THE HAWKE'S BAY HERALD. Napier, Saturday, May 1, 1858.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 1, Issue 32, 1 May 1858, Page 2

THE HAWKE'S BAY HERALD. Napier, Saturday, May 1, 1858.

A perusal of the files of Wellington papers received by the steamer, has convinced us that Messrs Gollan and FitzGerald have rendered eminent services to this District, and are entitled to every credit at the hands of its inhabitants. We at one time thought with many others, that a pair of dummies, equally with two good men and true, would serve our purpose in a Council so constituted as that of Wellington. We can no longer permit ourselves to entertain such an idea. Our members, by the earnest and untiring manner in which upon every available opportunity, they have placed tbe claims of this District before the Council and the public, have obtained for its interests an amount of consideration which the most sanguine among us could scarcely have anticipated ; while their application to the general business of the Province has evidently earned for them in Wellington much personal respect.

Last evening Mr. FitzGerald, acting for himself and colleague, met his constituents. The notice certainly was short, but we may remark that bills were in circulation three quarters of an hour after the steamer's arrival on Thursday morning. The attendance was good, although the absence of many country residents was to be regretted. The proceedings were so very lengthy, occupying five hours, that we cannot even attempt a precis of what was said. Mr. FitzGerald gave what we considered a clear, forcible, and satisfactory exposition of the course of conduct pursued by himself and colleague. Mr. Woodward, who is certainly the most pleasing speaker we have heard in this pait of the colony, replied at some length, and on] some points evidently made some impression. Mr. Colenso went over portions of Mr. Woodward's speech, which he characterised as pitiable sophistry, and effectively supported Mr. FitzGerald. Several questions having been put by Capt. Charlton, and answered, — Mr. Rhodes expressed dissatisfaction with our members for having evidently joined the Radical party. (This Mr. FitzGerald promptly denied.) Mr. Rhodes in continuation, enlarged upon Mr Wakefield's former hostility to the runholder — to the epithets he had applied to them, — to. the wonderful change that seemed to have come over him — and to his (Mr. R's) utter want of confidence in a

party of which he was chief. Messrs. Alexander, Scaly, and others, addressed the meeting. A resolution to the following effect, moved by Capt. Munn, was then put and carried, with only one or two dissentient voices. — That the electors present having heard the explanations given by Mr. FitzGerald, beg to express their continued confidence in the representatives for the District.

A motion by Capt. Charlton, that, owing to the short notice given of the meeting, any motion that might be passed should not be considered expressive of the general voice, was promptlyjnegatived. The following was then moved by Mr. Scaly, and unanimously carried : —

That this meeting had heard with great satisfaction Mr. FitzGerald's statement relative to the desire of the majority of the "Wellington Provincial Council to grant full powers of self government to Ahuriri ; but inasmuch as a petition for entire separation has been forwarded io the General Assembly, and is probably under consideration, the meeting is of opinion that it would be undesirable to pledge themselves in any way until the result of these petitions to the General Assembly is made known.

A vote of thanks having been agreed to Mr. W 7 oodward, for his explanations, and to the chairman (Mr. Ferguson), the meeting separated at midnight.

Some important matters were lost sight of at the meeting ; such as the necessity of urging upon the Government through our representatives to place a sum upon the estimates for improvements to Napier harbour, and for repairs to Carlyle street — the latter being undoubtedly one of the termini of the great inland trunk line. We also think that the Local Posts Act — the imposition of postage excepted, the collection of which w r ould co?t more than the revenue likely to be derived — should be at once proclaimed for this District. But to these and other matters we doubt not our worthy representatives will give their best att^ntio 1.