The Evening Mail. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 754, 10 September 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1878.

At Saturday night's banquet public opinion took the bit between its teeth and ran away. His Excellency ignored the existence of Sir George Grey and eulogised t Sir Julius Vogel, and thus, for the moment at least, turned the tables. The few political opponents of the present Ministry held carnival over this, and displayed their effervescent feelings in no unmistakeable manner. Sir Junus A' ogel —the stalking horse of the scattered and decimated party that gave place to Sir George Grey's administration was elevated by the Marquis of Normanby in such a manner that all might bow the head, not for Sir Julius' sake, but because of the high social position of his champion. The highly flattering remarks of His Excellency were very properly listened to attentively, although not in harmony with the opinions of threefourths at least of those present, if they were not prepared to applaud, they did not hiss and hoot, But a number of the minority who represented the opponents of the Government at the banquet were not so considerate, for their boisterous rudeness not only disconcerted certain of the speakers who elected to differ from their views, but acted as a signal to those who would have leaped to their feet to defend their friends at any other time and place to hold their peace. His Excellency threw the apple of discord amongst the company by unnecessarily harping upon a question in such a manner as to create discontent and dissension. Why political feeling should have been introduced on such an occasion those who were guilty of the indiscretion of introducing it know best. Political parties of all shades are agreed that to Mr. VoGELis due the credit of having initiated the Public Works policy to'which we owe the construction of our railways. But, three-fourths at least of those present at Saturday's banquet were not prepared to accord to Sir Junius all the praise. _ Had it been the object of the meeting to discuss the political excellences of the various men who have had the honor to play important parts in the history of the Colony we have no doubt that there were those present who would have been quite willing and able to take up the gauntlet thrown down by His Excellency. They might have spoken of the merits of such men as Stafford, Moorhouse, Grey, Macandrew, and others, but we presume that they did not wish it to be thought that they desired to detract from the glory properly attaching to Sir Julius Vogel. His Excellency would have acted more judiciously had he not repeated the performance that stirred up such a nest of hornets in Christchurch. It is true that His Excellency was a little more moderate in his Dunedin speech than he was in the one he delivered at Christchurch ; but the three hundred who were congregated at the banquet on Saturday were not anxious to be treated to an exposition of even a modicum of His Excellency's political views, for they already pretty well knew them. We doubt whether much weight is attached to the political opinions of one who arrives here to-day and departs to-morrow. "What facilities has such a one for knowing anything about the advantages of one policy over another ; nor is it one of the functions of his office to trouble himself about such things. It waa sinful to make such marked reference to the actual or supposed virtues of a man who is held up by the Opposition as a bogie to frighten the present Government. Well might Sir Julius Vogel exclaim, "Save me from my friends." But this is not all. The Governor committed the sin of omission as well as that of commission. The sting contained in his remarks was doubly severe from the fact that whilst lie expressed strong opinions upon debateable questions, he omitted any reference to the man in whose hands are now the destinies of the Colony. How graceful—how generous—it would have been had he, whilst bestowing bo much adulation on his friends, scraped a little more of the butter from his Christchurch speech and uttered one word in praise of Sir George Grey, or of those other men to whom New Zealand in a large measure owes her present greatness. It was not—to write mildly (for one is supposed to do that when a Governor is in the question)—in strict accord with the rules that are supposed to govern the actions of a representative of Her Majesty. Would his Excellency's Christchurch and Dunedin speeches ever had an existence

if Sir George Grey had not through illhealth, been compelled to absent himself from the meetings at which they were made 1 We think not. The tone of their proceedings would have been changed. A mutual understanding would have spontaneously arisen to forget party questions and party strife in the gloriousness of the moment. Even a slight offered to Sir George Grey would have been received with unanimous disapproval, but the decided antipathy shown to his administration would have met with the unqualified denunciation such conduct deserves. The cry would have been, not Great is Vogel," but Hurrah for Sir George Grey." But Sir George Grey was not present, and in the absence of restraint, his Excellency waxed eloquent in his fulsome praise of the Premier s former adversary, to the neglect of ordinary courtesy. 13ut he went even further than this. No doubt, Parliament will be gratified because his Excellency has expressed his opinion on the Public Works Statement of the Hon. Mr. Macandrew. He disapproves of the making of branch lines until the construction of the main trunk lines is completed. What financial difficulties may lie not have averted by his timely advice ! At the first blush, Colonists almost unanimously approved of the scheme propounded, which it was thought was the very thing the Colony required. They thought that they saw m it a means of developing the resources of the country, without adding very materially to its already heavy financial burdens, by opening up Crown lands. They thought that it would be the means of hastening the happy day when the main lines shall pay something towards the expense of repairing wear and tear by acting as feeders to those lines. They thought, in short, that they saw in the scheme far more merit than could be claimed for that other scheme that has supplied us with railways that creep along our . seaboard, and leaves the interior an almost < unknown region. 13ut the hallucination has been dispelled by His Excellency. He tells us to complete our main trunk lines first, and then to turn our attention to interior lines. He forgot to tell us why. But although these are the opinions of a Governor, seeing that he has departed from the ordinary course _ and amused himself with political questions, we may perhaps be permitted to offer an opinion. His Excellency appears to have acted inconsistently. He has lauded Julius Vogel on account of th : a 5" ' " Works Scheme initiated by him, "■ he has implied—of course he did not actually say it—that the proposals of Mr. Macandrew which have met with so much favor everywhere is worthless. Wherein does the superiority of Sir Julius Vogel's scheme lie ? Is it better because several millions were borrowed at crreat cost for commissions and interest and expended in a lavish and reckless manner on lines that are badly constructed where they oannot be made to yield an adequate return on their own merits ? Is it . because they not only opened up the smallest possible quantity of the lands of the Colony, but were placed where they entered into competition with steamers and brought into the Treasury but a miserably small return from the enhancement in value of Crown lands 1 Perhaps so ; but these are questions upon which we would like His Excellency, with all due deference to his high position, to enlighten us. It is usual for politicians to be more explicit, and perhaps His Excellency will not object to afford the desired information. It was remarked at Saturday's banquet that there is no Opposition worth speaking of. We take leave | to differ from this opinion. This assertion can never be made with truth whilst the present Governor remains in the ; Colony, and Sir George Grey remains in power. But we would like to have heard both sides of the question. " What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander," and if it was correct for His Excel- ! lency, during his trip south, to fill a hiatus, and indulge in what very closely ■ resembled opposition to the Government, , it would have been just as correct that the I Government and its supporters should , have had their say. Speechifying might have been diverted from congratulations on the linking of two great cities by rail- . way to a hot political discussion—tables , and chairs might have been overturned; , but we suppose all this would have been ! pprf ctly legitimate, as the example had bor ■ set by the representative of Her ! M >j< sty. But we are of those that question the right of a Governor to use his ; influence for political purposes. We have always thought that such a one should . carefully avoid meddling in the domestic polities of the Colony over which hepresides. ( Some people are so ignorant of the mean- ' ing of loyalty that they substitute for it • servility. It is only necessary for a ■ Governor to do a thing, and they swear by it, especially if he be a Marquis. God ; forbid that this should be the interpretation of that high principle that binds every true British subject to his sovereign. : What glory would there be in being, or reigning over, a lot of serfs ? Our boast has for centuries been the glorious liberty ; of the British Constitution. _ We are an integral portion of the British Empire, | and we expect to share in its freedom. It ! is a dangerous thing for a Governor to interfere with that freedom. He is re- , spected—aye, more than respected because he is the representative of our , sovereign, and for nothing else ; certainly t not on account of his ability as a politician. We do not hesitate to say that some Governors we have had are intellectually and politically mere pigmies when compared , with some of our political leaders ; and if the amount of respect bestowed , upon them was only in proportion to their political merit they would be the recipients of no respect at all. We shall see how the late conduct of His ' Excellency will affect the positions of parties in the House, and whether the chasm between him and the Premier will ! not be increased thereby. To offer slights ' to, or to treat with discourtesy, the Pre- ' mier, will not be appreciated by the people of the Colony ; but to interfere with the people's prerogative by dabbling in their domestic politics, which they think they can better manage without such assist- : ance, will meet with every possible resentment. Representative government , would be a farce were such conduct the rule rather than the exception, and patriotism and loyalty, which are very properly the characteristics of every section of the British nation, would soon die in every British heart.