WEEKLY BULLETIN.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5522, 7 December 1878, Page 2

WEEKLY BULLETIN.

(From the New Zealand Mail.) Lever or Lover, wo forget which, has depicted and tells the story of a hypochondriacal old lady, greatly troubled with flatulence, who had invented and wore a head-dress in tho shape of a vane for tho purpose of indicating for her own information, and as a storm signal to her friends, the direction and probable force of the wind of the hour. Mr. Rees appears to serve for Sir George Grey all the purposes of the old lady’s weathercock. A month ago the vane showed an inclination westwards, and Victoria was warned from Auckland by the honorable member for the City East to look out for squalls. Now it appears that the wind has changed, and it has been announced that Sir George Grey has abandoned, or never entertained, the purpose of going to Melbourne on a stumping tour, with the view, as Mr. Rees is repo-ted to have said, of “promoting unanimity ‘ ‘ of feeling amongst thecolonies andsecur“ing colonial reciprocity.” The wind having changed the resolution is probably judicious as far as our Premier is concerned; but it was not judicious on Mr. Rees’ part to have made a public engagement for his principal to perform on the stump in a neighboring colony, and to allow that engagement to be broken without any reason having been assigned for the change. That portion of the human race inhabiting the great country south of tho Murray may have been led to expect an intellectual treat, and if so they have been robbed of a pleasure, and have just reason to complain. It may be urged in extenuation that the stump theatre is not yet vacant, although the farce,of the Embassy has not had such a successful run as was anticipated, “Men of the people” are not, we hope, going out of fashion, although there are indications that their special performances pall upon the public taste. Toujours perdrix disgusts even a gourmand. Mr. J. S. MACFARLANEintheNorth, and Mr. Sotion at Napier, have been uttering the moat dreadful heresies about our “man,” and whilst they have been knocking the sawdust out of the popular idol, and tearing the picture of the “ painted tiger” to shreds, they have been rewarded by the applause of large audiences of independent electors. Mrs. Gamp was not more horrified upon hearing the doubts of her “ frequent pardner” as to the bodily existence of Mrs. Harris, than Ministers appeared to have been at the lapse from virtue of the honorable member for Waitemata ; “a poor miserable Ministry!” said Mr. Macpaelanb, “ if the late Go- “ vernment were land jobbers the present “ Government were doubly land jobbers. “ Sir George Grey is a very clever man “ in one way, but, my goodness me, as a “ business man and a man of plain cora- “ mon-sense he is nowhere.” Thus the member for Waitemata, who knows Auckland very well, was no doubt sure of his ground before he ventured to express himself so frankly. The Legislative Council and the New Zealand University are to be reformed. The Otago College is “ advised” to declare its independence, and it is understood that Mr. Macandbbw will obtain a Royal Charter for the Otago University if the College Governors are smart and do their duty by the metropolis of trade and learning, Dunedin.

Mr. Sheehan and Rewi have torn themselves asunder. Rewi has gone to Waikato, and the Native Minister is coming to Wellington. Mr. Sheehan has been prudent in action, and we congratulate him. The “ blowing” is done. It was stated yesterday, on good authority, that an offer of the Governorship of Victoria had been made to Lord Normaney, and accepted by his Excellency. Whether or not the change may be agreeable to Lord Nobmanby, the choice for Victoria is, we think, eminently fortunate. In circumstances of exceptional difficulty here Lord N arm an by has exhibited the true character and quality of a Constitutional Governor, and in the stormy sea of Victorian politics, the Ministry will be fortunate that take counsel of his great good sense, and profit by his long experience of Parliamentary practice and of party government. Socially his Excellency and Lady Normandy will carry with them tho esteem and regard of the whole people, and kindly remembrance of the interest taken in and the aid rendered to every inatitutution whose object was the development of the resources of the Colony, the promotion of rational enjoyment for all classes, and the relief of tho poor and needy. Nothing is, we believe, yet known as to the successor of Lord Normandy in tho government of this Colony.