HAWKE'S BAY HERALD SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 1864.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 7, Issue 460, 30 January 1864, Page 3

HAWKE'S BAY HERALD SATURDAY, JANUARY 30, 1864.

In our secoud aud third pages will be found the conclusion of report of Council pi-oceed-iugs, which, although the session -was a very short one, has extended to twenty columns of small type. Having thus placed before the public a faithful record — at least we have endeavoured to make it sueh — of the sayings and doings of members, we may fairly make a few comments of our own upon the business of the session. And, $rst, with regard to the Loan Act, we were proud to see it pass by so large a majority — composed of members represeutiug all constituencies. The advantages to be expected from, the expenditure within the district of so large a sum as £60,000 are, we think, so patent, that we can scarcely realise the idea of its receiving so much and such virulent opposition. We can quite imagine a diversity of opinion as to the particular mode of expending this sum — which, however, will come on for discussion during next sitting — but noue as to the propriety of a young province like this seeking to advance the work of colonization aud of internal improvement by means of borrowing. It remains for members — the soundness of the principle having been affirmed — to see, when the time comes for debating the Loan Appropriation Act, that the expenditure of the money will be so regulated that the loan will be as far as possible reproductive iv its operation — for we quite agree with Mr. Colenso that this should be had in view through every stage of the transaction although we probably hold a different opinion as to what really constitutes reproductiveness. The £30,000 for land purchases might with advantage^ we think, be restricted to the purchase of lands suited for agricultural settlement ; while the item of £12,000 for immigration assumes a new form iv the prospect of military settlements under the auspices of the General Government. A great part of .this sum, indeed, may not improbably under the new arrangement be available for other purposes of public utility. We much regret to see a feeling of hostility being fanned between the runholder and the other classes of the community. The ruuholder of this province has, in many cases, been the pioneer of the wilderness, and it is to him ; without doubt, that the province owes its present prosperity. We cannot but regret that so many of these gentlemen have become monopolists of land — to the exclusion of the smalL holder — but the state of things is one for which they are not so much accountable as those who framed the land regulations aud those who administered them. : Mauy a runholder, indeed, has been forced to buy in self-defence, thereby plunging, himself iv debt and risking the result of, years of industry. "We should wish to see a broad line of distinction drawn between : the runholder and the squatter ; as well as between those of the latter who occupy comparatively rough native lands, and those who seek to con-

t vertintoX^P *"** f » cultural i>r d TVlthl?7 -_i«v description J town. We T cgard the iuu. iof squatter as fil 'gaged in raisjj, ~^*^v midable obstacle to the introduction ox I "-Idle class of settlers, and to the progress Hfon lQllization . ' thiuk it quite "time that th b gr ° WIUS C r il SllOuld be decked bylome a. >tIOU o £*°£« jf ** General Government. S^U l ° U8 T ° f Mr - Colenso on this . SUCh aS C ° m " meud themselves . ° most cve ''J settler - and we were sorry th. C a Y^* of tac * ou the part of the governs ' ent should have placed in a position appare*. "finical to their spirit men who really »." o »curred in the necessity of prompt action iv' foe rafter. While on the subject of monopoly of land, we were sorry to learn from a speecu of Mr. Ormond that there is no probability of the native monopoly in this district being broken, except by purchase. Wo thought at the time that that gentleman's resolution iv the House of ' Representatives had no tendency to influence the minds of the ministry in a contrary direction. Nevertheless, we trust that the day for the native dog-in-manger policy in the matter of their land^ is rapidly coming to a close — that, under the New Zealand Settlements Act, land required for purposes I of colonization, if it will not be sold vo- I voluutarily, mustle sold under compulsion. On the subject of the reconstruction of the Executive, although a great deal of "rot" has been spoke u upon it, we unhesitatingly say that the government cannot hope to enjoy the confidence of the whole community so long as it is composed of three gentlemen connected with the runholding interest, one only to represent the town, aud none to represent the intermediate or agricultural class. We I believe the government, as now constitu- 1 ted, is anxious and zealous for the public 1 good aud prosperity ; that it has done I as much for the province as any other set I of men could have accomplished within I the same period of time ; that the advance- fl ment of the town of Napier has in no way fl suffered at its hands, but, on the contrary, I has been uniformly kept iv view by Mr. fl McLean since he came amongst us. Never- fl theless, we think that a. re-distribution of B the represeutation-if such an expression be B applicable to the Executive body — would fl be a judicious deference to public opinion. fl With reference to what took place in B the Couucil Chamber, following the inter- ■ rupfcion of Mr. Colenso's speech on the H reconstruction of the Executive, we do H not justify the interference of the Speaker, H although it was a well-meant effort to save fl the Council from the tedium of weary di- H gression. But this we do say, that, hay- Bj ing once decided, his decision was final, and H that the ebullition of temper which follow- H ed on the part of Mr. Colenso was any- Bj thing but decorous. H It is a curious coincidence that the only _ H two members who voted against the Loan MB Bill were those who, as it happened, had H no vote at all. Of the fact that Messrs. H Colenso and Bousfield were sitting illegally H there can scarcely be a doubt; for although Hj the former held or holds no office of emolu- H ment, he certainly did or does, technically H speaking, a place of profit. That men H should be disqualified on grounds so pal- H pably trivial is the acme of absurdity ; H but such proves to be the state of the law, H as industriously ferreted out by Mr. Co- H lenso himself, out of kindness to his friend H Dr. Hitehiugs. That Mr. Colenso will H again be returned — provided, of course, H that he resigns the £30 a year — we have H no doubt whatever. Possibly, also may SB Mr. Bousfield, upon throwing up his Iv- H crative post of £6 a year, but he is so obvionsly the shadow of his frieud — ready H| with his "All right, by Jove" whenever BH a motion is begging for a seconder, but HB fit for nothing else — that his supporters M would do him a real service by keeping jH him in the back ground. We will add a word personal to our- flg selves, arising out of a remark made by BH Mr. Colenso that the Herald was the acknowledged government organ, from which m he seemed to draw the inference that the- H| members of the government were respon- H| sible for what appeared in its columns. tfH That we have, in some cases, represented HB the views of the government, is true j and Hh that we recognise the efforts of its mem- HB bers to push forward the province when jj^B opportunity serves, is equally true. But JHB the Herald is not the organ, acknowledged i^H or otherwise, of any government or party, HH and the editor alone is responsible for the/fl] views it may enunciate, or the opinions it j^B may express upon public matters. HB