tion. Mr Seobie Mackenzie has still a Httlo of tho fault characteristic of clover and studious young politicians —the tendency to preach. Ho needs two or three years of ollico to give his spcoclioH tho practical turn which would add weight to their sparkle. I hit thero can bo no doubt that he hit off tho Ministerialists to a tec when he daid that they were conspicu ous for tho absence of those two essential marks of true Liberals — tlio lovo of liberty, and tho wish to find out and remove tho real hindrances to human improvement — that "sham" in fact was "writ large" all over their professions as well as their perform ances. Our old Premier, Sir John Hall, delivered a capital speech. The first part of it was principally a de fence of tho Legislative Council, which, ho said, having only performed tho functions assigned to it, was on titled to praiso rather than blame ; and ihis is no doubt tho gonoral opinion throughout the country. In the hitler part he reviewed cho legisla tion of tho Government, remarking, hy tho way, that oven those who had supported them in imposing tho new taxation would probably soon feel dis posed to sigh for the sweet simplicity of tho Property Tax. He also said, what has been said in these columns, that it would bo impossible to raise a bona fide loan in tho colony. The Go vernment proposal simply means giv ing an enormous commission to financial agonts to borrow for them in tho London market. Strange that tho liberalism of tho Ballance party al ways tends to extravagance. Mr Rol leston had tho misfortune to speak in tho early hours — after tho midnight chimes, if they have such things down at Clutha, had mingled their music with the revelry of tho banqueting hall — and tho consequence was that his speech was nob reported. Only tho concluding remarks were given. Tho omnipotent; Press toilod aftor the woll primed banqueters in vain. But if wo may judge from the specimen published, tho speech of the loader of tho Opposition must have been up to tho high lovel of tho inspirod oratory of tho evening. 