MR VOGEL IN DTJNEDIN.

Southland Times, Issue 1348, 16 December 1870, Page 3

MR YOGEL IN DTJNEDIN.

(PflOM OTTS OWN COBBESPO^DENr.) Political parties have been forming within the metropolitan span, both fast and furious. The small cloud which floated across the Provincial Council, horizon about the Public Works scheme gathered with an intensity that has already produced a complete hurricane. The hon. the Colonial Treasurer, evidently acting on the impulse that Otago had been struck blind to its own interest, visited Dunedin. and on Thursday even--iag—(B£fe-iastaiit), essayed to address a public meeting in the Theatre. The opening proceedings were most disgraceful. Hounded on by a few t>F-Jfannoro-relentless of our howling demagogues, a scene was enacted by the audience quite unfit for publication. The speaker was groaned, cheered, hissed, and interrupted to such an extent that only stray 'snatches of his deliverances could be recorded. He dealt with these interruptions as a preconcerted arrangement on the part of his political opponents, and challenged them to prove that they had been instrumental in doing one-half for the good of Otago that he (Mr Yogel) had accomplished. His object was on the part of the Government to remove the misapprehensions that existed respecting its Public Works scheme. He cautioned them that the opposition of the Council was altogether a senseless one, inasmuch as that the policy had been warmly espoused elsewhere throughout the colony, and the Otago opposition could only be of a temporary nature. Before that branch of the subject had been fully explained, the continued excitement broke out in open rupture, and the speaker was compelled to enter upon a personal remonstrance. An explanation respecting the serious charges brought against the Q-overnment for having tampered with certain press telegrams, was next attempted, but no sooner did the speaker approach the refractory point of the matter than the interruption was renewed. G-ood-naturedly, he complied with a demand to return to the Public Works question. He cautioned them against the subtle devices of those interested in damaging the proposal, and stated-tkafc-*©*^ 1 * fc— a.dvie»s"fro'£l[~l3ugl»ad left no doubt whatever in the minds of the Q-overnment that the projected loans would be successfully negotiated. In further explanation, he said : — " I came here with a view to endeavoring to make an arrangement with the Provincial G-overnment for at once_^n±erins--i*** <r^ r: contract fer— the construction of the "Southern Trunk Eailway. I have stated to the Superintendent that the Q-overn-ment were fully prepared at once to enter into such a contract. But although the Superintendent believes that the time for commencing that work has fully arrived, the majority of the Provincial Council and the Executive, as you know, have come to a resolution, that before advantage should be taken of the Government measures of last session, there should be an appeal to the constituencies. The G-overnment, on receiving intelligence of that' resolution, came to the conclusion that, seeing that in the natural course of things there must be a new Provincial Council elected within three or four months, it would be well to accede to the wish that there should be an appeal to the constituencies. lam not betraying any secret when I add that the Superintendent has this evening placed in my hands his own resignation and his request for an immediate dissolution of the Provm/ualjOjmnciLa l^ Wellington, it was decided that so~ reasonable a request, if made, should be complied with. I have no doubt, therefore, that you will very soon — almost immediately I may say — have opportunity through the constituencies of expressing your opinions upon these very , large questions. It is (he continued to say) to me strange— nay, it seems almost ridiculous — that the Province of Otago, which has railways included in the first schedule of the Bill, should object to being so placed, while representatives of Wellington and Hawke's Bay complained bitterly last session that those Provinces were being cruelly used because no railways for them were included in the first schedule. Depend upon it the Assembly hereafter will, as a matter of principle, say, 'We are not content that any one Province shall be allowed to stand in the way of the progress of public works.' The time has passed when it will be pos- | sible to convince the Legislature of New Zealand that it is not advisable for the Colony to undertake public works. But while I am convinced that the Assembly will assent to this as a matter of principle, you may also depend upon it that as a matter of practice the Assembly will also say, 'If the Province of Otago does not desire to have public works, we will certainly not press these works upon the Province.' There will be plenty of Provinces desiring to have railways constructed; and those of you who earnestly believe that public works are not needed in Otago, need not fear that the Assembly will force them upon the province." The fact that the G-overnment was in a position to go on with the measure, despite the opposition, was pointed out. The mail service was next alluded to, after which the speech was brought to a close on account of the hour for giving up the theatre having arrived. Towards

the close of his remarks it was evident the meeting waa beginning to relent. The hearing became much more patient, and on the Treasurer stating his intention of addressing another meeting before he left Dunedin, the announcement was received with applause.