TO THE ELECTORS OF THE PROVINCE OF CANTERBURY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 477, 30 May 1857, Page 3

TO THE ELECTORS OF THE PROVINCE OF CANTERBURY.

¥e^^ng;' v t^a j ,p J ffi|cp ; ,o|r Siipefi,iitejide,nt,o£;thiis : ; blip,present;?mypeK *P ,'yptti-as Qan.4ida,^.ff>r- vj i wHen;,plifi. period. o,f,^Je^tion } sha]l, ■'.' , ; P^Wfflpi^u| in jmq; ,tp, ;'talce F ,Ahi^ jiyayj ] Meparaf "jfee custppi.ary, reauisitioii.. Bjsj^jfticf t '£hfit: , J i^hpuld fe; .^ Piapd^date, in.. caap. ,|^Vf ' „o,o^ de^ix-e f again- to-, b§ . elected',].'h^b^en.sp^.lQng', and,,;BP „gei^ei^al).y., kiio^ii,' ; &a|j; li.wojild., Eajre been,, jvffectati;qn in; .^ ; ;^ |h^;.ie^s necejgifry!jt^o,',because, $1$ rpaatfS'jpX ,, yh|fh^^g^^s..ta supli pf^'n j lq^teiued'have.ijende^: :^^ ll^i'^iih-. 1 il^a^', as ( JTJUch:of 4isrepu,te.a^^predj"t. all evpnt^!,ise|. ],}ikye depriv^.jtlj'eifl^.of.iin^clx; p£. that-value ;in pub^c .estimation ■{$&•; timoriialtronce possessed. orV;'" ' I f(?el it to be my duty,- Gentlemen, to state

jy^;.^otipft aifd, to: asfc a$ you??■ faw^ #*c high - ; 4 ciyi|., apj>Qii\^m^jat, .it. .^^ifa ,yoi^r rpqyver to , ,qestsw..,V, X, have- be^n. .a, ,issia#nt, .among. ; y^u •alfnp.st fjssi jtlie jtprod^ib£,-p£.,t&£ ,^s^l^oo^;, aiid\fcaye evef taken .a-inpre,p£ lep/s acfiye'pait In ij^e pjib)|ji of ths, province, >„ Jils,flow jwp^yearjs ;9ittce>. Jt., h^ad the; hppp^r ( <>f vobtaiti jng a' seat,.jjl v tj^je f Prpyancial ,ip;p^ne;UL; £>il*ce tjieii pryjcer;! and (there, ,ig. s^rc^ly.a ! n ; ,oip|(!e,.uijdpr ,'ttie : srpvinpia|GoWrpijaeiifc,4^;l 'except,%at,9f the Splinter andjt^t^^h^i^^vjin^iai.^ngii?^, ;jfche ,^uties.of ...Wjliic^ I .^Upme pjeriqd j^iscb^rpdr: ilii»!^t«^•WPinqtri.tfi $ound .arftcjainis on ypuV ponftdew^ |w,Xfeei : tqo „?pas.cjou^ the ■most important ftfitneiplßces I;. hsiy^h^d'.agwJ Jihatjto\>yi»i% r^Qw^^pii^.hat bp,sho s w ,t}jat I have Jia|[ cwsiae^^le,£stp&ience.in th^-adminif - fJ" ]J^>|)^ es^ab'l^h' the,, .j^eswp^ion,: ; that^jl possess some of the qualifications required for .the, .^phai-ge^af j^eYiadmini^yaifciYjßi.^yties ■ t attachio jt^ftj office .jofl Supejrjp|fl^d^pt.j., ,those"'|y!uo ; maylprje^n^^er^^yssi^, yj9^r rf »othis.occasfqn 'some,general,^fppsitipn ,of .t^e yiew? jtli^y.jtake <$ the .nature,of the-office ,|"oV \vhjclj..t|\ey are -candulat^s, axi^^k^ kftdiijg p^uncjpl^uy jwliichj.,.should r^ej^sujcceed, their Iptaidud „'pf affjdrs.j.wpul^ ||^.^er^fprp, ; llnJ9yr,ad4ifess.iyiypei& ; .^vit: i!.-, p^, this been, .the -Mvsii electi.Qn* ;a s Superj^vtas|U yff)uJ4.■''^y|ij^l?^PS^ftf->My ,^cpp^der£(,bre, difficulty• - j^oM VW%& 1!" i^qt ijapr§defftctiy^tpaniwhei-e iideftwi* £he dat^s d£ ' ( .the,;,Superii)ifceHdent. >It would ,^kpQst ,;appeju*, as. if, thq. ,-iramers, 6f ,Abat, Ac^, jupjpilje^ i;lie*sjcatus.tliei.^per^tendent sho'uld r ioqcupj'; ) i? . iie. jti^ovieA;u^uj; s o/ the .country ?fnd the functions shWd dischai^e, had defi^uig/i>js legislative 4-U^ie^; ifia^jing i^ to time,, wi./cj^unistances to^devploji i.the ajn.pitns(pf ekecutive power, he shpulfi. e^erpise. '„ i^ JGrenifleujeiij;. thai which the^CSoiisti^^tiq^.Act isi "jS.p/jr^gue j^nd tinie aiijJexplrießce jjavje tcf a^gre^f exteut'deternciiued, Super* jnte^ile^ris.jao^y^reeognised ii,ot : inei-ely : as.:the le^islfttfv e.|>ut ajsp,a§, the .executive^ ; h^ad of the fijin^i.ieudowedj -jjitli .Very .ample,.,,po\vei^, |jfi|p ijis, jup^?^i9n: $? 6) Enippwenng Ordir nance iii some cases definitely,, in.pthersi P^gyisionaUy^inye^ed ;with ailaj-ge propprtipivoiV ; p? ,tl{£ fii^selfp, frjpL] ' the* recent t legjglation, of, the .Ge, i^r^l it appelii'a to le,an, toward^ a restriction .pi!, l^is Wisjative,, shpvys,. ma ;dispo.si^ipn tp interjfer ; c /\y}th'.ms executive; fiu>cyo]iis. • ,^he; .necessltjes, ■>yi^p]lvU^y,«. ijed.jfco.the./ioyejsti?., tur^ of. |he )wit)x ? th^e, impprtant! }}av,e,a,lsQ.suggested tlie,pieans..|J > y. l which; |he sTiojtdd he :guidedi iii.their .e^erc^s^.,., fthus, in, I this Erpvince.as>inpthei«,an E?ecuii,ve.,GoyernT I nien.t Or^iiiance'.has-been, pas^gd .% Ayhiqh the; ; Si}^ f ejL^ende.ut is.b^ypd-.to k/^f? 1 .■^x.?P^'S?r I Council,-hy.,whose. acly,ii;e,he: iStto!be.^ided in, J; can-yißg.jO^ftfie^opyerui^eji|..oF.the ; .p^pyiuce.. „ ,- i JX '4^^q|^cpu^9]f fi.t, ; ,i^e'ceasay^ .i^.,.%is. place; ' tp,<dispj^B3jfc.fengthjthe advantages, oy oj;her:\vise,, iof^is.o^dej;. ofrihjngs- I simply; lay.^bejpre, jyou the; nature; of the .office as,"t ( .find, it, and, the . ; cH^u^tajVces^ W& havejed tp iis .present • • fpi'm ; .of,(aevJßippilienti.. i . , ;^;; ; „,':....• ' •..-;.-: •.<■;■.!;;

I :\lJeyertheiess.,-;l.frill not.shrink from.avowing:? imy,ppinion,<that; not. quAy <. thepiietically ,is rtlie r '.existing; arrangement ;,to< be approved and &&a !feq<Ud*/but that, i in -practicealso, ib- -.'supplies, -• 'utidei'itbe presen^physical ;peculiariti.es;ol' New': Zealand, the scantiness of Us, population, and? ith^ i^ifp^ities ,<rf f ii>tei>cpinnivinicntion> thti best :' anE;nioS^ tfiiGiein^ i^gap,? by:>vliich ti^affairs of ; th«,yaljpvis proyift<;e| pan be at present admin'fstered.r.Jniit, too the ; gi;eat,. principle !pf seli^ govaiiiia^iit is fully reeogpised.j ■;.; The power ; ! vo,u, ppsse^s> and wliich you liave pei'lodicaUyvto'.! 1 Exercise, of ejecting, jour; Supeviutendent, ouglit : to sppiivei ypji theiservjces oi' pn at'tiye.-and in- .: teWg^nt offifjei-.,': tThat oi^c^r hds the as'sistanua i of an Executiv^i; Council'whose: acts iwist be Supported.;% . ijhtj; approval of tlie Pi-o.vincial <■ C'oqncil. Throughout the whole arrangenrent <■:,• the; priuij.ipje ,'gt responsibility js.brouglitto liew. ' Th« Supfsi'intfndent'is responsible to the.pro-. \ jinijej the l^xwutive Council to tke I jjx>vincial ; ©QUV'.-iU *«W.4;.the Provincial Coujifiil-in ifcj turn ■ ijojjhii .people,'.; Whilst, tlieiv the ConstitvxtioU' \ unaltered, I am.unable to injiagi^e '; d lystein of Provincial Government under it

combining "more of simplicity, efficiency, and eeortomv. I say while the Constitution Act JS; unaltered, for you are not unaware that many persons are of opinion that it can be araendfed.: It would, nowever.be an unprofitable! occupation of your time and altogether beside my present, purpose to consider on thist occasion possible change^. My4ttty'-M,ito-'de'al,^ltsb. / 'facts.;''' i : lf changes are introduced it ca.iil brily be by an authority to which Superintendents in .common with all 'others affected by'.tKSni piust bow: ' I take it, then, that the'Supeirintendeht iri his Executive capacity' is simply; tb.e hyad of ttie Government and hot the Government itself, jan officer charged with the execution of/ Certain duties conimitted to him by laV afid'for the most part defined by law-, and that iri aH original and discretionary aits of importance he is bound to proceed in conformity with the advice lie imay revive'from his Executive C&uneil.1 ;- ji ' , Geuftenieri; I accept this new of tTbte office as Tnuch from choice as /necessity:1 No consideration cAuld induce me to undertake it if the' responsibility of Government weres not shared hi this way. ' ■': ' ; '"'■.' '" v:',' ••" ".?' You will then, I have no doubt, concur with me in thinking that it would -be inconsistent; for a candidate holding these views ;to ek^ss himself dogmatically on particular snbjecfejor labour to produce what is tei-med 'a, policy' by: ■which; he should be considered bound during His •tenure of officer ,I; have sh6wn- that vthe lkwi compels the to .a<it undet advice. \ I have alsA sbjo'wn thaVhe can\6nly retaiii i advisers as thePrbvincial Council will, sup^6rt. j is obvioiis*, nay certain,'thai tho?e' advisers j Tnay,;at onetime, T)e persons holding/ one set bf | opinions, and at another tiihe persons noTdiftg; /opinions directly opposite. Ti^is equally* obvioiis i that the Superintendent could ■ not agree' with ■ both- Should he\tmfortunately difiFer with, those \ who liave ' the. confidence? of the Pro^in'ci^l! <Jovmeil,yhe must either attempt to carry o/n th^ j Goveriiment with an adverse Coijricil'Or talodif^ ; his views' in deference to theirs. I think the cases carr be viery few indeed in,- which doubt can ; exist as to should be pursued;/ ' But while, for these reasohs^/I abstain; fi^oin placing Before* yon a policj' whiclvsliall imply a rigid adherance to particular views oh; particvir ! lar subjects, as being both indiscreet and it variance with the spirit of our preserit law, I htivetio hesitation in expressing; niy opihions frankly oxi some subjects of general. ihterestia4d importance, which I believe arebeing^at preeent discussed by you. [ .".''. """: .(r ! It isf said, but with what aniouht of accuracy I am unable to state, that there are some per-; sons who do not approve of the 'price that has been fixed on our Waste Lands ahd wllo will make.it the subject of appeal to you. '':' ' . ."' It must be unnecessary, Gentlemen, to insist on the fact that nothing can be more objectibha-, ble amongst our own selves, or more calculated to discourage persons in Other countries front settling; here than .uncertainty on this poi'r('t.'.i \ ctmld almost say that it would be wiser to ad- I here to an arrangement having some imperfec- j tions in it thaii by frequent changes to/create | the impression thatno settled law oil this, subject will, ever prevail amongst tis. Bfu't! I venture to ■ assert that the question has already re-, ceired as ample deliberation as; under" any circumstances it coiild receive. When the price of "land was uuder delibei*ation in the legislature of this province, every reasonable siim, and almost every imaginable mode oH payment was proposed to the Council and discussed. I should probably be within the mark were I to say that^ more than a dozen divisionstook place on this point. Ten, twenty, thiity, forty, fifty, and ' sixty shillings were all separately advocafed and proposed. The mode of payment, too, whether | by money down or by instalments,- was equally■■: the subject of diSTevence of opinion and division i in the Council. JsJ, length, however, by almost11 universal concurvence, tlie present price of £2 i per acre (prompt payment) Was determined on. That price has hot yet been tried moi-e than a twelvemonth, and even if there'were no exper" ience in its favour, I shou-W still, for the reasons I have given, be indisposed to change. But I I thinlc tlie experienoe oP the brief time during J which i 62 has been the established price may be i safely appealed to in its support. The sales of j land,withont being in any way forced, have been i free and continuous ever since. Nor is there at present any indication of fulling off. And j should there be no falling off, the estimated re- I venne from this source during the coming year is £10,000. But what appears to me to be th e

most satisfactory fact connected with those sales is this—that i th* lar^f^ rifc'ajdrltyfef them havej ,and ,tb bona; fide Bei,tle^.,ap(d <?Jjtlt^vj|.|;ors or Jfcne. sbil. v It niay be fairly asfeedj how much of this; laiid >v,ould have ; found itswwarjr into their'hands; had ihh '"'prlbe been materjiall^ lo\yer.| u; 4t is, matter of notoriety ''fttat,' withitr twtii^or three! ] flays of the, present reflations coping into; operatioti, some tiii ge capittihsts aVrived here for; 4h¥ |»utpose >of making-eStensiVf^ gpebuta^ve; . purcliases, even qutside. the original! Cauterttiry block,,,aiid ;at..•«; distan<ee, from tlie;cultiy^ted : districts. How much land worth haying? iwotfld; have been left inside, and espycially in the' neighbourhood of] [jmr towns, had the cheap land policy p^eyailed, I leave you to, conjecture, i ;f. But iherd'arje 5 extensive! interests iM be; '■• considered* in. Ifliiis1 Question" of p|ricb. ;i Oh;;^he. firm belief ithat! it wi^ definitely ifeMed a vety; large amount of capital has been embarked in pastoral parsUitajlEihd: I'thinkilheffaith of the legislate and tl^e Goye^-nment -is pledged teitsj protectioii jto uiis"extentr-i that the waerbf terigs unidei-1 WhMi^hat"6a)H-! tal was invested and tht! ■jstbclibwuer^'indiice'd ■ to enter on their separate enterprises should not | be liable tor frequent change. But I am dis-;| posed [ to" maintain that regard for our own in- j j terests, no less than good faith towards others, | should ppdmpi>ti& id resist'any' alteration in the j , price of land. Th^ produce of p»r pastoral dis-! ' npw Qonstitutes a iinost important item in \ 6iir cbin'merce.''.'^, r W|iilst'agrituiture,is at.jp^|sent! ■ latfgliisningi/atfd its* prospects'_'j|re'^mupli'clouded, the pastoral interest' is'happily flbui-ishirig' as ;! much as could Reasonably .be desired. Already, ij wool is our main Export, tJre cliji of 1856 being ' ,y*lued;:atrjo7Q,OOQ>j and in aiew iyeara iiij^Jl || squire; a] ma^nitu^eiJtlrat will aibuhdaWtly justify ■ all which legislation has done towards eneouisi ; ging it? .gjwjwth^jv ]^or is.^his^allj.^j^liile'Tthe \ pasroral interest is conti'ibnting to the. pix>gr,egs ; of the. countty^ as every interest- does which j materially increases iip export trade, it is also \ yielding largely' ~t6 '''dur, r ter'ritpria| _,. revenue. -Withitf a ySarbftw<) tVie •rents derivable fVotn ■■ .that, source^win'be.-alone sufficienti riot;only to pay the large contribution^ annually' -Required i from this.prtfv.inc€lt6ward9;tKe extinguishment of. the New Zealand Company's debt, but will leave a considerable balance available fortheuse of thte/^sp>»6vincte.'i^'l?he';'pi"esenfc: prfae'of* land, Gentlemen, c^nstij;utes., tl^e,, main,Talmost /the only f prbtectibn of th^.pastprai interest; a^d^lt ask you seriously to reflect whether, it is expedient jtQ; wifchdrajf i^—whether i£ is'wise to kill the goose'for" tne golden egg, and interrupt this steady and satjsfa,ctpry r progre,ss. for /the sake of a sudden of money into the Treasury, whidh 3)ttr^regourcesiJn labour niay not p'erinit us profitably- to rexpend,; of which might 4empt r us,tf).] extravagance. My ! own conviction is'that it'wduldnot.

, i^noiftei'; shbjfecfc !on iwhidh; I desire to ''■ mpd few more words is our fonn,qf XJoveframe'nt; There are some persons whG,fegar.d the present i mode of adinini&tering.;:'t^e; affairs of ;fche.-:pro- : vince as too cumbersome a,nd top pretentious, ,and who talk of conducting,, the Government I after the model of a corporate town in England, of which a- Maypr, Alj4ermen,i4».ndhCouncil are [the presiding geniuses. Never having been a ; member qf one of thosej select societies, I am perhaps unable to.^ appreciate properly the advantages of such a ihbdeof Government.... It is. hp>veyer, m ot long that-the jobbery^ pßcrilation^ahd cdrruptibn, which had 'grown" :out of the old. <A)i^6rate System ih England, led to, a sweeping measure of reform^ by, wliielK 1 the ivhoTe of those model Governments, excejpt-;' ing f tMi; 'bf frLoh'dbn,"weife' tiw.epir^yaj'.5 . A'i'id^ now sit apj^eats tliat the'days'bf the corporUtrbhf, of London itself are': numbered. 'Expe'vi^cei, ' therefore, does, ndit appear to justify the preference slio\Vri for corporation rule, and,' persotiaHy,, I^can feel but littlp; attachment^ to 'a'system which has produced siich results. ' Butintrutli, there' is:no fair: atistlbgy betHve'en .the v^ircum-, stUnces of a municipal corporation in./En^larid arid a '"• province in : New i2fealaiid. To; rio\'coir-p<u-jjition has'thefe evet been committed anything iike'the power conferred'on tlre:Bupervi'-' tendents'khd Provineial'Cbuhcils of this cb'tm'tryi',7' namely, the power 'to legislate'for the entire.' pedpte of a province —^or, in the words of tH^,' Constitution Act—" to make and ordain all such laws aiid ordinances as may be required' for the-peace,-'ordet', and good , government of v the provirfee; I This alone destroys aH'jparalleT: in the cases. ■'. '"' ' !

It is said, however, jtha^.eyerv if the analogy fails, it will be ihore'ecWtoic to do away with th^;ejecting depWrtnayefftsanai HaV# the Sisiriss <,°* fl^ S ppd«Gtft4 byithe'Pßovinlal #^Mftl Bns ,j n^!p.9mwHtee».;,-, I mmt ,*** that I disbelieve in thip altogether,, ; It assufnes thafe^es^oo^^^^theiir work with, out remuneration. I|.know not on whatigrouricjg gentlemen pan be expected ;tp ; deyptfe their time to the public service without return. Nor do I think the.jpu.^lipj-desire. that ; they|^hould do so. ]3ufc there,js.iio waj^t jfor believing that^any pefß6ns46uld beifoun id yfho wtouW'sq act Ofer taittly the pr^tie'e'of tti s 'ProViii^kl'q'pupcif at the present; titnefofy not justify the expectation. ■Every 'beyond a fiertaiii distance from Christchurch, is paid a certain suta Ser diem for every day lie attfenijis tlfe Co'uiicil, f, theh/fcheMie^ibeWbf cbniririttees are, all ty be paid their expenses merelly,'the 's^fenj! Will not .only be cumbrous and^luinsy1; 6utViior» expensive than the present, .one. If they are not to be paid, my-beftef uisthat the attendance jyij} td i make the' sysfem Ij)bsti|a9tiv^ ofjjie bu^ea^ of-GoMei-nbenCiJ yield, gentlemen, to no man in a desire to se* introduced into all the departments of rig^irejßOfi^mj.fjfltTChast, however, be one consistent wsh. jeflxpjeijcy. It is, not; economy else. . My conviction is, that the plan put forwardl i$ ge fatal iboth'to' effieieiicy'and' ecoifeniT . t a.s itigenu^ty could .deyis^.,, „ ,; j;, ■ ; ? There is one further subject to iwh.fjh i,\^]l allude, for though it doeg^noi come within our control and, ,|s n^pt, , a . question --of domestic pofttsy'it*is: bne^ rifei/ertheless, on/whjich the efficient^€rdi Tei'ii*menfcoP-the province 5s sß°dependent ajs in my opinion to demand notice in this place. I refetr tattle-Seat--bf the General Gov.erpme,n| 7 Every da^'s^ experience shb%s lA>w s^iously tlije! ' 'adi^pinistr^tion of ppy a^ij:» k " 'emWi'as^ed^ gre^t distance of thj* General Government "fi-biii us. I aipa - anxious therefore to, st^te ,m.y desire', in \fhaievet position! I ■feay!be1-pla^lyVto' f "'cbVQpe.r.ii€e' with those who will strive tol"mngit!to;a'm'bre central spot;- ~ 7,;' v:"-."' _"'_;;'"""■■"" There are many tofcner' subjects, gentlemen, t» yrl^ch. I ? might.,dlrfcot' <your. attentio&i > b"iit' tliw 'addrlessihas.alreaciyjtl fpar, ; exceeded convenient length/ Opportunities, .however, will, dbubtlest be presented in* wiiich such subjects mayibediscussgid betw*^njns. , It will Winy business, so f^r as may "fee "practic^le, to wait upon you..'

With regard, however, to a canvass, I must e^pitess mv ; greafc (fjegret- that: ons should ?b* necessary, riot biij t|&.scftre;of ; trouble, nor because it may ex|)Ds^% candidate to incpnyenießfc qiuestibniiig^^bW'-'teecause'l entertain a^strong < conviction that the highest office of ''tn'^rovince ; should be conferred by the people rathe* than won ' fronirthemlby.^ eleotionI eeriug canvass, ; snore or .less imiwire j will be attributed to the candidate, which can-" | not fail ;to.disturbitljose feelings of deference and regard which should:attach to the person filling :so high an office, By some he will be looked" ! upon';as;kn adveiitrireV practising on 'the confir ■ dence of-his fellow-citizens ibV some unworthy 'object—by some as stimulated_by.'inordinate i vanity>ahd Wmbltioh—-and by others as impelled Iby a love of officia^ower 3; whilst it sb'aiihai-aiy be possible in;an active canvass to, avoid rousing feelings'- b¥ 'aVumosifcy'nhd hostility' which it,'A most desirable, should:not exist, ; icanJeiiily say' for myself that it will be my. anxujfus desire fe keep the can,vass > as: clear of: these evils ■as WB-' ■sible. ;, s . : :'.., 1 j-,ri<s l -) -• ■■ :•• ■•■;■.'•.• : '<•'■■ '■ ' ■", ! .Andinowyigent^inen, it only reinaihs for rte' tqjassiure you, tjhatj whatever the/resiiH of this" appeal,; I sliull;be perfectly; satisfied • with your decision. ,^ij|e X admit moat i'reqly that the o^ice fof. %pei-intendent. <)f this provin«Se • may; well Ije re»p,rded as ari object of laudable ambition,yetl. ieej,e© conscious of the labpur/ anxiety, and responsibility of the office, as to regard it with' much more of apprehension than desire. I have, howeveiv^epdeavpm'ed,:..to'Bliiiw that the Government will not rest solely on the gupermtendeht^but on ninfin conjunction with advisers^ With:thiß'vie'W6f'4h:e nature of theoffiqe, apd jvith 'the - hope that, Should^ you cbnfet'it npori tne.iT sh^tll not fail to secure1 the assistance of,, good and able advisers, I respectfully bS'er nay- ■ self to you as a candidate for it. , r - ( . ' i.ni'' T hay the honour to be, ',' ' :'•■■■■ "-■■' •'■' ■•■■Gentlemen, ■' ■"'';' '- ,'" , ; Your very obedient and humble serVa't't,' " ' ■■■"■;- •■-.■■•■ "f J(^EPfi! D^ITTAN. ;| V ; 1 [ liiiiwb'pd, April 3,!1857. '' '",.:•'.;,;.;-.