OUR FUTURE REPRESENTATIVES.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 85, 30 September 1870, Page 3

OUR FUTURE REPRESENTATIVES.

(To ihe Editor of the Mount Ida Chbonioib.) Sib,—-It is, somewhat amusing, in reading your last week's correspondence, to notice the quiet under current setting so evidently in one direction, although the' surface straws and little bits of sticks are made to rush recklessly about hither and thither. I wender if " Anti-Adventurer " can trace his descent in an unbroken line from one of the old English barons, one of the ancient Irish O's, or - from that illustrious Highland chief, who, too ; proud to save 1 himself from the deluge in Noah's urk, $ boat of his own. .' - '

Pray what is the meaning of, and how is the term '■ adven|uror' to be applied in this new country ? It is truly pitiable that we should'allow ourselves to be frightened by tfie bugbear of a name, which, though! possessing some significance in the Old 'Country, can have very little in this—'for which of us are not adventurers ? almost the only difference being Between the successful and the unsuccessful, which but a years or two's start may have brought aGo'ut. • 1 .■ i > | We hear a great deal about the extent and permanency of the stake which some hold in the country over others, and it seems to be generally assumed that the : runholder occupies a front, seat in this imaginary go-cart. But the grounds for this assumption appear to' be really very slender ; for, even ad-

mitting the capital embarked to be wholly his own, except what is spent in improvements, his stock is about as convertible as the.most of other kinds of stock, nor has the expense of improvements been unprovided for; I . While the runs are only held in lease for a definite term of years, and it is an opinion often, expressed (with what foundation of truth I know not) that, in very many' instances, only a very small moiety of the " capital 1 embarked is owned by the ostensible' riinholder. ; But, even admitting all this, I cannot see why a squatter otherwise eligible should stand a worse chance than a man devoted to any other pursuit; and if he may. be supposed to possess more learning, leisure, money, a higher social status and connection, then so much the better for his chance of election, and* for the constituency who elect him. " • As ; to-the matter'of integrity, indepolitical virtue, and all that sort of thing, we have quite as much right to expect them in a squatter as in an- ex-storekeeper, a bush orator, politican, &c., or even from a working miner For are we not all honorable "men ? But what will the miners, or even anyone not directly engaged in either ' mining.or squatting, say to:...this: —"It would take years of close application to : enable a miner, or any other man. unacqainted with squatting to repre* sent its interests satisfactorily; but on the other hand a squatter, or any intelligent man,, can, if he choose; in a short space of time, make himself : fully - acquainted with the "mining interest, and represent it creditably and satisfactorily." On this; subject I should like to hear the opinipn "of say Mr. Wilson of the oldest and ablest of dur Wardens, or of the other members of the House, after listening to the speeches of our (ioldfields members on their own special interests, before I could subscribe to an " Elector's" dictum ; or I should wish him to overhear the free arid emphatic expression of opinion by working miners (emphatic it would be, very) on the knowledge of mining and its requirements possessed by boot - blackened,- kid-gloved, swell theoretical miners, when might be tempted to hesitate. before expressing himself.so decidedly another time.

To my view we are very unlikely to get a representative .possessing in any superlative degree the acquirements necessary to a thorough knowledge! of either of the pursuits irientioned. Th! crop of men so endowed being not so great in Otago as that they require to go begging to such constituences as ours for election, we shall have to be contented with a man of average ability and integrity, who, without marked pledges or favor to any particular class, will endeavor to watch over and advance the interests of the district generally.

In our election it would be?'wise rather to prefer the man on- whom we could depend for a safe vote than for a smart speech.—l am, &c., : , . ANTI-II umbtjg.