Cromwell Argus, AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. CROMWELL: TUESDAY, AUGUST 1.

Cromwell Argus, Volume 2, Issue 90, 1 August 1871, Page 4

Cromwell Argus, AND NORTHERN GOLD-FIELDS GAZETTE. CROMWELL: TUESDAY, AUGUST 1.

The General Assembly will meet for the despatch of business on the 14 th of this month. " Coming events cast their shadows before," —and it is conceded on all hands that the coming Session is big with events of extraordinary importance. The last Session of the Assembly was remarkable enough, being rendered so by the propounding of Mr Vogel's great scheme of borrowing large sums-of mone3 r for the carrying out of gigantic public works, and for other Colonial purposes. This Session will be, so to speak, the complement of the last. During the recess Mr Vogel has not allowed the " grass to grow under his feet." If ever a Colonial politician made good use of his time, Julius Vogel has done so. He has travelled, we might almost say, all over America and England in order to carry to a successful issue the schemes of which he was the avowed originator, and we are bound to admit that he has achieved an amount of success which many very well-informed persona hardly ventured to anticipate. Mr Vo«el has proved that he is possessed of the sterling qualities of pluck, perseverance, and financial sagacity. He is, undoubtedly, the strong man of the present Ministry,— and they may well be proud of him. Mr Fox solus would long ago have come to grief had it not been for the versatile and vigilant Vogel, and the indefatigable Colonial Secretary, Mr Gisborne. We shall not be at all surprised, therefore, if Julius Vogel receives quite an "ovation" upon his return to these shores ; and probably the Wellington Brass Band will be specially retained for the occasion to play " See the Conquering Hero Comes," along Lambton Quay—while the imperturbable Julius will be half-stifled by the caresses of his idolatrous colleagues.—There is nothing so satisfactory as success; it is deemed a justification for any amount of recklessness, or any quantity of daring. Mr Vogel has secured just that degree of success which will enable him to meet the House of Representatives with a very plausible statement as to the results of his mission. We question, however, whether the financial Statement will prove as satisfactory to the House and to the Colony at largo as could be desired. It is rumoured that there is a large deficit; and that the Colonial Treasurer's estimates of revenue were greatly overdrawn. However, we do not wish to emulate those birds of prey which " scent the carrion from afar:" in duo time the real state of the Treasury will be known. Ministers, however, will not have it "all their own way." The last general election resulted in a remarkable change in the jwsonnd of the House of Representatives. The ballot-box did a most salutary work. And though Ministers have by that process got rid of some of llieir old

foes, there is little doubt that some of the " new blood" will prove quite as troublesome, —and perhaps far more turbulent,—. as that of same of the " old stagers" who have been relegated to private life. True, Mr J. C. Richmond has not got a seat in the House; but. Messrs Stafford, Hall, Rolleston, and Fitzherbert, together with a large number of able men of their party, are ready to challenge every act of the Ministry, and to do battle for th/ righU The members for this Province,—>..f6m the Superintendent downwards (if we may use such a graduated phrase),—have a grave responsibility to discharge. In fact, it rests with the members from Canterbury and Otago to " moderate " in the General Assembly, and check that blind fervour and selfishness for which North Island Members and North Island Ministries have acquired an unenviable reputation Taking Mr Macandrew and Mr Rolleston as "representative men," we trust they and the members from their several Provinces will approach the labours of the Session with a patriotic determination to do the right thing in the best possible manner, —approved not only now but by posterity. We hope to see an attempt at true statemanship; and an abandonment of those petty schemes and " Parish Vestry devices" which have marred so many previous Sessions, and been so costly to the Countiy.

As to our local representative in the New Zealand Parliament, \re scarcely know what to say,—what to hope, or what to fear. If Mr Shepherd is industrious and honest, that is all we can expect from him ; —he will never be brilliant, —nor do we anticipate that he will ever exert much personal influence. He has no power as a debater. It is certain that the great question of Water Supply will have to be dealt with. Mr Haughton will be the great authority, we presume, in that matter; but it will be Mr Shepherd's duty, and the duty of the Ministry, to see that the claims of this district are adequately provided for. Vigilance must be exercised to see that the vote is equitably and wisely distributed. The amendment ef the Goldfields Act, and the Land Laws, and the promotion of bouajids settlement, and the provision of adequate Commonage in localities at present destitute thereof, are matters of the greatest importance. We hope to see Mr Donald Reid and many other Otago members take definite and progressive action in these matters. The Country expects something good from these " Liberal Members," and we trust an expectant people will not be disappointed.