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Patea Mail, 14 September 1880, Page 3

A New Party. —Speaking on Saturday, Mr Bastings, candidate for the Waikaia vacancy, said ho was not greatly in love with the present Government, and was tired of both “ Blue and Grey.” He believed that ere long a now party would administer the affairs of the country quite as well as the men who had held positions in the Government so long. They did not want men with theoretical political knowledge so much as practical business men. He bad often looked at members of tho Government and said, “If I want a man to run a hay or corn store at £SO a year, you wouldn't suit, and yet you run this country.” Men who got their education, not from experience but from John’Stuart Mill or Herbert Spencer, found, when they attempted to apply their knowledge, that it was not serviceable. Practical men were wanted, and such would be the leaders of the new paaty. Whimper, an English traveller, has distinguished himself by climbing Mounts Cotopaxi and Chimborazo. The latter baffled Humboldt’s endeavours. Its crest is 21,120 feet above the level of tho sea. A Paris correspondent writes ; “ General Fane has determined to abolish drums in the French army. The reasons which have prevailed are that in actual service the drum is not heard so far as the bugle, is not so well adapted to convey orders by sound, and, moreover, that tho heavilyladen drummer cannot carry a rifle, which the bugler does.” Tho Court of Assizes at Milan has acquitted General Boot of the charge preferred by Don Carlos, the Spanish pretender; of stealing his collar of tho Golden Fleece’