The Patea Mail. PUBLIBHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS SATURDAY, JULY 1, 1876.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 128, 1 July 1876, Page 2

The Patea Mail. PUBLIBHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS SATURDAY, JULY 1, 1876.

As was evident from the beginning c/ the Piako debate, the victory of the Government was assured, the only question being as to the majority that they were likely to secure. This has been even larger tlian the most sanguine supporters of 'the existing Ministry could have hoped for, whilst a defeat more decisive on the one hand, and victory more conclusive on the other, lias never been recorded in the Parliamentary annals of Now Zealand. Sir George Grey and following found one of the most perfect marc’s nests in the Piako Swamp that was ever unearthed to render its discoverers a laughing •stock, and no bubble was ever blown, •accompanied with more sound and fury noth fixer, than that that the elderly eccentric, erstwhile Governor of New Zealand, has had so recently ■collapse in his hands. In the Swamp, •Sir George has swamped, not only himself, but his followers, and it will be hard for even the astute Macandrevv, or other ■of the wiser chiefs of the Opposition, ever to rally their discomfited forces into anything like imposing battle array again during the present session. Only -a few .weeks ago our able Victorian contemporary, the ■* Australasian,’ speaking of Sir Julius Vogel, commented on the invariable good fortune that had of late years attended him, and, as the latest illustration, quoted the lucky fact of his having for an opponent, and ns the leader of his foes, so harmless an enemy as Sir George Grey. The sagacity, of this congratulation has been abundantly proved during the last week, for no thick and thin supporter, or body of supporters, of the Vogel administration, could have more completely served iits best interests than has done the Knight of Kawan. Had he been a • friend in the guise of an enemy he could mot have better helped to consolidate the -Ministerial following, or have cemented Them more firmly together. As a miatter of course, he will bo virtually ‘•deposed from his self-assumed position -as head of the Opposition, and the more sagacious heads will doubtless, if not in same phrase, at least to the same effect, use the words of Othello, and say, Georgy, we love thee, but never more bo officer of ours.”' A more ill judged, foolish, baseless, or unprovoked -attack was never made, and a more complete illustration of an engineer being hoisted with his own petard could mot have been afforded. The Piako ‘Swamp, if Sir George' Grey could be "believed, was connected with political horrors of all kinds—it was the Dismal Swamp to be fatal to the existence and • reputation of the Government, and out of the history of its sale, evidence , almost enough to procure, not only a political, hut a criminal conviction for corruption and knavery, almost unparalleled. What has all this gasconade done ? In the first place, the debate has shown that a vast tract of country has been alienated after long consideration, that a committee of. the House sat last session, and actually recommended its disposal, that though the price given ..■is low, three or four times the amount of ■ purchase --money must <be -expended on it iin drainage and other work, to reclaim and ronAer it useful for any purpose, and that the capital necessary to effect ■this'.would bo quite' beyond the moans of ordinary purchasers. As to small farm holders, the idea of their being

able to drain portions of it was preposterous. One member, ,Mr Rowe, said that he had sailed over a large portion of it, before members ever heard the name of Piako; and Mr Stafford, wo believe, stated that no man ever yet saw its centre. The fact ot Mr Stafford, and other such men being found ranged en tbe Government side on tbe question, cannot be other than conclusive that the sale was a good one, and that, so far from being the job represented, tbe Government deserve the best thanks of tbe Colony for tbe action they have taken respecting it. On the other band, it may bo questionable whether the course pursued by Sir George Grey, and the frantic manner in which lie Inis east aspersions on those opposed to him in the matter, should not rather qualify him for admission to another class of public institution, instead of a seat in the House of Representatives. By the sale of the land in question no less than 83,000 acres of laud, at present perfectly useless to human beings, will bo drained, rendered capable of cultivation, and cut up into fat ms, in lien ot being ns now a moans of subsistence to cels and wddfowl only. That the enterprising purchasers will reap a handsome profit from their outlay is tolerably' certain, ami that they richly deserve it Ave feel confident every one Avill agree with us in thinking. To render a vast tract of country, at present desolate and barren, habitable and profitable to man, is a national boon, and that that is the opinion of Parliament, after a most exbanstiA'C debate, in Avbich everything connected with the question must baA'e been thoroughly, silted and turned over, is manifest by the late A'ote. We congratulate the Government on tbe result, and also that the mysterious allegations of malpractices, so freely indulged in by Sir George Grey and satellites, have been so thoroughly dissipated, thereby fully restoring thorough public confidence, which slanderous statements, now proved to be false, so positively made by the enemies of the Government, could not tail, in some degree, to Aveaken. It is to be hoped, Avben tbe next assault is made, that a better bogy Avill load the wan, for the one recently hoisted by Sir George lias not only failed to scare, but has hugely inspirited bis enemies. One Opposition ghost, that lately inhabiting tbe Piako Swamp, has fortunately been most successfully laid.