The Southland Times. TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1870.

Southland Times, Issue 1194, 11 January 1870, Page 2

The Southland Times. TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1870.

Aeteb being kept for a long time on the tenterhooks of expectation, it is not a pleasant thing to have one's fond hopes utterly dispelled. There is always some satisfaction in believing that a chance still exists of our ideas being realised, but when the stern reality is announced, and it is contrary to our long-cherished desires, the effect is extremely depressing. We have been led to make these remarks by the fact that our contemporary has found it necessary to " speak out " on the provoking delay which is taking place in the initiation of those measures of reliof

which, it was so confidently predicted, would at once be extended to Southland on the passing: of the basis of re-union of the two Provinces by their respective Provincial Councils. Having urged its own belief, rather than an ascertained fact, the Southland News now finds it has " reckoned without its host," and has, consequently, met with the usual fate of those who deal in assumptions only. Is it because Otago has too many of what she may consider her own legitimate claims to attend to that she does not come down with the required amount to free us from our difficulties ? Or is it that the General Government refuse to guarantee to refund — in case the measure should break down in the Assembly — the expenditure that would be incurred on our behalf ? Information on these points is wanted by the public, for we cannot for a moment suppose that our local Government, which notoriously took office for the express purpose of being the "undertakers " of the Province, can have so long neglected what its supporters must needs consider the chief object of its existence. The long-sufferins: patience of our community is something really remarkable ; but we would take occasion to remind thos9 in authority that there is a point beyond which it is not safe to try it. But we had forgotten that a recentlyconverted, but very active member of the re-union party, has been absent from the Province for some time. Has he been sent as a plenipotentiary to the neighboring province, or is he enjoying the freedom of his " own sweet will ?" As the gentleman in question is a public servant, we think that we are fairly entitled to ask the question. In any case, we deem it to be the duty of the Government to make the public acquainted with the progress that is being ; made in consummating the proposed union, as, in the event of its entire failure — which is not at all impossible— our " leading minds " might be profitably employed in framing some other means of inducing a revival of prosperity. Our governmental machinery is provided for on the most extravagant scale. Whether it is up to the highest point of efficiency is another matter. It is by their works, therefore, that we must judge those who hold the reins, and we are here compelled to ask what has been done in the way of advancing the interests of the province by our present administrators? Absolutely nothing; for the works now .in progress were, without exception, provided for by the previous Government. If the members of the present Executive wish to prove that they have the capacity for the position which they hold, let them show that they have some vitality, and that they really deserve the. confidence of the public. The Waste Lands Act, for instance, provides that a certain number of acres may be annually alienated for road-making or bridgebnilding purposes. Now is the time to judiciously expend a portion at any rate of the means thus furnished for improving the condition of the roads in the country districts. The settlers have been wonderfully silent on this subject. We suppose they have been deterred from agitating by the knowledge that they would be', appealing to an impecunious Treasury/ and therefore it would be labor in vain io' make the attempt. The citizens of Invercargill are, and have been for some considerable time past, most anxious to be provided with municipal institutions, but a barrier has hitherto existed to the realisation of this wish. The deterring cause in this case might be removed, so that the chief town might derive the benefit of having a body in existence which would at least endeavor to remove its desolate and neglected appearance — -an appearance which is a constant subject of remark by strangers. These are some of the matters which might very well be dealt with by the Executive. We have hitherio avoided commenting on their inertness, but unless some action is — im-» mediately taken to prove that they have the capacity for guiding provincial affairs, we shall be compelled to denounce them as utterly unfit for the position which, they have assumed.