The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XII, Issue 720, 1 October 1859, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times.

'Saturday, October 1, 1859. "Every Session of the Provincial Council marks an epoch in the history of the pro"vince. The interval between the Sessions is short indeed in time, but long when compared ~to a similar period in an older country. Everything around us reminds us ";tjia;t; jwe -• are emerging rapidly from an almost primitive state of society to one of comparative ciyili--zation arid comfort. Thanks to the inventions and appliances of modern civilization, and the •rapidly improving means of communication ' between different parts of the world, la young • country need not now long remain behind any part of the 'habitable earth in its intellectual and material progress. Where .the parable soil is rich and abundant, and'^he climate perhaps unsurpassed, in its adaptation to the English constitution, it will be our ■ awn fault if one generation-does hot do tie work of many in a less favoured, country and a darker age. We may ribt rest upon our oars - and congratulate ourselves on our wonderful •.progress; weTiiay not hug ourselvesswith; the belief that because New' Zealand is already a comfortable and civilized home, therefore the men of New-Zealand have a; higher claim to credit for energy ;and veMurance 'than^the brave and hard-woriced generations^ofmen who have toiled in otheivceuntriesnfor centuries to make the desert Qiabitablerby iffan. Indeed it is much to befeared that, 'With/the Jiecessity for exerting it, !we;are;ili^j|y. ; tp lose some of that energy which ■has^een saidiiri make the real difference between ,man??and man. . To compare our own position? ivrith that of others, is often very useful ; but such comparison, although it may stimulate; to increased exertion, should tend to humiliate ■=.the most self f confidents When we look -round us on these open fertile plains, cleared -for, the plough, and rich with natural pasture, -or hail the arrival at stated intervals of steamers bringing the news and the literature •■• and the science of the world to our shores; strange speculations will' sometimes intrude - themselves at to what by r gone generations -■ of men.would have done with our advantages. Those noble pilgrim fathers of America, who ' fought -at once with the savage and the ■ desert, *who struggled on through famine and pestilence, war and isolation, till they had planted m-new England in a country almost ' unknown in Europe—what would they have here ? Perhaps not more than has been • done; perhaps in their place our fellow- ' colonists would have done as much. But even granting-this, what a pity it is that the most lasting energy cannot be brought to ' bear when all things smile upon men's efforts; A long rigmarole, apropos of the openingof •the Provincial Council. Well, perhaps it is, but " then allowance must be made for the genius • loci.. We venture to hope that none less ap- ■ propriate may ever €nd utterance in the ' Council room opened on Thursday last. Some of those who were present on that occasion may remember the opening of the first session of the Provincial Council of Canterbury down in the house at the edge of the wilderness (now a civilised part of the town of Ohristchurch), where accommodation for hon. •members was most scanty—that fpr strangers scantier still How our representatives did ■grumble:! Then -eume the comparative luxury of the rented chamber on Oxford terrace. Luxury.'! We fancy we hear a disgusted patriot exclaim. Well there was worse to come, ihere was one dreary session in the Town Mall; a grander and more appropriate chamber, it-might be thought, than any that had igone before, but hen. members became almostdesperate. And although for a few happy <nevv : f3Bgling weeks we may venture to congratulate them on the really handsome Coun-cil-room they have new found, refuge in, we are sure that before the session is over they will do their duty by -their constituents, and become 'martyrs. If the softest cushions and the most closely fitting doors will make them h&ppy, the public will joyfully hear of these luxuries being ordered. That honest indignation which slfould be constitutionally poured

forth against Governments and public nun ances should not be wasted on< cushions an gothic roof's; Whatever may be said hei and there, the general opinion among mena bers and the public appears to be that th Council room is a really handsome and appro priate Chamber. What will they do with it Of the Superintendent's speech there is no much that is new to saj. It is explicit am intelligible enough. His Honor's views o; some topics will, of course, elicit differences o opinion, but 'We are satisfied that the genera tendency of his address will meet the view of a large majority of the public. Far be i from us to under-rate those subjects whicl are far ;abdve mere material interests: tha would-be to ignore all that has been hitherto most -strongly advocated Try tins journal,—al the nobler ambition of the projectors and foun ders of this settlement. But we cannot shu our eyes to the fact that as the physical edu cation of the boy has much to do with hi after usefulness in whatever capacity hi energies may 1)e brought to bear upon th world around him, s© the <progress of ayounj community in developing its material resour ces will have great influence on its advance ment'in those higher paths am which it shouk be 'its ambition to travel. And the Superin tendent.was right in urging upon the Coiraci the duty that is entrusted to the Provincia Government and. Legislature to advance thosi material interests with all the energy anc vigour thairthey -may be enabled to devote t( the purpose. It is evident'that the; Government propose to draw a broad line;.betweenthe consideration 'of estimates of current revenue, and expenditure,-and that'bf any proposed loan for railway purposes. The •former can be taken 'in hoxid at once:: all the evidence attainablecan be had on the spot; the other is dependent on many contingencies, and on information that is not yet obtained. That theviews of the Government with respect to railway communication- are sanguine' there can be no doubt; and we share their con vie* tion that from the very earliest days of a new country railroads are. the most economical means of communication; and that the Americans are right when they, push the railway before them first, and,, settle the country .as it is thus opened up. But there aFe many opinions on this subject. It is at least <one worth discussing like rational men.. Let us consider the question fairly, and we shall be no losers by the discussion. To assert simply that those who differ from us are fools or madmen is not argument, and only tends to convict the speaker of want of argument at the bar of public opinion. We are now in a fair way of ,■ getting a really valuable opinion on the matter to aid us in our discussion. What that/ opinion is likely to be, we have no means; of judging j but.we" are sure that if we were to bother any man, competent "ip give one, with our notions as to eachother's;capacity,fpr judging of the matter, he would sjiy " a plague of both your, houses give me evidence! %■ Mr. Stephenson has a great deal fof evidence before him how, both that which |Ir. -!Pitz©ißrald t:-' tools '"lib'tate" :'With: him and that forwardeß-hrofe1:^ Provincial (lovernmentj if will be mteresting to all parties>,,to,jelrn,.-what;jconclusipn he ai'rives at on f^e^sul^etl''^ Vi'-h-sj .•■"■.■:?•: 5 -■" This question^ noweje^Nlcanarest;for. the' present. Without :this^he#^s plenty of; work to malse a busy sessfori^l^rtrough^nbt a long'&heii J^est us hope!^li|rslfe^ dent that; the! spirit of HcSntlo^a^| :iair play { which has hiihertQ characte^eirl^he .deliberations of the Qouncil may cbaraQterise/aiso this; eleventh: session,^ iSher,eVwi]ladoubtless be^ some'spafrijjg, and d!fharp•skirmish.: TMk; is an kotiokftyble sfyle^of:%arfare'whic¥is^omistiimes^^essary1 and wliole-! some both foi| legislators and journalists; but . whatever y-OTi; do, Let ■ us, if we iHustj figh^ use fists Kke Englishmen, i rather^thanjknives like Italians! Perhaps if we discuss the.-supposed casus belMwe shan't want to fight aVafcßut at-all evnrits at the opening of this new session let us shake hands all found and start fair.