NEW M.L.C.'S.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5541, 31 December 1878, Page 2

NEW M.L.C.'S.

10 THB EDITOB OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sib, —I, in common with other people, like always to get the best of an argument, but I have to confess that the other day I was most completely floored. The subject under discussion was the relative claims of Mr. Wood and Mr. Dignan to the honor of being called to the Upper Houße or Chamber of our Legislature. I took the side of Mr. Wood principally on the ground that he had in some form or other seen considerable service as a public rain. I was met by my opponent with the clinching rejoinder that Mr. Dignan had been much longer in the public service as a public—au. Feeling myself completely bested, I yielded the palm to my opponent; what elsnxouM ido? ■■ ;-■.■•

You editors knowledge of things supposed to be all but infinite, I would ask yon, is it true that Mr. Barff, member for Hokitika, is also to receive the like honor ? If so, he will Beyond doubt be a great acquisition to that body in vocal power, for while asleep the strains of music from his nasal if not of tho Bweetest, invariably arrest and command public attention; I judge from his performances in the House of Representatives. It is beyond doubt a fact that like not only begets but also attracts like, birds of a feather flock together, from'which we may fairly and reasonably infer that the recent and yet contemplated appointments to the Upper House, all of them good men in their proper sphere, are gentlemen possessingan affinity of feeling; a strong moral aud intellectual resemblance to the Premier. Great must be the pride of those gentlemen to be so closely allied to so great a man, and to be bent on so great a work as that of building up a great nation. Although I am not blessed or cursed, as the case may be, with over sensitiveness, nor am I at all fastidious about men and things in general, yet I confess I do not much like the architect or the workmen by which this new state of things is to be built up. As far as I can understand when completed we are to have all things in common. This, in practice, would suit me most admirably; possessing nothingin the shape of property, any redistribution of wealth would of necessity leave me the richer. But, in all seriousness, when and whore is this blessing of his own creation by the Premier to end ; when are the public of this colony to cease to bo gulled by such cant as the people of the Thames were again treated to the other day ? Are thero none of our public inen in whose bosoms there yet exists enough of 8, | patriotism to lead them to come forward and lift the veil aud dispel tho delusion, and at the same time lay before the people of this country an unvarnished statement of the present state of our public affairs, with the character and tendency of tho preseut administration, together with tho legislative and administrative reforms that are necessary to secure and perpetuate not only our present prosperity but yet more rapid advancement j Or is our buoyant little state ship to be loft.' in the hands of those'who, regardless of the public weal, would not hesitate to ran her oh to the rocks should such a course be the surest means of securing their own ends.—l am, &c, PATBIOI.