The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, JULY 9, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1492, 9 July 1881, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. SATURDAY, JULY 9, 1881.

From the moment the present Ministry assumed office, it has been the fashion of their opponents to brand them as gridirouers and land sharks, aud to apply every vile epithet to them which would indicate that they had corruptly robbed the people of their inheritance, and surreptitiously paved the way for their bosom frieuds to acquire large estates at the expense of the country, and to the detriment of all others who were not permitted to participate in the little jobberies which were going on. This has beeu the perpetual cry of Sir George Grey, varied only in the ingeniously oppiobrious names he applied to those who ventured to differ with him in his political views. From year to year it has been found that his most furious partizans echoed the war-cry of their leader, and in season and out of season denounced, in highflown language, the men whom they were taught by the great pro-consul to consider as the incarnation of all that was disgraceful and corrupt. If a block of land was acquired from the natives, it was announced without hesitation to be a deliberate swindle ; that is, so long as the said land was not purchased by Sir George's friends. When a writer in the public press recently said that Sir George Grey would cease to exercise any influence over our new Governor after his Excellency had been in the colony three months, he exhibited a wonderful insight into the inevitable result which follows a close observation of the Grey tactics and manoeuvres. With regard to the land-sharking question, a wonderful change has come over the spirit of the dream, and the Grey worshippers have at length arrived at the conclusion that they may as well go in fop anything good that is going as not. It will be both instructive and amusing to note what effect this wholesale desertion will have upon the leader without a following, who still as loudly as ever holds forth upon the high crimes and misdemeanour ot those whom he chooses to consider not only tyrants over the people of New Zealand, but his own personal enemies. It is a somewhat unusual sight to see a chief without a clan; but that is the picture Sir George Grey now presents. But still the deserted old warrior holds his head as high as ever, although he must be fully aware that he will never again lead a successful charge against his opponents. His will is strong, but his prestige is gone, and his ex-followers know that perfectly well. In the meantime they are striking out a line for themselves in the loaves and fishes direction, and are apparently willing to shake hands over the Piako Swamp business, the Patetere Block, or any other block, so Jong as their own little pursuit is not interfered with. The vulnerable point of the loud-tongned patriots has at length been found, and although they may still be desirous of appearing in the eyes of the public as the most refined gold, they prove to be the veriest coarse clay after all.