The Southland Times. FRIDAY, NOV. 4, 1864.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 68, 4 November 1864, Page 2

The Southland Times. FRIDAY, NOV. 4, 1864.

The combination of conspicuous talent and unflinching honesty by which the Provincial Council of Southland is at present carried on will before long be called upon to receive its due reward. Dr. M exzies and Mr. Tatiltox can return thanks on the Invercargill hustings for past favors, and beg for a renewal of the people's confidence. Dr. Menztes cau gracefully call the attention of the electors to the alacrity with which he complied with their wish for an escort. He can point with pride to his labors in connection with the North .Road, lie can refer them to his success in his negotiations in behalf of Southland, when last he was hi Auckland, aad inform them how large a portion of humble pie lie swallowed for the good of his subjects on that occasion. He can tell t.ieai of the pleasing tribute which was paid to his aWilily and trustworthiness by the General Government, in relieving him of the trouble of dealing with the £;JO,ODO advanced, and placing it in the hands of Captain Klles for distribution. And then he can s iy a few words about the manner in which he exercised the \ery liaiited power which was loft him in the matter. He can toll them how he kept faith with those to whom his word was pledged, and who expended large sums for the public service on the strength of that pledge, lie cm point triumphant!}' to the many who have from time to time been willing to take ollice under him, though perhaps it would be as well to omit any mention of trie little unpleasantness which front time to time occurred, but which may be expected to take place in the best regulated families Then he has an unlimited held before him —he can promise anything and everything for the future. Neither is there any need for Mr. Taki.tov to be at a loss for words — he never is, and upon an occasion that occurs but seldom, he may be expected to pump out the watery How of his eloquence, with even more facility than usual. To him will fall the task of explaining how good and just a man he proved himself to be, when a portion of his land was required for the railway. He may expatiate on the patriotism he displayed by shelving to his post through good report and evil report, and how he was willing to postpone the payment of his salary, not indeed till after the tradesmen of the town had revcived their due, bill until the Frovincial cotters vontalnc I snliiciont to make it worth his while to put forward his moderate demand for work and la-hor done. He may throw in a few words on the value of an illegal paper currency, furnish a scientific report on the progress of the railways, and add a few little items (of his own composing) in relation to the conduct of Mr. Chalmers, but more especially will the lime be opportune for so doing should that gentleman chance to be absent. He may conclude with an earnest appeal to the electors to take pity ° fl him, and impress on their minds how hard a thing it is to be thrown out of a situation in these dull times. Mr. Taklto.v not only cau do it, but what is more, he wdl do it, and do it well, if we know anything of hira — though perhaps he may couch his appeal in language calculated to convey an erroneous conception of facts. The que:tiou is whether the electors will believe all these gentlemen may tell them ; whether they will not be inclined to say you have had your not over-clean finger; in the government pie quite long enough, and had better retire into the obscurity of private life. There was a time when that would have been the answer, hut it would almost seem that the people of Southland had forgotten the past, and were willing to be satisfied with any rubbish which may be talked to them. What ! send Mr. Taiiltow again into the Provincial Council ? The gentleman whose legislative ability consists in prolonging a debate by the prosiest of aimless spouting ; who has apparently placed himself on the civil list of the Proviuce without doing one single thing for the good of the people! It seems incredible that such arrant humbug can go down with sensible po'ople. How long is it since T>r. Mexzies and his Man Friday stood about as low as it was possible for them to stand in public opinion, and what have they since accomplished to find favor in the' eyes of the electors? On an island inhabited only by themselves these two might be worthy to bo entrusted with the management ; of public .affairs. The regulation of the. currency and the working of the Education Ordinance might be jtwtly placed in the hands of Ml*. TarL'J'OX, whilst his lord and master could be monarch '-of : all he surveyed without danger to his health from fear of contradiction ; but in a civilised community, in the nineteenth century — in. a community suffering from the effects of bad government, to which these two gentlemen have been mainly instrumental — the thing is simply ])roi>Q»twousV 1* is a pitiable

tiling that a people should be so forgetful j of their own interests, of everything right and just, as to make it a question for one moment's discussion whether. Dr. Menzies and Mr. Taeltox are again to be allowed to have the guidance of public affairs. „ , We will leave Mr. Tarlton to the electors, trusting that they will not take all he tells them to be strictly in accordance with facts. Let them compare his deeds with his words, and if they do this "truthfully and thoughtfully," and act on the inevitable conclusion that must be arrived at, the last act in the sensation drama of Mr. Takxton's political, life in Southland has been played out. With reference to Dr. Mexztes, we must also say, measure his deeds and his words ; see "whether his past conduct as Superintendent has been in accordance with the pledges he gave on taking office. If the Provincial Ordinance means anything, enquire whether he has acted up to its provisions. Examine well the records of the last four years ; look at our former prosperity — our present depression — and determine how far he is to blame for the circumstances in which the Province is placed. Bear in mind that to Dr. Menzies we are indebted for the New Land Act, which places the price of land at two pouuds per acre instead of one. Recollect in in what light bis political conduct is viewed at the present time by the Geuer.J Government, and how low he had fallen in their estimation when he could not be entrusted with the disposal of the advance recently made, and which unfortunately is by this time spent. Sum it all up, and "place the good, if any can be found, against the evil which is conspicuous at every turn, and then say whether Southland" should run the risk of being again phieed under his thumb. Should the electors consider that Dr. Missies is a tit and. proper person to represent them in "the Council, there still remains the question of the Superintendeucy, and on that point there is an unmistakable feeling that he should not again be called to the office. There we are quite sure that the majority are agreed, and the ,only thiug to decide on is his successor, fhis must be determined at once. Since Mr. Holmes will not accept the Superintendeucy, we must, perforce, look elsewhere, and we have not far to look. Circumstances have occurred since Mr. Hk.u.e left the Proviuce which render it probable that he would be willing to respond to a general call from the people. Le 1 1 hisc al 1 be l n ade without del ay. I b \vi i 1 he a lasting disgrace to the Province if Dr. Mexzies is" allowed to be Superin--1 tendent again on any grounds whatever, but especially on the ground that no one else can be found to take his place. Absurdity can go no further.