The Southland Times. PUBLISHED DAILY. Luceo Non Uro. MONDAY, 24th OCTOBER, 1881.

Southland Times, Issue 4155, 24 October 1881, Page 2

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED DAILY. Luceo Non Uro. MONDAY, 24th OCTOBER, 1881.

The past week has done something to display the combatants and order the line of battle in several of the Southland electorate*. The doubts about Mr Bain's intentions have been cleared away by his farewell to the electors of old Invercargill, and his announcement that, declining an invitation to contest the new district of that name, he will ask the suffrages of the constituency of Awarua. Like Mr Driver, Mr Bain has declared his preference for a country electorate, and when the time cornea, no doubt he will be able to justify his preference. It will not be questioned that in the threo years during which he has represented Invercargill Mr Bain has made a political reputation, and that, throughout the colony as well as in the House, he is known as a shrewd, safe, and most industrious member. There have been rumors of higher honors intended for him, which, whatever may have been their precise foundation, would never have arisen about anyone who had not made his mark nnmistakably in colonial politics. Mr Bain has not obtruded his speech upon the House, and has deliberately denied himself the opportunity of shining where he could have nhone undoubtedly, had his regard been less for the public business and more for his own glorification. Had there not been many men willing to make this personal sacrifice, either Parliament must have been sitting to-day, or the attempt must have been given up to get through any work of legislation. The members of the House of Representatives who can speak and who don't speak are the men who deserve the supreme gratitude of the country. But Mr Bain understood the art of getting through the measures entrusted to his care, without the talk that is a hindrance rather than a help in such a process. In an unostentatious and unpretentious way he attended most assiduously to the wants of his constituents, and he has deserved well at their hands. In regard to one object on which the public mind was set Mr Bain has earned a special title to recognition. Until late in last session the prospects of the Seaward Bush Railway were regarded as almost desperate, at least as far as an early commencement of the undertaking was concerned. Now the scheme is on the schedule of Public Works ; the route, on which two Royal Commissioners have reported, will be immediately determined, and we may look for the survey being speedily begun. This forward state of matters is due beyond all question to Mr Bain's unwearied and persistent efforts to obtain the favor of Government for the line. It only requires equal perseverance and energy to carry the enterprise further and secure its completion. Mr Bain seeks to represent tho district most interested in the Seaward Bush Railway, and his services towards it in the past and his ability to render service in the future give him a claim on the Awarua electors that we think they are not likely to disregard. We have no wish to speak further, except in general terms, of Mr Bain's fitness as a candidate. He will no doubt, ere long, be in personal communication with the electors and will plead his own cause. We can only express the conviction that, from his honesty, experience and ability, the interests of any electorate would be safe in his hands.