New Zealand Times. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1874.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4207, 14 September 1874, Page 2

New Zealand Times. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1874.

Although but little had been said of the intention of the Premier to visit England immediately on the close of the session, we may take it for granted that the resolve was not arrived at hastily. The Premier required a change of scene, for health’s sake ; but rest, or change alone, would not have induced the head of the Government to project a visit to the old country. By taking Auckland in his way, he will have an opportunity of addressing his constituents; making more clear his propositions for the local government of the country on the abolition of Provincialism in the North Island, meeting objections in the place where they have been made most strongly, and explaining more fully what his scheme really is than it was made to appear in the comparatively meagre reports telegraphed over the country, and to the North in particular. Not that the Premier can add much to the elaborate reports that have appeared in the official record of Parliament, and have since been circulated ; but he will, at all events, be able to satisfy the people of Auckland ■ that they will have no more reason than others to oppose the spirit of the resolutions proposed to the Assembly, and which has since received very general support all through the Colony. This beginning is proof that the Premier has not left Wellington for a time merely from personal motives, norentirely for the sake of health. At Sydney he will have matters to settle of very considerable importance to Now Zealand. 1 Mr. Russell is, no doubt, charged with the special duty of arranging with Mr. Parkes for the resumption or renewal of the San Francisco mail contract, or for such new contract as may be found necessary to bo made, either in England with the gentlemen interested in the contract which is at present under suspension, or with the builders of the ships that were intended to form the permanent line ; or at Sydney with the Australasian Steam Navigation Company, or others who have been desirous that the Californian service should have partaken more largely than it did of the nature of a Colonial service. But the presence of the Premier will unquestionably be of much advantage in the negotiations Mr. Russell will have with Mr. Parkes. Difficulties will be removable that might otherwise lead to considerable correspondence and loss of time. But it may also ba found that the negotiations cannot altogether be completed in Sydney. Whether Mr. Russell may find it necessary to go farther, or whether the Premier himself will undertake the completion of arrangements in London, it is obvious that the personal communication of the two Premiers in Sydney will be of great advantage. Thera can be no question of the value of the San Francisco mail route to the Colonies. The increasing number of passengers who elected to proceed by that line, and the necessity that was found to extend the accommodation of the ships engaged,-the quantity of cargo that offered itself, were all so many convincing evidences of the value of the line ; and so many encouragements to hope for the best results when those larger, more : powerful, and more commodious vessels, which were intended for the permanent service, were able to take their places on the line. But the Premier has also the great matter of the telegraphic cable between New South Wales and New Zealand to attend to. It might have been supposed that, the sanction of the Assembly of Hew Zealand having been obtained a year ago, and the Parliaments of both Queensland and New South Wales having since agreed to contribute their proportion of the proposed subsidy to Messrs. Siemenßrothers, the work would have made more progress than it seems to have done. New Zealand is even more interested in the matter than the other Colonies, and it would appear that if she does not take the work actively in hand but little progress will be made with it. Why Mr. Parkes was so dilatory in submitting the matter to his Parliament has not been satisfactorily explained. Many months of valuable time were lost before the Parliament of New South Wales was asked to consider the matter. The Colony which should have been the most active, from the position she aspires to attain or maintain in the Australasian group, in furthering this great intercolonial work, was not so. The contractors, it has long been understood, were ready to carry out their important part of the undertaking. If Mr. Parkes had been active in the matter, Wellington and Sydney would probably have been in telegraphic communication now. Why h» has not been so may be explained by his Victorian quarrels ; his difficulties over the Tariff ; and possibly a disappointing revenue. It is most important to this Colony, however, that the cable link to bring us into communication with “ all the world beside ” should bo completed as soon as possible, and as it is apparent from past delays that New Zealand must take this work actively in hand, it is satisfactory that the state of the Colony enables Mr. Vogel, at the close of a short but brisk and busy session, to proceed over sea to do business which cannot be satisfactorily done by correspondence. In London the work the Premier will find to do will also bo of a character in which his presence will be of great consequence to the rapid and satisfactory' progress of business. The raising of the loan of four millions for immigration and public works is a matter which might have been left to itself. The progress of New Zealand, under the policy inaugurated by the Premier, has already been so satisfactory that the English capitalist is likely to be found willing enough to lend the amount now required. It is not the initiation of a new policy. That difficult task was accomplished on Mr. Vogel’s last visit to England. The story that has to bo told is one of success ; the money required is wanted to complete the work begun; and the ability of the Treasury to meet the demand another loan will make upon it, through the success of the public works policy, will be readily comprehended by a commercial people. The satisfactory management of the Immigration Department, however, is essential to the perfect success of that policy. Experience has shown that correspondence with the Agent-General is only productive sparingly of results. Dr. Foatherston is unwilling to be governed from the Colony, and is not disposed to act pleasantly with men who have Colonial experience, and who for that reason have been sent Home to assist him. His management has not been unsuccessful. When all the difficulties he has to moot are fairly considered, perhaps ho

may be regarded as having, bn the whole, to be congratulated. But there are evidently crosses in the arrangements that have to be seen to. The season at which the great bulk of the immigrants who are coming out have arrived has not been the most propitious, and hence the complaints that have been heard, from Port' Chalmers especially, of the overcrowding of not altogether suitable immigrants. It is well also that the Premier should look into tho difficulties of tho service on tho spot; and from an Imperial as well •as a Colonial point of view. The result may bo more harmonious action, and better service, in the future. It may also be presumed that in departing so early to attend to these many important matters the Premier has not been unmindful of the necessity of an early return. The value he places on the State Forest question is not concealed ; and the Ministry is pledged to a reconstruction of tho Constitution, so far as local self-government is concerned. These are matters which will not fail to occupy the attention of Mr. Vogel during his absence from the Colony, and he will deal with them all the more vigorously, no doubt, after his temporary absence from the scone.