The Patea Mail. Published Wednesdays and Saturdays WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1875.

Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 61, 10 November 1875, Page 2

The Patea Mail. Published Wednesdays and Saturdays WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1875.

It is no l ,v definitely announced that the iT'ciion nl'liii.' new .Parliament will comiiionco on the first week in Jannnrv. News to tins ML ci lic.s had tin* effect of galvanising ninny constituencies into lull political life, and, everywhere almost, the note of preparation tor the coming frry has been sounded. Several electorates are considerably exercised on the subject ol Sir <lulins Vogel, a kind of scramble for that eminent politician being the order of the day. It is known that he will leave England for New Zealand early in December, coming back, it is pivsueii<‘d, by the American nia.il route, with its palace cars and accompaniments, and that lie will at least stay over the first session, widen is likely to commence in dune, in order to be able to administer the “icaipde grace” to Provincialism, that impends when those sittings close. Wanganui has already worked itself into as great a heat in connection with fchr .Julius as it is well capable of, and the journals of that town are already at loggerheads in reference to his probable candidature and inducing causes, whilst other places are greedy of the honor of eing so represented, and figuratively tight over his absent body. Jtis hardly likely that his friends will risk the chances of a contest at "Wanganui, where there is such an evidently determined, and, very probably, .successful opposition ; especially as, in the lirst place, lie has no local claims whatever to the confidence ot that electorate, and in the next because in oilier parts be can walk over, or, if not ipiite that, where bis return is beyond all doubt assured. The Government will not bo so foolish as to incur the slightest chance of having’ their chief, for so lie is at present in fact, left out in the cold, a disconsolate Pori at the gates of parliamentary Eden. Under those circumstances, it is probable, after the feeling that has been elicited, that sonic safer constituency will be selected to take the Invisible Prince to its metaphorical bosom,and tbattiio Wanganuitcs will return a local man to look after their affairs and interests. A popular delusion exists, to the effect that it is not merely an honor to have a Minister as a representative, but also that such representation is fraught with substantial blessings in more readily procuring necessary public works in districts, whose members arc integral parts of Govennental machinery. Such by no means follows, and it is very questionable whether, were W angunui to elect the new knight, it would not do half so much good for itself as by choosing one from amongst its residents, whose feelings and interests were bound up with with the electors, who will do well to pause before being dazzled with the political those he represented. That, however, rests meteor that now flashes across their horizon, likely to be as evanescent and insubstantial, as phenomena of the kind are. Looking at homo, this district has had the honor of a leading member of the Ministry as it representative of late, and, as far Patea district is conthe I-ionor .seoms to I>e about ull the, benefit derived from the connection. As this part of the electorate has had an impliod or indirect promise that Major Atkinson will shortly address the electorates, and give account of his stewardship, it would be hardly fair to comment at any length on the apparent apathy that he has evinced in connection with this district, but there are two or three little things that will need explanation. For instance when a proposal was made in the House to alter the Mount Egniont electorate and fixit ■ boundaries . .from Waitotara to iheWaiguiigora, it found gr at favour in eves of members, but was not carried out. How was that .and how did Major Atkinson ? .Did ho support it or did he pro Her to keep this part of the electorate bound up with that whore his interest was greater and the number of electors larger,'where, in addition, public, expenditure on public works of various kinds bad been, comparatively speaking, lavish ? The electors here, as far as it at present known, do not appear to owe no very material gratitude to the Hon. the Colonial Trc ismvr, and it is questionable whether, as a private member, he .would, not have done more for it, being in that ease free and untrammelled to push its interests individually, instead of being one horse in a' Government team, compelled to travel together and work as a whole instead of separating. It is supposed by the hou. member’s ti i mkls that there will bo no opposition to his return, and that the.- Fg non fc district will be untroubled by a contested election. We have reason - to believe that such a belief is likely to prove unfounded, and that the confidence in the absolute return of the gallant major is, to say the lead of it, somewhat premature. There arc local men wlm only

need an invitation .to come forward and whose chances of succors even against a minister, would, not only not bo despicable, but the very reverse of hopeless. They are biding their time, and will come to the front, most probably, when the struggle begins. it is certainly time that the electors began to-look round, and enquire! amongst themselves whether or not their present representative is all that could be wished, and ascertain whether their ihterests would not. he as saG, or even safer, in the hands of a less distinguished legislator, one whose time and abilities could be more specially devoted to his constituency, than is possible for a gentleman who has so large a share of ministerial responsibility on his shoulders. The next Darliameiit will have heavy responsibilities, and i s first session will be more than usually important. It is nothing short of political suicide for electors to be tamely apathetic on the eve of changes, so important to the colony, as the coming year will effect., ant wo trust that the electors of the Patea district will so regard it. .In a few weeks the electors of this district will he called on to assist in sending a champion to the fray—let them reflect, wMi tie fore they resolve who that champion shall he