Noticing the speech' made by Mr- Seddon at the laying of the' foundation stone of the new Scots Church in Wellington, the." Out look " says : —" To us, as possibly tomaDy, Mr Seddon is now reveal ing a side of his character hitherto unknown.' A skilful politician and a masterful leader we all recognise him to be, a man of quick insight too, and prompt to take the tide of affairs at the flood ; but we feared him lacking in that' higher truth and higher seriousness/ which are as essential to statesmanship as, according to Matthew Arnold, to the best poetry. It is, for example the unproved presence of this "seriousness" in the present brilliant head of the Colon- 1 ial Office that causes him to,, be untrusted by many who yet /..admire ; -and that makes Mr Gladstone's late hold upon the people wholly impossible £0 him. If Mr Seddnn convinces us that this ' seriousness.' is his, he "dll: henceforth be incomparably strong er than ho has ever been, for he will receive a ''higher support than that given in mere Parliamentary majorities. In his assertion that well- attended churches are essential to the well being .'of. a nation, the Premier explicitly recognises what is, we are afraid, overlooked by many Democrats to-day. His; words are- therefore timely, and necessary in such a thoroughly democratic country as ours, and may do much to counteract the hurtful influence of some political books that are being widely read."

Local and General.
Two tanks are advertised for. sale

Two impounding notices appear in this issue.
The Paeroa ; School Committee meets on Friday evening.
The usual monthly mooting of the Ohinemuri County Council is to be held to-morrow.
