The Temuka Leader. WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 1878.

Temuka Leader, Volume I, Issue 65, 31 July 1878, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 1878.

Gtueat changes have taken place since the passing of the Public Works Act in 1870. Prexious to the introduction of that measure the Government were flooded with demands from the provinces in the North island for assistance, so great was the pressure that tiro Government could not act independently, hence the necessity of introducing such a measure as would lead to the forming of one strong Government for the whole Colony. The necessity for such has been clearly demonstrated, by the effect it had upon the capitalists in England, who now r'oadilj negotiate our loans on the most favorable terms, whereas before these measures were introduced for consolidating the debts of the colony loans such as ther Otago Provincial Loan could not command a higher price than 85. Had not the Government measures become law it is

'i'j'n slionable ii' otiirr loans coming after could have been lu'^otiatC'l- on any tonus. while now, as the case stands, capitalists an; ready i.. advance money for any public uji••";< rtaking which may rio!-d out tne prospect of a fair return of interest for the same. We .still hold the. opinion that abolition of the provinces was a necessity for the genera] prosperity of the whole colony. The measures submitted to Parliament by' that able politician, Sir Julius Vogel, had for their object the making of New Zealand a and an united nation. Although one or two provinces, particularly Cantcrbuny, may have suffered for a time, yet in the long run wc think even it will not have cause for regret. It was unfortunate for the success of those measures that the political mantle did not fall upon abler shoulders than

h isc of Major Atkinson, who, although lie began well, by a masterly financial statement, proved Ins unfitness as a leader by the mess he made of 'the public business. We are tempted to ask was this statement his own concocting, or was it the mere penning of the great leader's thoughts ? Be "this as it may. it was very soon seen that a new commander was required to guide the state ship. It is unnecessary to recapitulate the severe statements, the prejudiced denunciations, or the adverse criticisms given utterance to by the provincial party on the one side, or the unskilful, undignified, unsupported, statements on the other side. It is sufficient for us that one abler, more experienced, more devoted to his country's interests, was at hand. However much ill-feeling there might'have been engendered at the time, it is pleasing to think that Sir George Grey has the good of his country at heart. It is to be hoped the present session wi.l give him a fair chance of working out those measures which are shadowed out in the ministerial speech. In the mother country the old party cry, Whig or Tory, is now laid aside, the country accept the man that has the will and the ability to serve his country whatever party he belongs to. Let it be so here. Let the words Provincialism, Abolition, Separation be forgotten. Let ability be recognised and utilised from whatever quarter it comes, and let all work together with the one object in view—the making of New Zealand a great, a united, and a prosperous nation, when the old saying, " Where there's a will there's a way," will again be proved a fact. The great objection to abolition was the cry, the North is'ancl will lie enriched at the expense of the South' Island. We will readily grant that. Looking at the subject from this point of view, the prospect for the South was dark indeed, but we ever hold, and still hold, that- the North Island will, before many years, be able to make no mean comparison with the South. The Government measures (given notice of) connected with the purchase of land in the N rth give evidence that the Government have not been idle, while the prices given for rural land in the North Island will compare favorably with those ruling in the South, while capital flowing in, the opening up of new industries, the increase of agricultural as well as pastoral enterprise in the North all go to show that a real, an advancing, and a pumanent prosperity awaits the whole of New Zealand in the future. It is to be hoped, therefore, that the present session will be as conspicuous for the absence of party feeling as the last was unpleasantly remarkable for its presence,, and that we shall see the business of the country conducted to a satisfactory issue.