, was assigned the congenial task of dispelling vain hopes. Even he was deterred from an immediate declaration, and thus intending contractors were put to the trouble and expense of elaborate calculations, that were not intended to end in any one of them having the work to do. Peace is all but certain, and at the last moment the fear of war is set up as a pretext for throwing Nelson over. Five times the cost of this fragment of a railway is diverted for useless guns and batteries without hesitation, while an outlet for our produce is denied. If anything will ever move the people of Nelson, not only to express their indignation, but to exact full satisfaction for an insult as great as the wrong, that is now before them. Applause was obtained by false pretences for a Government that proves by its conduct in this matter its entire want of any sense of justice, and, therefore, must be suspected in weightier business. Without delay a meeting of the citizens should be held to give formal expression to their righteous indignation at the vile trickery, and that might well be followed by a deputation to Wellington, composed of men who, while paying due respect to the ofllees held by the wrong-doers, will tell them in plain and uncompromising language, that it is impossible to maintain in power men who are convicted of broken faith.

In the event of Prince Charles of Soumania abdicating, rather than consent to the retrocession of Bessarabia, Prince Gregory Stourdza, son of one of the late Hospodars of Moldavia, is mentioned as his successor to be appointed by the Russians.