RE-UNION.

Southland Times, Issue 1157, 1 November 1869, Page 2

RE-UN ION.

.4 (to thb itoraoioF thb tiki*.) no>denying |l|jt tab province is int^ry trying cir^u^^aacjM; , Tne question-iii; how^e we to gei^oufbF our di§cultie*£ $$£}* the maiajfitt^ As far as t cai|«ee*it- will. tateriSßS^ww^^t mea to help l^put. Every one must know fiat the province has been going down for some considerable- time.- Tuere is no denying the f.ict th*t Southland has been mis nauaged, and that to a Urge extent ; still I- don% see that we are au exception, as any oue who i»as been for a length of time in the colonies, has seen by experience that all new countries, governments, and people are apt; to ba extravagant. When everything is in prosperity, we think of the present, but not o( the future. Those who cry out so much against the anii-unionUts for sot siding with them, are looked upon as no friends to the well-being of the province ; but, Mr Editor, I hold that the question that is now agitating the public mind is a very grave one, and one that wants searching into. A great many people think that if we are united it will be all glory and sunshine when the General .Assembly sanctions the union, and not till then will the .Southland people know whether they have received any benefit. How can Otago help this distant place, while there are districts only a few miles from Dunedin crying I out against the government for not making roads and other necessary public works. Suppose we get united, if we in -Tavercargill want anything done' in "the way of roads, or any public business, see what delay there would be. There are a great number of persons who think the present Superintendent of Otago, Mr Macandrew, the right man in the right place; but I will just quote from an Otago Daily Times of the 27th August, in which" the ""Blue Spur -correspondent writes thus :—" Great indignation is felt here at the passing of the Otago Hundreds Regulation Bill. People here were in hopes — when' they .almost to a man voted for Mr Macanclrew at his election — that he would- stick to his word, and . try to secure land for the ; people. They have found out their mistake, and the consequence will be that every one here, as he gets his purse well filled, will leave the country." The sime journal of the 30th, at the commencement of its leading article, says : — " It is an unfortunate distinction for Otago that it is the only province in New Zealand in which the land laws form a subject of bitter and irritating . discussion. Class warfare is a great evil in any community, but in so suiall a community as our own, it is an evil of the most serious character." Towards the dosa of the article the writer goes, ,ori to, s iy, " TJntil it is known abroad that every emigrant to Ota^o is at liberty to select land for himself, emigrants will not make their appearance in large numbers." The same paper of the 6th September says : — " A public meeting was held at Tapanui on August 27 th, for the purpose of considering the -■ Hundreds Ke*u?ations Act, the chair being occupied bj Mr Rodgers. The meeting was addressed Jby several _jg6jstleineii, .who expressed their alarm and regret'aTibne "passing of the Act. A resolution expressive of these opinions was passed, :as also one calling upon Mr Macandrew to resign his trust." In the Tuapeka Times of the 9th of this month, there is a letter signed " Victorian, 1 " in which the i^riter says : — " Old Victorians' wiH^i,aof sure, rally round, and as there seema' some doubt whether Mr Wilson, Gray will stand or not, I propose tnat a mpnßfcer memorial be got up, asking him to become a candidate for the Superintendency. Indeed we are all sick of okt^ identity government, and are anxious to aid in bringing /al^tm^aihge?'* I :have ribt tquo^rof^ttte^ whole' of x the letter. Those who believe in Mr Macandrew will do well to read 1 a letter in the Otago Daily Times ot t\ie 4th Octoiber; there they will see how a working man has been treated. The above are not suppositions, but facts. Before I conclude, let me express the hope that the Provincial Council will devote all their energies to the promotion of the public weal', above ail things avoiding personal squabbles.— Your's, &c.j_ Neveb Despair.