The Hawke's Bay Times, Published every Monday and Thursday. MONDAY, 5th MARCH, 1866.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 7, Issue 355, 5 March 1866, Page 2

The Hawke's Bay Times, Published every Monday and Thursday.

MONDAY, sth MARCH, 1866.

"HTJIAIU3 ADDICTCS JUEAsi IS VERBA MAOISTS!."

Unquestionably strong as was the party represented in the late Ministry by Mr Weld, and unlikely as it appeared that any other could be found of sufficient stability to retain the reins of power if that gentlemen should throw them down, —it is no less unquestionable that a few short months has sufficed to show us that party almost annihilated, and those who were then making a somewhat feeble and almost hopeless opposition, actually firmly established as the governing body of the Colony. A short time since we gave our readers an abstract of a manifesto of Mr Stafford, the leader of the Government, as given before his constituents at Nelson, and took occasion to show our own views of the policy indicated. About the same time Mr Fitzgerald had met a Canterbury audience, and favored them with a statement -of his political opinions. Our space did not then admit, and has not since admitted, of our bringing this speech before our readers, for which we are sorry, as we wished and intended to treat it in a manner similar to that in which we acted with regard to that of Mr Stafford. Mr Fitzgerald is now, since the retirement of Mr Weld and of Mr Sewell, the representative—we had almost said the sole representative of the Weld party. He will go to the House as leader of what yet remains of that party; but the opposition to Mr Stafford’s Government will be but feeble, as we cannot bring ourselves to supposs that anything like a vigorous party can be united under him. We do not say that we rejoice at this; rather the reverse. We are aware that some of Mr Stafford’s views are untenable, and would be improved by the attrition and modification attendant upon a vigorous opposition. We are quite aware of its use, even its necessity, in a system of responsible government, and it would afford us pleasure to be able to give a more hopeful account of the Fitzgerald party than we are able to do. Gradually we have noted that that portion of the public press, formerly in the Weld interest, have ceased to express their bitterness against Mr Stafford and his policy, and have tended towards the position of supporters; and this we consider to be amongst the most striking of the signs of the times, as it shows that even the opposition itself have become convinced that he is firmly established in power. Moreover, the elections throughout the Colony speak the same language; that is, of course, so far as the returns have yet come to hand. We have no hesitation in declaring pur conviction that the supporters of Mr Stafford will be found to number at least double that of his opponents; and yet, in the face of all this, we feel that we must await the further development of his policy ere we give him our entire approval. His Income Tax we are fain to accept as the necessity of the time; but we trust that trade, commerce, and, above all, the communication of information and intelligence will not be subjected to unwise restrictions, — feeling convinced that the actual indirect loss to the revenue from such restrictions will prove to be greater than anything that can be raised by them. We are glad that he is an uncompromising opponent of the visionary schemes of the separationists both North and South ; and also that he is favorable to a rational modification of the constitution, which others than these agree to be both desirable and inevitable; and we trust that his scheme, when it shall be brought before us, will merit an approval, and meet the views of all parties. We wish the two candidates now before the electors would speak out on the above important matters. There is yet time before the elections to call a meeting of the constituency and do so, and we strongly urge this course upon them. True, we know pretty well what are the views of Mr Colenso; but of those of Mr M‘Lean we know absolutely nothing whatever.