The Lyttelton Times. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1867.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 1929, 23 February 1867, Page 2

The Lyttelton Times. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1867.

So PAit as the likelihood of a contest goes, the Avon election does, riot.promise to excite much, public interest. But Mr Eeeves made public the other evening his reasons for canvassing and: addressing the ejectors as he has done. It appears that immediately on his defeat in Christchiirch, Mr Tancred received, assurances that efforts. would '.. be .made,to. carry, his election for the Ivoh district;and that a requisition; would besenttobim. ■■ Witkegardto the .requisition tb:s promise bas been fulfilled, and.Mr.Tancred has made known to the. gentleman who was. already in. the : field that he does not in the meantime intend to .oppose bimj but that he will not pledge him-: self not to do so. If Mr Tancred tbiiiks of taking, a. leaf out of Mr Travers' book, and. of gaining one. election by, tbe means through which he lost another, be will commit a great mistake and forfeit some of the claims to public, .support .which he. ,un-.. doubtedly possesses. His candidature will not alter tbe result of the election, Mr Eeev.es has evidently made up his mind not to be caught napping,; but to tnaiei. : ..the electors, fully quainted with iis political. opinions, and to give them.,-an:opportunity of making up their minds; before the election actually comes on"; .. _ Notwithstanding the improbability: of a contest, the Avon election: has attracted public attention .quite as much as that, for Gbristchurch did. This is owing to the very marked contrast between the appearances 1 .made by the candidates; Mr Travers ; came forward as a man who, because he had been unsuccessful in getting himself returned as a representative, had.therefore riot thought it worth his while to keep up any acquaintance with.public affairs. He reminded one, by his nonchalance and unaffected ignorance, of the appearance of a lawyer in court before tbe.case has come on in which he ia retained.. If this be exactly his position, we: cannot say that it iscaV ciliatedl ..to increase, either our confidence or ,6Ur respect, Mr on the other hand,gave averyclear and valuable statement of opinions on the questions at issue between: the General and; Provincial Governments, but did not enter largely into any other matters pf public interest. Mr Eeeves haagiven sufficienfcproof that his acquaintance with public affairs, is. the result :of long and carefiii attention;, He has -with: equal frankness '■ shewn' on ■ what .points .his] mind is made up, and on wliat points he waits for further information.or for' the development of. the progress of events. His long and intimate acquaintauee with.a leading politician such as connection :with; this i journal have, naturally. conspired to: bring the.general affairs, of the colony, and of thia province. iu particular very prominently under his notice. And, accordingly, on his.first public appearance as a politician he gives unmistakeable evidence, that, although a, new man as a candidate for public favour, he is neither new to the Work he. proposes to engagein nor to, the duties hei aspiresto perform. On the question of Separation Mr Eeeves has candidly stated that while he believes it to be. an effectual remedy for several of the evils under: which the colony has laboured, he .does not now think it likely that there will be any occasion whatever to fall back upon it. Iu any case/he Would regard it not as an object at.all desirable in itself,..but as a last resource which circumstances might compel us to employ. From' the character of the meetings he has held it is obvious that Mr Eeeves has secured to a great extent the confidence of the working-men, and .especially of that portion of them who have realised; a; moderate indepehdence intelligence .and industry* His explanations on the subject .of, the ballot shew.that,he. is prepared to' deserve that confidence. If the.voters for whose sake it is acknowledged that the ballot is' specially sought shew that they are.substantialiy unanimous; on the subjebt, he is prepared to endeavour, to obtain it for them., ..The ballot : is always used at clubs to protect the members from. certain minor annoyances to which an open svstera of voting might expose them. Wiiy should notyptershaye.the same.prptectiori in the discbarge of their political duties ? We confess to haying one chief objection to the dread, lest in times of great public commotion its integrity, might be. tampered, with. by those in power. The decisions of the ballot in Erance have not always; carried that weight which the results of open voting unquestionably do, But ; for this one serious objections-serious; but we trust very could unreservedly adopt tbe views of Mr 1 peeves and his supporters upon this subject. It would he idle to attempt to pass in review the various matters touched upon by Mr Eeevesin his addresses as a candidate. He has not merely put forth an intelligent and consistent '.expression of .his own opinions, but has: presented a masterly review of the present state of public affairs and of political parties in the , Colony. i The Avon electors will secure in hiin a representative capable of taking a thorough and comprehensive grasp of public questions,, perfectly... independent, in his principles and: his duct; and prepared to take his part in diseussipg 'the mensures which may be I brought forward by the Government of the day. : ' '.'.;/','..,, ; ". ! ' Mr Eeeves has shewn anxiety to make it known that lie is not.the mere follower of any man; however able or distinguished; and that his opinions -are. not. to.be identified withs those advocated by the paper with which f e has so; long been connected,; We do not require at this time of day

to give assurances of the independence of bur views and ■opinions'" upon all public affairs. It is irapossjbJefor any mail, however honest and intelligent, to become, mixed up with the details of party warfare : and. all the circumBtances which influence the members: of a Legislative Assemblyi and at the same time to preserve that independent attitude r Md : that; impartial jtnd: .:• judgment which, ..are essential to the public journalist.-; That attitude and that judgment it shall be our aim, as hitherto, always to maintain.