The Southland Times. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1870.

Southland Times, Issue 1317, 4 October 1870, Page 2

The Southland Times. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1870.

Befobb another issue of the Times appears, Southland, as an independent province, will cease to exist. The last vestige of the work which rendered 1361 a memorable epoch, in the history of the district, will be suspended as an active agency in our midst, and Southland brought once more under the rule and dominion of Otago. Of that work we • can only say it was wisely planned, however foolishly it may have been carried out. The design was good, but the execution faulty, hence the premature decay of the entire structure. It is sad to think that our nine years* legislative and administrative independence has .gained for us nothing more than the abject experience of the prodigal. We are not going to cavil with the result, since nothing now awaits us but to abide the issue. Still we cannot allow the event to pass without holding it forth as a solemn warning to other administrative governments. "We fully admit the paramount importance of representative institutions, nor do we seek to deny that outward - pressure is aught but constitutional. In fact we have not the slightest wish. to say one word calculated to stifle a free expression of public opinion, but firmness and decision on the part of those in authority is a principle which ought to rise, superior, to every, other consideration.: A few lewd fellows of the baser sort may set the city in. an uproar to-day, just as readily as they did during the primitive days of Christianity, arid if the conservators of the commonweal are weak enough to yield to the clamor, farewell to peace,

order, and good government. Virtually speaking, the reins of government are handed over to the tender mercies of mob-law, so that dishonesty may plunder and vain-glory exult. Such has been Southland's stumbling-block, nor is it too much to add that this has been the rock of her offence. Where are now the men who headed the violent agitations of 1862-3? Where are the cracksmen who operated upon the public purse under color of law? They have all gone, carrying their gains along with them, and "no doubt they think of Southland a sneer when they reflect how easy a victim she was to their predatory designs. These then were the destroyers of Southland's political independence, in witness whereof this declaration is emitted within a few hours of her final demise. _ ____ ——— _ ——-M _