CORRESPONDENCE.

Marlborough Press, Volume I, Issue 35, 1 September 1860, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the Marlborough Press. [The following is the conclusion of Mr. Godfrey’s letter.] The only question of moment decided by the Council, that I have not alluded to, tvas brought on by Mr. Seymour on the 7th of June, by a motion declaring Picton the best site for the future capital of the province. This has been styled by all parties, the great question of the session, and the subject has met with the attention due to a matter of so much importance to the future welfare of Marlborough, if not to its existence as a province. The amount and style of the opposition the motion met with has proved its importance, not only to the inhabitants of the province at large, but also to that section of the community who had hitherto reaped a benefit from the former neglect of the subject by the Nelson Government, and who, as the staunchest opponents of separation, may fairly be thought to have acted on the same grounds in both cases, viz., a greater desire for the interests of Nelson than those of this province. So certain of support were the leaders of the opposition, from some party or on some grounds not at the time apparent, that they claimed an appeal to the people prior to any decision on the question—so certain were the supporters of the motion of its justice and necessity, and so confident were they, in the clearsightedness of the electors, that they acceded to the demand, and the Council was, on the request of the Superintendent, adjourned to the 24th of July, and the electors were called on, to express their wishes on the question in debate; meetings were held in the districts of Wairau Valley, Picton, and Upper Wairau, and resolutions unanimously passed declaring Picton to be the best site. For some unexplained reason no district meetings were ventured on by the opponents of the motion, and they contented themselves with the expression of opinion of a single meeting, called at the Beaver at a time when, from the state of the weather, few could attend, and to which they falsely attempted to give the weight of a meeting of the whole province. The question was there met in a kind of side manner, and the resolutions passed by a majority of about two to one. On the 24th the Council met, and the debate was resumed. There was one petition stated to contain 260 signatures, supporting the Beaver interest; and a number of petitions, containing 331 names, in support of the motion of Mr. Seymour. I have since gone carefully through all these documents, and I find that those in favour of Picton contain the signatures of 166 persons, whose names were to be found either on the electoral roll in force at the time, or amongst those entitled to have their names on the roll for this year : those so entitled advocating the Beaver cause amounted to S 5. When the Beaver advocates unexpectedly found that the petitions in favour of Picton, showed a majority of 71 signatures over those supporting their views, and that independently of the numbers, the weight of opinion, worth consideration, was entirely against them, they directly declared that petitioning “ was all humbug,” and “ the way in which signatures were obtained, ought to render them of no weight in the consideration of the subject”—a very just view of the matter in their case, and a statement no doubt warranted by the knowledge gained in working up their total of 260 ! The only new feature in the debate was the first appearance of the member for Awatere in his seat in the Council, who joined the supporters of the Beaver; but as his heart was evidently not in the cause he was advocating, his opposition to Mr. Seymour’s motion, and his appearance in Council at this juncture, may be ascribed to the exertions of Mr. Eyes, who it is said was despatched on a special mission to secure his attendance, and under whose escort (whether willingly deponent knoweth not), he arrived the preceding evening. After a most conclusive reply from Mr. Seymour, the question was decided in favour of Picton, each of those supporting the claims of that town, having not only the authority of a long-formed conviction of its necessity, but the almost unanimous support of their constituents, in the same view of the question in debate. I will now point out what I conceive to be some of the advantages gained by the people of this province by separation ; and first in order of time, and, without wishing to flatter you, sir, I must say, first in importance also, is the establishment of the Marlborough Press, a paper allowed by all to be a credit to the province, and a medium of improvement and convenience we had long felt the want of: its columns have been open to all parties, on equal and fair terms, and the privilege has been freely accorded to all, to advocate their views and express their opinions on any question they felt interested in. Secondly, a large amount of gain under the head of general convenience, whereby are avoided loss of time, expense, uncertainty, and risk to, and loss of, life, so often resulting from the necessity of travelling to and from Nelson on business that may now be managed on the spot.

Thirdly, the benefits that will accrue from the management of public affairs by those acquainted with the nature and wants of the country they are chosen to govern—such knowledge being more especially required in urgent cases, wherein delay may inflict serious loss on individuals and the community. Fourthly, power through their representatives, freely [>. and indifferently chosen, to enact such local laws and regulations as may, from time to time, be necessary or suited to the requirements of each part of the province, and to amend or repeal all such laws or regulations when found unsuitable or oppressive. And lastly, the amount of the revenue which, up to June, 1861, it is estimated will not be much under £25,000, and which would, as heretofore, have gone into the Nelson chest, and, with the exception of any paltry sum they might award as our due, would have been entirely lost; also, as far as possible, insuring that the money shall be turned to good account, and that works of necessity hitherto entirely neglected shall now receive the attention they merit; and that such is likely to be the case is shown by the purposes to which the money is to be devoted, as provided for in the Appropriation Act, as follows: — £ Public Works and Purposes . 15,-530 Salaries . ... 2,377 Contingencies .... 1,233 Miscellaneous .... 1,868 Supplemental to June, 1860 . 2,322 The advantages I have enumerated, together with these sums, and the amount reserved to meet our liabilities on account of the New Zealand Company’s debt, as well as the probability of a considerable refund from the Nelson Government, and an equitable share of the trust funds, have been secured by the exertions of a few individuals, notwithstanding the opposition of those who were, and are still, anxious to maintain the old state of things, and who still endeavour, by false cries, injurious assertions, and exaggerated statements, entirely without proof, and a natural ability to gloss their real intentions under the mask of public spirit, to do all in their power to thwart the proceedings of the only party capable of conducting the Government of this province. That any success has attended the efforts of the obstructives is owing to the apathy of the public generally, who, instead of inquiring for themselves, take the unsupported statements of anonymous writers for truth, and instead of seeing for themselves how their representatives endeavour to carry out the wishes of their constituents, are content to leave the matter in their hands, rather than sacrifice a few hours now and then in attending the meetings and gaining a knowledge of the capacity and wish of their representatives really to advance the work of sound legislation, without reference to party or personal interests. If those who, on a late occasion of excitement were found supporting what may be literally called the opposition, had made themselves acquainted with facts in the way I mention, many of them would have undoubtedly taken a very different course. On the ground of expediency alone, people should be very careful how they join any party in opposition to the Government ; and unless they are acting on the best information, they will embarrass those who are willing and able to serve them efficiently, and may assist to place in power those who are incapable of so serving them.. That a fair and liberal opposition is both necessary, healthy, and useful, I shall not deny, but in its action it should be similar to the break of a railway train—an instrument to check unnecessary speed, on the part of the engineers of the state; and only applied on the apprehension of danger to the public interests, and not as the actions of those who have figured in that capacity lately would make it, an incumbrance on the legitimate and beneficial action of the machinery of Government.. There has been for years an interest growing up in the Wairau diametrically opposed to that of the district at large; and the neglect of our interests on the part of the Nelson Government had tended to throw a large share of influence and power into the hands of a small but active party representing that interest; but, thanks to the clearsightedness of the majority of the electors, that interest has been compelled to give way to general convenience, and the power, though not the activity of the obstructives, is so "far curtailed that the only danger to be guarded against (and the chance of that is every day lessening) is that the power necessarily, and as a safeguard, placed in the hands of the people’s representatives, may be used for the purpose of thwarting (as chance or occasion may offer) the efforts of those who have the interests of the province at heart, and whose endeavours are to conduct the Government so as to ensure that while the interest of each, shall be fairly treated, private or party interest shall not override the interests of the province generally. I will, in conclusion, again reiterate my assertion, that my sole object is to place the proceedings of those to whom I have for years accorded my unbiassed support, in a just and true light; and so far from any

wish on my part unfairly to influence the public in their favour, I call on every elector to yield them their support, so long only as their actions coincide with their pledges, and are such as on mature consideration, they are convinced have a tendency to sec Ore the future progress and prosperity of the province; and I also call on them, at the same time, to weigh well the evidence on which such conviction is formed, that their verdict may be in accordance with the principles of truth and justice, and I can fearlessly assert my belief that not only have their proceedings in all public matters been hitherto governed by those principles, but by those principles alone are they desirous to be judged, and in accordance with such judgment to stand or fall. Yours, &c., John Godfrey,

To the Editor of the Marlborough Frees. Sir—Having carefully perused the various liberal votes by our newly-installed councillors for the general good of the province, you will, I am sure, permit ine to draw their attention, and that of the inhabitants generally, to a matter of vital importance, which I think has not received that due consideration to which it is entitled. My allusion is to the very small sum voted for education. It is a subjeet which I have many times heretofore broached in the Nelson Examiner , and without feeling that I have ever done more than my duty, am content to think that I was partially instrumental in advancing, the one solitary school at Blenheim. But, sir, I am bold to s&y that one school is not sufficient ; that it does not meet the , requirements of the outlying districts must be clear to one and all of us. In so scattered a district as the Wairau, there are many difficulties to contend with, particularly the most desirable place, and the absolute necessity for the support of a school when established. These difficulties, I shall endeavour. to show, may be encountered by adopting something like the following, though convinced there may be objections; —The spot chosen should be near about the centre of an area of two miles; the request for a school should issue from the inhabitants within that area; their request should be accompanied by a certain sum subscribed for that purpose among themselves, and the G-overnment, in pure consistency, could not scruple to .give double the amount, and provide also a schoolmaster ; the school and master should be under the superintendency of Government. I trust that I shall not be considered too meddlesome in Government affairs, but I feel deeply the necessity of some one bestirring themselves in behalf of the rapidlyrising generation, whose minds and faculties require something beyond the common use of £s. d.; they require to be taught the higher mental capabilities of social, moral, and religious freedom. The laws of God should be the laws for man. “ But whoso hath this world’s goods, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him.” The district in which I am living, and in less than the before-mentioned space, there dwells sixteen families, and among them are sixty-seven children without school, church, or meeting-house. Surely something ought to be done for those young scions, prone to wander without example. If there be only a school-house built, and if not used for that purpose, perhaps some kind minister might occasionally call, and sound in their ears the blessed truths of the Divine Gospel. Yours, &c., W. Soper.