The Patea Mail. Published Wednesdays and Saturdays WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 1876.

Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 99, 22 March 1876, Page 2

The Patea Mail. Published Wednesdays and Saturdays WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22, 1876.

A i’lliljOsoi’Hur. of old time Tins told us that speech at; is given to man to conceal Ids thoughts,- and Surely the truth of the precept thus laid clown was pro-red during the late fetes in honour of fSir .Julius Vogel at Wanganui. I ley o ml it general approval of Wanganui and Wanganui people, a kind of patting on the back for being clearsighted enough to elect him, a real or actual appreciation of , the vast commercial future of the favoured township, Sir Julius Wits shrewd enough to hold his tongue,- that is, comparatively sp-akirtg, about coming political events or probabilities. Of course he was more loe.al than expressed above, more gushing than usual, in fact, and Wanganui now hugs itself, }» thtVt rlbins’sociVrod the Premier of Premiers, the greatest that the New Zealand Avurld ever saw. It is not at all to be wondered at that such a feeling exists, for Avhether the Vogel policy proves the success that its advocates anticipate or the failure that its enemies predict, it Avas a bold venture, the outcome of a master mind, and at least a noble atterr.pt at the political and financial redemption of the colony. That it Aviil fulfil all the expectations of its belicA'ers is more than 'hmhtfgl : that it will tail utterly, as anticipated by some, is absurd to suppose. Jn all probability it Aviil strike a happy mean, and that the colony will he greatly henefitted by its initiation there can ho ivo doubt. It cannot he (haded that the vigorous policy of laic years has pushed Ncav Zealand ahead some half century, it only now remains to oc seen whether she can retain the position so suddenly acquired. The organic changes that are being made, or about to be made,* cannot fail to influence most materially the future of the colony, favourably, most favourably, as Ave believe. At the same time these, though resolved on at the last meeting of Parliament, still Avait fulfilment, and it is by no means impossible that the Abolition of Provinces Bill may yet be altogether abrogated, or at any rate so emasculated as to he worthless. The ncAV or re-consti-tuted premier, has, like the apocryphal young bear, all his troubles before him during the next session. Ho is not in good physical health, ho Aviil have to meet a neAV Parliament, a very large proportion of Avhosc members bavo declared themselves political opponents, Tie has by no means a very strong .folloAving, as far as colleagues go, and lie Aviil have to tackle some of the greatest and most important questions that ever yet Avero dealt Avilh by a Ncav Zealand legislature. Taking it altogether Ministers arc likely to have a very ilively time of it, during next session, and, as nearly all the burden Aviil fall on the Premier’s shoulders, it is not at all surprising if he somcAvhat fears the ordeal. There cannot be a doubt that his illness, on Ids recent attempt to reach Wairoa, Avas not feigned, and that he honestly Avished to visit the boundaries of his constituency. Indeed, if he had got so far it might haA r e been possible to have induced him to extend Ids travels to Pa tea, to his colleague’s territory, and possibly good might have resulted from such a visit. The chances 'of the Ministry, as at present constituted, surviving the furious assaults that may .be expected w-xt session aiv inn small, and we much quesnoK whether the • member for Figment Avi!.! be one to hold bis, oAvn in the conflict, though, bygones being hvgorms, we hope such may he the vase. In any ovent Patea has much to ask for, and much that it e ; . n reasonably <mp>;ei m tie- sin:■ sidoratie;., m; KouV< ! v - years me by, am; " ' ; reigns for over or me; .' ; me- , ve.me

Major Atkinson retains Ins portfolio or not, the people should exert themselves to bring all the ministerial power possible to bear, to compensate for previous neglect. We want a road from New Plymouth, wo want a telegraph line there, we want harbor works, we want the. country to be opened up, and the settlers to have proper access to their farms, we want a host of things in fact, a number, to use the phraseology of trades, “ too numerous to mention.” In the present critical condition of the existing Government surely it would he wise to prefer petitions in time. Some requests might be granted without the intervention of Parliament, others must be submitted to that body, but if accompanied by the powerful recommendation of the Government would be certainly granted, even if the reconstruction of its reeommemlers took place. The conjunction of Sir d. Vogel, with his electoral limits abutting on Paten, and Major Atkinson, the chosen of the district, should bring great fortune, or at least secure justice to this part of the colony, but at the same time some active exertion is needed, and if no public demand is made, Governments are itreadlnlly prone to shut their eyes to facts ami requirements that are paten 1 . Lot ns then hope that active exertion may bo made to secure, first cordial co-operation on the part of the Premier and Major Atkinson, and next recognition of the. claims of the district with a view to their being presented to Parliament for substantial acknowledgment.