The Southland Times FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 1875.

Southland Times, Issue 2140, 25 June 1875, Page 2

The Southland Times FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 1875.

We had indulged the hope that Mr Lumsden might have learned something by experience, and that lie would be careful to avoid the risk of wrecking another Government. We expected that any action of his with reference to Invercargill would indicate the holding forth of the olive branch, and that he would have returned to us at least conciliatory and repentant. All these hopes have been disappointed. The Ethiopian cannot change hia skin, and Mr Lumsden will not cease to be stubborn and obstructive. Hia policy may be summed up in a sentence — opposition to the desires of the people ! of Southland. The stronger and more unanimous their wish, the more strenuous and persistent will be his antagonism. We warned Mr Reid, when he formed his present Q-overnment, of the danger of such an ally. We tell him now that Mr Lumsden will yet prove the Jonah or the Nemesis of his administration, and the sooner the former part is assigned to him the better. Already we have commented on the inconceivable folly of the attempt of Mr Lumsden and hia associates to overturn, by a coii/p de main at the close of the session, a bargain struck by the representatives of the Athenseum with a contracting party no less high than the agent of the General Government. Mr Lumsden appeared yesterday in advocacy of that proceeding. In an ex parte and plausible statement he endeavors to show that the Provincial Council alone, through the Executive, is the legal disposer of the reserve in Dee street. This is true in so far as the initiative in such cases is concerned, but it is no less true that the General Government is the ultimate authority in a question of alienating the reserves of the Crown. The determination of the Colonial Executive in such a case is not only effectual in the end, but the warrant for immediate action in any previous exigency is complete when the sanction of that body is obtained. The fact that Provincial rights stand for the present in the way is nothing. These will be swept away like a cobweb when the superior administration puts itself in motion. It is a condition of nearly every act of the Provincial Council that it shall receive, through the Governor, the imprimatur of the Colonial Executive, and this is just another way of Baying that the control of reserves — which is not exeepted. — is in the General Government's hands. How silly then, as well as perverse, is it for Mr Reid and Mr Lumeden to step between the higher authority and the public, and go through the farce of setting aside a solemn ratification between these two parties ! Has the Provincial Government considered the situation — has it enquired what has been done and what remains to be done in consequence of this compact ? The Colonial Secretary has authorised the construction of Government buildings, after a particular plan and on a particular site, with express reference to the preservation of their amenity through the concession of the Afclienrcum Committee. To withdraw now the equivalent for a portion conceded of another site would be to throw the Committee back into its original position. It would then have the power to build up to the very walls of the Public Offices, and to inflict the injury against which the Government was so solicitous to guard. Does the Provincial Executive imaoine that the Colonial Secretary will allow himself to be jockeyed after such a fashion as this ? Let it not be forgotten that at present it is only one-half of the contemplated buildings that is in course of construction. It is still in the power of the Government to refuse to vote the money for completing the design, and this might be the penalty, were Mr Lumsden to succeed in his pet scheme of placing a Town Hall at the corner. But who has aaked for this Town Hall, and who authorised Mr Lumsden to negotiate a site for it ? The plan cannot have originated in Dunedin — at least we have not been accustomed to any paternal solicitude for our needs being manifested there. It must be to Mr Lumsden that we owe such an instance of fatherly consideration. But we want to know who invested him with this character? The citizeus of Invercargill are not children, but this is the capacity in which Mr Lumsden insists on dealing with them. They ask for what they want, and their representative tells them it is not good for them. They have an institution which they think cannot be too generously fostered, and Mr Lumsden aays it has got too much already. It has come distinctly to this : Are the people of Southland to guide Mr Lumsden, or is Mr Lumsden to direct them ? This question must be settled, and we call on the community to settle it once for all. Let us say one word for the Athenzeum. We are free to grant that it has been treated handsomely by the Provincial Government. But this is to say no more than that the Government has acted with an enlightened view to the education and elevation of the people. Cau such au institution have too rich an endowment ? not until it can throw its doors open to the public, and offer, without charge, the boon of a complete library of English literature. We imagine that, even with the Dee street corner, we shall be a little waj short of this. . Now that the Provincial Govern- , meat baa had ita fling, and furnished {

us with another illustration of the mischief of dual Government, it only remains for the people of Invercargill to speak out their determination that the contr.icfc to which they have been a party shall be observed. In the face of such a^fomonstration as will certainly be made, the signature of the Governor will never grace the Bill that was so indecently hurried through the Council last week. We do not often find ourselvea in the same boat with our local contemporary, but we rejoice to find him taking an oar with us now. We may point to it as a fair illustration of the unanimity of the public that the press is united on this question, and we wish Mr Lumsden joy of the isolation ne has achieved.