THE Grey River Argus. TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1867.

Grey River Argus, Volume III, Issue 202, 30 April 1867, Page 2

THE Grey River Ar gus. TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1867.

The General Government appears determined to try the temper of the inhabitants of Otago to the uttermost limits of endurance. Indeed, if it were desired to drive that Province into open rebellion no* course more calculated to bring about" 1 such a result could have been adopted than s ' that which Mr. Stafford has recently pursued. The culminaiing insult is the withdrawal from the Superintendent of all the delegated powers usually conferred upon that officer, and' tho appointment of Mr. J. B. Bradshaw as Agent of the General Government in Ota'fo. This appoint ment removes from the control of the Provincial authorities the whole of the Gold Fields, suspends the functions of the Provincial Government in the administration of the Diseased Cattle Act, and in other directions seriously interferes with the functions of the local authorities. It is impossible to exaggerate tho evil and confusion that will spring out of this usurpation of authority — for practically it amounts to usurpation arbitrarily to withdraw powers which have been coiitiniioiitly allowed to be exercised by the Government of each Province in the Colony. And we may safely say that it will be found impossible to persist in such an act of injustice and tyranny. Our readers will learn from what appears elsewhere that tbe people of Otago are. in a very dangerous state of excitement. Even prior to this last affront, a very strong feeling against the pol icy of the General Government existed, and lound vent ou public occasions in language savoring a good deal of revolution. It is not to be wondered at. that Mr. Stafford's "coup d'etat" should intensify the public indignation, and lead perhaps to some serious disturbance. When, as we are told, the people of the largest and most populous city in the Colony talk about seizing the Custom House, and ollering military service to their elected Superintendent, for the purpose of resisting the chief authority of tho Colony, it is time that their grievances should be duly considered and redressed. There cannot be two opinions respecting Mr. Bradshaw's appointment— it is a flagrant insult to the people of Otago, and one that ought to be, as it no doubt will be, boldly resented. The ostensible reasons for the limitation of Mr. Macandrew's powers is that the malfeasances of which he is alleged to have been guilty six years ago have not been satisfactorily cleared up. But the General Government has made the mistake of allowing the only legitimate opportunity it had of marking ics opinion of Mr, Maeandrew to. escape. Although Mr. iVfacandrcw was elected by a very large majority, the Governor might legitimately have beeu advised to disallow his Vclectipn, No] doubt this, course

would have created disturbance and trouble in Otago, but still it would have been very largely supported by the public opinion of the rest of the Colony, But Mr. Stafford quietly permitted Mr. Macamlrew to assume office — and become no longer James Macandrew but the Superintendent of Otago. This once done, all further official recognition of his antecedents should have ceased, and his individuality have been lost sight of in his representative capacity. The people of Otago now very properly regard the arbitrary curtailment of the Superintendent's powers as a direct insult to themselves — an insult added to injury. The mutteu is made all the worse by Mr. Bradshaw havingbeen selected as the Agent of the General Government. Mr. Bradshaw has not distinguished himself in any political capacity, save that of political valet to Mr. Stafford, in company with Mr. Haughton, and he is by no means popular in Otago. It would have beeu possible to give a different complexion to the whole affair by appointing some well known popular man to the invidious office — but then perhaps no such person would have taken it. The " Daily Times" tells us that Mr. Bradshaw will not be permitted to exercise the authority conferred upon him ; but suppose that Mr. Stafford determines that he shall] What will be the result '] The Premier is a hot-headed, strong-willed man, and he has tbe support of colleagues of simrar dispositions. He has always had a sort of contempt for Qtaga and the Otago school of politicians generally, and it is just possible that he may commit the further mistake of sending a military force down to Otago to overawe the free-spoken people of Dunedin. It is to be hoped that he will not be so madly foolish, for it is highly probable such a proceeding would lead to something a vast deal more serious than rehcllious language and boastful threats. Some of our colonial contemporaries sneer at the ebullition of feeling, in Otago ; we think it is too serious a. matter for mere sarcasm. The public journals throughout the Colony should interpose to remove the great scandal which the present antagonistic relations between the General Government and Otago bring on the political reputation of tho Colony.