THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out faciam." DUNEDIN, TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 1862.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 111, 25 March 1862, Page 4

THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out faciam." DUNEDIN, TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 1862.

Are we not justified in assuming that the wish (latent, and scarcely expressed in many cases) for the separation of the two islands, is hourly felt by the inhabitants at lleast of the middle island. Apart from the subject carrying its own recommendation on its face, in the fact of the glowing advantages that must necessarily wait on separation, personal experience must enable any one who is in the habit of conversing oti the subject-to say, that there is scarcely a person who is at all acquainted with it but who is evidently and earnestly a separationist. We have for some time, and anxiously, watched the general feeling on this point, so vitally important to the future of the Province, and we believe the hour has arrived when an agitation on the subject will meet with a support so earnest, so-cordial, and so wide-spread, that its prosecution should no longer be delayed. In no vindictive spirit, we quote Byron's celebrated Hues—

. For if we do but watch the hour, There never yet was huiuiin power ' ' , That could evade, if imforgiven, ■ . The patient watch, and vigil lung) ; Of him who treasures up a wrong. The southern portion of the1 colony has groaned long enough nnder the "weight of intolerable injustice. Isolated from the seat of Government to such an extent that it would have been better for the Southern Island to have been constituted an appenage of one of the Australian or Tasmanian group of colonies, than to have been fettered inuncongenial companionship with the land of a barbaric race—the Maories—it was besides burdened with the cost of riveting those chains it most desired to escape from. The one object and source of all legislation, the one purpose, on which all iceans were lavished, was that same solution of . the Maori ; question, in which the, Southern Island ■ had not more direct interest, than had the natives of Australia. To the honor of the representatives of the South be it said, they proved themselves more lavish than even the Northern representatives, when the honor of their adopted country and of their native home was at stake. But enthu-, siasm in such a case can be but ill sustained, and the inhabitants of the South;have lately had in many shapes obtruded on them the consideration, that in exercising generosity abroad duty at home would be forgotten. '. The time has come for the active agitation of separation, and its leading details remain only now to be discussed, it must be set about in , a systematic and business - like manner. The first consideration to be borne in mind, is that though the movement may be inaugurated in Otago, no time should be lost in spreading it throughout the whole Island. Active opposition, and, worst of all, enmity or" indifference, in the assumed garb of friendship, may be looked for. , These, and other difficulties, may have to be contended with, but there is this' consolation, that the victory, when won, will prove doubly accept-

'able from the trouble" it will cost. The j first step suema to ; be the convening a public meeting, at which the desirability..; Of separation sVumltl be affirmed, and a committee appointed to carry it out. This committee should have power to appoint 'subcommittees in each district, as al«o to invite the appointment of,lind'confer with, 'committees in the neighboring provinces enlisted for a piuiilnr purpose. It is unnecessary to enlarge-on the ordinary mediums of agitation such as public meetings, a monster petition, and so on. Possibly, nay, most probably, it will be found necessary to send home delegates to England to enforce; at head-quarters the prayer of the petition. Another delicate feature will'be the nature ;of the combination with* Canterbury and the other Provinces. But these are matters which only require the exercise of judgment and discretion, and it is not to be supposed that without these qualities, and the exercise of much patience besides, the important boon of Separation, will be procured. Meanwhile, however, everything justifies the initiatory step, and we think that measures should at once be taken for the holding of a public meeting. If it be held early next month it is likely to be graced by the presence of several pledged advocates for Separation, residing outside the Province, and the influence of whose support would carry weight. We allude especially to Mr. Dillon Bell, a representative of Southland,; Mr. Crosbie Ward, a representative of Canterbury, and Mr. Moorhouse, Superintendent of the same Province, all of whom are likely to be here, and who avowedly take great interest in, ; and are firm supporters of, Separation. A meeting, held about the time indicated, would infallibly be attended with success, and would prove a good beginning towards the attainment of tbe important end in view. : . • ■ •