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Observer, Volume 2, Issue 29, 2 April 1881, Page 305

few hundreds in his departmental expenditure. But lie lias also created among the Maoris a discontent so deep and so universal that it will he necessary to continue spending many hundreds of thousands in maintaining an armed force as a substitute for the confidence in our laws and justice which Mr Bryce has done more than any of his predecessors to destroy.

Major Atkinson has also spoken but of his speech there is very little to be said. Of course his predecessors were all that's bad. On that the Major and his friends have been for ever trying to build a reputation for themselves. Ono instance Avill suffice. The Grey Government he tells us spent £110,000 per week. His Government have reduced it to £60,000 or £70,000. He leaves it to be inferred that they have therefore retrenched at least ttvo millions a-year. The explanation is simple. In the £110,000 is included expenditure from loans for public works and that expenditure has of course been much reduced. JJut why not say so ? Why leave it to be inferred that the saving meant retrenchment to that great amount? Ex uno disce omnes.

The central system of Government now prevailing has developed a practise of dcputationising which would be highly amusing if it were not so pernicious to the public welfare. First the Attorney-General is waited upon as the resident representative of Government. The deputation finds that the business of the Honorable Gentleman is only to draw bills and give legal advice. But Mr. liolleston is coming and he will consult with him. Mr. Rolleston comes and hears the deputation patiently. But he thinks "the application shotild be made to

The Look tout nuisance is again rampant, and impudent hucksters are forcing their way even into workshops and other private offices in the endeavour to sell useless and cumbrous volumes at impossible prices. We really cannot understand how it is that men and women, pretending to the possession of brains, allow themselves to be "done" by these mendacious rascals. In the first place the majority of the books they trade on are too big and heavy to read, besides being bound in hideous taste and (very frequently) vilely illustrated ; and, in the second, if a person is mad enough to require such literature, he can purchase it cheaper at the. regular booksellers.

The great attraction held out by these book touts is of course deferred payment. A few shillings weekly or monthly doesn't seem much to give for a couple of big showy volumes, and thus it happens that people burden themselves with a liability which they deeply regret long before it expires.

One of the smartest "do's " in the book tout trade is perpetrated in the k name of Giietave JDore. This great artist, as is well known, has illustrated the Bible, Tennyson's "Idylls of the King," "Dante," "Don Quixote," and other books. Well, the first and second editions of these works were most valuable, the illustrations were sharp and clear, and, though the prices paid for them seemed exorbitant, they were well worth it. Long ago, however, the plates were worked threadbare, and now the engravings passed off as Dore's are merely the shadow of his work, with all the fine lines and subtleties eaten away — in fact, artistically, valueless. Nine out of ten people of course know nothing about this, and, as the touts take precious good care not to tell them, the books still have a large sale.

Whiti and made him a prisoner merely because it would have been "the one thing necessary to destroy his prestige among the Maoris, his prestige as far as it was hostile to our authority. " And this is the wise, honest and consistent John Bryce, at whose feet the Ministerial papers would have us fall ! This is the Minister who thinks it a compliment to his colleagues to praise them to his constituents as honorable men ! Are honorable men so rare that it becomes a thing to brag about when they are caught and placed upon the Treasury benches ?

Enough of Mr. Bryce. He had a golden opportunity. His predecessors left him with a powerful armed force, and Sir George Grey left him a policy. It is well known what that policy was. A High Court of Commission was to be appointed, not to inquire only but to adjudicate upon and settle at once and for ever the long injustice under which the Maoris had suffered. In an evil hour Mr Sheehan allowed himself to be persuaded, at the close of a session, into passing an Act to imprison the Maori ploughmen in defiance of the law. This was done in a panic ; but the panic had ceased before Mr. Bryce came in. He tells us that he could have crushed Te Whiti and his people at any moment. He could in ten days bring 3000 men upon them. He was strong and lost a noble chance of using his strength by having these prisoners dealt with in the ordinary way under the law to which they had trusted. Then would he have proved himself a great Minister with a great jiurpo.se, and have left his mark on the history of the colony. But he was nothing of the kind, and his career as Native Minister ends in signal failure. He has abolished land purchase, handed over the native lands to private speculators, cut down some well - earned pensions, and saved a

the Minister for Public Works and not to him as it had nothing to do with the Native Department." This was the answer given to the deputation from the Thames and Coromandel. No doubt Mr. Rolleston is right. If he interfered with the Public Works Department Mr. Oliver might return the compliment and interfere with the natives. But what a miserable system it is which leaves people without anyone who has power to act in the numerous small matters which make up the life of nations as they do of individuals.

Speaking of Mr. Rolleston lie lias earned golden opinions during his short stay here, and he deserves them. There is about him a directness and an evident desire to do the best he can for those who have to wait upon him which are very satisfactory. Mr. Rolleston has been but little known in Auckland hitherto. We venture to foretell that the more he is known the more he will be held in esteem by those who can appreciate a Minister of wide popular sympathies, great working power and an honesty of purpose which no one has questioned during Ids long career as Superintendent of Canterbury and in the other responsible positions he has filled.

• — A correspondent writes : A promising young; clerk in Custom-house-street appears to have made it his business to captivate(j') many of the eligible young ladies of Auckland, only to play with their affections. The fact having come to my ears, and possessing a daughter upon whom he intends to be " sweet," I hereby give him warning that he must not be surprised to feel " Holdfast " my favourite bulldog becoming acquainted with his tailor's handiwork, imless he discontinues his amusement. Fathers heware of this ladykiller ! !