SIR JULIUS VOGEL AT LAWRENCE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 770, 3 December 1886, Page 30

SIR JULIUS VOGEL AT LAWRENCE.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Dunedin, November 26. Sir J. Vogel and a number of Dunedin citizens visited Lawrence to-day. After visiting Blue Spur and Weatherstones the party were entertained at a banquet. In the evening Sir Julius Vogel addressed a crowded audience in the Town Hall, the Mayor presiding. Sir Julius said he regarded his present visit rather as a friendly than a political one. He referred to the past his-‘ tory of the Tuapeka district, and to his own early connection with it. He expatiated on the benefits that accrued to the country from gold mining, and expressed hiß opinion that the gold in New Zealand was not nearly exhausted, but that there would be large gold discoveries in the future. The present “ appreciation ” of gold, as it was called, by increasing the purchasing power of the sovereign, gave advantages to persons with fixed incomes over the working portion of the community, and had more or less been an active cause of the present depression throughout the whole world. No greater service could be rendered to mankind at present than a great gold discovery to replenish the world’s stock of the precious metal. It was curious how rapidly large capital was being subscribed in England for the purpose of goldmining in the colonies. At the risk of being thought rather mad on the subject, he would express the opinion that there was enough gold in the Clutha River alone to make every one in. Otago rich, and it seemed to him a reproach to the energy of the community that for twenty years it should have been allowed to rest with little effort to obtain it." He believed that if more skilful and systematic efforts were made to obtain it great results might ensue. There were signs of a great revival in mining. He had lately heard of a case in Wellington where a gentleman recently sold for £1 some 1200 shares in a West Coast Quartz Company, because he was tired of paying the calls, and those shares were now selling at over £2 each. He thought the Government might take credit for some share in bringing about the mining survival, seeing the special attention they had given to mining matters. The Minister of Mines had spared no pains in his efforts to do all he could to benefit the goldfields. The Mining Act introduced by the Government, and passed through Parliament last session, would be found a most valuable boon. He regretted that the Gold Duty Reduction Bill had been thrown out by the Legislative Council, but hoped that it would pass next year. Sir Julius Vogel referred to the measures passed by the Government in the last session in relation to local government and local finance. He recognised that construction of railways would only be successful when associated with the settlement of land. 'lt was too early in the recess to give them a forecast of coming political measures. He might generalise, but certainly could not specialise. They might depend upon the

Government continuing to show the greatest* possible attention to that cardinal point of "their policy—the development and encouragement of colonial industries. He -, did not allude to the protection of any particular interest, but the Government believed that the prosperity of the Colony and the happiness of thecolonists were largely dependent upon satisfactory employment being available, and that the Colony possessed pre-emi-nently the means of affording encouragement to< those willing to work. He referred to the possibilities of wealth in our coalmines, forests, and fisheries, and said that the Government fully recognised the necessity of promoting the settlement of the land. New Zealand ought to be able not only to* supply herself with agricultural produce, bufcalso tb export it profitably to distant countries. The Government could not do much with regard to individuals, and the less it attempted to do so the better for . the prosperity ofjthe whole community. It was an open secret that the revenue had notrealised expectations. The chief shortcoming had been in Customs, and that was due largely to the more temperate habits of the people. From that point of, view, it could not be called a misfortune. The ad valorem duties had yielded less because there had been a redaction in the price of the goods, and also because aless quantity had been imported owing to the development of local industries. Neither' of these things could be deemed a mis--fortude. The • Government were making an effort to retrench as far as possible withoutimpairing efficiency. Had he spoken to them; last year he should have gone very largely into the question of railway construction andof future works, but the last loan had not. yielded a satisfactory price, and he anticipated that Parliament would deem it wisefor some time to come to carry only to completion the . railways already authorised, and to abstain so far as possible from going to the London market for fresh loans. (Applause.) A vote of thanks to Sir Julius Vogel was carried, on the motion of Mr H. C. Clayton, seconded by Mr Fraser. The latter, in speaking to the motion, said he was glad to find that time had not impaired Sir Julius Vogel’s power as a statesman, and he hoped that on some future occasion he would give them a s.eech. more worthy of the high position he held. Sir Julias Vogel, in acknowledging the vote of thanks, said he was sure tins last remark, was not meant unkindly, bat meant only that the speech was not such as he would have delivered had he come there last year* or had-he come to expound the policy of the Government. The policy of the Govern* ment waa not a’ thing to be lightly dealt with, and he thought they had made it evident by their actions and speeches. Last year the Government had been the subject of a great deal of unkind criticism, it being said that they were endeavoring to puzzle the electors by giving them little items of information, which were as difficult to put together as a Chinese puzzle. That was said last year, and it would be better not to begin such a puzzle again at such an early period. Sir Julius Vogel concluded amid loud applause, -and the meeting then closed. Sir Julius and his party returned to Dunedin by special train.