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Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3191, 5 May 1871, Page 2

It is always pleasant to gain adherents. They may not have many intrinsic virtues, but still in counting heads, there they are. But it is particularly pleasant ; to gain adherents to any cause or policy from the ranks of the Opposition. It is not necessary that the conversion be openly avowed, but it is desirable, in politics at least, that the Opposition should ppenly endorse the policy of the Government in as nearly as possible their own words. We have, therefore, particular satisfaction in putting before our readers the following expressions of opinions approving of the Government policy so nearly identical with those with which they have been long familiar in our columns, that we need no parallel columns to point out their resemblance : — " Every fresh road that is 1 made, every fresh settlement that is planted, not ouly strengthens us but at the same time weakens the Maori. There seems at present to be no danger of open violence being offered by the Maoris in the West Coast District, and it will be useless to spend money righting for a bar ren right over unoccupied territory which sooner or later is certain to fall into our hands." And again — "A portion of the anunal sum authorised by the General Assembly to be spent in the construction of roads in the North Island has been devoted to the formation of a tramway from . Palmerston to Foxton, the latter township being situated on the banks of the Manawatu, where the river is navigable ; the work is being vigorously prosecuted under the auspices of Mr Halcombe, and before a great time has elapsed, timber will be brought down in large quantities for shipment — a ready market for it being found in the Middle Island, and in those portions of this island where it is not procurable. Owing to the abundance of material on the spot, and the level nature of the ground, the tramway will be comparatively inexpensive, and it can be so constructed that iron rails can be substituted for wooden ones on the sleepers, should a railway become necessary. The supply of timber both on European and Maori land is almost inexhaustible, and there is every prospect that the demand for it will be such as to render the tramway very soon a reproductive work, as a small tonnage toll could be levied without being felt as a burden. Here then is an opportunity for introducing a permanent European population into at least one of the valueless spots of the Province. And again we have endeavoured to direct attention to the resources which we possess in our territorial estate— an estate as yet almost intact, and which, under proper management, may bring us the means of renewed prosperity, and on a future occasion will point out what, in our opinion, is the course to be pursued for achieving that end. It is beyond dispute that neither the San Francisco Steam Service, were Wellington made tho terminus of the line, nor abolishing Provincialism, root and branch, nor establishing telegraphic communication between the North Cape and Rjverton, nor the squandering of millions for unproductive purposes, not even driving the Waikatos and all

other troublesome natives into the sea, with Te Kooti at their head, will ever establish prosperty on a secured and permanent basis, while the heart of the country is lying waste and unapproachable." We are glad that these views, long promulgated by us, have now been adopted by an Opposition journal, perhaps the most bitter opponent of the present Ministry. We may be permitted to note, also, with a pardonable satisfaction, that our remarks on the roads now in progress in the North Island, which were prepared for our last English summary, have been reprinted in all the most influential journals throughout the colony. It is gratify, fying to see such a pleasing illustration of the adage magna est veritas et prevalebit. We leave our readers to guess the name of the Opposition journal from which we have quoted. We shall be surprised indeed if they guess rightly, and still more surprised when 'they learn its name, and think of what we have said of it before, if they do not exclaim, in the words of the play, "but when they do agree, their unanimity is wonderful."