The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1877.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 254, 15 September 1877, Page 2

The Patea Mail. PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1877.

PouiTicAii rumours from the Empire City have been varied ot late. But a few days ago a Middle party was stated to have been formed, which, it was believed, would work with the Opposition following the lead of Sir George Grey, and so, of a surety oust the present Ministry. It was thought the Middle party would grow in strength, and, with new adherents from the Opposition ranks on the one hand, and from Government supporters on the other, assume powerful proportions, and eventually become strong enough to take the load as an organized Opposition, and with a modified programme, in accord with the general sentiments of the House, 'supplant the present Ministry, ami take upon themselves the functions of government, to the very great benefit of the colony. A change of some sort is becoming a pressing necessity. The proceedings of the House have latterly been anything but creditable to the colony. The Opposition, under Sir George Grey, have mercilessly assailed the Ministry—individually and collectively. Charges of falsification of accounts, corruption of various kinds, and shady transactions in land, of most extravagant nature, have been made, even against such members of the Ministry as have hitherto been been looked upon as without stain. The great lengths to which the Opposition have gone has at length led to warm retort, The Ministry, fora lime, appeared inclined to ignore the personalities of the Opposition party, and gave them rope, probably in the hope they would run themselves dry, and that afterwards business would be got through with despatch. Undoubtedly there arc on the Government benches men who may be justly referred to in no measured terms for smart practice shown in regard to large land speculations. The revelations of the past week, or rather the statements made on both sides, if in anyway near true, arc startling. While the Premier, and some other members of the Government, arc generally esteemed, and arc confidently trusted by members on both sides of the House as being well-intentioned and honest, other members, as Mr Whitaker and Mr Ormond, are viewed with distrust. It is known that the sentiments of some members on the Government benches arc diametrically opposed. While some would almost go the lengths of the Opposition party in regard to the objects they profess to have in view—readjustment of taxation, reform in land administration, granting facilities for the acquisition of land on easy terms by working men, and so on—others of the same Ministry see good only in large holdings, and in favouring large operations in Native and other land speculations, and are strenuously opposed to any fair adjustment of taxation. The Ministry from this cause is nocessarilly weak. The irregular Opposition (for it has been nothing more) have hit hard, and have scrupled at nothing to retard business. “ The eternal loquacity of some members,” mentioned by Mr Moorhouse in a speech lately delivered, has served the obstructive party well. The grossest of charges have been made, as has afterwards been proved, on the flimsiest grounds. The Ministry have at length been, goaded to reply. And there has been particularly warm work. The Opposition have winced under the lashings of some members of the Ministry, and of Ministerial supporters, and have shown a disposition to whine when served with their own kind of sauce. It is to be hoped, now both sides have had their fling, the warnings of the Speaker will be move.heeded, and that personalities will be dropped. Late rumoai’s mention that the attempt to consolidate a Middle party has failed, and that the Opposition are more discordant than ever, and therefore less likely to obtain seats on the Government benches. The country is getting tired of the “ everlasting loquacity ” of the Opposition, and would welcome almost any change, which would enable the business of the country to be conducted decently and in order. Wc trust that if some changes arc not speedily'made in the Ministry, the Opposition will subside, or at any rate will talk loss, and allow some of the very useful measures now before the House to bo passed into law.