AN EXTRAORDINARY CONVERSION.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 378, 9 June 1876, Page 3

AN EXTRAORDINARY CONVERSION.

■('From the Southland Times.) r A f<BW day ago, in discharge of ; our duty the public, we called attention to the great danger of our land fund being largely plundered, if not entirely taketi from us thrbugh the • weakness or treachery, there is at present scarcely sufficient evidence to say which, of Sir Julius Ypgel and the Ministry with regard tosthig.particular subject. We may be. told'by hostile Provincialists in the north and by traitorous Provincialists in Otago, that it is of no uee to struggle agaiust the inevitable. : That may or. may.. nojfc be. It is the" duty of' the "watch dogs' ofShe press to bark and bite when jburglars are attempting to break into the house, so that the'owners may be roused, and that tooj although resistance may be in vairi. Our present, task is to point out from what precise sources the danger has arisen, and we shall then leave the public to decide whether or not they, will take, any action, or whether they prefer to surrender at discretion. . . What, then, are,, the causes? ; These the unjust rapa-. city of the Aucklafaders ; secondly, the dishonesty of tlle Provincial Executive of Otago; and thirdly, the "weakness or treachery ,of Sir Julius JYogel and the Ministry, on finding the respective partfes.in 'Parliament' nearly equally balanced'.' V Under'such circumstances, seeing probably that the, Auckland people were determined, whether Provincialism or Nationalism prevailed, on robbing Canterbury and Otago of their land' funds, and seeing also that the Otago. representatives would not oppose the aggression,,unless the effete absurdity.of. iProviucial- - ism prevailed." in an evil hour Sir ■ Junius Vogel and the Minister-'have • apparently 'cijmo to the same' conclusion ;ia thai, Kivderie the (.ireat and Suvarrow, that " Providence generally favors the strongest battilious," find

have decided to do what Auckland representatives say 1 must be done, and Otago representatives insist is now inevitable. It may be for the present a cunning course ; it is not a manly one, and may not be a prudent oiie in the long run.