The Invercargill Times. MANDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1863.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 22, 28 December 1863, Page 2

The Invercargill Times. MANDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1863.

The Session of the Genera] Assembly is fast drawing to a close. By last advices, nothing remained but a few third readings. The majority of the Southern members have returned to their homes, to rest from their labors. How has Southland farediuthe political meleet Have her representatives acquitted ihemseives as true and faithful knights? The two most important measures in which Southland is especially interested were the readjustment of the Representation, and the extension of the boundary of the Province to its natural and legitimate, or rather necessary, limits. Both these have miscarried, and we will inquire into he causes. One of our representatives, if such he can be called, Mr Mantell, quietly thn.w us overboard at the outset, leaving Auckland soon after the opening of the Session, and before any business of importance had been transacted. This course, we understand, he rdopted through pique, at not being requested to retain office by the Whittaker and \ Fox Ministry. Whether Mr Mantell j believes that the e)ectors o£ Southland returned him for the express purpose of attending to his own interests, instead of those of his constituency, we cannot say ; perhaps he doe — c is considered eccentric. Lh.d^r the circumstances, he had better resign at once, a3 we cannot afford the luxury of having eccentric members. As regards the liepresentation question, Mr Bell, at an early period of the Session, asked the Colonial Secretary whether the Government intended to bring in a Bill to increase the representation of Otago and Southland. This course was probably taken by Mr Bell in consequence of a prior understanding come to between him and some of the Otago members. Doubtless, it is much pleasanter, and often more prudent, to bring forward a measure for which a -good deal of support has been secured, than run the risk of standing alone; but we cannot help thinking that in this instance the alliance was an unwise, or at all events, a very unfortunate one- It led a great portion of the House, and especially the Auckland members, to look upon the interests of Otago and Southland as identical, and so had the effect of extending to the latter Province the jealousy which had been not unnaturally aroused in the North by the great preponderance of Otago, and by the somewhat offensive wiy in which that preponderance had been asserted and exercised. The question thus became . simply one of South against North, and accordingly Mr Bell's Bill, which would have given three additional members to Southland, and a much larger number to Otago, was thrown out, chiefly by the Auckland members, whose support might, we believe, have been easily secured to a measure for the relief of Southland alone, if it had been shown, as it easily might have been, that Southland was much more likely to become a make-weight against Otago, than aid her in any selfish objects — such as making Dttnedin the seat of Government. The question of representation was then referred to a Select Committee — a step which rendered its failure almost inevitable. The report of the Committee recommended an addition to the House of thirteen members— -of whom one only was allocated to Southland. To see the character of this most discreditable proposition, it is only necessary to refer to the financial statement of the Colonial Treasurer. He there estimates the whole Customs' revenue of New Zealand for the ensuing year at £603,600. and of this Southland is expected to contribute £60,000, or very nearly one-tenth. Now, the two members partly representing Southland also in part represent Otago, co that our interest can only be considered as about three-fourths of each, or one and a-balf members in all. One would have been added in a House of seventy members ; so that, paying nearly one-tenth of the revenue, it was proposed that we should

;li*T^^^n^-ft|^h of tlte Repre- : Ha£i£ *ot bee^^aid ttia£ **• Taxation without Representation is tyranny ?*' This scandalous report was up, we believe, by Mr Stafford, who, 'amidst the strange - changes of opinion, or at all events, of side, which have taken place around him, has done us the honor to have been throughout the steady and consistent enemy of Southland. When we recollect that tbis is the same man who, as Superintendent of Nelson, was stliy enough to open' the Provincial Council with his hat on, we cannot feel surprised that his egregious van it r, coupled with a weak head, should overlook the minor considerations of honesty and justice. We are not aware that the report was protested against by any member of the Committee, of whom Mr Bell was one. A Bill in accordance with the Committee's report Was brought in, but riot' being based | upon any fixed principle, and not being a Government measure, each separate clause became a mere selfish scramble i between the Provinces ; and, after an adjourned debate, which did no credit to the House, the Bill was lost at three o'clock on Sunday morning, by a motion that the t: Chairman report progress." The boundary question was unfortunately brought forward at a late period of the Session, and Mr. Bell again judged, and again rather unfortunately, that it was best to come to a private understanding with th& leading Ota^o members before introducing any measure in the House. The principle advanced on the part of Southland, was to demand the annexation of that territory only, which is already virtually severed from Otago, and which is only accessible from Southland ; and this was so obviously reasonable, that most oF the Ota-jo members were constrained to admit it. A boundary line, giving Southland the whole of the West Coast to some distance north of Te Anau Lake, was actually agreed on, and a memorandum to that effect was drawn up ; but at the last moment, when it was clearly too late to in trod ace a contested measure, the Otago members turned round aud repudiated their engagement, though their constituents would have lost nothing in reality by its fulfilment. This disaster is to be deeply regretted, for had the understanding cotne to, been honestly carried out, much Of the jealousy" and hostility which now exists between the Provinces would speedily have died out. The resources of Southland, [ and indeed of the Co!ony at large, would have been greatly increased, and the Western roads, surveys, and public works could have been planned On a permanent basis, which is impossible under the present undefined condition of the territory. On the other hand, the disappointment must effect this good ; it will convince every one that the members for Southland place themselves ;n a totally false position, and risk the betrayal of the iuterests of their constituents by attempting to ally themselves with the Otago members. Such an alliance excites external opposition, from which Southland standing aMtie would be free; while the present instance too clearly proves, that any advantage we may hope to obtain from if, may be defeated at the last moment by treachery and trick. It must be considered an advantage that at the next Session of the Legislature, almost every member of the House will be aware that a modification of the boundary is necessary, and that it only failed to be carried in the last Session in consequence of the maneuvering of the Otago members. The course which Southland now has before her, is to make every effort during the { recess to secure the support of all the populations, which, having a community of interests with her,, would gain by being united to her ; and to induce them as numerously and significantly as possible to express to the Legislature their desire for annexation. If such expression can be obtained, and if Southland can secure from her Repre- | sentatives a firm and uncompromising assertion of her wishes and rights, without entangling themselves with j any private arrangements or understand- , ings whatever, and least of all with Otago, we may confidently expget to secure, next Session, what ws have failed to ob am during this. We may indeed expect more than what would have satisfied us bow, both in respect to territory and Representation ; we may look forward to concessions which wi!l enable Southland to command in the House that attention which is due to a Province, the commerce of which has already attained, in less than three years, a magnitude nearly equal to that of Wellington and Nelson together, and of which the internal improvements— "-including its deep water wharves in both harbors, and a very considerable length of railway- — are advancing with a rapidity quite unparalleled in New Zealand. Of Mr. Mantell's conduct as our represeutative, we have already spoken. As regards Mr. Bell, while it is evident that no charge of want of energy can be brought against him, it is equally evident that that energy hat. been misdirected. Mr. Bell is placed in a peculiar position ; politically, only half our member, — socially, he is entirely Otago's. A run-holder in that Province, he intends to reside there, so that his private interests are at war with his duty. We would recommend the gentleman to cut the Gordian knot by resigning. It must be recollected, however, that to Mr. Bell's untiring zeal and ability we owe, in a great measure, the benefits of Separation. But if the past is to be a set off against the present, we must have some guarantee for the future. In the next meeting of the Assembly the last and most important battle for Southland

motet be fought ; if we are conquered then, we must' succumb for a long time.'. However, we will not prejudge ; both' our members, we understand, intend' visiting us by the next Northern steamer, and doubtless they will give us some explanation of their conduct.

A Northern paper reports the death of the editor of the IuvBRCAEGiLLTiMBa. We beg leave to say, from oar own experience, that the statemeat is without foundation. Saturday being Boxing Day, was obsetved as a general holiday, and our citizens seemed inclined to make the most of the unusually fine . weather. Amongst various way* of spending the day, a. pio-nie party to the Pilot Station was organised, and a number of ladies and gentlemen embarked on board the s.s. Ruby, which had been specially chartered for the occasion. The trip proved in all respects successful. A favorable spot for the "camp" having been chosen, sundry hampers, baskets &c., quickly made their appearance, and their contents were dispatched according to the rules in such case made and provided. Lunch over, a portion of the company dispersed about the hills — another portion betook themselves to dancing, nor were there wanting some who preferred to lie quietly on their backs and smoke multitudinous cigars. When evening fell all returned to the steamer, which conveyed them safely to the Jetty by about 9 p.m. We should mention that tke music was supplied by Mr Herz, whose skill greatly contributed to the day's amusements. : On Christmas Day, the Aphrasia steamed away from the Invercargill Jetty having on board between twenty and thirty passengers, bent on a : trip to Stewart's Island — the land of sawyers and fishermen, The Apbrasia entered seeeral of the bays of the Island, including Paterson's Inlet. Ire the last- mentioned place the passengers landed, and were hospitably received by the Maories, with , whom they appeared very willing to fraternise- : The Aphrasia returned on Saturday, about 7 p.m , j and all hands expressed themselves satisfied with the excursion. During the late great floods in Melbourne-there were four feet six inches of water in Messrs M'Meckan and Blackwcod's office. Mr M'Meckan Captain M' Loan, of the Alhambra, and four men, pulled a four-oared boat from about ten feet above Flinders Lane, in Kin<j street, over the wharf and across to the gate at the Raglan street station. Of late we have heard remarks made in refer* ence to the conduct of masters of vessels, disobeying the port regulations in entering the River. In order that we might be in a position to state accurately the facts of the case we have made in. juiries, and havo ascertained that in the instance of the steamer Titania, what appears to be, at least, a degree of negligence has been shown. We have been credibly informed that on Wednesday, the 22nd December, on her last trip from Dunedin, the Titania in comirg into tlie 3£iver at low water struck the ground, narrowly escaping becoming a wreck ; the rock on which she struck damaged one of the plates near the keel, and caused a consHerable leak. Her cargo had, in consequence, to be discharged immediately on her arrival at the wharf. If Captain Jarvey, of the Titania, had taken the trouble, be might have signalled to the Steep If cad signal station and been told in reply by the pilot in charge what depth of water was in the channel, it being then low water. Th« loss ot such a steamer would damage the name of the port, and no precaution on the part of the harbor authorities could protect it under such- cireum- ' stances. We understand that the system adopted at the signal stations ia applicable to every case which can happen, provided shipmasters have on board Murryatt's code of signals. Speaking of the arrival of the All-England Eleven by the Great Britain, which reached Hobson's Bay on the 16th inst., the Argus says : — "From the complete, list of names appended, it will be seen that Mr Caffyn is the only one of the former eleven in the present team :— Mr G- Parr, captain; E. M. Grace, Esq"7*and Messrs. Loekj - er, Clarke, Caffyn, Anderson, Carpenter, Haywnrd Caspar, Jackson, Tinloy and Tarrant. The team is unquestionably a splendid one; and their first meeting with a Viciorian twentr-two' is looked forward to with unusual interest." Yesterday, in the Church ol England, Jackson's Te Deum in F, was performed in a manner reflecting great credit on the choir. Mr Livingstone officiated as organist. It 13 intended to perform one of Kent's Anthems on -the first Sunday in the New Year. We are glad to notice so laudable an effort to introduce a high class of music, i It will be seen by an advertisement in another j portion of our issue of to-day, that a ball will be given to-night at the Mtchanjca' Institute, under the management of Mr Herz, and from the success which attended the last, we fully t expect the present one will be well attended. We have to acknowledge the receipt of a prospectus for a new Dail j P.iper about to be published in Dunelin. We had almost thought that our neighbors were fully supplied with journals, but the price (one penny), at which the Daily News is to be offered, affords its proprietors a reasonable hope of success — if the promises made in the prospectus are dully fulfilled.