New Plymouth 8th. December 1856. My dear McLean, The "Zingari" came in yesterday with the most welcome intelligence, of the Government having consented to the dissolution of the Council, on the petition of the Members. I fancy the decision was scarcely expected by the Superintended, who attached much, in this instance, to his weight as Superintendent. Had it been otherwise, a new Council was inevitable, composed of such men as could be got; as the present men virtually ceased to be members when they signed the petition. Cutfield, I find, is not so much approved as I was led to believe. They sum him up in this brief judgment, --- "All he has ever done is to make money --- and keep it." His friends are, however, sanguine; than which there can be no more fatal mistake. I hope he will come in, and think so, without feeling certain. There is no news, I believe. You have heard I presume, that the "Herald" is under the management of a Committee, consisting, 'tis said, chiefly or wholly of Richard Brown and the old Doctor. If they can keep it a people's paper, it will be a beneficial change. Norris has just called in. He says he has 170 names to the Requisition. I enclose a slip from the Wellington "Spectator" of 19th. ult., containing the letter I mentioned to you. It was intended to be plain, to distract readers; and is, so I think. Excuse a hasty letter, Yours sincerely (Signed) W. Halse. To:- Donald McLean Esq. The Province of New Plymouth is on the eve of a general election. The following extract from a private letter, gives a graphic account of the causes which have led to the dissolution of the Provincial Council. Mr. Flight, R.M. is spoken of as a candidate against the present Superintendent; and, it is said, with every probability of success:--- "The dissolution of the Provincial Council of New Plymouth, by the act of its own members, has an interest beyond the Province, from being the first exercise of this power of the Constitution Act, --- therefore, I propose giving you a short account of the last occurrence which, it may be said, led the Council to anticipate in the way stated the short period left of its electoral term. "In a word, this political hiatus was brought about, much to his own chagrin no doubt, by Mr. Provincial Treasurer Chilman striving to disposses an aboriginal native of a piece of swamp contiguous to the land of each of them. Oh, for the pencil of a H.B. to sketch the gentleman crossing a with a Provincial in his teeth! "Last Assembly you may recollect Mr. Charles Brown presented a petition about this waste from Mr. Richard Chilman (miscalled by the Auckland Press, Shearman) and the Superintendent then committed himself to the truth of the petitioner's statements reflecting upon Mr. Commissioner McLean in the matter, whom he fell foul of as is his Honor's custom. The House, with becoming sagacity, instead of dealing with the claim summarily, as was perhaps expected by Mr. Chilman (who by his own admission, went in for compensation, not for the land) referred the claim for local investigation and report. "The searching enquiry of the Select Committee of the Provincial Council has elicited that although the transaction, out of which the claim arises, dates back to 1843--4, Mr. Chilman never moved in it until last Session, and that he was then not only laying claim to what never belonged to him, but was doing so unknown to the person who claims Mr. Chilman's and in the neighbourhood under a written agreement of purchase, and who protests to the Committee against the swamp (which belongs to his native neighbour), being considered as part of his property, and in this he is borne out by the evidence of the attesting witness and of another European, both fully acquainted with the negotiation and the attendant circumstances. "The public of New Plymouth exhibited great excitement in the very public matter- having to pay the piper if it succeeded. The Council and His Honor had been at daggers drawn on several matters, and without waiting for the Committee's Report on Mr. Chilman's claim they cut their knot of difficulties by toppling over the Government for a time."