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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5034, 2 May 1878, Page 2

“The: true use of speech,” said Goldsmith in one of his charming essays, “ is not so much to express our wants .as to conceal them,” and this use of the faculty received a very happy illustration at the Upper Hutt on Monday night last. The tdngi over defunct provincialism, so long dead and buried, was perhaps a little out of place; but an exhibition of sentiment on the subject on! the part of an ex-Su-perintendent may be excused, and if Sir William Fitzhebbbrt felt that his official exertions to promote the progress and welfare of: the province of Wellington were forgotten, or hot sufficiently appreciated, he was justified in seizing the first favorable, opportunity of setting himself . right with his. constituents and,j with i the public. : We think, however, that no justification was called. ■ for, because ho : ■ one - doubted that as Superintendent he hud the interest of this province: at heart, and labored long and earnestly to retrieve its fortunes, which, on first taking office, he found at a sufficiently low ebb, On the subject of general politics; • however, although Sir William Fitzhbrbbrt, declared his determination to keep to , himself the opinions which he hold, he , has left a good deal to. bo inferred from his speech, which we note, not without satisfaction. It is very evident -that hei does not share Sir George Grey’s belief in manhood suffrage as being the panacea for all the ills of the body politic, or | regard the new evangel as a saving

faith; and he is strong in his contempt for a people who, having lost their freedom by consenting to the abolition of the provinces, can be led. to, suppose that they can now recover it by such a “ catchpenny 51 and “sham;” Rut there is, it would appear, a .form of manhood, suffrage of-whioh the honorable member for the.-Hut'rmight be content: to approve, although the picture of it: which'ho presented had the character of a somewhat hazy negative. I Those gentlemen alluded, t®- by the 'Speaker who expected, as the result of "‘the meeting, “to' be able to see whether Sir .William Fitzherbbrt is about really to head the Opposition and ’ oust' the present : Ministry”—if they have backed their opinions by a wagorj imay. find«some assurance in Sir William’s reply to Mr. Rush, “that although: ho'admired Sir George Grey as a statesman, he tyould not promise to support hinr or any other man, but would always vote as his conscience directed.” Having scraped the bones of the old Proviiidial Government as olehn as circumstances permitted ; having had his tangi ; having consigned the relics with many tears to the tomb of the Capulets, he .then stoically renounced all inclination to .bring "back the provincial form of government,- which, as he said, “ like a rivpr has passed away and is lost.” We think that,in this discourse three points are discernible which may be regarded as; hopeful germs,;-Ist, that the attitude of. the member for , the .Hutt in regard to; Sir George Grey will he an independent; one; 2nd, that .the late agitation about inanhood suffrage is believed by him to be a; ‘ ‘ catchpenny and a sham;” , and 3rd, that any attempt to revive provincial institutions now would l be absurd. These germs may develops into an acceptable opposition policy, and those who' were disappointed by Monday; night’s entertainment at the Hutt may, perhaps, when the session opens, see the “ favorite for the Darby” start' without “ hobbles.”