Tuapeka Times. AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1872. " MEASURES, NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 247, 24 October 1872, Page 7

Tuapeka Times. AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1872. " MEASURES, NOT MEN."

The Waterhouse- Vogel Government appears to be gaining strength day by day. This is not attributable to the favor in which its members are regarded by the House or country, but is in a great measure due to i§ie very general dislike the nondescript partyledby MrStaffordhassucceede 1 in inspiring. It is not likely/ that during the present session, ' there will be any change of Government, . nor is it desirable- that there should be. Quite sufficient valuable time and money has been wasted in useless discussion, and personal recrimination. Hon. members may derive a great deal of pleasure from engaging in rhetorical combats, but *the people who. have to furnish the sinews of war, are neither edified nor entertained by the wordy rows which have so frequently occurred The quarrels which are constantly taking place, in the House ofKepresentatives, only retards the carrying out of the 'Object for which it meets, that is, the transaction of the

business of the country. If members want to abuse each other, let do so in the recess ; and while in "Parliament assembled," exert Vfcheir energies to fulfilling their Tluties. New- Zealand is cursed with clever legislators. It would be profitable to the colony, if for a .few years these hon gentlemen who figure so much in " Hansard," were

prevented from being members of the legislature. Indeed, we think it is almost necessary that a clause shonld be passed condemning to perpetual banishment any member of the General Assembly, who spoke for more than an hour at a stretch. Were such a clause in existence, New Zealand would lose' its reputation* for possessing brilliant orators, but that loss would be an enormous gain in many ways. . The .business of the country would then ~be attended to in a proper manner, instead of being " slummed " as it is at present; practical men would have a chance of coming to the front, and not the least of the advantages, in the eyes of many, would be, that " Hansard " would .be reduced to about a tenth of its present dimensions. «. Mr Yogel appears to have profited by the defeat he sustained on Mr Stafford's .no-confidence resolution, and there is every probability thai. for the future, he will be more circmnspeefc,. It was stated" by a portion of the press, when Mr Staf-ford-was dn ] lower, that he had stiplen Bir Vogel's great policy. Since the latter gentlemen has beeii reinstated in his office, it could be riiore truthfully said that ■' he has jmrloiried the policy of Mr Stafford All the good point** hp has" adroitly -laid hold of, and tinier*- taken the oWtnji out of the sails of the Opposition. . *<He J^novs that- the position of .h»; Executive, though secure for . the session, is not ' by apy means ! *lMg&.oi»4'ft>ii endeavoring hy

every means to inspire confidence. He has made a good start, which has caused many who have persistently opposed him, to regard him in a more favorable light ; but his actions will be closely watched. He -has a chance — in all likelihood his last chance — of redeeming the actions 6f his past political career. If he neglects to avail himself of it, the gift of prophecy is not required to foretell his fate.

It would .be difficult, if not impossible, to find in the Colony a more unsightly ruin than the Lawrence Post-office. Why the wretched old shanty has not tumbled down long ago is a 'mystery too profound for us to attempt to fathom. All €he wood work is completely decayed, and tfhe iron has suffered so severely from the weather that no one would take it las a gift. To call the roof leaky ! would be to praise "it. When it rains the water fairly pours through into the interior of the building. The part of the building intended for public use is, if sueh m a thing' .were possible, in a worse condition, and it is absolutely dangerous to attempt to get near the delivery window. Besides, were the building in a good state of repair, the ac-; comniodation it contains is inadequate, and in consequence great inconvenience is suffered by the public. The people of Lawrence grumble extensively, but, in their usual style, refrain from taking action, although all admit the urgency of doing so. The Town Council has at last deemed it its duty; on the motion of Cr. Walker, to draw the attention of the Government) to the disgraceful state of the Post-office. Had they taken action earlier, there might have been a chance of getting a sum placed on the estimates for the erection of a new building ; but •we fear that at this stage of the session of the General Assembly it cannot be accomplished. .However there is no harm in trying. Having once- taken the matter in hand, the Council should not allow it to drop, but keep agitating until the Govern-. ment definitely promises to erect the required building. All other towns in Ofcago have got suitable buildings for the transaction of their postal and telegraphic business ; and we think that, if the matter was properly and persistently represented, the Government could hardly refuse to replace the dilapidated shanty used as the* Lawrence Postoffice with a decent edifice.