WELLINGTON.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 1, Issue 31, 24 April 1858, Page 5

WELLINGTON.

The Independent o{ the 7th inst., gravely informs its readers that a compact had been entered into

between the Radical Reform Party, on the one

hand, and Messrs. Gollan and FltzG-erald on the

other, under which the latter gave in their adher-

ence to the Reforcn Party, and the leaders of which guaranteed in return that the runholder should be secured a right of pre-emption over 5000 acres of his run, and be otherwise placed in a more secure position. In an imperfect copy of the supplement of same date, we find the concluding part of a speech by Mr. FitzGrerald, which we subjoin : —

As a proof that the charges of neglect and supineness on the part of the late Government towards the Ahuriri Settlers were not unwarranted, he (Mr. I\) would point to the district, and would, even now at the end of their time of office, ask the Government what it had done, during the whole of its four years of power, for the good and prosperity of the constituency wliieh he (Mr. F.) had the honor to represent. During the first three years of their term of office somewhat about £240 only was spent out of about £1700 that had been promised, while nearly £50,000 was expended during the same period in other parts of the Province ; and during the last or fourth year, about £1500 had been spent in road making in the district, and the same sum for immigration, while no less than £74,000 had been spent also during the Bame period in other parts of the Province — was this, he would ask, a just and fair distribution of the Provincial expenditure, when out o the estimated surplus for public works for the last year (said to be £30,000) the Ahuriri district had contributed nearly £20jO0O, or about two thirds of

it? Was there not then, he would also ask, good grounds for dissatisfaction? He believed that the house would certainly allow that there was. For from what source were the Ahuriri settlers to obtain a working population, or get their roads and other public works executed, if their land revenue was always to be thus alienated, and absorbed for the almost exclusive benefit of the other portions of the Province ? He would contend that the Ahuriri district, having a port of its own, with the Settlers quite willing and capable of managing their own affairs, ought not to be placed in a worse position, than Canterbury,. Nelson, or any other settlement. It was perhaps pretty generally known that a memorial had been forwarded from the District to the General Government for Separation, and it was not to be expected either that the Settlers themselves or that his colleague and himself, who had the honor to represent them, would draw back and rescind the memorial ;. He (Mr. F.) was however prepared and should feel glad, to put himself in communication with the Eadical Eeform party as soon as they had been able to form a Ministry. An invitation to do so had been proffered by the hon. member (Mr. Wakefiekl) in order to discuss fully and fairly all matters-relative to the Ahurir District. In the mean time he would (on behali of his constituency) accept with thankfulness whatever local powers it was competent for the Council to bestow.. He was very much gratified to find from the statement of the hon. gentleman, the mover of the amendment, that the Radical Ecform Party were prepared, if called upon.to form a Ministry, to co-operate sincerely with Ms Honor, in the Government of the Province. If they car* ried out this desire in sincerity, he (Mr F ) felt assurcd'.that they would receive general support ; whilst any contrary course that would delay the public business would not fail to have a very bad effect.

A Suitor foe the Princess Axice.— Although

no official intimation of the views of the Dutch

Court has as yet been conveyed to this country,

we believe there is no doubt as to the intention

of the King of Holland to demand the band of the Princess Alice for the young Prince of Orange. Neither of their Royal Highnesses is arrived at a marriageable age, it is true; but that circumstance is no bar to such a proposal as that to which we allude; and if the idea should hereafter become a reality the match is one which must be considered in every respect suitable. That the idea of an English matrimonial alliance is seriously entertained at the Hague we are assured upon the authority of those who are in. a position, to be well informed as to what is passing in the Dutch Court ; and we have been told that if the contemplated proposal, when made, should be acceded to by her Majesty, it is intended to send tie Prince of Orange to this country to complete his studies, as his grandsire did, at one of the English Universities — Cambridge most probably — and to mature his intimacy with the Eoyal family. — Court Circular.

The so-called ladies' "bonnet" continues tbe paragon of absurdity it has remained so long. When Mr. Spurgeon, we are told, was advised to preach against this prevailing folly, "he paused as he stood upon the platform, loolced around him and said, "I have been requested to rebuke the bonnets of the day; but, upon my word, I don't see any.' "

An ill ttsed jtax. — A lady who superintends

Sunday school having talcen occasion to into, rogate one of her pupils as to the cause of her father's non-attendance at church, received the following innocent reply, prefaced, of course, with a little drop of courtesy : — "Please, mem, my father says he isn't coming to church any more t'parson 'hollers' out so he can't get a bit of sleep.

The humblest thing in the world is a clock, as it is always running itself down. And the most bashful, as it is always holding its hands before its face.

Soekows of the Aged. — They have seen a good deal of life ; have met with many losses and crosses. Perhaps the wife of their youth was cut off, and some if not all of their children taken away. And it is very hard to part with one's companions. It is a great loss when the sharer of one's joys and sorrows is removed.. What a blank there is in the house, and how dreary the comer where she used to sit.. The little garden too, in such neat and pretty order then, how ne« glected now I The beds have run wild.. None care to weed or to watei\ The very sparrows which used to hop about the door, and gather up their morning and their evening meal, have fled ; and the thrush, the blackbird, and the. lark,, sing each their song elsewhere. And the nights how lonely ! How intense the gloom, and oh, how sad and desolate the heart.