SYMPATHY.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 448, 30 July 1879, Page 3

SYMPATHY.

(To the Editor of the Patea Mail. “ For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do,” B.G. Sir, —Kindly allow mo to mingle my tears with those of poor “ Bogtrotter ” in the matter of Lincoln-street, and his dear little playmates, who therein get qnagmired and bogged in its naughty mud. As for the indiwidals representing the component parts of the Town Board, I say—Plough them ! Confiscate them 1 Flabbergast them ! Or Haggleshackle them! unless they at once take measures to make Lincoln-street capable of carryinglts enormous traffic, consequent from the passage to and fro occasionally of about three atatute adults, dear “ Bogtrotter,” and one or two more small boys. Trusting, Sir, you will join me in consoling and sympathising with this unfortunate and illused Knight of the Bog,—l am, &c. PHILOPROGENITIVENESS.

the number of adherents. Although in hearty accord with the principles enunciated by the Government, we are not inclined to regard their defeat at the present lime as a great cab-unity to the colony, for the simple reason that, as consituted.now they are too weak to carry their principles into effect. In the retirement of Mr Stout, the Cabinet lost the formative mind which could give shape to their ideas, and with nothing but the aggressive ability of Sir George Grey left, the colony cannot look for any political millcnium from them. Whether defeated or not, their short and troubled reign has been of signal service to the colony, if not directly, at least indirectly. There is no political progress without change and conflict of opinion, and the present Government have at least the merit of cultivating the electorate to more advanced views in political science. Whatever Government succeeds them must choose a policy leavened in a great measure with liberal and progressive ideas, or it will fail to meet with the support of the House. There is a good deal of luck in politics as in everything else, and it would have been more fortunate for Sir George Grey, and wo believe better for the Colony, if he had held the reins of office a few years earlier. The Land Tax, which is so unpopular, would have been paid without a murmur, and the over-specula-tion in land which has produced so much depression, would have been checked. Sir Julias Vogel, on the other hand, was singularly fortunate in taking office at the end of a commercial crisis in 18G9. Almost instantaneously our staple wool, which had been at,a ruinous figure, recovered its price, and the Colony, by the introduction of a Public Works policy and other favouring circumstances, rallied and continued with a tide of prosperity till now. There seems little doubt that the worst of our hard times are over, and if a new Ministry attains to office it seems probable that they will bo equally fortunate in having a period of commercial prosperity before them. With liberal land laws and a judicious stream of immigration, the progress of the Colony in the past will be as nothing to whet it should attain to in the future, and when it becomes known in the Home country that we have made ample provision for education, not only in primary schools but by universities, one of the great obstacles which deter men possessed of some capital from coming hither will have vanished. As we have already stated, wo fear that the present Ministry must succumb, but the principles which they espouse must triumph in the end. At an early opportunity we shall return to the ministerial programme am) discuss the proposals, which in our opinion, are essential to the continued welfare of the Colony.