The Globe. TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1878.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1218, 29 January 1878, Page 2

The Globe. TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1878.

The Globe this evening appears in an enlarged form. Hitherto the limited space at our disposal has prevented us from placing before our readers so full a summary of current news as we could have wished. The step now taken will, however, we hope remove this difficulty, and enable us not only to give fuller reports of local matters, but also to devote more attention to colonial and general intelligence. In making this change wo have also been actuated by a desire to keep pace with the growing importance of the colony which demands a corresponding amount of journalistic enterprise. In its new and enlarged form, we venture to ask for the Globe a continuance of that liberal support which has characterised its career hitherto.

In his speech to his constituents at Papanui, Mr. Rolleston took occasion to refer to the statement that the people of Otago had requested the appointment of a Resident Minister. If that were done, he said, Canterbury would not ho satisfied, nor Westland, unless the same were done for them. The result would be a very had form of Superintendents——autocratic Superintendents. Nay more, Ministers would mot be able to meet together and discuss matter of public policy, and we would thus cease to have Parliamentary Government, and in its place get personal government. Wo think Mr. Rolleston has done good service to the community in bring this matter prominently before the public. There are a certain class of the people of Otago who have been so accustomed to look upon tho extinct Provincial Government as equal, if not superior, to tho central authority, that they try to delude themselves into tho opinion that political life will cease to exist amongst them, unless they have, in cue form or another, some petty local governor. In days gone by, His Honor the Superintendent was always there to appeal to on the most trivial matter, and now, when ho is swept away, they are eager to supply his place. We do not for a moment believe that the majority of the people of the district would join in such a cry were their opinion really considted. They do not belong to a race who usually mistake the shadow for the substance. If their legitimate wants are attended to, and they secure real local self-government, they will not be particular whether they have a representative of the Colonial Government actually resident among them or not. It would of course flatter the vanity of some of the inhabitants of Dunedin, no doubt, if they had a gentleman with tho title of tho Hon, the Resident Minister located there. If this could be done without interfering with the good government of the country, it might suit the colony to make this concession to Auckland and Otago for the sake of peace. But unless those gentlemen had scats in the Cabinet, they would he virtually irresponsible, and if they were members of tho Ministry, they would he of little use to their colleagues. Not only would their advice and assistance at the seat of Government not be available, but they would be constantly liable to commit the Government to courses upon which the majority were not agreed. On the other hand, wc do not think the people of Otago would long submit to be ruled by an irresponsible Minister, in whoso appointment they had no voice. Nor is Parliament likely to allow a Cabinet to remain in power the members of which were scattered all over the country, and whose principal means of consultation was the telegraph wires.

It has been generally believed that, in Auckland and Otago at any rate, the present Ministry are exceedingly popular. But it seems that, in spite of all they have done for the latter province, their conduct in connection with the land fund has not escaped condemnation. The Dunedin Star asks what has become of tho public demonstration, which, in emulation of Auckland, was to greet the two Otago members of Sir G. Grey’s Cabinet? “ First” says our contemporary, “we were to have a grand ‘ reception’ —that dropped through. Then a public meeting was actually convened and postponed to that vague period ‘after the holidays,’ and now the opportunity is lost —‘the oracles are dumb,’ . . . What does

this sad falling off betoken P Simply this—that outside a small and very select circle, there is no confidence whatever in the Ministry; and the spurious sophistry of himself and his supporters in the press have failed to reconcile the people to the idea of Mr. Macandrew in his new character as coufiscator of their local revenue and deserter from every political principle he was wont so stonily to maintain. A zealot, however had his cause, can inspire enthusiasm and ponpmand respect and even affection; but what feeling other than admiration for his audacity can be entertained for one who climbs to power over the ruins of his party and his cause, and takes in hand the plough to efface the very remembrance ! f Macandrew’ was a household word in Otago; wo predict it will bo so no longer. The reason why the public meeting lapsed w T as because it was more than suspected not only that it would have failed in its object, but that the tables might bo turned and the demonstration be anything but a glorification.” The above remarks, it is true, appear in in the columns of a journal which has always been a strong opponent of the Grey party. But they are nevertheless significant, as showing that the conduct of Mr, Macandrew is far from receiving universal approbation even in Oogo.

The newly-formed Corn Exchange has not lost any time in vigorously representing to the Government the disadvantages under which the farmers labour by the absence of conveniences at Addington station for the reception of produce. The reasons given in the letter of the Secretary of the Corn Exchange for making Addington a depot for receiving produce, appear to bo very strong indeed. It is pointed out that, by this being done, the producers of an article of largo export—potatoes—will save nearly 100 per cent, on the cost of carriage. The relative cost now, and with a 4iopot at Addington, is stated to bo 6s pea 1 ton in the one, and Us bd per ton in the oilier cgse, Of

course potatoes are not the only article of produce, the cost of carriage of which, is increased by the want of accommodation at Addington; other articles of export suffer in proportion, and it seems most desirable that some stops should bo taken to prevent this being the case. If, as assorted, the making Addington a produce-receiving station will effect this —and there appears to be a strong case made out in support—then the Government ought to accede as early as possible to the request made to it by the Exchange.