THE NEW SPEAKER.

Western Star, Issue 143, 3 June 1876, Page 6

THE NEW SPEAKER.

This ia what the Canterbury Press says of Mr Fitzherbert, the Speaker elect:—Here is an aged man, of great ability, excellent education, and about thirty y.*tvrs of public experience, who has professed at one time or another everything, and believed nothing. He has never made a sacrifice for the public, and his administration has left no mark upon the country, .save perhaps the consolidation of the'loans in 1867, when he proved his liberality of mind by abandoning his own plan in favor of that concocted by Mr Bussell and the enemies of the government. Being wholly free from inconvenient convictions or sentimental desire for the public welfare, his public character has exactly fitted him for the part of the soldier of fortune. He is in truth the Dugald Dalgetty of New Zealand politics. Equipped at all points; he has ever been ready for the fray; and although loyal enough so long as a fight could be 'maintained, when all was over he was equally ready to fight for somebody else. The result of so many years manoeuvring is, that *Mr Fitzherbert stands in the enviable position of being the mast thoroughly distrusted man of any eminence in New Zealand. He has longed to be Premier of the Colony, but time after time'the prize has slid from his grasp. He has ot late been farther from it than ever; for if the Opposition obtained office, Sir George Grey would he first; and if Mr Fitzherbert carried his nine-hours’ eloquence over to the Government, he wouidTfiieot with a,cold welcome. Destitute alike of following, principle, and prospects, it is not unnatural that Mr Fitzherbert should take *the advice given in vain to FalstafE, ‘ When wilt thou leave fighting o’ days and foining o’ nights, and begin to patch

up thine' old body for Heaven?’—and should seek, as a species of preparation for a reputable exit, the presidency of - the House of iiepresantatives. *,Moat people fail to see that thoir game is played out until the fact has been apparent to everybody else; but Mr bert has the wisdom to understand his position, and to perceive with remarkable clearness that the process of repentance can be more satisfactorily conducted, ‘ not in sackcloth and ashes, but in new silk and old sack.’