terised most of the Auckland constitu encies was a mere sentiment — a 1 patriotic eagerness , for - the, triumph. of < a " Liberal " policy. The motives which ' actuated the majority of the electors were much more sordid than this, and the defection of the four historical , " rats " was but a reflex of the popular mind in Auckland when no more was to be hoped for from the Knight of Kawau. The secrecy and treachery of the de fection, especially on the part of -Mr Reader Wood, we have freely con demned, and the Government have neces sarily had to bear a part of the, odium. They have, however, succeeded in stem ming the tide for the present, and are apparently firmly entrenched in -their position. They committed a '-'great tactical blunder in reference to the production of the electioneering tele grams, and involved themselves in some unseemly' Squabbles. Still, they' have seen the Opposition gradually break up into sections, and' first Sir George 1 and then Mr Macandrew deposecl from the leadership^* , The, "Young New? Zea landers" have done nothing worthy of ' the' name of ' consolidating ; a party. There is practically no orga-' nised Opposition. We regret, how ever, to' see such evidence of a deter mination to keep up the wretched ; sys tem of buying support as is afforded by: such votes as that for the line from ' " Nelson to Greymouth,'* and the vague promises regarding the East and West Coast }inc. We are glad that the 4 , Upper House, was able at the", last moment to impose some slight checks, and' 1 we regard this system. of "sweetening" members as so fraught with grave gangers, that we shall become the unhesitating and deter mined opponents of any Government which perpetuates it. The pro-" posal regarding the acquisition of the district railways was another , most objectionable feature of the Govern ment policy, and we had hoped better things from a Cabinet containing such ' men as Messrs Hall, Kolleston, and Oliver. It was a case of log-rolling of ' the worst description, and we sincerely trust the proposal will not be reintroduced next session. We have not felt ourselves able, in the presence of the serious financial situation, to pro pose any complete substitute for the obnoxious. 