THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out Faciam." DUNEDIN, FRIDAY, MARCH 13.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 383, 13 March 1863, Page 4

THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out Faciam." DUNEDIN, FRIDAY, MARCH 13.

ministration.

Of all kinds of humbug, and there are many hundred different species, that which is most common, is the semi-belief which people are in the habit of giving to that which they wish to believe. They think over or tell pleasant little fictions until they grow to believe them true stories, and whilst they attempt to humbug others, are quite unconscious that they are humbugging themselves. Major Richardson, it appears, has some idea that ~mTg--inr-^~erecTionrautr^ this idea, is in the habit of proclaiming very broadly that nothing in the world would induce him to ask a man for a vote. He would be deaf to the inducements of the "highe t offer it was in the power of the Crown to bestow," if its price were a personal canvass. This kind of stuff Major Richardson is in the habit of continually repeating. It was the accompaniment of his first election, it was the refrain of his House of Representatives candidatnre, and it has found place in his written and spoken addresses during the present struggle. Let us in all kindness open Major Richardson's eyes to the very palpable humbug of protestations of this kind. The shrewdest and most accomplished mendicant seldom has the assurance to ask right out " plain and plump " for a donation. In fact, he would probably doubt the wisdom of such a course. His rule is to descant upon his small wife and large family, his maimed limbs, his sick children, or any other of the thousands ills to which humanity is heir, which he considers likely to enlist the sympathies of his hearer. He judges that the latter possesses sufficient of the powers denoted by the organ of causality to arrive at the conelusion as to the why and wherefore of the narration. " Five shillings will save my " wife and family from starving, your honor," is as good as asking the donation of that sum. Fancy a mendicant brought before a magistrate for begging, and defending himself by saying he never asked for anything—he only said money would be of use to him; and yet this is the song Major Richardson eternally sings. He would not ask an elector for his vote, but he tells the electors very plainly that he extremely desires to obtain their suffrages. How on earth does he suppose personal canvasses are usually set ab'out ? Does he think that the blundering candidate asks Tom, Dick, or Harry outright for his vote, and subjects himself to the chance of a rude refusal. Not a bit of it: he trusts his worthy friend is quite well, supposes the election time is rather exciting, hope? that every man will vote according to his conscience, compliments Mrs. Tom, Dick, or Harry, on the possession of ruddy-faced youngsters, and remarks en passant, how well she will look in the colours which denote his supporters. If the voter does not manage in the interview to intimata his intention to vote for the candidate, the latter knows well enough that the asking him outright to do so would be useless. If Major Richardson does not go to the electors individually, he manages to canvass them pretty generally en masse. If he does not ask them outright for their votes, he gives them a very strong hint that he should like them. Like the ingenious beggar, he does not ask for the money, but says it will be very nseful to him. It is rather a good joke, that after the appeal to the electors, sent to them, individually by circular as well as published in the public prints, begging them to send him a requisition, Major Richardson, should indulge in a lofty

strain against canvassing. Did it not strike him, as he was addressing the electors, that this was one species of vote-soliciting ? Perhaps he might have had in view the Magistrate who, putting one hand behind his back for the proffered bribe, held out the other with the exclaimation " Here's the hand that never took tip 1" Or, perhaps, taking a higher model, he desired to follow the example which the Swan of Avon has put into the mouth of Mark Antony. Each sentence of his denunciation of Casar's murderers he concludes with—"But Brutus is an honorable man!" and in eachsentence in which the Major most urges the electors to vote for him, he tells them he would not for the world ask them for their votes.

We must not be understood to disapprove of the Major's anxiety to secure his election. On the contrary, we think it a foolish and false sentimentality that makes candidates pretend to be indifferent to the result. Oi two candidates, equal in all other respects, give us the one who is most anxious to succeed. It is, therefore, in pure friendly feeling that we counsel the Major to drop the humbug of affected indifference, which deceives no°one, and is not calculated to serve his cause. There are one or two other little pieces of humbug interlarded in the Major's address, which it would be well also for him to understand are seen through. For instance, it is very safe Ito glorify himself on having deprived the miners of their. votes, seeing that he thinks he has effectually done the work. It is very well to congratulate the electors that the mining element will not swamp them, and pretend that on that hangs the controversy. But they know, and the Major knows, and the miners know, that the question is not whether they have a future power to enrol themselves as voters; but whether those who have qualified, and who did so under the solemn pledge of Major Richardson himself, should be excluded from their privilege by an illegality. Major Richardson knows, as wel as we do, that the Returning. Officer had no right to prepare a fresh roll for Bruce, and exclude the names of the miners ; and it is only humbug and clap-trap when he goes in for a round of applause over the sentiment—he would not swamp the constituency with the mining element.

Again, his remarks about the land are humbug—intolerable humbug. At the Major's instance, Mr Dick, the Provincial Secretary, proposed a resolution to the late Council, to ask the General Government to raise the upset price, if the Unimproved Land Ordnance were disallowed. And yet, in carrying out the resolution, he talked about feeling as much '' shame, indignation, and pain, as j ever he did in the course of his life." In the same way, he wrote to Mr Domett asking that the upset price should be raised, and adding, " Driven by the stern necessities of the case, and though convinced that the blow struck will be fatal to the well-being of our Province I cannot do otherwise than recommend the sad alternative that the price of rural land be raised to £2 per acre." We arc afraid Mr Domett will form but a poor opinion of the Major's sanity ; for certainly anything more ridiculous was never heard, than for a Superintendent to deliberately recommend a course that he considers will strike a blow " fatal to the well being of the Province."

Irfffie vow which Major Richardson tells he registered, that he would make no promises during the election. What does he mean this ? Candidates who represent the governing power are not in the habit of making specific promises; but the general tone of their policy is held to be a faithful index of the pledges they mean to redeem. Was this vow, then, meant to be a delicate way of informing the electors that they must not expect from the candidate any explanation of the past, or exposition of the future, policy of the Superintendent who desires to represent them? Looking at the whole tenor of the speech, this is the only construction we can give to the mysterious vow; for we find that, relying on his unquestionable powers as a speaker, Major Richardson amused his hearers with a long address, singularly devoid of any definite particulars. Even his much abused pegasus, the Land Question, he only rode in a desultory manner. N"o one can gather from the address the smallest idea of what are his future intentions on the subject. The comparison between Victoria and Otago, with which so large portion of the speech was occupied, pointed no conclusion. It is true the respective Customs revenues of the two places were contrasted; ;.but seeing that the tariffs are different, we are at a loss to arrive at any conclusion from the comparison. The imports were also passed in review ; but it was forgotten to be stated that the one place was enjoying a large and sudden increase of population, entailing the necessity of large supplies, whilst in the other, the population was diminishinsr. Other points of. the comparison seemed equally to point to no result, and the whole of the Victorian episode appears to have been designed for no other purpose than to fill up the time. The speaker was kind enough to express the opinion that " the Revenue was in a very healthy state," although " they had got on the wrong side of the ledger;" but as for explaining how the financial difficulty had arisen—that there is difiiculty is notorious—and how he proposed to remedy it, the idea seemed never to have entered the Major's head. After proceeding to defend the Government against the chirge of having done nothing, by stating .. . ~ ° , , ~, ", J, . ° that they had laid out twelve town- ~ ;, .. ■ „ , , ships, the list of good deeds seemed suddenly to have collapsed, and the Major then fell back upon his great stronghold the desire not to make electioneering capital, as an excuse for telling no more. Supineness for the past and the future was, however, in some sort-defended, by the comprehensive generality, " Let them proceed with as much " vigour as they liked, but let them feel secure "of every step before they took the next ;'• which, translated, we conceive means, let them go on as slowly as they had been doing, and f .;, J . . , °'_. , be content with a perpetuation of the Dick Ministry, with .Major Richardson as its patron. Seriously, does Major Richardson suppose that the electors will be so bamboozled as to accept as an excuse for hi3 reticence, the fact

of his being in a position which should make ' him speak out more openly. The plain fact of the case is this: no one is satisfied with the pre-, sent condition of affairs—not even Major Richardson's own- friends. To satisfy the latter alone, he should explain wherein he conceives previous errors lay, and how he would redress them. But to answer a f e wcharges, and fall back on his position to excuse his replying to others; to assume that the past is satisfactory, and that the future should be its reflex; to indulge in vague generalities when specific details are wanting—are in so many ways to insult even his own supporters. If, as we presume, there can be no doubt, the electors are entitled to know the views of the candidates who aspire to their suffrages, the only deduction we can draw from Major Richardson's speech, is that; he conscientiously believes his present position

precludes him from properly aspiring to the one for which he is a candidate. Divested of all its embellishments, the only reason beyond the vaguest generalities, which the Major gives the electors why they should support him, is the excellence of his intentions; and whilst these may not be questioned, it is ior the electors to decide whether, in the face of past experience they are a sufficient guarantee. If Major Richardson had allowed the existence of abuses, if he had admitted that the future might be an improvement on the past, one would have remembered that" a fault confessed is half atoned;" but even his firmest supporters, we fancy, will be staggered by the cool, flippant manner in which he holds out, no better prospect in case of his re-elec-tion, than a second edition of the present ad-

Wo understand that Mr Jackson's designs for the Volunteer Drill Shed were submitted to the Superintendent, as directed at the meeting of the corps on Wednesday evening; that they were completely approved of; ana that His Honor subsequantly met the architect and other members of the deputation on Church Hill, when the particular portion of the Education Reserve (between the High School and the Roman Catholic Chapel) to be appropriated for the shed, was agreed to. The erection is likely to be commenced in a day or two.

" John Bull" produced on Wednesday, and repeated last evening, was but moderately successful on either occasion ; and we should fancy it is not likely to be repeated. It goes rather heavily with modern patrons of the drama; ■although in fact it is interesting enough, and old Job Thornberry is a forcibly drawn character. Geordie Spiers may, perhaps, be excused for proclaiming himself the "Champion of the world" in Scotch dances, for he certainly does go through them admirably, making them interesting- even to those who strongly dislike the jig-style of saltatory exercise. " Jocrisse the Juggler " arid •' The HoneymooD," are the pieces selected for the benefit of Mr T. Fawcctt this evening. It is notified elsewhere that his Honor Major Richardson will address the electors of East Taieri on Monday next, at 7 o'clock. He will speak at Green Island this evening. An advertisement in another column notifies that the new Church of England will be consecrated by the Right Rev. the Bishop of Christchurch, on the morning of Sunday, sth April (Easter Day). We quoted lately from the Dimstan News a ■amWou-tfie^jM^^ tion to " track" a boat up the Molyneux to the Kawarau, from which point he believed it possible to navigate the river up to the WanakaLake. We have since learned that Captain Murray in this expedition is acting uuder the instructions of the Provincial Government, to whom ho will render an official report upon the subject. . The box for the receipt of contributions to the Lancashire and Scottish Relief Fund was yesterday found to contain L3 9s. ljd., being a few shillings more than the first day. Il is pleasing to notice the increase, trifling though it be, as showing that the public is not indifferent to the mute appeal to its sympathies. We trust that to-day and each succeeding day that the box is exposed will exhibit an increase upon the preceding. ■ •,;; : The New Zealander, 28th February, says :— " It is said that the Governor is about to proceed to Taranaki, and that he will be accompanied b," General Cameron, by the Colonial, Secretary, Mr Domett; and by the Native Minister, Mr Bell. There is, we learn, ground to hope that the dim culties—or at least some of the Native difficulties —which afflict that Province may be peacefully I and speedily brought to an end. There are indications on all sides that a better understanding between the Government and the Natives is beginning to prevail. Not long since, an armed party from Wnikato went down to Whanganui on their way to Otaki to salute the king-flag there. Mr White, the Resident Magistrate of the Native district there, sent a message to the Waikatos I that he could not allow them to pass through if they carried arms. They pleaded that they had but twenty guns; the Magistrate was peremptory and prevailed; the guns were left behind, and the visitors must find some other mode of saluting their flag than by the usual discharge of musketry. These are Flight indications, but the waving of a reed will show the direction of the lightest wind."

us by the a to The following, on the American Land System is taken from a pamphlet published by Dr Green of Leeds, entitled " Pictures of Emigration," a an \ published many years ago:—"Before I proceed any further with my narrative, perhaps ; it will be of advantage to the reader to explain the method of purchasing land in . the United f tates' The land in the various States *P* aU be«n surveyed by direction of the Government ° and divided into eighty acres each. , For the j .. ~ „, ~, , ■, ~, , , sale or the land thus surveyed and laid down on large plansa , and offlcer . g established in various central situationSj whcre all the allotments of a certain district are sold, and the purchasers' names registered. Any person, therefore, who wishes to purchase one or more of these sub-see-tions, can seethe plan, and select any that are unsold. They will even sell as small a quantity a3 fortv acres » hut as they do this merely to accommodate new; settlers, no person already P°ssessinS eighty acres can purchase a smaller q™nti*y / lmn, tha* at a time' , I[\ some of the °"cr &tates- J' e Government lands are all sold off. It must there be bought of private owners • but fc lIHnoUf and oft £ new . £ totp there £ plenty unsold . The Government price everywhere is one hundred dollars for eighty acres. As there are myriads of acres yet in its native 'luxuriant wildncss, any person may with impunity cultivate as much as he chooses

without paying anything; an'l as a further inducement,-when a person begins tHiis to cultivate, no other person can legally purchase that land, till four years have expired from tho time of his beginning to cultivate. !By obtaining what is termed a pre-emption, the improvement arising from his own industry is as secure to him for four years as if he were the actual owner. Should, however, ho fail to pay for the land before the term expires, an indifferent person may then purchase ; but this seldom liappons.- Every person purchasing land at the oftice, must declare upon oath, if required, that no other party has an improvement upon it; and if it be proved to be otherwise, such purchase is in every case invalid, and the fiaudulent party liable to a heavy fine."

Writing from London on the 7th of November to the Aberdeen Free Press, the correspondent of that journal says:—"A bankruptcy case, which was heard yesterday, lets us into'the recrets of speculation in cheap newspapers iuhLperiodicals. It was the case oi Mr Stiff, the proprietor of the London Journal, Weekly Times, Morjiiny Chro-

nick, Sec. The statement of the accountant shows that he carried on the Morning Chronicle (price one penny) at a loss ot.LIGjOOO. This large sum .was swallowed up in less than fifteen months. When the paper duty was, abolished, Mr Stiff" reduced the price of tha Weekly Times from two pence to n, penny. At the price of twopence tho Weekly Times realised a considerable profit—about Ll ,800 —but on its reduction to a penny, it was carried on, to use the accountant's words, "at a ruinous and disastrous loss." This may be taken as a very fair index to the condition of the other penny weekly papers, the Weekly Times having been, at the time of the abolition of the duty, one of the most successful of tlietn. Another bankruptcy, that of Mr John Maxwell, shows to what ruinous results cheap speculation has been tending. Maxwell has been a publisher of " cheap "and nasty" periodicals, on a most gigantic scale. -Besides Temple.'Sar and St. James's Magazine,, he owned tho Sixpenny Magazine, the Welcome Guest, Twice-a-Weck, Once- a- Week, All Round the World, the Half-penny Jonrnil, and a ho9t of others. He was,.moreover, the ',' party behind," who flooded the book stalls with those-red and yellow shilling volumes, which have now-:become such anauseous rirug.in the'.market. Well, the end of Maxwell is collapse, and a happy'ideliverance it is. The great evil which .lie', didjwas to flood the market with reprints in every ;.;• Variety. In this way he prevented.betterhiori from' doing better things, It is to be observed,; Jiowever, that while these men fail, the paper'makers always CDine out unscathed. If you owe"a: paper maker L20,000; it appears he can afford "to take six and eightpence in the pound, and still be no loser.