THE DUNEDIN PRESS ON VOGEL'S CHALLENGE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6117, 11 January 1887, Page 3

THE DUNEDIN PRESS ON VOGEL'S CHALLENGE.

(IBOM ODB OWN CORRESPONDENT 1 )

Donbdin, January 11. Ditcuuiui; the Tretsurer'a letter the Times makes bold to think that of all the silly things that have ever been done or uttered by men in important public position*, a proportion ao naked in all its vulgar charlatancy, so demoralising in aim, and so hopelesily impoisible of attainment in aotion, has never yet proceeded from a Miniiter of the Crown in any English speaking country in the world. With all the evidence of bona fides before us the nnoomfortable feeling will recur, that we are being hoaxed, that the letter is really the production ol some wag whose objeot is to bold up Sir J, Yogel to ridicule and oontempt. If one political economical question oan be settled in this happy fashion, why not all others. Why maintain costly ParlUmentary and legal inaittutions in the faco of so original and so cheap a method of settling • controversy and discovering the trnth< If the " fiscal policy" of this colosy oan be satisfactorily decided by a ten-pound note, there should be many questions capable of final solution for ten shillings, or even less. For the purposes ,of adjudication and settlement there are 'only three sorts of persons in tbe colony — freetraders, protectionists, and person! whe knpw nothing about the subject and have formed no opinion*, Obviously no referee could be got from the third class, as it is oot customary in any quarter of the world to select judges whose sole qualification is ignorance of the tubjecta on which they have to adjudicate Would Yogel be willing to risk his convictions and his £10 by remitting the question to a freetrader, or doei he think there ia any freetrader who for the same purpose would accept a protectionist? The proposal from beginning to end is a pieoe of absurdity. The Btar after reminding Sir Julius Yogel of Dr Johnson's dictum that a bet is tbe last argumentof a fool, says "the letter is to inconceivably abiurd we at firet enspected a hoax, but there would seem to be no doubt as to its genuineness. It will be curious to observe how he may design to make the two horses pull together, prohibition of imports and oustoms duties. Can it be he is prepued to throw over the moit cherished notion of his political in-

teUegence »nd depend upon direct taxation! It so it it %0 be regretted he thould ft»?fl' put the cart before the horse aud destroy customi revenue by prohibitive duties, instead of by remission. Suoh a policy must assuredly tend to impoveriihthe people.

This evening an initiatory service in con* nection with the conference will he held in the Christ Church Schoolroom, when the Bey. M.r Towgood will preaoh. To-mor-mil afternoou Bishop Hadfield will deliver nil inaugural sddreio. Mr John Wation desires us to state that he is waiting patiently for proceedings to be taken agamit him by the County Council for pulling down the fence on the ' Dune Town bridle path. He admits bavins done so, and contends that he was quite justified in his aotion. If be was, all we oan say it that tbe, dwellers on that tide of |he river are to be pitied, as their raaa is quite unfit for ttock tnffio and their use of it most riiky, if suoh be indulged in, as it will be tbe case if Mr Watson is right in hit contention.

For continuation of Rtadinq Matter tee s fourth Pogt-