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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4244, 27 October 1874, Page 2

The Otago Daily Times has a well-con-sidered article upon the telegraphic summary of Sir Geobob Gbby’s memorial to His Excellency, which,, by the way, has not yet reached Wellington. The Times says : .7 ■ i To every one who dispassionately considers Sir Oeohoe’s petltlon-ln the light of the present condition of affairs in New Zealand, these circumstances which have caused him to approach its perusal with an exceptional feeling of interest will only prove to be cumulative reasons for disappointment. For the document Itself has a twofold character. As a mere protest against hasty legislation it will carry with it the sympathy of every man. But as a manifesto against the long foreseen and now rapidly approaching abolition of the provincial system of government, it la but the plaintive whine of an inventor, who seea his Ingenious devices about to bo superseded by more

practically useful improvements, the value of which has been determined not by theory, but by the hard logic of experience. The burden of the argument, which lies half-buried in this rambling petition, is that the General Assembly of New Zealand does not represent its people : that the Provincial Councila and the Superintendents do, and that therefore it will bo dangerous to our liberties if the superior Legislature should be permitted to alter the status, character, or functions of the inferior. Like a great many other arguments, this one is unassailable if we do but grant the premises. "We are not prepared to do anything of the sort in this case. No one can read this petition without coming to the conclusion that Sir Geokge Obey is lamentably wanting in acquaintance with the present condition of affairs in this colony. Half-a-dozen years of constant and rapid change have rendered his knowledge of the circumstances and requirements of the people of New Zealand and his theories on the subject of their good government alike obsolete. That he does not perceive this fact is a thing that may well bo forgiven him, so long as ho lives in obscure retirement at Kawau. Not so when ho undertakes to define a line of conduct for the Governor of the colony, when ho lends the weight of his name and fame to statements about onr affairs which are very wide of the truth, when ho brings to bear all the influence naturally and properly accruing from a long and distinguished career in the public service to thwart the cherished desires of the great bulk of the people of Now Zealand. He makes one statement In the document before us, which, if ho could establish it as a fact, would render all the rest of the petition a waste of Words. He assorts without qualification, and evidently with a childlike faith in the truth of his belief, that “ the provincial or federal system has been perfectly successful in this country.” Why ! the only argument that over was advanced in favor of the abolition of that system has been that it has In the past been only partially successful, and is at the present time, in many cases an utter failure. * * * with the immediate prayer of the petition we need not deal. It is in the last degree unlikely that Sir James Febgusson or his successor will call the Assembly together at this season of the year, or at any time in the absence of the Premier. The alleged fact of what Sir George Gbev says he has boon ■“ credibly informed," viz., that ono of the objects of Mr. Vogel’s visit to England, is to obtain an alteration by the British Parliament of the New Zealand'Constitution Act, has been authoritatively denied. This sudden burst upon the arena of Now Zealand politics to vrhich Sir Ghobok Gbey’b faltering affection for his bantling constitution has incited him, seems to us from beginning to end an ill-con-sidered proceeding, and about the last his career as our Governor would have led us to expect from him.