The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XII, Issue 736, 26 November 1859, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times.

■■: . Saturday, November 26, 1859.' -CHERE-are few who will not feel satisfied atthe arrangement made by which the little affairs of our province may be' carried :on without further delay and inconvenience. Few of us believe in the big- names under, winch .our county business is transacted, and those men. will best earn public regard who, sacrificing any little penchant for so-called-dignity which they may have been tempted" to entertain, determine above all and before: all to consult public interests.■' ,': ;_ No one will maintain that in these little New Zealand provinces the piiblic.interests will gain anything, by-pushing to: extremity party politics. When so misplaced, they become not only a farce; but a mischievousand dangerous farce; witness the position of; some of our neighbours: There are some persons who from a love of troubled waters, others from a feeling of personal hostility to; individuals, others againfrom a morbid desire lor petty theorising, m% attempt to keep: alive the discontent ; and misapprehension; which have been unfortunately, more rife than usual in our community during -the past i month. But it is at any* rate satisfactory to find that the leaders in the discussion of questions that have lately arisen are anxious to nip at once in the bud any tendency towards party politics.. It would,not be well' for our Council to look upon themselves as: a mere vestry: their functions and powers are too extensive for such a view of their position:* but the sooner some hon. members put parliamentary notions out of their heads the better it will be for the province, and the safer for themselves. Vestry is nearer the mark. . One unhappy effect, of party combinations . m village politics is the dangerous importance given to gossip. It is true that the very

silly rumours ..and unfounded stories/which % from mouth to mouth during1 such little agitations as that with • which we have been lately annoyed, are: not worthy of serious notico;, yet it is imfortunato that the veriest r/obemottcha who is l'bady to believe and to retail whatever nonsense he hears can do mischief to ; a community both at hpme and abrqad. , The less some men know about the facts of a case, ,the more positive-are their assertions $ and it is ■well known that, with the mass of men, assurance goes a long way. That a great propprtion of. our late politii pal differences'. arose ; from misconception on ■ both sides is very probable ; the more so as it is evident; that with few exceptions, all are now anxious to work together for; the common. : good. ■ And we hope that every man jwill consider carefully the best means for' obviating the. difficulties that arise from our rather: pompously -managed 'crises'.' ' Tlie: fact is that political joffice as it, now .exists in the proyincejs not looked on by eligible men. ; as very desirable. ' There is no great honour :—but little emolument—much hard work— ;and certain abuse, attached to iti When to ; these advantages is added great uncertainty ■ of tenure, it is not "' to .'be wondered, at thatfew colonists, fit for the' duties of such office,, are prepared to give up their own business to accept it. Mr. JPitzGerald's1 original pia.n of ensuring .co-operation between the Government and the GounciL by means of anUnpaid Executive/ composed partly of ;members j of' Council, and holding office, only while they could command a majority, appears to be.the best after all. The' Council. has .thus the ; necessary control over the Government,'' Without stopping. public business to go through the mimicry of a . Parliamentary practice, which has arisen in a great empire out of the complicated history of, hundreds of years; The frog who emulated' the.bull came to an untimely and ridiculous end; certainly not one very pretty to look at.

; As .to .our present position. Ail New. Zealand has suffered lately from a monetary depression, which has been felt here for a short time,-.''.although not in an aggravated form. We f aye just risfiig again in the world, and the prospects' for rt the next year are unusually bright., A goojc(: harvest, is expected as well as a heavy cli^:iof ; wool. -The large amount of labour introduced this year will tell before the next is past on tho productive resources of .the province.'jiAnd those who are in a position ; .to know: are sanguine as to the introduction Vqf.j an considerable amount of . Thati.some men;are inclined to.lqok, dolorously at the probable; state of our finances for the ensuing- year,* only shows what extra- : fvagant notions of "prosperity we have accustomed ourselves to; The: Job?s comforters,—-' the. wise nienw.hp.see nothing but breakers a-head,—the sagaciioiis -politicians who wish to charge a ■ fall uin-: the ,■ revenue on a 'Provincial Goyeriliiient, — these are men not to be argued:with. A knowing-and ominous shakeVdf.the head is their-' stock-in-trade, the, .capljb^tX^with ' whict. they set up in the world as \vise|inen.; But'we may depend oh it that ifchey are not the men to look to in difficulties The .^Mark: Tapleys? of colonial life arii far more valuable settlers than the f Crabs/ ,-i>ln«our case Tapley would lhave ;fourid it-very j difficult- to come out: strong at al^ as tß'ere is; so far as we can see, veryjittlei":-credit^ in;being jolly with theprospects before ."us.: ~[ -7. ■' 4: