CANTERBURY AND SEPARATION.

Southland Times, Issue 589, 9 November 1866, Page 2

CANTERB URY AND SEPARATION.

Tbe reply to tbe address of the Superintendent of Canterbury was adopted by tbe Provincial Council on Thursday last. ' In tbe course of bis speech, tbe mover of tbe reply (Mr Montgomery) said :— - There was no member of tbe House tbat would deny, not one who did not feel, tbat tbe part taken by tbe South in tbe affairs of the North bad resulted hitherto in miserable failures. Every one felt, and would long feel, bow tbe material prosperity of tbe Middle Island had been retarded, and its resources drained, by tbe dabbling of Middle Island politicians in affairs of wbicb tbey knew little, and. from wbicb tbis part of tbe Colony derived no benefit. Tbe Soutb was to blame for a great deal of what had taken place in tbe North; and the Soutb was just beginning to be alive to . tbe fact tbat it would take yeara to recover from tbe evil effects of the mistakes tbat bad been committed in times past. Tbe Soutb would honorably pay tbe debt already incurred, but would refuse to increase it. There might be differences, of opinion as to how further expenditure was to be stopped but there could bo nothing but unanimity on tbe determination to bear no more burdens on account of native wars. (Hear, bear.) He was not going to travel outside his record, to borrow a phrase from the legal profession, nor would he mention a word wbicb might not be beard at every street corner. Not long ago there was a party in the Province acting together for the attainment of certain object. Tbey were in a minority, but tbey were bouest men, who held strong views, and tbey bad now tbe satisfaction of thinking that recent legislation in tbe G-eneral Assembly bad brought tbem many converts, and bad changed very materially tbe opinions of most men on tbe subject of our relations with the North. (Hear, bear.) Tbe party was no longer in a minority ; dozens of thoughtful men bad come over to it ; hundreds of others bad a sort of instinctive feeling that tbey had been wrong in tbe past, and that those whom tbey ridiculed a short time ago had been right after all ; and hundreds more were wavering on the brink, ready on tbe

first opportunity to give in their adhesion to the ranks of 'the party. Only a very small section of the community now believe iv unity, or hoped for it in the f lira re. These men mi^ht be described in the words of Dr Johnson as a remarkable instance of tbe triumph of hope over experience. A petition bad been sent up from Canterbury to the General Assembly, and there was every reason to believe that it bad done a great deal of good in opening the eyes of some who were inclined to trade still on tbe chivalrous devotion wbicb tbis Province bad ever shown to tbe North. To judge from recent events, Canterbury and Otago were as one on tbis subject. The Superintendent of Otago bad recently delivered a very remarkable speech, in wbicb be renounced the union principles be formerly held. "We must be true to ourselves in the future ; and must ask our representatives in tbe G-eneral Assembly, before another session was called, what tbey meant to do ? Our position must be clearly denned ; we must work as one man to obtain tbe objects agreed on, and to get severance from tbe North, without which there is no safety for the South. . Mr Ormsby, who seconded tbe reply, rqmarked that on the sulnect of the 2T orthcru Island and its internal affairs, be would only say tbat be was glad to find that bis Honor tbe Superintendent bad not thought it outside the duties of bis office to allude to those unfortunate wars into which we had entered thoughtlessly, and carried onrecklessly. He trusted that we were not far from the period when the Northern Island might be left as it wanted — alone, and tbat the settlers in this island might be unhampered in their noble efforts at colonization. He was sure hon. members would learn with pleasure that a cordial understanding subsisted between bis Honor's Government and those of the adjoining Provinces, tbe result of which would, no doubt, be a co-operation in all measures necessary for their joint benefit and that of the colony at large. The Lyttelton Times (from wbicb we take tbe preceding extracts) says in a leading article — " The mover of tbe reply to tbe Superintendent's address may be congratulated upon bis opening speech before the Council. Though a settler of some years' standing in tbe Province, Mr Montgomery has hitherto taker, no active part in politics. He brings with bim, how ever, considerable experience gained in other colonies, and we have little doubt will prove a valuable member. His remarks upon the text of tbe reply carry tbe evidence of thought, and are characterised by tbat sound common sense which is the result of observation and experience. "We commend tbe speaker's opinions upon the native question to tbe attention of tbe disprssionate and unprejudiced of our readers. Mr Montgomery is neither a great statesman nor a heaven-born genius ; be bas no scheme ready cut and dri*d to bring tbe native race at once into subjection, and raise them to a level with ourselves ; be is not a Separarionist, nor bas be ever been one ; be is simply a plain, sensible man, with the power of observing what goes on about him, and drawing something like a right conclusion froia what be sees. Therefore, his opinion is likely to be unbiassed and free from prejudice." "It pleases tbe Press to believe tbat . tbe Separation party is defunct, and / tbeir schemes scattered to the winds. Our contemporary's faith may be fervent, . but it is hardly well founded. Tbe senti- : ments expressed by Mr Montgomery are ; felt by thousands who cannot give tbem ; utterance. The inevitable course of ; events will, in due time, force these ! cautious thmldng men into tbe ranks of ; Separation. The question is not one of choice, but of self-preservation And then, when tbe cry is raised from one end of the island to tbe other, we shall . find the editor of the Press turn round ' and say, ' Didn't I tell you so ?' " I , ====== ii