Page 2 Advertisements Column 6

West Coast Times, Issue 213, 25 May 1866, Page 2

Election Notices. TO THE ELECTORS "" OP CANTERBURY IN WESTLAND. p ENTLEMEN,— I feel that an apology is duo to you for not having paid you a visit in person long since. It has been my earnest wish to have done so, but I have been prevented from taking so long a journey owing to the temporary results of an accident. I should havo addressed you by letter had I not expected to bo able to pay you a visit. ' You will gather my opinions upon matters affecting the Province generally from the address which accompanies this letter. I have only to add a few words upon matters especially connected with the West Coast. With rogard to the Road, I think the Government were driven at once to make a choice between two things, either the immediate erection of Westland into a separate Province, or the construction of a road and telegraph, by which you could be placed in communication with the Government on this side. It was obviously imposs'blo that any sort of Government could be administered on the West Coast, from this side, with any justice or satisfaction to yourselves, without such a communication. In adopting tho latter of these two alternatives, the Government does not appoar tome to havo acted in a manner hostile to your wishes, for I oannot learn that the population on the West Coast has at any time unanimously or distinctively expressed its wish to be formed into a separate Province, although the subject has naturally been discussed in the publio journals. In the absence of a very distinct demand on the part of the West Coast, and an immediate determination on tho part of the Government to sever Westland from Canterbury — a step which any Government would have been exceedingly loath to take— the construction of tho road and telegraph was absolutely necessary. I am quite aware that^the cost of this road has been very great, and the charge of any part of it upoa the revenues of the West Coast has been strongly opposed. I have no doubt a fair arrangement will be come to by the Provincial Council, assisted by your own representatives, for charging the cost of this work in a manner that will bo satisfactory to both parts of the Province. A suggestion has been made that it should be placed upon tho Loan, and if such an arrangement should tend to cement the union between the two parts of the Provinco, it would reoeive my support. Although the great mass of the population on the West Coast do not vote for the Superintendent, the interests of that part of the Province are equal in magnitude and importance to those on this side, and it will be the duty of the Superintendent, by frequent visits, to make himself personally acquainted with the wants of tho people and the conduct of the Government. You have now five Members in the Provincial Council, but that which will most completely secure the attention of the Government to your affairs will be the presence of one of those gentlemen in the Executive Council ; that is an arrangement I should always wish to see carried out if practicable, and I have no doubt you will return men for the Provincial Council, who will be able and be prepared to take such a practical part in the administration of the affairs of the province. The system of municipalities for the expenditure of local revenues in the districts in which they arise, is one which may be beneficially extended to your part of the Province. lam naturally anxious to preserve the unity of the province *, but lam perfectly sure that the result can only be obtained by administration of equal justice to every part. I have the honor to be, Sirs, Your mtst obedient Servant, J. D. LANCE. Christchurch, May 21, 1866. 2762

TO THE ELECTORS OP CANTERBURY. ri ENTLEMEN,— As a number of VjT gentlemen in the Towa Hall last evening seemed to be afraid of what might be the consequence were I allowed to address you, and most persistently refused to give me s hearing, and as you are entitled to know my opinions ion several largo questions which have been imported into the present contest for the Superintendency, I take the liberty of addressing you in this letter. I attended the meeting called some timo since by Mr Travers, for the purposo of disoußiing tht^ute fyrod. Regulations