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Southland Times, Issue 1155, 27 October 1869, Page 4

The present month has been characterised by extraordinary political excitement throughout the length and breadth of the province. Consequent upon a series of difficulties between his Honor the Superintendent and his advisers, the Governmental machinery was brought to a standstill early in September, and a dissolution of the Council by the Governor immediately followed, as the only method of overcoming the deadlock. Simultaneously with, and partly in consequence of, the Executive deputes touching matters of management, there had sprung up a strong feeling in favor of the re-union of Southland to the neighboring province of Otago. This proposition had been partly discussed in the Council, and action taken thereupon so far as the appointmen of three commissioners on the ps.rt of each< province to agree upon terms which might form the basis of subsequent legislation on the subject. These commiasioners met in Invercargill, and, having settled the affairs of the state to at least their own satisfaction, after a^bort

sitting or two, published the results of their deliberations to the inhabitants of both provinces. When the Writs for the election of the new Council were issued, candidates therefore went to the country principally upon this question. In fact, so very absorbing had the annexation scheme become in the interval, that but little attention was paid to any other matters of either provincial or colonial policy, and aspirants for the honor of seats in the local legislature, were fain to stake their chances of being returaed simply on the position they assumed regarding this all important question. The advocates of re-union took the field at an early moment, and exerted themselves to the utmost to propagate their views, and enlist the sympathies of the constituencies. On the contrary, the anti-unionists, or " Independence " party, as they have come to be called, were slow to realise the danger threatening the existence of the province, and allo wed their opponents to gain several material advantages in the earlier events of the campaign. Latterly, however, they became alive to the imminence of the peril, and entered the lists in right earnest. The result on the whole has been a pretty equal division of victory. The re-unionists have probably secured a majority of members, but they stand at a great disadvantage as regards the calibre of the men returned. It is doubtful whether in their whole ranks there can be found a sufficient number of gentlemen competent to form a Government. On the other hand, the Independents are represented by men inured to political life, acquainted with all the phases of colonial legislation, and of undoubted ability. The new Council is summoned to meet on the 10th of the ensuing month, and meantime the people await the issue with much anxiety.