The Evening Star MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1876.

Evening Star, Issue 4279, 13 November 1876, Page 2

The Evening Star MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1876.

Tbve Convention is over. It was a somewhat remarkable gathering of, in the main, not very' remarkable men, who, after two days' deliberation, arrived at very harmless conclusions. Amid all the folly that was littered, it tended to> point out those most entitled to the confidence of the people of the Province. It would bo very easy to show tha; 1 ! there was a wide difference of opinion anu\ **g the members of the Conff;rence upon several joints on which the rabi d malcontents have keen vainly trying t< y rouse popular feeling. Although the Contention claims to be an o\ T P re asiGu of the viev / s Q f the pooplo of Otago, U '' e fack cannot be disputed that it has failed v +o °»tw »ny response from the people. Tht members in and a few had toe curiosity to J oofc ?** Mi cMacan;

brew's address, was not received -with general expressions of approbation even in the Convention itself; and the Convention passed resolutions which may be regarded as dead letters, even should they be supported by the wild eloquence of Sir George Grey, assisted by the advice of Mr Macandrew. There is something ludicrous in the contradictory resolutions passed by the Convention. First, a petition to the Queen is adopted, and this is to be presented by the leading .Northern and Southern agitators in company. Sir George and Mr Macandrew ars to go Home. Now, if they are to succeed they must go at once. ,If they are not off in a hurry all the new arrangements will be in full operation before their arrival, which will consequently present a barrier to the return to things as they were. But that does not suit Messrs Sbaton and Co. They do not want to part with Air Macandrew ; and so, although it was clearly pointed out that carrying a motion requesting him ta manage Provincial affaira "in accordance with the provisions of the Abolition Act" was accepting that Act as law, the Convention obligingly passed a resolution which, if carried out, will commit Mr Macandrew to recognising its legality, and prevent his going Home. Nobody will be surprised that Mr David Hutcheson was "down upon" the Governor, nor need it excite much astonishment that the Convention had only one clear-headed man who .dissented from the petition for his Excellency's removal We have never thought the agitation about the Go vei nor's despatch worth a comment. He has taken no active part in the contest that has been going on, nor in any way endeavored to influence either one party or the other; and is clearly in the way of his duty in expressing his opinion on public matters to her Majesty's Ministers. It is one of the objects of appointing a Governor over a Colony that the British Government may be correctly informed on passing events and advised concerning them; and if that despatch has influenced any one in his vote in the Assembly, his Excellency is not to blame, but the party who so determinedly pressed for its publication. The Opposition are like the

— man of Thessalr Who was so wondrous wiße, He jcunped into a quickset hedge, And scratched oat both his eyep.

They wanted the Governor's despatch published, and when it vas given to the world they found that it condemned them, and so they ask for a Governor in their own image. 'i'risre are too many David RuTCHESONS°in tuc CoL«iy ii.lre.-xdy for Nr.w Zealand to de-

a Governor of that stamp. Farewell to •uu.sperity if the head of affairs is an embodiment of ignorant prejudices. We do not know that New Zealand's history presents a more refreshing picture than Mr Donald Reid presented during the foolish discussion that took place on Mr De Lautour's foolish motion. In the presence of one hundred men, many of them blinded with prejudice, professing to represent a people whose respect Mr Reid values, he stood alone and dared to stand alone. He was surreuuded by neighbors whose friendship he esteemed, but who were violently opposed to him ; there were present representatives of the party with which he has beenidentified for so many years, and with whom he has been accustomed to act; the Press nearly through the country was either silent or . opposed to his opinion, and in protesting against, the motion he knew that he must risk the forfeiture of the support of those who have hitherto placed confidence in him. It was a moment of temptation which many would have yielded to, and many mere evaded by walking out of the Convention or refusing to vote. To Mr Reid's honor he did neither. He had convictions, and had the courage and manliness to avow them. We have many times dissented from Mr Reid and many times agreed with him. We have no doubt regarding this Abolition question there is some difference between us ; but strongly as we have oppesed him on many occasions, we have equally admired him whenever a question of high principle is concerned. It matters not whether, in this 'nstance, his conduct is approved or not, the character of the man stands forth—what he thinks right he will do, no matter if the world is against him. He dared to stand alone. Justin the same way throughout the session, Mr Reid has shown prudence and decision. The battle is now over : Abolition has become law, and those who have Otago's prosperity at heart will unite to render the new order of things conducive to its welfare. Old things have passed away, and new ones require men of experience and integrity to conduct them. Those who have so long guided New Zealand's affairs are gradually becoming wearied out. Sir Julius Vogel has left us, Sir Donald M'Lean is ill, the Hon. Mr Reynolds has retired from the Ministry, the Hon. Edward Richardson is reported to be anxious to give up public life. Where shall we look for men in whom we have confidence to stand in their places, but to those who have earned a right to the confidence of the people ? Mr Reid has had much experience—the Provincial Council has, at any rate, been a good school for him—those with whom he could not act cordially no longer stand in his way—party is broken up, and we believe that no better arrangement could take place than that Sir xLeid should find a place in the apparently inevitable reconstruction of the Ministry.