THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 1867.

Grey River Argus, Volume IV, Issue 255, 31 August 1867, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. SATURDAY, AUGUST 31, 1867.

The retirement of Mr. Bright from the Provincial Council has afforded an opportxinity for providing the Secretary for Westland, Mr. Bouar, with a seat — if he can get it, for we see lie is opposed by Mr. Prosser, who is certain to run his rival a very close contest. The occurrence of a vacancy in the representation has placed the Hokitika folks in rather a puzzling predicament. It must be very perplexing to know how to reconcile the ardent aspirations for a separate Government with the duty, of sending a member to the odious Council at Christchurch. At first sight it might appear that it was the duty of the electors of Hokitika to return some gentleman whose very presence in the Council would be a protest against the tyrannical proceedings of the past ; but, judging from the names appended to Mr. • Bouar's requisition, the Separationists themselves are foremost in endeavoring to throw the garment of constitutionalism over the naked violation of constitutional principles which Mr. Bouar's appointment involved. The electors of Hokitika are probably the best <ible to explain their reasons for this specimen . of . political generosity, but we confess that we are surprised at it. Can it be that personal respect for Mr Bonar has overcome all considerations for political principle ? If so, we congratulate the Government on their tact and ingenuity in selecting such a man as the Mayor of Hokitika era the medium of what was nothing short of a direct insult to the people of Westland, and si flagrant violation of the spirit of the recommendations on which the appointment of a Westland Secretary was made. And we cannot but "think that if the electors of Hokitika have any of their imputed spirit of independeuce left they will perceive that in. electing Mr. Bonar they are playing I directly into the hands of a Government which, by implication, did not consider any of the Westlajid representatives fit for the office Mr. Bouar now holds. . That gentleman's high personal character ought n/)t to influence the electors to sacrifice their political dignity, which they assuredly appear to be doing. The Christchurch Executive has more than ouce succeeded in cajoling Westland. The Session before last the Westland members were completely hoodwinked into depending on promises for those things which, in their then position in the House, they could have wrested from the Council. Their plain straightforward honesty and faith were no match for the astuteness aud. cunning of the Government. Too late they found tins out, and discovered not only how they had lost their opportunity, but that the former complacence of the Eastland magnates was only the cover of hostility and contempt. Under these circumstances the constituencies were bound to protect their representatives, at least by the support of public opinion, and not to condone the acts of the Government by giving validity to them. If Mr. Bonar be elected ; , for Hokitika his return will furnish the

■■- ■ . ■ "/ i opponents of Separation with, their strongest argument, and thg apologists ' of the Canterbury administration \vith their happiest illustration of $he contentedness of the people, The « West Coast timf evidently favors Mi*. Bonar's election, and supports his candidature by arguments which, to say the leasi, appear to jis to be flimsy and clastic iv fche e?.tren - .e. If, as report says, Mr, Bonar was nominated to the' Secretaryship on the special recommendation of the laic member for Hokitika, Aye can comprehend our contemporary's motives; but surely the electors of Hokitika will not be blinded by its sophistries. Unless the Separfvtion League i,s what its detractors have entitled it^r-a self-elected body, not having the confidence or expounding the views of the people of Hokitika ; and unless the cry for a separate GovernmenVis a mere myth, Mr, Bonar ought to be signally defeAted. Should he be returned, the electors will hr^ye willingly voted away their politioal independence, and the next step they should take would be to send a deputation of burgesses, to Christchurch, headed by Mr. Councillor Shaw, with ropes round their necks, and get soine old woman to plead with the Superintendent for their forgiveness for having been so wicked as to say naughty things about hiinj and to talk about running away from school.