The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1878.

Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 100, 30 November 1878, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1878.

It is said the bitterest hatred that obtains a place ia the human breast is that of a ■woman’s love abused. The reasons for this are patent to all. Woman, when she loves, loves ardently. So much is it the ruling passion of her life that it blinds her to any weaknesses that the object of her affections may unhappily possess. Only when she funis that her fond attachment is not reciprocated, and that her kind attentions are worse than slighted, does she steel her heart against any further acts of kindness. This is-exactly the position taken tn by many of our statesmen at the present time, men who were formerly ardent admirers and supporters of the present Premier of the colony, Sir George Grey. We could name not a few members of .the General -Assembly who take a leading part in the polities of this country, who, in the heat of the conflict (Provincialism versus Abolition) were not found simply standing out of reach of danger, and crying Hit him, Betty, but armed with the most powerful weapons on which they could lay hands, rushed to the rescue of their mnch-advmred leader, crying, “ Bay on.

Macduff, anil damned be lie who first cries bold,. enough! - ” Alas 1 Aim! for the change that has come over the. spirit of their dreams. These same sturdy supporters are many of them now he nine, politically, his bitterest enemies. And why ? What has Sir George Grev done to bring about su h a change ? Has he slighted, or neglected to notice, or to reward the many great and unremitting attentions of his followers ? H s he neglected, were it at the saciifice of prnciple and honesty, to gather around him these devoted 'combatants who fought so manfully iu the unequal contest ? Has lie, looking under the surface, discovered a want of real symmithy with his views and with his determination to legislate for the good of his fellow colonists ; or Ins he discovered a latent deficiency in the fiery materials proffered so readily by the champion* who stood by him iu hi* ‘■’me of peril; or has he noted a want of d"cisi<m of character which unfitted the possessor,to take a' part in the government of the country?. Wo cannot help .coming to the conclusion that Sir George being a strict observer of men and manners came 10-.lhe conclusion that there must he. yet other tons of Jesse that had. not passed before him. but who were •better qualified fo.r toe work. Looking to the various quarters from which the spleen against Sir George comes bulging out, we. cannot he p coming to the conclusion that disappointment of place and power lias much to do with tbe present, cry against the Government,.. That cry is got up principally by those who were formerly his frienls.- Vet these blowers of the Opposition trumpet, for all their loud and vociferous blasts, give such an uncertain .sound that even those who may have had some thought of enlisting under their banners are inclined to turn on their heel on discovering - the transparency of the deception. When Sir George Grey took office the country was in doubt what policy tie wou'd adopt, and we have mo-e than once heard gentlemen exclaim, “ Who can heiieve what Sir George says, he’s not to be trusted.” This, too, from gentlemen who had not been twelve months in the colony. We could not help judging how appropriate the maxim would be, a close mouth makes a wise head.” The little knowledge of Sir George Grey possessed by these gentlemen must, of necessity, have been second-hand, and based upon the same slendei foundation as other unfounded denunciations of his veracity so unsparingly manufactured by his enemies. The Premier, however, veiy soon, and very fearlessly, told the Assembly and the country that his so'e aim and object was to settle the land with people in the place of sheep, and to m ke amendments in the laws which debarred the hewer of wood and drawer of water from making a home for themselves in this the land of their adoption. This is the grmt sin that is laid at the door of the Premier. This is too hard a nut for the would-he monopolists of this country to crack. Sir George was not blind to the evils resulting from locking-up the land as sheep walks for other ten years, and his first efforts after being placed in power by a majority of the people’s representatives was to see if it were possible to prevent this iniquitous law coming into force. Nothing could more clearly demonstrate the necessity of sending men to Parliament who are favorable to the settlement of the country than the way this Waste Lands Leasing Bill was passed through the House at the end of the session. Not being able to undo the evil, the Premier spared no pains in endeavoring to teach the people that if they desire to see New Zealand prosper and themselves settled in happy homes they must put an end to this sort of work for the future. The brilliant reception he met with in all parts of the colony is proof positive that his views were the views of the great mass of the people. No sooner, however, did the present Government attempt to carry out the measures spoken of than there arose a cry on every side agai ist the Government. The land tax, although it is a verv good measure, will affect the value of land in the hands of capitalists, and put an end for ever to that scheme for an arislocrncv so much cherished by a narrowminded few. and among t others some of our Canteibury members. A tax upon companies next raised up some enemies against the Government measures, and an unholy alliance between the money-lenders and the beer producers, fomented by the hate of the disappointed place-hunters, compe’led the Government to abandon some of their measures. Hence the cry of their opponents thai the Grey Government was a failure. Doubtless a remembrance of the fact that their tenure, of office had two sessions more to run before the members had to face their constituents to seek re-election had mu h to do with this opposition. They well knew that the electors were in favor of the Government measures, hut their sea's were not for some time yet to be declared vacant, consequently they were for this session free to serve their own ends. The cry that the Government had cast to the. ground'the policy that they had presented to the House was untrue. Few Governments, for many years, have done more to consolidate the. laws of the country than the present Government have done, nor has anv Government that has gone before sought less place nr power for their friends than the Grey Government; nor have we had any of t'.e P'ako Swamp sort of business brought home to the Ministry. Not even have their bitterest enemies been able to cl large them with selfishness in regard to the emoluments of office. Nor have they been sparing of exertion in their endeavors to acquaint themselves with the needs and wants of the settlers in the different parts of the colony. The Native Minister gives himself to the work of his department with a willingness which bespeaks his heartv sympathy with the cause of the native people. Here there, and everywhere, where his services can b” of any use. is he *o be found; now in using his influence in the suppression of crime, now in putting an end to some nefarious land jobbing. now in settling some dispute between the Natives and the Europeans, or between different tribes of the Natives themselves. His diligence in his duties makes him a pattern for others to imitate. The Minister for Public Works, more matured, is ever exercising his native tal mt and practical good sense in schemes for the good of his country, either in opening up new distr’ets for settlement, or in maturing plans for connecting more closely together the old and new countries by steam, or in devising measures for ameliorating the condition of the loss fortunate of his fellow settlers. The Attorney-General, gifted and learned though he is. has been,

we v\ill admit, more a source uf weakness than of strength to h's party. He has neverthe'ess shown that he does not believe Orago is .all New Zea'and. Possessed of a good memory, and sound judgment, with very a ute powers of observation, he will yet mike his mark upon the book of fame, although, like an unbroken colt, he is over ready to fall into mis hief if not closely watched by his chief. No one wil accuse him of deception or insincerity in any cau.se lie es ponses. But he is rather tardy in allowing the same wide range of thought to his opponents wliich he is ever ready to claim for his friends. He betrays a suspicion and mistrust of those who oppose him which-is most un-English. The Colonial Treasurer, exact and particular even to hair-splitting, will never be the all round statesman of the Julius Yogel type, nor a subtle, craftjr politician of the Stafford class; fie is, nevertheless, a statesman of no mean order, possessed of Stirling honesty of- purpose, and free from intrigue. He vi 1 not be impos- d upon, nor made a tool of to do anything , that will not stand the gaze of the clear light of day. Void of'pomp and egotism, we expect hi n to set -himself to Ids work with determination-to bring order out of confusion, harmony . out of muddle and. discord, and in the end to.deserve and receive the applause of his fellow men The Honourable the Postmaster-General, c innot be iield up. as a matured . statesman, the present being tbe first time he- has held office hinder any Government. 'We judge also that he will not be able to bring much support to his . Government. Not being-mixed up with any former Government he must look on in astonishment as disclosure after disclosure is opened up to him of the doings of less scrupulous men who have gone before him. One tiling may truly be said of him, he will not betray a friend, or he entrapped into a transaction that would bring a blush upon the cheek of a truly honest man. Taken all round the present Government will compare favoux-ahly with any Government (hat has gone before it. The great experience of the Premier ; his unrivalled knowledge of the governing, or rather mis-governing of the country during many of the periods of its' short existence; his knowledge of human nature ; his gentlemanly training and eclu- ation ; Ids acquaintance with politics, not only of New Zealand, hut of the Mother country; ids intimate acquaintance with the various c'a«ses of the settlers, and of the capabilities of the Colony to support a hu’ge population ; the suitableness of the climate for the prolonging of life, especially of the Europeans ; his laudable ambittou to make tins country a home for the working and middle classes, are all features which must endear him to his fellow colonists, whose good and prosperity lie has largely at heart, and for the furtherance of which lie sacrifices that repose and quiet which men of his years so long for. What was it that brought Sir George from his retirement ? Was it a love of gain, which stimulates so many to become philanthropists, at least iu appearance? Hoi he not wealth enough alreidy? Has' he given anv evidence that lie wishes for more? Was it the love of fame that drove him from Ids retirement ? Had lie notrisen higher on the pinnacle of fame already than he could possibly attain to again by any move lie could take in the direction indicated ? Did he not rather sacrifice position and so-iai status by again coming into the arena of New Zoa land politics'? If, thou, he Ivd nothing to gain, but much to lose by becoming a candidate for political honours, we most acquit him of selfishness, and seek fur a reason on other and higher grounds. The motive, therefore, can only be in his ambition to benefit his fellow men, and iu his desire to put a stop to the widespread political corruption, which, at the time he appeared upon the stage, so overspread the land that nothing but landsharking, log-rolling, swindling, and wholesale dishonesty, equalling anything that ever Now York or any other country had ever put in practice were run pant. Sir George loves his country, and has made up his mind to live and die in it. He is fired with the desire to see the hills and valleys peopled with human beings, instead of sheep, and the brown tussock give place to the thick and green sward, and the yellow flowering grain. This is the crime for wliich Sir George Grey is held up to execration by the scions of a rotten aristocracy, who have been sent here to keep them from disgracing their poor gentility at home. The Premier’s aim is to make this a hmd where equality exists; where everyone will share the burdens as well as the profits of their possessions. We feel sure the cnuulry wil not be hoodwinked into electing repiesentatives who will advocate k -eping the country locked up by a few sheep farmers, to accumulate wealth to support rotten establishments like the City of Glasgow Bank.