The Evening Star MONDAY, JUNE 23, 1873.

Evening Star, Issue 3226, 23 June 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star MONDAY, JUNE 23, 1873.

The question forced upon the Province by the late majority in the Provincial Council has been so far settled that we trust it will not again crop up. It was not whether Mr Reid or Mr Macandrew should be Superintendent. We think Mr Reid very wisely decided that point for himself. He, however, mistook the state of public feeling when, at Mosgiel, he prophesied that there would be no material change in the constitution of the House. There has been a very material change. Many that were among the most tiresome of the factious have been rejected, and abler men put in their places. So great, in fact, has been the change in the personnel of the Council, that, although we have marked O. and Gr. to the names of members, we have done so more on account of the general reputation of their opinions, or because they have given utterance to some expression indicative of their feeling on a particular point, rather than because we anticipate any decided party bias. Apart from all other considerations, we believe the remission of the question to the decision of the Province will be productive of great good. It has broken up a phalanx who could not see their way to support even the most beneficial | propositions, unless proceeding from one of their own party. The late majority seemed to imagine they were not elected to assist his Honor in the administration of Provincial affairs, but to oppose him. In the House or on the hustings, wherever they were met, they confessed the Message they were asked to consider was an able document; that it contained suggestions of great value, and pointed out matters that required immediate attention. They did not disagree with the views enunciated: in fact, they quite coincided with them; but they did not like the Executive : they said they had no right to usurp seats on those benches. Their opinions might be sound, their business talent undoubted, but they had been placed there without asking the leave of the Coun-

cil. Were they angels, therefore, they should nob sit there, nor proceed one step with the work of the session. To our thinking, the best day’s work for the Province the Superintendent, ever did—and he has done many good things in hia time was to give the Province the opportunity of getting rid of many members who were neither ornamental nor useful. Those who have been elected in cheir places are mostly persons whose position, talent, and education form some guarantee that they will not go into opposition for the sake of opposing; but that all measures submitted to them will at least be considered, prior to being condemned. The session that is appointed to take place will only be very short: scarcely anything can be done excepting to vote supplies, and this ought to be only the work of a few days. We shall be very glad if future sessions prove very much shorter than has been the fashion of late years. We do not altogether agree with those who would exclude all Colonial topics from the consideration of Provincial Councils. Like Chambers of Commerce, and other special institutions, their recommendations ought to have due weight with the General Assembly, for the Council ought to represent the spirit of public opinion on any given subject. But the degree of attention an expression of opinion by the Council commands, is measured by the intelligence with which it is discussed, and the unanimity with which the resolutions are adopted. Besides, Colonial and Provincial interests are so mixed together that they can hardly be separated. If, for instance, a general and determined expression of opinion in favor of the construction of the absolutely necessary line of railway between Moeraki and Dunedin is presented to the Colonial Government, much weight must necessarily be attached to it; and especially should it be accompanied by an alternative proposition to set aside a reserve of land as security for the cost. It will tend to shew that the minds of the people are made up on the subject, and that they feel con-

vinced that it must be made. Propose whatever safeguards may be thought necessary to prevent the land passing into the hands of speculators. Let it be leased on equitable terras, and brought into profitable occupation. Plenty of people, with the advantage of railway communication between some of the finest land in the country, and the ports of shipment, would be very glad to become tenants at such rents as would yield considerable annual revenue ; and, were it ultimately determined to part with the fee simple, the price it would realise would prove convincingly the value of the bonus that is about to be given to purchasers of land by forming railways instead of metalled roads. -An expression of opinion on this point, therefore, cannot well be disregarded, notwithstanding the fact that other Provinces are seek-' ing similar benefit. The very circumstance that Canterbury is straining every nerve to forestall Otago, and thus to carry the trade northward, ought to induce concord. We trust that \n the coming session of the Council personal considerations will be placed in the background, and that each member will feel that a good measure cannot be changed in its nature through being proposed by a political opponent.