Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 1864.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 159, 29 January 1864, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 1864.

It is really astonishing the trouble the Government party is taking to get rid of the “ factious opposition.” No stone is left unturned under which there is any hope of finding a cause for the exclusion of one or other, or all, of that small but obnoxious band.

The truth is, the Government herein but too plainly shows its own weakness, and its fear of the strength of the resolute, though numerically small party of oppositionists. It is fortunate for the Province that there are a few able men willing to accept the onerous duty of keeping in check the Government, which Government, for assumption, arrogance, and abusive insolence could hardly find its parallel in any community under the sun. Any one who differs from the ruling clique is a fit subject for the most scurrilous abuse and the most relentless persecution.

The member for Waipukurau sung out a pitiful lament in behalf of the squatters ; but before any sympathy can be shown for the misfortunes of that powerful and wealthy body, their defenders and supporters must moderate their tone, and be good enough to allow other people to entertain a difference of opinion with them. There is not to be found a class of people moving in any other sphere under the sun who are more arrogant, and at the same time less able to support their arrogance, than these “ poor” squatters. It is much to be regretted that so much valuable time should have been wasted in personal recrimination and party abuse. The Provincial Council meeting is neither the time nor the place for indulgence of bitter party and personal feeling. Let the members attend to the business of the country, and that being settled, by all means, if they choose, turn to and have a regular stand up fight. We shall be delighted to act as umpire, or otherwise make ourselves useful in the matter.

Great exertions are being tnacle to put Mr. Colenso out of his seat. Well, suppose

the Government do succeed—What next ? Why, that gentleman being the only man in that Council who thoroughly understands the business thereof, and is gifted with more than ordinary abilities, will be immediately returned again by an overwhelming majority, to the discomfiture of his opponents. The admirable manner in which Mr. Colenso has supported the real interests of the Province against the assumptive interests, as represented by the Loan Bill, renders him for ever worthy of the regard of independent men. The member for Porangahau abused the opposition in pretty round terms ; quite forgetting that small as the opposition is in numbers, it is so immeasurably superior in every other respect to the Government benches that it is truly pitiable to look upon the occupants ot those airy seats. We never in our life—never in the whole course of our editorial experience—saw anything like the grovelling sycophancy of at least three occupants of Government seats. His Honor, had better by far be allowed the privilege of getting three of his own hired servants to vote on his side than that such a preposterous farce as calling the gentlemen to whom we refer representatives of the people should be enacted. The Loan Bill has become a melancholy fact accomplished, and we shall therefore let that subject drop, feeling, however, convinced that sooner or later our prognostications of its ruinous consequences will come to pass. A more palpable attempt to saddle the Province with a ruinous debt to serve party purposes was never before known.