Correspondence. MR. LIGHTBAND AND THE FOX-HILL RAILWAY.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXX, Issue 75, 17 January 1872, Page 4

Correspondence. MR. LIGHTBAND AND THE FOX-HILL RAILWAY.

re To the Editor op the 'Neison Examineb.' je Sir — An acute correspondent of the "Evening it Mail asks, " Are the public services of Mr. Lightto band, whom I respect in his private capacity, worth a hundred guineas a year and travelling \o expenses to us ?" The same correspondent not sh only aßks but answers the question in these n- words :"I say they are not." If the majority 3i" of Mr. Lightband's supporters — those who voted 's for him — were asked the same question, I am le certain they would give the same answer. From it what I have heard since Wednesday last, from sk the lips of his warmest friends, they appear to be s, far more astonished at his extraordinary letter r- than those who opposed his election. In the )f field of politics I do not lay much claim to peri- spicacity, but his letter, or his philosophy, does [o not astonish me. And nothing in reference to m that subject in any of its bearings would astonish y me, except in hearing that Mr. Lightband had is become a sound politician. Mr. Lightban.l was 'c lifted into office on the spur of the moment, he had no training before that time, and it does not ie appear that he is benefited by any that he has I) received since. I have not the slightest hesitad tion in saying that a heavy responsibility rests ie with those who raised him out of his own sphere ,c of action into ono that at the present time rei- quires all the knowledge, forethought, and ex;e perience that distinguish an eminent statesman. 8 If at any time, more than another, these qualities n are needed it is at the present time ; and no :- " 'prentice ban' " young nor old, rich nor poor, is of doubtful qualification, should presume to lead ». where men only of the highest genius in that line c can hope to succeed. But we are all subject to act on the spur of c the moment ; to act without calculation of conis sequences ; we did so one unlucky evening, when c we asked Mr. Stafford to resign his seat for Neli- son. There was no forethought then for the 3 time that was coming, and no gratitude for the i eminent services rendered for the time that was I past. It would be difficult to point out the ade vantages that sprang from that hasty action. It 3 fell upon the town next day like a summer thun- \, der-clap, and when the people heard of it they it stared in astonishment at 6uch lightning-like 3 rapidity of actiou. But men are lifted into office l. as quickly as lifted out of office. Lifted in and a lifted out (perhaps it would be more correct to f say, driven in and driven out), without exercisiug v that deliberate judgment on which all electors t worthy of the name should rely. l It was the spur of the moment that pitched , Mr. Lightband into office. The Bides of his mrr tent were gently pricked, if pricked at all. It is r but justice, I think, to say that the wish for I that office was never legitimately born. It had a ) Macbeth — like birth, let us hope that it may not t have a Macbeth — like death for each and all of j us, by Mr. Lightband remaining longer in office i than he can really serve the public interest. . Had Mr. Lightband followed tJio bent of his i, own mind, and not been swayed by the importunities of others, regret in the ranks of his supi porters had not been so prevalent to-day. I F may observe that Mr. Lightband never has been i popular with the electors of NeleoD, not even i with the body that placed him in power ; and that body would be doing a duty to their brother i electors, and to the country, were they to ask ' Mr. Lightband to resign. lam convinced that I ; am doing my duty to all in making this BUgges- ' tion. To act thus, would Bhow that they had ' the prosperity of the country at heart. Were J ' Mr. Light band gracefully to descend from that ele- 1 vation where his friends have placed him, it would * indeed redound to his credit; and the act would f long be remembered as of one whose individual f feelings, perhaps, gave place to public interest. Great events very often brought great men, or l men who grew to greatness in the events — men c that never would have risen to greatness but for £ those circumstances which afforded them opportunities of display, sometimes, I am sorry to say, to the detriment of mankind. The deep indebt- . edness and the heavy taxation is the great event [ of New Zealand. God send us a heaven-born minister to guide us in those intricate labyrinths a through which we are doomed to pass before we 8 can reasonably expect to reach homes of peace r and plenty. Ido not think that any of ub can I be justified in expecting a heaven-born minister in Mr. Lightband. Ido not think that the event v will produce the man in our young member, not F even with all the time for study that diligence II 11I 1 can borrow from business, or steal from sleep. Let us look around calmly, deliberately, and ? with judgment, to find another to supply his " place ; one who has the time, the will, and the ? power to procure us justice in a battle of op- J1 posing interests ; one who would not be led by § the nose as asses are, but one who would stand forward in the van, and render valuable assist- ° ance to the country in the present critical crisis. ll From all I have said, it must not be supposed ° that I have any unfriendly feeling towards Mr. ;,' Lighband ; it is the very reverse. My point is, if I could point it out, that Mr. Lightband is out of his sphere in the office which he now holds, ®j and that it could be filled to greater advantage to the country by another of greater experience in New Zealand politics, and greater knowledge of the laws of political economy. I am, &c, ti Nelson, January 15. A Working Man. sc - — V! An extraordinary scene occurred lately in a tl travelling menagerie in England. The son of a w publican at Eltnly, putting his arm through the "V\ bars of one of the cages, had it seized by a bear, tii and before the animal could be made to relax its cc hold the limb was fearfully lacerated. The mob '] attacked the bears' den, one of the animals was so shot dead, and another escaped during the con- ct fusion which prevailed. The proprietor of the in menagerie, who endeavoured to defend his pro- di perty, was severely maltreated, and the aid of the HI police had to be obtained. Seven of the rioters p< were arrested. ea