SOUTHLAND.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2454, 28 December 1870, Page 2

SOUTHLAND.

(from our own cor respondent.) INVERCARGILL, Dec. 24. Considerable interest is being taken here iu the forthcoming elections and both parties are beating up for the opening campaign. Mr Calder has very cleverly turned the Hank of the bucolic vanguard lay taking advantage of what is here known as the boundary question, and raising a perfect storm about the ears of Wood, Wilson, and Co, Invercargill is furious against these gentlemen, and nothing can be said about them too hot or too heavy ; the reception at the railway station was a fair representation of popular feeling, which, if anything, is becoming intensified and is general throughout the Southland districts. The truth is supposed, and probably with justice, to be that Mr Reid had the gift of LISO a-ycar, salary of a non-official member of the Executive, and Messrs Wood, Kinross, Watson, and Toseach and all thought themselves eminently qualified for office, so they ratted individually in individual hope, and each was highly disgusted to find he was one of four of the same species. What is enough for one will hardly do for four, even with the most skilful management, and poor Mr Reid must be in a quandary with so much talent to select from. For the Superintendency Macandrew is first favorite, and will in all probability poll two-thirds of the votes of the late Province ; he will be strongly supported in Invercargill and Riverton, their conduct during the late session of Council effectually shelving his possible opponents, who will have very little influence outside their own votes. We have the credit here of being rather slow, but it has been our misfortune rather than opr fault, consequent upon the wretched parody of a Government from which we have just happily escaped. We are joined now to a go-a-head community, and feel that wc owe this first step in the direction of renewed prosperity to Mr Macandrew, in whose energy and ability to advance our interests we have every confidence. Mr Reid is no doubt a most conscientious, hardworking man, highly esteemed by everyone who knows him; but to the public here he is unknown, except through the papers ; and the action of his Government in thwarting and impeding the carrying into effect of Mr Vogel’s scheme of public works and immigration, is not viewed favorably—in fact has been pretty generally condemned. Their unreasoning support of Mr Reid will certainly cost the majority of our present mem, hers their seats, and wo have oue comfort in the prospect of a change—that we can scarcely get a worse team. The idea amongst those of us who are in a position to judge the current of public opinion is, that Mr Reid has been misled by the more sanguine members of his party, and that he will have all the worry and vexation of a contested election without a possible chance of success. It is hard to see upon what possible contingencies a policy is based which seems certain to have on’y one result—that of indefinitely postpouiug settlement aud immigration. A false issue was placed before the Council by Mr Reid. The question is not whether the public works shall he instituted and administered by the Provincial or the General Government, but whether they ehq.ll he instituted by the General Government «r not all. The ,electors should bear this mind, and take heed to return mpi who are sound upon this point; all other matters sink into insignificance beside this great question which should in every district decide the elections. Another incompetent Council like the present moribund oue, and progress and prosperity are postponed for more intelligent times, Mr Calder is quietly canvassing the Invercargill constituency, aqd will po doubt supersede Mr Wood both in the Council and the Assembly. Our late Superintendent is a decent kind of man, but can hardly he considered to have distinguished himself as a politician. He would seem to have no mind of his own, and his votes have veered about to every point of the political compass. At Wellington he gave very cordial, if silent, support to the carrying through of Mr Vogel’s scheme, and then he came down straight to Dunedin and voted in favor of shelving it, so far as Otago is concerned. To speak of confidence in such a man is simply ridiculous, and he will very properly he religated to private life. Mr Kinross is in the field for the Mataura district in the General Assembly, iu opposition to Mr Dillon Roll; and unless the latter gentleman

puts in an appearance, will run him close. The constituency is a large one, and is by no means homogenous, so that it cannot be reckoned up confidently upon one side or the other. But fancy exchanging the polished eloquence of Mr Bell for the uncouth utterances of Mr Kinross, M.P.C., and having for a representative an obscure joint of Mr Reid’s “tail” in the place of a Cabinet Minister. Riverton will be severely con--tested; the unique specimen of a legislator who now holds the seat will have a hard fight to maintain it. Two or three stump orators- amongst them one Daniels, a late M.P.C.—are spoken of; and as the miners at Orepuki, some hundred in number, have votes, Daniels may have a chance. Mr M'Gillivray is a fair average member, and we should be sorry to see him defeated ; but he has been rather spoiled by flattery at Wellington, and is rather inclined to fancy himself a heaven-bom politician and an orator, being indeed a mere infant in public life, and speaking with a pupil drawl inexpressibly trying to the nerve-'. A numerously-signed requisition has been presented to Mr Webster, the sitting member for Wallace, and he will probably be returned without opposition. The constituency is a squatter’s pocket borough, only some eighty electors of whom— seventy at least—are engaged in pastoral pursuits. Mr Webster is an able man, well acquainted with Colonial politics, and personally much' liked and esteemed. He has a large stake in the country, and is a representative any district may be proud of. There is much conjecture as to the reason why the railway to Winton is nob yet open for traffic. The road from Invercargill to that place is in a most dreadful condition—in fact, hardly available at all for wheels. We all hope, whatever the difficulty may be, that it will soon bo got over. The line is complete and in firstrate order, the only thing wanting being a station or platform at Winton ; and it is high time that red tape gave way in this matter to public convenience. All the traffic to the Lakes—a populous and flourishing district—goes by this route, and will be accelerated by a day and a-half when this line is open. Things generally in this part of the Province are on the mend, and -we look forward to a new Council in harmony with Macandrew to do great things for us. We must be true to ourselves at the elections, and then “go-a-head” will be our motto. We have had enough of stupid “old identities” to represent us, and shall look elsewhere than in the farm-yard for our members. Cincinnatuses are scarce, the Wilsons and Toshawks unfortunately many.