THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT,

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 139, 6 October 1870, Page 6

THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT,

(To the Editor of the Tuapeka Times.)

Sir, — A.s your journal has always been feai'less in its exposui'c of the chicanery — to use no harder term — of the present Superintendent, I trust you will find room for the following remarks on the latest manoeuvres of that gentleman, and a humble suggestion of a method for dispensing with his m-valuable services altogether. Tou are aware, sir, that the elections are not very far distant, and that Mr. Macandrew, by the betrayal of the very principles which secured his return four years ago, has forfeited every claim to the support of the electoral body. Au ordinary man in his position would retire from political life altogether, and attempt to console himself for his downfall by the society of aristocratic friends, gained at the expense of character and consistency. But James Macandrew is no ordinary man, and " though still taking leave, ho is loth to depart," as Mat. Prior wrote of a kindred spirit. His faith in the gullability of his fellow creatures is enormous, and judging from recent events, is not unfounded. Port Chalmers already worships the Immaculate, and other constituencies will, in a shoi't time, have their constancy tried by the mingled blandishment and buncombe which characterises Mr. Macandrew's oratory. Sir, it is my sad conviction that the province of Otago is in no small danger of again foiling into the power of the highly respectable clique who have governed fov the last four years, and this lamentable catastrophe, if it comes off, will unquestionably be owing to the indifference of the electors as a body. They seem to forget that not only is Mr. Macandrew plausible and unscrupulous, but also that his candidature will be supported by all the wealth and influence of the squatocracy and their tail. The only way, in fact, to resist this formidable array, is by the nomination of au able, honest, and thoroughly tried opponent; and it is chieily with the intention of pointing out such a man that 1 have intruded on your sn.ace.

A short time ago Port Chalmers witnessed the return of two Representatives from the scene of thoir labours on behalf or against the province. The former of these was welcomed by addresses — was feted and caressed, greeted with hurrahs, and almost smothered, by an avalanche of flummery. The other walked quiclly to his hotel, unnoticed, and apparently unknown. jN t ow, sir, had a stranger been present at the time, he would naturally have concluded that Mr. Macandrcw was some patriot-states-man receiving the merited applause of a grateful people, and that the other repi'esentath c, Mr. J. B. Bradshaw, was a man of little note — whose name was almost entirely unknown to fame. How different was the real state of the case ! The filthy applauses came from the throats of storekeepers rejoicing over a measure which pnsured them a few shillings additional trade. The man they beslavered with their praise had, in truth, just completed a career of persistent hostility to popular rights and interests — had degraded the highest office in the gift of the people by sinking into the tool of a corrupt and self seeking faction — would have been more fittingly received with howls of execration than with triumphant huzzas. Mr. Bradshaw, on the contrary, had ever been the fearless champion of the people's cause — had, in spite of blandishments and threats, pui'sued the even tenor of his way, and like another Abdiel, " faithful midst the faithless proved." Instead of being unknown to fame, he occupies the very highest rank, both as a statesman and a man. The benefactor of large districts in times gone by, he had just shown himself equally the friend of the whole province. A man of the highest attainments, an author of high reputation, of the most unblemished character, he was eminently qualified to adorn the highest offices in the state. In his honour applause w r ould have had some meaning, and would have reflected equal honour on the donors and the recipient. But to cease urging a parallel, or rather, antithesis), all thinking men must have already exhausted, let me briefly state Mr. Bradghaw's great claims on the gratitude of the community, and his fitness for the office of Buperintendent. Connected with the great industry a goldfields paper naturally places foremost, he is both a practical and scientific miner of the highest standing. In the Assembly he has ever been foremost in the defence of the miner's cause, and has, by bis faction in the three great questions of water supply, special taxations, and electoral privileges, earxted the eternal gratitude of the whole population of the goldfields. ISTor has he neglected the other great and equally important question of settlement. He has throughout been the leader of the small body of honest and able men who have, against overwhelming odds, fought for the rights of the people. Otii every question he has, in fact, given, in an inferior office, a guarantee of the splendid results which must certainly accrue from his elevation to a higher and more influential post. Nor is. his claim on the voters diminished . by the fact that he has proved, and that too in the midst of corruption, that honesty is not irreconcileable with political power. He has no dubious antecedents to explain away ; he has never Skirted the uncer-

tain bounds where legal honesty terminates and felony begins ; in short, his election would rehabilitate the character of the people of Otago, and prove them not altogether indifferent to the distinction between honor and dishonor, honesty and chicane. But, sir, were I to enumerate all the reasons for considering Mr. Bradshaw the fittest and most worthy person to become the popular candidate at the next election, I fear several numbers of your journal would prove insufficient to contain the catalogue. I therefore leave the matter in your hands, and call upon you as the conservator of public popular rights, a,s the defender of the poor men's cause, as the censor of public dishonesty and the patron of the reverse — in short, by your duty as a journalist, to aid with all the force of your pen a cause which is inseparable from that of the people itself. — I am, &c,

EoXBURGH. Teviot, September 29th, 1870.