THE HAWKE'S BAY HERALD. Napier, Saturday, April 24, 1858.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 1, Issue 31, 24 April 1858, Page 3

THE HAWKE'S BAY HERALD. Napier, Saturday, April 24, 1858.

The mere onlooker upon the game of political warfare annually played within the respective Provinces of New Zealand and

facetiously designated useful legislation,

raust have been struck with nothing more

forcibly than the sudden changes of popu-

lar feeling in connection with party con-

test. No more striking instance can be

given than that afforded by recent events

at Wellington. Public opinion seems to have veered to the very opposite point of the compass, and that too so suddenly and upon so little ostensible ground that the change could not be regarded as one prompted by any great principle, but as a mere political emeute. The people, like petted children, wanted a change, and they were gratified.

Such occurrences — more than force of argument — are gradually but imperceptibly effecting a change in the public mmd — in the mind of the colonists of New Zealand. They see the utter futility of so many governmental institutions — so expensive in their operation, yet so unproductive of good; and they believe that much, better as well as much cheaper government would be the result were the pompous superin-

deneies to be wholly abolished, and simple municipal corporations put in their stead.

The superintendencies are yet powerful, and ultra-provincialism is not to be crushed by a single blow 5 but the change to which we have alluded is surely gaining ground, and its influence must yec be felt in the chief councils of our little state.