OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 490, 20 April 1861, Page 9

OTAGO.

The Neto Zealander makes the following remarks on the recent events which have taken place in this Province :—: —

Some short time since, an address from ths Provincial Council of Otago was presented to the Governor, praying that, in exercise of the powers vested in him by the Constitution Act, his Excellency would remove the Superintendent of the Province of Otago from office. Previously to taking any action" upon the addres', a Commission, was appointed by the Governor to enquire into the charges" brought against the Superintendent. The result of the enquiry which was instituted, it would appear, has substantiated the charges of , malversation of office, for we observe that a Proclamation has been issued removing Mr. Macandrew from the Superintendericy. A further Proclamation has been issued revoking that one isjued by the Superintendent, by whiah his own private residence was declared to be a public gaol, and finally 1 a notification! appears that the name of James Macandrew has been removed from the Commission of the Peace.

As a public man, Mr. Macandrew's disgrace is indelible.

It appears to be generally admitted, however, in Otago, that Mr. MacandreW, one of its earliest and most active settlers, has'greatly aided in the promotion of its prosperity^ and that much of its rapid progress during the past few years is due to his individual enterprise. If we add that he ia said to enjoy- a large share of personal popularity, and that by acts of private generosity and kindness he has secured many friends amongst the struggling classes in the Province, we shall be able-to understand that the throat that he will be re-elected may not impdssibly be carried oot: For Mr. Macandrew'a own sake, and for the * credit of Provincial Institutions, which has been grievously shaken by his misconduct, we hope that this will not be tlie case. These institutions have enemies enough ; the hands of those enemies would be greatly strengthened, if ; it. should be found that in Otago, one of the , most promising of the Provinces, the standard., of official morality was so low that .the per- •„ sonal popularity of the individual was able "to cover or to excuse the grossest -breach/ of •public trust. * ' v \- ; "'*.'- :

t- .' r- J • -is We may repeat^ for the purpose of information to foreign readers, that oh t the/ rstbfitfany vary ! the popUla<Aon:df the colony I was"comi. ; ' : puted it-tra»l|f, 34o;oo(r'- ;teiH'al§B,' $10,000^ ' total, 556,000.-^- Melbourne ArgdkS ';