The Globe. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1874.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 136, 6 November 1874, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1874.

It is all very well for those who are in favour of an immediate sweeping away of Provincialism and all its belongings, to affect to ignore, or make merry over, as the case may be, the remarkable petition which has been issued from Kavrau, and which bears the signature of Sir GK Grey, by far the beat known

and ablest Governor, that has been sent to New Zealand by the Home Government. AVe venture to say that my document which mav bear Sir George Grey’s signature will assuredly he read, and read most carefully, by every one iu England who is interested In the well-being of the colonies of the British Crown. It is of course a wellknown fact that there are many states men and po'itieians iu England, ns well ■is m New Zealand, who utterly abhor Sir George Grey and all his works, ami who look upon him as the personified concentration of all the evils which have arisen from the system which the British Parliament has thought fib to adopt in reference to the Government of the Crown colonies. But we are of opinion that even these gentlemen, will one and all admit, that when the ex Governor of New Zealand deems it necessary to emerge from the seclusion in which he has passed the last few years at Kawau, and which, it is no impertinence to say, is known to be congenial to Sir George himself, he must be fully convinced that the case is urgent indeed, and this impression must extend it-elf to the minds of St George’s political opponents as well as to those of his friends. We are not going to enter into any controvers v, as to whether Sir George is right or wrong, in his opinion that the acts which Mr Vogel proposes to perform, by the help of his obedient following, shortly after his return from his trip to England, are in violation of the Constitution of New Zealand, but we wish to point out that this is the opinion of Sir George himself, and that his petition is based on this ground. Any communication which may he made to the authorities in England in reference to the abolition of the Provinces, must be read and considered after the opinion of the ex-Governnr, who probably is as certain of his grounds of objection to the proposed scheme on the score of its illegality, as its supporters are of its perfect accordance with the constitution. Sir George draws at tention to the fact of Mr Vogel’s visit to England, and states his bfdief that the Premier has taken the trip with, as one of its objects at all events, the intention of endeavoring to “ obtain “ an alteration bv fm British Parlia- “ merit of the New Zealand Cons' it n- “ lion Act, in order that powers mav “ be conferred upon the General As- “ semhly of New Zealand enabling it “ to abolish, either in whole or in part. “ the existing Provinces and Provincial “ Govornm nts in Now Zealand.” In Mr Vogel’s farewell address to the constituency which has the honor of returning him to the House of Representatives, he did not s l ate that one of the reasons for his (rip. was as conjectured by Sir George Grev, but we are none the less convinced that the latter is right in his surmise, and that the astute Premier means to be certain of his ground before proceeding to the final act of the drama. Sir George Grey will send the petition with his signature alone, if no others are obtained, and we are not quite sure that it would not have as much weight if so forwarded, as if Sir George’s name was followed by the hundreds who would sign it if they had a chance; because it must be remembered that knowing how signatures are often obtained to petitions, the offi cials in England being perfectly unacquainted with, we may say, every other signature attached, would not regard them as carrying any weight whatever; whereas, anv paper emanating from Sir George Grey alone must be deemed worthy of attentive perusal, and examination, by even the Colonial office officials themselves. That the petition in question will have a much more important effect on the schemes of the abolitionists than they are at present inclined to admit, will, we think, be found to be the case. And we most heartily hope that our conjecture may prove to be correct.