THE Otago Daily Times.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 139, 26 April 1862, Page 4

THE Otago Daily Times.

" Inveniam viam aut faciam."

DUNEDIN/ SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 1862.

At length the first blow in the cause of Separation is about to be struck. A requisition is in. course of signature to his Honor the Superintendent to call a public meeting in aid of the movement. It is only fro my the Want of a well concerted organization that the separation lias not been brought about years ago. There never was a public question which enjoyed so much individual support, and which has benefited so little from concerted action. From the far north of New Zealand to the extreme south, and from the lowliest person in the community to the most exalted, advocates for separation, have from time to time proclaimed themselves, but their exertions have been profitless, jbecause they were- wholly wanting in organization. Sir George Grey, thirteen years ago, in a document to which we have already referred, declared himself a. Separationist. Could anything be stronger than the remark—"l- have never, seen a -country better adapted. for the reception of immigrants, my only apprehension is the distance of this point from the. seat of Government, from which cause I fear very serious inconvenience; perhaps disaster, may spring." S{r George wrote the dispatch of which the above is an extract, after paying a visit to Otago, prior to the 'arrival of the first batch of Emigrants. He saw Otago in its virgin state, the green grass grew in untrodden luxury over the now, well worn streets of its capital town. The instincts of the bushman were the only roads into t,he interior, the banks of the rivers were unpeopled, the silent watere flowed through hundreds of miles of, country now resounding with the " busy hum of men. 1' But Sir George realised the position, and? appreciated -the fnture that was in store for the unpeopled wilderness about which he wrote. The Middle Island was then governad from Wellington, tot Auckland, but said. Sir George Grey .after examining the country, "The distance of this port ot the Middle Island from, Wellington leads ; us, however, to apprehend that the. early settlers 'at Otago and. its vicinity will experience considerable disadvantages "from the'remoteness of the seat of Government, which will be situated on the Northern Island." He then—the far-seeing man—goe3 on to recommend thatthe new land should at once be confided to the distinct charge- of a LieutenantGovernor, and suggests that from its revenue six thousand pounds should be put apart to defray the Co3t of Government and of the civil service; "and, I believe," he added, "that with the advantage of possessing, from its earliest days, the presence of an efficient local Government, the'progress of the settlements formed in the Southern Province would be so rapid, that.it would shortly yield a surplus revenue-" Sir George Grey was the first separationist, and he would consult his own reputation if lie would resume the agitation of a question which does so: much credit to his character for discernment. Mr. Sevvell, the present Attorney-General, and the ablest man in the Ministry, was the next prominent separationist: he also declared that the Middle Island could never be. efficiently governed from the Northern. Another member of the. Ministrj', Mr- Crosbie Ward, is also a declared separationist;. and a third acting member, without a seat in the Cabinet, Mr. Dillon Bell,' is said to be favorably affected towards it. -If we descend to the ranks of persons who have not achieved for themselves public distinction, but'who nevertheless are influential in their own circles, we find amongst them individually an evident desire for separation. From the communications made to us—but publication of which is not authorised —we are in a position to say, that in all ranks of residents, not only in this but in neighboring Provinces, the feeling in favor of separation, is of the strongest character. . ■..-'-■ How comes it, then, that that feeling has never found an exponent in the shape of a consistent agitation? We answer, because the machinery for s agitation has been wanting The press throughout New. Zealand is devoted to Provincial politics, anything outside the charmed circle ;of provincial, party difference, is regarded by them with dulled attention. Some interest they have given to the native question, but even that they:have managed to interweave with; provincial considerationsThus we see journals.of undoubted, ability, employing all their energies in fighting with local contemporaries advocating opposite opinions on provincial questions. The grossest personalities even are indulged in. The Wellington papers, for instance, write about each other what their editors would hesitate to give verbal utterance to. At Auckland, the seat of government, the papers are engaged ia constant warfare over provincial affairs, and even in Canterbury, that model province, the Press, a journal of undoubted talent, and in many respects, enlarged views,l never tires of " pitching into " the dominant Provincial party, and favors its readers with long articles concerning the personnel of its proprietors, and as-, to whether its peculiar Provincial views are based on personal or national considerations. Why, should not these journals roam outside their provinces .lor a moment, and enter into the discussion of a question in which they and their readers are more interested than they seem to be aware of? Public opinion in favor of Separation has grown up in spite of them, let them now aspire to lead it. It is not to be expected that they will all hold exactly si/niW view«, but in the ventilation they will aiii>rJ lo tlu question, they will benefit it, even if in dealing with it they oppose it. The agitation will be commenced in earnest in Otago, and we are much mistaken if its effect be not soon apparent, through the length and breadth of the Middle Island. Mr. Gladptone, it is asserted,- has -promised, in "-he -event of aa influentially signed jnemo-

rial in favor of Separation being . sent home", to afford it all the support he can, consistent with his official position. The separaHonists do not seek to repudiate any liabilities the Middle Tsland may have incurred in regard to the native question. Whatever the cost of adjusting past transactions, they are willing to contribute their share. But that settled, they ask to be relieved i of-the constant expense of governing a country, peopled with two races; they ask to be relieved of their unfortunate dependence upon a distant Government which interests itself only on native questions, to the exclusion of all matters of domestic importance; they ask that they shall derive the advantage of their own resources,, their own industry, their own. revenue ; they seek release- from the cheerless bondage of an enforced union with an uncongenial associate. We believe the whole of the Middle Island is ripe for the precipitation of the question, and the agitation once set afloat, we predict it will gather strength in its passage, and soon prove -to those who opnose it, its irresistable nature. '

Mb CiiosßiE Ward finding, on Mr. Blackwood's return, that the Provincial Government of Otago had not concluded.a contract with that gentleman, entered into one on behalf of the General Government for a period of three months, for taking back the mails from Otago to Mglbourne. The terms are as follows: ,a steamer to. leave Otago for Melbourne on the ,17th of May, June, an.l July, conveying the Mails of all the New Zealand1 Provinces for the sum of £550 each tripIt will be seen thatthe service is only .'a temporary one ;in the ..interim,'. Mr. Ward presumes ,we suppose, that the Provincial Government will carry out.its : pledge of providing an efficient service both ways. : ■. ,'■ - '

It is to be hoped that the Council will make an investigation into the matter, or else depute the same to the Executive, and place on the estimates sufficient to cover the expense of entering into the contract.

It should be recollected that -all that has been paid before concerning the desirability of the Province retaining the control of the service: between Melbourne and Otago in its own hands, still holds. Whilst the General Government retains that control, Otago will never be secure that either this or any future Government will not subordinate the interests of the Province to other considerations. In short, Otago may be made a mere port of call, the same: as the-other Provinces .along the coast, instead of the terminal point'of arrival and departure of the English mails for all New Zealand. Under any circumstances, Otago will pay the lion's share of the cost. At the rate which Otago is now contributing towards the General Government revenue, it will have to pay a full- half of the entire cost of the service just arranged by Mi". Ward, whilst, if the Province had arranged the contract on its own. behalf, no difficulty would have been found in getting a contribution from the other Provinces for a considerable portion, if not a full half, of the entire sum. Paying the piper in cither case, the question resolves itself into this, should Otago prefer to relinquish, or retain the control of the mail service, which makes it the postal depot of the whole colony ?

| The probable cost is not one that should j frighten the Colony. "We observe that British I Columbia has just contracted for a fortnightly mail service between San Francisco and Vie- , toria, for £ 10,000 per annum—the voyage be--1 ing only a- short one. Again, Mr. Ward proposes a monthly coastal stuamer to run between Sydney, Nelson, and Wellington, or between Sydney and one of the Provinces just mentioned and Canterbury, for the sum of £5000 .annually, the expense to be divided between the Provinces and the General Government. Surely if £5000 is to be given for a monthly service like this, which is entirely of a local nature, and comprehends no advantage for mail purposes, a larger sum should not be grudged for a fortnightly service which will benefit the entire Colony. We have before now expressed the opinion, that it would be a most suicidal course for the Province to part with its control over the Melbourne service, and we certainly see no reason to depart from that opinion Either way, Otago will pay the bulk of the cost. In the one, it will be certain of obtaining substantial considerations ; in the- other, it may or may not, as the chance may be. If Mr. Ward intends to leave ihc subsequent negotiation to the Province, he will not materially have departed from thu spirit of the arrangement agreed on when he was down here. We cannot ai.tru.utJ to him any other intention, seeing tha- it would inTolve a fa/taeh of faith that we are to pix ouinc Mr. Crosbie Ward would shrink irom being a party to. .Nevertheless, Mr. Ward gives colour to suspicion by the strange course he adopts--. lusead of coming back. by way of Otago, he has gone to Auckland via of Sydney,' a longer and more irksome route. Seeing the unsettled nature of the affair, he might have stretched a point to take Ofago on his way instead of making it his purpose to avoid it. At any rate we trust that the Chamber of Commerce ( which has strenuously advocated the retaining by Otago the contract of the service, will meet to consider the present aspect of the afiair, and communicate with the local Government upon it. It should also be taken into account, that the service, as now arranged, is a mixed' one. The English mails are brought down under a contract (a very unsatisfactory one we admit) with the Provincial Government, whilst the return mails for England are provided for by a General Government contract. It is evident that this arrangement wil