THE PROPOSED CONFERENCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 625, 25 May 1870, Page 3

THE PROPOSED CONFERENCE.

If any doubt existed as to the collapse of the proposed colonial congress in London, it can exist no longer. The project, which looked so strong and lively six months ago, is dead, and some of our journals have been pronouncing funeral orations over its grave. The gentlemen who, at a critical juncture in New Zealand history, undertook to interpret and express what they believed to be. the general sentiments of the colonists regarding the modern policy of the Colonial Office, have bean very unhandsomely treated. Chaffed by Earl Granville, lectured by the British press, disavowed by the colonial Governments, and sneered at by jealous compatriots, they have had a very unenviable time of it. Everything and everybody seem te have gone against them. Replies from several of the colonial Governments appealed to by the committee represented by Messrs Youl, Sewell, and Blame had already been published, disapproving the proposed conference ; and last week the Times gave publicity to a further batch of correspondence in the same strain, from New Zealand and Queensland. The authorities of those two colonies express themselves as perfectly content with existing relations, compliment Earl Granville on the courtesy and patriotism of his circular, and administer a cruel snub to the " busybodies " who so impertinently ventured to interfere in their affairs. The lesson will probably not be lost upon " colonials at home," and on some future occasion, when difficulties arise, and the sympathy and co-operation of these gentlemen are invoked, they may not unwisely remember the counsel so insultingly tendered to them— to mind their own business.