Our Auckland Letter.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3838, 18 April 1881, Page 2

Our Auckland Letter.

(rEOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Your readers would have noticed-a few weeks back a notice of the death and burial of the late Alexander Black, one of Auckland's old three Sandies. At the funeral cortege it was particularly noticed that Mr William Swanson, member for M ewton, was conspicuously absent. Very few persons could account for the honorable member not being there, and it is only because I am in the full confidence of the gentleman that I am enabled to give you reasons—the why and the wherefore, you know. The Honorable Mr Eolleston was in Auckland at the time, and amongst the reasons for his visit, a a lea ;ing feature was to feel Wully's political pulse, especially as the latter had fought somewhat shy of the AttorneyGeneral lately. The new Native Minister made up his mind to see how the cat jumped j so, disregarding the fourth commandment, he appointed Sunday, the day of the late Mr Black's funeral, to pay Mr Swanson a visit and have a friendly (?) chat. I cannot of course give a verbatim ad literatim synopsis of the korero, but the Minister left considerably lighterhearted when he found out that Mr Swanson would never again follow Grey. Willy railed about the hiA timber of his new house, -how he was induced to square up with the pious contactor, and a variety of other matters, when he suddenly branched off by enquiring, how about the fulfilment of the compact n.ade in 1879 by the Premier with himself. Rolleston replied, " Oh, we must do something before the House meets, and very likely we shall get Sheehan to join us." The legislator then thrust his hands in his breeches pockets and said "That may do." On the whole the appointment was not highly encouraging for the future of Ministers, but the strangest part of the business was Swanson's abuse of Sir George Grey, for had it not been for the influence of the hon. member for the Thames the member for Newton would have been literally roasted after the defective and alleged perfidy became knowit During the conversation it tra^B-

pired that through - the Bank of New Zealand and the Herald the " rats " were not to be " gone for," and, Swanson added, " Berry, of the Herald, is afraid to say a word in his journal against us." The interview ended, and, after JRolleston left, Swanson murmured, "Oh, if that damn business had to be gone through again I should never be ' had,' and I often wish I were dead when I come to review the whole of Wood's deep laid plot.

I notice that sitting on the rail member, (MrEunny), and the Government whip (Mr Beetham), have been addressing their electors down South, and the meagre and one-sided report of the proceedings telegraphed by the Press Association is again observable. The conclusion, however, is pretty plain, "A vote of thanks was carried." It is singular how these members, who announce that they intend supporting the present Government all over the colony, what rough handling they meet with when addressing theirconstituents. But Mr Bunny's unfounded assertion that Hall and Co. possess the " confidence " of the country is only what might have been expected from one of our New Zealand representation, especially one having such elastic political party lines like the distinguished member for Wairarapa. The utterances of Mr Bunny will be accepted cum grano salts, and he will no doubt find in the sweet by-and-bye that, in announcing his intention of supporting Ministers, he let the political cat out of the bag much too soon, as circumstances and, perhaps, grave weighty questions of policy may arise which might compel him to #ive way to the " exigencies " of party after the House meets.