THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1872.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1143, 3 April 1872, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. PUBLISHED DAILY. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1872.

The telegram's which we publish to-day make mention .of two circumstances which, though not apparently connected in any way, are likely to be somewhat associated in their influence upon the public interests, and upon the practical execution of the policy of the present Government. The one incident is the expected return of the Hon. Mr Yogel from the visit which he has paid to the other Colonies in his capacity as Post-master-General ; the other incident is that described in the statement that "the Brogden contracts are delayed owing to the contractors objecting to the general conditions." The impression first Formed from the reading of this second statement was that some difficulty had arisen between the Messrs Brogden and such contractors as have, subordinate to them, undertaken works already in progress. But read in the light of recent events, and of some reports of very recent conversation, even in Greymouth itself, the statement, we doubt, must be accepted as referring to a dispute of some importance between the Messrs Brogden and the Ministry, as to the undertaking of works for which, it was presumed, all proper preparation had been made. Should this prove to be the case, Mr Vogel's return at the present time will be opportune, by his being here to aid the Ministry in the settlement of a dispute which may be of serious moment in connection with the

speedy progress of important public works, and upon / which, as the origin ator of tho agreements with Messrs Brogden, he will be best. able to advise. That some such dispute has arisen we are warranted in supposing not alone by the contents of this telegram, but, as we have said, by statements which have, within the past few days and somewhat freely, been circulated in Greymouth as to Mr James Brogden's opinion of the treatment he had received at the hands of Ministers. Of course, while in Greymouth Mr Brogden was not "interviewed" in the form and fashion in which other recent visitors of distinction were when, in this district, but we believe there is no breach of decorum or of truth in stating that, while here, Mr Brogden was neither slow nor extremely private in the expression of his opinions as to the manner in which the Government are carrying out their public works policy and their agreements with his firm ; and the opinions thus expressed, we understand, were opinions based upon a feeling of very strong dissatisfaction on the subject. The opinions thus expressed were, indeed, so freely made, and so strong in character, that those who heard them either at first or second hand were rather impressed with tho idea that they were not altogether discreet coming from a man in the position which Mr Brogden was supposed to occupy towards the Government at the present time. Instead of sustaining the belief that Mr Brogden is, as he is so often described, the Railway King of New Zealand, or the principal personage associated with the Government, the statements made rather encouraged the fear that there was some serious schism between him and the Government, and that the magnificent contracts of which he was presumed to be the happy possessor were likely to end ,in what, for brevity's sake, may be described as "smoke." Whether this impression was justified or not by the real character of the conversations referred to we are not in a position to say, but, if any deduction may be made from the telegram to hand, it is that they were not mere idlo remarks, but that they were instigated by the occurrence of some such difficulty as is now described. If such be the ca3e, it cannot but be a matter of regret throughout the Colony generally, as it must also be a matter for congratulation that Mr Vogcl is about to return, and so enable the Ministry to meet and to exercise their collective visdom as to the carrying out of public works either by the Messrs Brogden or by other contractors who may be available. The mission of the Bostmaster-General to Victoria and New South Wales was a sufficiently important one to justify it being undertaken, and more especially at the time when Mr Webb was on the spot. Sufficiently good service has also been done by other members of the Government visiting those parts of the country which, so far as past Ministerial knowledge went, partook very much of the character of a terra incognita. But it would be a pity if Mr Vogel's absence should be prolonged, or if other members of the Ministry should continue scattered at different points of the compass, while any questions intimately affectiug the progress of tho contemplated works remain undecided or a source of dispute. It is by virtue of their avowed policy as to immigration and public works that the present Ministry hold their seats, and to so large an extent enjoy the confidence of the country. To permit any delay in the preparations for giving it practical effect, or to allow time and money to be dissipated without any definite conclusion being come to as to the execution of the works, cannot fail to be injurious to the reputation of the Ministry, and to the position which they at present hold in the House and among those by whom the members of that House are returned. A considerable period has elapsed since the close of the last lately called and much prolonged session of the Assembly ; another session will soon be opened ; and if the Ministry are not prepared to show that some substantial work has been done during the recess, and some definite arrangements for the future have been made, they will not have an easy duty before them in disabusing the public mind as to their schemes being more pretentious than practical, and in allaying a very general and decided feeling of discontent. We trust that they may be able to do both, and that the present interruption to the arrangements with the parties understood to be accepted contractors will not prove to be either serious or protracted.