SUMMARY FOR THE MAIL.

Southland Times, Issue 1354, 30 December 1870, Page 3

SUMMARY FOR THE MAIL.

The events of the past few weeks have given rather an unexpected turn to the political questions of the day. Our relations to the General as well as the Provincial Governments have been somewhat rudely disturbed, mainly through the obstructive conduct of the local, authorities. For a long time back a radical change in the administration of the affairs of the colony has been anxiously sought after. Surrounded as we are on every hand by powerful incentives to material advancement, the fact has been constantly thrusting itself upon us that instead of progressing we have been in many respects receding. Population has been falling off, the staple products of the place declining, and every effort made to foster new industries has been attended with but only partial success. At the election of the present Superintendent, nearly four years ago, the feeling for some decided change in this respect was so strongly evinced that the entire cnrrent of popular opinion was turned in favor of the election of Mr James Macandrew, simply because he bore the reputation of being a man possessing an original turn of mind. Mr Macandrew's term of office has not met the general expectation, a fact which is mainly attribslabln tH fon Tin? p™cr<»»-—BtTB-^enaencyof the General Government in office during the early part of that term. In course of time that inefficient administration was forced to surrender its position. "Under the present premier, a new government was formed which included the Hon. Julius Yogel as Treasurer. Mr Yogel is a representative for the goldfields of Otago in the Assembly, and down to the time his residence in this province terminated, he acted as Provincial Treasurer. In that capacity he established for himself a reputation which few of his compeers could ever hope to attain. For some time back he is known to have been maturing a scheme for the purpose of arresting the backward tendency that - had set in. The particulars of that scheme were kept secret until the last session of the General Assembly, when the whole plan was minutely detailed. Its principal features are an authority to raise a loan of .£6,000,000, to be expended as follows: — Railway Works throughout the Colony* £3,500,000 •Immigration 1,500,000 Construction of Eoads, &c. ... 400,000 Goldfields' Water Supply ... 200,000 Purchase of Land in North Island ... 200.000 Erection of Telegraph Works... 60,000 Unappropriated 140,000 In the Assembly this financial scheme was discussed and adopted. Active preparations were made for giving effect to it, and the general tone of public feeling was more hopeful than it had been for a considerable time. In the midst of this more promising state of matters, a communication, was received from the General Government, asking the province to take steps for initiating the. scheme so far as Otago was interested. The communication arrived during a special session of the Provincial Council, and it was submitted to that body for consideration. Mr Vogel 's successor in office a.S| head of the Provincial Government of Otago is a Mr D. Beid, a man of primitive notions. He has drawn around him certain kindred spirits, and the result is that on the Government scheme being submitted they took upon themselves a responsibility hitherto unknown in legislative administration. Disregarding altogether the fact that ifc was the act of a superior legislature, they, on behalf of this province, rejected the scheme, and the consequence is that while other provinces are making their plans under its provisions, Otago is debarred from taking any action in the matter. The proceeding of the Council was received with a feeling of blank astonishment ; but of course the province was rendered powerless to interfere in the matter. The announcement was received with equal astonishment by the General Government, and with the view of inquiring into the true facts of the case, Mr Yogel visited Otago a few days ago. After a certain amount of parley, the actual position of matters was explained. Mr Reid's ground of opposition appeared to be the result of jealousy at the proposal on the part of the Government to interfere with the affairs of the province. Meantime, two political tests for the ensuing elections have been defined, viz., — For and against the Government policy. Judging from the avowed purposes of this district, there can be no doubt but that the opposition to the measure must fail. "We have already hinted at an embarrassment between this district and the Provincial Government. Its origin is briefly thus. Under the Union Act, certain extended territorial district boundaries were provided for Southland. These boundaries were to/be decided by the vote of the late session of Council. Strange to say, the provision was altogether ignored, and an extended boundary under an inferior holding accepted in its stead. The most remarkable part of the transaction is that no fewer than four of the district members, viz., Messrs James Wilson, William Wood, Andrew Kinross, and Andrew Toshack, aided in defeating the provision, to the manifest disgust of the district. This step so roused the ire of the populace, that on their arrival from Dunedin — where the Council is held — these four gentlemen were treated to a public protest against their conduct. The event created a good deal of excitement, and from the fact that their best endeavors have been unsuccessful in appeasing the public wrath, it is very unlikely that they will find a prominent place at the ensuing elections. The general elections are beginning to make their mark upon public attention. Mr W. H. Calder, one of tlje representatives in the late Council, has, on the invitation of- a numerously-signed requisition, announced himself as a candidate *or the representation of the town of Invercargill in the General Assembly.

The part taken by Mr Calder with regard to the boundary question, alluded to above, has placed him in a very favorable position. Still he has some lee-way left to make up. He took an active part in delaying the initiation of the Government policy, and the opinion is that ha will experience some-difficulty in reconciling the population to his election on that account. Mr C. D. Irvine is the only other candidate who has yet announced himself for the town. For the Mataura district, Mr Dillon Bell is presented for re-election. Mr Andrew Kinross, the gentleman named above, has also announced himself for that district. If Mr Kinross succeeds in upsetting the re-election of Mr Dillon Bell, the conservative notions of not a few will prove ta be at fault. A district settler— Mr Denniston — has also signified his intention of contesting the seat. For Biverton, the present representative, , Mr L. M'Gillivray, will be opposed by i Mr Tb.o3. C. Low. The elections for the Provincial Council ' have not yet been taken up. For the Superintendency of the Province, the afore-mentioned Mr Donald Reid will oppose Mr Macandrew. The principle at variance between them is the General Government policy. Speaking for Southland, we can safely say that Mr Eeid's prospects are very smaUindeed. _- Our rmiiinj -j^P^rn la ruw beginning to exercise an important influence upon the trade of the district. To complete the journey between the upper terminus and the goldfields, it is proposed to establish a road steamer ; and from what information we have regarding their capabilities, there can be little doubt but that its introduction will be the means of solving one of the more difficult problems connected with the goldfields supplies. The complaint is that a deal of ground would be wrought were these supplies furnished at a reasonable rate. On the other hand, , the heavy prices exacted for carriage by dray preclude the possibility of a reduction being made under existing circumstances. The project is one which we hail with a good deal of satisfaction. Every, branch of husbandry continues in a favorable state. The weather throughout the whole season has been exceptionally fine. Of late we have experienced a few cold winds, but the crops were too far advanced to be materially affected by them. Cereals are looking remarkably healthy, and root crops and fruits are ripening in abundance. Well matured strawberries, ripe cherries, and various descriptions of stone fruit have been in the market for weeks past. The agricultural produce of the district is becoming so large that some additional outlet will have to be sought for. That fact has been gradually thrusting itself upon the public mind, and the correct opinion is that the approaching harvest will find the settlers with more produce upon their hands than can be absorbed by the market provided for them.