DINNER TO MR VOGEL AT NELSON.

Evening Star, Issue 3424, 11 February 1874, Page 2

DINNER TO MR VOGEL AT NELSON.

[By Telegraph.] Nelson, February 10. The dinner to Mr Vogel was a great success. There was a large attendance. The Superintendent was in the chair ; the Hon. Dr; Renwick and Mr Barnicoat, Speaker of the Provincial Council, vicechairmen. In proposing the health of Mr Vogel, the superintendent said no was needed, except that found in the distinguished position he had attained by his gieat talents aud indomitable force of character. Mr Vogxl said it was gratifying to find in Nelson such a kind expression of opinion, as Nelson had been hitherto the stronghold of the Opposition. Ho took the change of opinion as the appreciation of the Government policy. He referred to the Govermcnt polio) of public works aud immigration, and naturally expected opposition in Nelson, as the Province had been founded ©n principles opposite to the present policy. He spoke of two distinct methods of colonisation : one where a few persons setting early became jealous of others sharing their profits, aud the other attaching gieat value to waste lands, and feeling it no hardship to tax such lands for the future inhabitants. These types represented Nelson and Canterbury. He hoped Nelson would hereafter become as prosperous as Canterbury. He hoped that speedy results would not be anticipated from the new policy in Nelson, as Parliament last session bad opposed Provincial borrowing. Without indicating a future policy, he hoped the General Assembly would not fail to see that Nelson had a fair claim to a share in the policy of borrowing for public works, but could not say what would be the effect if similar claims came in at once from several Provinces. But he would assert that no Province had greater claims than Nelson, He approved of the Provincial Government policy, as one based on opening up the country by roads and bridges. He congratulated the Province on the new order of things, and anticipated great results from the opening up of the resources of the Proviuee. iNelsou set a social example to the Colony in education and other matters. It had been said that men of means would realise and leave when the borrowing policy was begun, but rich men had increased their investments. Of course there must be bad times and good, aud those who over speculated might lose ; but the Government policy, on the whole, had proved to be a success. Those who said the prosperity of the Colony was due to the rise in wool, and not to the public works policy, should reflect that only those parts which carried on public works and immigration shared in the advance. He thanked the audience for their kind welcome, and hoped on the next visit to find Nelson as properous as other parts of the Colony. In reply to the toast of the Ministry, Mr Vogel, for himself and Mr Richardson (who had such a bad cold that he could not speak), thanked Mr Curtis for his remarks in his opening address to the Council, referring to the General Government public works policy. He wished to say to all New Zealand that the people should be more careful to retain in their hands the power of saying by whom they should be governed, in England, in the general election now going on, with very few except ons, candidates dared not decline to say which Ministry they would support. The cry of “ Measures, not men," was most undesirable, and the people of New Zealand should insist upon their representatives saying whether they would support or oppose the Ministry, and not leave it open to them to be influenced by any of the thousand caprices which sometimes affect men as a division draws nigh. Mr Vogel was enthusiastically received, and the speeches were loudly applauded. The Luna started for Wellington a little after midnight.