The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 1884. THE NEW MINISTRY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1233, 30 August 1884, Page 2

The Temuka Leader SATURDAY, AUGUST 30, 1884. THE NEW MINISTRY.

So Major Atkinson auc Mr Wakefield have buried the hatchet and have gone into political partnership to carry on the business of the country. This is really delicious. Of all the bitter attacks mads on Major Atkinson during the no-confidence debate in June last that made by Mr Wakik.ld was, as usual, tbe most bitter, and the gallant Major in return gave Mr VYakefield the severest dressing down he ever got in bis life. Major Atkinson said then that he would have Mr Wakefield a? a follower as soon as it suited that gentleman, and his prophecy has been fulfilled much sooner than anyone expected. The fact is no one expected that Mr Wakefield would he in. eluded in any Ministry, because of the instability of his character and the unpopularity he has brought upon himself by his habit of making personal attacks. It was not expected that a leader would be found who would hamper himself with such an element of weakness ; in fact, it was thought his presence, in any Ministry would be sufficient to ruin it. However, the strange events of the past few weeks, and the extraordinarily chaotic condition of the House, have succeeded in placing Mr Wakefield in power ; for under no circumstances could he,have attained to that position had parties been in their normal condition. He is in now ; he has worked for it hard ; and if we cannot commend his consistency, we must admire his persistency in gaining his own ends. We trust ho will work as perseveringly for the good of the colony as he has to get into office, and that he will get a fair trial before being turned out again. We are afraid, however, his reign will be short. Mr Stout has already commenced the attack, the ground being that it is the Atkinson Ministry back again. It is not the Atkinson Ministry, we are sorry to eay, but only Atkinson himself, with all that was good in his Ministry left out. If Messrs ‘Rolleston and Bryce were in the new Ministry we should hail their accession to power with much pleasure, for we feel convinced that there are not in tbe House two men more honest or more deserving of public confidence. Even their enemies have to admit that, and consequently we think it a great misfortune that they are not included in the new Ministry.

THE GERALDINE DOMAIN AND CEMETERY. On more than one occasion we have drawn attention to the disgraceful state of the Geraldine Domain, which used at one time to be the pride of the residents of the township. It has now become a perfect wilderness, owing, we understand, to the Domain Board not possessing the wherewithal to keep it in order. At last, there appears to be a way out of the difficulty. The Town Board has come forward to the rescue, and the Domain Board will be asked to resign their trust into their hands. If, as we surmise will be the case, this be done, then the Board will endeavor to come to some arrangement with the caretaker of the cemetery to look after it. The cemetery at Geraldine also requires closer attention in matters of detail than the trustees can afford to give to it, and the Town Board in this instance also has offered to come to the rescue, and take charge of it. Tbe trustees of both the domain and the cemetery are, according to statements made, willing to resign their trusts in favor of the Town Board, and the caretaker of the cemetery could well look after the two. Should tbe change be effected it will certainly be for the better, and the thanks of the residents will be due to the Town Board for the energetic manner in which they are looking after the interests of the newly-formed Town District of Geraldine.