The Dunstan Times. Beneath the Rule of Men entirely just the pen is mightier than the sword FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 187.

Dunstan Times, Issue 461, 17 February 1871, Page 2

The Dunstan Times. Beneath the Rule of Men entirely just the pen is mightier than the sword FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 187.

A very few days will decide the question of the Sup>Hu tendency, but who is to be the occupant of the < fib e is a question difficult to answer now. Mr. Macundrcw’a chance is not so good

as it was a fortnight ago. Mr. Donald Reid, during his tour in the country districts, disabused the public mind respecting his non-progressive tendencies, while his straightforward addresses won him many friends, even | from among the ranks of his most violent opponents. Mr. Reid’s visit to the Goldfields has been successful, and we really do believe that, to a certain extent, the tide of public opinion is turning in his favor. A mining community is always a generous one, and, if they have condemned a man unseen and unheard, they are not slow to confess themselves wrong, and to make reparation. The electors have now heard both Mr. Reid and Mr. Macandrew. and are of course able to form some opinion of each. Of Mr. Macandrew they have had four years experience. His public acts are well known to them. Mr. Reid has filled the office of Secretary for Lands and Works for some twenty months past. Du ing that period public works; especially ou the goldfields, have not made that progress that wo could desire to have seen ; sti'l we must bo charitable, and acquit Mr. Reid of mnnv shortcomings, inasmuch that the necessary funds have 4 not been at his disposal. His general desire to settle the population upon the lands and sCe the country occupied in a bona fide manner is a great deal in his favor, while his opposition to the Hundreds Regulations Act should be, held in grateful remembrance by the inhabitants of the go'dfields. We have no desire to Promote unfriendly relations between the squatter and the mineiWe believe there is room enough for both to ply their avocations successfully without trenching upon tie other’s prerogative. A fair field and no favor is all we ask for the mihers ; but this caunot be the case under the Hundreds Regulations Act now in force. Theie are very few blocks of land where one-third is suitable for the plough, while we have no confidence whatever in .the reports of com mis sioners selected to decide any such points. Tbe people who require land are the best judges of what will suit them, therefore free selection within properly defined limits is the best

means to people tlie county with an industrious population, whose desiro is to occupy the lands and form themselves homes, thus not only increasing their own wealth and means I of living, but affording employment to others at the same time. When land has been taken away from a squatter for settlement, he deserves, as a matter of course, some compensation for it; also for improvements, but this compensatinn must not exceed the actual | damage sustained ; or be more than the whole sum derivable from the lease were it carried out in its j integrity The Agricultural Leases system answers admitably the purposes of the Goldfields, and its beneficial influences are everywhere to be seen. The we cun make upon the that the half-a-orown per 'ann* rent should form part of the purchase mnnev of the Mr. Reid’s views upon the Financial Scheme are sound common sense on®; itus one thing to borrow, and another thmg to expend, and we should ima Ane that, were the details of expenditure carried out according to Mr. Reid’s views the money would stand a good chance of being well laid out. Whatever we borrow, it must be spent upon reproductive works, and unless this is done wo shall be taxing ourselves instead of posterity, while certain ruin must, ultimately, be the result. Nothing would more stifle the industry of the country than being called upon to pay interest upon money wasted, the principal of which could never be repaid. ’We are pretty heavily taxed already, still we have somethin" ’in the \hape of public works going dn; but with further in creased no public works, the whole of our revenues absorbed in the payment of interest upon loans, population would be compelled to flee the land, as it would be next to an impossibility to live. The idea of the proposed loan is a good one, and con’d the money only be wisely expended the result will be universally beneficial, failing this the consequences are universal disaster and ruin. The Province, we may say, stands upon the bank of a precipice. Its safety-is in the hands of the elector®, who, casting all 1 personal considerations upon one side, I have only to do their duty by choosing j wisely and well. No election for the Pui erintendency has been so keenly contested as the present one. nc Ims the claims < f the candid tes l een placed so luominciitly before them.

Now tliafc Mr. BJiepheid has been returned Member for the Dunstnn District in tlio General Assembly wo Qinuot do otherwise than return him

Member for the same in the Provincial Council. Bv filling bath offices he well be enabled to serve us best. The two combined can be filled <o the greatest advantage by one gentleman, as, to give effect to most measures emanating from the Provincial Council, the assistance of the Geneial Assembly is indispensably necessary. Members of the Provincial Council bein'* also members of the General Assembly, will thus be enabled to support their own views. Mr Shepherd. we imagine, judging from past experience, will not be neglectful of his constituents. While representing the goldfields he was always pretty fully alive to the interests of those whom he represented, and, upon many occasions, we find him taking up the cudgels in behalf of constituencies whose representatives, while airing themselves in Auckland, had quite forgotton their obligations. We trust that Mr. Shepherd will not b° a nonresident. A representative should be accessible at reasonable periods; nor do that he can reside in one district and watch the interests of another. Queenstown has considerable c’aims upon Mr. shepherd, but the Dunstan now demands his attention, which must be unreservedly bestowed upon it. Of course he wil 1 be called upon to legislate upon matters afleeaing the general interests of the Province, and to deal out equal justice to all; but, without being jealous of our neighbors, we must claim, ns far as local matters are concerned, first consideration from the hands of our district representative We have much to advocate. The position and resources of the Dunstnn are very considerable, and, notwithstanding the boasts of other districts, we question whether it is not still the most important of the Otago Goldfields. Commercially speaking, Clyle is the real centre of the Northern Goldfields, and its position must ultimately make it of considerable

importance, both as a commercial and judicial centre. M.i. Sh°pherd, as member for the Dunstau, has plenty of work befor- 1 him, and we hope that,, if elected for the Provincial Council, our expectations will not be disappointed.