The Wairarapa Daily TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 1891.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3833, 16 June 1891, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 1891.

"The Shepherd from the hill-side'' was the epithet applied to himself by the Hon John Mcßenzie in his late great speech. Some curiosity has been expressed as to the capacity of a hill-side shepherd for making such an oration, and critical persons profess to trace the hand of Sir Robert Stoat in the work. It is certain that it was delivered by the Hon John, and it is conjectured that it was set up in Wellington before it was delivered, but beyond this point all is surmise. The Minister for Lands is said to have been in his early youth a tender of sheep, and there are some Who believe that he still ought to spend his time in purely pastoral pursuits. He is not by any means the type of the traditional gentle shepherd, being more allied to the tierce drover, but it is thought that if his attention were only confined to docks, it might be good for the Colony, however bad .it would be for the poor sheep. The Hon John McKenzio is said to be ill educated, and impatient of the restraints of office work; he is a sort of bull in the Civil Service China shop, and the smashes are frequent and continuous, In correspondence, published and printed, the public have seen what sort of letters the lion John is supposed to write, but we may take it for granted that such letters are more or less toned down by the Amanuensis who acts for the Minister, and that if his real language were allowed to transpire people would he slightly astonished. Indeed, it is said that the spelling of the Hon. Minister is not altogether dissimila'i to that of Artemus Ward. :. The fact is, a man who makes no pretence to edgcat£on or breeding suddenly finds himself at the head of a hundred gentlemen, who have always been treated with courtesy and consideration by the Miaister of the (Jrown, bat who now find themselves bnHjedand brow-beateh by this » Shepherd from the mil-side." Major Atkinson's big jbjoota .were a trifle as compared with the Hon. John McKengie's stock whip. t&t ns hope some Parliamentarian .will take the Shepherd in band and knock a Jittle of the bully oat of him. Like most other men who talk big, he is probably easily tamed. Of course Mr Ballanoe has no influence over him, but probably members like Sir George Grey might read the necessary lesson. S ; r George, though it many respects

objectionable, has the: instincts of a gentleman, and it he chose lie might, byya gentle flagellation, do " the iShepthe hill-side" a world of good;*/ It is; a pity that the members of the divil Service should have no one to defend them from that brutality, which is doubtless the outcome of ignorance on the part of the ungentle .Sb.epher.cL The House will be dishonored unless some leading member lodges a protest: against conduct which ought hot to be tolerated in civilised society. -