THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1875.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2130, 1 November 1875, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1875.

Sepabation of the two islands of New Zealand, -with, a distinct government for each, in the Provincial form and a federal government at Wellington, -will probably be the battle cry at the next general election. The Auckland Evening Star, writing with an air of authority, says, in an article on the late banquet at Dunedin :—• " Sir George Grey is left in no doubt as to the reception which his action in the past, and his intended policy for the future, will command. That policy, despite the caution which attended its enunciation, was clearly enough revealed at the banquet. 'The two islands should be left to manage their own affairs entirely independent and irrespective of each other,' was the remark of Mr Macandrew, the central figure, and-ito whom of right pertained the privilege of . giring the key note to the proceedings; amd the terrific cheering with which, as we are informed, the watchword was received was a striking response to the • feeler' thrown out in Dunedin. That Macandrew in this statement was expressing the opinion of the party, we know; f»r we are in a position to state that before the leaders of the Opposition left Wellington on their tour, the policy of Separation was distinctly defined and unanimously accepted; the details only remaining for after adjustment. There is no impropriety in this being known in Auckland, for we venture to say that there are very few, if there are any in Auckland who will not gladly accept Separation as the only feasible deliverance from the despotism and corruption under which we suffer. The Duaedin banquet, despite the efforts that have been made to decry it, has clearly been a success beyond the most sanguine anticipations. In his strong unpolished Anglo-Saxon, Mr MacandreV gays it 'took the breath out' of him;' and from it we trust that, like giants refreshed, these leaders of the people will go forth and head the crusade against despotism and political rottenness, that will mark a new era in the history of New Zealand." In a subsequent issue of the same journal appears the following explanation, or denial, or whatever it may be called, of the words credited to Mr Sheehan on the " Separation" question :— "We take on us to correct a statement made by telegram as part of Mr Sheehan's speech last night. The telegram represents him as saying ' he believed in keeping the colony together one and indivisible as a whole, and those who sought to do different were actuated by personhl and

pecuniary motives.' We are absolutely confident that this misrepresents what Mr Sheehan said, for he is entirely with Sir George Grey in the policy of Separation. He was likely taking a fling at the Government as having compelled disrup-. tion, and the bull was taken by the tail by some muddle-hcaded'reporter." We do not say that separation will not find advocates in this portion of tho Colony. It depends very much on the proposals of the organised opposition for granting locnl government to out districts whether it will be favored by the country. But we can afford to wait for some more definite utterances than those after dinner orations at Dunedin or the semi-authorita-tive explanations of the Auckland Star.

Mr Gladstone, on the stump in bis candidature for South Lancashire, did not add to his fame as an orator, or his success as a candidate for the parliamentary representation of the. county which lie so zealousy stumped. The Press made Heht of his soft sawder, and sport of bis invective, and the constituency relegated their ex-member to sit for the Borough of Greenwich. It would he as well if his failure were borne in mind by some of the aspirants for senatorial honours at the forthcoming election. Mr S-wanson has shown his sense by refusing a banquet of Newton constituents; and Mr Thomson by accepting one has given another opportunity to the hiradred-and-fifty who assembled to do him. honour at Clutha to hear, not himself, but Mr Macandrew and Sir George Grey. Really, if every man who does not betray his constituency is to be honoured with a banquet, and all the empty—often fulsome—speeches spoken thereat, the custom once designed to mark a community's appreciation of a man of sterling worth will become a matter of such every-day occurrence, that at last it will be merely a convivial entertainment on a large and somewhat foolish scale. However, as part of the programme of the Opposition, it has this to be said in its favour, that at all events some few good speakers who can enunciate provincialistic views sensibly and distinctly—at least Sir George Grey can—have an opportunity of saying what they like in self-laudation of themselves and theirs, and denouncing in what language they think fit to employ the policy of their opponents without fear of being contradicted, and with every probability of being applauded, at least for the time being. Of course in these banquets none but friends are expected to be present, and it does not require very great oratorical powers to please an audience who think and wish exactly as the thinker speaks and wishes, and who come prepared beforehand to applaud what they know will be said, and carry out their intention "enthusiastically,'' as we are told; more so, perhaps, as some say (not ourselves), for being a little replete with some anomalous liquor which France and Spain would probably, blush to own. It is pretty evident that in gatherings of this kind the speeches, however made, are certain to be well received for the time being at any rate, and—luckily for those who make them—it is not the fashion to report speeches verbatim with all the "hems" and "haws," and wearisome repetitions with which they are delivered, so that as a whole they are readable next day by those who care to read them in the papers. It is rather amusing, however, to see to what.lengths fulsome adulation and vicious invective can be carried to, by those who stump the country apparently with no other purpose —certainly with no other result—than to make it discontented. Sir John Richardson, for instance, at Clutha is reported to have given utterance to the following diatribe t " A ruthless majority had attempted to crush a noble minority, and to abolish Provincialism.' He was a citizen of the province, and no earthly power, no earthly emolument or consideration would prevent him from giving utterance to his opinion. The provinces had been abolished by the operation of a tyrannical and unjust majority." These are pretty strong words to come from the Speaker of the Legislative Council, and if Sir John continues to speak in this strain and remains firm to what he said — "he wished to goodness he was free and unfettered" —it would be perhaps just as well that his wish should be gratified, and then he could with more consistency disparage that body of which he is a " nominated " member, and which is " utterly incongruous with responsible government." It maybe true what.Mr Macandrow said, that " there was no other man in New Zealand who occupied an equally important position," but it would certainly have been in better taste had he left some one else to say it for him, and with the many of the 150 who were disposed to be adulatory at his service, we should have thought it would have been no hard matter to have found some one to do so. It would have looked better at all events, and appearances ought to be regarded even at banquets and stump oratory performances. We do not know what ground Sir George Grey had for abusing "the Armed Constabulary as loiterers about public houses, instead of being usefully employed." If they are the especial pets of the Government, they are of course fit and proper subjects for abuse at the hands of Sir George, but as far as we are aware the accusation is wholly undeserved and unjust, and Sir George's language too intemperate to be excused, even on the ground of being uttered at a demonstration banquet. It is satisfactory to hear that a saving to the extent of £] 50,000 per annum can .be made in the expenses of the civil service—that service " which encouraged young men to a life ot idleness "—and the Armed Constabulary of public house predilections; and vre hope Sir George is sufficient

of a patriot to show the Grovcrn- [ ment how to effect this saving as he I knows how it can be done. The clerks in the civil service have, we believe, the I same hours of work as the bank clerks, ' and pretty much the same scale of pay, so that if an enormous saving can be effected in their case by Sir George Grey, it behoves bank directors more especially to' induce Sir 'George Grey to show how these things can bo done. We should also take leave to doubt Sir George, that all the Provincial Councils in the colony would not cost more than £15,000 a year. On the whole we must say that we do not see much good in banquets, but if reckless accusations and more unguarded assertions than ever are to be made at the " after dinner speeches " which invariably accompany them we should think that they would be better avoided on other grounds than dyspepsia.