THE SUPERINTENDENCY.

Press, Volume XVI, Issue 2187, 22 April 1870, Page 3

THE SUPERINTENDENCY.

TO THB EDITOB OP THB PEESS. Slß,—lf Mr Moorhouse's friends really wished to do a public service to the province they would at once advise him to withdraw from his candidature under the powers to do so given by the law. Mr Rolleston's supporters have of their own accord formed large committees at each central place, and his return is simply certain. The people of this province are no longer to be deluded by such silly nonsense as that written by " Progress," in the "Lyttelton Times" of to-day. He says that Mr Moorhouse has the ability to conceive — that be will devote all his energies to carry out his bold and masterly projects for the benefit of his fellowcolonists ! ! ! Certainly it is a bold and masterly project to run into debt in the course of two years to the extent of £30,000, and then walk about with your hands in your pockets and boast of tbe great feat of having got out of the lot, without paying ono shilling. This, however, is a bit of private "lofty tumbling." What about the public exploits of the same ** master ?" In November, 1857, Mr Moorhouse allowed the tunnel to be opened upon such terms as placed him entirely at the mercy of the contractors, consequently he had to pay them 15 per cent on the gross expenditure for working the line; his engineer passed the tunnel as complete, when it turns out that it will take years to do > it, and cost the province thousands of pounds!!

This, among many others, is one of Mr Moorhouse's masterly projects. Do the public know what he spent at Ferry mead ? Do they know what he' spent at 'the Christchurch station? Do they know what immense profits were made out of tho workings of the line and the £.'t'\OOf> worth nf rolling stock by the contractors ? I don't think they have ai:y idea of it. D:> they know now 5 W-il they believe now 5 After what .Mr Moorhouse said la?' night at K-uapoi, that he will perform one of hi* masterly projects again, and pi rice the Northern Railway contract in the hand* of his friends, instead of having it nude by the people of the neighbourhood, as Mr itjlleston intend* doing. Will any one take the trouble to turn to the speeches of Mr Moorhouso during the contest ? ho will find that Mr Moorhouse declared he had retrieved his fortunes at the bar, and although not a wealthy man, he was then well off. What do we find disclosed in the recent case of S. B. Stiffe, in passing through tho Bankruptcy Court ? Why that at the very time Mr Moorhouse waa contesting the former election he had made over to his secretary, Mr Stiffe, the whole of his property, on the latter accepting bills to the extent of some £6600 for him to pay the Bank of New Zealand. And now wo find Mr Moorhouse boasting on tho hustings that he had since becomo involved to tho extent of £30,000, aud had got out of it without paying a shilling ! and yet this man stands up before a large body of his fellow working men and sets the example of sneering at respectability and honesty. The working men of the province are asked to approve of such conduct. I have no doubt whatever that the result of this election will show that the working men havo too much respect for honesty and respec* Ability to show by their votes that they agreo with Mr Moorhouse'a ideas as to the duties of a leading man, and as to the example he ought to set to others. I remain, your obedient servant, An Electob.