The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 1876.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 140, 12 August 1876, Page 2

The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 1876.

■So far the opponents of the Government have not only foiled to eject present occupants from coveted seats on the Ministerial benches, but their efforts at dislodgment-have fixed those so virulently assailed more firmly in their seats. Never in the history of the colony lias such disgraceful language been made use of within the walls of Parliament, as that that lias become the staple of the Opposition,' and never has the foulest Billingsgate had less injurious effect on its recipients. During the debates on the Piako Swamp sale, and the Separation question, Rees and others, whoso whole powers of reasoning arc contained in capacity for invective and slanderous vituperation, have fairly loaded Ministers with abuse that only the most perfect masters of the art of slang could have oven invented. As was well said by one of the members, after one of Rees’ .insane harangues of this description, if the Government wore only guilty of one half the crimes and misdemeanors therein laid to their charge, it should be in the felon’s dock, in lieu of their places in Parliament, that they should bo called on for their answers. The fact is, the blind besotted fury of such enemies has recoiled on those so possessed, whilst those it was “intended to destroy fool really rather better than otherwise for the mud-bath to which they have been involuntarily subjected. Like many others, they have said too much, they have lied too vehemently and outrageously, and the spiteful boomerang hurled against Ministers has recoiled on those who launched lit. Though, at the time of writing, we have no definite knowledge of the result of the Separation debate, there can ho no question Unit the Government will •secure a victory. Mr Stafford, whoso •support was claimed by both sides} has declared against Separation; Mr Rolleston, Superintendent of Canterbury, and one of the staunchest Provineialists in the House, even with the bait of increased power and prestige, declines the lure, and -sees thc-fiad-rosults of Separation, When such men as these, one only a very luilf-hoarted supporter, the other, a .declared opponent to the Government and all their Abolition works, both men admittedly amongst the ablest in the House, declare against the present hybrid Auckhmd-cum-Otago confederacy, the latter’s cause is hopeless. Though the division may, and probably will bo, the closest approach to victory that the -Opposition have yet attained, it will not be nearly equal to the hopes only very recently indulged in. Surely after this the country may hope that the “ irrepressibles,” as represented by Sir George Grey, . Rees, ■ Stout, Reader Wood and others will allow business to go on, after fooling away a couple of months in vain efforts to upset Ministers. It should bo the last kick, the final struggle this session, and should it end as it promises, in the final and utter rout of Sir George Grey and all Ids “ hungry army,” there will then be a clear field and no favor, for the Government to proceed with the too long delayed business of the country.