THE CANDIDATES FOR SELWYN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LIX, Issue 6869, 6 March 1883, Page 6

THE CANDIDATES FOR SELWYN.

TO TUB KDJTOE. Sia, — 15v Lee, in addretsing the elector* of flelwjn, begged of thorn to remember that that wae hi* maiden speech, and humbly requested their forbearance. Well ho might do 10, for a mora empty speech ban seldom apt j peared ia print. It is about at intelligent us ' ttaptain Jackson B&rrt'e speeches re the Whales, the Qui on, and other great people that be had eeen and heard of. Mr Bryco, he felt, deterred e»ery credit at H&tive Minister, Mr Bryce'e hand-shaking with Te Kooti was nothing, although Mr Lee would not like to do so hiute-if. What i» the difference f Te Kwti and 3ryca are on the •ante footing, sad he could not shake the band ef either. He thought Te Kooti was not a bloo Jthirsty murderer Bat, Sir, not in New Ziiulaud alone, but everywhere our journal* trawl, they haveobronided the cold* blooded murder* 'Je Kwli ootninitted, They i are etsl! fresh in the memory of matt net*o»« who, like Mr htie, have Uvea in JSew Zealand for the I*»t twenty year*. Agbin, he would reduce (the voting power to householder* t he would take away the Erlvilejjes of the franehite from those a iberal Government conferred thai rightful boon upon. Here i* narrow-mindedness with a venft«auc#. Mo constituency having a (grain of sense would tend Mr Le« or any man to Wellington to trgielats for them boldtag such opinion*- opinions at once derogatory to the country and the interests ef the working man. It would be useim to follow him in all hit utterances. To those that have read hie speech it mutt be plain that he beat* about the bush. In moat of hie sentences he brains by saying, '• I think," " I believe j" or *' If I," and to on. He eayi the friend* of Mr Bichardton believe that gentleman to be well fitted, to i»i*in resume the portfolio of Minuter of Works. He doet 006 try to confute their ktaterue&t, because he and everyone of twenty year*' standing in the country knows that. Mr fitoh&rdton held that portfolio with credit to, himself and the greatest amount of benefit to the country. He did hi* duty honestly, fearlessly, and unprejudiced. Moreover, his ability a» ah engineer &ud builder ot railways gives him a most undoubted title to the position—a position which so olntr gent emen in the House baa got the same qualities to fill. Sow eotnee the sop in the paa.MJrLee ii is

fa?oar of Bible reading ia our aehoola, and he Stfaif the Proteilart Bible, b«ao« he naver ought cf Uia thmf Dlbl*. What doaa ill tiitamaajDp Itmeasa that a law among a*, *#& tl **s m * m* Ommm t m m* •iiiaflad at the ebwnce of Blblo reading in oar lohooU. In Ireland th«rt i* • t«ii book dedueed from the Soripturaa that anawara all purpowa beUer than the Bible, floera tit many objaotionabla paaiagaala tit* OM fatta* mant, and It a text book ware introduced fa our lohoola all oould partlalpati b it. In audi i» book the aaleotiona would eovar the wideet rang*, and deal in the molt taMnttal tratba. It could be made to giro the biatory of tho Creation, of the fall of Man, of the Deluge, at Abraham and God** aaoient people, the eublime atoaJea of the Pialmiit, a clew atalft* went of the Xrangelitta, the dootfl&at of Je*u« and bia Apeetltfe, the death of Cferiit, Hi* Atonem«nt-~all theaa polnta and more jaSgbt ba introduced and read in tbe eohoola daily, but without not* or comment. If Mr Leo think* teat the Bible whetae will return him to Wellington, ho wa# never mora miataken. Any wan that will try to undermine the goodly tree that la bearing auch good fruit, can expect nothing at tbe hand* of the people but defeat. The intra* duotion of the Bible maafia denominational* jim, and that mean* tka crumbling away of tbe fabrio that U intended by the State to educate tbe children who are to be the future ottisena of tbe land—a eyiUm which we have no reaaon to be aihanud of. It bai be*n aooompliihed by those who bad the t«ak of making our lawej it bai been accompanied by a magnificent endowment, that la creditable In tbe highest degree > It baa brought into exiatenee a ay item of teaching and impaction the beat that the State could command, and it invitee all to foin hand*in*band to give education ita crown* ing bleating. Tbii Bible - reading in •ohoolt, and all epithets that miiy bo burled at the pretent ayatom, will ba nothing more than the mist of a Maiing aanall. Our public aohool ayetem, aa it la, may be liikened to eotne noble polo raiaed on a Arm foundation, beoauw it bin been built up in the <nteem of a community whiob bai lived to Isara and appreciate it* value. All thi* has longbaoQ familiar to Mr Lee, and Mr Lee ia equally conversant with the fact that bia argument in favour of tbe Bible would be like a drop in the ooean. Tbe Bible i* a new Parliamontary ticket Tbe Bible ta a power in the land j nearly everyone knowa ita value. The State know* ita value and moral worth ; still the State hae said, " We oannot teach dogma, but wo commit ouraelvoa to tbe education of the you«g."—X am, &0., BOBUTATOB. Bouthbridgo.

TO THI BDHOB. Bißj—Mr Btohardson at present enjoys the distinguished position of being the belt abused men In Canterbury, Be oat no need to advertise himself—-hit enemies are it for him. Two journal* eteeped in feeling altogether sympathetic with the pretest Government, do their belt to tarn the candidate for Selwyn both inside out and outside in. In to doing they show something of their hand; and one thing at least they moat prominently display, and that it their fear of Mr Biebardton's pretence in the Assembly, particularly coming from a district like Selwyn. X would beg to point out to those electors for Selwyn who have not yet made up their mindt that, whatever the merits of the two men may be, there can be no question in the present photo of oiroumstancet that, with the present Ministry, a strong and able Opposition it a matter of the greatest importance to the country. We do not want half-hearted men, bat thorough men, who declare their convictions on the epofc, and are sufficiently knows to be bettered in. I hare written these few linet partly on account of the violent attacks on Mr Bicbardson in the Ministerial papert;' partly because X thought those print* who might bare done something in the direotion which he advocates have not done to. Howuver, perhaps it it better as it it. If the Ministerial paper* have made blots, Mr Bicburdton will know where to find them. They have shown by their inveteracy against bun that they think him a foeman worthy of their at«>l, and as euch, wishing: him every success, I will leave him.—l am, &c, OLD 803T9.