New Zealanders in Melbourne

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 248, 21 March 1888, Page 5

New Zealanders in Melbourne

Tin: Melbourne* correspondent of a Southern paper gives the following gossip about two New Zealand legislators now in the Victorian capital on a visit: — 1

The Hon. Mr Vincent Pyke. Mr Vincent Pyke — who, being an exMinister of tho Crown in Victoria, and therefore an Executivo Councillor, is entitled to the designation (which he has assumed) of " honourable " in the colony— is putting up at Scott's in Melbourne, whilst he goes to and fro seeking to discover tho causes ot prosperity. He is to visit tho 1 country towns and districts, including his old constituency of Castlemaine. But he will not find in the country any very striking signs of prosperity. It is in Melbourne alone that these stare one in the face, and no man need pufc on his spectacles to see them. Mr Pyke has set hiuuelf a diilicult quest to discovor the causes thereof, and even if he does discover them to his own liking he has set himself another diilicult task to persuade his Now Zealand friends to accepb his judgment. It is a difficult enough task always to discover the road to heaven, and it is more difficult still to persuade one's friends of the infallibility of your discovery. But the sight of an abounding prosperity will in any case be a good tonic to a New Zealand politician, so that Mr Pyko may be wished a pleasant sojourn and a free digestion during hi* stay in the be?t of Melbourne hotels.

Mr T. Mackenzie, M*H.R. Mr T. Mackenzie, also M.H.R. for Clutlia, has been on a vibib to Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide. He desires to obtain the adoption of a system of free interchange of products between the colonies, and has interviewed a number of the leading politicians on the subject. But it is a big subject, aud personal gossip 3 upon it will go bub a little way towards the achievement of the desired end. Mr Mackenzie has to show the Victorian politician, for instance, that it will pay to agree to a free interchange with Isew Zealand. It would, no doubt, be a good thing for you to find an unlimited market here for your oats and potatoes, bub in what particular department is the Victorian producer to gain a quid pro </ho? This is Mr Mackenzie's difficulty.