THE PREMIER AT AUCKLAND.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1738, 28 February 1874, Page 2

THE PREMIER AT AUCKLAND.

» [aNGLO-AUSTBAMAN PRESS TELEGKAPH AGENCY.] Auckland, Feb. 27. The Premier was entertained at a banquet last evening, in the Choral Hall. Over 125 persons were present, including the Hon. Dr Pollen, Hon. Mr Richardson, the Superintendent, and the Mayor. The Superintendent proposed Mr Vogel's health in eulogistic terms. [Owing to the wires getting clogged with messages the report of Mr Voxel's speech did not get any further south than Wellington untij yesterday afternoon.] Mr Yogel, in replying, said that when he first came to Auckland hu had very great difficulty to contend with. There was strong feeling that one who had only been in the country a few years had no right to take a leading part in the management of affairs of the colony. He had now been eleven years in Parliament, which might fairly be considered a good apprenticeship. He deprecated the remark of the Superintendent that colonies had ceased to take an interest in the affairs of Great Britain. It would rob public life of its charms to him if anything were done to weaken the ties between the colony and mother country. Science has brought this country nearer to the Government of England than Scotland was a few years ago. There was no doubt the time would come when the colonies might be regarded as the centre of the British Empire, which he hoped would be indestructible. Some who believed this were working in England for the right to invest trust fund 3in the Colonies, but that was not permitted yet, although allowed in the case of India. When that was allowed it would mean not only the enhancement of value of pro- ] perty in the Colonies, but would bring j them into much closer relationship with the Empire than they enjoyed at present. That might not come to pass in this generation, but he thought that in the course of time such result would be brought about, and it was possible there might arise a great empire, formed, not only by closer union of the Colonies with England, but by the union of all English speaking countries. A large portion of me speeoh was devoted to local matters.

He contended that Auckland has assured them that there was no " down " upon it in other parts of the Colony. Those threats sometimes used that if demands of Auckland were not conceded she would see that no lands were granted to the South under the compact of 1856 were nonsense. No doubt the compact had not worked well for Auckland, but some allowances had been made for that, and: the compact could not now be upset. "With regard to the removal of the seatof Government he was one of those who opposed it strongly in the outset; and he still believed it an ill-advised measure, and one productive of considerable evil, but he did not think now the seat of Government could ever be brought back to Auckland, as he believed it was firmly established at Wellington. If the question were considered de novo he thought the seat of Government would be taken to Christr church, still he was of opinion that it would be to the interest of the Colony if Wellington were made a federal city, as at present the existence of the Provincial Government there was a great source of mischief. Except for the difficulties arising out of this double Government there was no likelihood of any change being made in the capital of the Colony. He referred at considerable length to the salutary change whicli had taken place in Native affairs, and said the time was not far distant when any Native difficulty need be apprehended. That question might be said to be completely and for ever settled. The Government were opposed to Native lands being purchased by speculators and locked up. The land should be acquired solely by the Government,' in order to promote the advance of settlement. The Government were now pre-j pared to hand over 150,000 acres to the Province, to be purchased out of .the vote of last session for acquiring an estate for the North Island. The revenue derived from the confiscated lands should be devoted towards making roads through those lands. Mr Yogel spoke eulogistically of Mr Russell in his negotiation of the new Californian service. When a separate naval station was established in the Cplony, or au admiral's station in Australia, Auckland would probably be made tha head-quarters of the fleet. From what he knew of the Provinc« of Auckland, he did not think it would prove a wheat growing Province, and was inclined to think that it required some great industry to stand to it in the same relation which the wool growing did to the south, which had proved the principal source of , attraction to population, and had supported other industries. He believed it was the mission of Auckland, owing to the geographical position, to enable the whole Colony to partake of benefits derived from trade with the South Sea Islands. The market offered by those fertile Islands would stimulate the manufactures of the colony,when New Zealand became in the future a large manufacturing colony, which its coal, iron, and other resources so admirably fitted it for. The approaching session, which would, probably, be short, would have to deal with the electoral franchise. The Government would propose manhood suffrage coupled with residence qualification, and abolition of the existing miners franchise. It was also probable though not certain that the House would be called upon to deal comprehensively with the licensing question as well as the conservation of forests. It would not be desired of Government to briny in a large number of bills they were rather disposed t:> say to the country v rest and be thankful." They would certainly not introduce more bills than were necessary, or the country required. The speech occupied over two hours, and was very well received.