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New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4578, 22 November 1875, Page 2

The Morning Post criticises some of Sir George Grey’s speeches with sharpness. Referring to Sir George’s proposal that Governors should be elected, the Morning Post says :—“ It was scarcely to be expected that such a suggestion would come from one who had so often been appointed a governor himself, more particularly when even in our most advanced colonies such a proposal has scarcely ever been mooted by the most thorough democrat. Of course it is easy to show that a governor is not exactly in the same position as an hereditary sovereign, that he is liable to removal, and that his tenure of office must necessarily be dependent upon the approval of the Home Government, but it is only in very serious cases that such a step as his removal is ever resorted to, and we all know that in the instance of Sir Charles Darling, his conduct, however much it was applauded by aDemocratic section in Victoria, met with the decided condemnation of the most thinking and intelligent class of the colonists. It is most unlikely that in the present day the Home Government would interfere with a governor who was popular in the colony except on the very gravest grounds. As to Sir George’s insinuation that it is held at home that none, but those “born in the purple” should be sent out to govern a colony; a .moment’s thought as to who are the present governors of colonies, even in Sir George Grey’s own neighborhood, should have satisfied him that there is no foundation for the supposition. In New Zealand a peer happens certainly to be now the governor, but of the six governorships of Australia and Tasmania all are held by commoners, men who have either had long experience in the same capacity, or who had given proof of their qualifications for office when taking an active part in political life in a colony itself.” of Sir George’s acerbity in noticing the creation of colonial knights our London contemporary has the following:—“Another of Sir George Grey’s grievances is connected with the Order of St. Michael and St. George, about which he appears to set very little store. Indeed, he remarks that ‘it was formerly dispensed to Maltese and the like, and one to whom it was offered said, ‘ When did I ever become a brigand ?’ ’ That all other colonists—for we may suppose we can regard Sir George Grey as one now—do not share his views is evident from the fact that the conferring of the Order is willingly accepted by them as a mark of the distinction it is intended to convey, and which, considering the long list of illustrious names that it includes in its roll, few will find reason to cavil at. The above grievances are only a tithe of what Sir George has to complain about, but the sample is sufficient to show that in future, should we require the services of some one to frame a bill of indictment against the Colonial Office, and to scatter mud broadcast and impartially around it, commend us to a retired Governor making his reappearance on the political arena as a candidate for the ultrademocratic suffrages of a colonial constituency.”

As an indication of how political feeling runs in the country districts of Otago the results of three recent meetings at which members addressed constituencies may be taken. We find, by the Bruce Herald, that Mr. Murray met 200 electors in St. George’s Hall, Milton, and we are correct in stating that this was about ten times the number that usually assembles to hear Mr. Murray give an account of himself after a parliamentary session has terminated. It may be fairly assumed, therefore, that this meeting was more than ordinarily representative of the Bruce district. Mr. Murray having delivered himself in his usual style of linked sweetness, long drawn out, and having proved to his own satisfaction the fearful evils of abolition, and the incompetency of the Ministry, a simple vote of thanks to him was proposed. An amendment expressing confidence ,in him was then pro-, posed, but found no'aupport. so that the proper courtesy of thanks Was all that Mr. Murray received. Next we find Sir Dillon Bell meeting a constituency, which, at the present moment, is represented by a pronounced abolitionist, whom Sir Dillon proposes to displace. Accordingly the Honorable the Speaker practised his usual custom of talking on both sides, and showing that in a division he would, if possible, have voted in the middle. The result was not satisfactory to the Speaker, who had to retire with a vote of thanks, one of confidence in him being distinctly negatived. Lastly we have the result of Mr. Cuthbertson’s address to the Invercargill electors, which appears in our telegraphic columns this day, and which was a thorough support •of that gentleman and his vote for abolition, as opposed to a proposition that he had forfeited the confidence of the constituency. These things are facts, and wo prefer to judge by them, rather than by the assurances of some who are just now loud in their assertions that, at the next elections, Otago will return an united band, pledged to follow Sir George Grey and Mr. Macandrew.

From the discovery of certain wreckage along the coast quite recently, it is much to be feared that there has beeK a wreck—probably that of a large vessel—not long since. On Thursday last, at Ohariu Bay a settler discovered on the beach part of the side of a ship's long boat, painted black, and part of another boat, painted white, a boathook with handle about eighteen feet long, and a large hoop of a vessel's mast. The discovery of this hoop, detached from the mast, would lead us to infer that the vessel supposed to bo lost must have been burnt. Another fact in favor of this supposition is the finding of a number of pieces of ship’s timber, well charred, by Capt. Worsp of the Phoebe, on Saturday last, when he was bound to this port from Picton. It is, of course, to be hoped that the supposition will prove to be groundless ; but when the foregoing items of intelligence are put together there seems but too good reason to believe that some large vessel has been consumed by fire.

Thb editor of the Wairarapa Standard?s experience of appreciation by his constituents is not a hopeful- one. He commences a leader in his Saturday’s issue by saying “ probably not more than one-third of the constant readers of any newspaper ever peruse its leading articles. Possibly not more than one-half of those who do peruse them care more about them than they do about the other contents of the paper.” The editor of the Standard does not take into account the fact that a paucity of readers frequently arises from the lack of interest in the reading matter supplied, and yet he professes to write " after a journalistic experience which few other writers can boastof.” Does this mean an experience in writing what nobody cares to read t Out of his own mouth ho would seem to say so.