BARON HUBNER INTERVIEWED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1005, 21 November 1883, Page 2

BARON HUBNER INTERVIEWED.

[“ NSW*ZEALAND HERALD:”} Baron Hiibner, the distinguished statesman and diplomatist, who has been visiting New Zealand during the ‘last five weeks, left by the mail steamer last night. After a brief stay in Sydriey l He will visit India, and in all probability will return to New Zealand in-order to return to Europe by San Francisco. Baron Hiibner is one of those “ grand old men ”,of who ( m the world has lately had not a few," who have been active and energetic throughout a long life, and who in extreme bid age are endowed with great bodily health and vigor, and whose mental faculties exhibit no signs of decay, but on the contrary, are as acute and alert as ever. These men have at their command all the experience and knowledge of the world, which they have gained during their long career, and their intercourse with highly cultivated men. Baron Hiibner was born in 1811, so that he is 72 years of age, although no one would think so, viewing his upright figure, alert step, and clear grey eye. His active career, as. a .diplomatist commenced in 1853,' under(PriricbiHetternich, and extended to 1867, when Tie was entrusted with the conduct of the negotiations; with the Holy See in reference to the* repudiation of the Concordat. His eventful career as a statesman has lately been detailed in our columns. Yesterday a representative of the Herald saw the Baron, and although he was busy making preparations for his departure for the mail steamer, he courteously and frankly statedu his opinion. He said : I have been about five weens in New Zealand, and I desire to acknowledge the courtesy and kindness which I have received from all persona with whom I have come in contact. The Governor and the Premier have extended to me every assistance; and I have also to acknowledge the kindness of Colonel Header and Major Swindley, the latter of whom was - my most entertaining companion during my journey to the Lakes. What has struck me moat forcibly during my stay in. New Zealand has been the great progress that has been made in so short, a time. 1 have been much' astonished at this. And, of course, such rapid progress shows great capacities not only in the country, but in the people. The progress made in some parts of America is owing to the enormous influx of people, and to the development - of- particular localities. Your progress has been a remarkable event in the world’s history. As to your politics I have not been long enough in the country to form any opinion of value. You are a democratic, community, and from the nature of things could have been nothing else. [Barort Hiibner, we may remark, is one of the chief* of the clerical and aristocratic party sot-, the Austrian Empire.] There is no order of nobles here, and no reason for their existence. But absolute equality is a dream, ana can never be realised, so long as men have different Capacities. 1 You have ’perfect freedom of Government, but are loyal to the Empire, and itr is pact <o£ your greatness to be connected with so grand a maritime Empire as England. The scenery of New Zealand is fine and exceedingly varied. You have mountains and plains, and every variety of country. Rotorua and Rotomahana are wonderful and unique places. Some spots remind ohffiof the.soanesrldepicted in Dante’s “Inferno.” To look at, it is like a dream. I went to the Island of Kawau with Sir George Grey, and there saw tree's and plants from many different regions, all growing—not as if dependent on any artificial shelter or protection—but, as if the place in which they grow was their natural habitat. That shows what a large variety of products may be cultivated in this climate. By the way, Sir George Grey is a remarkable man. It is strange that one who has been in these distant colonies for so many years of his life, should have preserved so intimate an acquaintance with European politics, and with the prominent men of different counties. [A remark having been - "made about the present state of Europe.] Baron Hiibner said : At present Europe is armed to the teeth ; but I see no immediate prospect of a war, nor do I regard such a thing as likely. Bis-: inarck displays sometimes an irritability as to France, but you must remember that France is an open crater. Her leading men, I believe, are opposed to war, and are anxious to prevent a European contest, but the question is; how far they can exercise control.. There, is a firm alliance between Germany and Austria, and they will always be in favor of a peace policy.. You in thq colonies must desire peace in Europe, on account of the disturbance of commerce which war causes. In the event of a war; bet ween England and any oth.er maritime Power, your trade would be seriously imperilled. lam a member of the Upper Chamber ■ of,the Reiohstrath. We are not responsible to any constituency, as are the members of the Lower House, and we need no leave to absent ourselves, but still there are obligations to one’s friends and party. The reason why I think of coming back here to go to Europe by America is because of the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. Ido not mind the heat ; I can bear that very v. ell ; but the air is positively bad. The Suez Canal is the receptacle of a mass of drainage ; it is simply a common sewer, and there is no flow of water to carry off the impurities. Baron Hubner’s English is exceedingly good, being grammatical and precise. He speaks slowly, sometimes hesitating for the right word, but seldom failing to use the term which would be chosen ,by a well educated Englishman.