The Weekly Times. "Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri." MONDAY MAY 6, 1867.

Hawke's Bay Weekly Times, Volume 1, Issue 16, 6 May 1867, Page 105

The Weekly Times. "Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri ." MONDAY MAY 6, 1867.

'‘kdfcffnbx'of *Wt ;Macandrew; to th& ; office oi Superintendent of Otago, seems likely to lead to results but little anticipated at that time. It was certainly within the-prerogatives of hiaExcellency the Governor to have withheld his confirmation of the choice of the electoral body, if he felt assured person’s unfitness, or, unworthi* ness, to occupy the honorable office to which he had been elected,' though it might not have been an act of wisdom to have done so. At all events, that choice was confirmed by him, and as ‘ this wais done, we think that his Excellency’s ministers had no: other legitimate course before them than to accept the situation, and treat the newly-ap-pointed chief magistrate of Otago precisely in the same manner as all other Superintendents of Provinces are treat ed by them. They, however, appear to have thought and acted otherwise; and to have adopted from the very first, a course of conduct, alike insulting to him and to the community over which he has been chosen to preside. We cannot wonder that the whole Province of Otago feels this to be so, nor that all parties, political supporters and opponents, unite in giving expression to the feelings of indignation and resentment such conduct towards theii chosen chief has originated. Acting, of course, under the advice of his ministers, Sir George Grey has withneld from Mr M’Andrew the delegation 01 certain prerogatives and powers generally accorded to provincial Superintendents, and which had been delegated to the late Superintendent of Otago, and has conferred them, or rathei some of them, upon a person most unacceptable to the people. _ This feeling of disapprobation has risen in Otago to a great height, so much so, .. that serious disturbances of the public peace may be feared if the gentleman so appointed should insist on exercising the functions of his office. In another part of thi3 morning’s issue we give from the Otago papers to hand by the last mail, some account of the state of affairs in that province, and also from the N.Z. Advertiser, the presumed organ of Mr Stafford’s ministry, some comments and a sort of a ministerial defence. In our view the Advertiser is entirely wrong, in its attempted defence of the action of the Mr M‘ Andre w stands much iu the position of a person who has made an appeal to a jury of his fellow countrymen on a charge prefer red against, him, and who has received their verdict of acquittal. The Ministry tnust respect that verdict, and accept the deliberate decision of a large proportion of an entire community. In any other view representative ..institutions become a mere farce, and the exercise' of the. franchise but the,acceptance of a government nominee by a constkuehcy, instead of a selection by their free and deliberate choice. “ It' must be observed that we offer no opinion on the question of Mr M‘Andrew’s character, his innocence' or guilt of the. offences charged, to his .account; neither do we' say one word of the fitsiess! or otherwise of Mr Bradshaw' for - the; appointment he has-received, WVsimpiy?tahe the ground occupied ■by'Jtfce "Provincial Council of Otago,| , who lay .aside all old disagreements toj jein with one-accord in maintaining the * right of the elect hr a to select" 1 their

chief magistrate according to the constitution, and. therefore, support him, and resent th.e_indignities cast on him and on their

• .."We would in .conclusion, remind the Ministry thattherime is at ; hand in wmch the' grStat ofProvmcial Governments v. Centralisation must he died, and though we do not fear disnpemlerment nor the separation of the (|olony in any of its threatened forms, it would not be great matter of surprise to us if we saw the present costly system of central Government greatly modified, its powers curtailed, and the Provincial Governments become the true governiug bodies of the,-Colony. It is not yet too late to see the dream of the old provincial party verified. An undue interference with the political privileges of the people may tend to such a result.