THE Grey River Argus. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1867.

Grey River Argus, Volume IV, Issue 271, 8 October 1867, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1867.

Seldom does it fell .to the lot of public men to hhv.e sijch splendid opportunities of achieving popularity, and of linking their 'name, with '•■the history pf thp progress of their country, as-thpse which Mr. Moorhouge has misused and thrown away. When he was, for the second tinje, elected Superintendent of Canterbury ho was greeted by the sanguine hopes of the peoplo that he would remedy the defects, of the previous Administration, and by his practical genius and businessJikp character restore the falling fortunes of the Province. On the Eastern side of the Province he was the idol of the industrial and trading classes. He addressed himself chiefly <to their sympathies, and they had an envious remembrance of the era of prosperity that marked his previous term of office.- They did not take much pains to. enquire into the : real causes of that pi'osperoiis time, it was sufficient for them that whilst the Province of Canterbury in '61 and '62 was rich and flourishing, it was no longer so, but appeared to be travelling fast in the opposite 'direction. The prestige of his former administration won Mr. Moorhouse's election on the other side, and it was a reflection of this prestige, aided by a plentiful supply of promises, which secured for him the support pf the inhabitants of Westland, both as Superintendent and Representative. As Superintendent he assumed office in the possession of a larger extent of public confidence than any of his predecessors ever enjoyed. The people looked to him not only to amend the pas^ but to •onstrucb a future. He had himself clearly, aud intelligently sketched piitjthev^neans he. intended to employ^ and they were such as recommended themselves to the sense of the people. He was already elected to represent the most populous and rich portion 'of the Province in the General Assembly, and- he asceuded the petty throne amidst, a poean-of rejoicing. His very faults of character were in his favor. He was supposed to be impatient of control, and apt to constitute himself practically the entire Government. His ministers would be his tools — they would simply do the work, but the Superintendent would be the " Deus ex Machina." He had told the country what his views for the-future were, and it was blindly believed that for him to say was for the Government to do. Have the people of Westland forgotten what he promised to do for them? Did he not lead them to believe that he regarded the' development of this part of the Province as the grand work by which he hoped to signalise his four years' reign ? And well, might they accept this belief, for surely there was never a more glorious opportunity for any ruler to distinguish himself. The opinions he expressed were those of the people — allthe defects of the. past Administration were to be cured ; the revenues were to be devoted to the grand purpose of opening up the. vast forests and mountain solitudes of this golden region; roads were to intersect the country'; rivers were to be bridged ; public enterprise was to be encouraged and assisted ; the people were to have a fairer amount of representation ; agriculture was to be p*»aiOted, and the miners Avere' by the most liberal treatment to be tempted to remain in the country. That is exactly how matters stood when William Sefton Moorhouse took the reins of Government. Nearly two years have passed, and how do matters stand now JM .The halo of popularity no longerlf!ncireles the Superintendent of Canterbury. On the Eastern side poverty, commercial disasters, depreciation of property, general | depression and public discontent, mark the times. One of the richest portions of that side of the Province has virtually •seceded from his rule, and its inhabitants have publicly heaped upon him the highest contumely. They have twice burnt him in efhgy, On this side the contrast is even darker. Nearly two years have passed,, and how many of Mr, Mo,a,rho.use's promises have been

. —. —.—.—. —. . - - ■ r fulfilled? Where is the network of roads? Where- are the bridges? Pas public enterprisp been fostered -and assisted? Has-the country adyanced in agriculture '? Have the minerts been encouraged 1 The last state is worse than the ..first,'for we have no Jqnger the population,.the revenue, or the trade which then existed. Westland has been like a giant ir> -bauds, of what use have been its population, its mineral wealth? and tlje commercial activity of its traders, when all these, elements of strength have been weighed - down,, fettered and suffocated by bad government? Mr, Moprhpuse may be unpopular in Eastland, he is not unpopular here —he is execrated. He has deceived and betrayed the people who,- trusted him; he has substituted craft cunning for honesty and integrity; he has trifled, played with and cajoled them, and finished by inflicting upon them an iniquitous and outrageous injury. He has utterly and forever alienated those whp might have wor- ■ shipped him, aud the sooner aud the more complete the severance "of the uncongenial ties the better. Miy'Moorhouse may remain the Superintendent of Canterbury, but is it fit that be should remain Member for Westland ? If he has not the decency to resign? ,the people must shame him into doing so. Let every man in the country sign a reqxiisition calling upon Mr. Moorhouse to give up his seat. Jf he contemptuously refuse, at least the Colony will see that he can continue to hold it only under false preteuces. I