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Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1731, 20 February 1874, Page 2

" Wonders never cease," neither in the social nor the political world, and an example of this axiom was afforded in a very striking manner at the banquet given to the Premier at Nelson. Mr A. S. Collins, formerly member for Collingwood in the House of Representatives, was during the time he held the seat noted for his uncompromising opposition to Mr Yogel and all his works. He it was who acted as Mr Stafford's Jaokal ; he put all the nasty and inconvenient questions to the Government, all of them aiming directly or inferentially at the Premier in a personal manner. It was this haw-haw member — for it should be understood that the late member for Collingwood regarded himself as a very great swell indeed — who on one occasion disgusted the House by asking a question, the interpretation of which was — "How does the Premier, out of his thousand a year, manage to give the grand dinners for which he is celebrated, and keep up the style he does ?" Vulgar and impertinent as the question was, it compelled Mr Yogel to say that but for private sources of income it would be impossible for him to dispense the amount of hospitality he did on his Ministerial salary. Mr Collins was also continually moving for returns of the travelling expense of the Premier, and in doing so hinting at some fearful outrage of the legal limits of such expenditure, although the returns were nearly always found to be already upon the table, and entirely gave the lie to his impertinent insinuations. It is only a few months ago since, having discovered the utter hopelessness of his chief Mr Stafford coming to the front again, and that even if he did, was not likely to invite him to any po3t in a new Ministry, Mr Collins resigned his seat in the Assembly. And yet at the Nelson dinner to Mr Yogel the late member for Collingwood is reported to have said, whilst proposing a toast in honor of the Provincial Council — " A great change had lately come upon its (the Council's) opinions, and he thought in the right direction. Only two years -ago the Provincial Treasurer himself was so afraid of a L2OOO debt that he took great trouble to pay it off ! Well, all made mistakes, and the best way was to frankly confess them and take a fresh departure. We should do this and assist our guest in the policy which bears his name, and he hoped the Council would so occupy itself that our branch would bear early fruit." This is one of those admissions that are worth noticing. If it does not come from conviction, it is evidently forced by necessity. To strengthen the truth of the aMom that " Wonders never cease," we have only to remember that when Mr Yogel some four years ago returned from England, and had occasion to call at Nelson on his way to Wellington, he was most grossly and personally insulted by the people on the wharf, and that the leading political journal of Mr Stafford's party was filled with abuse so disgraceful as utterly to damage the character of the paper itself, and no doubt assisted to bring about its decease. Aud yet the other day Nelson was all en fete to welcome Mr Yogel, and f rome abuse and contumely the Nelson people went to the other extreme. It is another instance of the truth cf the saying that " political gratitude consists of a lively anticipation of favors to come."