THE SUPERINTENDENCE

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3166, 5 April 1871, Page 2

THE SUPERINTENDENCE

TO THE EDITOU OF THE INDEPENDENT. Sin, — You will pardon me, as an old subscriber, for saying that you are apparently treating the election for the Suporintcndency with (lie same cool indifference as the electors who invited Mr Fitzherbert to allow himself to be nominated for that office. As yet no *'\«n has been ratvdo, but everything is allowed to go by default. You may be a wire of what is going on behind the scenes, but the public are not. Mr Anderson appears to bo using his usual deceptive tricks, but you should tear the mask from his face, and not allow the public to be misled. You are probably aware, but the public is not, that there wero only about 20 persons present in Sominerville's long room when ho was bellowing forth, and that they were all enjoying their pot and their pipe in genuine pot-bouso fashion. You aro probably aware that the report of his speech wa* written by himself, and furnished to the " Advertiser," including the " cheers," "loud cheers," and " applause ;" that the laudatory paragraphs arc also furnished by himself. If you are not awavo, I am ; and also that the letter published in this morning's " Advertiser" is also his, as it is part of his speech delivered at Sommerville's. It is a Cne dodge to run down your opponent in the columns of a newspaper, and bespatter yourself with praiso ; but it is very low, and not creditable to a newspaper to allow its columns to be thus prostituted. It is with the intention of putting the public on their guard that I havo ventured to write this, -which I trust you will publish. — I am, &c, An Electoe. Wellington, 4th April, 1871.

TO TnE EDITOH OF TUB INDEPENDENT. Sib, — There appears to be a perfect scramble for the vacant office of Superintendent, and the persons who hare rushed after it (with the exception of Mr Fitzherbert, who has been impelled by a sense of duty to couio forward) seemed dazzled by the golden prize which they see in the distance, and prepared to go ony length to obtain it. I would ask the electors to " arouse and arise, or bo for over fallen." The matter is of the most vital importance, as regards the weal or the woe of every individual in the province, and it therefore behoves the electors to bo up and doing ; or they may find when it is too late, that by their supineness, they have allowed their rights and privileges to bo placed in the hands of totally incapable, unscrupulous, or imbecile persons. I would therefore ask them to bo serious in what they aro about to do — to weigh well tho importance of the matter they have in hand — and, after cool reflection, to act according to the best of their judgment. I have thought very gravely over tho matter, and, with your permission, will give you the result of my reflections. The test that I have submitted tho candidates to is as follows: — Ability, experience, power to serve, and moral character. 1. Mr Fitzherbert'a ability is unquestioned ; his experience dates from the introduction of Representative Institutions into this colony ; ho has a seat in tho House of Representatives, and ia therefore enabled to jealously guard the rights and privileges of tho people, and to do battle for tho province when required ; and his moral character is unimpeachable. 2. Mnjoi* Finnimoro is a young man of considerable ability, but rneh and impetuous. lie has had no experience in the General Assembly, never having been a member, and only made his maiden speech in tho Provincial Council the other day, in which ho displayed an entire want of knowledge of even the common mode of addressing tho council. lie has not got a seat in tho House of Representatives ; and therefore, however much he may desire it, he is entirely precluded from the power to servo tho province in the General Assembly. Tho fact of his residing in Wangnnui I consider to be no bar to his election. Ho was born in Wellington, and if he had superior ability, experience, and power to serve the province to Mr Fitzherbert, then his chances would be equal ; but as he has not, ho must bo content to bido his time, and asconri* tho ladder in tho way that ordinary mortals aro compelled to do. It is said that lie has been induced to take this step from having a piquo with the Government. It is said that he received sonic £-100 fo.' selling tho Paten lands for tho General Government, exclusive of advertising &c, and that not having been employed by tho Provincial Government on similar terms to sell tho Manawatu he has taken umbrage, and therefore his opposition. Ho this as it may, the electors caro very little about such matters ; but they do care about roads and bridges; tho peopling of tho province by a steady stroam of immigration. Now tho only way to obtain this, is to place a person in power who will see that wo have our fair share of tho loan, and who has tho power to enforce his views upon tho Assembly, if there should be any disposition on the part of the Govorument to deprive Wellington of its rights. 3. Mr Masters is a respectable old gentlemen, whoso inordinate vanity, and possibly tho chance of obtaining £500 a year, has induced to come forward; but with tho exception of being a member of the Provincial Council— in which ho has made a very sorry figure, — he has had no experience in administering government ; his ability is very much below par, and his want of education entirely unfits him for the office. 4. Mr Henry Anderson is tho last of tli»

candidates who has jefc sought the suffrages of the electors. Well, he has ability of a certain - sort ; but he has had no experience. He is not a member of the House of Eepresentatives, and therofore would be unable to servo the province, should questions arise in tho Assembly militating against its interests. He is a member of the Provincial Council, having been returned at the general olection ; but absented himself from its first Besssion altogether, without asking leave of absence, or giving any explanation why lie absented himself from it. Last session he neglected hie public duties by being incarcerated at his own request in the Common Gaol at Wellington. As to his private character, which surely should be an element in determining whether he is a fit and proper person to becomo the head of the province, the records of the Resident Magistrates' Courts, both in Wellington and Wanganui, show that his election would bo a disgrace to the province, and to every individual elector in it. — I am, &c, Wellington.