SWITZERS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 183, 10 August 1871, Page 6

SWITZERS.

(From our own Correspondent.) There is very little here to write about of an interesting nature, and if I were to follow the bent of my incliaation, I would remain silent for another week. But it will probably be as interesting toayour readers as anything else to know that we are at peace among ourselves (which is a rare occurrence), and enjoying ourselves as best we may under the little " ills that flesh is heir to" during unsettled wintry weather. There is at present a thick covering of snow on the ground, the result of two days' inclement weather, which still continues. A public meeting was held at Braithwaite's Heading Room, to ascertain thenablic feeling in reference to getting subscriptions for John Morrison, who had his -leg broken (which was afterwards amputated) about *an months ago, and who has been an inmate of our hospital since the accident. It was ■ resolved at the meeting that a snbsorip- ' tion be started at ouce. A commits was also formed, consisting of the following gentlemen : — Messrs. Matheson. Byron, Sutherland, G. Collie, Heath, Lawrence, and Brown, who was appointed secretary. The subscription list was laid before the meeting, and subscriptions to the amount of £27 10s were obtained. From the energetic manner ia which it has been taken up, the committee have reason to hope that a considerable sum of money will be realised. I see by your paper of last week tliat the Tuapeka Hospital Commlcfcew is placed in a position. 61 difficulty on account of the reduced subsidy. Otn4r hospitals are unquestioaabjjjr - placed in a similar situation, but the • difficulty the Switzers Hospital Committee is placed* in is caused by the sever.il Govei'nment subsidies due not coming to hand. Had there been more tlv-m one banking institution here, it is likely f.lmt accommodation, as at other places, would have bsen allowed. There is still sufficient interest in politics here to .take stock of events as they arise. The doings of the Provincial Council have been worthy of notice — so much so that great relief was afforded to the minds of those who had carefully watched them during the session, when the prorogation day arrived. Provincialism has truly fallen into disrepute. Session after session, for some time past, has been less and leas esteemed ; but the last one has done more to advance the interests of Colonialism than any one that has preceded it. What a living example of innate weakness has been manifested ; what haggling over petty questions ; and what manifest incompetency to daal with any great questions directly affecting the province. In no council that. has preceded the present one lias there been such a lack of delib?rative ability ; such rash conclusions have been arrived at that have had to be ■ reconsidered, and others that ought to have been. No subject that has been before the House should have been more carefully considered than the proposal to sell 50,000 acres of land to one purchaser, and should have met with a direct negative — better that the finanoial difficulty should l-eruain than our children's patrimony should be disposed of in that way. There is comparatively so little land fit for settlement that we as a people ought to be very chary about disposing of it, except for bona fide settlement, and then with limited area. If a double system of Govern nient is more than the country is able to support (which it undoubtedly is), grapple with the difficulty manfully — remove the incubus pressing heavily upon •us at once. While the present system continues, it will be necessary to $el] large blocks of land annually fco meet the current expsnditure, and thns the land will be disposed of to capitalists, bona fide . settlement will be. prevented, and a, system of landlord and tenant will be introduced, with all its blighting concomitants. Some of our members who failed to propound any scheme that would afford immediate relief, while in session, have since hit upon an iitea that is jnst the thing — <c fy&ke overtures to Canterbury." Such an iJea, prudently and wisely discussed 8? veai jedt'S ago, would have resulted 1 benaSeiilly ; bub the time has gone by — the flood tLmegis paa* ; an r l the provinces of.thtj MirldlS Island, like waifs upon /&& sea shore, stre looking askance for its approach again. There was a time when Otago might, with wisdom and' uprightness, have stood proudly <forth as tlje champi<Si*^f Provincialism, and' h ive braved alfcth> efforts of the Centralist, until the titife had amved wheri- -. O Miterbury, Nelson, Martbtrrough, and "\Vf»tlan'l would Have se«u it to' be pdviuitugwus to their iutecests tot one form of government for the Middle Island, anJ itsaeafc either atDanpdin' or Ciii'wtchttrci, \ Steady aail ■ peirnvtnent,action iv this direction would hiwehad the hearty -support of. the majority^ of the people. But unfortu-ntttefy th«< policy of. our rulers has been; too e*clu.sive — awt Ckesw, put nulling hits been" top iv motto — to Soottioise the southern, portion of New Ze<iUm<| hasl*yen tlieir' ; abject. Canterbury. has naturally bsen jealous -at our pretentious assumptions, - an 1 the probability is they would prefer, ■ Wellington to Otiso. Having failed to .accomplish' their objest? our rulers '.:J?Ung.to the present system to consofi date whaXi they-hrtve acquired, to spot_ , tbe fiountrywfth the- effects of nepotism, - And to aIHSw the best blocks of taud to

fall into the hands of countrymen, although it be clearly pro ved v directly in opposition to the * public interest. And if an adventurer becomes associated with them in the Government, necessity compels his silence; he is willing to serve for p;»y, that is enough for him. Ye Beighton and ye Mackay, what think ye of the servile compliance of your nominee, who quietly allows Cargill and Anderson to takepossession of the lignite, and allows the 50,000 acres to be sold, without comment ? Such are the political feelings of the people of Switzers, as near as I can ascertain them. Every one I have come in contact with has a strong feeling in favour of the entire abolition of Provincialism.