The Oamaru Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. THURSDAY, JULY 10, 1879.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1006, 10 July 1879, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. THURSDAY, JULY 10, 1879.

31k. Macassey ha 3, for once at least, acted with wisdom. After prospectively scanning the hard road which leads to Parliamentary bli33, he has turned back, and left Mr. Stewart, or Mr. Reeves en route to honor. Mr. Macassey's retirement may surprise some people, but not many. He had the courage of a lion as long as he had the field to himself. But several othere appeared upon the scene, and the affair assumed a different aspect. Mr. Maca3sey i 3 experienced in electioneering business. He knows every inch of the road to Parliament, but never got further than the portals. Five times ha 3 he offered to sacrifice himself for the sake of the people, and five times has he been rejected. Even now, when the Colony is without an Attorney-General, an ungrateful public will have none of the brilliant lawyer. Northward, southward, and westward he has expended hi 3 money and his oratory to be beaten —woefully beaten—on every occasion ; and now, when there we uld appear to be an opening for a clever fellow, even Mr. W. Downie Stewart, an unpretending gentleman of his own profession, or Mr. C. S. Reeves, is preferred. If Mr. Macaasey is not fit to be a representave, he is at least to be complimented on being able to see that his services in that capacity are not wanted, and therein lies the benefit of Mr. Macaasey s experience. It is evident that Dunedin 13 not going to elect an | Attorney-General in the late Attorney- | General's place, unless Jlr. Stewart suc- : eeeda and is eventually promoted to that > position. Such a thing is scarcely likely. ' There is no lawyer in New Zealand, I save Mr. Macassey who could expect to ! become a member of Parliament and I Attorney-General at one leap. If he had | not been politely thrust aside by the ; electors of Dunedin, Sir George Grey > might have made any sacrifice to secure | his services. But, of course, there i 3 : always a risk in electioneering matters, and no man knows that better than 3lr. Macassey. He might have got into the Ifnttae without getting the AttorneyGerterakhip, and that would have been too severe a trial for Mr. Macaascy's patriotism. Mr. Macassey is about the only, man in New Zeiland that would have expected such a position of emolument and honor without doing more for it than spending a heap of his spare cash in nnmertms futile efforts to enter Parliament. Such a position is generally the reward *>f political services, and arc fv! re sty men the House who arc, in every respect, better on titled to the Attorney-Generalship than the dis* appointed Dunedin lawyer. There is Mr. Rem, belonging to the party now in power. If his party remains in office, he lias some rl a * m to the position vacated by

Mr. Stout. But the Premier is not likely to commit the indiscretion of choosing him. His legal knowledge might fit him for the office, but his rabid, uncompromising behaviour is a fatal objection, and would only make him a source of weakness to the Ministry. We do not know but that there are almost as grave objections to Mr. Rees as there are to Mr. Macassey. On looking around for other and more eligible appointees, wc confess that they are not numerous. There are several goud ones on the other side, but they are not likely to be chosen so long as the present regime lasts, nor would they be likely to accept, if they were. That Mr. Hislop's name has not been mentioned in connection with the position is a matter for surprise. He is a firm adherent to principles, and those principles are pretty sound. His parliamentary career has been marked by much judiciousness. It may be said of him that he is not fond enough of talking ; but this is a valuable characteristic. If all members of Parliament were to follow Mr. Hislop's admirable example, and make thinking antecedent to speaking, instead of doing the reverse, the business of governing the countrywould be less arduous and time-absorbing and more satisfactory. The perfection of speaking is to speak at the right moment and to the point. Mr. Hislop has proved himself able to do this. Platitudes are not in Favor with him, but he seeks to compress his ideas into the smallest possible compass, and invariably succeeds in doing so. That he can launch out when circumstances demand must be admitted by all who are acquainted with his parliamentary career. But his launching out consists | rather of matured thoughts than of volubility. That he is able cannot be denied ; but he is young. In a political sense this is his only fault. He surely will surmount that barrier. The plea of youtlifulness cannot of itself be urged as an objection. Wc say, with all due respect for age, that wc arc daily brought into contact with us many old fools as young ones. We art? convinced that in 31 r. Hislop there is the material out of which useful administrators arc made. It only requires to be developed by circumstances. He i 3 vigorous, careful, and well read, and his heart is in the right place. If Liberalism should succeed in weathering the storm that will inevitably expend its fury within a few days, Mr. Hislop would be a worthy successor of Mr. Stout. Perhaps the same objection that caused Mr. Stout's retirement might weigh with him. But he would lose nothing if he were to accept the position. It is the duty of those who aro able, even though it might entail some personal sacrifice, to bear their share of the burthen of governing the country, and more ; especially so when the dearest interests of [ the Colony are in jeopard}'. We cannot | believe that it was intended to make Mr. | Macassey Attorney-General, if he became | the chosen of the people ; but tke matter [is set at rest now, and it is well for Mr. t Macassey and the people that it is so. H. | may be a clever man, but his is not tin ! cleverness that the country requires. We shall watch with interest the tide of , events, and believe that ere long Mr. | Hislop will drift into the position which it is the privilege of such men to aspire to, and for which, unless we are greatly mistaken, he is eminently fitted.