The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1880.

Kumara Times, Issue 1060, 23 February 1880, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1880.

Wheit the late Premier of this colony,' Sir George Grey, was in the zenith of his power, the then ministerial organs were never weary of dilating on , the extraordinary capabilities he possessed as a statesman, and also pointing out that the fall of the Ministry of which he was the head would be fraught with the most disastrous consequences to the colony at large. Prominently among these journals may be mentioned the New Zealander, an organ published at the seat of the Government, and- one; whose columns were devoted, to lauding in the most eulogistic manner, the ad-' ministration of the great Liberal Reformer,” and “ the working. Inan-s 1 friend.” Can it be believed, however that no sooner was this conscientious journal assured that the present Gov eminent had the support of the country and were firmly seated in the coach of state, than, with a sudden turn that would not have- disgraced a weathercock in a charge of wind, it immediately discovered that the ex Premier was “ not the man for Galway.” Referring to Sir George Grey’s recent address to his constituents at the Thames the New Zealander observed:—

Most blatant, frothy, demagogic utterances are these, serving no purpose but to arouse empty, unthinking applause, carrying no conviction save that such words were'better left unsaid, in behoof of goodwill and’.peace between all conditions of men’ • Herein is the leaven of uncharitableness which pervades all Sir George Grey’s public utterances, and stultifies bis best-intert-tioned efforts for the public good. Much as we have written in his favor, a«d wide -tine latitude we have given contributors and correspondents in advocacy of Sir George Gery’s views, and in support of his party, it has been, impossible- to shut one’s eyes to the fact, or controvert an intensifying public opinion, that the glaring defect in his policy, the rift within the lute that Ims marred every breathing of his fervid eloquence, lias being that one nnvarying diatribe—setting class against class, abusing those in power as the most unscruplous of men, sympathising with the people as downtrodden, long-suffer-ing, much enduring.serfs. Judiciously regulated, that sort of thing has its use in politics, but administered ad nauseam, it altogether defeats the purposed end. We had hopes that Sir George Grey, in the quietude of his retirement, would have reviewed his taken account of the varying canoes, which led to his defeat, marked the weak points in his plan of action, and in thus marking have studiously avoided a repetition of errors ; but this apparently, he has not done.. He harps again on the old discordant string, and he need not be surprised if his listeners lefuse to be charmed, charm he, in his own conceit, ever so wisely.

What will our Hokitika Contemporary, who has so often indulged in a tirade of invectives on “ratting” through the medium of his editorial colums, say after- this t The case of the Auckland members sinks into insignificance when compared with this last grtat feat 6f journalistic ingratitude and transformation ; and w.ell may Sir George Grey exclaim, “ Save me from my friends” in accents of the most profound disgust.