New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4858, 17 October 1876, Page 2

New Zealand Times. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17.

Sir George Grey continues his exertions in the cause of humanity, unfortunately without any appreciable result. In the House of Representatives yesterday he appealed to the Premier “ in the name of the lunatics of Auckland.” Why his words should have caused laughter, * as they did, we are at a loss to know, for the appeal was made in most pathetic tones, and Sir George evidently saw no ludicrous aptness in his expression. The matter that caused him to appeal “ in the name of the lunatics of Auckland,” turned out after all to be of his own inciting. It seems that a much larger sum has been placed on the Estimates for the maintenance of the Christchurch Lunatic Asylum than has been put down for the maintenance of that at Auckland. It was on this account that Sir George Grey grew (eloquent on the wrongs done to the lunatics of Auckland. But Major Atkinson explained the matter very clearly. The Superintendent of Canterbury being wise in his generation, gave the General Government full information as to the sums required for the maintenance of the various charitable and other institutions within his province ; as a result the sums named by him were placed on the Colonial Estimates. The Superintendent of Auckland had the world at large to study, and therefore declined to give any information in respect to the maintenance of tlje charitable institutions in his province consequently the General Government! had to take their estimates so far from those passed last year by the Auckland Provincial Council. .Clearly, then, the blame of any under estimate lies at the door of Sir George Grey, and Will lie there still unless he accepts the offer, made yesterday by the Government to, amend the Estimates upon being furnished with the information which will enable them to do so. Now, when Sir George made his claptrap speech yesterday he must have been perfectly aware.

of the circumstances which caused the apparent injustice to be done to Auckland, and must have known .that these circumstances would ultimately cttoe (to light. But he could not lose the chapce of playing the downtrodden advocate of misery and suffering, and so pleaded for “the lunatics of Auckland with-admir-ably simulated pathos,, and. an earnestness thc t might have deceived had not its hollowness been established by previous acquaintance with it. As it is, his appeal has only resulted in one more exposure of (we use the word in a political, and parliamentary sense) his trickiness.*. \ It will be seen that, failing the lunatics, Sir George Grey has another move on the board for redressing the wrongs of humanity. He intends to propose that £SOOO shall be placed on the Estimates to furnish funds wherewith he and Mr. Rees can go to law to test the efficacy of abolition, the £SOOO to: be made a charge on Auckland and Otago. We fancy that besides others not a few Auckland and Otago members will object to this, despite the respect they owe to Sir George and their friendship to Mr. Rees; and in Pursuit of that malign opposition to all that is good and great, it is much to be feared that the House will decide that if Sir George Grey is anxious to go to law and give Mr. Rees a good brief, he mus> do it with money other than that raised by taxation from the people. , In addition, however, to asking the country to give him £SOOO to go to law with, Sir George is about to, ask Parliament to proclaim the Governor s recent despatch a breach of privilege. We have bat one suggestion to make in regard to this' Sir George Grey should ask leave to amend his motion by striking out all th© words after t( thaty 9 in order to add. the following—“ This House declares its strongest ' condemnation of the ruse adopted by some members of sending Home letters to the Secretary of State, giving an utterly untrue picture of the political situation here, and adroitly contriving, that - these letters shall be despatched so close upon mail time, that no opportunity is allowed to Ministers, or to the Governor, to cover them by despatches telling the truth.” He would find himself, if he adopted this suggestion, in the hovel position of going into the lobby with a large majority at his back.