Page 1 Advertisements Column 1

Hawke's Bay Herald, 22 June 1858, Page 1

TO THE ELECTOES OF HAWKES BAY. p ENTLEMEN, — The reception we have vX received at the hands of those amongst you who were present at the public meetings at Napier and Waipureku, on the evenings of Thursday and Friday last, and for which we beg to tender you our best thanks, gives us little reason to doubt that had time and the state of the weather allowed us opportunity of meeting you at Petane, Patangata, and Waipukurau, as we had proposed to do, we should have been able to satisfy you all that our conduct in the Provincial Council has been that of honest and independent men — seeking neither place nor favour from any party, and anx- ■ ious only to forward, to the best of our ability, the chief interests of our constituents ; — and should likewise have obtained a promise of your hearty support of Mr. St. Hill in the coming struggle against attempted despotism. This support, however, we still hope you will give, by recording your votes in his favour, on Monday, the 28th inst. — the day of polling. Being unable to go through the district as we had intended, we would wish, however, to make a final appeal, through the public press, to those of you who, from want of information, or from the misrepresentations of political opponents — personal friends and worshippers of Dr. Featherston — have conceived such prejudices against Mr. St. Hill and the party he represents, as might urge you, however much against your true interest, to vote for Dr. Featherston at the approaching election. "We ask you to pause seriously before taking a step that you will deeply regret afterwards, and that may materially mar our progress and advancement, as well as destroy our character for political consistency. Have you carefully reflected on the grave consequences of the step you may be about to take ; or will you, for the sake of personal friendship for Dr. Featherston, (the only excuse offered by some we have heard of) deliberately vote for despotic power being placed in the hands of one man, and confess yourselves ready to surrender all claims to manage your own affairs and look after your own interests — the dearest privilege of Britons and their descendants, in whatever part of the world they may be settled ? What has Dr. Featherston done for you during the last four years and a half? He spent £240 in roads and public works here during the first 3 years of his government, whilst he boasted in one of his addresses to the Council oi having spent more than £50,000 between Wellington, Wanganui, and Wairarapa, during the same period. During the last year (1857) about £1500 were spent here out of some £90,000 spent in the rest of the Province. Is this one of our reasons for now supporting him, or shall you add to it the fact that during the same period he has plunged you into debt to the extent of £100,000 — of which you have not received a farthing of benefit — and actually withdrawn, of the resources you yourselves supplied, some £20,000 of land revenue, less the £1500 before mentioned, that has been expended. Dr. Featherston's policy has been to concentrate the whole power of the government in his own hands at Wellington ; — and what is the consequence ? Are our roads made either well or quickly ? When we want any public work executed is it in our power to have it done ? Gentlemen, — you can well supply the answer. Is there one amongst you Who has not experienced the ill effects of the iniquitous system which has removed all real power and control over our most ordinary and pressing local affairs, and obliges us to sue like beggers, month after month, and often ineffectually, for the most trifling work, to the man who is a mere servant ©f the public, and ■whose condnct ought to be merely the expression of their will. Electors of Wairoa and Mohaka, — Do you ■want a road made to your important districts, and to possess the power to have it executed ? Then vote for St. Hill, who not only at once agrees to a vo f e of £1000 tor the purpose, but will hand over the money to the commissioners you may elect to carry it out. Electors of Petane, — so long neglected, and who have only, after much delay, -wrung out of the man who has spent so much of your resources in other places, the poor sum of £100 for the formation of your road, — do you wish to see your bridge made, and road completed ? vote for St. Hill, who offers you at once £650, — acknowledges your right to the greatest consideration, and, with this first instalment for -your very important road to the inte-