The fortuitous atoms want consolida tion, and they pine for unity of action. Wo hope they will permit us to suggest that they may also regret that they have hitherto deceived the public into believing that they were in these matters up to the highest standard of nationality. It would be too much to expect the regret to be extended to the hole and corner method in which the now departure has been taken. The public is expected to join the ranks of the Association ; clearly : otherwise, how could “ we understand ” that certain resolutions would “ effect the objects aimed at ” by national unity ? B ut the public cannot be trusted with the secret of the method to be employed. A sort of “council of ten,” which repre sents a levy cn masse of the whole avail able force of the Association all over Hew Zealand, meets in Wellington. The whole available force arranges for a development ef their number into the whole people of New Zealand. They want to be able to say “ We, the people of New Zealand,” after the fashion of throe famous tailors who lived in Tooley street. It is not improbable they may hear a political Macbeth ad dress them in the well - known fashion —“ How now, you secret, black and mid night hags ?” We do not care to inquire as to whether the caldron of these politi cal witches is like those of the followers of Hecate in the play. We daresay they are just as well filled with things nasty, ridiculous and abominable. One thing is certain j they will not effect their object j but they will affect the world about as much as the spirits of Owen Glendower, who did not come from the “ vasty deep." DUTY OF THE LIBERAL PRESS. Our esteemed contemporary the Napier Evening News draws attention, in the fol- Jowing brief but pregnant paragraph, to a "duty that is especially incumbent on the Liberal press at this time when we are on the eve of a general election. 