THE WEEK.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 193, 15 August 1874, Page 2

THE WEEK.

The curtain has risen upon a new and totally unexpected act in the political drama now being played at Wellington, A week ago Mr Yogel appeared to reiga supreme. He was master of the situation, and hia Government was virtually without opposition. Now all is changed. Stung by the attacks and importunities of the Superintendent of Wellington, and relying upon his own undoubted popularity, the Premier has ventured to introduce a scheme that has brought a hornet's nest about his ears. Deserted by one of his own colleagues, and with a strong and determined party in tha House in opposition, Mr Yogel has all that he can do to weather the storm that he himself has raised. He has this in his favor, that he is generally allowed to be the only man in New Zealand just now who is fit to take the helm. So far the public works and immigration scheme has worked smoothly, but should a change come about from any cause whatever, it is felt that there is none so capable as the present Premier to take charge of our affairs, which have under him assumed a vastness and importance that was little dreamt of five years ago. Still, however, it will be a strange position in which to be placed if Mr Yogel, defeated on his abolition of provinces scheme, should go to the country and be restored to power, not because of his design upon tbe North Island provinces, which will be the question before the electors, but on account of his generul ability as a statesman. We are likely to have more stormy times in the Assembly this cession than we were taught to expect, and next week may probably see the Yogel Government out of office, or appealing to the country. Our first shipload of immigrants under the scheme which is now pouring so many thousands into the colony, has arrived, and no difficulty whatever has been experienced in finding engagements for the servant girls, indeed, many more might have . been provided for, but, in the absence' of anything in the shape of provincial public works, jt is not so easy to find employment for .the men. Fortunately, however, there is a good opening on the \jTe6tport railway works, and probably Eny of those now in the depot will i theic way down there. It is nearly time our Superintendent and Provincial Secretary returned to Nelson with some of ihe £50,000 that we are to have, or we shall have little for the next batch of immigrants to do. " Wanted, Four hundred men at twelve shillings a day." Such an advertisement as this would, if it were to find its way into the English papers, do more towards procuring emigrants for New Zealand than Dr Featherston and all his staff of assistants. Such, howevar we fiad in a Westport paper, and although the number required is probably somewhat exaggerated, yet it very clearly points out that jdst aow, at all events, . New Zealand is the country for the laboring man. Many of those now in the depot say that at home all they could get was 11s a week. Rather a change, to come here and find twelve shillings i <|ay Offered. I suppose the NgakawhauVhiiiway differs from the Foxhill in that it is not necessarily to be proceeded with leisurely. On the latter we can see here a man and there a man, and the completion of the line still appears a long way off. And indeed, if it is to stop at the present terminus it may jaat as well afford amusement and employment to two or three men for the next ten years. There was a time when people shook their heads and looked doubtful as to the expediency of establishing telegraphic communication throughout New Zealand, being of opinion that it would prove an expensive luxury. If they had any idea now of the amount ot work that is done by the; department they would alter their views. A glance at the leading papers in the North and South during the time that the Assembly' is in session will show to what extent the staff must be employed, for in them may be seen, day after day, two, three, and four columns of small type containing the/ Parliamentary news of the ptmiojfo evening. Even in Nelson, anyone receiving a telegram from Wellington may deem himself fortunate if it reaches him in less than three hours, and I have seen them after having beenrf put in at the office at Wellington at 9 a.m., arriving here at a quarter past two p.m. It may be worth the consideration of the Government whether a second cable across the Straits is not necessary. F.