Original Correspondent.

Otago Witness, Issue 481, 16 February 1861, Page 3

Original Correspondent.

THE COMING MAN.

To the Editor of the Otago Witness.

Sik, — During the past week a short circular, momentous with meaning, issued from a modest unpretending individual and found its way into the hands of a select few. Being one of that favoured number, the little amount of selfishness I possess cannot deter me from unfolding to the general gaze the man and the method by which the highest dignitary of the Province is designed to be elected. Not at all desirous to cover the light I possess with a bushel, nor to preclude my fellow settlers from enjoying the delights of the season, I willingly transfer, with your permission, the contents of the precious document from its narrow circumscribed limits, and its as narrow circulation, to your broad sheet and extensive issue.

Be it known, therefdre, to all men by these presents, that the author of the circular is Mr. James Adam, and its literal copy is as follows : —

" Dunedin, 9th February.

Deak Sin — " lam requested to invite you to attend a Meeting in the Commercial Rooms, on Wednesday afternoon, at 4 o'clock, for the purpose of considering who is to be our future Superintendent. " I have the honor to be, Sir, " Your's, most respectfully, "James A»am."

As I am a plain unlettered man and no critic, I will not interfere with the construction of this precious document, but will only give* my first impressions, which are always the best, regarding its meaning and its inditor. The date looms rather dark, the composer has forgotten to tell us the Year of our Lord in which it was brought forth, so that it may have reference either to the election of Mr. Macandrew in the past " 60," or point to the aspirations of the first " Adam" for the present "61." Not to the date alone does the ambiguity extend, the Meeting is called for thte " Commercial Kooms," and where the dickens these are in Dilnedin the oldest inhabitant cannot point out. It may be Mr. James Adnm has, in the dreamy region of his brilliant brain, wreathed together a vapoury fabric to be intituled the Hall of Commerce, wherein his great and brilliant exploits connected with the Mercantile Marine of Otagp, having reference specially to that trig little schooner the ," Star," of Dunedin, or mayhap to his pet scheme of a windmill steamboat, tvill be pourtrayed on the side Walls with his own captivating intelligent face right in the front, to attract the gaze of all visitors ' by its expression of modest magnanimity; but, let me assure him that his idea is not yet realized, — his prospects are Vet a vision of the future. The " Commercial K6oms* have no existertce here, hence his Meeting is, as regards the week,, month, year and place an enigma to his most loved friends and heartiest supporters.

The object of the meeting, however, betrays the sapient skull of Mr. Adam. It is "to consider who is to be our future Superintendent." Our!. The Superintendent -of Mr. Adam and his bevy of friends J By all means let the colony choose a man after their own heart to rule over them-— a Superintendent whose sole object and aim shall be to aggrandize himself, and let thd public good go to the wall — a man whose sole endeavour shall* be , to foster and nrotect the spawn of mushroom growth by which he is surrounded, and wither, and, destroy the> vigorous blade which the hand of untiring industry has implanted ! If it be a Superintendent for themselves, in the name of peace let them choose him ; but if it be a Superintendent to rule the Province of Otago and hold in his grasp the destinies of this state, fobid it, Goodness ! that we should have one from the association' of whom Mr. James Adam is the representative. Perhaps it is a mistake in me to suppose that the invitation emanated from any particular clique or body of self-constituted, protectors of the Superintend, dency, but from the phraseology of the note it can hardly be supposed Mr. James Adam would use the expression " I am requested," without some authority. It may be the request-* ore might tie ill to find. Possibly it might be Mr. Adam's own ambition that started the happy: thought which has found its exit in this udfe. To look fit the man fresh from Goat HilJ in the morning, & stranger, covered a lurking-place of $a "itch; $M«L power,'* .butfthose* who knovr>Twm"-can. certify, (that a more jperfect pattern of humility — real, notassumed— never walked .the streets ,pf diir fair city. The conduct and appearance of the Jesuit are strangely anomalous, despicable in* 1 the highest degree ;' those of Mr. Adam's are asf contrary ;t; t the formeVlias'a, Carriage downcast^ de^urei,' (Je^pofid^gi^taspiring to the empilje

of the world: the latter walks, upright, lively, hopeful, yet has no aspiration beyond the desire, of being a very unit in a peaceful contented community. It is commonly rumoured through the town that Mr. James Adam has forsaken his former patron, benefactor, and friend — that finding, in the meshes of monetary embarrassment and sullied with the stain of imputed political disgrace, the man with whom, in days .gone bye, he took sweet counsel — he has turned the heel on him. That forgetting the lavish outlay of private funds, generously expended to titivate' his ideas, regarding ship- building and other matters, he has in the hour of humanity's greatest necessity, basely deserted his benefactor and joined the ranks of his accusers. Yea, more than this, instead of supporting with a sympathizing word, or even by silence, his former friend whilst under the ban of aristocratic displeasure, he aspires to occupy his seat, and supplant him in the affectionate re- ; membrance of the settlers.. It is surely incredible ! yet if it be true, let this be a note of warning to Mr. Adam ; if he anticipates, if in his wildest flights the shadow of a dream passes o'er his gentle humble spirit, gilding the future with the glory of supremacy ; if the most indefinable trace of the Superintendency impre-sas his brain in its most heated moment, let him know that its fulfillment is impossible, that his defeat will be as distinct and decided as that he suffered in his recent contest for Tokomairiro, when his fond hopes were dissipated in finding himself the least desired candidate in the field, the successful of the three receiving about sixty vtftes — Mr. James Adam, the lowest, having had barely ten. There are brought on the field eager for the prey many other candidates, — happily some of them have more sense than come forward. Their notoriety is all the work of their pmedo friends, who will, without their consent, call them from their quiet retreats to be made a spectacle to the world. These should not be noticed. The exclamation of one was very appropriate on being hardly pressed to stand — " To the world unknown " 'Till persecution dragged me into fame." Many of the electors are anxious to give their entire and cordial influence and support to the present tenant of the office, but are debarred from moving on account of his present unfortunate position. If Mr. Macandrew succeeds in extricating himself, the large majority of the electors will rally round him and triumphantly reseat him. The next in point of fitness in every respect is Mr. Cutten. If he could be prevailed on to vacate his present position and become a candidate, no one need oppose him. His devotion to the interests of the Province,— his liberal politics, — his elegance as a public speaker, and his thorough acquaintance with all the routine of the business of the colony, eminently distinguish him as the man to hold the reins. Mr. Morris also is spoken of; a man of unblemished commercial integrity, fortunate in all his business adventures, but who has never takeu the slightest public part in politics, or mayhaps never devoted two consecutive hours to their consideration, can hardly be supposed qualified to step forth all of a sudden from his retirement and display an ability for the guidance of public affairs j which neither himself nor the community had the faintest notion he possessed. The office of Treasurer is his place. Major Richardson, Mr. Dick, and Mr. Gillies are also named ; but without dis- j cursing their merits, 'tis sufficient to say they | manifested themselves too bitter partizans — in too hot haste to drive the people's choice from his place, to have the smallest chance of j success. As events evolve themselves I ' shall notice j them. Your 18,1 8, modestly, LocHißr,. To the Editor of the Otago "Witness. j Sm, — May I request the insertion of the accompanying letter in your next issue ? I am aware of your objection to publish letters whichj have appeared in the " Colonist" (to which paper I have sent a copy), this, however, I take to be an exceptional case, and one of public interest, j I trust, therefore, that you will accede to my request. Dunedin, Feb. 12, 1861. Sir, — In an article which appeared in the last issue of the " Colonist." the writer animadverted, in no measured language, upon the conduct of his Honor the Superintendent for having declared "Carisbrook House" a Gaol, "until (in the words of the proclamation), proper provision shall be made in that behalf, there being no suitable accommodation for debtors in the present gaol buildings in Dunedin. " It was also stated that since the date of that proclamation other .debtors had been lodged in the present gaol, leaving it to be inferred, that the accommodation which was sufficiently good for another d§btor, should have been equally so for his Honor. Such at least is the interpretation which I put upon the writer of that article's remarks. ■ Now, Sir, I am the only debtor who has been lodged in the present gaol since the date of that proclamation, and I can safely endorse the declaration contained in it, that there is neither "provision," nor "suitable accommodation," for debtors, in the present gaol buildings, in Dunedin ; and I might go further/and state that there is literally "no provision or accommodation " for debtors in the said buildings. Had it not been fur the kindness and courtesy of Mr. Monson, the Gaoler, who ,most humanely gave up hi 3 own smallroom (about 6xß) for toy use, I must have been lodged with criminals and lunatics, — a common room, our mess-room, — and a criminal cell for my dormitory, with the ravings of lunatics for my music, and the society and language of criminals , for my instruction, edificatiou, and amusement. . I had always understood, Sir, when a Debtor was lodged in Gaol, all that the law required was his safe custody, and a compliance on his, part with the rules and regulations by which Debtors' Gaols are ordered to be conducted. The system, however, adopted in the present gaol, making as it does no distinction between debtors, criminals, persons committed lor trial and lunatics, huddling them all together in' one common herd, is a disgrace to - any civilized community, .and a state of affairs, which wpuld suffer toleration in no other place than Dunedin. ' * What a,; gioripus opportunity the v present system affords to the rapacious and 'vindictive creditor (more particularly when," carried by the bitterness of' party feeling, or the inveteracy, of personal malignity) of venting his spleen, -and satisfying his malice upon his unfortunate debtor, by incarcerating him in such a place, and with such adjuncts as I have atttempted to pourtray. ! I do not presume, Sir, to offer an opinion as to"* the legality of the proclamation issued by his Honor, neither do I attempt to defend his policy 4 in declaring his, own house, his own gaol ; biit this I know, and unhesitatingly repeatythat there ia "neUKejr "proper 'pYovisiou,'*.,' nor "Suitable accommodation," for lsebfor& in 'the present ga6l bnililihgs in Dunedin -/and it might not, ; perha f p's, be out "of place here to mention,-(upon theautho-' rity of Mr. Monson, the, gaoler) a fact of which the public is not, perh.ap? aware,; and which,-, in hiy opinion ', tends materially t'd alter the light, in, which hid 'Honors' ijondu'dtf might pther^ise ij be viewed, namely, that jLt.^qrajg. notPiiiiiil he had diligently inquired of the gaoler if he were awarje of any -suitable building in-the vicinity of the gaol which he could proclaim a* gaol, and haa received a reply in' the negative, tlmUiis Honoir pnrSQM the cofitfse he dKL^I do nWwisti l toput myself fotff^'^nfoHKoiiorViehamplon, btlt •imply ad a< nanrfctor »f &ctfc which )h&& con e*ithihnir.owtt,lcDtowledgß«either fmm.pcr^iaj ,l '°}&B&sS»&*i f&lß'%#h§N§ W*Sfr>«&s* i think when statements are: made,- and s imputed in a lending' article of a 'public, pape y "such sfatemonts'sboula. contain tne trutn,"tle whole <ruw, ; and nbtliin^ but' the truth. \[.~ Haud ignara'thali^riiiserii succurrere 't&seJjC 1 I "* ""' -^'* 'fi JaliCSir,y6ur'4^&J aliCSir,y6ur'4^&i I ''H"''"' 4 t%^^r 1 < r D,unedin,'fiKHJ:iW:'' lt ' s "' : *: '

iwt ■ van **VfTctii4/>iy>io-^»'<-i'J-*-<"" w * -. —^ _ l - lri _ To the Editor of the, Qi\Go Witness. ; ' . gni^l find' a letter, in \ late is^ue of your paper, from a cdfre'sponfept/who'recbmnien'dd the re-electian bf*tHe preife'rit in case of his removal by-the Governor ; and as' l , differ in opinibn r with:the wrlterx^that Jettjeryjl shall you; what I believe, pught to be the quaiities.qf the man ' Who "holds a post simil&r to that how held b/ James Macinidrewf Esq; * -1? naye fno ddsire to"6ettstire the past jandilbeliete^tisTneaii aha cowardly fo'tell a tyienman of 'his. -bac,b.slidings;and;a*liie'vei i flattei tedlu^^enhewa,sprsßperous, neither will I censure" him. , for those acts that have placedhim in his. present painful position, further 'than by stating, 'twas a blunder puttin'giiim into 'the post at all. J He certainly possesses, talent, but 'tis not th6kind!6f talent, we require. He is too speculative — the head of a government. should do nothing rashly — he oUght to act the part tit' k. drag, and prevent ils ;Yrom - going 'too fast ; he ought to be of business habiS, but out of trade ; of fixed moral' >pririciples, but with no political bias; he should be the expression of public opinion, not the ;fm;mer of it ; he should copy, as far as he>pp'ssjbly^ .can, the Lady he represents, and be apolitical nonentity ; take the most popular members for ; hts executive, and shift them when theinpopularity wanes. He-must- have firmness, caution, and, above all, conscientiousness, so that, nothing .will tempt him to deviate from the path of moral rectitude, nor make .the tool of the .designing and 'unprincipled. From these remarks, you' will perfc'eivfc that Jahies Maeandrew is not cif ;the st&fi" of which' superintendents ought to be'made. * There aYe "two tilings heparts with too readily— rpublic money and his own opinion. He, wishes us to tmter-in^o speculations with mail steamers as if we wereapfvate company, bent on- money making'; recommends the reclaiming of land at the beach-, starting of railways, and other matters df doubtful utility. In fact, all the speeches he has delivered on the policy of his government,' puts me in mindTof the after dinner speeches' of the, chairmen of the different bubbles, speculators got r up at the time of the railway mania in England. All the matters he recohlmends and patronises should have "originated with others ? been properly discussed in the Council, and their probable resiiltsproperly weighed. He may have the g< od of Otago at heart, but his actions would make cautious colonists exclaim " save us from our friends." He resembles .the Victo.rian_ governor, La Trqlje^fai his speculative propensities.- La Trobe borrowed money, went on with'pubucVorks-^theJabQurera ' received large wages, which' tKey spent freely ; the country appeared prosperous, and the people as recklessly nappy as the : young heir is on the money he borrows on his future income., vThe system served La Trobe's tinte ; -he leit/Victorja with flying .colours, but his successor died -from mental harrassment^prodiicecL.by the jflinlculties of his .position, and ,tne people sunk from affluence to indigence. Tney discovered they had been living on the income of the future. It is in consequence of the La TroDe^like speeches of our Superintendent, arid his apparent determination to w«lk in the footsteps of that :worthy, that I would oppose his. re-election^ as I would have opposed his election at first had I believed such opposition Vbuld have done any 'good.j' Should he be re-elected our co|9nial credit -will sink to a level with his own. — I am, &c, - , - Aristides.

To the Editor of the Ot ia'o WtTKEss.j Sir,— {Will you oblige by finding a corner for the following hint, suggesting to practical gardeners and others interested', the desirability of forming a Gardener's Lodge in Otago; having for its object, the furtherance of horticulture, and at the same time becoming a Benefit to Its members. The subscriber would recommend that at the next exhibition in March, the matter might .at least be taken into consideration by competitors, • and those offering prizes.,— l am, &c.; \ A Transplanted Gardener.

' DIALOGUE.. „ Scene. — The top-room of Hughes' Eoyal Hotel, Invercargill: * ' •• / Three Roadmen — a Nobbier of Whisky before ' ,"': j:^' each. ■ V • ..*. Jeames.—" I "declare toguidness if I kenhoo to face up in Petrie's store £his blessed nicht." Dauvid. — *i What's wrang wi' Petrie's store." Jeames — " There's naething wrang wi >J either" Petrie or his store, but there's a. 'quid deal Wang in anither place. As sure as daith'-wfien I think ower thae Dunedin chaps, I'm like to gae clean demented ; the seeventh day o' the month noo an' no' a \ bawbee hae we- yet' seen fbV?bor wark on thae stourie roads," „ -, - ■ Pat.—' 1 Bedad, but its oDliged I am to look ma landlady in the face wid trie e^es shut : : every mo'rnin' when I goes out, I sa^s, Sirs. Flin I'll be afther sittlih' wid yees to-night if I -get me* mpriey to-morrow, for «ure them varmint, bad luck to them, can't be much longer backward in sending it forward, 'till be roe soul when I spake to her its unfit I am to open me mouth.'? " Jeames. — " It's a doo'nricht shame" that them wha needs the siller maist should aye be lasfc served, for thae fat officials, -though they ftaena sac muckle stour aboot them as wetlao ab'oot .us, I ye nae ddot they get the first share o' the dust." Dauvid — "In my opinion there's a - heap o' carelessness aboot the hale affair, to say the least o't. I dinna see hoo they canna manage to pay us in the beginnin' o' the, month, bat maybe, ita ower muckle trouble to attend to us, eae often, for teein' they hae sich big, salaries we canna look for. a great, deal; o' wark} yet they;micht send three or four' months' wages at ance and' lefc \t lie - in the Bank. Surely they are hn£ frichjted ,"l[or the members o' that respectable establishment, — and let Mr., Frisken draw it weekly or say fortnichtly to pay -his' rrfen, instead b' tfieflve and sax weekly payments we get at present." « Pat — "Faix, but it's myself that wishe*s thejr Elder Ada would justbe afther taking a walk down here and see the way, them crathurs use the boys on the roads — a mighty great man-amongst them, seems that same, Entirely." ,"„. _'• _^,__-. Jeames. — " Hoot's man, Patrick, dinna mak' a fule o' yoursel', "El Dorado is nae a man's name, but the -name they hae gi'en Dunedin/^because they keep a 1 the siller in it. • Enter Waiter for the reckoning. , . ~ Jeames, (sighing )4r-"Hech, sirs, if the G^yernment was as punctual as a waiter ia an jaiß> it wad be better, for us a." " » ** - -^v Exit trio ia melancholy mood.- „„„'„" • * • ' - Om v^nb has SinriPEßEb. Invercargill,vFeb. 2j IS6 I . > ;