CORRESPONDENCE.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 169, 8 April 1864, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the Hawke's Bag Times.

Sir, —The time and the times cause me to write. 1. As touching the time this is the last day of the month for registering voters. How will those who have such an important privilege in trust have performed their necessary first step [registration] towards doing their duly ? Thinking on this high privilege and duty, a multitude of thoughts arise within me ; as I plainly see, that it is only by the electors generally throughout the colony performing their duty honestly and well, that N. Zealand'will ever be governed well. Begin at the root, or foundation, and we shall yet have a glorious superstructure. And so, too, of this Province ; I would that the Town electors considered these matters a little more, then we should be much better represented than we are. When I say better, I mean politically, of course. For what firm —what commercial or banking body—would submit for a moment to be directed by a few men pulling two ways ?—such firm or body holding in their ow r n hands the power to remedy such ill-direction. It is true we have five town mem hers in the

Provincial Council; but a very small amount of attention will serve to show we might just v ,> as well have had only one, or even none ! Does not the last short session prove the truth of my assertion ?. As I take it, either C J. A. Smith & Co. represent the Town truly, or Colenso & Co. do. Both parties cannot ‘ do so, as they are antagonistic, and are likely . (it we, to our disgrace and loss, allow them to remain,) still so to he. It is our duty, we think, to call up m one party or the other to resign, that the peculiar interests of the Town may he both fairly and strongly represented in the next meeting of the Provincial Council, as well as those of the country. This is the more necessary from the additional fact of the Town not being represented in the Executive. And, believing as I do that both Messrs. Colenso and Edwards

fairly represent us, and will advocate to the utmost for the good of the Town, I think the others, —particularly and beyond all question, Messrs Kennedy and Smith, — should be called upon forthwith to resign their seats. I hope those gentlemen have sense enough now to see, that, trammelled as they are, they never ought to have occupied them. Moreover, another thought I have just h now is, concerning the present mode of elec- ; ■ tion here in Hawke’s Bay to the office of Superintendent. Now, it is well known that one of the members for Canterbury (Mr. Fitzgerald) introduced a Bill into the House of Representatives at two different sessions, to set aside the election of Superintendents, ■ and to have them nominated by the Gover,'Aor. It is true he failed in carrying his Bill the House, but it is well known he '■ .will attempt it again, and very possibly carry it- We also know how our two members * voted on those two occasions. And I think the subject is well worthy the close considerfvation of otir electors, se as to have the mat-

ter well ventilated, and a sure and sound conclusion timely arrived at; as no *me knows when or how soon the General Assembly may be called together. 'The question for Hawke’s Bay electors to put to themselves is,—ls the present mode of electing a Superintendent by a Provincial Council mainly composed of wool-growers, their storekeepers and agents, the most advantageous for the Province ? As I view it, upon a right answering of this question the future permanent prosperity and going ahead of this Province mainly depends. 2. As touching the times : Sir, 1 hear unpleasant rumours coming from various parts, which, too, are in the main supported both by your paper and by the Herald. I find, also, that both Major Whitmore and the adjutant are absent ; while those who remain are looking at each other [of course, in dignified and proper soldierly attitude, awaiting the word of command]. Now, I want to know why it is that the Town of Napier does not move in these stirring times. If half of those unpleasant rumours 1 have above alluded to are true, the PEOPLE of this Town should be on the alert. Why has not that very proper question (put by Mr. Colenso in the Provincial Council to the Superintendent, and so very lamely answered,) of “ Why was the Defence Corps stationed at Waipukurau not been by the PLOPLE followed up ? It is no answer to reply, “ The Provincial Government did not do it or to say “ The cost is not now defrayed by the Province.” The question is still the same—Why was the corps stationed there at all ? Was the Defence Corps raised and sent here to protect sheep against the few poor isolated and country natives living within a radius of (say) 20 miles around W aipukurau ? or is the conservation of Henry Bussells store and canteen at Waipukurau of more importance than the keeping of those in this Town, and those 50, 60, aye, 80, miles nearer the Waikato frontier? When the Defence Corps was first stationed on the Meanee River, something could by said in favor of such a choice for a Camp or station ; but, why at Waipukurau remains yet to be shewn. Surely, if there is any truth in but a portion of those rumours, the Defence Corps should not stay at Waipukurau (far away in the wrong direction near the Southern frontier!) a day or an hour longer than is absolutely necessary.

So, Sir, whether I consider the time or the times, I cannot hut see, that the amendment of much that is now essentially and glaringly wrong rests with the PEOPLE. I am. Yours, &c., Peo-boxo-publico. March 31, 1864.