Tuapeka Times. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1870. "Measures, not Men." NOTES ON THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 146, 24 November 1870, Page 5

Tuapeka Times. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1870. " Measures, not Men." NOTES ON THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

The speech of his Honour the Superintendent on the opening o> the present session of the Provincial Council will have prepared the public mind for the occupation of a few days by our local legislators in making the nece^s.uy provision for the representation of the late province of Southland, and for the public service of this new portion of •Jt-igo. Mr. Macandrew and the public have both reckoned without their host. No sooner had the Council been opened than the Older Papers were flooled with a Questions " and " Motions " upon every imaginable subject, remotely or otherwise connected with local and colonial politics. A general election is imminent, and consequently all the members who haveany idea of coming forward again seize the opportunity of making what we m.iy call cheap " hustings speeches" — speeches not made amidst the conflict of the elements, climatic and electoral, and subject to the slight disturbances and practical interruption which affect such times, but- delivered in a comfortably-seated well-lighted hall with obsequious attendants aud daily pay ! What a chance for' the tub-thumpers and frothy declaimers of abuse of whom we number so many among our vestrymen. The land question, the policy of the General •Government, hospitals, pleuro-pneu-mpani — *ill these.subjects cr v op up. in a variety* oft eccentric-ally , worded notice's, whose only object would appear tolie-the- hjestowal of veryi ephemeral notoriety; -upon 'the mdversL * Xfye last thing which appeafsUb 'strike the minds , of these enji^n^e^ patripts . is. that.' the airijjg *of $V§l lVl V pj^tifjudes co,sts raopey, -and tha| .tb,e .almost, C 0n 5 -. tinuous* session, qf>tjre- (Council f is fyst - disgusting- reasonable people with a plethora.of legislation by no means healthy or refreshing.

Mr. Reid as the head of the executive has, as is generally known, brought down resolutions strongly condemnatory for the fiction of the General Assembly in its adoption of Mr. Voxel's policy of raising large loans for the purpose of immigration and public works. A debate already formidable from its length has ensued upon this, and at present seems far from likely to come to an end. Several, to use a vulgar expression, long-winded ones have not 3'et let off steam, and as the decision takes place on a committee, when members can speak as o!ten as they like, Mr. Keid and his friends take up what we may call the ultra provincial position, and object to Mr. Voxel's scheme principally because it is a colonial one, and because they have vnry reasonable apprehension thit the land revenues of Otago may be inoHvaged to meet New Ze.il md liabilities. The probability is that the resolution will be carried, but by a narrow majority. We may venture to predict that a very curious fusion of parties will be formed in the division upon this question. The red-hot adherents of Mr. Maoandrew are opposing this thoroughly provincial resolution, whilst Mr. Reynolds and others who in the Assembly warmly supported Mr Yogel, now turn round and endeavour to court that opinion which has already condemned them by siding with Mr. Reid, and declaiming by the hour against centralisation, the unity of the colony, and other subjects quite outside their intelligence and consideration. The irrepressible Shepherd is igiin to the front, and seems determined to make a grand field-day rbr himself ont of the special .session I'he Or ler Paper is crowded with his notices of motion. If whatever is is not right, it will not be his fault if it does not become so. He proposes to entirely leform tV i land 1-iws, and disposes very satisfactorily to himself of the whole sul jete t in a string of n<>t very ii - fcelliiibleoi 1 grammatical resolutions, .vhich came on For discussion, but. which st md adjournment for future consideration, and will, in all probability, be quietly shelved in some >vay. The fact is, Mr. Shepherd does not carry the sym;>; thy of the Council with him, and it is vcrv unfortunate when a gool cause f'lls into his h.mds. for it will hardly be treated upon its merits. This M.PC. is no doubt the very personification of bumptious egotism, ami has shown in every way such au utter disregard of the feelings ov opinions of those with whom he may have been brought in contact publicly or otherwise, that he has simply rendered himself hate'ul and entirely destroyed all probability of his usefulness. His 4'reat object this session would appear to be to endeavour to supplement Mr. Haughton in the good graces of the Like constituency by rushing notices of motion upui the Order Paper upon every conceivable sn'ojeet affecting that district, to the utter neglect of the other portions of the gold fields.

The Southland members have not yet made any great mark, but have so far expressed themselves in f.ivo.ir of Mr. Rail's po ; bv, anl will, it is presumed, support him in the lesolutions now under discus sion, and tlie division upon which will, no doubt, decide the fate of the Government. In the f.ice of a general election, a change is by no tne.ins desirable, and it is generally thought that Mr. Reid will hold his own — at all events until the meeting of the new Council. There seems to be no organised opposition, and any direct attack by vote of want of confidence is extremely improbable, and would hardly, under the circumstances, meet with success.