THE WAR OF THE SUPERINTENDENCY.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1128, 28 November 1873, Page 2

THE WAR OF THE SUPERINTENDENCY.

[nelson EXAMINES-] It is very singular that, so far as we have ohserved, not a single journal in the province, and not one beyond it which has given any attention to the contest now going on, has a single word to say in support of Mr O'Conor. If there were journals which favored him in the beginning, or were loath to commit themselves against him, there is not one now so poor as to do him reverence. This would be surprising enough if the West Coast candidate had come as a perfect' stranger amongst the constituency Even then, however, there would have been enough of generous feeling on the part of the conductors of the press to have treated him leniently, to have been anxious to discover good

traits in his character, and to indulge an anticipation that he would improve upon acquaintance. Rut in this case " even hope is denied," It is precisely because Mr O'Conor is well-known ; because he is better known than trusted politically; because he has been thoroughly read outside and inside ; and because there is on the part of the press a most perfect distrust of him, that not a press voice is now raised in his behalf.

It suits Mr O'Conor to say that the' two newspapers of Nelson which oppose hib candidature, are bribed or coerced into the course they have felt bound to take for the good of Nelson and the reputation of the province. Men whoare very ignorant of press affairs, and who cannot by their merits command the support for which their soul pant* within them, usually have some such excuse as this to put forward to cover their own deficiencies in those qualities and abilities which in better men compel respect. But even Mr O'Conor will not assert that it is either bribery or coercion which has moved the press of the West Coast, with one Voice, to denounce his candidature. The Grey River Argus states in plain terms that it opposes Mr O'Conor because long and familiar acquaintance with him has demonstrated his unfitness by nature to occupy the honorable and responsible position to which he aspires. Nothing' can be more significant than the' fact that those who have known him longest and best as a public man, who are necessarily much moie acquainted than the public are with the springs and motives of Mr O'Conor's action during his West Coast career, are amongst those who are most bitterly opposed to him now, though they have had little tosay in praise of his opponent. That, however, is the spectacle we see; and it isa matter over which the electors of those districts in which Mr O'Conor is least known shauld ponder not a little. Even in Westport, where his influence is strrongest —and where, if his supporterswere as greatly in earnest as they are represented to be, they would soon find an organ to advocate the claims and pretensions of their candidate—he has no friend in the press. But in Wellington and Dunedin the feeling is the same. The Independent raises a warning voice; and, telling the electors that, it speaks with some knowledge of the wants of Nelson, and of the comparative merits of the candidates, our contemporary gives out no uncertain sound as to what, in its opinion, should be the choice of the electors. Of course we' shall have that expression of opinion set down by the O'Conorites to ancientgrudge ; but there must have been strong cause for that old and long-exis-t----ing dislike, if it does exist. We believe, on the contrary, that the writer in the Independent speaks from ex-

perience of later date than old Coast times, and from a close observation of Mr O'Conor in his place in Parliament

and with an intimate knowledge of that honorable member's proceedings there, in the lobbies as well as on the floor of the House. But the Otago Guardian is of the same mind as the Independent, and joins in the warning given by the' press of the Province, that "it is possible to elect a Superintendent in haste and repent at leisure. Will Mr O'Conor say that Mr Vogel's organ in Dunedin hasbeen either bribed or coerced into the utterance of this warning 1 The Guardian speaks, we have not the least doubt, as the Independent does, and as the Grey River Argus distinctly asserts does, from intimate knowledge of the opponent of Mr Curtis, and a genuine and perfect disbelief in him as a public man, as a politician seeking the Superintendency of a province.

We have not wavered in our confidence that the advice given to us by our' contemporaries, north, south, and west, will be that followed on the day of the ballot; and as the war goes on the feeling grows stronger. Those who have the true welfare of the province at heart, aud desire to see it make healthy and substantial progress, must not overlook what would be the inevitable consequences of a rash and ill-considered administration of its affairs; and there is nothing whatever in Mr o'Conor's career, or in his personal qualities, to give assurance that this would not be the character of hi 3 rule. Trying as the time is between nomination and poll, we are almost sorry that the interval is not in this case longer than it is. The more frequently the rival candidates appear on the platform, the stronger the contrast between them is seen to be. The more Mr O'Conor speaks the better for his opponent, for there is great virtue in giving rope enough. The settled districts will do their duty; and the telegrams from the "West Coast—as wa3 anticipated—begin to show a slightly different tone to what they did before Mr Curtis went to meet the electors face to face.