New Zealand Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 1875.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4355, 5 March 1875, Page 2

New Zealand Times. FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 1875.

The Otago GuardiMi T6f the Ist instant, has an able article ori I the 'constitutional' question, as it is apparently affected by the death of Mr. Wix,i!iamSon, late i Super:, interident of /Auckland,; arid the -Willinghess, of, Si£' undertake the duties of the vacant office if elected to it. The writer speaks in, kindly and .appreciative terrris' of the late' Superintendent' Koi Auckland, but not; more.so : than he; deserved ; while a just'tribute is paid toi the self-denying < character of Sir GrEOßai: "G-bey's "offer 'to : the-'Auckland electorate: But that which'most concerns usi is" the'.expression' of: pinion' by oUr contemporary, ;pri : ' the'; "general;. qiu'Dstiqii. We, quotefthb passage to .which We refer,, because 'we fhink,'ifc fairly reflects "the views, of ■jkipajority' ofi"tlie,.Otago;peoplo. The Guardian says : '.,.,- . : .. ~ .

■Such complete self-abnegation as is evidenced by Siri George , Grey's action ,herein, gilds ,with fresh lustre the failing cause of 'provincialism,and. must extort the admiration of his political-opponents., Liko.Mr.'Williamson,'he'is not disposed to'allow the province, with, which'he, is closely identified, to bo •'.brought low by tho hand," without at 'least making a vigorous' offort for Its preservation. And it l 'will : bo no unfitting termination to ' Sir' George's'public career that—as bo was the founder.of -tho provincial;system—ho should,bo the last wlelderr ! bf :provincial authority in tho oldest settlement of New Zealand. For that provincialism Is doomed we cannot doubt. -Its final-extinction may be delayed by interprovincial jealousies, repeating. In another form, intertribal disputes. Tho next session may bo barren of results," arid the people'may yet bo appealed to for thoir • verdict in the grave issue presontcd j to tho Assembly by Ministers. There are-rocks ahead which threaten dapger,—shoals upon which the vossel of State, with all its crew, may yet comb to grief. But nothing can-long provent or stay tho coming change: and a general election will but precipitate events. Never was tho general voice of the people more unanimous than it is in this matter. Rightly or wrongly, tho flat, has! gone forth j!the pooplo arc prepared to accept—nay, to wolcomo—the impending constitutional revolution ; and nothing can now avert it but serious blundering on the part of those who have undertaken its accomplishment. Our only apprehension is, that tho burden and excitement of public life may overtax tho physical cnorgles of the bravo old man who has so unselfishly thrown himself Into the very thickest of the strife, and that thus another valuable life may bo sacrificed—anothor victim added to the list of thoso whose loss is a national calamity. Let us hopo that this mlsfortuno may bo avertod, and that Sir George Grey may yet survlvo to overcome tho cortain disappointment that awaits him. and to witness the colony, which ho loves and lias bo well served, ontorlng upon a nowor and enlarged course of prosperity.

We say also that "the fiat has gone " forth/' and that any paltering with public feeling will bo fatal to the political party which attempts, it. Half measures of roforra will not do. The colony must bo consolidated, and that spoedily, for' it cannot much longer bear the unequal strain upon its resources, which is kept up by what tho Guardian has vory aptly styled " iriterprovincialjealousies." The country has spoken out.with no uncertain voice, and it will depond upon Ministers themselves whether thoy lead or.follow tho current of public thought. One tiling is certain, howevor, tho question'

cannot be shelved. The General -.As-sembly-next sessionAvill discuss the question of constitutional' change, and we trust it<will decide it also before going to the country. If the change be a,.desirable one, it cannot be ma&e a day-too soon, and that it is most desirable appears to be the settled conviction of a majority of the people. ■ What advantage then is therein delay? If any new light were likely to be thrown on the subject, we should not so strongly oppose. a reference to the' electorate ; but every possible argument has been.brought in favor of provincialism, and "disposed of already. _ Sir George Grey ..may take his seat in the House of Representatives, but that will not alter the position of the question, nor will it, so far as we at present see, alter the relative position of parties. Doubtless there will be' great diversity of opinion regarding the details of any measure of the kind : but the principle involved in provincial abolition will be affirmed by ah overwhelming majority ~...,.