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Lyttelton Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1229, 30 April 1864, Page 4

■The prompt action taken by Canterbury in the matter of the Panama Contract has secured the co-operation of Wellington. An unobtrusive paragraph, which appears elsewhere in our columns, announces that the Government of Wellington are prepared, subject to the approval of the Provincial Council, to join in guaranteeing the amount of the subsidy in excess of 30,000. Not only is our liability thus divided, and assistance in carrying a grant of sufficient amount in the next Session of the Assembly rendered certain, but we gain the means of offering an additional security to the contractors at home, who, if they see a majority of the colony in favour of the contract, can have no hesitation in giving effect to it. We may expect to hear from both Nelson and Marlborough in a few days, and there is little doubt that the answer will be favorable. Nelson seemed to give up all prospect of the service as hopeless, after the decision of the General Government was announced; but we observe in the papers so many and such keen expressions of regret, that the sympathy of the public may be relied upon, aud we hope also the material co-operation of the Government of that province. From Havvkes Bay and Marlborough, aud even from Taranaki, warm support may be looked for to strengthen the hands of the guaranteeing provinces; and if we mistake not, it will found that the people of Otago are not so enthusiastic about the Auckland alliance as to refuse their approval to the scheme which is now on foot for the common interest of the colony. If a prospect of success be necessary to stir up our neighbours, we may point to the action already taken, and to the list of members of the House of Representatives whose opinions are practically already expressed on the subject of Panama. We strongly advise the public of Otago to throw off the veil with which it has been tried to blind them to their real good. Politically, the step now entered upon has a significance far beyond its immediate effect. It is no light matter that four or five provinces should assume in colonial affairs an independent attitude, and federate themselves to oppose the policy or amend the fault of the General Government. If the Government do not at once yield, so far at least as to reconsider their decision, the combination of the provinces will result in an independent act which will probably form an epoch in our constitutional history. The importance of the crisis is heightened by the fact that the provinces concerned in the present step have a common —and so to speak exclusive —interest in the seat of Government question. These two objects of the central provinces are of such importance as to bind them for a time in a close confederation which will have a tendency to become firmer against opposition. If it should happen also that the goldfields of Marlborough prove sufficiently rich and extensive to attract and maintain a large population, the political future of JN'ew Zealand will be practically settled in the relatively diminished importance of either extreme of the colony. We trust that the events of the present time may have the effect of settling at least one of our most troublesome questions of state. Their future operation is a subject worthy the thought of our statesmen.