The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAYS SATURDAY, MAY 13, 1876.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 114, 13 May 1876, Page 2

The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAYS SATURDAY, MAY 13, 1876.

The near approach of the session, only a month now intervening before Parliament meets for the despatch of business, is regarded with the greatest interest, by many even who seldom take any deep interest in political affairs. If the rumours afloat have truth for their basis, the Government will cleverly turn the flank of the Opposition, by detaching at least two of its ablest leaders, whilst many who were ardent Provincialists Wheti elected, are strongly suspected of having already seen the error of their Ways, and will, on many Unexpected occasions, be found ranged under the Ministerial Standard. The return of 'Sir Jitlills Vogel has unquestionably already gfeally influenced public opinion, and when the required opportunity is given him, the cliailces of opposition to full and complete Abolition, without a rag of Provincialism attached, are tittcrly and completely hlaiik. Even should the statements made so confidently in some journals, usually pretty well posted, as to two of four lately opposing Superintendents, he incorrect, or only partially correct, the result will he the game* and it is well known in public circles that the Government are sure of a good working majority in the main provisions of any important measure they may brlilg forward. It is very probably this conviction that is turning the hearts of the waver lug,., and

disposing them to listen to arguments that they hitherto have been deaf to. There are always in .every body some weak-minded persons, who can bo easily influenced by ;!4 )e stronger-minded on almost any topic to which there arc two sides. We do not ref. rto the Dugald Dulgetty division, who arc ready at a moment’s notice to throw their professed opinions to the winds, if they can serve their own material interests, hut to honorable and constientions'men, who can be influenced in some mysteriously rnesmericiwanner, when brought iu contact with menial powers greater than their own. There are doubtless some of tills elass-iu the new Parliament, and lids is the more probable as there is a large proportion of now members. That many of these will he won by the Premier there is no doubs whatever, •and, altogether, the Government, notwithstanding the hopes of their opponents, are perfectly secure, the utmost that is in the least degree likely to happen being a ve-eonstruetion by the consent, and at the wish of any retiring ministers themselves. Still, the political battle will be a 'warm one, for what the Opposition may lack in numbers it may make up for in determination, as far as being able to he obstructive goes. This was shown last session, and it is not improbable that some such scenes may occur again, it is to bo hoped that this may not be the case, that when the battle lias been fairly lost and won, the losers will accept defeat with good grace, and that the “ iron hand resolutions” which so effectually disposed of an obstructive minority in the Victorian Parliament., may not be found necessary to bring forward in that of New Zealand, Sir George Grey, with Messrs Stout and Macandrew, will bo the leading champion, and for the lower functions, on the opposition benches, Mrllees, one of the members for Auckland, will make an admirable esquire. In the meantime there, is an idea that the policy to bo proposed will have something startling iu it, quite irrespective of abolition or any measures necessitated by it. It is quite possible that there is some truth in it, ami that it lias a reference, in someway or other, to finance. Meanwhile wc can only speculate on the future, but in a few weeks wc shall know all about it.