The Westport Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1872

Westport Times, Volume VI, Issue 1006, 20 September 1872, Page 2

The Westport Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1872

Who the popular candidate may be among the rumored probable aspirants for the office of Superintendent, to wit, Mes*ra Shephard, Luckie, Sharp, and Saunders." can be at the present moment only vaguely surmised. Each of these gentlemen has his own admirers, each in the hour of contest would gain partisans and supporters and the consequent scattering of votes would result in the winning man attaining but a meagre majority over his opponents, unless able to adduce undoubted proof and establish an unwavering conviction of a special claim j for the suffrages of the Electors; which in the case of either, we venture to surmise, would at the outset prove somewhat problematical. And yet, so far as the South West Goldfielcls are concerned, it is most essentially necessary that whenever the contest eventuates, and whoever the candidates may be, who face the ordeal of a contested election, the goldfields electors should be thoroughly prepared to vote for the candidate whoso accession to office will conduce most to their advantage and mark a new era jin the system of Nelson Provincial government. Severance from Nelson rule is not likely to be yet accomplished, devoutly as it may be wished and prayed for by the Coast population, and the selection of a new Superintendent will virtually be in the hands of the people of Nelson City and its environs, seeing that they hold an enormous aggregate excess of votes beyond those of the settlers and miners on the Goldfields. Hence the electors here have but one courso to follow in the record of their votes. To vote for the candidate who will do most to remedy the evils inflicted on the Goldfields by his predecessor in office, Not for the man who will promise most, for of broken promises and betrayed trusts the Goldfields electors have had a long and bitter experience, but for the man who will clearly and explicitly, in calm and business-like fashion, show the best and most convincing method of remedying existing evils, and will give the best proof both of his inclination aud ability to apply the remedy. There should be no indifference in the matter, no disregard for the privilege of voting merely because, having no West Coast man fitted by previous training to hold the responsible post of Chief officer of the Province, we needs must make a selection from the Nelson commun'ty. The mere rumor of the probability of Mr Curtis' secession from the Super, intendents chair has been hailed as joyful tidings, heralding a public blessing to this portion of the Province ; itwouldthus ill becomothe electors, few though they may be in proportion to those in aud around Nelson, to show any apathy in the election of his successor, and by their indifference afford pretext for belief in his oft-repeated and reckless assertions that no sound reasons for discontent prevail on the Coast. Neither separation from Nelson or ' unification ' with Westland may be yet achieved, but in its place there is the promise, vague aud uncertain as yet, but still likely to come to fruition iu some shape or guise, of extended powers of local control over local public affairs being conferred on the people of the South West Goldfields by the General Government. Presuming that the present Ministry retain office, that Mr Curtis holds his portfolio and resigns the Superintendency, and presuming also that the promise of local government be ratified, what better proof conkl we give of preparedness to undertake the trust to be confided to us than an earnest, well directed, effort to aid in the election of the candidate best fitted by talent, experience, and good intent, to exercise chief control over the destinies of the Province ?