The Dunstan Times FRIDAY 8th MARCH, 1867.

Dunstan Times, Issue 254, 8 March 1867, Page 2

The Dunstan Times

FRIDAY Bth MARCH, 1867.

-ieneath the rule of men entibely just, the pp.k isMioiiTiEii than the bwori>!"

The election of Superintendent being nowdecided tire Country may congratulate itself upon the return of Mr Macandrcw the unanimous votes recorded in that entleman's favor and by residents in the Province of so many years standing must be a convincing proof to us new comers, that •IrMacandrew isthe "right man in the right place", and considering the large-ma-jority by which he was returned, there is every evidence that he enjoys a considerable measure of public confidence. «f course we only know of Mr Macandreivs' past doings, from hearsay, or through the columns of newspapers diametrically opposdto his interests. The election has however ahowed that opinions thus formed were wrong, the votes of the many hundreds of persons who have large interests at stake—men who have risen by their own industry, and who doubtless have watched Mr Macandrcw from a practical point of view, must be a conclusive fact, that in electing him they selected the man best calculated to promote the prosperity of the Province. As far as the Goldfielda are concerned, wc have 'out little to thank the Dick Government for;progress was not their 'forte', or we should have had more roads, more pop hit ion, more gold, and more trade, for reasons that the" miners would have had placed at their die. posal more ample means to devctap the natural resources of the country. MiDick's supporters may pride themselves, that if the Province has not gone ahead, it has not receded, and that large outstanding liabilities have been rubbed off; such may doubtless be true, and it may also be true that Mr Dick has fulfilled his mission, in as much as his do nothing policy has saved the public credit, hut Mr Dick has done no more. Now that the rovincc is once again ripe to make a stride ahead, a mire bold aad h-shlni* leader is required, the builder and equipper of a ship may be all very well in his place his services may have been indispensible, but that is nevertheless no cogent reason why a smart and experienced captain is not best suited to take her to sea ; the success of the Province in every bodys' success, and we believe that the large bodv of electors who voted for Mr Macandrcw did so with the assurance that they were placing the most competent man in the management of its affairs. 'hat a change in the management of the Ooldfields is desirable there can be no question and it was with this view we believe that so many voted for Mr .Macandrcw, that gentleman pledgi g himself to procure re. forms for the miners, and to appoint, when such was necessary, more competent officials; anci there is every reason to believe that he will be as good as his promise, and that one of our most important industries will not be allowed to languish for want of being looked after. Now that Mr Macandrcw has been returned, it is desirable that const tuencies should be careful whom they select to represent them, or they will be negativing what they have hitherto done, for it must b?. borne in mind that Mr v ac ., lu lrc W cannot of his own self carry ol ,t all the reforms and improvements lie promises ; ]- e must have a Council imbued with the same go-a-hea.l ideas to assist him. or a negative will be the consequence, and the' good which w.as likely to accrue from tlieJate election, lost. The miners especia'lr should return men of superior ability, men' able to shape out a course for themselves and who having ideas of their own, posl sess sufficient intelligence and pertinacity not only to carry them out, but obtain converts to their Way : of thinking Vo one who has heard the candidates that have yet come forwa d for legislative honors, or have read their addresses* in print can give them credit for anv con, siderable amount of originality, they a'l harp upon the well-worn theme of action of the Goldlields' Export-Duty and Fee. for Miners' Rights, the Land Question and Reduction of Taxation in General. Now, it appears to us that all these are very dcsirable and necessary ; but how is the deficiency to be made up—every one know* that both the Province and the Colo-y i 8 deeply indebted, and that although \ t am heavily taxed, the revenue in bv no

taeans in excess of daily requirements we opine" that something wfiish. would place the miners in a better position to bear the heavy tuxes imposed upon them would best suit the exigencies of the present occasion Affording ' them increased powers of obtaining gold by encouraging prospecting, the making of roads to outlying districts, thus cheapening the co3t of living, and lastly ; in tead of wasting large sums of money upon dredging or railway schemes, which -can be done wit hj out for somt years to come, let a feuthousand pounds be expended in the construction of immediately reproductive works, such as cutting—rather leading out 'O* their sources, such large streams of «ra*er •as will command great areas of auriferous country, we could mention numerous instances where money could be laid out thus to advantage, and which would in time be a source of revenue, as miners would be glad to cut branch races from these soureesof supply, and pay a goo.' rental for the privilege of doing so ; something of Ins sort would give employment to population, and most undoubtedly would answer all the purposes of an emigration scheme, and in the end, procure a reduction of taxation from th« increased consumption of dutiable articles; no money could be better laid out than in finding employment for the people. It U the want of population we are suffering from; immigration may provide a tern notary relief, but unless we find im migrants work when they do arrive, the money spent in bringing them hero will' e wasted. The present system of leasing tlio lands is unquestionably a good one. and in no other country are the same facilities offered for settlement ; it may certainly be improved by time as regards indiscriminate selection, but at present, there are too many conflicting interests. In this instance we are again met with the want of population and the absence o< roads—supposing that a large increase o' cultivators of the soil took place immediately, what are they to do with their produce ' There is no market for them to take it to. or if there was, the means of locomotion about the goldncMs is so ' ad, that tincost of transport wo ild exceed the value of the article. We are sorry that our space will not permit us going further info this subject At the present time, but must impress upon our readers the necessity oi returning men of sufficient foresi.gktedness to anticipate or.v wants by prcviui g against coming co ti ge cics.