The Temuka Leader. WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1879.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 160, 9 July 1879, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1879.

When referring lately to the resignation of Mr Stout we took occasion to remark that it would be a great blow to Sir George Grey's Government and a disappointment to the liberal party. Mr Stout's retirement is no sooner got over, however, than another resignation in the Ministry is announced—that of Mr Ballance, Colonial Treasurer. This is no sooner made public than a whole volume of abuse is written condemning Sir George Grey as a most unfit person to hold the reins of Government, this too by journals who at times must have made Sir George blush to the roots of his hair by their fulsome flattery. Shame on such pnblic journalists who can thus turn their backs upon an old tried friend of his country. Although in expressing our regret at ..the determination of Mr Stout to retire from the Ministry we admitted his abilities were great,,, and his loss not easily made up, we never could see the justice of this determination ; it is a very question able procedure. When any gentleman presents himself before a constituency asking its support and vote it is a generally understood that when that gentleman is elected by it he is to be the member for thgftt town or district for the number of sessions which that Parliament is by law allowed to hold, we cannot therefore, unless through pecuniary pressure, justify any member who may choose to throw up liis seat on the eve of the assembly of Parliament. That the Opposition would bo jubilant over this blow to the Grey Government was what every supporter of the Government looked for, but few were prepared for such an unjust condemnation of Sir George as is by some of his hollowhearted friends given expression to. The resignation of Mr Ballance, with _ its accompaniments, when calmly studied, must lead every lover of his country to condemn him for the step he has taken, and for the way he has acted, if report is true, in trying to turn the country against his chief.' The late treasurer, although not a gentleman of equal ability with Mr Stout, is nevertheless a member who has plenty of work in him, and has evidently improved much as a political financier since he first took om>c. We regret that

lie lias taken this rash step, it,shows that j however great his ability he wants balance , anil sound judgment, and as a consc- J que nee he does or says what will brand j him as n fallen statesman, with little , prospect of his rising again without great, j care and sUcty. That Sir George Grey is j to blame in this mutter we do not for a j moment believe, and we have no sym- j patliy with the present cry against him. The calm dignity with which the Premier repels these slanders show him to be the true English gentleman. Should it so have happened that Mr Stout had been placed in the same situation as Mr Ball an ce in this matter how differently he would have acted. It is with great regret that we see Mr Ballance acting so ungeutlemanly, and hope lie will yet ponder over it and that it will be a means of leading him to be more careful for the future. It is not to be wondered at that even the political enemies of Sir George Grey condemn the conduct ,of the treasurer. To say that because Mr Stout aud Mr Ballance has left tne Ministry the Grey Government must fall, is all bosh; plenty of good men and true are yet to be found in New Zealand ready to back up and assist in every way Sir George in the present trying crisis. The Opposition, thwarted in their efforts to begin a Native war (which we always said would never occur) have now got a new theme to speak about or write upon, which they do nop fail to make use of to the very utmost in their power, to weaken the influence of the present Premier and his supporters, but like the other, it has not a leg to stand upon and will soon die of exhaustion. Our conviction all along has been, and is still that a Native war would never again take place in New Zealand. While oihers condemned Sir George we applauded and will applaud him for his humanity and forbearance in not rushing to war for the purpose of destroying the lives of a few fanatics. Hia firmness in dealing with the disaffected must also commend itself to every right thinking colonist. Within a few weeks the leaders of this so-called rebellion will be in the hands of the Queen's messengers; a few huudreds well punished will have a salutary effect, as was the case with the batch of prisoners on the last occasion when they were sent to Dunedin gaol, the very mention of such still strikes terror into those who had then to bear the broad arrow upon their backs. To talk of the rights of the Natives as some for a purpose prefer to do, is all fudge, and the Maoris know it. A better aud firm dealing, as is now baing exercised, in dne time will silence all the bouncing, for bounce it only is, but it suited the opponents of the Government to stir opposition by every means in their power, in the hope of turning them out of office in order to let them in. There is no question about it, however, that the language of. the colony from one end to the other is Sir George Grey we know and the Hon Mr Sheehan we know, and the Hon Mr Macandrew, but whofare you 1 Let us just imagine for a moment that Sir George has all at once become unfit to manage the affairs of the country and that a new Ministry is a necessity. Where are we to go for an improvement ? Who are the men with ability and experience that we are prepared to put in their place. Puttiug aside Mr Montgomery, Mr Moorhouse, and Mrßowen? Where would we go to find a substitute 1 Mr Waterhouse has been tried and found wanting Mr Whittaker as a leader has been proved to be too opinionated and <oo crotchety. Mr Fox has not now the tact or patience of late in discussion, he has shown that he is too impulsive. Mr Ormond is too spiteful and revengeful, ever ready to sacrifice his country for his own private ends. Major Atkinson, the colony has had enough of him. Mr Stevens will not do, lie has failed in any attempt that he has yet made to establish himself as a statesman. Mr Roes, Mr Brice or others that may be named are not even fit to take the lowest portfolio, therefore to turn out Sir George, who has so disinterestedly served us, for such riffraff would be perfect madness. If Mr Moorhouse, Mr Montgomery or Mr Bowen could be prevailed upon to join Sir George, the want of Mr Stout or Mr Ballance would not be felt so much. Take the three gentlemen last named away from the Opposition and where is the talent and ability to come from. If we go to the Upper House, we have Mr Hall or one or two others who have served their country well, but these are not the men that would come forward to back a weak and sellish opposition. Therefore it is that we say again the present Government will not be overthrown, yet it is within the range of possibility that a dissolution may take place during the coming eession, although we doubt it very much. One reason for the present Government being permitted to work out a full session is that almost all the members individually feel the want of money, will readily support a measure for a new loan ; a loan which every one now admits is a necessity to save the country. Another reason is that a good many members know that they would not be returned again, they will therefore cling to office as long as they can. A third reason is that the great majority prefer trusting their interest to men who have been tried servants of their country to placing in power mere adventurers, many of whom have little to lose but everything to gain so far as their own interests are concerned. Mr Gisborne's appointment will not help so mucn to strengthen the Government as some others would have done, yet he is a respectable member and no novice in politics. It is much to be feared that whatever member joins the Ministry the session will not be a very productive one, in the way of making- new laws, or improving the old. Taxation will be_ the uppermost thought with most, as it is impossible with such a monetary _ crisis for any Government to carry on without the needful, and land even at a reduced price would not sell, while a certainj amount of expenditure must daily go on.j* It is gratifying to know that Mr Macan-: drew is not to leave the ship in a storm.: Mr Sheehen will not likely leave, and JVfi Ballance may yet return to his post. As stated at the outset of this article we do not think Mr Stout was justified in leaving at such a crisis. When &< constituency wishes to get rid of a troublesome member it finds it cannot do it, and we do not see why any one should throw it up when he chooses. New Zealand is now in the throws_ of great distress, hundreds are ruined who shortly ago were well off: hundreds more will bo ruined before the cloud passes away. Such a universal

calamity seldom overtakes any country, it is not a time therefore for men to wrangle and try to defeat any object that may be brought forward for tho colony's good, yet we have evidence enough before us to show that all the sores that can be ripped open will be made use of, to thwart the measures of the present Government, but we believe should the Premier be driven to a dissolution he will be returned with greater power than ever. The cry of the fickle, shallow, weak minded, wieldors of the pen, who are at this moment clamourous for a new Ministry will have little notice taken of their ravings so long as men can think for themselves and can see their little game. It is a pity that a portion of the press of this colony should take up such a cowardly contemptible selfish position at a time when all over the colony the cry is for help, and when most men are prepared to make almost any sacrifice for their country rather than see it go to ruin as it ia fast doing at present. We feel it our duty to warn every elector to keep his eye upon the member who they have sent up to represent their interests, and take careful note of their proceeding and how they vote, and it would be well for them to be turning over in their mind even in our own district who would be a likely successor to fill the place of the present member should he appear to act not in accordance with their wishes. We must have more than flowery, longwinded speeches. It is not whether this one or that is able to trip up the heels of such another one, but whether the interests of the colony, and the interests of the electorate is the leading and guiding thought of their conduct throughout the session.

Accident in the Opihi.—We hare to chronicle another accident in the Opihi river. On Sunday morning last, as two gentlemen were making for Temulca in a buggy, coming past Spillane's Hotel they followed the tracks of those who had passed before them, and in this way got oyer the first stream safely. Following the tracks from here they were led more than a quarter of a mile up the stream, where, attempting to ford the second stream, in order to reach the bridge, they came to grief. Being entire strangers, they were unacquainted with the ford that had been used by others, the horse stumbled and fell, when both the occupants were thrown out and carried down the stream. The buggy upset, and the horse was also thrown down but the buggy wheeling round with the current the two occupants, by a miracle, managed to get on their feet, and found their way to dry land, thus escaping -what might have turned out to be a fatal accident. "Well drenched from head to foot, they awaited the horse to come to land, 'when they proceeded towards Temuka, thanf ul that neither horse nor man were drowned. Why we enter into particulars in this instance is because we think there is some amount of negligence on the part of the Eoad Board. A great flood has visited us, making great alterations in the river bed. The old ford is destroyed. Strangers who wish to visit the town follow the track of others who have gone before them. Entering the river these tracks are of course lost; the travellers, acting upon their own judgment and limited knowledge of the river, proceed on their way, usually picking their way as best they can. In the olden times a ferryman was ever ready to show the traveller the ford and accompany him to the other side. Now there is no ferryman, the bridge is gone, and the Eoad Board does not seem to consider it a part of its duty to protect the lives and property of those who have occasion to. travel on this road. Several eases for damages have been brought against the Board by those who have suffered heavily by the neglect of tho Levels Board and the indifference* to the interests of the public by the Temuka Road Board, but in every case the Board have got off scot free through some informality. Thus the public suffer and have no redress. It is time that this state of matters were at an end. It i 3 a disgrace to the district to have no extension to the Opihi bridge long ere now. Only when a few more lives are lost, "will the Board or Council wake up to consider the grave responsibility that rests upon it. Meantime we hold it to be the duty of the Temuka Road Board to put up some guiding posts or landmarks whereby travellers can be guided in crossing these treacherous streams in tho Opihi river. It would not be too much, considering the many risks that are run, ;for the Board to station a man as before to guide the driver of vehicles in their course through the river. It is no exaggeration to say that tho two gentlemen referred to narrowly escaped a Temuka Volunteer Corps.—Last Friday evening an inspection parade of the above corps was held in the -Volunteer Hall, about forty members answering to' their names on the muster roll being called over. After the parade the company was put "through several movements by Captain Young and Lieut. Findlay. Captain Young expressed himself much pleased with the improvement shown in steadiness and knowledge of drill. A ;eneral meeting of ■ the company was afterwards held, at which three new members were sworn in and one new member proposed. Captain Young mentioned that he had written to head-quarters to the effect that himself. Sub-Lieutenant White, and twenty members of the company were prepared to go to the North Island for active service should their aid be required at any time. He also informed the company that the rifle range had been let for £55 10s a year. ' Temuka School Committee. —The usual monthly meeting of the Temuka School Committee was held last evening—Present:— Messrs Wilson (Chairman), Russell, Hooper, Brown and Storey, and after the minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, accounts to the amount of £8 18 were passed for payment it was resolved that the School should be closed after the examination to Wednesday, July ,23rd. It was further resolved that the schoolmaster should bo asked to send in a report each month re attendance of the staff and general working and requirements of the school.

PruzE Firing.— The omnetition for the Tradesmen's prizes camo off yesterday, afc the Winchester range, under command of Captain Young. The ranges were 300 and 400 yards, five shots at each range, and the following is the list of names : —-Sergeant Brewer, 37; Private Shepherd, 37; Lieu!-. Findlay, 35; Private Smith, 36; Private Walker, 35; Private Levens, 34 ; Corp. Griffiths, 33 ; Private Chepman, 33 ; Corp. Woodhead, 33 ; Sub-Lieut, White, 32 ; Private P. Thomson, 31 ; Private Hobbs. 30 ; Private Langridge, 29 ; Private Lewis, 29 ; Private Uprichard, 28 •, Private Carter, 21; Private Kissel, 23 ; Private J. Guy, 22 ; Private Gapes, 22 ; Private D. Guy, 22 : Sergt. Smith 21; Private Cornelius, 17; Private Terry, 17 ; Private D. Young, 15 ; Private Clinch, 15 ; -.Private Welby, 14 ; Private M'Leod, 14; Corp. Wood, 11; Private G. Thomson, 11. Temuea Interior Eailway Bridge.— We understand that the contractors (Jlessrs Henderson and Fergusson) intend to make a commencement on Wednesday next, and that they are prepared to take on fifty men at 7s per day. This will be a great boon to the unemployed.