POLITICAL—GENERAL.

Southland Times, Issue 646, 20 March 1867, Page 2

POLITICAL— GENERAL.

Perhaps no greater blow could have been given to the system of Provincialism, or greater encouragement afforded to the friends of Separation, than the election of Mr Macajtdrew as Superintendent. It will be recollected that a section of the Otago people, of whom Mr Bathgate was the mouthpiece, some time since formed themselves into an Association, having for its objects the perpetuation of the Provincial system and the curtailment of the powers of the General Government. Meetings were constantly held, and generally the greatest excitement prevailed. Indeed, if •we were to believe some of the speakers, the true essence of patriotism existed only amongst the members of the Otago Association. So far was this agitation carried that the General Government was threatened with fire and sword if they dared to abate the power of the Otago Province one iota ; and Mr Bathgate's martial ardour was, as Captain of Volunteers, excited to the highest pitch. Previous to the Association being ushered into existence, the professed object of Otago was Separation ; for some unexplained reason, however, the tactics of her politicians during the last Assembly suddenly veered round in favor of Provincialism in its most ultra phase. But after a while these tactics were suddenly exploded. It became known- that the change was brought about by the desire of self-aggra,ndi3ement ; or in other words, Otago was anxious to absorb Southland ; and Canterbury on her part would not have been unwilling to swallow up some of the other smaller Provinces. "We confess that at the time we thought there was some probability of such a state of things being brought J about ; and if Otago had not been so rampant against the Stafford Ministry, and so transparently selfish, there are grounds for supposing that such would have possibly been accomplished. The election of Mr Macand hew, however, by an overwhelming majority, will tend in a great measure to frustrate the objects of the Provincialists, and be the means of consolidating aud invigorating the ranks of the Separationists. Ivir Macandrew, on several occasions, has distinctly affirmed the necessity of Separation, and on the hustings, on the day of nomination, in answer to the question, " Are you in favor of Separation?" he replied as follows » — " Yes, unquestionably, I was long an advocate for the " unity of the colony ;" but I think that it is being bought too dearly ; and I will go in for absolute Separation, to-morrow — -Territorial, if possible, and, if not, Financial, which is the next best thing to it." When this distinct assertion- is loudly applauded, and his return marked by a majority unequalled in the history of the colony, it plainly indicates -the state of feeling on this important subject by the great mass of the people of Otago, and it equally indicates that a few more fleeiclei demonstrate©* of popular ojinioa

ally dissipate the narrow-minded prejudice of Wellington politicians, whose sole idea of the " unity of the colony" is simply to fleece the Middle Island of its wealth, cripple its resources, put a stop to reproductive public works, and retard the progress of one of the most important settlements of the British Grown. ♦ :