ALI BABA AND HIS FORTY FRIENDS.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 85, 22 October 1879, Page 2

ALI BABA AND HIS FORTY FRIENDS.

It was a sfljd day for. Mr. John EJa^'s. po-~ litical reputation v»hen the allurement of the prospect of office, beguiled 'him from his quiet perch m the Lords, and induced him. ;to accept the. position of Leader to the Tories. Somehow or other he bad secured a reputation for honesty and ability, and his claims to Stateman.ship. — as the word is understood m the colonies — were unoppo-, sedly conceded. He had much to be thankful for, and should have rested uppn his laurels. He has now certainly, become the Premier o£ New Zealand, but his name will hereafter be associated with a Ministry which never could jcommajad a majority; which came in<o existence by fraiid and stuck to office by force. Weret'the honorable Premier to apostrophise his Ministry as did the crooked-backed. lsidiqrd ' hjs mis-, hapen carcase, the opho would find -vent m words like these — .' -. Deformed, unfinished, sent before its time Into this breathing world scarce half made »P» ' . ' " ' And that solaraelv and unfashionable. • That dogs, bark at it * * ** * * A few more days nx\d the. Ministry of De,feats will be a thing of the. past, and th P'igea of XHansard veill bear evidence of its, existence only to chronicle its minority m 'the- division, lists, and AH Baba aud hi§ |?,„.tv "riends will be m the cool shades.