THE SUPERINTENDENCE

Southland Times, Issue 708, 12 August 1867, Page 2

THE SUPERINTENDENCE

(TO THE EDITOR OF THE SOUTHLAND TTSIES.) Sir, — Permit me a small space in your valuable columns to make a few remarks upon a subject that has not directly been touched upon by any one of the numerous writers that have appeared in your paper. In asking for this permission I will be solely guided by a desire to ventilate the question as to who are likely to be candidates for the office of Superintendency — what are their qualifications — and what should weigh with the members of Council in determining upon the election of a Superintendent. In the first place, there are three gentlemen put forward for the honor, viz : — The Hon J. P. Tatlor Dr Mekkies Mr Johx Ross One of the gentlemen named, Dr Menzies. is well known to possess views antagonistic to the formation of railways, except upon a principle entirely Utopian — and never likely to be realised. Then if this was not a sufficient bar, being as it is against the clearly expressed voice of the country, to Dr Menzies not being elected to the office, there is another, and equally cogent reason that ought to influence the members of the Council in rejecting this gentleman. I allude to his well-known antipathy to govern constitutionally, or in other words, his determination to govern despotically. It is fresh in the recollection of the people of this Province, that during the whole time that Dr Menzies was Superintendent — and I speak from the authority of the public records of the day — he repeatedly set at nought the opinions and wishes of the Provincial Council. Frequently when that body — the highest in the Province — requested Dr Menzies to act in a constitutional manner, and to follow the example of Superintendents of other provinces — by consulting and accepting the advice of his Executive — has he spurned such offers, and plainly and in unmistakeable terms set at defiance the wishes of the majority of the Council. 1 need hardly bring to notice, for it is too well known, the many mistakes that was committed by Dr Menzies from not following the advice of the Council — how he has appropriated funds for objects for which they were not voted — how he ignored the voice of the people in matters of vital import, which, had he attended to, would have placed the Province in the position of supplying the Lakes with every article the inhabitants required, instead of allowing Dunedin to do so — I allude to his obstinacy to send up the escort to take down the gold when the miners were anxious to remit it to Invercargill. These things are fresh in the recollection of most of us, and it must be equally fresh in the recollection of the members of Council. He has also repeatedly quarrelled with the General Government; indeed that was one of the main reasons why Southland did not sooner receive relief. Therefore Dr Menzies is not an eligible candidate for the Superinten dency. Next cotnes the name of Mr John Ross, who, I understand, Messrs Lumsden, Clerke, Pratt, &c, intend to support., should they be elected for the town. To the candidature of Mr Ross, there are strong and insurmountable objections : — 1st — Want of political experience. 2nd — Irresolution and timidity. 3rd — His connection with mercantile pursuits, and agencies. 4th — His vacillating conduct, and want of principle on the railway question. These are objections, any one of which is suffieieut to disqunlry Mr Ross to occupy the position <>f Superintendent. For instau c. assuming Mr Ross to obtain that office, and that he is regularly installed, he would at once become bewildered. His colleagues or ministry would be selected from, the Lumsden class, his Treasurer would possibly be Mr Clerke, and Mr

Dalrymple would no doubt have a seat at the Council board. Let a Superintendent, with such colleagues be in power, and in the name of common sense would not he become the laughing stock of the whole colony ? How would Mr Ross be enabled to correspond with Mr Stafford, or with any one who might be the head of the Colonial Government ? Mr Ross is a perfect stranger to every member of the General G-overnment — he knows no one whom he could influence in the North to carry any measures of importance for the interests of Southland. He possesses no political prestige like other Superintendents, or one single quality that would entitle him to be called to the Councils of the colony at any future time. It must be remembered that Superintendents of Provinces are men of long political standing — men who are personally known to all the leading politicians of the colony, both in a private, as well as a political capacity, and that Mr Ross is unknown out of Invercargill in the sense before stated. Then again, if the above was not suflicient to debar him from obtaining the Superintendency, his connection with commerce, and his acting as agent for mercantile firms in Melbourne, and elsewhere, is a great reason why he should not be made chief magistrate. His influence as Superintendent would always be liable to be questioned. Business matters would be continually turning up that he could not refrain from participating in, and hence it would be neither agreeable to himself or satisfactory to the public that he should be placed in such au equivocal position. Add to all these drawbacks an extreme timidity of character, combined with irresolution, and it will be found that Mr Ross's name being mentioned as Superintendent is a great mistake, and should not for a moment be entertained by the public or members of the Provincial Council. As to his ideas on the railway question, to show what his opinion is on this important subject, and how different they are from those of the great mass of the people, and how highly injurious it would be to the cause of railways if he shouldbeelected Superintendent, it will be only necessary to state that his action, in conjunction with his friend Mr Lumsden, was the principal cause of the General G-overnment not granting the land two months ago for the making of the railways. Indeed we might now be constructing the North Line if it was not for Mr Ross and his friend's action. Now as regards the present Superintentendent — we all remember that owing to a political deadlock Mr Taylor was elected Superintendent. He did not solicit the office, or wish for it. He was brought from his quiet home at Riverton, to superintend the affairs of the Province at the time of its lowest ebb. Ruin stared us in the face. Land was at £2 per acre, the result of Dr Menzie's legislation, and there were no purchasers ottering — the Province was in overwhelming difficulties— the public offices were seized for debts contracted during his predecessor's time ; 'the credit of Southland was at zero, and the very name of the Province was a bye-word. Now, I will show what the present Superintendent has done since he assumed office, little more than two years ago. He was immediately called to the Upper House when he- became. Superintendent, as he was for more than twenty years associated, both socially and politically with some of the principal politicians of the colony, and consequently his opinions were valued by the Colonial G-overnment as worth having. He strongly supported the new Land Act, which lowered the price to £1 per acre, which measure reduced the debt of Southland nearly £200,000 ; he obtained the pastoral rents that brings us a revenue of about £7,000 psr annum ; he was the means of getting from the G-overnment the guarantee of our debts, without which we would have been in a hopeless state of bankruptcy. He obtained the settlement of all the pressing outstanding debts. The General G-o---vernment, at his request, gave the land to finish the Bluff line of railway, and, besides, a general and uiiswerving advocacy of the best interests .of the Province, he has unhesitatingly strove to obtain the allocation of land for the present railway scheme. He has never mixed himself up in party politics ; he has acted constitutionally ever since he has been elected; he has always accepted the decision of the Council as binding, and when it was rumored that he would oppose the dissolution — which he could easily have done, for the Governor would not have sanctioned it without his recommendation — he was strongly urging the Colonial Prime Minister to grant it. Let it also be remembered that Mr Taylor is a thorough gentleman, well read, and liberal in his opinions. The whole tenor of his official life goes to prove that he is the best Superintendent that Southland ever possessed, and the Council will only be carrying out the public inclination by again electing Mr Taylor. Yours &c. August 10th, 1867. Nemo.