A SUGGESTION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 12, 12 July 1889, Page 17

A SUGGESTION.

are told, on very high authority, that in a multitude of counsellors* there is wisdom. But, even in this case, it may he supposed that some order is to be observed and some decided conclusions are to be arrived at, if the wisdom of the multitude is to be applied to

practical purposes. We see from various reports and communications published here and there in the newspapers, that the Irish delegates now in Australia, and especially Mr. John Dillon, are favored by a multitude of counsellors as to their visit to New Zealand . In one instance, they are recommended to begin their tour at Auckland ; in another Wellington is pointed out to them as the proper point of departure. We shall not wonder, therefore, if the delegates become in some degree perplexed. From what we learn, meantime, from reliable sources, the precise date of the delegates' visit to this Colony has not as yet been fixed, nor have they been able as yet to make any definite arrangement as to whether they will come separately or together to visit us. It seems, however, settled that we are to be visited at least by Mr. Dillon and Sir Thomas Esmonde, although, as we have said, it is doubtful as to whether they will arrive here in company or not. We can quite easily understand that a good deal of uncertainty must exist, and that the delegates themselves are not able to answer very far in advance for what their movements uiay be. Many things may happen to detain them, or to divert the_ from their original intentions. Invitations, for example, may be given them at the last moment to visit localities where they had not thought of going ; and, if the prospect of its being worth their while to do so be plainly shown, then they must do their work thoroughly. We do not expect, therefore, that we shall receive any very long notice of the visit, or be placed in possession of any completely certain information concerning it until the delegates have actually arrived in New Zealand.

But as to the especial town to be first visited by them, that also, we should say, must be determined by circumstances. If, for instance, their visit were so arranged as to take place while Parliament was in session, there wodld evidently be grounds for acting on tlie advice of Sir George Grey that Wellington should have the preference. It would be a decided advantage to the delegates and their cause to be supported at their meeting by a numerous attendance of members of the Legislature, as would undoubtedly be the case. It is, however, hardly possible that the delegates can arrive in time for that. They are likely to be delayed in Australia, and the session bids fair to be an exceptionally short one. It will probably terminate, at furthest, early in August, and they cannot arrive in the Colony before September or (Jctober. One of the circumstances, therefore, that may determine the course to be followed by the delegates will possibly be found in the fact that it is from the port of Auckland the San Francisco mail sets out. Mr. Dillon, we understand, intends to return to Europe by that route. Should he, then, commence his tour in the North, it would be necessary for him to retrace his steps, with considerable loss of timr, and some unnecessary fatigue — a consideration to be attended to in Mr. Dillon's delicate health. What we should suggest, accordingly, is that in every town or district where it exists, the committee of reception and management should be on the alert, and that in every town or district -wiiere it does not as yet exist, such a committee should be at once formed. In this case on the arrival of the delegates, or any one of them, in any more important town, the committee appointed for the purpose in the nearest town or district to it, could immediately, while asking for definite instructions, forward details of the arrangements they found it possible to make, — with such recommendations or suggestions as they had to oiler, and, in this way, the path might be made smooth for the visitors, and their object furthered in the best possible manner.

In Dunedin, for example, a committee lias been in existence ever since (Sir Tho.ias Emioni> : and Mr. Deasy arrived jn Tasmania, and they on 1 / await the arrival of the delegates in lnvercargill, or the nearest more important town to the north of Dunedin to be visited by them, to take active steps for their reception in this city. The nature and circumstances of the Colony arc such as to prevent any effectual arrangements lrom being made by a

central committee ; and every town and locality must do its own work in the matter.

We should, therefore, as we have already said, suggest that, where committees have not been already formed, they should be formed at once, and that each committee should be on the alert and ready to act without delay. It seems almost impossible that, in any case, anything more than a short notice can be given.