The Evening Star THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1870.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2386, 24 November 1870, Page 2

The Evening Star THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1870.

The present senseless opposition to the suggestions in the Message of his Honor the Superintendent, is calculated to raise disgust in the minds of every one ■who has the welfare of the country at heart. After all, it is a mere compliment on the part of the General Government to ask the Provincial Council suggest such works as are needed. The refusal to do so does not deprive the General Goverment of the power to execute them, nor the people of the power of appeal to that Government. If Mr Reid and his Executive had Mr Stafford at their elbows, urging on the Province into advocacy of Centralism, they could not have adopted a surer course than that which has been taken throughout the whole of the period of their tenure of office. Were it not that we believe Mr Reid himself incapable of such political Jesuitry, judgiug calmly of what has been done, apart from personal knowledge of his chai'acter, no other conclusion could be arrived at than that he was fostering Centralism. First, when he was in the General Assembly, his votes were with Mr Stafford, and opposed to the perpetuation of that Provincialism on which ho now takes Ilia stand. Now, when he is placed in office, his every act tends to shew the inhabitants of the Province the narrow, obstructive, and even selfish views of those members who compose his tail. Because the General Assembly passed an Act to which they were moved by

that very “ tail ” -who now so strenuously oppose it, he refused to bring it into operation, closed the land against settlement, cramped the i-evenues of the Province, threw back its development two years, and finds at last that his duty is to do what he ought to have done at least eighteen months ago—to bring the Hundreds Regulation Act into force. Then his action in regard to the Clutha and Port Chalmers Railways, has been anything rather than statesmanlike. It may be that lie has failed to make the best of his position, through not being conversant with the way of going about such undertakings; but that can hardly be the reason, for plans had been marked out for him by his predecessor, who at any rate knew what he was about. The only conclusion we can arrive at from his reversing them is, that he intended to strike out a new plan by the force of his own genius—but unfortunately it failed, and he only shewed “ how not to do “ it.” IBy good luck a. contractor for the Port Chalmers Railway tumbled into his way, and that work, in spite of his “ how-not-to-do-it ” policy, will bo done. As it is the interest of the promoters to make a good job of it, because a good line is cheaper to work and maintain, even for a few years, than an imperfect one, we have no doubt of its being so constructed as to answer the purpose—but we must not forget it was a blind bargain. As for the Clutha Railway, he has a contractor who will take it—“if.” Now that word “if” implies doubt, delay, and, in this special case, failure. The Secretary for Land and Works and his “ tail ” strive hard to prove that thesi large works can be more effectually carried out by the Provincial than by the General Government. We appeal to every unbiassed mind, and ask whether there is not proof positive that the Clutha line cannot be done at all by the Provincial Government ? For six years we have been trying to get it done. An agent was sent to Ragland at a heavy expense—a survey, now nearly useless, was made at a heavy expense—two Bills were passed through the Assembly at a heavy expense—tenders were advertised for at heavy expense—we were, as a Province, empowered to give 8 per cent, guarantee, instead of 6 per cent., for which the General Government can get the money, which might have cost ns an additional £BOOO a-year ; but all these temptations and efforts shew that the Province has either not gone the right way about it, or cannot get, it done apart from the Colonial Government. A contractor said not long ago, “ I “ would undertake the contract at “ once, but I cannot make use of Pro- “ vincial debentures at Home.” Then as to the works being better done by by the Provincial Government. Look at all the engineering done, and we defy the world to match its clumsiness. Roads of the most difficult gradients, narrow, tortuous, and dangerous—bridges inviting destruction, by being misplaced and badly constructed—a training wall through the effect of which the harbor is warping up, and in consequence of which access to the wharves is only kept open by dredging —and a dredge neglected till it sinks. Let us not boast of our Provincial capabilities —the General Government could not do worse if they tried. Mr Reid’s “ tail ” set an example which the people will not be slow to follow, when they see that for purely party or personal purposes the most useful works are hindered and our progress postponed. It is not one man or a class who suffer —it is the whole community ; and as the Clutha settlers appealed to the Assembly against the land administration of the Executive, so (lie people cn masse will cling to the General Govermneuf, in order that they may receive those benefits that the" Provincial Government denies them. Our Provincial Council must remember, whatever their decision, the power of the General Assembly to do the work is not lessened ; and their present course tends rapidly to alienate the people’s affections from Provincialism. Mr Reid’s course of action tends to Centralism.