The Southland Times. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1870.

Southland Times, Issue 1204, 1 February 1870, Page 2

The Southland Times. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1870.

The "masterly silence" maintained by the present " Ministry " since their accession to office, is suggestive of equally "masterly idleness" —or incompetency, albeit, the same gentlemen were conspicuous for their fussy activity, and noisy loquacity, before they had discovered what it was to 101 lon official haircloth. Can that and the other privileges of the " governing body" have allured them from their virtue ? Is there anything contagious in the atmosphere of the Government Buildings ? Certainly the members of the Executive have had the "pure current of their patriotism" — which was wont to flow out on every opportunity — befouled and turned aside someway, else how could they now practise so persistently the sins they condemned without mercy in their predecessors — the sins ot secresy, mystery, and mystification in the transaction of public business? People cannot forget how they and their party used to rail against former governments whenever the slightest delay occurred in acquainting the public with the progress of events, and now. when they have been entrusted with the settlement of a question which has agitated the public mind more than any other since the '

province gained its identity, they remain positively dumb for -week after week. Tbis is hot what was expected of tliein by any section of the community^ — for even their opponents gave them credit for zeal and truthfulness in the peculiar policy they had adopted — and it is not to be wondered at that many of their ardent supporters begin to feel their faith subsiding, and to doubt whether their devotions have been offered at a pure shrine. The tramp card of the re-unionists during the late elections was the promise of immediate pecuniary assistance, as the reward of their triumph. Indeed, their leader, and nearly all those who expressed their views either through the press, or from the platform, made a strong point of the assertion that, so soon as the motion affirming the desirability of union had passed the Councils of the respective I provinces, Otago would at once afford us ' the needed relief by the transfer of some £18,000 or £20,000 to our credit. This condition was fulfilled on the part of Southland on the Ist of December last, and by Otago shortly thereafter. It is now February, and for aught the public know, the promised succor is as remote as ever. The only official expression which could possibly be construed into a hopeful indication that " matters were in progress," was made by His Honor, when, in replying to a deputation urging the Government to have a certain piece of road made, a fortnight ago, he said, "in the course of a few days, dependent on advices expected from the North, they might see their way to having the work performed." As this was uttered on the 19th of last month, the " few days " may reasonably be said to have expired, and yet no intimation has been given -whether the expected advices have yet been received. In the meantime, circumstances have transpired in Otago which strengthen the declarations made by the Independence party that that province, so far from being in a position to assist us, has more than enough to do with her own affairs. We alluded some time ago to the dolorous picture of Otago's prospects, as outlined by one of her leading politicians at the late meeting of Council. Since then other members have given expression to their views on the question, and the general tenor of their remarks leads inevitably to the conclusion that our chances of relief from that quarter are very slender indeed. Addressing his constituents at Tokomairiro the other day, Mr Clark, in reply to a question, said that "in his opinion the union with Southland would ultimately prove beneficial to both provinces, but in the meantime the revenue at our disposal was very limited, and he feared that Southland expected more from us than we could afford to give. Notwithstanding the present state of our land laws, and the falling off of revenue, he believed that the Q-overnment were expending the various votes of the Council as fully as ever these had been expended." Now in the face of all these conflicting statements, the public are naturally anxious to know what propositions have been made to the Otago Government, and how these have been met. In common honesty the Executive ought at once to make their success or failure known, so that, in the event of the latter being the ease, those who are disposed to try other means might be put in a position to do so. Surely those who took office simply and solely to carry annexation will not have the audacity to retain their seats after they find their scheme an abortive one, as it would appear they have done.