Tha Patea Mail. Established 1875. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1882. THE VACANT PORTFOLIO.

Patea Mail, 11 October 1882, Page 2

Tha Patea Mail. Established 1875. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1882. THE VACANT PORTFOLIO.

0 Loro before the commencement of last session, it was a matter for speculation ns to who would receive the vacant portfolio in the Cabinet. It was generally understood that a new Minister for Public Works was to be appointed, vice the Hon. Mr Johnston, who, it was said, wanted a trip Home, or at any rate, relief from the arduous duties of the department of which he is the bead. People generally accepted that view, and newspaper correspondents in the Empire City, inspired and otherwise, supplied daily bulletins as to the chances of “ likely ” individuals, anxious for the coveted honor of a Cabinet seat. Gradually the circle of “ probables ” was narrowed down until it became tolerably certain that the mantle would be thrown on the shoulders of a Canterbury member, and that member Mr E. G. Wright. His early training, technical knowledge

as an Engineer and vast experience as a contractor, were the very qualities most desirable in a Minister for Public Works. Added to this, his well-known antipathy to Harbours and Harbour Boards great and small (Lyttelton excepted) was most likely to be useful in the extreme. Government would no longer be pestered with applications for money or endowments from insignificant little places like Paten. They would know better than to waste their time in trying to get anything out of Mr Wright. Hence there would be peace in the Government camp and sweet content. Yes; Mr Wright was the man to fill the vacancy. So thought those who know, you know; and when the other day Mr Wright was summoned to Wellington it was a foregone conclusion that he would return a full blown Public Works Minister. Imagine the surprise now when it turns out that the Works portfolio is not available, and that it was the Postal Department to which the Government desired to attach the valued Wright. That gentleman’ declined the preferred seat; has left Wellington for his home in Canterbury in a stale of indignation better to be imagined than described. His summons to the Empire City, conference with the Government, and subsequent departure, remind us forcibly ot the ludicrous episode that occurred between Sir George Grey and the Governor when tho Hall Ministry resigned office. To many residents on this Coast the news of Mr Wright’s discomfit will bo received with anything but feelings of regret. His hostility to Harbor works would undoubtedly have been exercised in tho event of any future scheme for the improvement of the Port being submitted to Parliament for their sanction. And there can be no two opinions as to the desirableness of such improvement being carried out. Already the unsatisfactory state of the bar and the attendant mishaps are beginning to tell their tale. At the last meeting of the Harbour Board Mr Adams stated that the Hawera people were arranging for a steamer to be laid on from Wellington to Waitara, and would receive their goods by that route. Insurances to this port are very heavy, and coupled with the high dues and expenses caused through the occasional grounding of the steamer, this attempt on the part of the Northeners to cheapen their imports seems justifiable. It is time therefore for us t® seriously think about a means of raising money for the extension of the breakwater. The elections for the Harbor Board will bn coming on in a few months, and we hope that when the time arrives a well defined and practicable scheme will be before the public, and that the best efforts of the community will be made to return men pledged to carry it out. We should then hear no more about attempts to divert trade from Patea, its natural channel, to other and more distant directions. If, as we remarked before, it becomes necessary to go to Parliament, it may be safely asserted that it is a precious lucky circumstance for this district that Mr E. G. Wright will not have an opportunity of using his influence as a Cabinet Minister against us. Viewed from a Canterbury standpoint, Mr Wright, with his fondness for differential railway rates, and the jealous eye with which he regards any expenditure outside his own district, added to the fact that a four-million loan is about to be raised, would have made the very model of a Public Works Minister. No doubt his disappointment is great; but “out of evil cofueth good,” for left to his tender mercies we should have stood a poor chance indeed. [Since the above was in type, we learn that the vacancy in the Cabinet has been filled by the appointment of Mr E, T. Conolly, of Picton, who will take office as Minister for Justice, one of the offices held by Mr Dick. The other portfolios remain as before.]