A RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT!
[the colonist.] This is what our Provincial Council have achieved for us—and not one hour too soon. Wc have raised our voices long and loudly, and have given effect to outside voices, against the masterly inactivity of the Superintendent, against the hdsserfaire system pursued by the whole of the recently irresponsible Executive ; who appear to have looked for nothing aud hoped for nothing beyond their visit to the Provincial Treasury on the first day of each successive month. The Council, at length, disgusted with the annually increasing drain for salaries, and periodical scramble for public works, aroused to somo effectual action aud a responsible Executive is the result. Mr O'Conor announced last night that he had undertaken the offices of Provincial Secretary and Provincial Treasurer ; that Mr Pitt, would continue as Provincial Solicitor ; Mr Shapter Goldfields Secretary, and Mr Rout be an unofficial member.
IfMrO'Conor whilst performing the duties of a double office, evinces bat half the determination he displayed in his recent contest for the S uperin tendency of the Province, or one tithe of the activity and judgment be has shown since tbo recent political crisis placed him as the foremost man, wo think that something has been gained, and that wo have at last reached the' ladder of Hope, for it is said that Mr O'Conor Las agreed to perform the duties of his conjoined offices for £;350 a year, and other reductions, will follow ; something, we believe, that will effect a saving of fully £OO l) per annum upon the salaries of the Executive themselves, or about half the fir*t pr >- posed salaries for the coming finauci d year.
Of Mr Pitt, as Provincial Solicitor, much need not here be said. He has acted throughout the imbroglio with prudonco and determination, and we look to the wise counsel of himself and the member of the Executive without office, as quite counterbalancing any fear that might by some be entertained respecting tho sanguine mind of the Treasurer and Secretary. Mr liout is an untried mau, politically, but wo regard him as one who thoroughly knows and feels the wants of tho settled districts, and who, we think, will be sage and prudent in Council. [ciBErSIOUTII STAK.] The American Indians possess one peculiar characteristic, they never express surprise at anything. When they visit the cities of the pale-face the most wonderful inventions of civilisation extort nothing from the stoical observers but " Waugh ! Good ! " New Zealand journalists Avill do well to copy this trait of the American Indian deportment for themselves. In future we shall express astonishment at nothing that happens, especially in provincial politics. When we received the news that Mr Curtis had sent for Mr O'Conor to form an Executive, we admit feeling amazed for the moment, be we soon recovered and now look upon the conjunction of these two great political intellects ?s a matter of course. If these gentleman will pardon us for making the comI parison, we may remark that their case is similar to the two blacking sellers that once vended their goods in England These itinerant merchants went into a town, and each endeavored to dispose of his wares by decrying the article offered by his rival. Fights often took place in consequence, and mure than once the antagonistic blacking-vendors made their appearance before~~a police magistrate. In the due course of time one paid the debt of nature, and after his death it was discovered that he had left his property, which was considerable, to his partner, who was none other but the pseudo rival. "When Messrs Curtis and O'Conor contested the Superintendency, we thought it was impossible these gentlemen could ever act together, and we are pleased to see that the differences of opinion entertained by them are not irreconcilable, and the couutry can be benefitted by their combined administration.
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Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1183, 9 June 1874, Page 2
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642A RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT! Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1183, 9 June 1874, Page 2
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