The Evening Star THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 187O

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2147, 24 March 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1870

The Colony must be prepared for a struggle on the part of the Stafford .Ministry for a resumption of power at the coming session of the General As scmbly Every circumstance connected with the war in the North Island points to tliis. And Mr Stafford and his friends are not easily foiled, for they employ tactics that men who were prepared to rely upon the merits of measures alone would not take the trouble to adopt. Conscious of their waning prestige and determined by all means in their power to uproot Provincialism, during two parliamentary recesses tours were made by political proselytising ministries, in the course of which they endeavoured to lay the foundation of the County system of which Westland is a striking sample, and now there is every reason to suppose that they are at work at the elections for members for the House of Representatives in Otago. The province is in a very pretty fix, and those who sincerely 7 desire the prosperity of the Colony, anil the retention

of the influence of Otago in Parliament will rouse themselves to a consideration of it. There are at present three or four representatives of the Province resident in the North. Two of them never were identified with its interests, and, in hopes of place, linked themselves with the Stafford Ministry. What course Mr Brown may choose to adopt it is impossible to say, but judging by his doings and utterances in times past, he is not much to be depended upon in opposition to Northern tactics. Not the least alarming feature of the times is that it is evident there is some sinister influence at work that has reached the Press of the Province. There is not that straightforward, healthy grappling with Colonial questions that there ought to be. The leaven is working through unseen agencies, and only makes its presence known by occasional outcroppings through leading articles in the Daily Times and other impressible organs. The electors of Otago must not forget that the measures adopted by the present Ministry have to undergo the ordeal of adverse criticism, not only by the ex-Ministers and their supporters in the House, but they have to run the gauntlet of all the superseded incapables who fed upon the war in the North Island. Even Colonel Whitmore could not bo brought to brook the change of measures, and could not see it was quite possible to pay too dearly for victory. Accordingly the Stafford Ministry are very industrious in pointing to Te Kooti being at large, as if he were not allowed to get at large under their administration. They point to the dismissal of M'Donnfxl, as if they had never dismissed him ; to the expenses of the war as if it were in excess of the frightful extravagance of which they had been guilty. They condemn the highly organised force under Mr Brannioan, as if it were better to depend upon an ill-conditioned rabble like that under Colonel Whitmore, and pretend to laugh at that esprit de corps which is evinced in all good soldiery by cleanliness and order, forgetful that all the difficulties that are now nearly overcome, were the result of want of discipline. We are about to have an election. The place occupied by Mr A. J. Burns must be filled up, and we warn our fellow-colonists that there is danger of one being elected who will weaken the influence of the South and strengthen that of the North. The leader of our contemporary, the Daily Times, on Monday, was but a feeler of the pulse of the constituency. Its issue points to the fact that there is the Stafford agency at work here. It is said that Mr Cutten will come forward as a candidate. He is a gentleman well known, and has occupied a leading position in times gone by. In Otago, people’s opinions do not in regard to those in whom they have once had confidence ; but times are changed, and should he offer himself, let it be required that he fully explain himself on every leading topic of the day. There must be no shirking the question of war policy; and, above all, let it bo a condition whoever is elected, that the war expenditure shall be borne by the North Island only. Separation is scotched, not dead. It is as necessary, now as ever it was, and if no other separation can bo effected, let it be a financial one.