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Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5587, 21 January 1879, Page 4

Mb Sheehan’s reference to the opinion of his colleague for Public Works about the relative importance of Otago and the Colony generally, has received a somewhat amusing comment from one of our local journals. The official intimation that Mr Macandrew has discovered Otago not to bo New Zealand, is accepted with the gravity becoming the serious statements of a Minister. But conviction is suspended in the absence of Ministerial deeds to substantiate Ministerial words. A suggestion is, however, made which will put an end to this painful state of suspense, and perphaps ensure

the Government a faithful supp n .„„ “Let the honourable gentleman, % v are told in effect, “ come to Canterhm'v and build the railway from Amberley Brunnerton. Then, when we s.;e ]i, attention concentrated on this part the Colony, we will believe whatever tj honourable gentleman’s honourable ,!i. leagues choose to tell ns about 1] principles,” This is very rofreshin' and very simply candid. The W o r pj now knows that, when Mr Macandrc--.-. was criticised for his supposed 1, that Otago was New Zealand, objection was not of principle, but i detail. Mr Macandrew’s critics do n • object to his holding local views, p all they care he can be eaten up v , the narrowest localism, only lie ;il ... come and settle himself down in *!„.;. midst first. Mr Macandrew can 1,. ;

selfish, as ignorant of the whole Col outside of a favoured spot, as i;!i , scrupulous in forwarding the inter. of that spot as he pleases, only he mc-,‘ make that spot, the spot on which h; hostile critics live. There is in ahor every reason why Mr Macandrew should not look upon Otago as New Zealand, b ,• none against his elevating Canterbury to that proud eminence. The reasoning is very natural, but in the column,of a journal that plumes itself ,a t.L • purity of its public spirit, its employment looks like an unfortunate mistake. The line of thought is somewhat common throughout New Zealand. lis in fact the false divinity which with its prophet “ log-rolling ” was to hav. : been driven by triumphant Abolition from the political firmanent. It i, ; nevertheless still known to lie at tb. ; base of many a specious argument, in the structure of which it is not usually permitted to show itself. To see i* boldly and openly forming the whole argument is new, and in a journal once of pronounced Abolitionist proclivities, almost amazing.