The Lyttelton Times. Saturday, October 24.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 519, 24 October 1857, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. Saturday, October 24.

The nomination of candidates for the office of Superintendent takes place to-day, at the Town Hall, Christchurch. Few who were present four years ago at the nomination on the hustings outside the Land Office will fail to contrast the condition of the settlement on that day with that which it presents to-day. Four years in the history of a young colony are equivalent to forty in that of an older country. We cannot look round us in any part of the province without feeling astonished at the manner in which a small population has managed to turn to account the land upon which it has been placed. Every year our rapidly-increasing population will develop more and more the still unknown resources of the Province; and we shall go on and prosper, whatever blunders may be made by our varying administrations. A perfect talent for blundering would be requisite to destroy the advantages with which nature has blessed us.

We are, however, very far from denying that political institutions and political measures have much to do with the prosperity of a country. Every one can perceive, for instance, how much a judicious introduction of money and labour would benefit this province, and what dangers may be incurred by a policy in this respect either too timid or too rash. Again, the expense and danger of an ultra-provincial policy might be contrasted with the effects of a poßcy encouraging the localising of matters of local interest, while it had due regard to the unity of the colony and the harmonious working of somewhat discordant elements of government. If principles such as these were antagonistic, it would be easy to form a judgment as to how far the influence of

a candidate for the chief office in the state might affect the interests of the community. No such question is now at issue, at least if we may judge from the public addresses of the present candidates for the Superintendency and their speeches at public meetings. The question now before the electors resolves itself into one of a purely personal nature. Such a question is doubtless of great importance, and every elector has a serious responsibility in the exercise of his franchise. It is to be hoped that all who have a right to vote will weigh the pretensions of each candidate with a due sense of this responsibility. There are times, however, when the duty which may be incumbent upon individual electors does not press upon a public journal. There are times when it may be the duty of a paper to abstain from canvassing the respective merits of parties to a personal contest; and that from reasons very different from those which ought to sway individual electors. It is a very delicate matter to decide when such a neutral part is the duty of the journalist; and whether he decides rightly or wrongly he must use his discretion in such a case to the best of his judgment. The conduct of a large number of those whose opinions on political matters do not differ largely from our own induces us to think that our readers will not be astonished at s the course we have taken.

At the same time we think it due to our readers to give some reasons for our apparent apathy in a matter so nearly concerning1 the interests of the province. The " Lyttelton Times" has not been in thehabit of shirking" an expression of opinion upon public questions, and it is not upon unsubstantial or invalid grounds that it abstains from taking1 part in the ensuingcontest.

In the first place, we have so often expressed our opinion as to the inexpediency of the present law of Elective Superintendencies, that it is not wonderful that we should feel no very great faith in the permanent benefit to be secured for the province by the temporary advent to power of the popular man, whoever for the moment he may be. This, however, would be no reason for inaction, if we could see our way positively as to the course which would,be pursued by each of the candidates respectively if he were in ofiice. But we cannot do so. We do not see clearly what difference there is between their promised policies. It is true that a great deal has been said ; but there is a hazy similarity in the prospects held out; and a perhaps politic indistinctness in the professions of both candidates makes the future too uncertain for our limited vision. Again, if one of the candidates had been a man whose large political services to the province and to the colony were universally acknowledged, and if the opposition to him put forward a man unknown to any public constituency, and for merely factious motives, it would be the duty of all respectable public organs to give what countenance they could to the man who had deserved well of the country. But in the present instance we do not care to follow into the grounds of contest. We should certainly do no good, and we should only help to increase and stimulate the taste for the personalities which must be bandied about.

Under present circumstances, we shall be doing the most loyal service to the public by standing aside till the tumult passes away, and then, when things have settled down, and the public know who is their Superintendent, we shall be in a position to watch and comment upon the proceedings of his Government from a more independent position than if we had been mixed up with the contest. And our readers will have less suspicion of our motives when we support or oppose his measures, as the case may be. The long and the short of the whole matter is, that we see no sufficient grounds in the present case for becoming parties to a personal struggle. Before we conclude, we would beg" our our readers to take warning by the conduct of the Wellington election. In the worst days of American rowdyism we have heard of nothing much more contemptible than the proceedings of the supporters of one of the candidates. Fortunately, there has never been a disposition in this province to show such a spirit. Whatever private opinions may be, let Fair Play be our watch word.