The Evening Star FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4217, 1 September 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1876.

It is a source of satisfaction to all wellwishers of the Colony that although Sir, Julius Voobl retires from the Premiership, the House and the Ministry will yet retain the benefit of his advice and assistance until, at least, the work of the session has been accomplished. Much as his absence thereafter is to be regretted, the injurious consequences of his retirement would have been far greater had he altogether abandoned his post. The constitutional work'begun by him is not yet completed. The Legislature has pulled down, but it has yet to build up, and it is not only fitting but necessary that the same hand that destroyed the old building should aid in laying the coping stone on the new edifice. To have left this work half finished would have detracted sadly from the political fame of Sir Julius Vooel, and he has chosen well and wisely in consenting to stand by his late colleagues until the struggle is over. With the inauguration of the County system, Provincialism will receive its death-stroke, and, however it may writhe in the final agonies of dissolution, never again will it be suffered to rear its head aloft. This last step must nevertheless be taken with due prudence and caution, and herein will the counsel of the late Premier be most valuable. It is remarkable in this connection to note how frequently it has occurred in the history of the world that great reforms have been carried by men who entered on the political arena antagonistically disposed thereto. "Man proposes, and God disposes," says the old proverb, and by nothing is its truth better elucidated than by the fact that in all ages men have been instrumental in bringing about those changes r which they had proposed to themselves to prevent. Who, for instance, prior to the events, could have supposed that Catholic Emancipation and the Repeal of the Corn Laws Would have been effected by Sir Robert Peel and the Duke of Wellington ? Or that Gladstone, once the Tory defender of the Established Church, would become the radical advocate of disestablishment ? So, also, when VogeL mounted the Treasury Benches as the avowed champion of Provincial institutions, no one could possibly have foreseen that he was to be the chosen instrument for procuring their abolition. Yet, so it is. That he long struggled against the convictions that gradually forced themselves upon him, touching the mischievous character and effects of those institutions, there is every reason to believe. Indeed, so much may be gathered from his actions at successive periods of his career. And it was only when the proceedings of the Provincialist leaders in Parliament showed clearly that the existence of the Provinces was incompatible with and detrimental to the welfare and prosperity of. the Colony, that he saw clearly in which direction lay the path of duty. When once this became apparent all his hesitation vanished, and he boldly declared war against the vicious political system' that was sapping the vitals of the community, and precipitating the chariot of the Constitution into the slough of popular contempt. With regard to the new Ministry, if the information which now reaches us is correct —and that it is so we have not the slightest doubt it seems to us to be about as good as could possibly have been formed, regard being had to the fact of their being pledged to carry out the Abolition policy of the late Government. In fact, the change is more! in name than in reality. Every member of it, save the Commissioner of Customs, who, we venture to say, will, if the oppor-. tunity is given him, prove a zealous and effective administrator of a department which he is,well qualified to preside over, has made his mark, and has become in a greater or lesser degree a Colonial celebrity. The new Premier will, like his predecessor, also hold the portfolios of Colonial Treasurer and Postmaster-General and Commissioner of Telegraphs. Beyond all question Major Atkinson is eminently fitted for the high positions he now holds, and the manner in which he led the House during the last session demonstrated his ability and fully justifies the choice that has been made. Messrs Bowen and George M'Lean retain their respective portfolios, and the country will rejoice to know that the peace of the Colony is assured by the continuance in office of Sir Donald M'Lean. Dr Pollen and Mr Richardson hold office only until the end of the session, when they give place to the Hon. John Hall and Mr Ormond. Perhaps, when party feeling does not run so high, full credit will be given to Mr Richardson for his untiring efforts to bring the department over which he has presided for the last four years into its present highly efficient state. His successor is not new to the office. As Resident Minister for the North Island in the Fox-Vooel Administration heUhowed unmistakeably thathepossessed great administrative talent, and as he hj a regfcr, fluent, and effective speaker, he will largely add to the debating power of the Ministerial bench. TKe ability of Mr Whitaker to fill the position of Attorney-General is so universally admitted that it is quite unnecessary to touch upon that point. His standing at the Auckland Bar is such that he could not conveniently remain in Wellington all the year; and it does not supriae us to learn that it has been arranged that he shall reside at Auckland during the recess, and while there act as agent of the General Government. In the House, we are informed, the accession to the Ministry of the member for Waikato and the Hon. John Hall is regarded as adding strength to it. It will be remembered that the latter was a member of Mr Stafford's Cabinet, which introduced the County system, and his capacity for work fully equals that of the Minister whom ho succeeds, which ia saying a great deal. On Monday the Premier will declare the policy of the new Government, and we have reason to know that that declaration will in effect be that they do not intend to make any material alteration in the policy of their predecessors.

materially strengthened. Those who supported him and his colleagues will continue do so; wnjle several who withheld their assistance will now join the Ministerial ranks. On many'igrounds this is an advantage, although it renders speciM legislation infaVor of Otago more unlikely than ever. If, with undivided Auckland as an ally, Otago could not 'make itself heard, how is it to be expected that any good can result from the obstructive efforts of our Superintendent? The true state of the case is that the Opposition is-virtually broken s up. We are told by several of our. contemporaries that the House is demoralised through the change that has taken placo, but virtually no change has been made boyond " demoralising" the Opposition—if by that term is meant breaking up their raiiks and taking from their midst the most talented of theirleaders. It is high time that"Dunedin realised its true interests. We are so accustomed to hear the praises of Otago sung, and to attribute its prosperity to its Provincial form of government an<£ the its people, that we do not stop to ask ourselves how much is owingto natural tend geographical advantages, and how much to the accidents of which we boast. No delusion can be greater than that which is so industriously msisted on by a few visionaries, that Otago could prosper apart from the rest of New Zealand. It is because Nature h<s) done so much' for Otago that* people have been attracted to it, and have used the .instruments placed at their disposal for thehv own and New Zealand's profit. Without the rest of the Colony, our industry would have to seek dibtant markets for its products ; attd separated from it, instead of friends we should have to encounter enemies, the more bitter because we should lay ourselves open to the charge of selfishly isolating ourselves from their progress and responsibilities. It must be plain to every reflecting man that the best and wisest plan for our* representatives to pursue is to cease direct opposition and to devote such talents as the} are gifted with to assisting to perfect the arrangements necessary to the working of the measures insisted on by the House.