SIR J. VOGEL'S RECEPTION IN WELLINGTON.

Evening Star, Issue 4044, 11 February 1876, Page 3

SIR J. VOGEL'S RECEPTION IN WELLINGTON.

(By Telegbaph.) The reception accorded to S.'r Julius Vogel last night was agr at success, The weather was beautiful. After six o'clock, crowds were Been gathering in the direction of thewha'f, numbers from the country having arrived to join in the reception. There were at lea t seven thousand people who took part in the demonstration. Some estimate it at ten thorn and. His progress along the wha)f was amid a blaze of firewoik?, an avenue of torch s, and resounding, cheers. The following was an addieas presented to him :

To Sir Johns Vogel, K.C.M.G.—We, the working men and citizens of Wellington, well assured of the sympathy of our fellows in other parts of New Zealand, Did you welcome. We recognise in you the friend and t patron of the working classes, whereas before the inauguration of the scheme of puhlic works and immigration we were without unity of purpose or the hope of future independence. Tour policy is the bond which unites us and the lever ■Which raised us to our proper level in the grand scale ©f industrial civilisation. For an increase of the participation in the profits of industry, for happy homes and contented lives we have to thank you. Difficulties there may be in the way of the accomplishment of your grand projects, but these will certainly be overcome if the Government continue in the course it has hitherto purW(J to hev « implicitly, not only in your genius, but in your earnestness and sincerity of purpose, and we ask you to trust in our confidence and support. As on behalf of the subscribers, William Black, Chairman. Johh M'Comiskt, Treasurer. George South, Secretary. Sir Julius Vooel said in reply: Mr Mayor and gentlemen,—Before proceeding to reply, let me thank you for the cordial manner in which you have received me on my return •f •••**"£- Colon y' J can a-sure you it delights me very much to find myself once mora on the shore ot New Zealand. Since my return, this is the first time I have landed in New Zealand after an absence of sixteen months. The cordial and flatteing welcome you have extended to me g.ves me siucere pleasure and arou-es my liveliest gratitude. Painful illness kept me from the Colony much longer than I anticipated when I left ita shores, but you will. I hope, excuue my pausing thus maca to say if; gives me pleasure to remember that notwithstanding my illness, I was able, with the exception of some seven or weeks, to unceasingly devote myself to the onerous duties which devolved on me. I hope it will be found that my labors m the sevtral important matters to whieh I had to attend, have not been without service to the Colony. 1 was reminded of one of these ma! tew this morning as on the beach of a little quiet bay, where probably hitherto few feet have ever trodden, I Raw a number of carpenters erec ing a housa to shelter the cable which in two or three weeks will place New Zeahnd in ti-legxapbic communication with the civiliz-d world. The opinion 1 of me and my work which yon express on behalf of the work'ng classes of the Colony generally and the citizens of Wellington gratify me exceedingly and reward me for many years of anxious labor. The success of the public works policy con.pre htnds the prosperity of all classes. Of that success nothing could be more desired than Ihe feeling of the working classes as well as of the citizens that the policy his earned with it an encourgement to active industry and that it has been the means of making the : r homes happy and their lives contented. The welfare of a young country like this depends not upon the good foituoe of a favored few, but upon the widely di tributed prosperity of the many. The general diffusion of we'lth is most lkly to promote continuous efforts in the direction of that abiding settlement which is really the great o v ject before us. To that - nd efforts been made to the land with lager inducements to co onisation by opening throu :h it the means of communication. We have to hope that those who to-day aie the employed will in time become employers, and that their ambition will lead them to se't'ing down .in their own cottageß, on their own land, whether in towni or lural or m ning dis'ri'jts, as the'r occupations lea i them to prefer. My colleagues and 1 a- e equally anxious to promote the pro.ress of the country and the happiness of the people ; but on the pfople themselves by fa- th<* g eater share of the result depends. The Central Government has t-> see the machinery does not g> t out of . order; but with the great mags of the pople r sts the working of that machinery, by .'iffusinj throughout the Colony the true spirit an I power ana opportuniti a of self government—call it by what name you will—th.t

we give to the people the means of happiuess and advancement. Cer.'ain lam that never had the peopVa nobler theatre or worthier c\u:-e. The nbul's not only of my own observation but of the observation of othera much more competent to judge convince trie that New Zealand pcsseses, in au emi nent degrce and to an exceptional extend natural advantaged for sup;.oiVng a d rendering happy a large papulation. Other land* there may be more productive; other lands w th even more pleasant climates ; other lands with equally gift d people; but for the union of all the advantages of good land, a plav-ant as well as useful and se.viceablu cima'e, varied resources, a enterprising, ednqat-d people-for, in ebort. a combination of all tin qualifications which should make the founders of a young country look forward with a faith no reverse en dim - a bright fulura—l firmly believe New Zealand has no superior. I question, indeed, anything like au equal on the world's wide surface. Years since men laughed when I predicted tbe position amongst her Majesty's possessions to which these lands would ia time attain. Now I believe the idea is becoming general that New Zealand will soon b3 second to none of the Colonies of the empire. The eyes, indee', of many countries are on you ani it rests with the people of New Zealand to tread the luminous path to the proud destiny in store for thtm. My own humble efforts wiil, I hope, be merged in the glories of the Colony with which i they are identified. I ihank you, Mr Mtyo ! nndgent'emen, for your kind addie.a ofwel-i come.

The toi chlight procession, after going through the central square, proceeded to Sir «T. Vogel's private honso.