THE NEW CANDIDATE FOR THE SUPERINTENDENCY.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 434, 20 December 1861, Page 4

THE NEW CANDIDATE FOR THE SUPERINTENDENCY.

To the Editor of the Colonist.

y IR flly attention has been called to the following statement made at the hustings by Mr. Barnicoat, the new candidate for the Superintendency, " he had always felt and always maintained that the emigrants of the New Zealand Company had a most strong and undeniable claim against <hat Company on account of the very cruel injuvies sustains by them in consequence of the non-ful-filment of its promises." Many years since, and at the time Mr. Barnicoat and his class had largely partitioned the beautiful VVaimea plains among themselves, the writer of this being then a resident at Richmond and a near neighbor of Mr. Barnicoat, made tbs following rtmaik to him one morning concerning ihe claims to compensation of the New Zealand Company's emigrants,—" the poov unfortunates" tlwt now Mr. Barnicoat and bis friends so hypocritically condole and sympathize with. * Emigrant.—Well, Mr. Barnicoat, now that you have compensation, I suppose you will stand by us working men until we get compensation also? Mr. B.—No, indeed, let the working men do the same as we have done, and get it for themselves.

Emigrant. —But, Mr. Barnicoat, how are we (o go to work to get it, we cannot afford to do as your party has done, namely, to give dinner and supper parties. Mr. B.—Can't help it, good morning. Emigrant, a little sarcastically.—Slay a little, Mr. Barnicoat. Notwithstanding your clique has partitioned large portions of this beautiful country among yourselves, you still require the sanction of Governor Grey to your proceedings, and may be liable to ejectment. Mr. B.,elated.—All! ah! There you are wrong, for myself I have already taken possession of my compensation land, and you know, possession is nine points of the law, Governor Grey cannot eject me, good morning. ' I should never have made this little incident, public, if Mr. Baruicoat and his friends had comhated for the Superintendency in an independent, fpi-nhanded, and manly spirit. No, they cannot do (h«f, they first try to ciawl into the votersconi)(Ki:c<', by pretending they will get us our coinpens:!: ion'and that they will do more for us than Mr. Robinson has done, and afterwards bully us if we do not swallow any 'bunkum' they would cram us with. What are such characters likely to do for the working men, or any one else besides their own clique; what have they done but defame him, lessen his wages and keep him to poverty; and would do so still if they had the power, by swamping the province with more labor, thus ieducing the hardworking man to a state even wovbp than slavery. Yes, tliis is one of the many good things they will do for the working man. Why, men, if yoii were to succumb to that party now, they would inn you for it afterwards if they succeeded fo get into office : ami for every glass of beer you enjoy, they would skim two from you in some way' or the other afterwards. Fellow-electors, can you believe statements emanating from these people when looking back a short time reminds you of their true character ? To dwell on Dr. Monro's political inconsistencies is especially painful, consider, fellow-electors, a gentleman holding the office of college governor a member of the Provincial Council, a weal (by sheep farmer, and a justice of the peace, making a solemn declaration to his constituency in this manner—' Gentlemen, if you elect me to this honorable position (member of the General Assembly) I will not accept office, I will in no case neglect my duty to this province (Picton) and the country generally in accepting office.' Had I been onn of the Doctor's constituency, when lie came io Picton to explain his conduct, I should have reprimanded him in somewhat this style— Now, Doctor, yon have thought proper to break faith with us in accepting office, we, the electors, have cousultcd together, and are perfectly agreed you may keep possession of the office but not the salary, and your constituency hereby requires that you shall pay bach the salary to the treasury chest, to show to us your di^interednfss in acceptthe office of Speakership, which, according to your own statements was for the public good alone. Sir. Barnicoafs 'whippcrin' needs no comment, everybody knows him. In the matter of compensation for the 'New Zialnrd tmigiants, notwithstanding all the opposition Doctor Monvo, Mr. Elliott, and others could bring to bear against it, the case at present stands thus : —when the expected change of ministry tvas confirmed in Nelson, and Mr. Fox was known lo be Prime Minister, the Superintendent again proceeded to action upon this subject, and upon receipt of the intelligence that the Queen had given her consent to the bill awarding the compensation, Mr. Fox wrote to the Superintendent for him to appoint the necessary commissioners in conjunclion with the Superintendent of Marlborough ; there being a few settlers in the Wairau who have j equally just claims with ourselves. It was then arranged the Superintendent of Marlborough should appoint one and our Superintendent two commissioners. The commissioners have been appointed some time since, and upon recept of intelligence from Mr. Fox, that he confirms the choice of commissioners, which he is pretty sure to do, direct action will be taken in the matter again. It will then remain for the Superintendent and Provincial Council to pass an act issuing the scrip for selections. Had it not been for tbo pugnacious hostility of Dr. Monro and his chum the senior proprietor, and some others, we, the claimants, should have been in possession of this magnificent compensation years since. The contemptible flunkeyism and claptrap of Mr. Barnicoat'a seeking to be elected a people's Superintendent, through such'agencies, and his own inconsistent conduct, demands a just censure. ' 1 am, &c, A LATE RESIDENT AT RICHMOND. Nelson, Dec. 18th, 1861,