Wellington Independent FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1871.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3203, 19 May 1871, Page 2

Wellington Independent FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1871.

The opposition journals are becoming very amusing. Every one of their patriotic predictions has turned out untrue, but instead of acknowledging their dis- , corafiture, they insist still in contradict, ing established facts, and suggesting the wildest hypotheses. But in their insensate zeal to destroy the credit of the colony, to injure a mail service which they believe to bo " too favorable," and generally stir up a factious opposition to the present Government, they frequently contradict themselves, and it is positively amusing now to notice how they contradict each other. It would wile away a dull hour or two for any one, for instance, to collate the bitter trio— the " Otago Daily Times," the i " Press," and the " Evening Post." At the end of the session they took the " liberty of prophesying," and the burden was full of lamentation and woe to the colony from its present Govern--1 ment. At first their unanimity was " wonderful," and it may be added that they have partially succeeded by the pictures they drew in the same gloomy colors in deterring many from coming to a country so mis-governed, and so fast going to ruin ! As a few years ago a whole shipload of splendid colonists were scared away from Wellington and settled in Otago, so we understand from, private advices as well as from home journals, that the prophecies of these patriotic journals have had some effect (although we are thankful it is only a little) in preventing the influx of both capital and labor, and so bringing on the very evils they foretold. Happily fur New Zealand, there are always some of her colonists at home to expose any glaring mis-state-ments calculated to damage her prospects as a field for settlement, and during the last twelve months some of them have done the colony "yeoman service" by their letters in the English and Scotch journals. Disappointed as j they are at all their predictions Turning out untrue, the trio may console themselves with the melancholy reflection that they have at least done the colony some harm. But it is useless /'or them any longer to exercise their gift of prophecy. Henceforth they will not be believed either in the colony or elsewhere. The public are not so gullible after all. When they discover they are deceived they will not be easily misled, at least in the very same way again. The hook requires to be baited afresh. The fly has to be changed. A dark sombre hue may deceive a fish or two sulking in the bottom of a pool, but a different color must be chosen to catch the knowing ones. Let us recall one or two of these doleful prophecies, and see how they have been verified. The House was to be called together in October " through a blunder of Ministers" — it has not met yet. The Land Transfer Act was unworkable through the disgraceful negligence of Ministers — an immense amount of property is daily passing under its provisions. The colony was to lose ] £•20,000 by a « blunder of Mr Vogel's" { in the Gold Duty Bill — not one far- i thing was ever lost. The Government policy was not " to stand the test of a general election" — it has stood it and triumphed. The Opposition was to rally under Mr Richmond — poor Richmond had to flee from his own Taranaki constituents, Mr* Richmond was to be returned for Wellington, and his election | " would inflict the heaviest blow on the Fox-Vogel Ministry" —Mr Richmond was to be returned for Nelson, and, along with Mr Stafford, Mr Travers and Sir D. Monro were to " join the new Ministry" —Mr Richmond is not returned for Nelson; Mr Travers is a defeated candidate ; and Sir David Monro is almost certain to be unseated,

The massacre at Alexandra was to " exceed the Poverty Bay massacre in all its horrible details"- the massacre never came off. The King party were to be more dangerous than ever — they are daily getting weaker and weaker. Our settlers on the West Coast were to continue "in a dreadful insecurity of life and property through tho blundering native policy of tho present Ministry — they are ploughing and fencing, building mills and churches. The terror of Titokowam was " to disgust the people of Taranaki with the Government" — they have petitioned the same Government to make terms with him. Jlis reported appearance near Taranaki created " dread and alarm" — he never appeared at that time at all, and on his last appearance some settlers' wives shook hands with him. The " blundering Native administration of the Government was powerless to effect even telegraphic communication with New Plymouth"— the Premier drove all the way up with Cobb's coach, which runs twice a week with an exrebel of great influence as guard, and the telegraph will shortly be extended to the town. The people of America were to " laugh at Mr Vogel"— he was received now, they complain, with honors worthy of a Prince ! The London capitalists were to laugh at him too — they took up his loan at once on most favorable terms. The Nevada " will never be seen in our haujbor" — she has been seen by thousands. The Nevada " will never go to Port Chalmers"— she has just returned from it. The harbor at Port Chalmers is "unsuitable for Webb's boats"-— Capt. Blethen reports : "It is an excellent harbor; plenty of room. I can go in and out without a pilot at all." Mr Webb will never risk his ships across the bar — Mr Webb, | junior, crossed in one himself at dead low water, and found he had eight feet to spare. We are wearied with our enumeration, but the book of prophecies is not yet exhausted. As we remarked at the outset, this trio are amusingly contradictory of late. The " Times" is filled with devouring anxiety for Mr Webb's interests ; the " Post" believes that the Nevada is " the first and the last ship." The " Times," with illconcealed disgust, acknowledges that Mr Yogel has at last firmly established a service, — connecting New Zealand and San Francisco. The " Post" believes it is not established at all. The " Times" acknowledges that Mr Yogel has succeeded in raisingthenewloan — the " Post" refuses to believe it is anything but a " blunder" of the telegraph. The " Post" recommends, as the best thing for Wellington, " to get rid of the present Ministry ; the " Press" says : "We daresay the Independent's anticipations are correct, and that Mr Fitzherbert will make a good thing for his provincejout of the (present) Ministers." The " Post" says the province of Wellington is perfectly " able to pay twenty shillings in the pound" — the " Press" says it is " bankrupt." The " Post" maintains that no good for Wellington can be attained until the present Ministry are removed — the " Press" is equally positive that " the satisfaction of Wellington at the benefits in store for it next session is doubtless' heightened by the knowledge that they will be obtained at someone else's expense. That is a privilege of the solvent provinces : after paying their own expenses they have to employ their surplus income in paving those of their neighbour !" The " Post" thinks Wellington fares badly with the present Government, and will yet fare worse — the " Press" concludes a leading article with the following delightful intelligence : "Now it seems (the present) Government not only intend to make her (Wellington's) railways gratis, but will also supply her, at the cost of the colony, with the meaus of defraying her ordinary expenditure ! " The " Press," being the recognised organ of the opposition, doubtless more fairly represents their intentions than the " Post ;" but if the narrow-minded and selfish policy which the fl Press" now advocates were to obtain sway by a change of Ministry, then Heaven defend poor Wellington !