CENTRALISM. (To the Editor.)

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 225, 23 May 1872, Page 7

CENTRALISM. (To the Editor.)

Mr. Bunny, the Provincial Secretary of Wellington, when lately addressing the Provincial Council there, and speaking on behalf of his Government, said that the proper functions of a Provincial Government were the opening up and settling of the country, -instead of attempting to manage affairs in already settled districts, which were quite capable of managing those affairs themselves very much better, than any Government could. With this we concur ; but how different has been the conduct of Otago Provincial Governments and Councils, whose policy has always been to withdraw all moneys — or nearly all — raised in outlying goldfields districts and spend them in Dunedin and Taieri and their suburbs. In what a different position would the province now be had it been managed by a majority of educated, high-minded, generous-souled men, instead of a majority of ignorant; narrow-minded, bigoted, selfish men. How long will the inhabitants of the goldfields districts have to stand the tyrannical grasping of the last-named class ?— men who have managed, by one means or another, to grasp the reins of government for years past. It is clear that any help the goldfields districts receive in the future must come from the General Assembly : from the Provincial Government we expect simply promises only. The old proverb says, " When things are at their worst they must mend." Let us hope the proverb will be proved correct in our case, as we do not think it would be possible, under any circumstances, for the Goldfields to be mure neglected and mismanaged than they have been by the men who have enjoyed place and pay of late years. We have . only to refer, as acts of comparison, to the Moa Flat Job, Island Block, M'Kellar's run, Shingle Block, &c., &c., and for omissions, to the neglect of offered opportunities of placing the people on the soil, and a fair share of public moneys for necessary works. It cannot be said that the Provincial Council and Executive have not known the requirements of the Goldfields, as the members representing the mining districts have not failed in their duty in bringing them, at times, in an energetic manner, under the notice of the Provincial Legislature. — We are, &c,

Miners and Cockatoos.