The Lyttelton Times. SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 1870.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2986, 6 August 1870, Page 2

The Lyttelton Times. SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 1870.

jTo one can read the debates as they appear from time to time in the pages of Hansard/ without becoming strongly impressed with the idea that great changes are impending over the colony. The Government has at last'promised to address itself, in no feeble, halting spirit, to the work of opening up and settling the colony. That a policy which must demolish many very venerable landmarks, and, by so doing, possibly interfere with certain so-called Vested interests, should be received with strong expressions of dissent in some quarters, is not very wonderful. Bather is it surprising that so little opposition of an extreme character has been encountered. The only reasonable way of accounting for this is by supposing that the scheme is so comprehensive and well-considered as to command the approval of a large majority of the people's representatives. A curious but perfectly natural result of the policy has been the sudden conversion, of many who for years have been staunch supporters of the unity of the colony into separationists.. Among the ranks of those who have declared themselves to be converted by the new policy more or less completely to separation are Mr Cracroft Wilson 0.8,,. Mr Bolleston, and Mr Hall. | The reasons which have influenced these gentlemen in this direction may be found in the pages of Hansard, and may be generally described as dislike and suspicion of the measures now before Parliament. We must anticipate those, who, as a matter of course, will accuse us of misrepresenting and abusing these gentlemen, by referring them to the debates on the Financial Statement and on Mr Creighton’s and Mr Beynolds’ resolutions. There they will find sufficient evidence to prove that fear, dislike, and suspicion of the Ministerial policy and its consequences have driven these gentlemen more or less into the ranks of separation. How such a position and such feelings are to be reconciled with giving Ministers “ a candid and liberal “ support to their policy,” or with the possession of opinions strongly in favour of progress, we leave those whose business it is to explain.

It is sufficient for as to show that this cry for separation originates in feelings directly opposed to those which have actuated the men who, for the last seven or eight years, have done their best to obtain the separation of the two islands. Those who formerly sought separation from the North desired it as a remedy for certain definite evils. They sought for separation because every successive Colonial Government was entirely absorbed in Native and defence affairs, because the greater portion of every session was taken up in the discussion of those matters, and because the revenues of the colony were chiefly devoted to the same ends. They felt that there was little hope that any Colonial Government would ever addpt a policy favourable to their interests. Then, when the revenues of the colony were being absorbed in war expenses, and the interests of the Middle Island totally neglected, the gentlemen who now advocate separation cried aloud for unity. Now, when a Government has been found willing to promote the interests of the Middle Island by the settlement of the colony and the prosecution of public works, these gentlemen cry aloud for separation. But they must not think for an instant that those who have fought the battle of separation for so many years will join them in their unseasonable cry. The objects those men had in view are at last coming within their reach, and they would be wanting in judgment to be led astray at the present time by a false cry of separation. In former years, separation afforded almost the only hope of progress ; now it is exactly the reverse, and therefore it is only natural to find the old parties changing sides.