The Puapeka Times. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1870.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 148, 8 December 1870, Page 4

The Puapeka Times. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1870.

"Measures, not Alen." The Honourable the Colonial Treasurer has arrived in Dunedin. The object of his mission is unknown to us, although it is generally believed to have a political bearing. When Mr. Yogel was at the helm of affairs in Otago, he never penetrated into the interior of the province further than Tokomairiro, where he once held a public meeting. The reason why he pitched upon Tokomairiro for the delivery of one of his harangues, we never could fathom, seeing the electors of that district were not his constituents. Had he come to Lawrence, only a few miles further inland, he would have found some of his constituents, and the place of meeting would certainly have been more appropriate for a Member for the Goldfieids to make a political speech ; but Mr. Yogel seems to think that Tokomairiro for the Goldfields. and Auckland for the Colony, are places of sufficient importance to air his eloquence. The Colonial Treasurer fully understands what his friend Mr. Driver would call " working up," and has no doubt come down from the North to strengthen the failing hands of the Superintendent. Like some other of our colonial politi-

cians, he must see that the game is becoming desperate, and that unle-.s Macandrew and Driver can again be returned to the Assembly /%3f reign is at an end. We do not know whether he intends stumping it throughout the province in their behalf; but of this much we may rest assured, that he will not forget those gentlemen to whom he is so deeply indebted for being able to occupy his present position. The squatting party, represented by Driver and Macandrew, will have all the influence which his position as Colonial Treasurer can command ; and if Macandrew, Driver and Turnbull are to manage our affairs, then no doubt Mr. Vogel's visit will be most opportune. He will be able to promise that, if support is given in the coming elections to these gentlemen, the province will receive every consideration, and its wants will be duly atteuded to. Pleasant prospect for the province of Otago ! We are to receive, not that which we are entitled to by right, but simply what Mr. Yogel and his assistants may think proper to dole out to us. Mr. Yogel, in effect, says :—": — " You will get nothing if you do not support us ; but do so, and you will find yourselves liberally dealt with." This sudden reconciliation and affection of two men who at one time were so diametrically opposed to each other, reminds us of a scene in the "Beggars' Opera," where Peachem and Locket exclaim, " Brother, we are both in the wrong ! " Well, as their recantation was with a view of dividing the plunder amicably, we may reasonably suppose that some such arrangement will not be forgotten during the Treasurer's visit to Dunedin. Mr. Macandrew will no doubt stipulate that the credit of initiating all the railways in the province is due to himself; and on the other hand, Mr. Yogel will ask that the establishment of the San Francisco mail service should be placed to his credit, aud that Port Chalmers, with a dock too narrow, if not too short, to admit the steamers which are to perform the service, is the proper depot. No one can regret this more than we do ourselves. We should like to soo Port Chalmers the terminus of the line, but how is this to be the case if our dock is too small to receive the ocean-going steamers 1 Of course, these trifling considerations are nothing to men who promised to " move the spheres," but didn't. Still, at the same time we should like to know why Mr. Yogel should have come to Dunedin at this present juncture, at a cost to the country of three guineas a day, with travelling expenses, as well as the £1000 per annum which he receives by virtue of his office. If it is to assist his friend Mr. Macandrew, we can tell him he had better stayed at horne — that is, if we can so designate his temporary residence at Auckland — and allowed the electors of the province to proceed to the election of a new Superintendent without his advice or assistance. We feel assured that a gentlemen who, while supposed to be representing Otago, has shown that he has only Auckland interests at heart, is not likely to command much influence upon the goldfields of this province, which he has so long misrepresented. We shall be glad to leavn when Mr. Yogel purposes visiting the Goldfields. We can assure him he Avill meet with a reception which, if not agreeable, will at least be warm.