The Star. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1869.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 490, 11 December 1869, Page 2

The Star. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1869.

We commend the following remarks from the Auckland Herald to the careful and reverent perusal of those gentlemen who desire to " sweep away" Provincial institutions, who go to the General Assembly and say that men of standing and position cannot be found to take seats in the Provincial Councils : — The late Superintendency election has made apparent a great fact. It has shown clearly and unmistakeably the feeling of the electors as regards the great principles of Provincialism and Centralism ; and has demonstrated clearly enough their adhesion to rtie former. When it was first sought to bring out an opposing candidate to Mr Williamson, a gentleman of known centralising principles and a member of the late Ministry was brought forward ; but it soon became clear that on the issue between Centralism and Provincialism, it would be utterly imp ssible to unseat Mr Williamson. Mr Gillies was then brought forward, and claimed the puff rages of the electors, as much upon the fact of h?3 being a thorough-going ProviaciaUst as on any other grounds. The fact that in the Superintendenoy contest 5010 electors recorded their votes, is direct evideece of the feeling of the people generally in the matter. This alone affords unraistakeable evidence of public opinion as regards the value of Provincial institutions. But in the Provincial elections now pending we have still more conclusive evidence of the strong feeling in favour of Provincial institutions which prevails. Seats in the Provincial Council are no longer at a discount — no longer left to be taken up by any ambitious or-interested adventurer who may chooae to thrust himself forward. It is no'longer now .tlfoußht the thing to encourage unfit and improper persons to aspire to seats in the Provincial Council, in order that, through their vagaries and misconduct, Provincial institutions may be brought into contempt, and the downfall of Provincialism be hastened. To have lain in a state of drunkenness in the Council benches is no longer considered a qualification for re-election, as was pretty plainly shown to a certain aspirant for political honours on Tuesday last. On the contrary, the general object aimed at seems to t *je to return the best men possible whose services are procurable, and to look less to party than to personal fitness, intelligence, .and social standing. The electors clearly believe in the efficiency of Provincial institutions, and mean to work them to advantage.