The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAYS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, I876.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 125, 21 June 1876, Page 2

The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAYS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 1876.

If ilf(j : t!xisftng*Eoasc- ofßepresoaitatives of this Cfdony newer achieve farther distinction, it can at least boast of'haring succeeded'in doing whiit has hitherto been unprecedented in the Parliamentary annals of any country -or colony, in turning out a, Government cf the day at its first sitting. The result,»too, has . been as astounding to those immediately .•-.concerned in bringing it about, as to the -.outside public, and Sir George Grey • little thought how like the blind Samson ...of bid ho would be, when, in pulling down ‘■■the Ministerial fabric, ho at the same ■.time involved Ids own political destruction in its ruins. Unlike tbo temple of Gaza, the injury thus effected, by ’ a fluke, can be, and will be, easily ; ; repaired, as far as the ,Yog.ol Ministry go; biit the imbecility that-prompted tbo rash attack will never bo forgotten by the Grey party, neither will its disastrous consequences to its chances ever khe repaired. The course taken by Sir will do more to consolidate the ‘•'Vogel party than anything that could have befallen them, whilst the fact of ■ ...throwing -tbo onus -of -administration on the scattered ami fragmentary Provincial party will bring prominently forward its •-ntter weakness, and will prove conclusively that such a combination as ■ ;Grcy, Macaudrcvv, Rolloston, and chiefs of that ilk is impotent for anything else but to obstruct rather than ad-. minister the affairs of tlic Colony. Ns -.-to any fond dreams of averting abolition, •-as well try and imitate Joshua’s feat of causing the sun to be a fixture, and • struggle "for it as they may, the hinds of the provinces must become the lands of ‘jthe'Colony, their proceeds to bo chiefly •appropriated"to local ends., but colonial, •and not provincial property, notwithstanding. The manner in which they .have been mismanaged and .misappropriated, the undue class favoritism that lias been shown in their disposal, and many other matters in connection with Crown lands, and those who have dealt with them, will no doubt be khown before ■ the present session Closes. The way 'in which' the Ministerial defeat was ’ brought about was strange in all its . surroundings. The Piako Swamp pnr- , chase was the ground-for battle, and, • that enquiry into that much talked of -matter was necessary, no one would bo ■; inclined to dispute. The Premier, on •the subject being mooted, did not shirk jinvestigation, bat on the contrary, ex-,.

pressed the willingness of the Covern’mentto afford every'information, and, ;KS'he stated, ample opportunity would £ipc given "to members To .discuss the

mat tor sit some nth or time, before any further action whatever was taken in regard to il. Sir gjefjrge Grey must have begun to think that prudence, at this stage of the proceedings, was the better part,of valor, but ho was hurried to the fate he courted by. Mr Andrew, who farced the division, resulting in equal numbers, which, practically, was a Ministerial defeat. Not satisfied with moving bis resolution, prohibiting Crown grants from issue for the land under discussion, Sir George descended to low scurrility, stigmatising' (he Government as corrupt in connection with the matter, and easting shirs of the most offensive description on every member of the Ministry. In voting for bis resolution, twent v nine members endorsed his charges, in fact, though subsequently many ol (hem speeialh disavowed any such intention, and the Government had no alternative, as honorable men. but, in the face of such an expression of opinion, resignation. Subsequent negociations took place, when the "Vogel following endeavored to prevent the crisis, but -np to the latest accounts Ministers were firm in their decision, and on Sir George Grey therefore will devolve the formation of a Government, ft will bo rather a singular errand for him to go on when he waits on the Governor, when he becomes the adviser in lieu of the advised, and it is well for him that his time is likely to he short, ami that his term of office, as a Minister,

is not likely to be prolonged. He has bought the white elephant indeed, and, were the truth known, wo venture to say no one over more repented a had bargain, than he does his last hitter one. The Provincial party cannot now at all

events complain of fair play. They went to the country with their abolition grievance, ami it pronounced certainly against them. They sought power, and have, by a most singular accident, been pitchforked into the jdaces that they desired to occupy ; everything lias happened as they were most desirous it should, and yet they are unhappy and dissatisfied. The opportunity they now have is the last they will ever possess, and their fall will b« as precipitate as their rise. They must cither abjure their principles, and accept Abolition as irreversible, abolition clear and definite, without any remaining shreds or patches of provincialism, or they must forthwith evacuate the Govornment benches, to which at present they aspire. The colony, through its representatives, will not tolerate a cranky Premier with one idea, who swears alone by one political Koran, the constitution granted some, twenty years ago, nor will the House be likely - to be satisfied with Macandrew, who cannot see through other than Otago spectacles, and who regards that province as the colony of New Zealand. Mr Kollestou is not likely to find move favour, and from amongst their tag rag and bobtail following, no one of influence sufficient to gain the confidence or the car of the House, can possibly be gathered to complete a Cabinet. It is certain that under no circumstances can a - permanent Ministry be formed out of the elements at Sir George’s command. Even if he accepted the policy, and the intentions of the late Government, “in globo”—a hypothesis, of course quite out of the question—the House would have no confidence, and, as it is, a bitterly hostile feeling will be at once evoked by a largo and commanding majority. It is yet doubtful whether the victor will sncccd in even stringing any kind of Cabinet together, and thereby allow some of bis adherents the privilege of calling themselves, as the play-bills say, “ for a few days only” Ministers of the Crown. At present the political drama is in a somewhat confused state, but a few days, indeed a few -hours, will probably clear up existing chaos, and enable the public to learn what is to be the immediate end of so very sensational a beginning. Be it a few days or weeks, the Vogel administration must return to power before the business of the country will bo proceeded with, and it will be found that the coup, so hastily made by Sir George Grey, will strengthen Ids opponents greatly, whilst it wifi out the political throats .of his party, and hasten the. legislation that ho lias fought so earnestly but fruitlessly, to avert [By a very late telegram received last night, and published in another column, the situation is considerably changed, and the resignation of the Government appears uncertain. T-o-day., however, will /lorM/ln flip mnff.m’ l