PROVINCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3025, 6 April 1867, Page 6

PROVINCIAL INSTITUTIONS.

To tn« Editor of tho Daily Southern Ckois. Sib,— lt hM been said that, bo far as Auckland is concerned, provincial institutions wert done. I should say, judging by what passed at the last meeting at Otahuhu, that, so far from that, they poiieu a remarkable degree of vitality, and appear to be only now about to be appreciated. The fact is, while the General Government was at Auckland, it quite overshadowed the local authority, and it cannot be denied that, owing to much that was objectionable, that ltcal authority has fallen into contempt. But with the removal of the General Government to Wellington comes to us the knowledge that if we would have government at all, it must be through the only authority the Constitution gives us, the Provincial Government. The other provinces of New Zealand have from the first known and felt " u^ T *? d .. t * ken * dv «t»ge of it as far as possible, and I believe will not lightly resign the pririlege. What would Otago, and latterly Canterbury and Nelson, withtheirgoldfieldshavedonewithoutSuperin tendents with the large powers delegated to them, enabling them to meet all exigencies arising out of the influx of a large population and a complete change in the aspect of affairs? The various resolutions passed at the Otahuhu meeting show how important has become the office of Superintendent of this province, »nd how great is the power vested in his hands ; and the unanimity with which they have been accepted everywhere clearly indicates that the people are alive to that fact. If this province can be made all that the glowing peroration of Mr. Bitckland picture* it caj.ab c of blowing, through t e aloptiou of so'nnl policy by our Provincial

Government, how can it be Mid that the institution ii done? It is only now beginning to take its proper poiition in tbe provinct. Ido not advocate the canae of Provincial Governments for any partiality I entertain for them, but simply because they are the law of the land, and afford the only means of government within our reaoh, and, as such, should be supported to the utmost until something better is given us. Sir, the* object of the Otahuhu meeting to consider the political position of the province has been fraught with much good, but inasmuoh as the policy enunciated had reference only to the election of Superintendent, I would say it is not yet complete ; to make it so, there should be put forward a policy viewing the political position of the province in its relation to the General Government. What is to be the action of our members in the next session of the Assembly. Poes any one know? Do they know themselves? Is the panacea to be some great organic change— insular Separation and two Governments for New Zealand, or other soheme outside of the Constitution Act and requiring the aid of the Imperial Parliament— or something within -the limits of that Act ? A strong central Government and municipalities, or powerful Pro* vinoial Governments and a skeleton General Government? It seems to be agreed on all hands that something will have to be done, as the Government at Wellington is fairly running riot and eating up all our substance in extravagance and corruption. What is It to be ? I hope this will not be overlooked, and the country will tken indeed be unler a deep debt of obligation to the settlers about Otahuhu. If Mr. WhiULcr could make and unmake Government last session, the same power can be brought to bear again. Only let it be in the direction of some policy at once tangible and within our grasp. — 1 am, &c, Charles J. Tatlok. Auckland, April 4, 1867.