THE PREMIER AT AUCKLAND.

Evening Star, Issue 3609, 16 September 1874, Page 3

THE PREMIER AT AUCKLAND.

[By Telegraph.] September 16. Mr Vogel addressed bis constituents in the Choral Hall last night. Mr Russell took the chair. The Hall was crammed, and there was barely standing room. In introducing the Premier, the < hairraau said that this was the most difficult Colony of the Empire to govern. Mr Vogel explained that his them at such short notice was in consequence of his leaving the Colony that night for some months. He had expected to .remain for some days longer ; but the arrival of the steamer bad cutth-s visit short, and rendered it impossible for him to speak at the length he had intended. He had always done what he could for local matters, but had experienced considerable difficulty in ascertainiog the feeling of his constituents. He asked them to go back with him to 1869, when he took office The North Island was then in a most depressed state, and it was impossible to penetrate into the interior without risk of life. There was a general belief that war was inevitable, and the question was, wou’d the South couaent at once to the expenditure asked them. Com pare the present with the past, and give him some credit for the part he had taken. Roads and telegraph wires now penetrated through the whole island, and settlement was extending everywhere. A large landed estate was being purchased, and would be available for settlement and revenue. There was no doubt t Sat in the future this would result in the prosperity of the .North Island being unsurpassed by any island of the same size. If asked wbat difference there was between the last five years and preceding years, it was that the present -Government had endeavored t« make a peaceful conquest of the Island, and show that industrial arts would provide the excitement which was supposed to be inseparable with the interior i f ;he North Island. ‘I heir policy hadbeena progressive one. H ad the expenditure carried on d uriog the last five years been proposed in 1869, it would hive received very little support. It would have been a very easy matter for the Government to introduce such a policy if it was only intended for the Middle Island, The Assembly had voted L790.0U0 for the purchase of landed estate in the North, and it was unfair for the speakers at a recent meeting to have kept that fact back when urging the seizure of the Southern lands. Although the North made a bad bargain in 1856, yet it might now make a worse, if it secured the land fund as Colonial revenue. The lands of the North would ultimately support a larger population than those of the South, and therefore be more valuable. The speaker next alluded to the State Forests Bill, and the importance of conserving forests. When this was made a political question, it was naturally asked how much longer would Provincial Governments interfere with great State questions, and it was concluded that if the Provincial Governments continued obstinate in this way, they must yield. The Government had suffered many difficulties rather than make constitutional changes, but this was thought a favorable time for making those changes. Ihe constitution of the Colony rendered it extremely difficult for any Colonial policy, as the Provincial Governments combined could make any Government very weak. But this was not really the cause of the proposed change. Estimates were made of the total Government expenditure in the North, which showed most startling results. During the five years ending 1874, no less than L 3,889,000 had been expended by the Colonial Government, while only LIBO,OOO had been spent by the Provincial Governments. Then he thought it was useless to continue this cumbersome machinery to do so little work. The institutions of the North Island were not satisfactory. The Goyernmentfound that, while paying LBO.OOO capitation for gaols, hospitals, oic., in the Provinces, only L 51,000 was being expended. and goldfields revenues should be expended within the districts where they were collected. While redogn‘Bln ß that the land revenue should be proserved for particular purposes, yet it was a fact that the Consolidated Revenue had been charged with things improperly, and the Government had been compelled to refrain from charging on the land fund expenditure which properly belonged to it. Referring to the abolition resolutions, he said the reason for combining the resolutions brought down by him* was that when the Government announoed their intention to abolish the Northern Provinces, the Superintendents assumed a moat hostile attitude, one saying “ that means loss of land revenue,” and wtibtr wtd, “it wtafti

seat of Government to Christchurch.” The Government could not be constantly contradicting such misstatt ments, and they deemed it necetsary to state generally what they meant. There was no probability of Government being brought back to Auckland, and it was idle tor anyone to believe otherwise. At a meeting held in his bouse, at which f rty-flve members were pres nt. it was suggested that a vote for Government buildings would determine the questi.m of the seat of Government. without furcn g the supporters of the resolutions into a direct expression of opinion. That was the general feeling of the meeting. With regard to the land fund, be did not think Mr Wood’s version ®f the caucus was correct. When the Government proposed the third resolution affirming the Compact of 1856, they meant it was sot possible to alter that Compact. Should it ever be reversed even if no such Compact existed, it would not be desirable to mix the land revenue with the Colonial revenue. He believed a change in the constitution of the North Island would soon be remarked by the South Island with envy, and the time was not distant when the Middle Island would say, “ This is what we want.” Apart from the agreement of 1856, it would have still been a statesmanlike policy for the Government to propose to secure the expenditure of revenue from land upon works within defined areas. With reference to Mr O’Uorke, he reasserted that the Government were unaware of that gentleman’s intention to resign, alchough he knew he did not sympathise with the resolutions. Still, he did not wish anyihing to be said, or to be taken as reti-c----tion on Mr O'Rorke for the course he bad pursued. The raembeis who voted against the resolutions were an extraordinary com bination. Mr Gillies opposed them merely because he (Mr Vogel) proposed them. Mr Gillies saw so little to support in anything he (Vlr Vogel) proposed, that if he brought down a motion stating that Mr Gillies was a most excellent and estimable member, and anSaraendment was prop ised, hs believed Mr Gillies would vote for the amendment. It was quite certain thac either Mr Gillies was right and Mr Vogel wrong, or he (Mr Vogel) was right and Mr Gillies wrong. Kither the whole Public Woiks, Immigration, and Peace Policy was a mistake, or Mr Gillies was wrong. Mr Gillies had repeatedly made attacks upon him, but be did not wish to make any retaliation there It had been announced by telegraph that a caucus, at which tweaty-eight were present, was opposed to the resolutions. It was held after the passing of the resolutions, and yet in reality only eighteen members were there, and ten persons were picked ont of the streets in order to make the number appear large. No matter what was the opinion of that meeting, the country had endorsed the resolutions by an enormous majority. The meeting, he assumed, from the demonstration made by it, was favorable to the abolition of all the Provinces. It was a mere matter of prejudice to object to receive good because only one part of the Colony required such legislation. In passing those resolutions, the Government contemplated giving the North the excellent institutions of the South. No one could fail to admire the institutions and educational system of Otago, and it was to give the North these excellent institutions in place of its present disgrac ful inaiiiutions that the Government desired the aboli tion of the Provinces. The oufc-districts would never be prosperous until real local government was substituted for the present scheme. It was not desirable to d-fine all the views of the Government. He thought the land fund should be set apart for the interest and sinking fund of Provincial loans and educational purposes, for the subsidising of roads, and to be voted by Parliament for special district wor ,r s This would include harbors and branch railways. The capitation would support the public institutions. He would be very much disappointed if licenses and goldfields revenue were not made local revenue. The Government were determined to make the measure satisfactory, and had employed a barrister of Colonial reputation, who was instructed to visit every highway district in the Colony and confer with its Chairman before framing the Bill, He referred at length to the South Sea scheme and its importance to the whole Colony, b..t especially to Auckland. He considered, this was what Auckland must mainly look to, and believed there was a great future before it. It, was his desire to make some statement of the reason why he was now proceeding to England. He would he absent six or seven “oaths. His first object was to arrange for a cable with Australia, which he believrd would soon be undertaken. His next was with reference to immigration. Although, in exceptional cases, there might be hardship to immigrants, yet all have noticed the extraordinary absorption of the immigrants who arrived, which was mainly due to distributing them over the Colony. The conduct of the Immigration Departmeat was now satisfactory, but circumstances at Home rendered it necessary for a Minister to confer with the Agent-General, in order to obviate the irritating correspondence of the past. The Government resolved to bring the Department at Home more into harmony with the views entertained in the Colony. The third object of hj s visit was financial matters, which could not well be dwelt with by correspondence He did not appear before them that night to sue for a renewal of their confidence. Perhaps they might find a representative more in accord ance with their views, and he might find a constituency who would take hi* part better in his absence than they had done. Circumstances had arisen which might perhaps render it undesirable he should again represent an Auckland constituency, and he had been asked to stand for nearly every city in the Colony ; but he was yet undecided. In New Zealand and out of it there was a growing impression that the Colony was rising fr.im the depressed condition of 1869 to the foremost Colony of Australasia, and they might yet see it take the chief position. He desired to see Auckland equally as prosperous as other parts of the Colony, and that hope kept him at work when ho might desire rest from arduous labors. The Province had, however, been centending against many drawbacks ; but when a railroad was made throughout Waikato, possibly connecting it with the rich lands of Taranaki, and it was opened up by the operation of the Public Works Policy, it would yet ’have a great future. He concluded by stating that be did not come there to commence a discussion with popular orators, but he would answer any reasonable questions.

The speech during’delivery was frequently interrupted by demonstrations of disapprobation, which prevented tbo speaker proceeding, and sometimes by applause. At the close there were loud cries of “ Rees. Rees,” and after Waiting some time, the Chairman said as no eleotor came forward, he declared the meeting at an end. Mr Rsks, barrister, jumped on the platform, and said ho intended to speak. The Chairman said he was not an eleotor. Mr Rees (with an Electoral Roll in his hand) said he was. A great tumult arose, the Chairman and Mr Vogel essaying to speak, and being stamped down.

Ultimately Mr Vogel obtained a hearing, and said he had called the meeting of City East electors to explain his views, and not £ hen* Mr Recto speak. He wished thttn

The Chairman then vacated the chair, and, with Mr Vogel and others, retired fiom the platform amid prolonged howling.