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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 7 December 1880, Page 2

" Cax any gentleman spot the little pea ?" is the query of the thimble-rigger in mellifluous tones, as he gazes around him for another investor. A venturesome "young man from the country," desiring to appear more spry than he looks, confidently accepts the challenge implied, and, in a moment, his pence are jingling on their road to the bottom of the manipulator's pocket. "We are vividly reminded of this episode in civilised existence by the rumor of Sir Juliu3 Yogel's intentions towards the Colony. The political juggler of Westminster Chambers intends, so it is said, to reappear at "the table" ip this Colony, there to exercise his cunning. Will his blandishments beguile colonists in the face of their experience? They have already proved that the game ia a losing one —that the infatuations of the gambling table are deceptive—that their money infallibly went into the pockets of the thimblerigger. If they are poorer, we think that they are at least wiser, men. If all we hear be true, the presents of books and figs were a3 significant as we thought them. Sir Julius has been informed that his services will be no longer required by the Colony. But, under the hands of his ejectors, he stands on the threshold of the Colony's chambers, and insists upon being permitted to perform yet one other act for us. Sir I Julius, if himself spared the dreary shroud, | will yet do his best to enshroud the Colony. In the sublimity of his affection he protests, " I will never leave thee, nor foreake thee—so long as you have a shilling in your coffers." Once relieved by his successors, he will speed hither; then we " shall see what we shall see." His public works policy has expended its beneficent influences, which didnotextendbcyond the period during which the vast loans were being administered. We cannot pay interest without crushing taxa-

tion ; wo cannot make our railways "pay" without levying tariffs that will crush our industries. Just as our fiuaueini paroxysui is at its height, he who beat a hasty retreat from our shores rather than suffer the contumely attaching to an experimental test of the merits of his last great coup, will appear amongst us, and once more besmear the eyes of colonists with golden ointment. His latest invention is a syndicate to relieve the Colony of its debt, the quid pro quo being our railways and sufficient land to make up the deficiency. With plausible tongue he will attribute the failure of hispublicworksscheme to the violation of the principle which he embodied in that scheme of making the lands through which-the railways passed make up any discrepancies which might occur in, the •amount necessary to defray interest and the oost of working them, and'the receipts. He-will--point out that bad' his policy been carried out in its entirety, everything wouldhave proceeded as "merrily as a marriage bell." He will demonstrate that it is now, alas, too late to repair the evil done by bringing into operation this cardinal feature in hia heroic policy ; that years of legislation has proved the futility of making any such attempt; that there is but one course open, and that is to repeat the operation of throwing ourselves into his arms. Ihe proposal means, in jjlain language, that the Colony would be sold to a company. Thus We would wipe off the slate our indebtedness, but we would barter our little remaining liberty. If colonists do not now govern themselves, they at least console themselves with the hope that representative government mayyet prove something more than a pham. If there is any truth in the rumor that Sir Julius contemplates making such a startling proposal to colonists, he had better save himself trouble, expense, and disappoint-, ment by abandoning the idea. If rumor does not lie, wo shall, at all events; presee Btirring timeß. The announcement of the scheme reads like one of Jules Verne's books, yet it is just such a one as would emanate from Sir Julius. There is one probability upon which we riiay congratulate ourselves. If Sir Julius trips the experiment, he will create a stir in political circles that will perhaps assist in the solution of spjne of the difficult problems with -which the Colony must soojjep or later deal.