The Evening Star MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1869.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 2043, 22 November 1869, Page 2

The Evening Star MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1869.

There is a preA r al6nt idea that the special session of the Provincial Council convened to commence on the Bth December, will be a short one. For our own pai'ts we doubt it. The questions that are proposed for consideration are not numerous, but they are important, and necessarily involve the discussion of different opinions, with, in all probability, a change of Ministry. It has Ion" been rumored that bis Honor the Superintendent and his responsible advisers differ widely on some matters of policy, and that the Executive are not so cordially agreed amongst themselves, as to be able successfully to conduct the aflairs of the Province. Cynics may sneer, and no doubt will. They will endeavor to throw discredit upon Provincial institutions, weave platitudes about little Pedlington, or mayhap in view of the comparatively small interests of the Province with those of populous States, pen the usual amount of barren wit about “ a storm in a teapot,” and so on. Philosophers of that class, who soar so high above the heads of their fellowcreatures, should seek congenial society where their genius can be appreciated. In Otago we are met with the hard, stern realities of initiating systems that shall be capable of development and progress. We, therefore, need men of different stamp. We are busy laying foundations for others to build upon, and, from the character of those foundations, the future building will take form and become useful. Those, therefore, who are at the head of affairs should be men who can see some little way into the future. They should not be of that numerous class whose notions extend only to the present. We should prefer the brilliant ideas of the sanguine to the bounded vision of the self-seeking, or the stolid caution of those whose narrow experience sees good only in the past. "What the precise difference between his Honor and his Executive may be we do not know. If we did, it would be hardly fair to anticipate revelations that so soon must he brought before the public. The Provincial Council are to be the arbiters ; and we trust that they will meet in the spirit that ought to actuate every jury, and give a verdict according to the evidence, in a spirit free from prejudice, and utterly irrespective of party considerations. When we say this, we are quite aware that the greatest men laugh at the idea of representative government being possible excepting on party principles. Admitting it to be true, the question for every representative to resolve in his own mind is, What is involved in it ? It is in reality a sinking of individuality of opinion on certain minor matters for tho attainment of leading measures which shall benefit the community as a whole. Usually some one in whom a party has confidence stands forth the champion and embodiment ol the most important ideas, and thus becomes a leader. Who are the coming men ? If the House be divided against itself will the present Administration resolve themselves into leaders on opposite sides, or will his Honor have to invite the aid of some at present obscure David to do battle with the Goliahs with whom he has to contend ? We confess our confidence in tho present Ministry has been much shaken by recent events. Giving them the fullest credit for good intentions we cannot accord them the praise of competency. Silently and unobtrusively there has been a prosecution of retrogressive administration, that has tended much to retard the development of Provincial industries. The persistent determination to sell the Island Block in spite of the commonest mining and geological knowledge, the announced sale of auriferous lands at Hyde, the apathy with which gold mining interests have been treated, tend to show that they hold dogmas totally at variance with the true interests of the province. While trade has been languishing they have been dreamily engaged in shutting the doors by which prospexity might have entered. Nor has there been any cordial co-operation with the Provisional Committee in the promotion of the Port Chalmers Railway scheme. It does noc tollow that because the Government were wrong, the Committee were altogether right. Wo have never asserted that to bo the case. They might in their caution ask what the Government could not grant, oi th y might ask more than they were justified in seeking. But that is not the question at issue. It is time enough to censure the Committee when the failure in the negotiation results from their non-acceptance of fair and equitable terms offered by tho Government. Tho condemnation of tho Executive is that they never offered terms the Committee could with justice to themselves or the future shareholders accept. They are now about to be summoned to ? tribunal whore they

will be expected to justify themselves and to consider principles of the highest importance to the future well being of the Province and we do not think we err in saying collectively, they are not equal to the task.