THE HAWKE'S BAY HERALD. Napier, Saturday, April 9, 1859.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 2, Issue 81, 9 April 1859, Page 2

THE HAWKE'S BAY HERALD. Napier, Saturday, April 9, 1859.

In last number of the 'Herald,' with reference to the approaching meeting of the new Council of Hawke's Bay, we reminded the members of that body of the onerous and responsible duties which, by virtue of their new position, were about to devolve upon them, and pointed out the increased facility which would be given to the transaction of public business were they to regard their sphere of duty as already occupied, and at once to enter upon a course of inquiry and appropriate study. We trust that our remarks 10 this effect havel cc.i receheiin the spirit with which they were offered. All, or nearly all among us, are 'green hands 1 at the work of legislation ; — a certain amount of knowledge, of a technical as well as of a general character, in addition to that local information which every member may be assumed to possess, must be brought to bear upon the matters to come under discussion ; such knowledge, it is needless to add, comes not by intuition, but must be sought for with some de--gree- of assiduifey—ah-d-- perseverance .We would not be understood as seeking to un-der-rate the ability of our members. Far from it; the council of Hawke's Bay, for aggregate intelligence and talent, may vie, we feel assured, with similar bodies in other parts of the colony. But we should giadly see those qualities directed now, on the part of individual members, into the proper channel, so that, at the earlier meetings of the body corporate, time may not be frittered away in futile discussions, based upon imperfect or inaccurate information. It would be invidious. thus to remind the members of what we conceive to be* a duty, at the same time, reminding the electoral body that something also is due from; them. A large , amount of i-j^ublic kbrkis to be done — involving io members a considerable loss of time and degree;- of trouble. Now every elector being personr ally interested in the performance ■ of; that work, life is. bound, by all i%ans «i hi* :

power, to strengthen the hands of those by whom, at a personal sacrifice, he has been relieved of so weighty a burthen. The electors can do this by taking a lively interest in the votes and speeches of their respective members ; by keeping thein.wejl supplied with information as to tjie wants and wishes of the various districts; and by expressing through their representatives, upon each important question as it arises, (say for instance that of education), the opinions held by the majority of their number. With this view the electors would require frequently to hold meetings amongst themselves, a course in very many respects to be recommended. However willing and zealous may be the people's representatives, experience tells us that the people themselves must apply their shoulders to the wheel, if resolved that the province shall go on and prosper.

The topic of the day — that is to say, within the iiaiit^jof the province — is the promised visit of King Potatau* and suite. This event has been long looked for by our native friends, by whom preparations for the same have been going on upon the most extensive scale. Were we to euuraerate the various items of hai that have been stored up, with which to entertain the strangers: — the number of kits of potatoes, of dried fish, &c., a stranger to the district might imagine that we were 'drawing the longbow.' The mission of King Potatau is no doubt with the view of adding to the number of his adherents among the native chiefs here ; accordingly, upon his arrival, a monster meeting will be held, at which no end of speechifying may be expected to. take place. There are now at the^jpa' Whaikaro (Tareha's), which from its large area has been selected for the rendezvous of the party, nearly 300 natives, all of whom, as hosts, have contributed to the stores on hand. They comprise, we believe, all the chiefs in the neighbourhood and their attendants, except Te liapuku and his immediate relatives, the former of whom has left the district for Wairarapa. In addition to the royal party, an immense influx of visitors is expected, the number of whom it is difficult to estimate, although the received opinion is that they will exceed one thousand. One party, — that of Manihera, chief of "Wairarapa, has already arrived. It is believed that Potatau aud suite are vow-within two days' journey of Napier, — lhat they will reach Petane on Sunday (to-morrow), and arrive at the pa on Tuesday or Wednesday. Since the above was written, we learn that the good folks of Napier are not on the present occasion to be favoured with a ■view of royalty, the king himself not being of the party. Near relations of Iris Majesty are, however, of the number, ■which includes also, we may suppose, his prime minister, or, at all events, his Majesty's pienipotentiary.

In another column will be found the list of persons who have preferred claims to liave their names placed on the electoral rolls of the province and of the severaloftistricts of the same. These names arer^ublished with the view of giving any one ■whose name appears on the list an opportunity of objecting to the right of any o.ther person to have his name retained or placed on the roll to be formed from said list. This must be done during the month of April, in the form numbered three in the schedule of the Act. Or any person may, during the same month, in form numbered four, apply to have bis name, or any of his qualifications, erased from the list. ' We refer our readers to the Registration of Electors Act, which we lately published in full. • ■•■ . ■