THE SUPERINTENDENCY.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 47, 17 September 1864, Page 7

THE SUPERINTENDENCY.

(From the Southland Times, Sept. 13, 1864.) "Whilst there is a general feeling amongst the community that the post of Superin-, tendent might be better filled than it is at 1 present,- no one has been bold enough to state.- plainly- his opinion as to who would be the best man to succeed Dr. Menzies, whose term of office has so nearly expired. A dozen names have been mentioned, but more in a tone of inquiry than otherwise ; and some have gone so far as to avow that it would be better -to bear those ills we have rather than fly to others that we know not of; " in other words, that it would be better for the Province that Dr. Menzies should continue to reign than that he should be succeeded by some one who might prove still more unfitted to the office. We will not go the length of saying that we should prefer seeing as Superlnten&enb, in the place of Dr. Mets t ZIES, any one of those whose names have been bandied about in connection with this subject, but several of them appear to possess the requisite qualifications ; they are gentlemen and of fair business capacity, and there would be no danger of the office falling into discredit by their actions. But if the Province is fortunate iv the possession of several men who could advantageously perform the duties of Superintendent, there is greater need that the electors should at once choose one out of the number. If at the general election each small cliqiie exacts pledges from the various candidates that they will vote in Council for this one or that one as Superintendent, there is the risk that so many divided interests may tend to ensure the re-election of Dr. Menzies, who is not without a folloAving, in spite of his misdeeds. To avoid such an unfortunate event, it is necessary to be explicit, and name the best man, setting on one side all personal feeling, and considering the matter on purely public grounds. We have no hesitation in saying that the man best fitted for the post of Superintendent — that is of those who may be able and willing to give the necessary time — is Mr. Matthew Holmes, of Seaward Downs. Let us at the outset state that we do not know if this gentleman would act even if the Council were to elect him, nor have we any reason to desire his return further than an earnest wish for the good of the Province, and a firm conviction that he would be the right man in the right place. It would be an invidious task, and one we have no wish to undertake, to compare the respective merits of Mr. Holmes and those who havebeen talked of?very likely with out. their knowledge or consent, as well suited to undertake the duties of Superintendent. We will only say that, after a careful scrutiny of their antecedents and belongings, we oannot find one who so fully realises our ideal of what is required, as the owner of Seaward Downs. He is, in the first place, an old settler, well acquainted with New Zealand and Australia, in both of which Colonies he bears a high name. He has been an eminently successful man in the management of his own affairs, and therefore is, in our opinion, more likely to be successful in his stewardship of the Province. He has a very heavy stake in the country, and would share largely in its prosperity or adversity as the case might be. He is known to be an able financier, and his influence would be of great use in getting the Southland debentures floated in the Melbourne market. If he has been a successful colonist, that success is less owing to the accidents of fortune than to his own exertions. He is a preeminently energetic and keen-sighted man of the world. It is owingto him that some of our best settlers have made their homes in Southland. Nor is he attached more to the pastoral than the agricultural interest; he has already done something for both, and to him we are indebted for the introduction of the grand cultivator of the nineteenth century — the steam plough. It has been said that Dr. Menzies has a strong party amongst the class who are known as the " Old Identity," and that they would be willing to forgive him much for the sake of old times. We do not think that such a feeling can be very-wide spread or very deeply rooted. We look on the electors of Southland as possessing at least an equal amount of intelligence with men of the same class elsewhere, and we much question whether this personal friendship will be found strong enough to override the conviction that Dr. Menzies has failed to acquit himself creditably of the responsibility which has fallen on his shoulder's. We do not like to compare the merits of Mr. Holmes with those of other untried gentlemen who have been named as eligible for the Superintendency, but the same feeling does not restrain us when speaking of Dr. Menzies. We have, then, on the one hand, a public man who, after three years of office, has so managed things that the Province is reduced to the greatest difficulties, when there was every reason to expect that it should be rejoicing in riches and prosperity. We do not say that this poverty and this great depression is caused altogether by mismanagement on the part of the present t uperintendent ; we have sufficiently shown in former articles that we do not think so, but we do say that a Avant of capacity, and, above all, a want of deference to the Avishes and opinions of those Avho were connected with him in the administration of affairs, has done much to bring things to their present pass. He has been tried in the balance and found wanting, and it remains to be seen Avhether the new Council Avill be content to alloAv him again to take the guidance of the Province, or Avhetlier they will prefer, to accept the services of one who, if untried as a public man, has given substantial pledges, by his conduct in private life, that he Avould rot betray their confidence should, they call him to a wider sphere of action. "\Ve do not think that the great body of the electors, or the Council which they .will choose, will hesitate much as to the course they should adopt. . A : •.-..;. In the bid country, it often happens

that the elector is, in a manner, compelled; to vote against Ms convictipnß,rthe. fear of the refusal of a lease^or the lbSs'ofdus-j torn, acting powerfully. to make him throwj his weight on the side which does not! possess his" sympathy ; -btit here we have nothing of the Mnd to fear. The elector is untrammeled by any such considerations, and may support the, _„ candidate whose return he conscientiously believes would be of the greatest public utility; Let the electors act on that principle and .we have, no fear as to the result; Our contemporary, in a recent issue, advised the electors to reject any candidate, who would not clearly state the way in which he intended to vote when the Council should be called 1 on to choose a Superintendent, and we cordially endorse his advice, adding, however, that those who were in favor of Dr. Mestzies should be at once condemned^ v; "Finally, we must not forget that the Province is still in great difficulties, and that it is reasonable to suppose the General Government, to whom we must look ; for further assistance, will be. more inclined to view our case favorably if we place a really good man at the head of affairs, than if we again call to power a Superintendent who has already done so much damage to our prospects as Dr. Menzies.