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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 1, Issue 31, 24 April 1858, Page 4

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TO TIIS ELECTORS OP AHURTRT.

Per favor of the Hawke's Bay Herald.

Most of you in common with myself have received by this time due notice that there is to be very soon a new election of Superintendent for the Province of Wellington. I have before me a circular from the new candidate, H. St. Hill. Esq., asking your suffrages, and an accompanying one from our members, who appear to have identified themselves -with the V/akefield-St. Hill party. We have received no notice from the ex Superintendent, that liis late Honor is again in the field, but it is very currently rumoured that such is the case ; if so, before giving your vote to any one, it might be just as ■well to reflect, with the eels in the fryingpan, that if you jump out of your present position, you only jump into the fire, — for such I think would be the only advantage to be derived from a change in our Superintendent. If we are still to carry on half a dozen Lilliput Pai-liaments in New Zealand, I think the experience of the last four years -will bear me out, in saying, that not one of the six has been carried on with anything like the average ability, energy, and success displayed by liis Honor the late Superintendent of Wellington and council — therefore think twice before you jump into the fire.

Oar two members, Messrs. FdzGerald S[ Gollan tell us in their circular address, that if Dr. Featherston should he re-elected, it would involve no change of the present members of council, — on the contrary I think it would just a leeile rather — and likewise that we should havejust as satisfactory a settlement of our difference. We have men of every shade of political opinion amongst us no doubt; we the aspirants to the dignity of another little Parliament, as our recent Separation Petition proclaimed ; but I believe the vast majority of electors signed that Petition with the sole hope that it would strike at the root of Ultra-Provincialism, although indirectly^ — a first and powerful hlow, to be followed by others Btill more telling, until at length the precocious monster should be levelled in the dust and from whose ashes should spring up a good old English Mayor,

Lord Mayor if you like, for the city, and a goodly company of well fed aldermen. That wherever a population should spring up (in any division of the whole Island into counties) of some 500 souls there should his worship the mayor preside over all local necessities and administer local justice. Over all these, one strong Central Government in a central piece.

I landed at Nelson in 18 i 2, and have been in the country ever since, save an absence of about 2 years in the Australian colonies ; and have watched the i"ise and progress of both New Zealand and its Government. The two first Governors and Governments nearly ruined us all. Sir George Gi*ey we throve under, and he was undoubtedly an able and experienced man at the helm of our state, but the public thought him just a touch too aristocratic, too arbitrary, and despotic ; perhaps he was, so by dint of Associations, Reform Banquets, &c, the colony of New Zealand got the great boon of free representative institutions at last in England from the Home Government and bade adieu to Sir George Grey. But after all it is impossible to say whether a great boon or a great curse was bestowed on us by the Constitution Act of 1553, especially as at present read. We have the whole country pei-io-dically distracted and bothered with elections for half a dozen Superintendents or Lieut. Governors and their half dozen Parliaments — who generally fight and squabble for a session or two — do no business of public utility, and then separate ; and appeal to their constituencies on account of some curious deadlock or other. Still the Constitution Act will prove a real boon if the Government of the Islands of New Zealand be concentrated, and need not cost for the efficient government of the whole island so much by £ as it at present costs by the system of divided provincial independent governments. And where is the revenue to come from now for the provincial parliaments to vote away since the Waste Land Act has been disallowed at home ? Now that Dr. Featherston has failed at Wellington to carry on ultra-provincial government, a new election must take place hereI think the crisis a most excellent opportunity for shewing our dissatisfaction in a body with the whole system of Superintendents and Provincial Parliaments, — by not voting for any Superintendent at all — and follow up the blow with a public meeting and address to the General Assembly and Government — stating our reasons in detail for so doing — and our wish to strengthen the Genera* Government and uproot ultra-provincialism.

The number of members requisite to fairly represent all classes in one General Assembly or confederation — the time, place of meeting, &c., I shall leave to wiser heads than mine to find out* The main point to be gained now is one strong Gen' eral Government, and central is sure to follow. Unpaid Mayors aud Magistrates should do most of the local duties in small communities. I think I have observed the rapid growth of these views, or something tending to the same end' these last 12 months back, not only in this locality and Province, but in the neighbouring Provinces. I shall not trespass on your time any further now, as we shall have ample time to consider over tins important question before the election, on the return of our members from Wellington. And should you have found me very prosy, you mustmake great excuses for a bushman. I am, &.C., Alpha. April 22, 1858.