THE SUPERINTENDENCY.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 47, 17 September 1864, Page 3

THE SUPERINTENDENCY.

(Prom the Soutaland Times, Sept. 3, 1864.) If we were to judge of the interest taken in the forthcoming elections by the amount of talking they have given rise to, we should be inclined to think that the people generally, cared nothing whatever about the matter, and were quite content that things should go on in the old style, which has already done so much substantial injury to Southland, and caused her affairs to be paraded on every possible occasion by the Press of New Zealand as a shocking instance of the straits a community may be placed in by extravagance and bad government. Take a file of colonial newspapers for the last six months, and many pages will not have been glanced over before some notice of our unfortunate condition catches the eye. We could reprint columns from our contemporaries, both in JS"ew Zealand and Australia, in proof of what we say. Only as lately as the 23rd of August we find the following tit-bit in the Nelson Colonist : — " Southland is a new Province. It is bank- " rupt ; the people are suffering in every "respect, not a few from a want of bare " food; trade is in a ruinous condition ; the "value of property has fallen, in many " instances, sixty 'or seventy per cent., "and even at that reduction purchasers " cannot be found ; the people are fleeing "from the Province as from a land "plague-stricken; debt, difficulties, and " bankruptcies are the order of the day, " both in the Government of Southland, "and in its people." The Colonist insinuates that our misfortunes have been caused by our separation from Otago, but though we can neither agree with him as to the cause, nor the extent he assigns to them, we must admit that the picture he has drawn bears some resemblance to the reality. The people are not starving, but work is not plentiful; property has decreased in value ; and at the present moment the Grovemment is not in in a position to meet its liabilties. Our settlers are not, as far as we canfsee, panic-stricken ; on the contrary they appear determined to " take things as they come," and not trouble to think how far a remedy may rest with themselves. It seems an almost hopeless task to endeavour to arouse the public to a sense of the importance of getting together in the next Council a body of men really capable and willing to do the work which will be set before them. We are at a loss to account for this apathy. It cannot be that our fellow-citizens look at the proceedings of the Provincial Council as of no moment ; and surely it is not caused by the opinion that the members of the old Council are the best men that can be found, and will come forward again and be returned in the natural course of things. Either supposition does violence to our common sense. Pearly bought experience shows conclusively that the Provincial Council possesses quite enough power to make it dangerous to the prosperity of the settlement, unless its members are men of at least average ability, and good business knowledge. We do not wish here to name any gentlemen in particular, but, with all due deference to the judgment of those who elected them, we hold a decided opinion that there were some at the Council table, who would have been far better employed either in teaching children the alphabet, or in whale-fishing, or in bullockdriving, than in making laws for the people. All these occupations are highly honorable, and, no doubt, each requires talent of a peculiar order for its successful prosecution; but in the Council it is quite thrown away. If- the people appear indifferent as to who shall represent them in the Council, they also seem indifferent, though in a less degree, as tpwho shall fill thepost of Superintendent. There is a strong feeling that the present occupant is not all that could be desired. * Some go so far as to think and s.ay that much mischief is to be attributed to him, and that much more is in store for s the Province should he be again elected; but few, comparatively speaking, hay gone the-length of speculating as to who ought to. be his successor; In the eyery-day .business of life, where a position of- ] trust is about to become vacant, it is not the usual thing to allow the matter to stanid over till the last moment, and theii t take ; tho fir^t applicant who , can bHpw "fair testimonials .to his, iit^ft 88 performi the. duties which -'Avail bo required of him. '--"We do not see why the electing pf a S-dp^ntenukvii^Bhmild 100 ro^mlediis bf less 'im^^taiice^tha^ iiiKe^cliqbsingj of i a person to, fill an" office biT trust in any private firm. ; However much the new

■ Council may curtail the- powers jof theSuperintendent,* a great deal of weight will always "belong to the post. The" Superintendent will always have influence, and it is therefore necessary that great . care , should be exercised-, von - < electing ■ fhim. „;.,;, „.-;• ■■■ •;..-,. . . ■■■.'■> «.- • ■ -.s ,;.'.■ - ~ x: It is certain • that when ■■■ the : ,-j General Assembly meets, the affairs of Southland will be thoroughly inquired, into, but ! beforethat takes place there is. time "to " set the house in order." We, cannot, unfortunately, do away with the past. We must rest content to. be. laughed at, and probably abused in the House of Representatives, and by the Press, but we have it, in our power to watclv against a repetition of the errors into which we have hitherto fallen. We can elect a Council which shall number none but men of. respectability, and good sense, and -we can secure the return of a Superintendent who will command the confidence, not only of the Council and people^ but also of the General Government — a man who is at least the possessor ' of two ideas, and willing to admit that others may be gifted in a like manner. If this is done, and the Council set earnestly to work to solve the problem of how to get the Province out of its difficulties, which, after all, have been very much exaggerated, and are really no greater than those of Otago, the General Assembly will certainly give their assistance to place our affairs once more on a satisfactory footing. Several names have been whispered to us as belonging to gentlemen who will be " first favorites " in this election for the Supei'uitendency ; but the choice in reality, will have, for various reasons, to be made from a very limited number. There is no lack of men who possess all the necessary qualifications — except time to devote to the public service. That must always be the case in a young settlement where almost everyone is engaged in business, and where the revenue will not permit the payment of a high salary ; but setting aside those who might for that reason be debarred from accepting the office if elected, there yet remains one or two who, if we mistake not, would be willing to occupy the post, and able to fulfil its duties with credit to themselves and substantial advantage to the Province. Almost all we have urged in this article we have before brought under the notice of our readers, but the repetition is excusable, nay more, it is necessary. Too much prominence cannot be given to these matters at the present moment. We have purposely abstained from ■"mentioning any names in connection either with the elections for the Council or that for the Superintendency. It will be time enougli for us to compare the relative merits of the various aspirants for seats in the Council, when they shall have openly declared their intention of becoming candidates for the honor With regard to the Superintendency, we shall shortly have something more to add. In the meantime if we have succeeded in creating a little interest on the subject in the minds of the people, if we have been able to awaken them to a sense of the importance of the occasion, our object is fully accomplished.