THE COUNCIL AND THIS SUPERINTENDENCY.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 80, 6 December 1864, Page 3

THE COUNCIL AND TH IS SUPERINTENDE NCY .

TO THE EDITOR 03? TnK SOUTHLAND TIMES. Sir, — As one of those who aro anxiously waiting for some monoy from tho Provincial Government, I crave a little spaco for tho inquiry, what is the Council going to do, as to tlio Suporintondoncy ? It sterns to me that between the two candidates before tho Housw there is not. much to ohoao— -if one hftiTbcen a backslider, the other is untried — and therefore, I think it immaterial ■ which fa

elected. But, sir, I think^ tlie 'Council, as a body, are open to strong censure for raising /hair-split-ting questions, when the Province wants prompt action to remove it out-. of -financial diiliculties ; and. Mr.' Speaker, for being " terrified at the words majority." I am a plain ruan, and it seems to riieithe meaning is plain. Suppose there , had .; been four candidates— Messrs. A B C, and I),; that the first had six votes, the next five, and the other two three each, then neither would have Ihacl.an " absolute majority,".and the House would again vote on A and J3. If, in a House of seventeen members,.; (exclusive of Mr. Speaker) nine vote for, A, and eight vote for B, then I say A has an "absolute majority." ./'.The: supporters of Dr. ; Menzies say the Act means an " absolute majority of the whole House, and on Thursday last two members were absent; but to me this seems absurd. Why, sir, it can only be by a providential charice that every riietnber Will be present- on a given- day ; and, until .that happens/is the-whole business.;, of- the Province, .to stand .stock-still ,? Surely the franiers ; of, the -Constitution Act could never havecontemplated this. As the votes were taken oniOnlyjjwpcandidates, I consider /that Mr. Heale was legally elected,, , and therefore. blame ; the Speaker .for not deciding so, and the Menzies' party for obstrueting.busiriess by raising; technical objections/ On the other hand, the supporters of Mr. Heale are not altogether free from blame. In the first; place, one of Dr. Menzies' old - political" opponents— a ! gentleihan holding a high-' official-" 1 position — though not a member of the present Council, was to be/seen on.Thursday at the. Coun-cil-table, apparently, to say the least, of it, taking an active .part. in. the proceedings. Theh,it appears ; to be ;admitted that one hon., member by some mistake got to the wrong side when the division took place, and the vote he intended "for Menzies^ was recorded' fdi\ Heale, who thus gained- '-the election. Now, I Submit, *ir, that.if Messrs. Galder,,Hay, ' and others,- are the patriotic/gentlemen-' they profess to be, they should,' kriowirig thisi-giveway and unite with the rest in doing their best for the Province. I offer rio opinion; as to whether Dr. Menzies or Mr. Heale is the best-man, but I look, with some aKrm on the consequences' which must follow; if the Council is goiag to spend days in discussing! what is an " absolute, majority," or waiting < till/ the Supreme Court decides the;.question for the hon. members.— l: am, etc., LEONTDAS. Irivercargill, sth Dee., 1864. ,

. . ... ;■'■,•»". — ;.. .v..,' ','>/; TO' THE UDITOB OF THE SOUTHI.AND Traos. - Sin^ — As a " sign of the times," I noticed yesterday that several Provincial Government officials were engaged in repairing the ferice; enclosing the' Government Eeserve; I airii glad to perceivethat these gentlemen are not above performing manual labor when required for the good of the Province. — I am, &c, _^SNUEF.;.