NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVIX, Issue 3004, 16 December 1896, Page 2

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

That the women, of Wellington who worked so hard in the recent election contest should regard the result with pride and satisfaction is not' to be wondered ax. In the face of a bitterly hostile Opposition —an Opposition that did not hesitate to employ the most questionable moans for the attainment of selfish ends —the membora of the Women's Social and Political League threw themselves into the conflict with enthusiasm. The result was a signal Success, against thd power of wealth, or misrepresentation and malice. To-night » the cause of the people triumphant will be celebrated at an invitation " social at the Skating Rink, and we heartily wish these willing workers in n good cause a very pleasant evening.

The Prohibitionist weeps over the loss 0* its most doughty champions In the fight on the fourth, and regards the defeat of Mr MoNab and Dr Newman as a calamity. We join in its regret at the loss of the former, but wo -doubt If anyone outside a verv narrow circle indeed has any other feeling than that of satisfaction at the defeat of Dr 'Newman. The efforts put forth, by the National Conservative Association to compass the downfall of a worthy settler in the person of Mr Field, aud io secure the return of Dr Newman, m2V bo fitly characterised as reprehensible and we are not surprised that the Prohibition(?t has failed to stigmatise such unrighteous conduct.

Au opinion has been expressed that the reason Mr V. Pirani only managed to squeeze in by a email majority was because of bis adherence to tbo Seddon party. This, of course, is utterly untrue. Mr Pirani lost the support of hundreds of people who would have stood by him against all opponents, because of his failure to fulfil those obligations which were cast upon him as a Liberal. Onr adviao to him is in the future so to act that he will never be found in an Opposition lobby lending tbe power of his vote to overthrow the Liberal Ministry. Mr Pirani should now be fully convinced as to how much trust he can place in the Conservatives. . They would sell him without the least ' compunction, and then laugh at him for having treated them as other than hu; enemies.

Hugh interest is at present centred in the probable result of the Maori elections. It is more than probable that throe out of the four seats will go to Government supporters.- IJIr Hone Heta in the North is safe ( and' this is the only Native seat that will be scored by the Opposition, Mr Parata in the South and Mr Wi Pere in the East will bo returned, and though for the Western seat things are complicated through a multiplicity of uamllUates, it is safe to say that the Maoris of that electorate are determined to send in a member who is in sympathy with a Government whom they declare to bo their friends. For'thC'first time in our history the bulk of the' Maori race W 8 pronouncedly in favour of a Government. the past it has always been the case tlj&t jtbe £andidate who pronounced against a Ministry was pretty sure to bo the chosen of the people; but a change hau come, and the Native race realise that to hcncj] t themselves’ they must support the present Government.

There is a general admission in the North that the boom in gold has subsided, and w.e are glad to see that the admission covers the recognition that it is wall it should be so. The boom had got too“far away into the region of speculation ; that kind of speculation which aims at riches without the preliminary basis of a gold mine. It is too much the practice to buy into goldmines which are not. goldmines, in the hope of selling out to 'somebody else at a profit, who does not want a goldmine at all, but another and of course a greater profit. It comes to this, that in booms the vast .majority of the speculators look for goldmines not in the solid earth, but in the vacant air. file mine with its name and forms and notices is in’ many cases a delusion. When mines of this sort—estates in Airshira, as the mail called his swindle in the play—-are found to bo snares, as well as delusions, the boom departs, and the “slump ” comes into its place. ■The newspapers of-Auck-land recognise that this time has come, and they are giving their readers very judicious advice.. They are telling them, in fact, to abandon the air and take to the solid earth. Fortunately for the Auckland district in particular, and the Colony in general, the earth is not only solid, but gold-bearing. The returns shew that, and the other evidences of the natural wealth are very numerous. But there is no royal road to wealth there, any more than anywhere else. Let investors take.advioe given to them, and make up their minds to stick to facts, not run after glittering bubbles. They may not reap wealth always, but they will generally' avoid disappointment of a disastrous kind.