TESTIMONIAL TO SIR JULIUS VOGEL.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 728, 19 October 1876, Page 3

TESTIMONIAL TO SIR JULIUS VOGEL.

[By Telegraph.] {Per Press Agency.') Wellington, October 18. There was a large attendance at the Theatre this afternoon, especially of ladies, to witness the presentation by the Mayor to Sir J. Vogel, on behalf of the citizens of Wellington. The Mayor, after making an appropriate speech, read the address, which expressed regret at losing one who so largely and beneficially influenced the condition of the colony, and asked his acceptance of the accompanying token of their regard, and which probably would have been in a different form and of greater value had time allowed. He then handed Sir J, Vogel a draft for £SOO, stating that as the subscription lists had not yet closed, a handsome addition would be made to that sum before Sir J. Vogel left the colony. Sir J. Vogel read a written reply to the address, expressing his warmest thanks for tae flattering address, and the kind wishes for himself, Lady Vogel, and family, and while expressing regret at leaving New Zealand, he was not without hope he might be able to return to it. Sir J. Vogel then delivered a parting address, speaking about an hour. It chiefly referred to his past career, from the time when, at twentysix years of age, he landed in Otago. Coming to his political career, he said all ho owed as a public man was due to Mr Fox. He said the origin of the public works scheme was that it came upon the Fox Ministry as a conviction that it was an absolute necessity for the colony to place itself in the position of bearing the burthens which it had to bear by encouraging the growth of population and endeavoring to make the country more useful for the people within it. He was told by the head of the Victorian Government “ New Zealand is doing the very best thing for us it can do. They arc bringing out immigrants, and after their arrival they are sure to leave and come to Victoria.” What had Sheen the result ? During the time that we added so largely to our population by the introduction of im migrants from home, a much larger number of personshavearrived from the other colonies than left New Zealand for the other colonies ; the balance had been in our favor. He paid a high tribute to the great results brought about by Sir D. McLean and Hon E. Richardson, and generally gave considerable credit to his other colleagues. The abolition question was engaging a very great deal of public attention just now, but he would not refer to it. He was now holding the position of Agent General, and they would agree with him he was only consulting the dignity of his position by abstaining from all reference to that question. Ho had taken the position [of Agent-General, because the duties wouldjnot ha of so never-ending a character as those of a Minister of the Crown. In fact he had abundance of medical advice to show that the state of his health was such that he could not have continued as Minister to the end of the session. He had been often urged to take things more easily, and not to work so hard. It was with h m doing a thing entirely as he thought it ought to be done or not doing it at all. It had been said that he left the Government at a most inconvenient time. He was unable to see that, because it appeared to him he resigned when the Government was certainly most powerful, and when its policy was fully recognised. They would, he hoped, excuse hiiu for saying that he had {not been a selfish politician, there would have been many and abundant opportunities which he could quite creditably have taken advantage of, but he declined to do so, because he considered that at some future period it might lead to a conflict with his position in the Government, He expressed a hope that the colony would adhere to the policy of immigration and public works, until the whole islands wore peopled. With regard to the natives, he believed that in the very face of their adaption to warm climates, it would be found in the course of time that by a commingling of the two races the people of New Zealand would cany their dominion to the whole extent of Polynesia. Too much attention, be begged to remind them, could not be given to the making of the rising population of the colony an educated one. There was another question which he believed before many years, perhaps many months, had elapsed, would

be brought! permanently before the colonists for consideration. He meant the federation of the Australian colonies, and then would come the question whether it was expedient that New Zealand should join in such a federation. Thai a federation was urgently demanded by many local and national considerations no one could doubt who had thought over the subject. As far as New Zealand was concerned, his own opinion was it would not be for the interest of New Zealand to join in such a federation. Three cheers were given at the close for Sir J. Vogel, and also for Lady Vogel.