The power of the purse is in modern times all that is necessary to confer ulti mate victory in every constitutional struggle upon those who possess it. In theory, the powers of the Superintend ent are as extensive as any monarch should desire, but he holds them sub ject to this check. As the measure of refusing supplies is an extreme one, a majority of the Legislature is not likely to be found willing to resort to it ex cept under extreme provocation. But the power to put this bridle on an ob noxious Executive is inherent in the Legislature, and serves its pxxrpose under ordinary circumstances by its mere existence, without being put into force. Such a machinery of Government as this is all very "fell, and to men of British race appears absolutely" neces sary for securing good government, when the affairs to be administered are chiefly matters of social and national policy. No form of it has ever been adopted for the government of a city unless that city were a sovereign State. By how much do the affairs which are placed under the control of the Govern ment and Legislature of Otago differ from those of a large city? We are aware that our Provincial Council has been accustomed to meddle with a great many matters which may be called matters of national polity. In doing so it has either encroached on the functions of the real Legislature of the Colony, or has fruitlessly endeavoured to do so, ov :i: it 'Has converted itself for the nonceiato

A vev,' months ago we drew jmblic attention to the attempt which was being made in Victoria so to arrange the spheres of action among various Churches as that they might not over lap each other. Since then a contro versy, or rather a complaint, has found its way into the papers, about the starving state of the clergy of the Church of England in the more scat tered districts of Victoria. Lamentable stories have been current of the abso lute impossibility of living upon the miserable stipends which alone were provided for their maintenance. The causes assigned for this state of things are so various that it is al most impossible to decide where the right lies. 