THE WEEK.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIL, Issue 267, 10 November 1877, Page 4

THE WEEK.

New Zealand politics— that ia the name under which we tjloak sqch pro. ceedinga as bave taken place in Wellington during the lest few weeks — appear 60 have resolved themselves into, a duel between Sir George Grey and Major Atkinson, and i 6 is very clear that the veteran is getting the better of his younger opponent, who as a tactician ia no match at all (c,r him. Just as the Major fondly hoped fo gain a victory the more wary Knight contrived to convert it into a defeat, and now having the power in bis hands, he evidently intends to keep it there. He has a clever knack of rrakiog hia political foe appear in the wrong in whatever he does, and calmly amiies aa he aces those ■ opposed to him becoming, more and more entangled in the web that he so craftily spins round them. Major Atkinson migh.t just aa well throw op the sponge at once, for so surely aa he aits in that House is failure in store for him. la the first place he was deseifced by some of those upon whose support be fairly reckoned, and now he is as completely out-generalled as were the French by that prince of tacticians Von Moltke. Sir George wants a dissolution, and a dissolution he will have, no matter how hard the other aide may fight against it. Those wbo voted to turn, out the late Government iv the belief that another but Sir George Grey was to take ap the reins must now see their mistake, and acknowledge that they were thoroughly over-reached, or~-to use a more slangy but very expressive phra.se — most horribly sold, but, however much they may regret, they cannot recall the action that has led to results so little anticipated by them. Who fights against Sir George. Gcey battles against heavy odds, for there is not a dodge in political warfare that he does not kuow how to use, and that with the knowledge ia combined the will few who know aught of his past career will feel disposed £0 deny. Like Mr Bees, Mr Sheehan, and two or three others whom I could name, I am , and have been for many years past, a martyr to modesty. It is, therefore, with some diffidence that I take my readers into my confidence so far as to inform them that I have recently been in communication with His Excellency the Governor in connection with the celebrated privilege question. In order to account for the easy familiarity with which we address one another, I think it necessary to say that on one occasion we drove up from the Forl in a cab together. This, however, is by way of parenthesis. It was last Monday, I think, that the following telegram reached me: "(Reply paid) Wellington, November 5. — To F, Helaon. — Have got into a bit of a scraps with Grey, because in having to act with apparent harshness towards him in refusing to call Wilson to Council, I explained my reasons. Kindly advise what you think best course to pursue. — NoRJfANBr." Saving carte blanche aa to the number of words I might uae ia reply, I wired back as speedily as possible : " Nelson, November 5. — To Normunby, Welling ton. — Tell him that since he has driveo you into a corner you express your regret (never mind your not fooling if) that your gentlemanly instincts prompted you to give in fuil the reasons for your declining to comply with bis request and assure htm that for the future you will endeavor, to the best of your ability, to dispense with that courtesy which you had hitherto conceived should invariably be observed in intercourse between gentlemen. — F." As nothing to this effect appears in ihe public correspondence* I fear that my telegram reached His Excellency too late. Our boys are groat at keeping up Guy Fawkes Day, judging from the number of figure?, apparently in the last and most helpless etate of intoxication, that were carried through the streets on Monday last, but I don't think that the religious or sectarian element has half so much to do with the creation and exhibition of these limp and corpse-like effigies as the love of a bit of fuo, and perhaps the hope of extracting a few coppers from paasersby for (he purchase of fireworks, I am induced to believe this by an anecdote that was told me of what once took place in a public school ia Now Zealand 00 one of the anniversaries of the long to be remembered fifth of November. The boya badly wanted a holiday, and petitioned the master to that effect, but be, fearing that be might hurt the feelings of the Catholics declined to accede to their request, and in doing co reminded them of the origin of the celebration of lhat day, and then singling out one of the Catholic boys he calied him before him and said, "Now, after what you have heard you wouldn't like ma lo give a holiday, would you ? " Without a moment's hesitation the reply burat forth — " My word, wouldn't I? " I don't know whether the holiday wbs given, but nuder the circumstances, I think h ought to have been. One of those inquisitive follows, who is always " warning to know you know," writes asking ma to explain something that has puzzled him. He eajß there is a waat of uniformity about the way in which our City Councillors ere treated. Oae of them has a gun which goes off aad shoots a lamb, rh«J there is a grept /usa made about, it. Anothar amuses himself by blowing with dynamite numbers of irout that have been imported into the country at considerable expense, and scarcely auy notice ia taken of his indulgence iv this noble sport. The fellow eayß he can't make

it out &t ail, a Q <] I have bed to reply that I oao affogd him no iaforastr eioa; iitoaa of thai tniMerai he reform "t& has yefi to be de&tt with by the -law. F.