The Southland Times. MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1869.

Southland Times, Issue 1149, 18 October 1869, Page 2

The Southland Times. MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1869.

To-morrow, the candidates for the honor of representing the principal constituency, the town, in the next Provincial Council, will no doubt present themselves on the, hustings for nomination, and on the day following the electors will be called upon to decide their rival claims. The antiunionists have come out fairly, honestly, and openly. Their men are all before the public, and have been for some time. Messrs Mjgjtzies, Lttjisden, Cowan, and Taylor have each, in reply to their requisitionists, stated clearly their political views, leaving the issue in the hands of the people. No underhand influences appear to have been resorted to, no hidden schemes put in silent opera tion, but, like honorable men, conscious of the justice of fcheir cause, and of the purity of their motives, they have enunciated their views in plain unambiguous language, and calmly await the result. We fear as much cannot be 3iid, having a due regard to truth, for the other si de. As yet only one candidate has declared himself on their behalf, and he is a subject so recently converted to the views he at present professes, that it may reasonably be doubted whether he ha 3 even yet acquired that stability of opinion on the point at issue vdtnout which no man should be entrusted with the disposal of an ! important question. Having changed yesterday, who can guarantee he will not shift to-morrow. The name 3 of the other candidates to be brought forward by the an negationists, are yet a mystery. The contract of secresy must, however, expire to-morrow, by effluxiou of time, and they will no doubt stand confessed by the side of their chief, in all their native worth — or otherwise. Surely the schemes of men who find it necessary to hatch their plots in hidden nooks cannot be for the public welfare. They were wont to be vociferous in demindiug the fullest publicity in matters of government, even in diplomatic transactions, the premature bruiting abroad of which might defeat the end in view. Their grand cry was that everything concerning the public should be public, but now, when it suits their own purposes they can be silent as the grave, giving no sign. Being thus in the dark, in common with the rest of the citizens, it is impossible for us to criticise the individual merits of their other candidates. It is but fair, however, to assume that they have put their best man forward first, trusting to his name to draw in the others, and it is well that the public should be reminded that he is not so immaculate as he would have them believe. In his speech at the Theatre, he disclaims persisteutly all responsibility for past extravagance, and with the most winning plausibility, deflects the blame levelled at himself upon the head of Dr Menzies. Take the case of the Mokomoko Eailwaj and Jetty for instance, the most extravagant and useless of all our works, and see who is chiefly to blame for it. That blunder cost us over £32,000, and a reference to the proceedings in Council of the period clearly fixes upon Mr Caldeb the principal responsibility for that abortion. Dr Menzies opposed the scheme very decidedly, and only consented to it when told by the opposition — of whom Mr Caldeb. was leader — that unless he did conseat, they would throw out the Bluff line altogether. Has Mr Calder ever acknowledged this ? It is a pity the love of caador which prompted him to avow a change of opinion did not also lead him to confess errors of the past — what a memory that would require ! — and relieve a political opponent from an unjust burden of public censure. In the reports to which we have alluded, the reader might also find Mr Calder figuring as the seconder and supporter of a vote for £40,000 being spent on the North road, to catch the Wakatip gold, besides several other little items tending to shew Mr Calder's general acquiescence in the lavish expenditure of which he has recently made so much political capital. In these times " deputations of merchants " waiting upon his Honor, to urge on public works, were the orders of the day, and Mr Calder's name, might probably be met with, by a careful research, in connection with more than one of them.

So anxious, in short, were those merchants' for being immediately supplied with roads and railways, or both, that expense was the last thing thought of, and the least demur on the part of the Superintendent, Dr Mejtzies, procured for him the epithet of " slow coach." Seeing these things are so, it is only fair to divide the blame as equally as possible. If, therefore, Mr Calder 'committed such errors of judgment in the past, why should hia wisdom be undoubted now, and if he ia the champion leader of the union army, how very fallible must the subordinates be? Bearing these things in mind, the electors of Invercargill will hesitate before they commit their political existence to the keeping of a politician so defective in foresight, and so changeable in ideas, so thoroughly wanting in the two primary elements of a statesman, calculation and decision. We indeed deem it almost supererogatory, in the ftice of such circumstances, to counsel our townsmen to give their support to men who have a political creed, and who have boldly avowed their determination to stand thereby to the last.