A raw few days ago the cable conveyed to us some information about what was going on in Crete, that an uprising of discontented inhabitants had taken place there, that an appeal had been made to Greece for assistance, and that the Porte was growing anxious about the Btate of affairs. Probably these tele grama were " skipped " by a consider able number of newspaper readerß, whoße knowledge of Crete is confined to the fact that it is an island in the Mediter ranean, and that it is mentioned more than once by St. Paul in the graphic account he gives of his shipwreck. We are, however, thanks to the übiquitous " Times " correspondent, able to give pur readers a little information on the subject which may prove interesting to them, The letter referred to, it must be remem bered, was written on the 4th June. The people of Crete are entirely self governing, though whether they are fit to enjoy the privileges will become more apparent as the nai'rative proceeds. In one respect only are they interfered with by the Porte, which appoints their Governor. They have a Constitution and an Assembly, make their own laws, impose their own taxes, elect their own Judges, appoint all their subordinate functionaries, and are conceded half their Customs duties by the Sultan. Under such circumstances, and with all the freedom they enjoy, there surely exist all the elements of happiness. But the Cretans are not happy. They are too vigorous politicians to allow of their being so. Thia seems a strange state ment to make considering the conditions under whioh they enjoy, or might enjoy, ' life, as they have no foreign relations, and merely have to manage their own affairs. But here comes in the rub. So far as politics are concerned, there is one very marked point of aimilarity between Crete and New Zealand. The politicians are divided into two distinct classes, the " ins " and the " outs," and this fairly describes the sole line of demarcation between them. We have no intention of distinctly recom mending for adoption in New Zea land the method in which the Cretans oarry on their political warfare, but it may be well to show to what length it is possible to carry a conflict for office. 