Original Correspondence.

Bruce Herald, Volume III, Issue 65, 6 July 1865, Page 8

Original Correspondence.

Our Correspondence Column is at all time 3 open to the temperate discussion of questions of public interest ; but we do not held ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our Correspondents. In no case can any letter, be inserted unless accompanied by the real name and address of the \v riter, not necessarily for publication, but ass. j guarantee of good i'aith. ■

o {To the Editor of the Bruce Herald.) Sir — I am well aware that to enter into conflict with the editor of a news paper is as unwise, (pardon me) impolitic,, i a thing- as possibly a man can do, stil ( there are times when it would be a erini to be silent. I cannot say-that I was much surprised at your advocacy of Major Bicliardson's claim to the Superintendency, as more than once- 1 think I have traced the effusions of the Major's pen in the editorial of the ' Bruce Herald.' There is human nature in the adage " Claw you me and I'll claw you." I will nob find fanlt either with the fawning- servility or fulsome adulation — as taste is everything 1 — but I confess it operated upon me similarly to the manner in which, little boys and girls are affected when mama says, "Wow Freddy and Jemima, you must really take this dose of castor-oil j" even the Major himself, vain although he undoubtedly is, will be forced on perusal to exclaim ' Hisque ad nauseam." My purpose is not to find fault with you for idolising the Major, but to protest against the most monstrous propositions which have advanced by you in your, endeavours to trample upon the fallen and to worship ' the rising sun. Now, sir, I may remind you that when Major R. contested the Superintendency with Mr. Harris I was one of his most earnest supporters ; like many more, I judged the man by his professions : dazzled, by the glitter of his eloquence, I forgot to look for evidences of the purity of the metal : tickled by the flourish of tmmpets. so called patriotism, self-sacrifice, &c, I was for the time honest in my belief that the Major was the man. To supply the reason for having changed my opinion I will not even now enter upon so wide a field of criticism as I might otherwise do ; 1 will not refer to the'personal vindictiveness and animosity which invariably has been displayed by the Major towards all who venture to oppose him — more especially if the opposition is successful — and by which course of conduct in the Provincial Council he has undoubtedly marred its usefulness. His personal animosity towards the late Superintendent was carried to such an extent as to encourage what I am convinced he then knew was, and wiat is now almost univer* sally acknowledged as having been the most damning political course that could have been pursued. I charge him as having been the prime mover, the chief instigator of a course which has brought the Province into disrepute, and which will tak6 years to obliterate the evil effects of. The public, however, I expect will be ready to inquire on what grounds do we form our opinions ? Now, sir, I have a few statements to make, and I will leave you to disprove them if you can. Ist. — I assert, from personal examination of the accounts of the Province, that a more reckless expenditure of the revenue was induced and took place under the regime of Major R. than under that of Mr. Harris.

1 2nd. — That a very large, a serious proportion of the accounts paid during the first years of Mr. Harris's regime were debts incurred under Major R.'s. 3rd— That no financial account made under Major R.s term ot office ever showed the real state or position of the Province. I will acknowledge that Mr. Harris committed a political blunder on assuming office, not to reveal the true position of matters ; but it was a blunder leaning to virtue's side. These are not new charges, as I made the game in the Provincial Council in answer to Major R.s attacks on the administration .of the late Superintendent, and. had he not been convinced, or at least suspicious, of their correctness, a select committee would no doubt have been granted him to test their accuracy,. if he had liked, to ask for it. Who,_ I ask, was the prime mover in the opposition to the Loan Resolutions brought forward in the Provincial Council of Otago, but he, who afterwards as one of his Excellency's ; Ministers, supported the same as a sine ■ qua -non to the establishment of the public credit ? Who established the parapharnalia of a Provincial Engineer's department, saddling the Province with a man— let him be good, bad, or indifferent — for three years j and this just at the close of his term of office ? Who enthroned a Chief Commissioner of Police, with all his costly department, and with such extensive powers and extravagant ideas as to leave to his successors a perfect "Augean stable" to be swept ? Who was the most active member of a Select Committee appointed by the Provincial Council, that recommended — and whose recommendation was adopted — to send home for a Road Engineer and Marine Engineer,, at a salary of LIOOO per annum ? Who first encouraged the Great Exhibition, and who was the patron of the Geological Department 1 Sir, if you cannot answer these questions, I will lend you I the records of the Provincial Council ; or if so inclined, for a pipe and a cup (I do not say of what) some evening, if you will call upon me, I will point out in them the answer — Major R. I do not say the action then taken was wrong, but I say the cunning that has been displayed in endeavoring to shift the whole onus of extravagant departments on ;to the shoulders of him who became his successor, has been most unmanly and unjust — branding him as unfit to be trusted with the helm of affairs. If lam asked for a specimen of his narrow-mind-edness and waste of public money, who can forget his chimerical idea of making the Molyneux the port of supply for the gold fields, and the amount of money actually thrown away on useless roads. I ask how many loads of goods or anything else, have been driven on the road from the mouth of the Tuapeka to the Beaumont 1 Has there been a single one ? It cost a large amount of money, although I believe, surveyed, discovered, or something else, by the Major. But the last time I saw it, save where a heavy cutting had been made, the fact oi a road having been made was all but obliterated. But enough : if Major Richardson comes forward, it will be time enough then to go into further details ; in the meantime, I challenge you to depart from general assertion, individualize your charges against the late Superintendent, as I have done against the man of your choice, and supply your readers with proofs, or point out to them I where they can find them. Till then, let 'such bunkum as "patriotism" and selfsacrificing devotion" be forwarded to " Punch," to adore his frontispiece — one on each side of the Major on the top of . the. balloon, with, the motto, " Gas," in 'the centre. - The only blessing to arise | from making him Superintendent, would ibe the |£reeing of the Provincial Council ', from his overbearing influeuce, is the humj ble opinion of Yours. &c, JOHN L. GILLIES.