The Dunstan Times FRIDAY 22nd MARCH, 1867.

Dunstan Times, Issue 256, 22 March 1867, Page 2

The Dunstan Times

FRIDAY 22nd MARCH, 1867.

Bjaeath the rule of mea ektiuk.ly itrsi, flit rax issiiGHTiKtt than the swonb!"

But a few days must elapse before we shall be required to record our votes in favor of those gentlemen, whom we desire to represent us in the Provincial Council. At no period in the history of the Pro vince, has there been greater occasion for making a wise selection ; the result of the election for has most immistakeably demonstrated the fact that the public mind is bent upon a change, the slow progress, or rather, we should say " no progress" that we were making, was painfully felt by all parties,. while wi hj those who possessed a spirit of go-aheadism, the state of affairs created an intense feeling of disgust. In the up-country districts there was no advantage taken of the vast natural resources of the Province, and they remained as unproductive, as when formed by nature ; there was no desire to make roads, and open up the country, the miner and the agriculturist made the best shifts they could, and if e;th6r succeeded, he did so by his own individual exertions, and not through any care of a fostering government. The Provincial credit, by no means, stood well in tiro money market; our 'debentures were selling at ft ruinous s ■ orifice, and instead of population increasing, it was gradually leaving our shores, and we fully believe, that had things gone on as thoy tvere, the doors of future advance

meiit would have speedily been closed, an the country, in spite of its capabilities for improvement, relapsed once more into its original jwsiiion of a sheep walk and cattle run. The only-improvements taking place, if begimng at the wrong end, deserves such an appellaion, was the beautifying of Dunediii, the overwhelming interest there, managed to appropriate to itself, some portion of the spoil, and the surplus cash, which the large army of officials did not eat up, w*as there expended upon the most-unproductive works that folly dictated ; as to our rulers they had become so lost to all sense of political economy, that they were .nearly in the position of the man who expended his last shilling in the purchase of a purse. Upon the gold-fields especially, thi gs were almost iu a state cf abeyance, no efforts were made to a--sist the mining interest, and a short sighted policy neglected our most important industry aud the one, by which more than half oi the Province lives. The people should now follow up what they have already begun, aud select representatives imbued with the tame spirit ofenterprise as Mr M'Audrew, aud who will not shirk from putting their shoulder.to the wheel of progress, a d strenuous-. Jy urge it forward. This is perhaps a more •serious obligation than most persoua think j the majority of us, have selected Otago for our homes ; our fortunes are bound up in it, and its prosperity must affect each individually ; hitherto the upcountry interests have bee;! but L.difiereatly represented, and the public good has been sacrificed to personal advanceine; t. Of those gentlemen who are seeking our suffrages, we think they are sufficiently well known, that comment on our part is unnecessary, their promise.-, can be estimated at their true value, as well as each ones ability toredeem them; and we fully l.e lieve that when the day of election confes, the good sense of the electors will dictate fur whom they shall record their votes, and that they will select me:i best calculated to make efficient representatives. If we e. gage in a legal dispute, we select the best lawyer; if in war, the best general; if we are sick, we secure the services of the best physician, a»d in all other cases where we have largo interests at stake, we irrespective of persoi s, secure the services of those best calculated to remove the dif fieulty. fcueh a course, is of equal impor-ta-ce, in deciding upoa the selection of a representative ; we have an important ecu mo i interest at stake, we wish to improve the value of our properties, and our means of living, a d we require the services of men best calculated to accomp ish thate-d, whether we like thom, or wketh er we know them, is «, secondary consideration ; the primary object is that, tiny shall answer our purpose.