Queenstown.

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 63, 23 September 1875, Page 6

Queenstown.

0 (From a Correspondent.) I observe in your last issue a letter upon " Abolition of the Provinces," from one John Graham, who appears to think that the diggers of Otago are en masse in favor of provincialism. He quotes a number of cases wherein the mining population have suffered very considerably at the hands of. pastoral tenants of Crown lands — i. c. Borton and M 'Master versus Rowe and others, at the Maerewhenua; M'Nab versus Miners, and M'lntyre versus Miners at Nokomai, re steam pollution. Yet still in the face of these uncontraver table facts there are many members of our mining population who would go and vote (if they get the chance again) for a member who would openly go to the General Assembly and support the measure of abolition. In the event of a compromise being effected, as now spoken of between the Government and the Opposition, I sincerely hope that before another election takes place that our mining population will be thorougly posted up in matters contrasting their present and their probable position in the event *of the provinces being abolished. In my opinion the most effective method would be to raise a fund to defray the expenses of Messrs Macandrew Reid, and Stout to stump the provinces over, and expatiate upon the merits of provincialisrc, and the demerits of abolition. Unless something of this kind is done, we shall rue it once, and that will be for the term of our natural existence. In place of encouraging the miner, it seems as if our members were endeavoring to sell us. What for ? They no doubt know themselves. The somnolent member for the Dunstan, stated that he would go in for abolition on the grounds ot his district having "been neglected. He is a very consistent being. His district having being neglected in the past, he goes in (not for a General Government billet, of course) for to annihilate it (his disirict) altogether, to the best of his ability. I say away with such men, and go in for those who have a stake in our province, together with , candour and ability, such asStout, Reid, and Macandrew. Mr Stout has made a decided Jlit in his maiden attempt in the

■BMBMM)wa— M— — b»b— MM — M— g— pa— l Hou^e; yHis speechjjia one that; he or his children jma^/iiear,^ea^ a, hundred, '. years hence with, honor. r -Jn. (I hjs.,derof our position in the event 'of abolition, he : very truly £sked his co- ; : leagues in the j, House, .^here we,:ih' ytago, were to get suitable, men able tjo devote seven" months of each year to a political life, and sjtated that only two classes would be. there— -the wealthy '. capitalist and the monopolist class j not men who are fearless and^ independent, able to form a strong opposition iri. the face of an allpowerful majority, able, to, form an opposition which will speak what it- believes to be true." He then in quoting Mr Godley as a leader of public opinion, stated very truly that before a good government can be obtained, one to truly represent the people, it must be got face to face with the people. One other reference and I am -done. Mr Stout further on, when expounding upon various theories for social advancement, quoted Plato's Republic, Moore' Utopia, David Hume's ideas of ten thousand country representatives, an pi Gomte's ideas of small communes, and stated that they were only fitted for a theoretical' people. But, says he, what is this National idea? It is simply an exalted fetish — a fetish of nationality asking the people to bow down to it. If they will only worship this golden image, economy . will come' in, extravagance will vanish, and the people will be wall governed. I should very much like to review Mr Macandrew's very able and excellent speech, but space forbids. I notice, he gave - the palm, to the Baiclutha* resolutions against abolition, as being the most direct and pointed as to the result in our province if the abolition question be carried this session. That reference from a man such as Mr Macandrew was decidedly a feather in the cap of the Cluthaites, and which they may well be proud of. Mr Macandrew too has shown to his constituents and the world that he is not to be bought with filthy lucre, and by which he has. converted his greatest enemies into bosom friends. In conclusion, I beg of every individual (who has a vote) throughout Otago" to thoroughly consider what he does with it at the next election ; and further, I may say that if the abolition measures are carried, . it means that we quietly submit to Sir Julius Vogel — at no distant date— putting his brawny hands into our breeches pockets, when many of us will only awaken to our past sleepy and. dormant existence, and have to bear the yoke of taxation and usurpation. Now is the appointed time. Let every British subject go to the poll at the next election and record, his vote for men such as Macandrew, Reid, and Stout.