The Oamaru Mail. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1879.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1106, 4 November 1879, Page 2

The Oamaru Mail. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE NEW ZEALAND AGRICULTURIST. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1879.

Me. Hall, notwithstanding the secure positimi which he now occupies, seems to be aware of the fact that bis Ministry, as at present constituted, cannot stand. There is a decided majority in the House opposed to permit tiny such men as have been scraped together by Mr. Hall from remaining any longer in power than can be helped. They would not now lie tolerated, but there is no help for it. Thnse opposed to them have wisely determined that it is better that the government of the country at such a critical period in the Colony's history as the present shall be conducted by almost any class of men rather than that delay should be caused by resorting to a laborious and vexatious process of supplanting t!uiil. lint the Hall Government fundtv hope that they will tie able tt> prolong their lease of li»<: beyond the present period. With this object in view they have made innumerable overtures to members of the Oppoai- ! tton. Mr. Macandrew has been the a abject of thetr particular attentions, They would have <I"Ue anything for Otago if they c<>'ti<t have coaxed him to coalesce. I?ut .Mr. M.-.tnndrew did not see his way clear to ss.or;':>:ing hi.j principles even for the sake ot dear Otago. .Perhaps he distrusted Mr. Halt, arid did ijot wish to be associated with a Oorernment that ct»tsld be guilty of buying support in sttch a questionable manner, evon if they were able and willing to pay the price that would be contingent upon the alliance. Now we hear fresh rumors from Wellington, which come from a source so authentic that we cannot discredit them. Mr. Swanson, it is said. has been, or is to !>;, offered a portfolio in th-j Ministry as representing Auckland, and chat Mr. Macandrew is again to be solit-itrd to j>nn in the interests of After ** Holiest Willie'* " late escapade, we would not be surprised to learn that tie has fallen a prey to the designs of the Ministry.

An he ha* gone so far r.s to identify himself with the party and principles t«» which i• ■' has evet" l;e^n a consistent npp->ricnt. f>>ra consideration, hi? would not make any further sacrifice nf hj» dear principled «t-rc hu to go the whole length of becoming a member of the Government- As to Mr. Macandratv, we think that he wi»: not bo drawn within the charmed circle by any of the blandishments of his political opponents, be the bait never so tempting. We have never had so much confidence in the thoroughness of politicians as to view them as proof against every pha3e of political trickery ; but we think that Mr. :\lr. Macandrew will, true to those colors and principles for which he and his colleagues have been fighting, await the time when the wheel of fortune shall asjain favor them, giving it occasional twist 3 in the direction in which they want it to go as opportunity offers. But how about 3lr. Iluvsfc, the bumptious Auckland merchant, whose peculiar self esteem has gained for him unenviable MwhrUjutts where he is sufficiently well known to be appreciated? And howl about Mr. Reader Wood J Whatever | may have induced Mr. Swanson to desert his first love, we would stake a great deal on the opinion that these two gentlemen have not agreed to deliver the Colony out of its dilemma for nothing. Mr. Hurst, in addition to being bumptious, is ambitious to a degree. The gratification of this propensity is the dearest aim of his life. Wjil he he willing to take a back scat whilst hia companions in the now celebrated compact are clothed in purple and fine linen ! For we know thtt, whilst Mr. Swanson is to be otFered a portfolio, Mr. \V,h>c{ is to be o tiered the position for which he Lyearned for years that of Agent-General. We thinfc not. Out of cht? four Auckland patriots, then, here we hare a pretty pair of cilice seekers. To what depths of degradation has the Government of the country been brought 'by such scheming as this. A nice Government, inutiti, y tiie Hall Government- It lives by the ap >-tasy ar.d political demoralisation of a numb er of iKU who are it-i enemies at heart, if they have not been hypocrites during the whole of their political career.