Evening Post. FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1881. TOWN EDITION.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 117, 20 May 1881, Page 2

Evening Post. FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1881.

TOWN EDITION.

RESIGNATION OF THE HON. MR. OLIVER. + __ The rumor to which we alluded yesterday that the Hon. Mr. Olivkb was about to resign his portfolio as Minister of Public Works, has proved correct, Mr. Olives having placed his resignation in the hands of his Excellency the Governor last evening. The cause of his resignation is, as we stated yesterday it was reported to be, the pressure of private affairs resulting from the untimely death of his relative, Mr. J. O. Eva, who was managing his private business, and who, as is well-known, waa lost in the Tararua. The news of Mr. Oliver's retirement will be received by the country with somewhat mixed feelinccs. It has been the unfortunate lot of the Public Works Minister in the present Government to bear the burden of unpopularity which necessarily attaches to measures of retrenchment. He has been compelled by the exigencies of the times to dismiss numerous employe's of all ranks and classos, to reduce salaries, to curtail pnblic conveniences on the railways already open, and to refuse to undertake the continuation of many new lines ardently desired by the people of various important districts. All these unpleasant tasks have, of necessity, devolved upon Mr. Oliver, and while we have been unable to accord invariable approval to all his acts under these heads — while, indeed, wa have sometimes been compelled to express the strongest disapprobation of the course adopted by him — we freely recognise that he has consistently carried out the policy of economy under which he took office. Perhaps there has at times been more of the "fortiter in re" than of the " suaviter in modo " in his treatment of requests involving increased expenditure, but allowance may fairly be made for the strong sense of the imperative need of rigid economy in the administration of our diminished means. If we cannot admit that all his economies have been judicious, at least we cordially accredit him with having discharged a most disagreeable and invidious duty with . conscientiousness and ability, while the material diminution in the working expenses on our railways, and their consequently enhanced profitableness, will remain as a favorable memento of his official career.