THE SUPERINTENDENCY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 270, 10 November 1873, Page 1

THE SUPERINTENDENCY.

The nomination of candidates took place at the Provincial Hall at noon on Saturday. The proceedings extended .over so long a time, nearly four hours and a half, that it is utterly impossible to give anything approaching to a complete report of what fell from the various speakers, and we must therefore confine ourselves to the main points of interest. Tbe Ke- , turniag Officer having read the writ, \ Mr Sclanders after referring to the importjauce of the duty that now devolved upon the electors in electing their Superintendent, said that it afforded him sincere pleasure to have to propose an old friend, for whatever difference of opinion might jexiet, they must all look npon Mr Curtis jas an old friend. He was not going to touch upon the past, for with that they were all acquainted, * ahd no doubt come would be found who -were discontented, for no man was faultless, and there were biways opportunities of, picking holes in the coat of one who ' took part in public affairs He would aßk them to lift themselves above' all prejudices " rings." There whs no ! necessity ifor " rings," On occasions of this kind the electors' should elevate ihem--selves above all each considerations, all personal feelings, and decide 9 for themselves upon the real merits of tbe candidates, and their claims npon their support. He believed there was to be only one other -candidate to whom he raised no objection whatever on account of his being a new aspirant to the office, but he did object to him on Other grounds. H objected toi , bim because -he was the most persistent Opponent we had ever known to all that tended to the prosperity of the province as a whole, and it was difficult to see in What possible way he could lay claim to their support. He had largely assisted in the endeavor to procure the separation of tha West Coast, he had joined with others in trying to deprive us of thi Amuri; he had supported a steam subsidy Which, in his (Mr Sdlandere') opinion, wonld strike a death blow at the trade bf our port, in which it was proposed io make great improvements, Mr Curtis being 'fully alive to the. necessity, and the people being anxions to see them carried ■hut. A few years ago a railway was-pro-posed, but Buch active opposition and' meagre assistance had been offered; that iti was a wonder that it was 'even so nearly obtained as it was, but how everyone made it his darling scheme, and Mr Curtis fdt encouraged ih advocating it. He had joined ihe Inland Communication Committee With the utmost good feeling, had been to Wellington on deputations, and worked hard to secure the object in view, and" at jast there* was a prospect of obtaining it. Some said that Mr Curtis held it up as an election cry, but this was scarcely possible/ as he bad devoted all' his energies for some time past in securing it. But now" Mr O'Conor came forward; 1 Mr ! O'Gonor, who bad opposed it in every shape and form, had -thrown Cold Water on it, and tried in every possible -w^y to prevent its construction, and -he took up the cry and said he was in favor of 1 ft and woUld 1 try to obtain it. 5 ' He would be ia favor 1 of roads to the ! Buller, Inangahua, &c;&tbiog heneversupported before, but now he told them tbat times were changed, and he Would take*' those matters' up. Was it that 1 the times were changed, or was it that' he now bad an eye to tbe Superintendent's' chair? The consistent opponent of all measures calculated to benefit ns,- he now had the presumption to- present himself to . the^:^ \^U^^^y..!^^...J^L^jM^fy^ their support. ..^e .hadi- only to look into .his reasons for voting for the subsidy, and we should at once detect what > -an extraordinary; ;min^ !, he had; and, into what,c(isajsters he wpul4,bp bound tp|e>c| us were he eyer placed in office, .He. told, us that he had turnekl the nutter over iv his> mind, and^cOmo to >the conclusion that it •'"i: Vi'V .Z'l -i-.d-.ti-ji' , ii*..n'lll-'h*

would increase our trade by transshipments, and then added that he thought tha only boats that would be equal tb tiie servi-be were those of tha New Zealand Company/ He excluded the admirable little flaatthat' pailed from this port and was a credit to tho place, and thought the Wellington, Company was the one that would take up the main . service, yet he seemed to forget that in all probability the transshipments would he made at Wellington and not here. There was a talk of a Harbor Board, but what would be the use of (hat withi p Superintendent who was endeavoring to drive the ships out of the port? Mc; O'Conor could mako a very claver speech*, but.it was dangerous to pay too much attention to the address of one who was not otherwise consistent, He; had frequently noticed .when, sitting on ( a jbry that when a clever counsel had addressed them on a weak case and made a telling speech, there would always be a few who; Wavered when they first retired, but'/ when the froth was blown off and the evidance examined, they had no . difficulty in arriving at a' true' verdict. Let them look into the evidence before them now, let them take care not to allow themselves to be led away by Mr O'ConorV speeohbs/ let.' them consider how suicidally they would be acting if they gave him any support whatever, and then, he had no fear as to their verdict on ihe polling-day. Mr O'Conor : had alluded to the Inland Communication; Committee, and said the fact of its being formed showed that the people had no confidence in the Government. That was incor rect. llt had nothing to do with tho Provincial Government. It was formed because it was found necessary tbat the people shoa.'d press their Claims on the General Government, and it was found when thoy came to do so that* Mr O'Couor, who now wanted to be Superintendent, was one of the chief obstacles;: in the way , thafi he waa always: trying to defeat the sceme; 1 Veer, that was the man' who asked them to elect him their chief,' and promised he would always sup^* port everything for their benefit. Mr Sclanders concluded an . adoiirable speech of which the above is but -a bare putline of inviting vthe electors toi give hearty support to Mr Curtis, who* Was about, by surround himself with a reliable and progressive Executive, and wiih his own ability -and their assistance, was well fitted to occupy the post of head of the province in the more prosperous times thai wer6 now dawiug upon it. : ' ! Mr Wright seconded the 1 nomination. Mr Pereival had much pleasure in proposing Mr O'Conor,! For .six'; years Mr Curtis had been in oflice, and tlie province was not one whit better now than then. Nekon was now situated like a navigator On the coast of Sicily. On one side a. tough rock, on the other .a r whirlpool/, smooth ou the surface and prepared to suck them in. He would leave .-Mr P'Conor to plead his own cause. Mr J. B. Levien seconded the nomination. He had undertaken to sqpport Mr/ O'Conor although. he had hup slight* Acquaintance with hioj, for he ! seldoin 5 went to the Council as he always fell asleep when there, but Mr O'Conor had come from the West Coast like a good servant with a good character, and those who ,-knew n him.' best supplied him with favorable testimonials and wfaat-d'ye-caU-eme. JTn his opinion, however, he was. a first-rate chap, and though he did not suppose* he, would be supported by the uppers he was sure the working" classes would be in bis' favor,. As for Mr Curtisk he was Uke. his (Mr Eevien's)' anceetor, son, who slew his enemies', with a jaw. He was all jaw. Last election he had supported/ Mr lAkeVsten,, but Mr Curtis had beaten, him thoroughly, and ljealyh© was noi; now very sorry for f itjf" nor could he say " Willie we have missed you," because he had not, Mr Akersten was now supporting Mr , Curtis, , -Wd thought, Mr , pf'Coijoi^ was a hlackguard, / because a certain : piece of land bad been let to him, at a peppercorn rent (or a patent slip, or something of that kind. Mr Curtis was great at slips, and all liis' "slips" were "patent." He had let to, Mr Akersten a large domain, which should have been, the property blf the public) und > this same policy t extended 'to mining leases, which at one time were difficult ;to get, but now 'were to be obtain-scTaß' easily 1 as , they liked. At first Ke" (Mr Levien)/ was, only a half supporter of Mr O'Conor, but how he was a staunch back and bone supporter. Hs would "take the exile from, Erin and hot feel ashamed ""of him,^ bpc^se . he Wanted,. to see the* last^of "rin^,", I and of 'Curtts and Company. " " '.;"/"' "/ * Mr Cobksey wished to nominate Mr J . Albert Pitt, but would first ask that gsn~, tleman's consent. '..,'".,-.'." ''-.-, '..-. Mr Pitt must decline. E[e . wjfshe^V to ? thank. those who during [, the morning, had/ : inVied him to.come forward and had offered / their support, but he ,waauna^-i to accede tci their .request. 1 ! 1, i -kV "tfX- Uil"'** '*■■ l*-i.. , '-"/-fl' Mti' •-'''>•!'*.-'*.'> '.>lT:o II Mr Cooksey. must of course refrain from -'■■i-'-i -Jill"' 1 i. IV- '■a , --"- , yil*4'r' ? ''r»«Tl , * f any lufctner attempt to persuade Mr Pitt,, f'H.i.l ■■jrr.,7 .', r - i|(; Tl-Mlv. Mr,"v, tiVM

•buthe -wished l to sayjthaf thefeetea ek-. -preyed in the Hall %*ilsffians .f&% 11 jwprhingto^nyohe who tw^Mfprffi'!. ,y- --] No ptber-.caodidate being propo^ed^tj^. iße^urning, Qfficißr called, upon JsooVh 1 - V "^s£ ' Mr Curtis, ,:who saidithat^heicsh^ldj have preferrad/tasjpfeiik. after iMr ©JCoift^if that >he might be able toirepi-^ctbthimivbtt?) ;as it was he must^codterit -himselfrowltbm referring/to the -published: i repofcts^ of iVM&t speeches. Havihgi replied, ito< Kthep charge - ma^e at Wakapuaka .byOMtf O^Gouo&afioui' ; his being deceived about the Provincial Hall on Monday night* and^* alluded ii&n certain amusing.; gossip thai was -*oacd. ; current in Wellington iaboultMrid'CoDOrJ^ ' aristocratic relations !» who ware ncoa-M stantiy being flashed ?in everybn-b'sl/fac# there,;and to the terrible blow , i^Wafcte be to those «« relations?? v^ereitheyitdhjßkr-i ithati owing td therfc being vnokvacatay*^ md his ancestral throne,- Mr- O'Gdnbr badi iiad. condescend to seeking thes ?cig^(|7 to sitiviiaif the SuperintendSnt'slCcb'air, MrsrCdrtiifi said he would proceed sto deal^ithiabnia^ of -the. charges brought' agai*as£ hioij> mfrr which liad degenerated in tof simple abusW'* ! [Thedebreaseof fihe'revebueattribulßibla!to<' j the alteration ia General Go verrimefat;fj*y-T : 'mentsilo provinces; and st6>fche* falling o#iif« | theyiehfcof gold foratime;vtberoads'oh tha •> j West Coast; the damage doh# to' property'' ! ;at Westport, that ! was:>.tb! bei Ascribed' 'to7' fche? Pacific Ocean,': wHicH- was obey oad i"*tfte> \ control of the Pro vincia! Goveromenti Sttif' noit to ' bad engineering; *aU.r*theae' !i W-3r#'> passed under review. j^- • Mt-^CuHis them's. 'wenfron lo cdmmeht do th^polfcy !< sf tifsP'J fnture. Mr ©'Conor had -attacked -him-' in language of the i coarsest -character v but had faildd to ! onuneiatoJ**Stty p^ltey'= of his own^t indeed* wfa&n qjoSstiohed Hpßii£v lit be: replied 'that he -had and' rifltfi having had an op'pbr tunity of consulting his future -Executiye--Wsttnable-to " say < ! whaffri it would be.? He (Mr Curtis) th'oughtth&> duty of a Superintendent was to deviaß *a> < policy,* and then to consult with hia* Ese-7 cutive •■ before v sending itidbwftWi fb&tf Gouncil. 'He fully admitted tfe/^eaftaj' bility of having a body of men ipoßß^9sihg> jtlie* confidence' of the peopleround hiltt^t*** give* him advice i bufcdid not f believef-id'S^ responsible Executive, ki-H moved all responsibility hoh theShperitf-' tendent, who" was : 7the' r - el§6tk of^tifß*-> people. 1 He would -repeat what, ha <had^ said before, 'that, -imbfediately up&ri b6in r g* s eleefed** - be : shdurltf n I call w iU-> Cou&cil•'together ahd frdiri- them seleeji *ri I '*E:£Sdn^ ,i tive possessing f their couSdentiei "'■ --MF S O'Conor had found -?&uM#iiht biiil fdKho"§£ supi)orthig»hi&^ measur^ <* borrbWiiig'i £60,000, but i<as ; fthe Vißcurity^ropoSiM^-' be given ■ was o w«y tanils required ffl-ffi- ; ' f , curity for the railway,? he ; certainly ; had ( — opposed it, and .he ! did^hbt'hyttato-Sd^f 1 ? that Mr O'Oohdr's determined hostility- to" the railway scheme jußtiSa-J the -beUef that 1 be had : iatrodu-ned^ihafc'Bill for 1 the os-^ ' press: !purpose '* of daniagitt^ £'itS n Cße*fl had <■>' expressed itidignatiotf at th# slight $m&& '* upon him in uOt beitf^inviljed to.ioitiWedtf- ,v pulatibn thrtV- waited up@n the Govern raed6' : to press on^th^ railway? but ir^was^wiflg^ entirely to the petsiatefit dpposifcion bd>h'ad<> offered to the f ßChemetha*Cb^ Was' left' but*! He ndw prbfes&ed'fthat^r^dpitfferfd»had i! undergone 1 a cbatige/ifbtit'Vsapp^Bilig'Qhe^ were sb fari to'itrdst! him-48<tb5blSetihfnS' Superintendebt, i withdwhttt*fae# i cd6id fef# go to the "^^Ganerali^GdviertfAeQ*' 'tiyMkifdi^ their support.' TnJrigln& s^hV sfc^ia*t5 fc^ia*te l! W« the eye withwhich -Mr^Vogfel' would Abtik? at him as he> difgcteiPhis l att^tion'-tbffeh^^ pages'df HansariiH MA* M# &G6iidvWm' t going to wait to be-toldfbj^Shi^ Exe<ftftiv"S d phat'his policy was fo-Hw'idlhk difiifc&ft** ito comment upohfit^HO'fthathe-ihus^iadk'*! back to' see what he had*doue*,va&d^H§y T would!' find j that all* tbe tiine<-he-faa-*B6ett> T in the Council he hsd never pVopoaedimdfd^ thauJone medstfre; for ;> t&e 'bSneSfr of &8»_ province, and' that '*jras to'":ihctfekfi[e^^th^« , education, rpte. , T^t,|was to which bftXMr^Qu^^siiwfljild '$ cv t^ ,9pi|-[ { < pent. (^rd;,Cono,r w ( asgoi : inj^ ro ; ogMp,%'8 0^ •lHtfl*^'»MJ«%-h?«flWf^ Having i^.ocoinei I^R^^ff^i^^o^yjKfljfis to beq-Qme, a portion o^ anot^r f0 pro^iQ^ ( | butsettrng^b^^ ai^ii^io^-ffe'ya ,was ; amusing^oi,h?^r , -o^a wihp t . lfego^jfidto hishOTde^t-to depriving it $ io/^tftfin » n - d |f W% W ' o %^9»BJriq^ !?^4^Brovis^^S4, s Mr. Curtis, paying re^erred^ gi^^t .langth; ;_ iw &m n W% ajres 6{ { Kft e l&H!^fi»toP4lW^iTOf*lW^ P an jf^* a^ft i"*W of fapa, apd ftpgdf -Mnl* # mito- xt£% -wrn^, sca^s of ,pubfic f^!ing^,hp®i ( >hg aßa qpl ft „r P®?*?°!>;i^ d m

hill. Mr O'Conor had contrasted his enormons energy with his (Mr Curtis') ~ inertia, bnt he might say what be in his tern thought of Mr O'Conor. He was always rushing about, appearing to be in a tremendous bqatle and fall of work, but what he really did; waa to occupy one half of the week in undoing what ha had done in the other. ' Mr Curtis then referred to the Westport sections question, in whioh Mr O'Conor had figured in the Conncil last year. At thai time, he thought tfae Cooncil was taking the matter up too strongly, but afterv studying all the evidence, he had, without going tbe whole length With the Provincial Council, come to the conclusion that Mr O'Conor's conduct in the matter was highly improper and incapable of „ being justified. It wbb true Mr O'Conor bad brought tbe charge that the evidence had been falsified — he was in the habit of making snch charges—but when men like Mvißarniebat and Mr Kynnersley were foqnd to entertain such strong opinions as ttfej* did of Mr O'Conor's action,, they . might: depend upon it that his action had been j such as to forfeit tfieir confidence, The matter had been taken by Mr O'Conor before .a : Select Committee, of the House of -. Representatives, and they reported tbat as be bad said he did not bear what was taking place, they were bound to Mieve bim, and therefore fonnd him blameless. Those who knew the circumstances under -which tbe enquiry took place did not attach mach importance to it. Parties were evenly balanced, votes wjsre scarce, and each side wished to have il)9 -merit of saying be was innocent, and it-^waa atnusing to watch the scramble between Mr Fox and Mr Stafford, the lenders of tbe two parties, to be the first ta congratulate bim. >■ The matter had fqnnd a place in the records of the Council,! tand be felt perfectly justified in referring to it, and asking them to weigh it. w«U before giving their votes to. one who bad ocenpied such a position. It had been said that he bad bragged of having v control over two of the papers. Tbe statement was a pore invention, and without; one atom or shadow of troth. Had he anything to say in the matter, an article which had appeared in the Examimr wonld never have found a place there, and he regretted very much ihat any such phraseology had been imported into. the eleotion. Hitherto elections had always been conducted decently. and in moderation in Nelson, but he must blame Mr, o?Conor for introducing a style tbat bag been continued in the JExaminer. Mr O'Conor boasted of the support he would receive on fhe Coast, bat of the seven newspapers published there, five in this province and the others largely circulating in it, not one: bad said a word in his favor. Two only had- expressed an opinion on the election, and they had always opposed him (Mr Curtis), and they were constrained to say that, bad as he was, Mr O'Conor was worse. One thing was perfectly clear. Every man voting for Mr O'Conor in so doing was distinctly pronouncing his opinion against the railway, and also that he did not wish to see the settled districts and the West Coast united by roads, atj Mr.- O'Conor and his party bad always endeavored to thwart every proposal in this direction, that he had made to the .Government. He hoped there wonld be no faint-beartedness, but that every man would record his vote. As the local candidate, Mr O'Conor would naturally receive considerable support on the Coast, but not so large as he at present ao- ' iipipated, for be (Mr Curtis) was about to proceed -there immediately, and he ventured to say tbe tone of the telegrams received from that part would soon be changed. Still every man who did not wish to see Mr O'Cone? Superintendent should take care to give his vote. r Mt O'Conor could find very little to reply to in Mr Curtis' long-Winded oration but he would take care not to allow a single item brought forward against him td gp unanswered, and if he could not ■hdw that his actions thronghout had been perfectly consistent he would not ask for a single vote here. He had been accused of personal abuse and disorderly language, but he did not know in what he had been gauty of either, but he had merely come forward to perform his duties and expose abuses; Nor had become forward en- j tfrely on his own seeking, but his constituents had requested him to do so and finding | the' West Coast unanimous in wishing it, . he had consented. He thought Mr Curtis' visit to the Wesf Coast would open his eyes; even more so than bfemeetingin Richmond, where none could be found to propose a vote of thanks to bim, and why sbonld they, for what bad he done to deserve iii Mr -Curtis bad denied having briaited of having the papers in his power, bat was not bis connection with the Examinerknona, and, though he repudiated « ewtein gross artiole which had appeared in its columns everyone was aware that j * thfc'papee waa kept up by bis party. He , (Mi* O'Conor) did not expect the support

of the papers on the Coast, where they were to a great extent in the hands of Mr Alexander Reid and his brothers, whose hostility to him was well known. It might have been observed that Mr Sclanders had not referred to the past, and he was quite right, for if he could only throw a veil over the past, Mr Curtis might have ohance of success. His efforts in the direction of separation bad been alluded to, but what he had done with regard to the Amuri resolutions was cot known, while he contended tbat he was fully justified by the mis-government of the Coast to clamor for separation there. With regard to the railway , bo had told the Inland Communication Committee that the only objection he had to it was on account of. tbe proposed dealing with auriferous lands, and in the Council he had merely wished to see an alteration in the wording of the resolutions as he did not see that Westport would be benefitted by it as was asserted. He complained of not being asked to join the deputation in Wellington after having told Mr Curtis of his readiness to support it. He had opposed the Foxhill railway because he would have preferred to see the money expended on roads, bot the position was. now, changed, and we could oot get the money to spend as we pleased, so tbat he was prepared to support ia scheme wind) was to make Nelson the terminus, of the Middle Island railway. Witb regard to the steam sub. sidy he would repeat what he had said before that it: was not until he had elicited from Mr Yogel a promise tbat the boats qhould run co as to benefit all the ports that he had agreed to support it, and he still believed it would increase tbe trade here in the way of transshipments. It was folly to talk about that being done at Wellington as the boats were not required to call there. He had been told he bad no policy, but he had, and . it was to show how tbe present Government had been guilty of the grossest neglect and mismanagement, and bow retrenchment, economy, and an abseoce of favoritism in making appointments could bring abont prosperity. It bad been said that he did nothing bot abuse Mr Curtis, but had he done so ? Had he .violated confidence and repeated, exaggerated, and falsified what he had heard at the dinner table of. Government House. What Mr Curtis had said in this matter and with regard to his seeking a good appointment for his brother were unmitigated falsehoods. Mr Curtis had undertaken to defend himself against all charges, but instead of doing so straightforwardly, he had simply wriggled oat of tbem. [Mr O'Conor then referred at length to the circumstances attendant upon his application for a lease of a portion of the Mount Eochfort coalfield.] He should like to know what Mr Curtis had to say with regard to his mismanagement aud the favoritism he had displayed in making corrupt appointments. A short time after his accession to office a vacancy occurred on the goldfields and wbo was sent there to act as Warden and Resident Magistrate but one wbo had rendered himself useful to him on the Examiner newspaper? (Cries of, Name, name.) Well, if he was called npon to do so, he would say he referred to Dr Giles, a gentleman who had not been successful as a medical man, and had been forsome time connected with' the Examiner. For years after taking office he stumbled along with little knowledge of his duties, although ho had since become better up in them and given greater satisfaction, but his apprentice fee had been paid by the miners, his mistakes being their losses. He had carried on such a system of blundering, that the Superintendent, had he not been a supporter of his, wonld indecency have removed him long ago. Another waa Mr Whiteford who had no claim whatever to tbe office, although a certain amount of knowledge had certainly been hammered into him. Had he (Mr O'Conor) been Superintendent, he would have made appointmehts of gentlemen of some experience and knowlege. Because the two he had referred to were good officers now tbat was no reason why they should have been appointed four years ago. No doubt they all remembered some remarks made pome time ago by Mr Gibbs relative to the overseer at a certain bridge. He, too, could complain that persons connected with' one of the Executive were seat to do work for which they were totally unfitted. The workings of the ring had never been shown more conspicuously than in the dealings of the Government with the Mount Eochfort coalfield and the Albion Company ; the manager oi? which had tried to get money spent upon the Ngakawhao river mouth instead pf uj>on a railway, and was supported in doing 'so by Mr Cortis who was instigated thereto, by certain shareholders living j n Nelson./ Had he (Mr O'Conor) been Superintend dent for the last four years he Bhould come to them and, instead of finding fauljt with, an opponent for abusing himj ask them io look hack and say where theyij

could find fault. Look at tho province, aud compare it with Wellington which, two or three years ago was in a similar state of depression, but, when the reins got into the right hands, some began to_ progress. . The people here, too,' wished to see their affairs placed in the hauds of some one who could manage them properly. As to what Mr Curtirt had said about the Westport land purchase, which so much stir last year, he wonld wish to refer to the matter briefly. Most of the particulars were well known in Nelson, where he had colled a meeting wishing the people to assist him in obtaining an inquiry. To show that he could not havo been actuated by the motives ascribed to bim he had at once offered to throw up the land and take his money back, but that would not satisfy those who were opposed to him. Then there came a statutory declaration by one Longdon stating that he had confessed bis guilt to him, which was followed by Another respectable citizen in Nelson, saying that Langdon had told him exactly the;*, opposite; ;/ The inquiry he sought t6ok place in Wellington before a Committee composed of honorable men from bosh sides of ;the House, who gave a verdict in his favor, stating that they could not find that he had been guilty of anything dishonorable, and it was the greatest audacity on the part of Mr Curtis, —-■■who in endeavoring to add to his disgrace, had paid a lawyer out of their funds to conduct tbo, case against him in Wellington — to hint that the members of the committee were actuated by any but the most honest motives. What were they te think , of ono who came forward and cast such aspersions as he had dono upon two such gentlemen as Mr Fox and Mr Stafford. , In conclusion, he would say tbat if elected Superintendent his object would be not to place: the affairs of the proviuce into the hands of any party, but to pick for his Executive gentlemen having the confience of tbe Council, the majority, if not the whole, of whom would be from the settled districts, and with tbeir assistance to do nis duty, to the, people. He would not sit in his office from years end to years end with the object of putting his salary into his little breeches pocket, but would go about and see what was required in the conntry, and what he could do to push the works forward. It must be remembered that, the Superintendent had both, a deliberate and a casting vote in the Council, and if the Provincial Secretary took office again it would require four members to out vote them, but there was support must be obtained, so like the unjust steward at the end of his term of office the Superintendent, held out a number of bribes to secure support. A scapegoat had been made of Mr Henry Adams, tbe only member of the; Executive who had really done his duty, as it was not his placo to take an active part iv the deliberations of the Executive, and the soundness of his legal advice had never been impugned at the time he had been in th% Council. A good and faithful servant was discharged, co that the Superintendent might have the opportunity of giving the office to some one else But in every light in which the Superintendent's conduct could be viewed, he was to be found fault with; and the grossest jobbing prevailed in every department. He (Mr O'Conor) bad that rooming been shown a picture of a " ring " in the form of a serpent. He hoped that the hiss they had heard that day was the last gasp of the dying serpent. With reference to publtc works, he might say tbat releasing 'his mind from any local prejudices he might ; have had, he should if elected enter, upon the duties of Superintendent with the firm determination of devoting his whole time and attention to the advancement of the province as a whole, and if he did not succeed in leading them to the front of the other provinces he should be very much disappointed. The. first thing he. should do would be to lopk baok and examine all the past records; and take care not to receive anything without a careful examinatidn. He would ask them to consider well, before giving their vote and ask themselves whether they were prepared; again. to condemn tbe province to a period of inaction such as they must have with the present Superintendent and Executive. He would meet them again before tbe polling day and afford any further explanation that they might require, and in the meantime would warn them to entirely disregard the slanders of the press. ;: , A show of hands was taken with the following result:-— * /Curtis , / 12 O'Conor 7 ... ""* «7 * .rV"7 ••• ... Oi