The Evening Mail. THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 1877.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 412, 23 August 1877, Page 2

The Evening Mail. THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 1877.

The £ fur's special correspondent telegraphs some sirance things with regard to political doings in "Wellington. If Ins statements are true, things are going very badly with the Ministry. In the first place we ai-e told that the Government, in order to catch votes on tiie incidence of taxation question, have resorted to the using of threats of a dissolution in the event of their being defeated. The reason for this is the uncertainty of re. ■Miction of a number of hitherto patient followers <>f the Ministry, but who are beginning to prepare themselves for the coming change of Ministry by giving in their adherence to the Opposition. The Government imagine that by holding out the prospect of a dissolution, like the sword of Damocles, over the heads of members, many waverers will be driven into the Ministerial fold, in consequence of those members not altogether relishing the prospect of having to face their constituents and undergo the trouble and expense of re-election. We are also told that Mr. Whitaker is to be offered up as a sacrifice if the House will only allow the Ministry to remain in office. The correspondent in question says with reference to this that "the Government hold out a promise if they survive the session that Mr. Whitaker will retire." Whether the Attorney-General is agaeeable to being immolated for the purpose of purchasing pardon for the sins of his colleagues is not stated ; neither does the correspondent say whether this course is to be followed with the object of securing the vote and support of Mr. Tea veils on the prospect of the mantle of the Attorney-General falling upon his shoulders. Cut of this we are tolerably certain : The Ministry are prepared to make any concessions in order to keep their seats on the Treasury Benches. They are prepared to offer up any one on the sacrificial altar, to give up their principles, or to do anything so that they may be permitted to continue in possession of place, pay, and power. They have already shown how easily they can change thei'- policy, if the wretched thing the Government call a policy can be designated by such title. " These are our principles," says the Ministry, "but if you do not like them we can change them." In fact, the only thing in which the Government is consistent is the tenacity with which it clings to the loaves and fishes. They are fully determined, not to resign their trust j into the hands of a more capable and '

more straightforward lot of men. Their pet measure, the Native Lands Bill, which -was introduced -with such a loud blast from the Ministerial trumpets, was allowed to be literally dragged through the mire. Thej r were compelled to sue for its discharge from the Order Paper, and had to put on the screw to induce their followers to assist them in having it disposed of. With thankfulness they had to witness the shelving of their grand regenerating measure. Upon the framing of this Bill the Attorney-General had spent no end of time—in fact, the putting together of the abortive Lands Bill was alout the only thing Mr. Whitakek, had done towards earning his salary during the recess. We have also seen with what ease, if not with any great amount of grace, except disgrace, the Ministry has completely changed its front with regard to an amendment in the present mode of raising the revenue. Directly they saw that a majority of the House was iu favour of imposing a propert}' and income tax, and taking off some of the oppresive Customs duty on necessaries, " We will agree to do it next session," they cry. Like a contemptible set of miserable shifty creatures, they will agree to do anything, to suffer any ignominy, and to put up with any degradation rather than relinquish their hold of the fleshpots of Egypt.