TO W. S. MOORHOUSE, ESQUIRE,

Timaru Herald, Volume V, Issue 156, 24 November 1866, Page 3

TO W. S. MOORHOUSE, ESQUIRE,

[Per favor of the Editor of the Timaru Herald.] Sir —Representative of a district m the General Assembly, and Superintendent of this province, did it never occur to you that the two positions are often opposed to each other —that as representative of Westland you are never obliged to act conscientiously against the clumsy, illworking, and expensive provincial system —that as Superintendent of Canterbury vow are never obliged (always conscientiously) to ignore the true interests of

Westland by upholding the most cumbrous, unsatisfactory, and expensive form of representative government to be found on the face of the earth. Your government m name is representative, but m working despotic : I appeal to the southern half of Canterbury. Now, Mr Moorhouse, descending from such a sublime height ; ignoring the existence of the General Government, its Assembly, etc., and referring only to the affairs of- this Province of which you are Superintendent, I beg your attention to the following facts. I say facts, m contradistinction to sophistries, explanatory evasions, and other modes of expression common to lawyers. This part — this half of the Province, while yielding an immense revenue, is destitute "of roads, bridges, harbour accommodation, immigration rerequirements, sufficient law courts and gaol, land commissioners, hospital necessities, and everything, as I said m my last; yes, everything necessary to the common existence of a civilised community. Since I last addressed you, another member of this community has been lost m the Rangitata — oh, the pet railway. On the estimates I observe many items for the bridging of rivers. Considering the past I can only account for this apparent liberality by the desire on the part of jour Government to do nothing. I am sure, Mr Moorhouse, that if your Government as you call it, were sincere, they would limit the mention of works to what they really mean to do. Personally I would ask you — is it dignified, honorable, or satisfactory, even to yourself, to have recourse to such petty shifts as we have seen heretofore. I had imagined that as a public officer, the highest m the Province, your original profession would be thrown overboard. Ts it that you go upon the maxim that the majority of men are fools. If so Ido not blame you ; but if you also think that the majority are not honest, then Mr Moorhouse you are deplorably mistaken. Taking into account your present position, no one could blame you for the former belief. lam not a clever man, yet I can see through a great many of your explanatory evasions. Your pet scheme of a vast railway is as necessary to 3'our existence as your heart or lungs ; but while you cherish that dear object to your bosom, might you not m intervals of affection bestow a few thoughts on outtying districts. I am, &c, An Elector.