THE LATE DINNER TO MR. YOGEL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 46, 23 February 1874, Page 2

THE LATE DINNER TO MR. YOGEL.

(' Wellington Independent.') The cordial reception the Premier received on his hasty and scarcely announced visit to Nelson la-t week is not the least remarkable event in the late history of the colony. It was not curiosity alone that filled the Provincial Hall— the largest in the city — with banquelters; which induced the Superintendent of the Province — atone time, if not now, an opponent of the Yogel Ministry — to preside on the occasion; and to draw round the table most of the leading men of Nelson. There is not the slightest doubt that the compliment paid to the head of the Government was properly accepted by the guest of the eveniug as a testitnouy to the success of the policy initiated by Mr Yogel, and as a proof that popular sympathy was no longer with the old traditional policy which may be said to have had its origin in that province, and found its, best defenders there. Under that policy Nelson has lagged behind her competitors in the march of progress. She haß not absolutely retrograded of late years. She has even made come slight progress. She could not help but share a little of the prosperity which has attended the policy of the Premier, of which every other province in New Zealand shows such abounding testimony j but her faith was withheld from the author of that policy, and her doubts os to the legitimacy of borrowing money, even for public works of a reproductive character, were openly and continually asserted; while she has altogether discouraged immigration. During the late elections in that province,it was made abundantly evident that the people had lost faith in the political dogmas of their old leaders, and were determined on a radical change. It was intimated in the plainest terms to the Superintendent that a "do nothing" policy would no longer suffice.; and that be would inevitably lose his election, even if no better candidate than Mr E. J. O'Conor came forward, unless be pledged himself to reform his Executive and introduce a policy more in accordance with that of the General Government. Such a pledge waa given; it secured the return of Mr Curtis to the Superintendent's chair; and it has been kept so far as. opportunity haa yet afforded. Every candidate who offered himself for election to the Provincial Council announced himself as in favor of the commencement of extensive public works, no matter how- the money necessary for them was borrowed. That waß the text placarded on the walls with every candidate's name; the burden of every speech from the hustings; the policy approved by the majority in every one of the elections. Nor was tbe Superintendent slow in giving effect, to his promises. Before the Council was called together, the Provincial Secretary, for the first time, took steps to secure for the province a share of the stream of immigration which hns now reached New Zealand from the Mother Country. As soon as members did mcct — in a special session, called early for the purpose — power was given to the Superintendent to borrow money for the construction of roads, bridges, harbor works, &c; while the General Government acceded to the wishes of the Superintendent that the railway works between Nelson and Foxhill should be pushed on with vigor, and the survey of the overland line to the West Coast and towards Dunedin should be at once proceeded witb. The triumph of the policy of the Premier in Nelson is duo fco the irresistible evidence of its success offered in all tbe other Provinces. It was too much even for the staid people who dwell by the bright-flowing Maitai, to see citizen after citizen clearing out* with his household goods to settle in some part of the country more attractive from a business point of view, while there were none coming in to fill their places. It was not pleasant for them to see idle houses increasing in number, rents falling, and steamers arriving and departing with but few travellers to or from the city, and bringing and taking but scanty cargoes. Little or nothing bad been done with public money to enable tbe miners to prospect the goldfields in the ranges, or to enable the miners to work: profitably those mines which were known to be fairly and sometimes richly auriferous. The immense mineral resources of Nelson had been often reported upon, described times without number, and hopefully looked to to lift the province from its comparatively dull state. Little or noihing, however, had been done for years but talk and bope, and resist rather than encourage the introduction of foreign capital to give a fillip to the industrial resources of the Colony. They did but little to help .themselves, and that little unsuccessfully; and the distrust their political leaders exhibited in tbat more energetic policy the good effects of which are now seen on every hand, shut them out from all share in our sympathy with the activity and prosperity of their neighbors. But this state of things could not last. Even Nelson could not resist the evidences of growth in prosperity Dunedin, Christchurch, and Wellington were exhibiting. The old gods, therefore, have been cast down, never again to be set up. Nelßon no longer stands aloft, but throws in her fortunes with that of the Colony. We have no doubt that the advice the Premier impressed upon the dinner guests, to avoid in all future elections those "independent" candidates who give an uncertain sound as to what party thoy will support, and

put forth the plausible view, "measures, not mcD, will bo acted upon." If there -was ever a time when that saying might properly have weight, it certainly is not now. The policy of (he old leaders of parly wfß timid, unstatesraanlike, selfish, und in reality most expensive to the country. Those members are associated with reaction, and not with progress. New Zealand is now committed, and with her own most full consent, to a progressive policy, in which she cannot stop sbort. The scheme which the Premier has elaborated cannot be perfected for years 10 come; but all tbe evidence goes to show tliat it will accomplish for this Colony all that its author had contemplated and foreshadowed. It is no', however, a plan to which the idea of finality can be attached, for we have the example of England to show that the more the facilities of transport are increased the more the land is made available to the purchaser or the settler, the more the natural resources of the country are developed, the greater is the demand for more reproductive works, and the greater the power of the country to engage in them. On this scheme New Zealand has entered; it is folly and irretrievably committed to it; and it will be tbe duty of the electors, whenever occasion offers, to strengthen the hands of those men who had the courage to introduce, and have tbe will and ability to carry through, those measures.