POLITICAL NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5582, 4 June 1896, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES.

'•'lt is pitiful," says tho Nelson Star, " referring to Sir Eobert Stout, that the at one time, hope of the New Zealand democracy has turned Tory, purely from personal disappointment." At a meeting of the Eangitikei Political Association, Mr E. C. Bruce was selected to contesb the Eangitikei seat at the next election. He is, however, reported to have declined the nomination. The Oamaru Mail states that a requisition is in course of signature asking the Hon T. W. Hislop to stand for the Oamaru seat at the next election. It is regarded as very improbable that the" request will be granted. Had Mr John Duthie, M.H.E. for Wellington City, visited the improved farm settlements in this part of the colony, he would, says the Southern Standard, never have made the rash statement at Stratford that the land policy of the Government, especially their special settlements, was a failure. Pomahaka is a "failure," according to the Conservative speakers and* Press. But is it a failure ? It is reported in the Otago Daily Times that at a meeting of the settlers at Pomahaka it was stated that "two schools" would be required. And this on an estate which formerly supported two men and several thousand sheep. Mr. S. Boreham, it is stated, will be a candidate for the Waitaki seat against allcomers. • "The unexpected," it has been said,. " always happens in politics," and an unexpected combination may yet astonish the public. Mr Seddon's power may not fall "with the present Cabinet. As an important factor in New Zealand politics he has come to stay. — Dunedin Star.

• While some large Conservative journals do not scruple to use the free Wellington correspondence supplied by a literary hack, the Taranaki News, ■an unimportant but spirited Opposition journal, says*. — "We would not lend ourselves as a medium for the dessemination of Opposition literature turned out at so much per yard ; if any action of the Government needs criticism we ourselves feel equal to the task of ( criticising."

There is some talk of Messrs James Christie (Warepa) aad J. S. Fleming (Balclutha) contesting the Clutha seat with Mr Thomas Mackenzie. Mr Christie was one of the defeated candidates for Matauraat last election. Mr Fleming, who. has also been asked to oppose Mr James Allen for Bruce, would pose as a temperance candidate in the event of his consenting to nomination.

No one (says the Temuka Leader) would dismiss a servant because someone else who wanted the billet made groundless charges against him, and no more should the Government be dismissed.

Mi* John Duthie, M.H.E. (according to the Egmont Settler) " delights to let his most excellent fancy loose to damage any and every member of the present Govern--ment of New Zealand ; but sometimes he oversteps the limits of license granted by common consent even to a jester, . He did so at' his meeting at Stratford, when he took upon himself' the task of replying to the Hon Mr Ward^ his address being the ' most bitter, illogical and intemperate that we have ever listened to. Weak as water, intensely .personal and abusive, was the opinion of nine-tenths of his hearers as , they gladly left the Town Hall."

The National Association is (says the Southland Ncu-s) so ridiculously transparent'an organisation that even the party it was founded to assist is at times shy of Jit. Thus, at Wyndham, when a private caucus of the supporters of the Hon G. F. Bichardson was held, the President of the local branch of the National Association received no invitation to be present, or to be represented.

"We (Tapqnni Courier) contend that those who openly champion the Chinese as desirable colonists — the only 'qualities' they possess, so far as we can see, are the production of early vegetables by unnatural processes, and being able to live on the 'smell of an oily rag' — are misplacing their philanthropy, and by looking round them . they could discover that a more Christian act would be done in protecting the fallen one 3 of the cities from the Mongolians, which can only be done by their eradication." fjtgg Grreymouth Star objects to proposed alterations in the redistribution of seats on the West Coast, and claims that past records show thatTthat part of the colony has been much - under-represented. The writer goes on to say that the depopulation shown by the late census is so small as scarcely to warrant interference with the boundaries, and if territory and revenue are to be taken as a basis, the West Coast is the most inadequately represented portion of New Zealand.

In addressing a meeting of his Sounds constituents Mr 'C. H. Mills, M.H.E., said that? he had been asked to contest two other electorates, but he intended to stick to his old ship — Waimea Sounds. This statement was received with loud applause.

It is stated both in the Wairarapa and , in Wellington that the Premier intends contesting the Wairarapa electorate with Mr W. C. Buchanan. The Wairarapa Daily Times says the rumour does not altogether lack the air ' of probability, for latterly Mr Seddon has ■'__ been displaying ' ah* -interest in -Wairarapa politics which • must be significant of something. Mr Buchanan has "held the fort " for a succession of years, and has made the Wairarapa seat one of the Opposition strongholds of the colony. Therefore, it is reasonable to suppose that if he i 3 to be beaten it will take a good man to do it — one of the strongest men of the team in fact.

The Southern Standard says ' that " the application of such epithets as ' bounce, bluster, and bunkum' to the Ministerial policy having fallen flat, it suddenly occurred to someone that Captain EusselTs policy, in order to go one better than that of the present Government, must be something good, and he was asked to announce it. It came rather as a surprise and a shock when he practicajly jerked his thumb ""-... in the direction of the much-abused bunkum policy and said, 'Them's my sentiments, gentlemen ! ' Naturally, people asked why they should turn out of office the originators #f that policy, and put in Captain Eussell and his friends to continue it." 1 '