Te Wananga. Published every Saturday. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1877.

THAT section of the New Zealand Press which already basks in official sunshine, or which though at present outside the circle of vivifying rays emanating from the Treasury luminary, yet lives in anxious hope that his comforting influence will ere long reach them ; never weary of echoing one another in simulated regrets for the loss of time and waste of energy during the present Session, before Parliament reached what they are pleased to style " business ". These waiters on providence discern with marvellous keenness of vision, how desirable it is for ministerial ease that Parliament should wholly relinquish_if that happy state could by any contrivance be brought to pass—or at least greatly curtail, the exercise of the special function which makes the Assembly mainly valuable to the country. Subjection to a close an searching criticism of Ministerial acts and omissions. is the fair and legitimate price for the prizes of place and power, but the hangers on to the skirt of men in office to whom we advert, seek by every manoeuvre to cheat the mass of the people of the principal advantage which a responsible Government as con- ducted in New Zealand, confers on them. Free dis- cussion is hateful to these parasites, hence misrepre- sentation and suppression of facts are among the ordinary means used to keep a clear view of the action of their representatives in Wellington, from the eyes of the men debarred by the cares of daily life, or by the want of means of access, to the necessary sources of intelligence for acquiring it for themselves. During this year's sitting the questioning spirit shewn by Sir George Grey and Mr. Rees has exposed them especially to the malign obloquy of venal scribes. So offensive, indeed, has their fearless outspokenness become, and so necessary is it held to damage them in public opinion, that even the continuance in office of the Ministry, is cunningly attributed to these gentle- mens' conduct. They are alleged to have been out- rageously violent: and their attacks on the individual acts of certain members of the Government, are loudly and persistently prclaimed to have evoked an antag- onism iu the bulk of the members, that will safely carry the Government through the session. As the best commentary on the value of these prognostica- tions. we need only point to the apparently sudden uprising of what is enthusiastically called a " middle" party : aided we are inclined to think by several units that are neither fish, flesh, nor good red herring, but who are mere flankers of the Ministerial ranks. The endeavours of this new party to elevate itself into prominence, and to assume the contol of affairs is. we point out. most conclusive proof of the disor- ganization and demoralization into which the House has descended. While the appropriation of loans could be scrambled for, no indications appeared of the existence of any party save a miserable minority, that could safely be branded as " factious." With the loans spent, discontent creeps to the front—and all discipline being at an end since the removal of Sir Julius Vogel and Sir Donald McLean, the one by resignation, the other unhappily by death—many erstwhile Government supporters now ascending to the " rail," assume an air of independence and impar- tiality, and oracularly mutter that the mantles of the eminent men we have named, are too weighty for this Ministry to wear : that its members are deficient of ability to lead—Controversion of these damaging statements is no duty of ours. Long ago we ex- pressed our opinion that means neither particularly scrupulous nor politically honest, were freely used in the past to secure majorities. We see but little difference between the methods of procedure in these days from what was common in Roman times to acquire political influence. There is a little more veneer, but the substance corresponds very well. can be freely translated as " poli- tical railways," and a " harbour at Taranaki." We deem the Ministry's treatment by some of its psuedo adherents as most unkind. That they should be exposed to contumelious comments, damaging to their position, by friends, because a cycle of monetary ex- haustion has set in, and limits their power is un- generous. Their readiness to use the approved _old expedients for satisfying political hunger, were they as abundant as in Jays gone by. cannot be questioned ; [ and had there not been in their company men whose individual transactions have elicited deep condemna- tion now they are known, and the shade of which falls blightingly upon untainted colleagues : we believe they might, notwithstanding the undisguised contempt of their own followers, despite their admitted weak- ness and incapacity, have struggled on to the. end of the session by a meek acceptance of every rebuff; and at length reached that peace and quietness so pathetically longed for by the Treasurer, and which would have been his when members dispersed to i their homes.

HE KORERO MO TE WHAWHAI A KUHIA i RAUA KO TAKEI KI TE TAKIWA KI ! OROPI. ______ Kanana, Akuhata 27. Kua tao mui te rongo korero pono, kaore ano u Hikipa i horo, engari kei te Ruihana tonu e pupuri ana, He maha rawa tangata o te taha Ruihana o te