The Evening Star FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1875.

Evening Star, Issue 3950, 22 October 1875, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1875.

The ( Daily Times ’ has discoverer that the Macandrew banquet is to b( a great success. Who ever doubted it 1 It would indeed be a pity if four ©i five hundred Provincialists could noi be mustered in the Province, when sucl: a treat is in store for them as will bt served up by Sir George Grey ant Mr Fitzherbert. We do not know which of the two is to appear as Don Quixote, and which as Sanchc Panza, for we have the misfortune noi to be in the secrets of the movement. We are inclined to think, however, that matters will remain as accident has arranged them, and the Knight will be placed in front and allowed tc charge the windmills, while the Squire will keep watch, and put in a skilful blow here and there to make sure of a hit where his titled companion has missed. The people of Otago cannot be sufficiently thankful for the kindness of these learned politicians in coming down to instruct them in the blessings that have been thrown away through the abolition of Provincialism. Taking into consideration the enormous strides made in Auckland and in Wellington, before the latter became the Empire City, under the genial nurture of Provincial Governments, they are well qualified for the task they have undertaken. Mr Fitzherbert especially is able to separate the wheat from the chaff, or to mix them up together as best suits his purpose, and to show the greatdisadvantage under which Wellington labors through its connection with the General Government, and the blessing that it has been to Auckland to be rid of such an incumbrance. Mr Fitzherbert is said to have great skill in finance, and we, believe he has. He can magnify debts and diminish population at a word, ami prove beyond all doubt that the taxation per head of New Z“aland must necessarily be doubled in two or three years Since Master Humphrey left New Zealand we had hopes of the recovery of health by the ‘ Daily Times,’ but wear.sorry to see by this morning’s leader that there are symptoms of a recurrence of that financial dyspop-fi, from which it suffered so long ; anthat this sad result is attribuudff• to the alarm created by Mr Fitzher bert s reading of our Colonial financial position. This position our frightene-’ contemporary pronounces “ critical, although, in our judgment, the critical moment is passed, notwithstanding the efforts made in times past by th- ‘ Dll ' ] y T im es ’ to damage our credit bv senduig Home in its summaries po>tnnls detracting from the characters < f our leading men, and proclaiming their untrustworthiness and incompetence p, the world. Astutely this journm never includes those reminiscences in the everlasting claims it puts for war.’, to the fulfilment of its own pn'dii tions. In this respect we admire tinpresiding artist ; Wi:al wont I effcn.l Ma, ,yo in ;l „ (10 : i padre j 1 be I’ - 1 , t. r c --is ;I - art.tty into I Wo trust Mr Fitzheriieut, on learnin -■ the fright he has given our enntompo- ■ rat-v, will administer a. soothing l>;drn I in the shape of some of that delicat- I ' iimtery im knows so well how to use, for hig encouragement poEsibl/ the. f'

Editor might b© induced to print the ■vhole of the proceedings at tie banquet :n letters of gold lor distribution through the Colony and to reproduce he account in illuminated typography ■or its monthly sum natty. We can fairly promise, were this done, that the words of .Grey and Fitzherbert would be treasured up as something i-emarkable, of which the not ioen before heard. The occasion is a one. The Northern illuminati ire on a mission. They have charitibly undertaken to teaoli the uninitiated in Otago the art of self-goverii* ment. We have been stolid and an moveable. Mr Macavdrew tried his eloquence before he left, but failed to convince, so as to rouse the opposition of the people. Mr Stout was then persuaded to come out, and so unimpressible were even the people of Caversham that he was nearly rejected tor an untried man. There is a sort of political heathenism that is as difficult convert as it is to lead the Hindoos to throw over their Budhism, or Vishnuism. We in Otago are something like the votaries of those deities, and fancy we know quite as much, if not a little more, than those who are coming to teach us. As they are great guns in their way, and are not bad hands at blowing their own trumpets, we have no doubt they will have a large and respectable audience, for does not the ‘ Daily Times ’ tell us there will be visitors from north, south, east, and west ? This is the way to disseminate knowledge. Gather the ignorant together and enlighten them •is did the oracles of old. Give them something to think about. It need not be very explicit, for if too plain for the understanding there will be no credit to be gained by unravelling the dark sayings. Once taught what to say, and how to say it, these visitors will go back to their homes and enlighten others. They will be —at every elbow, aad every ear, And ready at every call, sir ; The vigilant scout plants his agents about, And has something to do with us all, sir.