CANTERBURY PUBLIC OPINION.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 403, 2 December 1876, Page 3

CANTERBURY PUBLIC OPINION.

Politically speaking, the community is perfectly stagnant. Not even the passing away of the old.regime could j move the dormant passions of the people; and Canterbury saw Abolition come upon the scene, and their lon°v cherished institutions, the time-hon-ored name of their Province, swept away in one tumultous flood without a sigh or a tremor. The only, sign given was the address, short and to the point, issued by his Honor in the ' Gazette.' He thanked his old servants for their past services, and'regret ted the change —nothing more. At the dinner given on the night of the Christchurch Agricultural Show the health of Mr. Kollestou, as late Superintendent, was' proposed by the Hon. J. Hall in a feeling speech, and the answerwas a manly acceptance of what the representatives of the people had willed,. and an expression of determination to do his duty under the new order of things as he did under the old, which was delivered iD an'almost inaudible voice, and continually broken by sym- ' pathetic cheers and cries. Everyone who knows Mr. liolloston, and * has watched his dogged opposition to the schemes of the Government, can imagine with what sorrowful feelings he must have tolled the knell of Provincialism. I suppose the election of the County Councils will be the next excitement. Nothing has yet been heard here abou f - them, and no interest whatever is taken in what is to be our future local government. It does not speak well tor the people, but their silence may well be taken as showing the revulsion of feeling in those who so lately howled for Abolition, and when they obtained it, found how eooi- [ pletely they had be.n sold. For very shame, they cannot sneak now. To accept it, they are afraid ; to refuse it, they are ashamed. Some time ago the Mayor was a red-hot A bolitionist; he was heart and soul with the Government, and worked might and main to secure Mr. liichardson's return for Christchurch. When he found the City Council would have to bear the charge of charitable institutions and other unpleasant expenses of the kind, it was amusing to witness the change 'in the tenor of hie opinions; and at [ the present moment i am sure that, if he believed the Provincial Government would grant a decent vote to the city, he would give his voice for the restoration of the old institutions. By-the-bye, to show trie esteem in which Mr. liolleston is held, I may mention that it was proposed a day or two ago to present him with a testimonial in recognition of his long public career and the services he has done to the Province. In a few hours £l5O was actually received, so that the testimonial will probably be worthy of the name. It is intended, J bel'eve, to present it on December 10, the anniversary of the Province, symbolising the regret with which its extinction is beheld.—" Guardian Correspondent."