The Southland Times. THURSDAY, JULY 28, 1864.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 25, 28 July 1864, Page 2

The Southland Times. THURSDAY, JULY 28, 1864.

Although the task is in the last degree : distasteful to our feelings, we are compelled once more to allude to the deadlock between His Honor the Stoeriktendent and the Provincial Council. Last night's proceedings were of a more satisfactory nature, or rather had a more satisfactory termination, than we had expected. We say more satisfactory, because some > ; definite course of action has been determined on by the Provincial Council. Mr. Pearson brought forward the following resolution, to the spirit of which we give our cordial assent:— " That a respectful address be presented ■to His Honor the Superintendent, requesting him to inform this Council if His Honor intends to submit, for its consideration, any financial scheme by which the Province may be extricated from its present embarrassed position." The resolution fell to the ground because, after an infinite amount of talking, it was wormed out _of Mr. Tabltcwt that his resolutions, which we have already published in our columns, embodied the only statement His Honor had to make. It was necessary that some such resolution as Mr. Pearson's should be brought forward, in order that nothing might be left undone by which some amicable arrangement might be come to between His Honor and the Council. It was necessary to show that the Provincial Council, notwithstanding the high ground taken up by His Honor, were willing to co-operate with him; not because their previously expressed opinions were in any degree changed ; not because they felt the less that they had been, throughout the period of the Superintendent's office, . treated in a manner both unconstitutional and discourteous in the extreme, but because the position of the Province was such as to demand some sacrifice on their part. Had Mr. Pearson's resolution received the sanction of the House, Dr. Mejtzies would have been able to send down, in the shape of a message, a financial scheme more in accordance with the present necessities of the Province. This he could have effected without the aid of an Executive, and we believe that such a plan would have at once shown that hon. members were willing so far to pocket their dignity, as to render him all the assistance in their power. This, however, according to Mr. Tarlton (who, bye-the-by, is what may be vulgarly, but expressively termed, a " sticker,") was not to be ; his resolutions, or rather the ones, as we now understand, of His Honor, embraced the whole financial scheme that was to be submitted. The Council were satisfied neither with the resolutions themselves, nor with the manner in which they came before the House, and then at length passed a series of resolutions of which Mb. Cauder was the mover. Their purport was briefly as follows, — That the interests of the Colony were bound up Avith that of this Province; that the affairs of Southland were _in such a disastrous condition that an immediate change of Administration was necessary; that the Council views with the utmost alarm the antagonism of His Honor tothe wishes of the Provincial Council ; that His Excellency the Governor be respectfully called upon to dissolve the Council forthwith, or take " such steps as he shall think necessary to prevent the further ruin of the interests of the Province, as well as for the protection of the credit of the Colony." How far. Sir G-eorge GrREX will give the weight of his sanction to these resolutions, it is impos-; sible for us to say, but a great good was' effected by last night's proceedings. The Provincial Council have vindicated ; them; selves in the; eyes of the public, not alone of Southland, but .of New, Zealand generally.; They have shown a desire to do their duty to the Province and the Colony ; they have; advanced a step, as i"fc were; to .meet "trie. Superintendent, and he was not prepared; to act in a like manner. One word should' perhaps be said about the memorandum which His Honor forwarded to Mr. Pearson. It contained nothing new. 3t referred to a message dated February 37th, 1861 to the Provincial Council, and ; desires honorable members to wade through three pages of ambiguity i and prevarication contained in the Southland Gazette of 24th March.'3t burks the present question and re-opens an old one — as to the* remodelling of the Executive requiring ; to be effected by legislation. It was legis-' lated on during last session, as far as the, Provincial Council was concerned, and it, was the fault of the Superintendent him-

tifthftt %U bill did aotiseciomai taprtw 3tofevidont that His Honor {^uite'willingMj { ucoesaor shall be bound down to be guided < iy"an Executive if the Council wills , fa, but he will consent' to no resteio- i ions, fts far as he himself is concerned, , S&x. Oaldeb's resolutions will show His , Sscellency more olearly than ever that t he Province is in great straits 5 that it iaa uq confidence in Dr\ Mmies, and is villing to submit to almost anything in preference to continuing under his most niserable guidance.