The Globe. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1876.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 687, 1 September 1876, Page 2

The Globe. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1876.

The announcement of the retirement of Sir Julius Vogel from the Premiership has been received with regret by the public of the colony. It is a miserable termination to a brilliant career, and in thus deserting his party at a critical period, he has done much to lose the respect of his hitherto most sincere admirers. But his name will nevertheless long be associated with a policy which has, whatever its ultimate consequences may be, raised New Zealand into the first rank of British colonies. Previous to 1870, this country was almost unknown, except to a comparatively small portion of the British public, or was looked upon as a country with a splendid climate and considerable resources, which must for a long time remain undeveloped in consequence of her incessant native wars. The Vogel Administration has been instrumental in causing the colony to advance with wonderful strides. A large additional population has been successfully introduced and settled contentedly in the country. Notwithstanding the enormous stream of immigration which has set in towards our shores, the labour market is in a healthier condition, and better wages are paid, than in those times during which immigration did not exist. With one trifling exception in Dunedin the other day, we have not of late witnessed those stormy demonstrations of the unemployed which were common scenes enough before 1870. But not only is the working man bettered by the Vogel policy, but the owners of property have also found that their possessions have now a market value—and that a vastly increased one. Property of all kinds has risen immensely in value during the past few years, and if our public debt has been largely added to, our resources have more than doubled in consequence. It has been the fashion of late among a certain class to sneer at Sir J. Vogel on every opportunity, to pick holes in the carrying out of the policy with which his name has been identified, and to imply that it was easy enough to borrow largely and thus obtain a cheap reputation for statesmanship. Now we do not find fault with those who have—as some of our politiciansand journalists havedone —consistently and steadily opposed theimmigration and public works policy from the first. There are two sides to a question. It is open for discussion whether the colony would not in the long, run have been better off, had she gone on quietly instead of forcing herself ahead as she has done. But no language is strong enough in speaking of those who have blindly worshipped Sir Julius so long as his star was in the ascendant, and then when the necessary drawbacks of his policy are brought prominently before the country, turn round and abuse him. No journal has sinned more in this respect than the Lyttelton Times. At one time our contemporary was the most slavish admirer of Vogel and all bis works. No language was too extravagant when applied to him, and unmeasured scorn was heaped upon all his opponents. But shortly after a certain department was abolished, whose headquarters was in Christchurch, our contemporary has been finding less and less good in Sir J. Vogel every day, till now its opposition savours more of bitter personal animosity than of anything else. We look forward with some interest to the review of Sir J. Vogel’s career which our contemporary will we suppose favour bis readers with in a day or two. A few extracts from his earlier writings placed side by side with his latest expression of opinion will no doubt prove an interesting study.

THE NEW MINISTRY. Hon Major Atkinson, Colonial Treasurer, Postmaster-General, and. Commissioner of Telegraphs. Hou Hr Pollen, Colonial Secretary,. Hon F. Whitaker, Attorney-General, Hon Sir Donald McLean,Native Minister. Hon E. Richardson, Minister of Public Works. Hon G. McLean, Commissioner of Customs. Hon 0. 0, Bowen, Minister of Justice and Commissioner of Stamps. lion J. D, Ormond, Minister of Lands and Immigration. Hon John Haw, no portfplio.