The Evening Star MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1870

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2120, 21 February 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star MONDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1870

Ip the Wellington people arc to lie believed, great, dissatisfaction is likely to arise through the possible removal of the seat of Government to Auckland. They are rousing themselves to a sense of'the uncertain tenure on which they retain their metropolitan distinction, and feel every arrangement to bo an insult in which their interests are neglected, or not considered in the light in which they themselves view them. The people of Wellington calculate upon sympathy in their favor, complain of Mr Vogel’s Auckland proclivities, and assume the tone of an injured race. When in compliance with the resolution of the General Assembly, it was considered necessary that the capital of the Colony should lie somewhere in Cook’s Straits, the circumstances were peculiar. For a variety of reasons, a central position was considoied desirable, and, notwithstanding its drawbacks, Wellington was pitched upon, rather than any other port in the Middle Island. The reasons _ were principally geographical. It is the 'nearest port to the Middle Island, it has a fine bay, and is convenient as a port of call. It formed the best point for securing telegraphic communication between' Worth and South, and is central tor the meeting of Parliament. But when these advantages are enumerated, all is said that can be said iu its fivor. Between the northern ports of the North Island and Wellington there is only very imperfect telegraphic communication. In many instances days have elapsed before any certain information has been received ns to military movements in the North. During the hottest period of the war, the Government were as ill advised of military movements as private individuals, and could exercise no control over the troops, and the further North they were the greater was the uncertainty. And this fact forces upon us the inquiry that ought to precede decision what should bo the position of the Beat of Government of a country. If it is replied that it should be central, so that easy and rapid communication may be had with every part of the Colony, this is, to a certain extent, an attribute of Wellington. With the South, which is of little comparative importance, the transmission of _ news is rapid. But the South can do without the immediate action of the Government, and is quite equal to the task of governing itself. With the North, where, on account of the Native difficulty, energetic action of the Government is necessary, Wellington is absolutely the worst place that could be chosen. As a point of departure for troops, it is at immeasurable disadvantage compared with Auckland. Wellington is at the extremity of the island, and is hemmed in by a country more or less inaccessible. If insurrection breaks out within the northern limits of the Province, its sea-board does not afford the facilities possessed by Auckland for the transmission of troops, and if troubles should arise in the extreme North, a considerable time must elapse before any effectual force could be sent thither, and then only at enormous expense. Auckland is seated on a neck of land, which can be made available for either side of the island. It occupies an advantageous position by dividing the natives into two sections as effectually as if they formed distinct nations, arid in need can make use of the Waikato and Thames Rivers for advance into the native districts to the South. We expect it is for this reason that the armed constabulary are leaving the extremity of the island to occupy a more central position. On the same ground it is easier to receive information of native movements there than at Wellington. As a centre for the meeting of Parliament the time is gone by when it is of much importance, although there are advantages in Wellington that Auckland does not possess, in more complete telegraphic communication. Even this objection will soon be removed, and nows will be as easily received from the one place as the other when the line is completed. So far therefore as position in the North Island is concerned, Auckland is preferable to Wellington. But on the other hand the objection remains in full force that the additional importance given to Auckland by it being the seat of Government woe,l ' I invert it with an influence that pas; experience has shown has been use-. for selfish purposes. As an abstner theory that place should be chosen as :i capital that is least likely to bring local influence to bear upon the counsels of the Executive so that each Province may bo fairly and impartially dealt with. As a point of arrival and departure of the mails via San Francisco, all mercantile men can fully understand why the contractor insisted upon Auck--1 land rather than Wellington, and aspccu-

niary advantage to the Colony resulted from the only possible arrangement we must not grumble, although a few hours might have been gained by making Wellington the port of cail. But when it is considered that Auckland's altered financial position will bring to bear the influence of wealth and population, although its members may on that account bo less likely U be bought than hitherto, it is not for tde interest of the Middle Island that the seat of Government should be removed. The people of Wellington ought never to expect that their vaniiy will be gratified by the rest of the Colony valuing them at their own estimate, and if the retention of the seat of Government there be advocated it will bo on the ground of the small weight of influence they can bring to bear upon the Executive. Wellington boars the same relation, politically, to New Zealand as Washington to the United St ites. Its advantages are mostly negative—its disadvantages positive.