AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER & ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, JULY 18, 1872. " MEASURES, NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 233, 18 July 1872, Page 4

AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER & ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, JULY 18, 1872. " MEASURES, NOT MEN."

The truth of the remark made by Mr. Bastings at the close of the meeting' on Monday evening last, viz., that the vaunted " benefits of provincialism do not extend beyond the Taieri and Tokomairiro," must commend itself to every resident on the goldfields of Otago. One cardinal point in the policy of the Provincial Government is to extract as much as possible from the gold-

fields, apd to give as little as possible in return. This policy was initiated immediately on the discovery of the precious metal in Gabriels Gully, and has been adhered to with dogged pertinacity by every Executive up to the present time. In the administration of goldfields affairs, every principle that ought to guide the Government of a country has been violated, and the most earnest entreaties for the barest justice treated with contemptuous indifference. During the last eleven years hundreds of thousands of pounds have been contributed to the provincial treasury by the mining community, yet at the present moment there is not one traversable main road within the boundaries of the mining districts. Of other roads there are literally none. In other respects the goldfields have been shamefully misgoverned. To say that their interests have been systematically disregarded would not be stating half the truth ; their interests have been ruthlessly sacrificed time after time for the benefit of those favored regions wherein dwell the patres conscripti. The manner in which the goldfields have been treated, authenticates the story that Scotchmen are the descendants of the lost tribes of Israel, so singularly proficient are they in jfche old Jewish trade of spoiling the Egyptians ; and they thrive amazingly at it. The policy of the provincial authorities has borne ample fruit. It has had the effect of dividing the people of Otago into two, sections — the goldfields; and Dunedin and the agricultural settlements — each jealous of the other, and at all but open enmity. In the breasts of the people of the goldfields there rankles the sense of wrongs and injustice suffered, and the desire to escape from provincial thraldom is strong and universal. The residents of Dunedin and those localities which, for convenience sake, we have called the agricultural" settlements, have preyed so long on the goldfields' revenues that they have come to consider them as their rightful property, and the fear that some day they will lose them onuses them to look with no friendly, eye on the men who are keeping them alive. That this is not^ an exaggerated statement, anyone knowing the province will attest.- :i A people divided again stjtself in. fcfa^j manner cannot, it is obvious^,, prosper. It is therefore time an alteration was made.

In the opinion of many, the times: are ripe for important constitutional changes. Provincialism] it is felt, is worn out, and ought to^give way to some other form of government better adapted to the requirements of the colony. This we believe to be the generaVbpjmion of the mining population, an<|, last • year a numerously signed petition, praying for the abolition of provincialism, was sent to the General Assembly from the Otago goldfields. The battle between the supporters of the existing order of things and their opponents will in all probability, unless an appeal be made to the people, be severe and protracted. While it is being fought, the goldfields will, still be under the rule of the provincial authorities., and their spoliation will be continued And probably many thousands of acres of the choicest agricultural and richest auriferous land contained within their limits will be sold to keep the provincial game alive. The insti ncts of self-preservation dictate that active energetic measures should be taken to avert such evils. We suggest that the various mining associations take the matter in hand. Let a petition, praying the General Government to assume the administration, of the goldfields, be at once drafted, and circulated throughout the whole of the goldfields. The entire population would sign it. It is perfectly evident that we can not be worse than at present. Any change must therefore be for the better. Should our suggestion be adopted, there is no time to lose in carrying it into effect.

Three candidates have been nominated for the Mayoralty of Lawrence — Messrs. H. W. Coverlid, F. Meyer, and Edward Herbert. The first named asks to be elected to the office he aspires to on the ground of long and faithful services in the Council. Mr. Meyer bases his claims also on services rendered to the ratepayers at the Council board, and confidently appeals to his position, conduct of and attention to public business as giving him a preferential claim to the honour. Mr. Herbert has yet his spurs to win. He has not taken any active* part in the politics of the district, and has not served in the Council. However, he pr&mises, if elected, to make himself thoroughly acquainted

with and to efficiently perform the duties of chief magistrate. The contest can scarcely be said to be one of principles. The question is entirely one of the personal fitness of the candidates. • Service in the Council is a powerful recommendation, but the fact of a candidate not having been a councillor can scarcely be considered a fatal disqualification. But this is for the ratepayers to decide. The duty they have to perform is to elect the fittest amongst the aspirants. On Monday next we have no doubt that they will do so. #'