PARLIAMENT OUT OF SESSION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3264, 13 March 1885, Page 2

PARLIAMENT OUT OF SESSION.

SIR JULIUS YOGEL AT CHRISTCHURCH. (By Telegraph.) CHBiSTCHiracH, March 12, Sir Juliuß Yogel was entertained at a banquet this evening m the Queen's Theatre by the Mayor and citizens of Chrhtchurch. About 300 gentlemen -were present, including the Hons. W. Reeves, J. T. Peacock, and Colonel Brett, Mr Justice Johnston, and a large number of membora of tho Lower House. The Mayor, Mr 0. P. Hulbert, presided. The gallery was crowded with ladies, among whom was Lady Yogel. Apologies were received from tho Governor and his suite, the Primate, Members of the Ministry, and others. Responding to the toast of the Ministry, Sir Julius Yogel said his colleagues regretted that some of them were unable to be present to see the magnificent way m which he was being entertained. They would soon have to meet judges not so kindly disposed as those present that night. Parliament would very soon assemble, and members of Parliament were quite as ready to see a" Government's faults as its virtues. He would say that, but for Canterbury, the present Government would hardly have been m existence. Tho Mayor, m proposing Sir Julius Vogel's health, gafee a sketch of his career from the time when he edited the Otago Daily Times. The speaker considered that the colony had become much more prosperous since the introduction of Vogel's Public Works Policy. His Worship preiented Sir Julius with a framed set of viewa m Christchurch, arranged around a photograph of the bond entered into by those citizens who paid his election expenses when contesting Christchurch North. The toast was drunk amid great enthusiasm. Sir Julius Yogel said he was at a lobs to express his feelings at the kind way m which he had beon treated by the people of Christchurch. The fact that notwithstanding his absence, he was returned by the largest majority m the colony, and the generous manner m which his Committee had acted, were circumstances which he felt he could only repay by placing at their disposal to the fullest extent the poor abilities he possessed. All would agree that on the present occasion he should introduce as little controversial matter as possible, and he hoped that what he did say would not wound the feelings of any present, even though they might belong to opposite sides of the House. He would take an early opportunity, probably next week, of addressing his constituents when be would more fully explain his views. When he returned to the colony 12 months ago he had no intention of re-entering public life, but ho felt so keenly the sad position of affairs ; there seemed such a want of confidence, that he could not resist the invitation to try if there remained m him any of the old power, as there certainly did of the old wish, to be of benefit to the colony. Of the many proffers of Beats he then received he accepted that from Christchurch, mainly because he felt the warm support manifested would be of great assistance to him. Any influence he possessed had been much increased by the warm support and advice he received from friends m Canterbury. Particulars relating to his joining the Government and to the history of the last session, would be more m place m his address to his constituents. There was one subject which so occupied the minds of men, and indeed of the fair sex also, throughout the colonies, that lie would not omit reference to it. Every person must he desirous of knowing the intentions of the Government as to rendering aid to the Mother Country m regard to the Soudan campaign, and also as to placing this colony m a fairly efficient condition of defence. Were fche people of New Zealand to run the chance of loss, not only of that resulting from the visit of a privateer, . bub of that severe shock that would bo felt by all, if a powerful English colony like this were lying helpless at the mercy of an enemy ? Material losses would sink into insignificance before such humiliation as that. The circumstances of New Zealand and New South Wales were so different that what was expedient m one case, might not be so m the other. Firstly, nothing could give to the offer of troops from New Zealand or any other colony that freshness and spontaneity which distinguished that of New South Wales, which hod stood forth as the representative of the Colonial Empire ready to aid England if necessary. Would it not be mistaken patriotism to offer to send men to defend other parts of tho Empire, when we had not done sufficient to defend ourselves ? The Government did not think anything should be done without consulting Parliament. If it were decided to send men to the Soudan, no doubt a very fine body might be sent. In defending this colony we were defending the interest of the whole Empire, for our disasters or successes would have an effect throughout that Empire. He looked upon these colonies as nurseries for the future defence of tho Empire, and felt that we should be doing - the best thing for the glory of the British Crown by raising up men capable of both extending tho prosperity of the colonies and of defending the honor of the British m these seas. The Government had determined to propose a definite scheme by which, within a reasonable time, they would put into an efficient condition of defence the four principal harbors of New Zealand, viz., Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Dunedin. It was not, however, enough "to say they intended making these proposals to Parliament. The present was a stirring time, when there was more or less omergency. No time, therofore, must be lost m mounting the guns now m the colony. He (Sir Julius) could not help feeling that while he would not m the smallest degree derogate from the patriotic action of New South Wales, the Soudan war, apart from the necessity of avenging Gordon, was_ not one which would excite much enthusiasm throughout the Empire. It might, however, bo well for Parliament to consider whether this colony could not contribute — not men' whom they could not spare— but perhaps money, or produce, for the aid of tho troops fighting m the desert. Referring to the East and West Coast Railway, he said that he was an ardent believer m it. Tho more he learned of it the more convinced was ho of the justice of his opinion that the line should be made by private enterprise if possible, and if not, by Government. Two t pf his colleagues, Metsri Stout and (ur&toh, had recently

vißited'-tjhe •West' Ooaßt, and had come to believe m, that railway as much as he did himself. . They felt it would be almost a siu not to develop e the resources of the We»fc Coast. In mentioning Mr Larnach j ho could not refrain -from referring to the great need for encouraging mining pursuits. He believed large deposits of gold were still existing m New Zealand, and thought that a great part of the present depression m the world resulted from the fact that the present output of the precious metal was not a quarter of the depreciation by wear and tear. The making of the West Coast railway meant bringing a vast trade to Christchurch, indeed to botli coasts of the island. The products of both sides would be exchanged. The timber trade of the West Coast alone was capable of vast expansion, and would expand vastly when the harbors of the West Coast were made accessible to large ships. The probabilities of this railway being carried out were fairly good. He had telegraphed to tho" Agent-General asking what the delegates recently sent Home were doing, and he had received the following reply : — " Delegates working discreetly and safely at the tentative steps necessary at present." Please inform Canterbury and Nelson." . He considered this satisfactory. He would like to Bay that ho belioved Canterbury depended too much on wool and whent, and he thought that her range of production should be extended. He had heard a rumor that certain opponents of the Government intended getting up a party, as it were, by creating antagonism between towns and the country. He hoped this was not true. It would be a mistake to do so. The towns depended on the country, and the two should work together m harmony. Coining to the subject of local government lie aaid that after conferring with his colleagues, lie had concluded that it would not be necessary to call together the Chairmen of the local bodies to confer with the Government, as he had before suggested. The views of the Government on the subject were definite enough to set before Parliament, and under the circumstances, time for the conference could not be afforded. The Government's idea was to lead up to a system whereby all .districts m the colony should be either within towns or within counties. Obviously if that was to be the case, the sub-division of the counties must be so arranged as to afford due protection to local finance, and due consideration for local wants. The Government thought that local bodies should have gjme system of finance, so that they need not have to come as suppliants for exceptional assistance to Parliament. The main objects of local government wero attention to roads, bridges, and sanitary matters. In the last term he included attention to the dwellings of the working classes, to settling people on the land, and to village settlements. By planting these m the neighborhood of large towns they would be doing some something to provent the recurrence of the unemployed and other difficulties. He did not believe a return to the provincial system was possible. One good point of that system was the facility it offered for the relegation of power to the local authority, and the present Government thought that the system of relegating certain powers to local bodies could be established with advantage. The control of the police to a certain extent was one thing concerning which some power might be thus relegated. They felt, however, that what was suitable for one part of the colony was not fitted for another, and so many systems must be elastic m their character. Ho paid a warm tribute to the memory of William Seffcon Moorhouse, remarking that he felt that the proposals of the Government m 186S were not bo large m proportion as the heroic proposals made to a mere handful ol people to construct, the Lyttelton tunnel, Canterbury should also be proud of the faci that the local New Zealand Shipping Com' gany had been the pioneer of direct steam. Ec would not, however, undervalue the services of the Shaw-Saville and Albion Company, but must express his deep regret at the death of one of their directors, Mr Galbraith. With regard to the management of therailways, the people of Chrißtchurch had that day seen a eight which they would not perhaps have seen had not the Stout- Vogel Government been m power — the large number of visitors from Timaru. Cheap excursion trains were a part of the policy introduced by the Hon. E. Richardson, not without grave consideration and great opposition. These trains inaugurated a new era of railway management. The Government's idea was that it was better' that six persons should contribute to railways than that one should do so ; therefore they strove to induce the public to use the linos. He believed, however, that they would not get an absolutely satisfactory management of the railways, no matter how good Minister, till they were vested m non-political boards. The Government were of opinion generally, that, m order to prevent scrambling for new lines, it should be distinctly understood ac soon as possible what were to be considered as trunk lines, though it was not to be expected that these were, therefore, to be made all at once. If the colony was to be protected from scrambling the persons asking for railways should be prepared to bear part of the cost. Dealing , with . the subject ol finance, Sir Julius said that the brilliant success of the last million loan was a complete vindication of the policy oi the Government last session. Information a( bis hand led him to believe that New Zealand, m comparison with other countries, was exceptionally prosperous. Auckland and other parts of the North Island were exceedingly prosperous, and it was not to be eipected that the depression would long continue to rage m other portions ' of the colony. He concluded ■by again -.warmly thanking the people of Christchurch for their- kindly reception, and. proposed the health of the Mayor. His speech was received with great approbation throughout, and at the close was loudly applauded. . The other , principal toasts were "The Parliament of New Zealand " and " The Agricultural, Commercial, Pastoral and Industrial Interests." The speeches made were not of much general interest, but the gathering altogether was exceedingly successful.