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Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 443, 31 January 1857, Page 6

To Hie Editor of the Lyttelton Times. Sir, —Abuse of the Government seems to be the only method by which candidates for seats in the Provincial Council hope to corrime id themselves to the support of the constituenci :-s they desire to represent. The favourite topics, as likely to enlist the greater amount of prejudice in their favour, are " abuse of patronage,''' " lavish expenditure," " mismanagement," Sec, &c. Truth or facts are equally avoided. Now, if all this dreadful " abuse,"' " waste," " mismanagement" and " extravagance" has any existence save in the realms of fiction, what can possibly be the use of the twenty-four members who compose the Provincial Council? Why do they vote the supplies, and why don't they enquire into and correct these dire abuses ? T have always been under the impression that the Council was composed of men chosen as the fittest each constituency could send up. If they are not so, taken as a hotly, then the electors of the province are the men to blame for all that is laid to the charge of the Government which their representatives have supported. If, on the other hand, the members are fit for their posts, and do represent their constituencies, then all this talk about extravagance and abuses is mere trash, proceeding from ignorance and abundant self-conceit. The fact is that the Provincial Council presents a very fair average sample of the ability and honesty of the province (which, by the way fj like the Council, does not consist of stars of dazzling brilliancy), and, consequently—-in coi> junction with the*Superintendont and with those members who form the Executive, —they are likely to cairy on our business quite as well and as uprightly as any other set of men we can pick'out in Canterbury. For my own part, I am of opinion that the Government of Canterbury has, since the introduction of the Constitution Act, been conducted as cheaply and as efficiently as that of any other province' whatever, and certainly very much ■ better than several Governments that majf be, -

named. '-That .it has^ been managed without requiring the support' of party, or creating party feeling is creditable to this province, especially distinguishing it from any other, except perhaps Nel&on. 'fhe estimates proposed by Government havino* always been' passed by the Council without any important reduction affords proof that the charge of extravagance, at any rate, cannot iustly be ' maintained against the Executive, however those who are " shooting for the pot" may choose to shout it forth. " It's a filthy bird that fouls its own nest." We have some such fowl among us. I hope they will be treated as they deserve. • J I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, ANTI-BUNKUM.