Tuapeka Times AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER & ADVERTISER THURSDAY, MAY 29, 1873. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 278, 29 May 1873, Page 4

Tuapeka Times AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER & ADVERTISER THURSDAY, MAY 29, 1873.

"MEASURES, NOT MEN. "

The Governor has granted the sought for dissolution of the Otngo Provincial Council, and we certainly would not grudge a five pound note for a photograph of the lugubrious faces of certain honorable members when the telegram* reached their hands. What a sorry lot they must have looked ! No more nineteen shillings and eleven pence three farthings per day ! No more easy seat to occupy ! No more "honorable member who spoke last " to be listened to ; and, alas ! alas ! no chance whatever of being returned again. Such thoughts (particularly the latter) must have arisen in the minds of a good many of the members — at all events if they communed with their own hearts. In his inaugural address to the Council on the 6th inst, his Honor took occasion at great length to refer to 1 all the leading and many of the subordinate matters which are now of interest to the inhabitants of Otago; and no one reading the address can fail to be struck with the evident care and attention which has been bestowed upon its compilation as an exhaustive report of proceedings during the last year, and as an outline programme for the future. Referring to school matters, his Honor calls attention to the urgent need which exists for increased accommodation, and sketches a plan by which an ample sum may at once be made available for the purpose, and solicits the attention of the Council to Mr. Hislop's valuable report as Inspector of Schools and the suggestions made therein, principally the matter of the appointment of an additional Inspector and the establishment of a training school, in which to educate persons so as to fit them for teachers. As regards the additional Inspector, the need for such an appointment being immediately made is apparent. Looking through Mr. Hislop's report, the wonder is how that gentleman has managed to do the vast amount of work necessary for its production ; and that he has done it in a /cry efficient and thorough manner is evinced by the fact that the minutest circumstances are noticed and dwelt upon, as indicating progress or otherwise in every case — both as regards the teachers and the taught, as well as in the belongings of the various schools. It is quite unfair to expect one man to continue to do this work — two will have their hands quite full but with Mr. Hislop and another like him, or indeed anything near to his standard, a very high degree of excellence will be attained. The schools can be inspected oftener, with greater regularity, and more time allowed to each inspection than is possible just now. The training

school is a dire necessity. There are, we believe, in our midst many who would, after a course of training (longer or shorter, as circumstances might require), be very efficient schoolmasters and mistresses, and we trust that this suggestion of his Honor's will be given effect to, for the sake of the community at large . Railways and roads, the state of the <- goldfields, road board, immigration, friendly societies, sale and throwing open land for settlement, and a variety of other matters of importance are dwelt upon by his Honor, all evincing the truth of the concluding statement that " never have the affairs of the province been more prosperous or more efficiently conducted," and we marvel much that the Council did not see fit to bend earnestly to the business presented to it, instead of wasting time and money in 1 the disgraceful manner which is only too well known to our readers. Upon looking through the draft estimates as framed by Mr, Tolmie's Government, we are struck with the fact that more attention has been paid to the requirements of up-country districts (including the goldfields) than ever before by any Government, and this fact alone j should go, and doubtless will go, a long way to secure for the gentlemen now in office a continuance of public support. For instance, under the head of " Miscellaneous Roads &nd Tracks," are found 57 such provides^ for — consisting of the very roads the bad state of which we are continually hearing of every winter; and upon these and necessary bridges it is proposed to spend £108,039 7a. 9d., a distinct amount being allocated to each separate work; and we ma) 7 " remark that very considerable knowledge of the province must have been brought to bear on the compilation of this portion of the estimates, which probably is the result of having in the Executive an energetic and practical man like Mr. Bastings — one who knows well every district in the province, and almost every mile of road. We observe also an item of £5000, "Subsidies to Progress Committees on Goldfields." We have not heard how this originated ; but we can plainly .see the utility and reasonableness of the vote — in fact, we can hardly imagine a more useful expenditure, as it is doubtless intended for those more remote and thinly populated places which are at present unable to take advantage of the municipal laws, but who, neverthless, require •and are entitled to a share of the public mone} r . We hope that when the new Council meets the same programme will be presented and adhered to. It is the creation of men who are alive to the fact that Otago means something moro than Dunedin and the Taieri, who are liberal in something besides name, having proved by their acts, even more than by their words, that steady, safe progress is their aim and object. The question for the province to decide is whether w^ are to be governed and whether ou^ money is to be spent by men of that stamp, or by the Reids, Thompsons, Barrs, and Hendersons, who, if they get the reins into their hands, will very shortly reduce this fine, prosperous province to a state very much akin to that occupied by Nelson at the present time.

Our contemporary the "Daily Times," on Saturday last, published a letter from an anonymous correspondent, suggesting as a means to the desired end — to wit, the satisfactory settlement of the present provincial political dispute — that the hon. Major Richardson be asked to stand for the office of Superintendent. Major Richardson's name has only to be mentioned to command respect and confidence ; and, whatever our political views may be, we are sure that we give utterance jto the feelings of the community when we say that such a candidate would be largely favored by the electors. Whether returned or not, Major 111 chard son doubtless has the unbounded confidence of every man in Otago whose esteem is worth possessing — the Major's high personal character as a scholar and a gentleman, his great abilities — cultivated as they have been by long contact with and experience of the world — his sterling integrity and earnestness of purpose, and his past invaluable services as the political head and guide of affairs in this province have secured to him every particle of the position which we hereby accord. We think that his Honor would warmly favor such a candidate. At such a time as this a very decided expression of public opinion is sought, and the .appearance of a foeman so thoroughly worthy of his steel would, we feel satisfied, be anything but distasteful to Mr. Macandrew.