Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1870.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 16, Issue 868, 16 November 1870, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1870.

Since we briefly adverted to the addiess given by Mr Yogel. to the electors of Auckland City East., we have received a corrected copy of the same in pamphlet form, which, we presume, ha-> been circulated by that gentleman for public information. Although it does not differ materially from the report in the Auckland journals, it is satisfactory to be able to refer to it as " corrected," as it thus comes before us with something of authority. As before hinted, the address forms a somewhat lengthy document, having occupied about two hours in its delivery; and it contains more than one subject to which we wish to devote ■■ some attention. We shall not, therefore, to-day do more than give a cursory notice of the address as a whole, reserving our remarks on its details for future occasions.

The first thing that strikes us on reading the address is the very shallow quality of its reasoning, being, in this respect, something so very different from what we might have expected from a leading politician and a Colonial minister. The arguments adduced are not even specious, but consist generally —if we may use the term—of transparent fallacies. As an instance of what we mean, let us take the sweeping condemnation which he bestows upon two Auckland representatives— Messrs. Wood and Gillies -because " they thought themselves clever enough at once to come to a conclusion as to the value of the Government's financial proposals as a whole, and to condemn the scheme wholly " on its being first proposed. Mr Yogel says :—" I confidently put it fco them whether, supposing any of then* had industriously and perseveringly de\oted himself for weeks and for months to a subject in which he took very great interest, and with respect to which he believed he was working fof the benefit of the Colony . . . would he have well pleased if . . . some bold and presuming individuals had passed censure upon his work?" Mr Yogel seems to altogether overlook the fact that labor—aye, industrious and persevering labor —for weeks and months, and with the best possible intentions too, may be thrown away—in fact, will be thrown

away—when spent in any wrong direction. A mechanic may spend years in endeavoring to mature, say, a perpetual motion, and when he fondly believes his end attained, " bold and presuming individuals," who undei'stand first principles, may condemn- his work without bestowing any attention on it, because they see that it has been labor in vain. Just in such a position stood the two Auckland representatives with regard to Mr Yogel's scheme. They understood that its principle was to involve the Colony in debt to an unprecedented extent; they had had experience of the way in which borrowed funds are spent, and the burdens they entail; and were fully justified in condemning a scheme founded upon false principles.