BARON HUBNER INTERVIEWED.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1117, 26 November 1883, Page 2

BARON HUBNER INTERVIEWED.

His Opinions’of New Zealand and the European Situation.

Baron Hubner, the distinguished statesman and diplomatist, who has been visiting New .Zealand during the last five weeks, left by the mail steamer last njght, says the New, Zealand Herald of the 12th inst. After a brief stay in Sydney He will visit India, and in all probability will return to Europe by Sen Francisco. ; Baron Hubner is one of these “ grand old men” of whom the world has lately had not a few, who have been active and energetic throughout a. long life, and who in extreme old age are still; endowed with 1 great’ bodilyhealth and vigor, and whose mental faculties exhibit no signs of.decay ; but, bn the contrary, are as acute and alert as ever, These men Have at their command all the experience and knowledge of the world, which they have gained during their long careerpand their intercourse with; highly cultivated men. Baron Hubner was born in 1811, so that hc.is 72 years of age} although no one would think so, viewing his upright ' figure* alert step, and clear grey eye. His active career as a diplomatist'CbtnmSnbed 7 in 1833, under Prince Metternich, and extended to 1867* wheh He was entrusted with the conduct of the negotiations with the Holy See in reference, to the repudiation of the Concordat. His eventful career as a statesman' has lately been detailed in our columns/ Yesterday, a representative of the Herald saw the Baron, and although he was busy making preparations for his departure by the mail steamer,-die courteously and frankly stated his opinion. He said ; I have been about five weeks in New Zealand, and I desire.; to !ackriowledgo fl -the courtesy and kindness which I have received from all persons with whom I have come in contact., . The Governor and the Premier have extended to me every assistance, and I have also to; acknowledge the kindness of Colonel Reader and of Major Swindley, the latter of whom was my most entertaining companion during, my journey to the Lakes. What has struck me most forcibly during my stay in New: Zealand, has been: the great progress that has been made in so short alime. 1 have been much astonished at this. And, of course, such rapid progress shows great capacities not only in the country but in the people. The progress made in some parts of America is owing to the enormous influx of people, and to the development of particular localities. Your progress has been a remarkable event in the world’s history. As to your politics, I have not been long enough in the country to form any opinion of;your value; You are a democratic, community, and from the nature of things could havebeen nothing else. [[Baron Hiibner, wo may remark, is one of the chiefs of the clerical and aristocratic party of the Austrian Empire.] There is no order of nobles here, and no reason for their existence. But absolute equality is a dream, and can never be realised so long as men have different capacities. You have perfect freedom of Government, blit are loyal to the Empire, and it is part of your greatness to be connected with so grand a maritime Empire as England. The scenery of New Zealand is exceedingly fine and varied, You have

mountains and plains, and every variety of country. Rotorua and Rotomahana are wonderful and unique places. Some spots remind one of the scenes depicted in Dante’s “ Inferno.” To look at, it is like a dream. I went to the Island of Kawau with Sir George Giey, and there saw trees and plants from many different regions all growing —not as if dependent on any artificial shelter or protection—but, as if the place in which they grew was their natural habitat. That shows what a large variety of products may be cultivated in this climate. By the way, Sir George Grey is a remarkable -man. It is strange: that one who has been in these distant colonies for so many years of his life, should have preserved so intimate an acquaintance with European politics, and with the prominent men of different countries [_ A remark having been made about the present state of Baron Hiibner said: At present Europe is armed to the teeth; but I see no immediate prospect of a war, nor do I regard such a thing as likely. Bismarck displays sometimes an irritability as to France, but yon must remember that France is an open crater; Her leading men, I believe, are opposed to war, and are anxious to prevent contest, but the question is, how far they can exercise control. There is a firm alliance between Germany and Austria, and they will always be in favour of a peace policy; You in the colonies most desire peace in Europe, on account of the disturbance of commerce which war causes. In the event of n war between England and any. other mariseriously imperilled. lam a member . of the Upper Chamber of the Reicbafatb, We ace not responsible to any- con- - stitnency, as are the members of the Lower. House, and we need no. leave to absent ' oufselvOs, but still are ; obligations to one’s friends and party. The reason why I think of coming back here to go to Europe by America is because of the Red Sea and the ■ Suez Canal. . I do not mind thereat;• I can bear that very well; but the ah'is . positively bad. The Suez Canal is the'receptacle of a mass of.drainage.; 'it is simply a common sewer,, and there Is no flow of water'to carry off the impartlies. wKk Baron. Hiibner’s Englisb is ingjy good, being grammatical and precise. * He 4 speaks , slowly, , sometimes-; hesitating'fof the right word, butifeldout r failing to-use the term which would chosen by .a well educated" Englishman.