THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES ON MR BRIDGES.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2128, 29 October 1875, Page 2

THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES ON MR BRIDGES.

The Times of the; 21st instant says :— A closing act of the present Parliament was at once fitting and graceful. A few Straightforward-^ords- on an-equally* report from a committee, md a resolution wan passed which- 'Om« pletely refutes the disgracefu 1 assertions, the contemptible" inriuenddea *gai«ist atjabsent man tha,t have thickenedl the political atmosphere for months. Sir Julius Vogel has during the session been a mark for snarling arid malevolent detraction from the mouths of those who were dumb in his presence. Unforiunately, on more than one occasion, the seemingly .halfhearted loyalty of some who should . not have seem d half-hearted, has had the effect of lending an apparent confirmation to ugly stories, to petty gossip, and to statements and insinuations made in debate rhat have been growing and growing until to some they assumed a tangible sliape It is very easy to persuade tho-e «ho are ready to believe, and there were only too-many disappointed politicians, and it may be enemies, en- _. vious of Mr Vogel's success, ir\\jskjfefe" ready to believe any rumour ag»inst him, ev«-n though it had no better foundation than Mr Bridges' portentous, "If you only knew what I know" And sore-: ports and scandals culminated,; until it is really not too ;!;uch to Ray that, with the exception of a staunch few, most people began to think that "there was some-' thing in it.". And now it is made plain, that nothing more baseless than the accusations (for rumour has lately really accumulated into accusation); against Sir Julius Vogel could be conceived. It is ■ difficult to write of this matter, for it is difficult to use language sufficiently calm to characterise an affair, the writing about which tempts to use the very, strongest terms of reprobation. Mr Bridges has received an indemnity for his statements by Act of Parliament. He stands indemnified against civil process at law, but no Parliament can shield him from, or indemnify him auainst, that public opinion, which will now arraign him. In thig instance he cannot, protest against his judge, for it was before the judge those whom he accused by his innuendo* had ultimately to come. It was his

" Well, we know"—or, "We could an' if we would' —or, " If wo list to speak "—or " There be an if thtrg might" - ■■■'•,:. „■-.-. that produced the reports and statements which at last culminated in an examination before a Parliamentary Committee." His ambiguous givinga out caused the name and fair lame of this colony's foremost man to be tarnished by the br ath of pub ie suspicion without there Being in reality the slightest foundation for such suspicion. Uselessly, causelessly i. need-.., lessly, Sir Julius Vogel's private affairs have been made the subject of inquiry to| satisfy Mr dridges'innuendoes, the causefor which must be , found in ; Mr Bridges' evidence, that is, if anything can be found in his evidence except the fa<t that he w»s .prepared to.accuse anybody to substantiate nothing. We Ido not care to write of Mr Bridges' conduct throughout this business • if v would be unpleasant to criticise his eridence. Were we to draw attention to its shiftiness, to its lack of straightforwardness, and to. its utter want of common candour, we might be betrayed into say- ; : iug something which Mr Bridges would doubtless deem highly offensive. But in truth it needs little criticism, little tomark. Its perusal can only result in general condemnation of its author. Wo are quite content to leave Mr Bridges' public reputation to the judgment of those,, who read the report of the committee and: the evidence taken before that committee; and this we can do without on« word of comment, or one attempt to guide the formation of an opinion. It is pleasant to turn from this to that generous testimony, accorded alike by friend and foe in the House yesterday, to the utter" refutation of those calumnies against Sir Julius Vogel, to the complete vindication of his public and political honesty, which the committee's report affords. * It is also pleasant to note the frank and sincere manner in which Sir, George Grey testi- ; , fied to the willingness of the ' Bank of New Zealand authorities to throw open every avenue .of infor* matiori within their control. The short but impressive scene in Parliament hat ; in a moment, as it were, placed every-X thing right. The honour of our earliest and most important banking institution is untouched. Sir Julius Vbgei is still the Sit* Julius Togel to whom a majority of '( the country willingly extended the control of the country's affairs, and Mr Bridges is—well, he is Mr Bridges. :\-