Wanganui Chronicle. AND PATEA-RANGITIKE ADVERTISER. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." MONDAY, JUNE 18th, 1877.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XX, Issue 3400, 18 June 1877, Page 2

Wanganui Chronicle. AND PATEA-RANGITIKE ADVERTISER. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." MONDAY, JUNE 18th, 1877.

If the Wanganui County Council and its infallible chairman are open to conviction, they must admit that their action with regard to the tollgate question has been characterised by the utmost inconsistency and moral pussilanimity. They first of all remove the tollgate, and when it becomes apparent that such a step was most ill-advised, and that the law will not sustain the action taken, dire threats are put forth with a view to intimidate, but as this effect is not produced, the next word of command is : Retire ! Truly this is a^ position of which any local body should feel proud. Here is what the Advocate ' thinks of the matter : — " The position of the Wanganui County Council with reference to the Kaitoke or Wangaehu Tollgate is beceming more and more ridiculous. We learn from good authority that Mr P. W. Evans was told by the collector, after the last meeting of the Council, that he had received orders to allow Mr Evans to pass without payment whenever he thought proper so to do, and to intimate to him that the Council had withdrawn from any action in respect of non-payment. Mr Evaus, we believe, is not the only one tthus privileged. From this it would seem that those who will pay may pay, and those who refuse to pay are allowed to pass without doing so. This is preposterous. i£ the gate be uot a legal one it should be removed, and if it bo, the Council should not make fish of one and fowl of another. Verily we are living in strange times." Now, what excuse has the Wanganui County Council to offer for such extraordinary procedure. If there is a question of law involved, why is it not decided ? If report, bo true, the chairmau is no tyro at law himself, and could bring his previous legal training and admitted general, experience and acumen to bear, to raise the body over which he presides from its present undignified position, which has entailed endless ridicule upon all counected. The next step will probably be that some cute personage will bring a criminal action forobtnining money under false pretences from the unfortunate collector, upou whose doomed shoulders has fallen the abuse and ridicule which ought to have been the portion of the Council, but of which it has received no adequate pro portion to its deserts. Would not a candid admission that an error had been committed have been a hundred fold more dignified than the feeble and ludicrous position taken up ? We do not hold at all with the action of those who have initiated the vi et wmis principle, though granting that the obstinacy and impotent attempt at intimidation displayed by the Council was to some extent a justification of conduct whicli, under other circumstances, would have been wholly unwarrantable. The Kangitikei County I Council are riot blameless in the matter either. Had the deputation carried out the original instructions with which it was invested, to interview the Wanganui body and endeavour to arrive at an amicable settlement of matters, in all probability things would no); have come to their present pass. But after the defiant course, which one of their ; number saw fit to adopt, any attempr at compromise would probably have failed. In the name of the public we object to auy respect of persons being shown in the matter, and we

call upon the Wanganui County Council, if they aye legally unable to sustain the position with regard to the tollgate, to announce that it has been abolished, and so make the best oE a position replete with humiliating absurdities. Many sections of the Press of the colony are beginning to agitate for the final severance of New Zealand from Sir Julius VY>gel as Agent-Gen-era], ft will be remembered that the appointment was conferred under most peculiar circumstances. The late lamented Dr Featherston had passed ! away, and a successor was wanted who had some previous knowledge of the departmental work in connection with the responsible oflice — the duties of which our late Agent-General had \ discharged so faithfully. Sir Julius Yogel was finally appointed, on the distinct understanding that his term of office was for one year only. And further, the appointment could scarcely be said to be that of Agent-General, as our Premier's mission virtually was to wind up the operations which had been inaugurated under the Immigration and Public Works scheme, and the heavy responsibility and real hard work of which had been personally superintended by Dr Featherston. The uninistakeable nature of the understanding on which the then, member for Wanganui accepted the appointment is best expressed in Mr Whitaker's words, [ when he plainly assured the House that Sir Julius Vogel's term of office world not extend beyond a year. "I for one," he said, " will not agree that it should be offered to him for more than twelve months, and during those twelve months the object of the Government will be to reduce as much as possible the cost of the department. If Sir Julius "Yogel is under the impression that he is to be appointed AgentGeneral without any restrictions, and for an unlimited space of time, he is labouring under a mistake We shall have the Agency carried on as far as may be necessary to the end of the year, which is the time for which »Sir Julius Yogel, if he accepts the appointment, will have to hold it. In the next session we shall have to consider what is to be done with this department." Comment is not required, as no other interpretation, but the one could possibly be put upon these remarks. As to the necessity for the continuance of this costly department, there can scarcely be two opinions. '.Immigration under the auspices of the Government has almost ceased, and so has the shipment of railway material in connection with the Public Works scheme. From the prosecution of both .these essential features of operation the must rest for a time, until at least some of the undertakings manifest a reproductive tendency. But in the meantime this £10,000 a year of departmental expenditure in connection with the office of Agent-General should cease. On this subject, " Anglo-Aus-tralian," in the European Mail, writes : "It is understood here that your Government has commenced a policy of retrenchment, and it is e^ en rumoured that you intend to cut down the M 10,600 a year expended on the London Agency, the argument in favour of this coarse being, that as the Orown Agents transact all your loan business, .and as both your Emigration and Public Works schemes ai-e nparly at the end of their tethers, there is no necessity for keeping up such an expensive establishment." Just so. And from this standpoint should the House view the matter when it comes on for discussion during the approaching session. There will doubtless be found those who will urge ihe continuance of this entirely useless expenditure, but we venture lo predict that a majority will demand an uncompromising and definite abolition of the department. Its existence confers no advantages upon us, nor docs it transact business on our behalf proportionate in any degree to the cost of maintenance, while New Zealand launchas forth most extravagantly for th« mere satisfaction of having to boast of its possession. Sir Julius Yogel has much to thank New Zealand for, and nothing to reproach it with, and if the colony were to sever its connection with him, none could accuse her of ingratitude towards one who has received princely treatment aud right royal honors at hey hands. We aro constrained to admit the soundness of the views expressed by the Canterbury Pres*, when it affirms that " it is most important for New Zealand to be rid of Sir Julius Yogel. He has chosen for his own purposes to break off his connection with us ; let the breach be final. He accepted his present post on conditions distinctly stated and per fectly understood. It is now the business of the Government to see that these conditions are literally fulfilled."