South Canterbury Times, FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1881.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2547, 20 May 1881, Page 2

South Canterbury Times, FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1881.

A lono expected event has come off at last. Mr Oliver has announced to the electors of Dunedin that he has resolved to sever his connection with the Government as Minister of Public Works. The news is good news to the Colony generally, and Canterbury in particular. Mr Oliver has undoubtedly been the most unpopular of those who have had charge of the Public Works Department. It is only fair, however, to state that he undertook the duties at a most trying time—when retrenchment was the policy forced upon the Government. He had no millions of borrowed money at his disposal to alleviate the pangs of monetary hunger at a period when financial starvation was over the face of the land. It cannot be said that he fed the octopus with promises, as his predecessor in office, Mr Macandrew, would most likely have done. Mr Oliver never shirked the responsibility of any action, no matter how unpopular that action was. . He never attempted to make the angular smooth. The cast of his mind unfitted him for such nice work. W”e will quit him with the remark that Danedin alone appeared satisfied with his administration. The wires inform us that it is thought likely in political circles that Mr Hall will take the portfolio for Public Works, and that the vacant seat in the Ministry will go to a Southland member. Mr Bain is probably the member allude! to. He addressed his constituents at Invercargill last night, when the following amendment on a motion for a vote of

confidence was declared to have been carried :—“ That the thanks of the meeting be tendered to Mr Bain for his. attempt to explain why he supported a Ministry which has consistently and persistently tried to strangle the industries and commerce of Invercargill.”