Untitled

New Zealand Mail, Issue 241, 1 July 1876, Page 12

When the “hour” comes the “man” always appears ; that is the lesson of history. After the last session of the General Assembly, the people 0 f Auckland came to the conclusion, we are told, that their representative, Sir George Grey, was “ altogether too gentlemanly for dealing with the brutes with whom he was compelled to herd in the field of legislation.” It was necessary to find a cover for this imaginary blot in the character of their

representative, and Mr. W. L. Rees was it appears, recognised at once and with acclamation as having the right quality for that particular purpose. We have before us an Auckland journal, th e Evening Star of Thursday, December 23, in which there is a report of the manner in which Mr. Rees revealed himself to the citizens on the previous evening, and for the information of our readers and for the warning of those members of the House of Representatives who may have been puzzled by the new phenomenon, we reprint the leading article from the Star of the date before mentioned : * A more inspiriting sight than that which greeted the eye at the Mechanics’ last night could hardly be presented to any lover of his country. Our people have been taunted with apathy. There is no apathy now when our political existence is in peril. There was no apathy last night when the Grey candidate for City East expounded his views and intentions, and when the people were asked to pronounce for the friends or the enemies of the country. Never was a more unanimous or enthusiastic meeting in the city of Auckland, and the manner in which the great bulk of the people sprang to their feet and waved hurrahs of acclammation to the unanimous vote of confidence in Mr. Rees almost equalled the demonstration that ever greets the appearance of the leader of the late forlorn hope in the Assembly, the hope and saviour of New Zealand, Sir George Grey. We have said unanimous vote of confidence. It was unanimous, for though there was one hand held ujj against it, it was the hand of a shirfcmaker to the establishment of the Government candidate, a man quaintly named “Breeder,” we believe, but as he was a Dutchman we suppose that he did not understand what was said, or the question before the meeting. AVe do not comment on the able speech of Mr. Rees, or the vigorous and slashing style of his oratory. AVe have long thought Mr. AV. L. Rees a necessary complement to Sir George Grey in the Assembly. Sir George Grey is altogether too gentlemanly for dealing with the brutes with whom he has been compelled to herd in the field of legislation. And we have often pictured to ourselves two or three of these nincompoops worriting the leader of the Opposition, and then Mr. Rees rushing at them open-mouthed and literally eliawing them up. There will not be a more slashing, fearless speaker in the Assembly, and kept judiciously in check by Sir George Grey, he will make the Treasury benches a very lively place for their occupants. City AVest has the honor of sending the most prominent member of the House, and City East will have the honor of sending a man to fill up what is wanting in Sir George Grey, and to deal with political ruffians after the manner most suited to their peculiar sensibilities. It is very Avell known that our brilliant contemporary, the Star , is the accredited organ of the Provincial Government, and that the gentleman who was the editor of that journal at the time was the “ guide, philosopher, and friend” in politics of Sir George Grey, having been the “we” of the “people of Auckland,” Messrs. Sheehan, Wilson, and Rees, Avho first drew that statesman from his business of feeding ducks at Kawau. We may assume, although Ave do so with hesitation even upon the evidence before us, that Sir George Grey admitted the existence of this alleged defect in his own character, and accepted Mr. Rees as the 44 complement ” of himself, as the necessary varnish of the complete Parliamentary man. In future, then, when either Sir George Grey or Mr. Rees speaks or is mentioned, the other must be understood, and when “ political ruffians” on the Government side see Mr. Rees rushing at them open-mouthed, with Sir George Grey holding him by the coattails, they will have the satisfaction of feeling that the great pro-consul is no longer 44 too gentlemanly ” to be a fitting representative for the citizens of Auckland, excellent Mr. Rees having brought him to the proper level.