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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3847, 15 November 1883, Page 2

Tins "rumor " appears to be true that was circulated by the AVellington Post recently, and which Aye imblishcd last night, to tho effect that it Avas not improbable the Hon. Mr Johnston would not retire from tho Ministiy until close upon his departure for England next April. Mr Johnston, Avithout a portfolio, is to instruct the neiv Minister for Public AVorks in the duties of his department. This intelligence Avill take no one by surprise. Indeed nothing can be surprising in connection with Mr Mitchclson's appointment. "Amongst all the nonentities AvhoAvere returned at the last general election, not one perhaps was more conspicuous by his insignificance than Mr Mitehelson. Once or tAvice he has madtj, some suggestion about some matter affecting his own trade or his own locality; but, otherwise, lie might just as ivell have remained at Marsden, for all the influence that ho exercised on the proceedings. Ho Avas one of a number Avho were simply counted by the whips as so many votes, and of whom nothing more was expected than that they should bo Avithin sound of the division bell Avhen they were wanted. When the prorogation came, Mr Mitehelson returned to his gum and his timber, and Avas as completely forgotten by tho public as if he had been one of his oavii logs." So says the Timaru Herald, and from another article of tho same journal,avc extract the following:—"Not a single Southern paper, Aye venture to say, will object to Mr Mitehelson because ho is an Auckland man. AA r o object to Mr Mitehelson as strongly as it is jiossiblc for anyone to do, but not at all because ho is an Auckland man. AYe object to him solely and simply because he is an utterly unfit man. AYe object to him because tho highest qualifications his Avarmcst adA'ocato can claim for him aro that ho never says ' a blooming word' and that ho has tho ' mechanical training ' of a carpenter's apprentice !" * * "Oh dear, oh dear, has it come to this ! The great colony of New Zealand, after spending some £30,000,000 on railways and other jmblic AVorks, has to get a carpenter's apprentice to administer them by the aid of his ' mechanical training.' AVhy, are there no full blown journeymen to be got for £1250 a year and pickings ? Are there no master carpenters who would be glad of the job in these dull times P Bless us and savo us, Aye luioav a dozen tradesmen in this little toAA'n, Avho, as far as mechanical training goes, Avould 'lick Mr Mitchclson's head off,' as they say, and yet not ask more than ten shillings a day."