New Zealand Times. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1874.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4258, 12 November 1874, Page 2

New Zealand Times. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1874.

We have, by way of Auckland, the missing link in the telegrams between Sir George Grey and the Superintendents. It will be remembered that w r e published a telegram from Sir George to Superintendent Fitzherbebt, which was communicated to the Press, hut Mr. Fitzhekbeki’s reply was withheld. It has, however, been published in Auckland. The Herald was favored with this brief but courteous message. ‘ ‘ Mr. Fitzher- “ bert’s reply to Sir George Grey was “ as follows :—‘T thank you sincerely for “ ‘ your able protest against the subver- “ ‘ sion of the Constitution !’ ” Nothing more. A whole volume of satire in a single sentence. Mr. Fitzherbebt’s face, when he despatched that message to Sir George Grey, would have been a study. During his long and active public life we venture to say that he never before enjoyed such a moment of extreme felicity. It was to him, doubtless, what “ the “ moment of projection ” was to the alchemysts of old, with this difference, that unlike them, he was successful at all points. Mr. Fitzherbebt should recall his thoughts upon that occasion, and sit for his portrait,—an historical portrait; in which men might see, as in a glass darkly, the history of political intrigue in this colony for more than a quarter of a century. How he penned the message without laughing, those only who have the privilege of knowing Mr. Fitzherbebt can tell; and how the Champion of the Constitution at Kawau read it, without sidesplitting laughter, is “a thing no fellah “ can understand.” Like the Augurs, however, as a matter of policy they preserved their gravity in public, and so successful are their efforts, that our usually sharpwitted contemporary, the New Zealand Herald, has been imposed upon. It introduces the telegrams between the two masters of state-craft, with childlike simplicity. “The reciprocal feeling which “exists between Sir George Grsy and “ Mr. Fitzherbebt on the -subject of “ Constitutional changes is made manifest “ in the telegrams which have passed be- “ hwpeyi thn«e.-Iwn ..-Ttnlifi^nl published ‘ State document. Thus the Herald. Now, we venture to think that a little more knowledge of the subject would induce our contemporary to change his tone. He is a victim of misplaced confidence. Mr. Fitzherbebt, it will be observed, with his proverbial caution, commits himself to nothing. It is the other Constitutional Party that goes and does it, and the Superintendent of Wellington politely stands by and pats him on the back. Truly, in the whole political history of New Zealand there is no exhibition of insincerity so humiliating as that which has bean made of late by the high personages who so warmly espouse the Constitution.