The Globe. FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 1874.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 70, 21 August 1874, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 1874.

The curtain fell last evening, unexpectedly to most of the country, on the first act of Mr Vogel's drama of the abolition of the provinces-. Sir C. Wilson having waived his right to speak, a division was demanded, and by 41 votes to 10 the Eouse decided the fate of the Northern provinces. Amongst the majority may be seen the names of eight members representing constituencies composed of Canterbury colonists; and curiously enough among these names may be seen that of Mr J. E. Brown, who had previously informed the Premier that if he pressed on his motion during the present session, he would be obliged to »n out. We suppose, however, that the hon member saw in what direction the feelings of the majority of the members of the House were leading them, and consequently decided to be on the side of the majority. There can be no doubt that the termination of the debate was very abrupt, and we have been deprived of hearing what Messrs Fitzherbert, Bunny,andCo. had tosay against the measure'. Perhaps the opposition had decided that it was no good to try and light against the inevitable fate that attended Mr Reeves motion, and consequently we were spared the infliction of a longer debate, into which, even Mr Pitzherbert, could hardly have imported any new or striking arguments. What Mr Vogel's second act in this drama of life will consist of, we do not know at present, and we must wait the Premier's time before he brings down to the House a detailed conception of what he will now propose to do with the North Island. Of one thing we may be sure, viz , that the opposition which he has at present encountered, will be as nothing, to that which will be forthcoming from those upholders of Provincialism who hold seats in the House, on every clause in his Bill which may poem to favor any part of the North Island in preference to another. We doubt; if it is possible for any man to draw op a measure which shall not dissatisfy the majority of the Provinces whose fate has nowbeen sealed. Each and.'very Province in the North Island will look upon the Premier's men ire ;-s the means of obtaining revenue, somehow or other, and as long as the Premier leaves the land fund of the Southern Province untouched, the obtaining of this revenue will be a matter of difficulty. Even Mr Vogel's loan floating powers will not last for ever, and the English Stock Exchange capitalists will cry out against the frightful indebtedness into which the Colony, under the guidance of the ■ present Premier, is rapidly plunging. _ The passing of the present motion is the beginning of the end, as far as Provincialism is concerned, and how soon the end may come we none of us know. It is not impossible, and judging from what has lately happened it is not improbable, that Mr Vogel may be stung into fury by the asseverations and attacks of some South Island member, and that he may immediately bring down a proposal to treat the provinces in this island in a similar manner to that in which he has treated the Northern ones. And if so it is evident that, in the present House of Representatives, he can command a majority who will follow him wherever he may choose to lead. One member, during the course of the debate, observed that " The " world had had one Julius Cajsar, " why should not New Zealand ap- " point another .Tilli us dictator, and so " simplify the matter?" It cannot be denied that Mr Vogel speaks, in all matters before the Houses in a strain which would load us to believe that he is already, in his own mind, filling the post to which the member wc have quoted proposed he should be elected. How long the country will submit to his dictatorship is a different matter, and the career of a dictator is unpleasantly subject to a sudden and violent ending.

The telegraphic summary of the speeches made in the House of Representatives, may, we think, be taken as correct. In our telegrams of yesterday, which are republished in this morning'spapers, Mr Reeves is credited with having said that, "the charge " madeagainsthimof being a provincial

"contractor, was untrue. In conse- " quence of these miserable charges his "firm had not for years tendered for the " Provincial Government printing ; they " had not dune any fur scoeral years." The italics are our own. Let us now

look at the facts of the case. We have before us the " New Zealand Government Gazette" for the province of Canterbury, bearing the date of Tuesday, April 21st, 1874, or just exactly four months ago. On turning to the last page, we find the following extraordinary sentence: — Christchurch : Printed under the authority of the Provincial Government of the Province of Cantertcrbnry, at the Lyttelton Times office, Gloucester-street, by William Beeves, official Printer for the time being to the said Government.

Mr Reeves' statement in the House of Hepresr ntntives, and the publication before us, seem to involve some discrepancy of facts. "Which is the most correct —Mr Reeves' repudiation of the charge of being a Government printer, or the evidence of the gazette before us ?

The debate on the resolution to abolish the provinces in the North Island, came to a sudden and unexpected conclusion last night, and resulted in an overwhelming victory for the Government. The Anglo-Australian Telegraph Agency furnishes the following particulars : —" On the House resuming, Sir Cracroft Wilson waived his right to speak, and a division was called. The result was for the resolution, 41 ; against it, 1(! ; pairs, for the resolution, Messrs Parata, Ingles, C. W. Parker, T. L. Shepherd, Carrington ; asrainst, Messrs Takamoana, Brandon, Murray, J. L. Gillies, Thompson. The following voted for the resolu'ion : Messrs McLean, Bradshaw, Vogel, Gibbs, Jackson, J. E. Brown, Tolmie, Luckie, Steward, Monro, Mervyn, Seymour, Fox, Cuthberlson, Tribe, O'Oonnori Andrew. Stafford, Studhohue, Katene, McGillivray, J. Shepherd, Richmond, Kenny. O'Ncil, Taiaroa, Buekland, Bryce, Bluett, W. Kelly, Reynolds, Oreighton, Wood, G. B. Parker, Ormond, McGlashan, Wilson, T. Kelly, Atkinson, Kiehardson. The following voted against the resolutions Messrs J. C. Brown, Curtis, Fitzherbert, Hunter, Macandrew, May, Reeves, Reid, Sheehan, Rolleston, Swanson, Williamson, Bunney, T. B. Gillies, Montgomery. The following members were on the precincts, who did not. vote Messrs O'Rorke, Pearce, Harrison, Johnston, Wakefield, Wales, White, and Von der Heyde" Our own correspondent telegraphs—" Immediately on the House meeting at 7.80, the question was put, and the vote taken, to the general surprise of the public, who attended in large numbers. It was known before the Speakc went into the chair that the debate would come io this abrupt termination. The result of the division was received with loud Chccl'S."