The Oamaru Mail. THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 1910.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10489, 23 June 1910, Page 3

The Oamaru Mail. THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 1910.

The Hon. Thomas Mackenzie lias been charming the hustlers St. Thomas' of the butterfat proConversion Of vince by his silverTaranaki. tongued oratory. He first of all, however, put them —these downright freehold slaves —into a good humor by opening a- railway which is to "ultimately join up the Taranaki railway system with the Main Trunk line." This link of iron comprises all the varieties of railway construction that the heart could desire. Within its seven miles there are heavy cuttings, banks formed on swamps, and a tunnel 11 chains long. Those who will bo served by it arc a section of the notorious backblockers whose sufferings have kept Mr Masscy awake at nights. And yet they applauded Mr Mackenzie and cheered him and the Government, and are so hungry for something like wholesome political fare that they would have . kept awake for another two hours listening to the gospel according to St. Thomas. The railway was demanded by the circumstances, there is little doubt, and no one who is not hopelessly selfish would envy the settlers of the Taranaki bog lands such a means of lifting them up from the mud and of keeping their heads above water. But it is surprising what a railway constructed and another under construction will accomplish in the way of fanning the flame of popularity in these times of uproarious economy. There is such a thing as cupboard love in politics, and the Government would do well not to rely implicitly upon the permanency of the pleasant relations which were nromoted by their colleague's mission to Tewara, where he is reported to have made "the best political speech that has ever been heard in recent years in Taranaki" —a speech that "created a deep and favorable impression," and that elicited a vote of thanks and confidence in the Government. Another infusion of the opposition virus of malade imaginairo might cause a set-back. By the way, the Press Association agent who sent the report of. the occurrence to the Otago Daily Times was in too great a hurry to notice the complimentary vote. But that is neither here nor there. Such singular omissions have happened before where the Opposition has not been the party complimented. We can readily believe that the settlers were in merr-- mood because of their railway. All the same, it must have been pleasant to listen to the hopeful truths uttered by a member of the Government after being so monotonously treated to the ghastly horrors which are the sole stock-in-trade of the Opposition, from leader to lackey. But a vote of confidence in a Liberal Government at Stratford! What next? The whole Opposition fabric is crumbling. Taranaki- is one of the fastnesses of -Masseyism. There is not a Liberal constituency throughout its length and breadth. The Okeys and Hin'eses and Diveses will have to consider the situation. If Mr Hine is endowed with that fiery independence which trips so lightly from the Opposition tongue, he should promptly resign, for his constituents have acted traitorously. They no longer represent him, and either he or they must gp. If the conversion of the Stratfordians is genuine —and it is possible that there may be genuineness even, in politics—then the auguries for next election are all in favor of Liberalsim. Mr Massey had better hasten to the rescue of his garrison, which sadly requires to be whipped into line.

The arrival in this country of Lord Islington, and his His Excellency, official reception were attended by Wellington's pleasantest weather, which, may we not hope, was a presage of a happy and useful Vice-Regal career for the distinguished man who has been sent to us as representative of the King. On such an occasion it is the custom to view the situation in roseate hues, to exhibit our highest patriotism, and to bestow mutual complements and felicitations. There was yesterday no lack of these acceptable accompaniments to his Excellency's advent to our shores, fresh from the beloved Mother Country, where only the other day lie pressed the hand of tho

King now vanished. But it may bo said more truly of Britain than of any other country, that tho King novor dies, for ho is, as ho ought to bo, tho embodiment of the nation, and in King George, whom our now Governor represents, though there has been a change of the individual, wo have a monarch with tho same attributes as characterised his father. There was nothing in the proceedings of yostorday that was not familiar to the people—nothing unexpected. Lord Islington came, was received with tho utmost cordiality, took tho oath, expressed himself as pleased with New Zealand and its people, so far as he knew them, and the sentiment was expressed that his official term might bo marked by national peace and progress and that the ties which bind Britain and her dependencies might bo drawn still more tightly. His Excellency is an active, enthusiastic Briton, with a knowledge of the world and a keen sense of what is necessary for tho betterment of mankind. He should, therefore, eminently fit New Zealand.