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Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 245, 7 March 1855, Page 3

It is not without considerable hesitation that ] I presume to make this demand on your confidence. But, I have received so many solicitations to do so, that I feel compelled to waive all private and personal considerations, and present myself to you. Should it be your pleasure to return me as one of your representatives^! assure you that I shall enter on the duties imposed on me with a single eye ;to the public good. I have no ambition to gratify, and no paity to conciliate. Whatever may be the Government of the day^ I shall be too happy to afford it support, if its measures be, in my opinion, calculated to promote the public warfare. If, on the contrary, they do not appear to me to be so framed, I shall as unhesitatingly oppose them. There is one question above all others on which probably you will expect some declaration of opinion on the part of those who may be candidates for senatorial" honors. : I refer to the Regulations to be adopted by this Province for the disposal of its Waste Lands. It would not be convenient on an occasion such as this to enter into a critical analysis of the various schemes which.have'been laid before the public; As orie^ however, solicitinja: your confidence, I feel it my duty to state, that the main objects, which it appears to me,it will be the duty of the Provincial Legislature to keep in view are, to render our lands as attractive in price as possible to the world at large; taking care at the same time, that they are made sufficiently productive to ward off for the greatest possible length of.time 'all taxation, by furnishing the means by which the government may, by the construction of roads and the erection of bridges, by arterial drainage and other public works, effect those internal improvements which are essential to the perfect developement of the. resources of this rich and fertile country. You are probably aware that a Bill has been sent to England from the -General Assembly asking for power to confer on the separate Provinces the control of their own Waste Lands. Should that Bill be assented to much of the complication in the existing state of things wouldbe removed. Legislation on this all-im-portant subject would then be reudered comparatively simple. It is therefore earnestly to be hoped that it will be returned, approved of. But, whether it is or not—whether we are enabled.to deal with.the waste Lands by our own direct legislation, or have to act with the concurrence of the Government at Auckland, the objects which I have stated above, are those which, should you do me the honor to elect me as one of your representatives, I shall consider it_my duty steadily to keep in view. - There are doubtless many- other topics on which explanation would be proper. But it is not possible to enter upon them all on this occasion. It will be my duty to wait personally upon you, when I shall be happy to answer any questions which may be demanded of me, meanwhile I have the honor to remain, Gentlemen, Your very obedient servant, Joseph Bhutan. Feb. 14, 1854. To the Electors of the Christchurch Country \ District Genixemen,— IHA.VE the honor to offer myself as a candidate for your suffrages at the ensuing election of members of the Provincial Council of Canterbury. In taking this step I have been influenced not so much by reliauce on my own judgment, as by the request of many of the electors in whose opinion I have every reason to trust, and I do so with the more confidence from the circumstance that I am personally interested in many of the employments followed in the Settlement. With respect to the land question which now chiefly interests the public mind, my wish, as many of yon are aware, is so to regulate the • terms of sale as to secure the land from the grasp of the monopolist, and at the same time to offer every facility to the ion&Jide cultivator, in acquiring a freehold landed property. The subject of Education, though not at present prominently before you, is one on which the continuance of the present character of this Settlement mainly depends, and with this view, I should endeavour to render the highest Education accessible to all classes, and carefully to guard the rights and interests of all varieties of religious opinion. *••