The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 126, 4 June 1853, Page 6

The Lyttelton Times.

June 4, ] 853.

Ukdeb. ordinary circumstances we do not feel disposed to make any comments on the addresses of Candidates to the Electors. It is a question between the parties themselves who can fully comprehend each other without the aid of critical interlopers. The long address, however, of Mr. Davis which appears in our columns to-day, places him without the pale of our usual observance ; for the address is not so much an exposition of his opinions as an attack upon ourselves for the report we gave, a fortnight since, of a political meeting held at the Mitre Hotel. Thus placed upon our defence we have no scruple in treating Mr. Davis' lecture in a critical spirit. We may premise, however, that when it was asserted that Mr. Davis required a week to prepare a speech, we treated the statement as a mere electioneering hit, fairly but illogically planted ; we are now compelled to alter our views, as he has taken two weeks to concoct the address now under review, and on wdyich we are justified in assuming that he has brought to bear all his mental acumen.

It is really unkind in Mr. Davis to assert that we have ever placed him in a contemptible light before the public. Our devoting only twelve lines to bis remarks is his own

fault; we recorded what He did say, and he seems strangely oblivious that he repeatedly told the Meeting he was quite unprepared ; that he required time to collect his ideas and to arrange his thoughts—an admission which drew down upon him the sarcastic remark (which so pained us at the time) of his needing a week's preparation. Mr. Davis thinks it politic to forget that we have always published the communications he has honored us with ; have printed them in conspicuous type, and brought.them prominently before the public. He has had the same privilege and the same fair play accorded to him, that we bestow upon the most valued of our contributors. We are not going to criticise Mr. Davis' address in detail; we leave that task .to the electors,; but we seriously advise him to summon all his philosophy to his aid, for he will need it to meet the playful satire the address will suggest to his friends.

We had no idea that Mr. Davis' political career extended so far backwards. From his youth upwards it seems he has been a lighter of wrongs and the indefatigable champion of civil and religious liberty. As he was 24 years ago so he is now. At one time the terror of the Court of Aldermen of the city of London; at another, at the antipodes, making a powerful Association tremble for its misdeeds. Like Coriolanus, he exclaims " Alone I did it." I singly defeated the Corporation of London, and by my unaided efforts saved some poor families being prosecuted for selling milk. . Claims such as these will not be unheeded by the electors. Seriously speaking, Mr. Davis seems to have been all his life an active politician, and due credit would be allowed for services he has rendered, were it not that an overweening conceit prompts him to consider himself a leader, when in most instances he was an humble follower. Like the fly on the wheel he is perpetually exclaiming, " what a dust we are making." A valuable man at Wellington in getting together public meetings, he was flattered by those who used him for that purpose, and hence originates the hallucination that he directed public opinion there. He was simply found to be useful and was treated accordingly.

We have bestowed more attention on this address than its merits deserve. Were we disposed to be malicious we might extend our remarks and demand what connection exists between the Lyttelton election and the fire, earthquakes, and native rebellion at Wellington; between the meeting at the Mitre and the discharge of a drunken emigration agent —but we refrain. Could we, however, flatter ourselves that Mr. Davis would take our advice, we would strongly recommend to his notice the poetic distich which graces and concludes his letter. Could he indeed but see himself as he is regarded by others, he would be a wiser, and might be a more useful, man.

We publish this morning a letter addressed by Lord Lyttelton to the editor of the Times, enclosing the Government Auditor's report of the Canterbury Association's accounts, together with the remarks of that journal upon them. They will be perused with attention by every reflecting person in the Settlement. At last, some light has been thrown on the financial position and proceedings of the Association, and if not all that is desirable, yet sufficient to give a tolerable insight into its affairs. It will be seen that nearly £22,000 have been expended on miscellaneous and emigration purposes, in excess of the legitimate proportion belonging. to those departments, and that in order to make good this deficiency the ecclesiastical and educational funds have been appropriated, and the money thus abstracted been replaced by purchases of land

in this Settlement. Had this statement been openly made to the colonists; as "it should have been, months ago, instead of being allowed to transpire indirectly and by degrees, much of the angry feeling which was engendered by unnecessary mystery would have been obviated, and the members of the Association saved from attacks which their silence and impolicy provoked. These proceedings are now being considered by the Committee on Church matters, who are ( in communication with the Agent and legal adviser of the Association, and it is unnecessary, therefore, at present, to make any further remarks on them. \ '

We beg to call the attention..... of pur Readers to an advertisement in our, Ist page for a subscription towards the repair of the road between the Ferry and Martin's JPiiblic House. The best commentary oh this notice will, we think, be found in a late advertisement, which states that Mr. Bishop is compelled to discontinue the accommodation of his mail cart between the aboye-meh-tioned points. We can state from personal investigation that the road is in many parts all but impassable. '

Fbeemasonkt.—The Lodge of Unanimity, 879, was opened with due. form and ceremony on Thursday, May 26, and Brother Alport formally installed, as first master. After the ceremonies were concluded, twenty brethren partook of supper, and- the usual loyal and masonic toasts were duly given and honoured. It is expected that the Warrant of Constitution of the St. Augustine's Lodge to- be held at Christchurch, will arrive by the next English ship. Brother Gundry is the Master Elect. — Communicated.