Mr Hickson will support a radi cal reform in the Land and Pasturage Regu lations. Thcu let your watch-word be Hick son and Reform ! " All this was doubtless very gratifying to Mr Hickson, who probably thought that with supporters so enthusiastic, the Superin tendency was already within his grasp. But alas for the mutability of all things terrestrial

and political, " the opposition " would'ntsup- " port Mr Hickson, and the second requisition, like the first, was a failure. The Advertiser thereupon thought it judicious to snub its '. candidate. A few days later, in its issue of October Oth, it confesses with charming can dour, "we proposed Mr Hickson, because we were aware that he would only be too happy to retire in favor of any other candi date who might be thought more likely to be successful in turning out the existing Govern ment," and it goes on to expose the naked ness of the land by remarking, "that no can didate whatever ought to be put forward, who would not be willing to retire in the ! event of some other gentleman being found 1 who would be more likely to bo successful." There, the murder is out ! The opposition have no eligible candidate ready, and this unhappy gentleman is therefore put forth as : a stalking horse. All the delicate flattery I about his vast talents in politics and busi j ness, his experience in local and colonial I questions, hisunswervinghonesty,wasadmm j istered with the sole object of getting him to bid for a position, in the struggle for which, none knew better than the Advertiser, he had but little hope of being adequately supported. Our contemporary, finding it could not get a real candidate, cleverly put up with a sham one. It was necessary to occupy the field and keep the opposition spirit hot. Who then should be the warming pan ? Mr Lud lam wouldn't consent to be anything of the sort ; Mr Hart wished to keep out of hot water ; while Mr Masters, the disappointed of the Wairarapa, though always in that element, was but a leaky vessel after all, and clearly unsuitable for the purpose. 