SOUTHLAND

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 166, 13 April 1871, Page 6

SOUTHLAND

(From a Correspondent.)

April 3, 1871.

Now that we have got harvest over, &,nd have done with politics, I take the Opportunity to write and let you know how we have been getting on down here of late. We have had a remarkably fine season ; our crops are above the average, and have been got in in good order. Although the season has been rather dry for grass, our stock are looking well ; and we cannot complain

of the farm this season, although we \vould like better prices and inoro demand for produce. However, if I cannot complain of the farm, it is otherwise with politics ; and I have found

amongst the farmers a greater lot of duffers than I expected. You have doubtless heard that Wood, Wilson, Toshack, and Kinross got a

reception at Invercargill the reverse

of flattering, from a mob collected at Calder's instigation, because these

members had voted against him on the boundary question, and spoiled, at least pro. tern., his efforts to have the new territory administered by parties in his interest and that of the squatters generally. Mr. Calder is very fair to those who are subservient

to him, but if a man has too indepen-

dent a spirit to be blindly led by him, and dares to oppose him, he will try to crush him. As he is agent for one of the banks, and the majority of persous here are ready to crawl to those who have power or money, he possesses great influence. To spoil Kinross's chance of election for the Mataura, Calder's party brought out a broken-down swell who Couldn't make farming pay, to split the country votes 5 however, I believe Calder and his personal friends voted For BjII. Although Denuiston professed to be favourable to a liberal land law and opposed to Bell aud his policy, I feel confident he voted for him for the Provincial Council ; perhaps they may find some billet for him, or perhaps now that he has served their turn they may throw him aside. One would have thought when Mr. Bell had never troubled himself about Southland matters, aud gone home without saying anything to fclie electors o±" the Mataura, that they would have resented such treatment ; but theto are so many thorough snobs in Invercargill, that when a member of the Ministry condescended to visit

fchem. at last, our would-be magnates struggled who should serve him most

abjectly. On the polling day, lawyers, merchants, storekeepers and swell loafers of every description were canvassing for Bell. Vehicles of every description were employed to bring Up the electors, who were then regaled With food and drink. I fear that aonest independent men were ?n a minority. When there has been no public money to spend, the Invercargillites have been careless about polities, but whenever there has been a prospect of plunder, they have roused Up and urged on a reckless expendi-

ture regardless of the future, and

whether the full value was received for the money expended. Before tbe re-union, Southland had neither money nor credit, but now that we have got the credit of Otago to entitle us to a share of the money borrowed Under the financial scheme of the Colonial Government, our schemers have

heen actively employed in securing the return of members as reckless and selfish as themselves. A numerous committee was formed, the members of which have spared no me .ns to attain their ends ; men were sent out into the country districts to canvass for their ■candidates, and to slander and misrepresent those who voted with Mr. Reid on the boundary question, and sought to.carry out union principles in & fair and proper spirit. Although we have vote by ballot now, we never had bo much bribery, corruption, and intimidation at elections before. Store-

keepers! and persons from town who

e"ven had no votes in country districts, „-. ea*ne»out. ; some threatened not to buy •the settlers' produce, and to make Others pay up, or promises of employment, were made ; and as the union candidates employed none of these means, Macandrew's followers have

in every instance been returned.

*3Att the Mataura election, as many had - not finished harvest, a much smaller number voted than at last election; and as Bell's committee sent vehicles round to bring up voters from town and, country, and used every sort of undue influence, Mr. Bell was elected. I am sorry fco sea. farmers who ought -to be independent men, so mean and contemptible as to be led through the nose, and return a squatter, who never has done anything for the district, \vLo has no interest in it, and who m.ust think them a confounded lot of fools. I don't think Kinross and Toshack will fret much over- their rejection, but I am sorry for Wilson ; be has always been a member of the Southland Council, and as he is not so comfortable as some of the others, I daresay he feels it most. Wood has plenty of leisure, and no family, so politics just suited him^ however," I believe he is well off, and can amuse himself at something else. lam glad the diggers and tbe farmers in the old province have the sense and spirit to tts&U'U representatives from their own

classes, and that they don't bow down and worship the snobocracy. Under the circumstances it would have' been bettor if Mr. Reid had not moved his amendment on Mr. Calder's resolution ; it has prevented the election of conscientious men ; however, it is useless now to repine.