New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1874.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4196, 1 September 1874, Page 2

New Zealand Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1874.

Whilst we are quite willing to believe that the motive which prompted the members of both branches of the Legislature to invite. His Excellency the Governor to a farewell banquet was that good feeling founded on esteem, respect, and' wellwishing, which should exist on the part of a host towards his guest, we cannot but see that the speeches made at such an occasion are invested with a peculiar significance and importance from circumstances that possibly migjit not'enter into the calculation of either the inviters or the invited. In saying this we wish to in no way detract from the credit that is certainly due to hon. members of both Chambers for tho action they took. HiS Excellency the. Governor, we: are\bold to say, deserved this compliment at their hands.; He has not been in New Zealand very long; but he has done as much as he could to' make himself acquainted with its natural capacities and requirements. We say what is a mere matter of notoriety when we add .that all business connected with his high office is conducted with a method and regularity that wore novel in New Zealand. , The intelligent support that he;haslent to the Cabinet in the,conduct of the great, policy which is being steadily developed throughout the Colony is no secret.; The invitation given to His Excellency by both branches of the liegis lature is a recognition of all this ; but, as we have said, from ■ the very force of circumstances, it eventuated in something more. Very likely most intelligent persons will endorse the conclusion arrived at, by the lion, chairman on the occasion, that our regret at the departure of His Excellency may be tempered with the feeling that if we lose a Governor we shall gain an advocate: Not until the papers relating to the South Sea scheme of the Premier were laid on the.table could it be told how far the Governor approved of the bold policy of his Ministers. Many persons, who would have wavered in their support to this policy, would feel safe in accepting it when.they saw that His Excellency, after closely considering the project, considered it feasible. A reason, closely akin to the foregoing one, has rendered His Excellency's speech on Friday night of rather more than usual import. It was one that probably he would not have delivered had ha not ; felt that he was on the eve of being* separated from the Colony. On such an occasion he would feel justified— : we might almost say he would be impelled—to give what. would be an opinion respecting topics of current interest. It is not to be understood that because the Governor lends a loyal support to whatever Ministry should happen to be in office, he therefore approves of the policy being pursued. The course of legislation during the session had been of a somewhat unexpected and surprising nature. Many persons having confidence in the cool judgment of His Excellency,» would be glad: of an opportunity of, finding what his opinion respecting some projected changes really is. On Friday night, without Bpeaking • directly to the question, he could and did giire a very clear indication what views he holds.

One of the "blazing and smoking" questions of the day is contained in the proposition to abolish Provincialism in ' the North Island. ' No one would expect, that Sir James should say that the time has really come when, for divers.reasons, this institution should be swept away. But he could and did tell his hearers that some branches .of tlie public service—the gaols, asylums, &c, under the especial charge of the Provincial authorities, are not creditable to the Colony. And the same remark applies to the educational establishments under the control of some of the Provincial Governments. Sir James was especially pronounced on this subject. It was, said ho, a first duty of the Legislature to see to the thorough education of the people of the Colony ; and care;. should be .taken, not only that children should go to school, but that .they should be properly taught' by competent persons when they are there. These are works that, - if Provincialism be abolished in the North Island, the General Government must superintend. On the authority of His Excellency, who has been through the length and breadth of the Colony,and who _js a close observer of the working of all such institutions, Provincial; Governments do not make them as effective for the purposes they are designed as they might be. If so, there is a very strong case made out for a change. It was proof to the contrary of such an allegation as that preferred that wb required /from some of speakers w ( hp opposed the resolutions of the Government. Instead of this, what did wo get.?,. Statements without a sha'dow of fact to rest upon, predictions that had no foundation save in the imaginations of those who uttered them, and vapid warnings to which no weight could be attached by either friends or foes. Even from'the" not undeserved compliment' which His Excellency paid to the conduct of business in both Chambers of the Legislature, we may draw an inference what his opinion on the subject we have been alluding to roaUy is. He complimented the Now Zealand Parliament at the expense of those of the Colonies. In this, we freely admit, he'.was fully-justi-fied. The session that has ju&t closed affords warrant for this. One third of the business thon gone through would ha,ve lasted a Victorian or South Australian Parliament at least two years to only talk about, after which legislation would bo apparontly.as near as when the subject was first broached. His Excellency was clearly of opinion that the Parliament could, and would if permitted, legislate with advantago to the community on matters • that are now under Provincial control.

Tho. other "blazing and smoking" question to which Sir James addressed himself was one of the most profound

importance. allude to the national*j indebtedness : of the Colony. •We certainly-1 ha" ye: not 'viewed this with alarm, because ■ we see clearlyjthat although the people of this: Colony are taxedjiiglier than those'; in in, consequence of the better? rate of wages prevailing they are better able to bear the burden. ■ His Excellency, however, takes a still bolder view of the, case. The land of this, Colony, as he pointed out, is'innnitely more fertile than that "of* "and :"comparatively cheaper. If ,then, by means of railways, the productiveness ; of the country'be infinitely increased,,there is as little reason to view with alarm expenditure upon the construction of railways in the Colony, as there was to view, the enormous expenditure that took place in,England during the past half century with apprehension.-, The subject has apparently received all the attention its importance waranted at the hands of His Excellency, he has talked it over carefully with gentlemen with whom he has been politically associated in England, and the conclusion arrived at has been favorable to the policy pursued by the Ministry. Indeed, His Excellency's remarks, whilst"" they evidenced approval of the conduct of the Parliament in endorsing the policy of Ministers, in reality contained a very high compliment to the Premier. The Governor, it is evident, is as surely convinced of the great future there is before New Zealand; if but the present policy be continued, as he is that the sun will rise and set till the end of time. The Colony will, said he, become the home of ;millions of the human race at no very distant period. Whilst, we rejoice, as we are sure many reflective persons will, to find- testimony to the wisdom of the course being pursued, coming from so high a source, and one so worthy of our deepest respect, we can scarcely do otherwise than contrast it with the croakings we occasionally hear, of the ruin impending if the present policy be persevered with. Either His Excellency is wrong, or some of the' prophets of evil in our midst are. We prefer to think that he is right, and we are glad that the members of ... the .Legislature have afforded the intelligent people of the Colony an opportunity of obtaining the opinion of one so well qualified in every way to judge as ; His Excellency, respecting the important topics 'to which public attention has recently been directed.