THE SUPERINTENDENCY.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 103, 3 February 1871, Page 3

THE SUPERINTENDENCY.

(To the Editor of the Mount Ida CheoxiclsJ Si;k, —Notwithstanding your mv,nv through your columns and otherwise, to arouse the electors of this district to their duty in regard to the approaching election for the Sunerintendency, $e greater part are still apparently apathetic in the extreme, when the opposite should be the case—when no exertion should be spared to have the proper- man returned. In youn. able and well-timed leader of your iirvyie of the 20fh instant, you clearly exhibit the merits of the two gentlemen—Mr. Macandrew and Mr. Beid—who are now in the field for the ho.orable office, and your decision is in favo-i>f the-former."'ln this you will cert.r.nly be. supported by every unprejudiced elector in the. district, who undoubtedly v4ll show at the ballot boxes by « large majority th#t, of the two gentlemen, Mr. Maeamirew is tin- only fit and proper person ijpr Superintendent.

One of your correspondents—John P. A rmsfeffong—whose- fetter appeared in your paper a week or two ago/does hisbest to damage Maeandrew's reputation as Superintendent. But the arguments he uses are not new, and'have been, so often refuted that they are not likely to carry conviction to any intelligent man.

The gneat cry again** Macandrew is that, when elected fou>r years 'ago, he promised to do many tilings which he has not done. We all know, however, that promising is a dodge common to &\% our politicians when soliciting the suffrages of the people ; but everybody in the Province may know 'that Mr.. Macandrew would have performed the' greater part of what he promised if it were not for the opposition of his Executive to his plans. Another cry of his opponents is that he has become the squatters' man, and turned his back on his former supporters —the cockatoos. As to his turning his back upon this important class of the community, no unprejudiced man wiU believe; but can he' not be the cockatoos'' man as well as the squatters' man? Some.say not, because the two interests are diametrically opposed to each other, and that his "not being at variance with the squatters is a sign that he is the enemy of the cockatoos. Those who reason in, this style should be pitied for their contraction of intellect. A man in the-capacity of Super-, intendent may do justice in both cases, and give satisfaction to both parties, runholder holds his run under an agreement that it is to be given up when wanted for settlement, but not before ; therefore, taking his run for this purpose is no injustice nor could it dissatisfy any reasonable man. But what has dissatisfied the runholder sometimes was the declaring of hundreds when and where they were not

wanted for settlement. This has often been the case in this Province, and in some cases the runholdei-3 have bought up the whole of their runs nearly all at 20s. per acre ; thus tracts of the finest land in the Province i.s now in the hands of capitalists and lost to the people for ever. Now, what we want in a Superintendent is a man who will commit no such blunders, but who will procure the land for the people, and the people for the land ; who will do all in his power for the development of our Goldfields; v\ho will encourage immigration by creating public works and giving free grants of land to men with families; and who, in order to do these things, appreciates the financial scheme of the General Government—a scheme bv which the country may be made to flourish, but without which the depression which now exists will increase daily.

Of the two candidates for the Superintendency Macandrew is certainly the most able to grapple with the great questions of the day. He is a man of experience, courage and determination, and ranks amongst the greatest of the politicians in the Colony. Of the other candidate- (Mr, Reid) people seem to know but iittle. He is said to be nar-row-minded in his political views; to know a good deal about cockatooing (being part and parcel of the important but narrow-minded community of that calling) ; but a man totally unfit to be Superintendent of this Province.—l am, &c, Pkoqeessionist. Jan. 31, 1870.

(To the Editor of the Mount Ida, Chhonicle.) Sir, —A friend of mine found the accompanying production in the d—, say the dustbin ; but it don't smell now, for I sureptitiously spilt tile contents of a bottle of my sister Sal's eau- de cologne over it. My friend, not being a dab at reading himself, but remembering that I had been dragged up at a charity school, imagined that I might be able to knock some sense out of it. However, after sundry iiineffectual attempts, I have had to give it best, and not knowiug the party who dropped it (better ft r him that it was so, for he would have been had up for trespass) I concluded to send it to you, Mr. Editor, t inking that perhaps, either yourself, your d—l, or some of "your/constant readers, 1 ' might be able to-throw so.r;e light on it. I further authorise you to offer five bob to any person wh-> will give such information as shall lead to the couviction of the off. uder. —I am, &c, No Friend op the Celestial Snooks. " To the Electors of the Mount Ida District and the G-entlemen who had. not the savey to get up a numerously signed requisition asking me to do them the honor to represent them at the forthcoming elections. " I do not thank you, but being modest and diffident, even to the verge of extreme bashfulness, I unsolicited offer myself as c par excellence' the man to represent you both in the House of .Representatives and the Provincial Council; It is true I know nothing of politics— Colonial, Provincial, or for that matter any other. But don't you think the Provincial Council makes a good wet nurse fou sucking politicians ? " Neither am a resident in your district, nor do I know anything of its requirements ; but that should be no obstacle, for as a counterpoise I am not likely to he identified with any of your paltry petty strifes.

" Whether I am a freemason or> not I shall leave you to guess ; but I am neither a squatter, a water-squatter, a business man, a publican or a sinner. Oh no.; by trade I am a cockatoo on a large scale at Timbuctoo ; by rank I am a retired full private in the horse marines. My little pet weakness is throwing the hatchet, and archery. T; Ik about William Tell! I defy him to carry, far less to string, my long bow ; and if you will only £>[ive me a chance to use it for you, won't I obiuscate those fellows in the House of Representatives and Provincial Council ? " It is scarcely necessary for me to state my principles or explain my views on political or any other subjects, for I have none; but this you may take your solemn oath on, that you will alwaysfind me supporting the winning side. As for making promises, only tell me how many you wish me to make so that I may fetch a bag large enough to carry them si way. and please let them be written large on foolscap or paper, or,

better stilh painted on good one-inch deal boards, for you know the country is so stingy as only to allow £1 a-day, which renders cheap firing a matter for consideration. Should my propositi method of disposing of ray promises not meet jour views, why wis" we can talk about it: when. T come to render you an account of my stewardship. That, if 1 recollect aright, in t!io correct way to pat it. Is it not y Before then I shall have been able Ui feel my way, and T. give you full liberty to blame me if ere that time 1 have not scrambled, into a position which will render me independent of you. I shall doubtless before then have also added to my other acquirements that of blowing my own trumpet when I expect to be able to make you dance to any tuue it may suit my humor or interest to play for you. Of" this 1 am quite certain that none of my opponents can mnke you. larger proor be more likoiy to break tneail; but if they should only give, me the wink, I shall outbid theik Is it of the moon you would Ji k»• r that, you shall have with a small piece* of the sun, given in to warm it up for you this cold weather; or perhaps you would each wish for £IOOO a-year fur {doing nothing, with velvet couches, cigars, good tipple, and the latest now no vela to amuse your leisure ? By ail means I shall make it a make it a-mattor of conscience to get that for you, or I shall know the reason why. I or, out of this £10,000,000 loan which that stupidgullable animal the British capitalist is,, to [ fork quietly over, there should be "nodifficulty (true there anight be some difficulty) in making it spread over both islands ; but wliat do we care for the North Island? Let them go and rub noses with their Maori brothers of whom they are so fond, and be kicked to them. Only return me as your..representative and I shall take care they don't get a stiver of the money to squander on their Glenmutchkin railways and otherfoliies. But some of you may ask, How about the work of the country, while wo are all thus enjoying our ease? Oh, that is easily settled. Only import a million niggers, who know nothing and eat less, and whip ife out of them. "If you- are Progressionists there is the progressive ticket with a vengeance, and if you are alive to your own interests you.will elect mo to represent you, when I shall elevate your Province, and more particularly your district, to the highest pinnacle *of glory and affluence. Nee if I don't now. or Tarn not correctin subscribing myself Youn Heaven-sent Statesman, &NOOKS.