The Southland Times. MONDAY, JULY 29, 1867.

Southland Times, Issue 702, 29 July 1867, Page 2

The Southland Times. MONDAY, JULY 29, 1867.

The interest that might naturally have been expected to arise from a general election is rapidly developing itself. Although, as yet, few candidates are avowedly in the field, there is sufficient public spirit being displayed to justifiy the opinion that the forthcoming elections will, perhaps, evoke a more spirited contest than has yet been .known in Southland. Messrs Lumsden and Eoss opened the ball at a pubhc meeting, held at the Theatre Eoyal on Eriday evening, the 26th July. Notwithstanding that these gentlemen affirmed that it was not an electioneering meeting, and that probably they should shortly retire from political life, there can be no question but it was called for the express purpose of strengthening thenhands for the coming struggle. The report, published in our other columns, gives a faithful record of the proceedings. The vote of thanks that was passed cannot be taken as anything like a public expression of confidence in them or the Government of which they iorm part. Eor proof of, what we advance, we may state that the gentleman who occupied the chair, Mr j Mitchell, was a simply a zealous .partisan. Defeated on several occasions, when he endeavored to represent the town of Invercargill in the Provincial Council, he now descends to do the agreeable at a very Becond-rate meeting. It was this gentleman who stated on the hustings that so thoroughly did he believe in Dr Menzie's financial ca-. parity for governing, that if required, he would entrust the whole of his private fortune to that gentleman. As events have turned out, it is a fortunate thing

for himself that he did not carry his threat into e\. --ation. The meeting *was a party assemblage, representing only that section of the community that are willing to be led by those whose highest qualifications for office are to censure previous Governments and extol themselves. The speeches deliverd have not removed the charge that has frequently been made, that Lumsden and Co., jeopardised the railway scheme, for no other visible reason than a vain desire to gain office. The labored defence made by Mr Lumsden for his vacillating conduct speaks for itself. He affirms that he is the prince of railway advocates — the genuine unadulterated " Simon Pure " I —who advocated their construction at a time when the subject was most ; unpopular. He even goes further j than this, and with a complacent vanity that brings vividly to mind the fable of the "Inflated Frog" he claims to be the parent of the scheme ; that he believed it originated from a motion he brought . forward and got passed by the Council, for the allocation of land for public workß— in fact that it was the creation of his mighty brain. Here we have the real vanity of the man. Is it possible to conceive egotism to surpass this ? But let us ask what has been the consistency of Messrs Lumsden, Cleeke, and Boss ? When the railway resolutions were first under discussion none were more earnest ia their expression of approbation. Mi* Lusmden affirmed that if they were not passed such an opportunity might never occur again, and yet in a few hours he twisted round like a harlequin, and did all in his power to promote their rejection, together with his foolish colleagues. By what wonderful mesmeric power could such a change have been wrought — what powerful lever employed to move these gentlemen to so suddenly forsake their first love ? The bait was office, thrown out by the squatters, and it was greedily swallowed. Dr Monzies, the leader of the band, preached delay until the proposed consolidation of Loans Bill was passed, well knowing that Southland could not borrow, another lamented the want, of confidence he felt in the Blacklock Ministry, and a third affirmed that a change of Government was necessary, before the railway question was entertained, while all insinuated who should be the coming men. What was the result we . all know. The vociferous advocates of reform and progress were quietly snubbed into obedience, and freely gave up their professed principles and themselves to be welded as joints to the tail of their leader, Dr Menzies. Had they been sincere in the conviction that there was no confidence in the Blacklock Ministry — their excuse offered for the gross acts of inconsistency they perpetrated — the pledge given by the members of that Government, that if the resolution was passed they, would resign and not take office again should bave disarmed all opposition, arid possibly had the leaders of the opposition been free agents it would have done so. But they were not. It is well known that Mr Lumsden is a firm believer in Dr Menzies; that no fire-worshipper ever had stronger faith in the rising sun than Mr Lumsden has in the. late Superintendent. He cannot think that mistakes were ever committed bythedoctorduringthepast — DrMENZiES is to him what Mahomet is to his blind followers. No doubt, if occasion called for it, the, willing neck of Mr Lumsden would be readily offered as a sacrifice at the shrine of his prophet. It is, however, somewhat perplexing to account for a like blindness having, fallen upon his colleagues. Mr Cleeke, with a pecuniary office in view, could perhaps not have been expected to curb his ambition and resist temptation — human nature could not stand it — but it is a wonder that Mr Eoss should have been induced to join such colleagues. We believe this gentleman to be an estimable citizen, and regret that he is found in such indifferent company. It is to be hoped that the electors will not pledge themselves to any candidate that does not unhesitatingly engage to support the construction of railways by the allocation of land, and a Superintendent who will carry out their general scheme on this basis. Mr Lumsden should not be returned. He is simply a tool in the hands of any clever, or designing politician.