The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1882.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4360, 21 December 1882, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1882.

Sib Julius Vogbl is again id the colony after an absence of sereral years, and judging by bis reception in Otago, is as popular as ever; in fact, much more than he has been frequently, for it has sometimes been his fate to be heartily execrated in that provincial district. Unquestionably Sir Julius is clever, but whether history will record his name among the great, good, and patriotic is open to debate. As the costermonger induces his donkey to move quicker by dangling a bunch of carrotn before his nose, so Sir Julius educated the colony to believe in him through dazzling its gaze by borrowed millions. Sir Julius has a genius for finance; he is endowed with an instinct for scenting a good scheme. And he possesses a powerful mental grasp, combined with clear foresight. He prophesied a great future for the Polynesian islands, which now seems in a fair way of realization. Another direction in which lie shines in a thorough appreciation of the Walpolian doctrine that every man has his price. Sir Julius is an excellent judge, not only of human nature, but individuals. He readily diagnosed them, found out their weak points, and directed the attack thereto. Thus it was that he managed to sweeten members and retained office as long as he chose. He was an adept at using the golden key. Still his Public Works Scheme was a bold masterly production. That it was original will scarcely be contended ; but it was an elaboration of what others had in view. * Others had the germ of the idea, Yogel magnified and vivified it. Sir Edward Stafford, it is now generally admitted, intended moving in the direction of borrowing two millions, but Vogel forestalled him by proposing to borrow ten millions, the expenditude to extend over ten years. This money was to con* struct a trunk line of railway throughout each island, and' to make matters pleasant a portion was to be devoted to road making in those districts that the railways would not benefit, waterraces in goldfielda, &c. The natirea were still formidable, and they were to have their share, in flour and sugar, Served out by the great medicine man Sir Donald McLean. It is more than probable Sir Julius could not have retained office so long, or at least that he. would have been ousted several times, but for the strength acquired from the latter gentleman.. The South believed in Sir Donald McLean. They wanted their railways made; therefore it was to their interest not to have money diverted to warfare, or the colony's credit weakened by native disturbances. Il was essential that the Maoris should be kept quiet. They believed Sir Donald was the man to do this, so he was not stinted in secret service money, and his accounts were never audited. The amount of flour and sugar the natives consumed during those years was something enormous; it is evident they required no tonics as appetisers, that is if expenditure of public money be any test. Immigration was to proceed concurrently with the public works, so that the population should be increased sufficiently to spread the burden of the loan over a much larger number j>f people, and prevent taxation Insing felt. The opponents of the scheme were very few, amongst the more prominent being Mr T. B. Gilliea, now Judge, Mr Reader Wood, Mr J. C. Eichmond, and the late Sir David Munro. And scarcely any of these objected to the principle of borrowing, but the magnitude of the scheme appalled them. They saw it would open the door to corruption and jobbery, and so it did. The political railways are the outcome. Mr billies and Mr Wood, in j addressing their constituents, stated they were quite agreeable to borrowing two millions. In ten years almost thirty millions were borrowed, and the main trunk line is not completed yet. Sir Julius was the first to give a wrong direction to his own.policy. Instead of insist* iog upon it being colonial, he yielded to the pressure of the superintendents ami

their tails, and it degenerated icto a scramble amongst the provinces, the most powerful carrying off the lion's share of the spoil. Bather than yield up the loaves and fishes portaining to office, Sir Julius allowed his own bantling to be so mutilated and distorted that its features were no longer recognizable.