The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JULY 3, 1884.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4831, 3 July 1884, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JULY 3, 1884.

The literature of an age is, ns a rule, a fair means by which the feelings of those living in it may be gauged, hence it is that if a desire exists on the part of any one unacquainted with^the politics of a town or district, recourse is had to the newspaper or newspapers published in it; and it would puzzle occasional visitors to some parts of the colony to account for the revolutions- worked sometimes, were this rule made invariable. In .Auckland, for instance, we have the leading journal advocating the interests of a party which not very long ago it denounced in' no measured terms. If the Press be a reflex of public opinion, and it should most undoubtedly so be, Jhis change of-front would betray a most extraordinary change of front—would, in fact, indicate'that a complete state of topsy-turvyUm. has fallen upon the Northern portion ■of the colony. A vcrv short time ago the people

almost ran wild^witti Greytem, the mere mention of the name Sir George seemed enough ;to arouse enthusiasm unlimited. KoWlino novelty in the name of the old man or otherwise is produced, and they are evidently, falling back to their previousstater— perhaps,•■."■ Micawher-like, waiting for something to tarni up in the way of an agitating element. : It would certainly perplex even an all wise one in ways per-, taining to the movemenfS'of politicians to state> iwha'.t* ia actually the position Hand condition of affairs, and what is the issue upon whi eh the coun try is troubled .with* general election. Avote, of want of .confidence in the Government basUcertainly been passed, and this iriS itself indicate that it was '■* time 'i that they vacated their positionsi ;* but:, there-is nothing defined placed before the electbrs, tliey have no issue to decide upon, and the question seems to resolve itself into whether one or another set of men should be in office, from the point of view of their mere personality. The Press, in t]bus all ef in g the tone, of it a expr c ssion f where occasion demands, certainly showß a Hberality which is hot common amongst meni and iVeqaenlly causes much cavilling and ill-natured criticism, which is—-as a ruler-of rather a prejudieednaturei Not.withsta,tiding these facts all sorts ;"of condemnations are showered upon those who for a moment haver; the 'temerityto•}. budge from any: point;J originally taken : up. Ifc ; seems - tfc- be gotten J that -^ as. : : time I; advances, ideas do not remaini still/andi whilei the cycle of iimo; is on the^whirl^uew ideas and dis-. discoveriesV^speciaily'-of the features and fai!ing9 of politiciaus, will contihue vto be formed and made. Hence the apparent change^ df^front in many journals, which is in most; inßtances.Jonly ifa^ support of healthy and desirable new departures from old and worn out tracks, y