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The election for the Central Province takes
place to-day. The electors have to choose their
representatives on this occasion from a couple
of candidates, and it will be their duty, if pos
sible, to select the best 'man. Dr Wilkie
seems determined to run the round of candida
tures, and he .deserves credit for his persever
ance in spite of difficulties. His defeats must
have disciplined his temper and given him
that equanimity which will sustain
another defeat with composuro. We
shall Tierliarm have thn f»ratifirjit.inn nf ono. ?
ing tho worthy gentleman again in society
a wiser man if not a bettor politician. Dr.
Wilkie appears unconscious- that the people
regard him with indifference, and that lie has
failed to get himself recognised as a practical
legislator. We respect Dr. Wilkie as a pri
vate gentleman and as an old and valued citi- '
zen. Ho has been connected with this city a
long period, but during his residence he may
be said never to have taken part in any poli
tical question that engaged, public attention..
On the other hand he has-kept steadily to
the pursuit of his profession. That he has not
been unsuccessful, we may infer from his
coming forward as a candidate for a seat in
tho Council. s He had better content himself
in the unobtrusive but useful duties of a physi
cian. Its honors and rewards are his legiti
mate claim, and possibly. few would question
his ability and worth as an industrious
and a well-informed practitioner. He
is, however, ambitious to tread the stormy
path of politics, and surrender a peace
ful calling for tho contention .and rancor
of party warfare. Ho exposes himself to tha :
strictures of adversaries.. As far , as the Upper
Chamber is concerned, he is withou t
doubt above the average of its present occu
pants in education and attainments.. But it is
not on personal gr.onnds that he claims the
support of the electors ; he comes forward as
a liberal in politics, and as possessing the qua
lifications requisite in a member of the highest
branch of the legislature.
We venture to disagree with him in his
estimate of himself. In his political princi
ples and his aptitude for the duties of publio
life, he is in no respect to bo compared with
the gentleman he now. opposes. Had ho been
5rst in the field, and had we only known liis
opinions from Ms addresses to tlrf Central Pfo; -

vince, it is quite possible ho miglit Have stood
in a bettor position. But lie has allowed himself
iu the present instance to be put forward by a
clique for merely party purposes. Ho
was well aware wlion bo allowed himself to be
put in nomination that he had hardly tho slight
est prospect of success, and in subjecting his
opponent to tho annoyances of a contest ho is
chargeable with a hopeless but vexatious oppo
sition. Ho saya ' I have so long lived amongst
you, and I am now known so well to most of
you, that it is scarcely necessary for me to
make a formal statement of my political
?opinions.' We are afraid Dr Wilkte is
laboring under some painful hallucipation as
to his real character. Certainly among the
public men with whom we are familiar he is
altogether unrecognised.- Wo should like to
know with what popular cause he is iden
tified ; where is the favored circle of the Doc
tor's acquaintances, rejoicing in the knowledge
of his well-known political 'principles t Let us
know these things, Dr Wilkie. He may then,
perhaps, satisfy the electors that he has some
justification for placing lumsolf in his present
position. Except that he was a devoted sup
porter of the' present Administration, we are
not very clearly informed of his views. When
he wooed the electors of the North-Western
.Province, he was rapturously in love with
John O'Shanassy. He had then only one
policy — to support the Ministry. In fact, so
wedded waa ho to the Chief Secretary that he
had no other answer than 'I am the humble
servant of tho Ministry!' What are your

opinions, jur vtilkik, on toe suojeuc oireiormi
' Oh, I will support; the Reform Bill of tho
Ministry ! ' What aro your views on the Land
Question ? 'I believo the Ministry will settle
that subject satisfactorily !' Indeed, on
the great sludge question he would swear by
tho Ministry I This attachment to his ministe
rial friends lost him the election for tho North
western Province. We imagine he was a
good deal surprised at the result. When ho
mado the bargain vrith Messra O'Shanassy
and Miller to relinquish his intention of
starting for the Western Province in the place
of Mr Vaughan, he had greater reliance on
their support than ho entertains at present.
The ' demonstrations' on the gold-fields were
intended to help him, but the popular minister
was not quite able to secure the return of his
obedient and suppliant protogo.
Tha Chief Secretary cannot afford to give up
a promising supporter, so that Dr.
Wilkie - finds himself, perhaps unwillingly,
in tho hands of a ' political agent,' who had
instructions to put him in nomination for tho
Central Provinco. It is unfortunate to keep
bad company. Dr. Wilkie, seeing that some
thing is wrong, has made a considerable change
in his electioneering principles. He found to
his cost that his official friends were not to be

trusted. Un the present occasion no goes in
for the ' liberal party, altogether independent
of Government.' This is too bad of Dr.
Wilkie, to cut tho cable that attached him to
yie Ministry. The Liberal party and the
Government he does not now think one and
the same thing. When on the gold-fields he
promised to support the Ministry in all things ;
now ho tells us ' If I am ejected I shall sup
port only those measures of the Government that
I conscientiously believe for tho good of the
country.' The elderly Esculapian is evi
dently wide awake. He is furthermore at
last quite conscientious. He sees tho error of
his ways, and desires to 'lead a new life
unto righteousness.' The out-and-out Minis
terial candidate won't run any risk this time
if ho can help it. He had always covenanted
with himself, though a little mistaken, to be
Btrictly impartial : — ' I have never pledged

myself to do more than this for the present
Government, and I shall be equally prepared
to givo tho same support to any other liberal
Government.' Dr Wilkie makes us suspect
that he has seen the coming man. He is
as anxious to get rid of his old friends, as if.
he had negotiated matters with the Oppo
sition, on the understanding that the change
would be for the better.
It strikes us the electors willsee through this
transparent dodge. The conversion is by far
too sudden and auspicious. He now parades his
independence a3 affording him the only chance
against Mr a'Beckett. It comes too late to
serve his purpose. Wo lay it down as a
principle that no man should be allowed to
trade in the political interests of. the people.
It is equally censurable whether it is jlone to
got into parliament or to bolster up a Ministry.
We do not want persons in tho legislature
whose politics are pinned on their sleeves,
and who make a scape-goat of their convic
tions when it suits their purpose to abandon |
them. Dr Wilkie states that he does notj
come forward on personal grounds ; but that
on tho present election hangs the fate

of tho Reform Bill and of a liberal Land
Bill.' Dr Wilkib, at all events, is not
justified in making this statement in the face
of' the avowed opinions of Mr a'Beckett who,
upon the Land Question and Reform Bill, has
given the assurance that he is prepared to deal
honestly with those measures. The Argus ,
with its characteristic adhesion to principle, has
obtained a ?pledge, from Mr a'Beckett that he
will support a measure of Parliamentary Re
form—embracing the extension of the suffrage
and the increase of members, ;and that without
a Minority Clause. Tho Argus, by a little laxity
of moral priuciple, has exacted a well-timed
pledge which removes all distrust as to Mr
a'Beckett's liberality and sincerity. We have
then two doughty reformers in the field — but
we apprehend there can be 110 question a3 to
the higher claims of Mr a'Beokett to a seat in
parliament. On the occasion of his contest
with Mr Fellows he received the unanimous
support of the Liberal party ; his experience
and observation must have taught him the ne
cessity of settling in accordance with public
opinion the great questions before the country,
and his intelligence and independence still fur
ther recommend him to the confidence of the
electors of tho Central Province.

State or the Codntrt. — Tha heart* of many of_
our squatters have been greatly comforted by tho mo- '
teorological occurrences of the pist few days, nor has
the agriculturist reason to experience any other feeling
than one of tbe most complete satisfaction, aa far as hii
prospects and pursuits are concerned. Although there
had been sufficient moisture in the course of the past
winter for1 agricultural purposes, more, was rsquired
to giva the crops a good ntart in the spring. In tho
grazing districts, however, the supply of moisture w*s
by no means equal to the requirements of the approach*
ing summer, and as appearances were rather indicative
of a' drythau a moist season, stockholders were naturally
somewhat anxious upon the subject. ' But all this
anxiety, we may presume, has been dispelled by the
rains and showers with which we have .been favored,
and nothing could bo more promising than the present
season, holding, out as it does a prospect of plenty for
tho forthcoming year. The change in the appearance
of tho plain is almost magical. The dull, dead brown
of winter id now being fast succeeded by tho emerald
groeu of spring, and our gardens are leaping into' life
and beauty with 'V Bhddenn ess almost bordering upon
ti* ttireoulouD,— Wathwt FrH PrtU.

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