THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1879.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3319, 12 August 1879, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1879.

That the meeting held in the Theatre Royal on Saturday evening was unanimous in its expression of opinion in favour of the candidature of Sir George Grey and the Hon. Mr Sheehau, there cannot be; any doubt We never' saw a meeting more enthusiastic, and when reference was made by the speakers to the services of both candidates on behalf of the district it was evident from the applause which followed that their efforts* are thoroughly appreciated. The feeling which seemed to pervade the meeting was sympathy with Sir George Grey's Ministry for abuse they have received on , of, the, TJhames-Waifcato Railway and/a aeWmiria|ipp to give 1 expression to that feeling by returning two members of ithat Ministry as ; Representatives for the district by an overwhelming majority. Our object, s hqw.ever, ,in writing this article iaihbtJso.much id give prominence to the enthusiasm of the meeting as to, express our sense of disappointment at the utterances of the speakers. We, most cordially approve of all that was done, but in the present position of affairs we expected a more, extensive range of subjects would have been alluded to. We ,are ; on the eve of a most important election, and the new Parliament will have to | legislate upon questions, of the. greatest .importance not only to the district but also to the colony at large, and we think the speakers should have endeavored to \ direct some attention (6 these questions. In our anxiety r't6 secure the vigorous prosecution of railway we must guard against the possibility of losing sight of various matters which are almost of equal importance to v.Si In the coming i?arliament 'the questions of Education* Duration of Parliaments, Increased Representation, Franchise, Incidence of Taxation, Land Laws, and others will have to be dealt with, and it would have been well if <they had been referred to at the meeting on; Saturday. Oni the matter of Education" there must be no' vacillation, and the maintenance of the present secular system ■should be insisted upon. We have no doubt a strong attempt will be made on behalf of the denominational system, but we trust that the interests of the rising ; generationthe efforts will not be successful. We should certainly like to have, a public; expression of opinion on some of the questions we have mentioned. There is cine ether matter whicn we think should ; be brought more prominently, before the -public. In times past it has been the habit to speak of parties r by the) name, of the, recognised leaders, viz., the Grey party, the Atkinson patty, etc; The time has come,' however, when this should be dropped, and -parties alluded to as the j Liberal or,Conservativei asthe case may ' be. i ., ■ jW!e, ;;trust that in future 1 public speakers will take' this matter up, and refer to,; the Liberal principles, of the Ministry" or vice 'versa. The present Ministry have enunciated a Liberal policy, ■ and we venture to assert that if the Liberals are loyal to their principles in the, new Parliament there will be, a large Liberal majority. We do so because we observe aa inclination among a considerable section'of the present Opposition to adopt the Ministerial policy, their opposition being mainly a personal objection to. the Premier: ■ ; ' l," "