OUR LORDS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 157, 3 July 1879, Page 4

OUR LORDS.

[Canterbury Times.] THB HOH. HBHEY JOHH MILLEB. There is a genuine ring about Mr Miller, which in this age of shams is quite refreshing You have only to see and hear the man to feel quite sure that he is solid throughout, and that the stuff of which he is made will wear well. His physique reminds one of the description in the "Canterbury Tales"— The Miller was a itont carle for the nonea, Full big he was of brawn and eke of bones. That proved well, for over all where he came At wrestliqg he would bear away the ram. He was short-shouldered, broad. There is a crushing earnestness in the shake of his hand. His voice, the possession of which men who have to hail maintops would envy, has sincerity in every tone. He speaks" atntfght out from the shoulde*. There is ridtfiing 1 , meaty ot deceptive about him.,

From the crown of hia head to the sole of his foot he is a man, and a very muscular man. And yet with all his strength he is gentle and good-natured, lhe alliance of physieal power with moral mildness is a providential arrangement. Miller Bdlicoso would be a terrible sight to gods and men. His temperament is naturally inert and indolent ; and it requires considerable provocation in the Legislative Council to get him on his legs. It must not, however, be imagined that Mr Miller's mental faculties have all been absorbed by his animal organs. His mind is well cultured, and is far above the average standard. Everything he says is well worth hearing, and when he is excited he becomes eloquent. Some years ago there was talk of possible separation between the Mother Country and this Colony ; and even some of Our Lords, in their indignation at the treatment which New Zealand bad received from the Colonial office, began pawing the air and making other signs of aristocratic impatience. Mr Miller suddenly burst into patriotic oratory, and concluded a loyal peroration with that beautiful passage from Horace, commencing— A h te mece. si par (cm animcß rapit, Ac, Mr Millers fervid appeal, and especially bis classical quotation, went direct to the hearts of Noble Lords, and all eccentric symptoms of dissatisfaction at once disappeared. It is terrible to think what would have been the effect if Mr Miller had exercised his oratorical power on the side of Colonial Independence. The bar in the Chamber of the Council might have been turned into a barricade, and we might even have lived to see the Councillors in red nightcaps aad sans culottes. Mr Miller, modest and inactive as he is, was ence induced to become a Minister. Unfortunately for the country his Ministerial career only lasted about two months. He joined the Fox Ministry at the commencement of the session of 1872, and resigned

with the rest of his colleagues in September of the same year. He took office reluctantly, and we doubt whether " all the king's horses and all the king's men " would drag him into it again. We think that this circumstance is unfortunate both for the Colony and for himself. Mr Miller has some very fine public qualities, and it is a pity that the country has not the benefit of their exercise in the counsels of the Cabinet. He showed during the term of bis '* brief authority " considerable aptitude in dealing with public business in the Council, and there is reason to believe that he would be successful in administration. We also think that more political activity would be beneficial to Mr Miller. His character haa much dormant power, but it lacks combativeness. He saunters over the field of politics, like the Black Knight at the Ashby tournament His prowess is only seen when he is forced to fight. The drowsy atmosphere of the Legislative Council makes him lazy and lethargic. What Mr Miller requires for the good of his moral constitution is a severely contested election to the House of and a seat on the Treasury Bench in the face of an active Opposition. The leaven of piignacity would regenerate his mind, and bring into play its best qualities. Mr Miller is at present an inorganic politician, but he has in him the undeveloped substance of a statesman. But we fear it is almost too late to hope for his evolution, unless aome strongminded friends take him in hand, and forcibly make him a representative and a Minister in spite of himself. Fourteen years of lotus-eating in the Legislative Council have enervated his mind and steeped it in forgetfulnees.