THE LATE MEETING TO TEST PUBLIC OPINION.

Otago Witness, Issue 482, 23 February 1861, Page 5

THE LATE MEETING TO TEST PUBLIC OPINION.

To the Editor of the Ot ago Witness. Sm — Trusting to your usual disposition to give currency to legitimate remarks on public affairs, I send you the following brief observations on 'the above subject, hoping you will be able to find room for them in your issue of Saturday., I attended the public meeting in the Courthouse oh Wednesday evening last,' and was surprised to see Major Richardson j ropo'sed as a fit and proper person to be elected as Superintendent of Otago in the event of a vacancy. The idea seems to be with many, that for a man to be fit to be elected to that high office, he must' have done some good for the Province. There are of course other tests of fitness; but has Major Richardson done anything for the Province to entitle him to claim I its Superintendents!^ p ? Surely the electors will not long entertain the notion of dragging him from his obscurity His dictatorial style of speaking at the meeting must have con.vinced many how overbearing he would be if chosen Superintendent. No, sir, wo cannot elect such a man ; let us, on the contrary, " Rather bear'the ills we have, Than fly to others that we know not of." Major Richardson's proposer, Mr. Lambert, strange to say, was one of the reqnisitionists to Mr. A. W. Morris to request him to stand for Superintendent, and yer ive find the "Colonist" scouting the idea of the fitness of Mr. Morris, and indulging in the adulation of the Major. His heiug the proposer of Major Richardson, and hi* being also on the list of electors who are to use every influence to secure the return of Mr. Morris, leaves Mr. Lambert open to a charge of double dealing, and I shall therefore not do more than mention the circumstance. But to the subject — testing public opinion. I have never considered, nn:l do not consider a hhow of hands as a test of public opinion, nor is it so. I have known individuals at a public meeting or nomination get the greatest show of hands, but when the polling cloy came, they stood the lowest, and those who had the least show of bands were elected to seats in the Council. Another circumstance I must allude to, viz., the pretended carelessness \>f Major Richardson as to whether he was elected Superintendent or not ; but, were I not in the position I am, I could abundantly prove to the public that he really and earnestly desires the office. When I give yon my name, Mr. Editor, you will have an idea that my assertion may be depended on. Of all the candidates yet named, I conceive Mr. Cutten to be most deserving of the office. I say tliis most seriously ; and as a committee is about to be formed for Major Richardson, by all means let us have one lor Mr. Cutteii : good comes out of opposition Iti my deliberate opinion, the speech of Major Richaidson, the, slur he threw on fotne of the meeting as haying been hired to interrupt the proceeding of the meeting, fairly chsgusteil the greater part of the electors. As well as a man of integrity and business habits, let u« also have an affable one — not one who, when elected, would treat the electors with contempt and ride rough-shod over them, as Major Richardson, I am convinced, would do : not one who tells us he does not serve himself but vs — that in the present crisis be alone is •the man who, if we elect lain, can save us from ruin. With these few remarks I conclude; and, hoping to see Mr. Cutten elected, remain, yours, &c, A Watchman. [Our correspondent will excuse our taking the liberty of erasing several remarks which, if just, are at least unnecessary, and irrelevant to the matter in hand. — Ed.-< 9. W.~\ To the Editor of the Otago "Witness. Sir,— The Colonist of to-day, in its report of the meeting of the electors held on Wednesday, remarks :—": — " Mr. Macandrew's name was put from the chair t which was lost by at least 4 to I ; " and again :—": — " The original motion (that Major Richardson was a fit and proper person for the Superintendent^), was then put and carried by a large majoritj ." Had filr. Lambert not been present at the meeting taking copious notes, I would in charity have concluded that his report was written in ignorance of'the facts ; as it is, however, it is clear to me, as it must be also to every one who was present at the meeting that he has wilfully made these statements, knowing them to be untrue — the votes for Messrs. Macandrew and Richardson being so nearly equal that it was quite impossible to decide who had the majority. I appeal to your own reporter to verify or contradict this statement. lam one of the supporters of Major Richardson, and believe that his return will be secured rather by veracity than by falsehood on the part Qf the press, and, 013 this ground, if on no other, I have reason to complain of the report ; hut I hold, further, that it is a dangerous precedent to allow a journalist wilfully to misrepresent the proceedings of a public meeting, and, when such is the case, liis supporters should withdraw as one man— nay, more, should take such measures as will compel him to abandon the publication of his journal for lack of support. I am, &c., An Eye-Witness. To the Editor of the Otago Witness. Thursday, February 21st, 18G1. Sir, — I attended the public meeting on Wednesday evening, and was very much gratified to find so strong a feeling of sympathy in favour of Mr. Macaudrew, I believe I am right in attributing that feeling to gratitude for his many past services, and his patriotic devotion to his adopted country. I firmly believe that the majority of his fellow-colonists are ready and willing to forgive any errors that lie may have committed in zeal for the advancement of the Province. Many have said that it would be a public disgrace to re-elect him, I cannot conceive a greater stigma to be attached to a people than that of ingratitude. , I " Blow, blow, thou wintry wind, Thou art not so unkind As man's ingratitude ; Thy tooth is not so keen, Because thou art not seen, Although thy breath be rude." " Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky, * That dost not bite so nigh As benefits forgot ; Though thou the waters warp, Thy sting ia not so sharp A's friends remember'd not, Yours, &c. T. Redmaynb. ■ To the Editor of the Otaoo Witness. Sir, — I had a vision on Wednesday morning which I will relate' for the benefit of your readers I saw Mr. James Adam mount a pair of stairs, knock at a, door, and enter % room, at a table in which pat Sir.' A. W. Morris, when the following dialogue took' place — Mr. -Morris.--" I am so glad you-'ve come." Mr. Adam.*—" Do teach me my lesson to repeat at the meeting of the Electors, to-night !" Mr. A. — " You. are > not* to go to the meeting .* treat the electors with contempt, I'll make the £600 a-year all right (a part to me). What a muff he ia to suppose that I would allow him to spoil ray reputation by his attending the meeting. No, I ,know my power among the electors,— whoever I name shall be Superintendent,— -pnd it

suits my purpose to put him forward just now. He shall be my stepping-stone to power." Mr. M— " Well, I suppose I must give way to your better judgment in these matters, I will not go. " Exit James Adam. Such is the vision. Yours, &a, DkTSAMKH.