THE COLONIST PUBLISHED TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS AND SATURDAYS. NELSON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1876 THE WELLINGTON BANQUET.

Colonist, Volume XVIII, Issue 2038, 19 February 1876, Page 3

THE COLONIST PUBLISHED TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS AND SATURDAYS. NELSON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1876 THE WELLINGTON BANQUET.

I Meagre as the telegram is that reports the Wellington banquet to Sir Julius Vogel, ifc contains enough to set at rest,many of the speculations which, during the last fewmonths, the Colony has been doomed to read. Hoping against hope, there were not a few who remembered his early speeches when closely identified with Otago, and flattered themselves, that opinions formed on partial ' information and in a totally different state of the Colony, would be found binding on one who had developed from a mere politician, in a Province where localism has its greatest strength, into a true colonial statesman, regarding every part with equal eye. Separation might have its charms for a comparatively fresh arrival from Victoria, who had witnessed its wonderful advance when liberated from the domination of New South Wales, and who probably might be so far misled by the canniness of old indentities as to think Dunedin might become . a second Melbourne, and that Auckland was only a more odious Sydney. Freed from early prejudice and proving in every act, how wide and far-reaching his ideas had become, it required an enormous credulity for any one to credit that to Otagan selfishness he could ever sacrifice the future of JNew Zealand. Still, less did it seem possible to conceive, how he could quarrel with his colleagues_for obeying the voice of the country, and carrying to their natural conclusion the principles contaiued in his own Abolition resolutions of 1874. Ifc is true, that in proposing to sweep away one heap of rubbish, he did not think he was required to offend the susceptibilities of those who had become attached by interest or custom to a still greater mass of obstruction- Probably some lingering tenderness might exist in his kindly nature for his old associates in southern provincial politics. When he said that in Otago and Canterbury existing institutions hod not done amiss, it should be remembered he had occupied a leading position in one Province, and impartiality would have to become heartlessness, before any man who had done his best, would hastily and needlessly say that he, with his old colleagues, had been unable to acomplish any good work. Like many who supported total abolition, Sir Julius, while admitting the necessity, frankly declares that it is not an unmixed good, and thus we are led to hope, that future discussion will not be marked by the same virulence that, prevailed last year. The sincere though mistaken supporters of a system, which in its time answered many useful purposes, are more likely to debate the question with good temper, when the change is advocated on financial grouuds, than when they were denounced as the upholders ot an utterly evil form of centralism. . The Colony must be ableHo show the foreign capitalist what its whole funds amount to, and that all will be available for his security. This is a position beyond the power of the most determined Provincialisfc to assail with success, and while deploring the downfall of their favorite form of Government, possibly some of the more moderate may be brought to yield, when they are shown that, in face of the large loans still required, the public works policy and provincial institutions cannot both be maintained. The absence of Sir Julius last session may prove in the long run no small advantage. Accepting what has been done, he is free to act a conciliatory part and possibly his invitation to the best men on both sides to unite in settling the details of the new form of Government may be responded to. Kesolute as he has always been when the leading principles of his policy were at stake, his personal popularity with all parties enables him to overcome difficulties with which men of harsh and dictatorial temper would struggle in vain. The manner of doing a thing often makes the difference between success or failure, and there is once more some prospect, that the affairs of the may be conducted on President Jefferson's favorite rule—take everything by the smooth handle.