The Evening Mail. MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 724, 5 August 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 1878.

The work of manufacturing and promulgating absurd political rumors has already been commenced at Wellington. In the absence of any startling or stirring events occurring in Parliament, the -'" own correspondents" of several journals of doubtful character have been racking their brains in the hope of supplying something sensational for the delectation of the readers of those papers which they for the nonce represent in the Colonial capital. As yet perfection in the art of telling lies hearing the appearance of truth has not been attained, and the result is that the canards which have reached us are of exceedingly clumsy construction, and scarcely calculated to deceive anyone. One of these item-manufacturers tells that Sir Georck Grey is going to resign the Premiership, and that his m:intle will fall on the shoulders of Mr. Baixanck. However startling this announcement may appear on first being read, it is not, on second thoughts likely to have any other effect than to create a laugh at the expense of the correspondent who hatched the rumour and the paper which published it. The statement that Mr. Ballakce is to become Premier bears upon its face the impress of untruth. Everyone who knows anything of Sir George .Ore's , or has ever heard' of the indomitability of his almost iron will, does not ne«d to be told that he would be the last man to abandon any position which, in the interests of the Colony, he feels him-

self called upon to fill. 111-health may cripple hi 3 energies, but his illness would have to become very serious indeed to cause him to retire altogether from the performance of a public duty. Unflinching perseverance and indomitable pluck have been his chief characteristic throughout his eventful life, and he is not likely now, when, in his old age, he has undertaken to bring about many much-needed reforms and introduce political measures to him very dear, to quietly throw up the sponge, and cry " enough." But even if, through ill health and failing .strength. Sir Georoe Grey did retire ! from the Ministry, it is not likely that j Mr. Ballamte would be chosen for the ! Premiership. However talented the member for Bangitikei may be—and we ; acknowledge ourselves admirers of Mr. Hallasck —he would not hj«; the man to lead a Ministry. He is comparatively a young politician, and cannot, he sufficiently well versed in political tactics arid party marmMjvres to make a successful leader. Who the Premier would be in the case of Sir Geo risk Grey retiring we need not pause to consider, for there is little probability of a change taking place; but we must certainly say that it is extremely improbable such an old and prominent politician as Mr. Macaxdrf.w would consent to become a follower of Mr. Baxlaxce. In fact, we think we are not far wide of the mark in stating that, besides Sir George Grey, there is only one other man in the House of [Representatives whom Mr. Macakdrbw would be likely to follow —and that man is the veteran and accomplished tactician, Sir William Fitzherbert. But enough hits been said upon this subject, for, in our opinion, the time is far distant when we shall have to examine the qualifications of the future Premier of the Colony, unless, indeed, death should remove Sir George Grey from his present position of usefulness and honor. Another of these inventive individuals tells us, with the air of one who is in the

confidence of members, that " all the Canterbury members are about to desert the Ministerial side," mentioning Mr. Montgomery in particular. The same correspondent says that Messrs. Sheimski and Wakefield :ire regarded as doubtful supporters, and goe3 on to say that " rumours of dissontions in the Cabinet gain strength every day. Sir George Grey is greatly fettered by the Conservatives of the Cabinet, and it is quite on the cards that he trill throw them over | and appeal to the country on the ultrai democratic ticket. Dr. Waixm's severe attack on the Ministry was a great surprise, and j» taken to represent the feeling I ; of that section o£ the Auckland member* < | who are bitterly opposed to Mr. Mac- ] : ANDREW." Here are items of a sensational, < iif not of a truthful, nature, to entitle ' l the « own correspondent " to the confidence of ■ his employer and to the few paltry guineas ' he yets for hatching political items. But ' even this correspondent is ecljpsed by the individual who supplies an obscure country 1 paper in Otago with political chit-chat, i This individual, whose residence, wo s suspect, is not many hundred yards from ' the office of the paper in which his effusions are published, gives birth to the following story:—" Messrs. Montgomery, Shrimski, Barton, as well as J. 0. Brown, and Wakkfikj-d, are said to have cut the painter regularly ; but then some people are open to be squared, and one cannot bet on tht-m with any degree of safety." This style of writing is, we know for a certainty, peculiar to the Editor of the Brace Herald, for that is the paper which gratifies the cravings of its readers for something " original " by publishing the abore item, in connection with a mass of other similar impertinent ami equally unreliable rubbish. We •uspect that the so-called telegram from svii'teli we clip tin's hit of " news" was never flashed along the telegraph wires. int that it was concocted within tho walls >f the Bruce Herald office, in the hope hat the exclusive possession of such a lolicious tit-bit would for once make its columns readable. We d,o not blame onrnals for endeavouring to obtain !olitic;d'intelligence, but-we do protest gainst the publication of bare-faced falseit'ods. The least they might do would •e to instruct their correspondents to rnte tho truth or write Rot at all.