THE PREMIER BANQUETED AT AUCKLAND.

Evening Star, Issue 3438, 27 February 1874, Page 2

THE PREMIER BANQUETED AT AUCKLAND.

[By Telegraph.] Auckland, February 27. Tbe Premier was entertained at a banquet last evening jn Chopal Hall, over '125 persons being present, including the Hon. Hr Pollen, the Hon- Mr Piohardsqn, the Superintendent, and the Mayor. The Superintendent proposed Mr Vogel’s health in eulogistic terms. Mr Yogel, in replying said that when he first came to Auckland he had very great difficulties to contend with There was a strong feeling that one who had only been in the country a few years had no right to take a leading part in the management of the affairs of the Colony. He had now been eleven years in Parliament, which m>ght fairly be considered as a good apprenticeship. He deprecated a remark of the Superintendent that the Colonies had ceased to take an interest in the affairs of Great Britain. It would rob public life of its charms to him if anything were to weaken the ties between the Colony and the Mother Country. Science had brought this country nearer to the Government of England than Scotland was a few years ago. There was no doubt the

time would come when the Colonies might he regarded as the re, which; ;he ' boped' 'ome .yho believ«Puiiß Tftere wowang in England for the insist trii|€ funds in the.Qo.onies, but thkt wajffSbt permitted although When that was allowed' it wodmlmean not only the enhancement# of propetty ip <he Colonies;, hint woUldbring them into muon closer the Empire than, they enjoyed at nr&fietit. That might not come to pass,iathis generation, but he thought that in the course of time such a result would be brought about; and it was possible there might arise a great Empire formed not only by the closer union of the Colonies with England, but by the union of all English-speaking countries. —A large portion of the speech waa'devoted to local matters.—He contended that Auckland had not been badly -treated by the Colodial Government, and assured them that there was no “ down” upon it in other parts of the Colony. Those threats sometimes used, that if the demands of Auckland were not conceded she would see that no lands were granted to the South under the dom-i, pact of 1856, were nonsense. No doubt thecompact had not worked well for Auckland, but some allowance bad been made for that. t 8 compact could not now be upset. With regard to the removal of the seat of Government from Auckland, ha was one of those who _ opposed, it strongly at the outset, and he still believed it was an ill-advised measure, and one productive of considerable evil, but ne did not think now that the seat of Government could ever be broughtback to Auckland. He believed it was firmly established at Wellington. If the question were considered dt novo,‘ he thought' the seat of Government would be taken ‘to Christchurch. Still, he was of opinion that it would be to the interest of the Colony,'if' Wellington were made a federal city, as at present the existence of the Provincial Government there was a great source of mischief. Except for the difficulties'arising out of this double Government, there was! no likelihood of any change btfing made in the capital of the Colony. He referred at considerable length to the salutary change which had taken place in Native affairs.'' The time Was not far distant when any Native difficulty need be apprehended, and that question, he said, be completely and for ever settled. The Government were opposed to Native lands being purchased by speculators aud locked up. The land should be acquired solely by the Government, ip order to promote the advance of settlement. The Government were now prepared to hand over 150,000 acres to the Province, to be purchased out of the vote of last session for acquiring an estate for the North Island. The revenue derived from the confiscated lands should he devoted towards making roads through. those lands. Mr Vogel spoke eulogistically of Mr Russell in his negotiation of the new Californian service. When a separate naval station would be established in the Golony, ,or an admiral’s station in Australia, Auckland would probably be made the head-quarters of the fleet. From what he ' knew of the Province of Auckland, he did not think it would prove a wheat-growing Province. He was inclined to think it required somegreat industry to stand to it in the same relation which wool-growing did to the South, which had proved the principal source of attraction to the population, and had supother industries. He believed it was the mission of Auckland, owing to its geographical position, to enable the whole Colony to partake of the benefits to be derived from trade with the South Sea Islands. The market afforded by those fertile islands would stimulate the manufacturers of the Colony, when New Zealand became in the future a large manufacturing Colony, which its coal, iron, and other resources so admirably fitted it for. The approaching s.-ssion, which would probably be short, would have to deal with the electoral franchise. The Government would propose manhood suffrage, coupled with rest deuce qualification and abolition of existing miners franchise. It was also probable, though not certain, that the 1 House would be called upon to deal comprehensively with the licensing question, as well as with conservation of forests; It would not be desired of the Government to bring in a large number of Bills. They were rather disposed to say to the country, “Rest, and be thankful,” and would certainly not introduce more Bills than were necessary or the country required. The speech occupied over two hours in its delivery, and was very well received.