WELLINGTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 152, 3 December 1853, Page 5

WELLINGTON.

[From our own Correspondent.] Wellington, Nov. 24, 1853,

From this central place I venture to send tou some account of the present aspect of afTiiirs, political and otherwise.

We are now in possession of the views of all the Superintendents, except that of Otago, as put forth in their inaugural addresses to their respective Councils, and in the second speech, relating wholly to finance arrangements, of your Superintendent at Canterbury.

The General Assembly is not convened ; nor are there any signs that Sir George Grey intends to convene it at all. In the meanwhile, then, the only policy of the General Government is that of His Excellency.

Up to this time, that policy has been his usual one—" Divide et impera.'" Treating the General Assembly as a dead letter, his game has been to stifle inquiry into past grievances, and to avert opposition to his arbitrary dictatorship, by assuming to himself all the powers of that Assembly, and granting to the Provincial Governments, by proclamation or despatch, the very powers which the General Assembly uloue has any legal: authority to grant by enactment. The temptation has been a great one ; and it has, in some quaners, not been resisted. The Superintendents of Wellington, Auckland, and New Plymouth, treat these arrangements as matters of course, and proceed to suggest to their Councils how to spend the money and exercise the powers thus illegally placed before them. Those of Canterbury and Nelson, on the other hand, manfully assert the illegality of the proposed arrangements, and abstain from asking their Councils to make laws for the appropriation of the monies. In each of the five Provinces, the Council appears favorable to its Superintendent's views. Here, the Provincial Government and its supporters, consisting of the former leaders of the " Constitutional" Association, who waged war so long against Sir George Grey's unconstitutional exercise of power, have at once consented to aid and abet His Excellency in the most serious breach of the Constitution which he has yet been guilty of! Nay, they almost praise him for his generosity in doing so. Provided that Wellington gets the power of dealing with its own money, and other local powers, they display great indifference as to the legality of the manner in which those powers are handed over, and as to the effect upon New Zealand interests in general of the acceptance of such a policy. They would probably, if they could, make the Province of Wellington a separate Colony. Their arguments, their tone, their aspirations, appear to be merely Provincial.

Both the newspapers here support the financial arrangements of Sir George Grey : the Spectator consistently defending1 everything- that His Excellency does; the Independent approving of Superintendent Featherston, and therefore inconsistently approving of the Governor : both papers defending the Governor and the Provincial Government from the reproaches of those who disapprove of the unholy alliance; both finding reasons and making apologies for His Excellency's; determination not to convene the General Assembly ; both, of course, sneering at the contrary tone and demeanour of the Superintendent, Legislature, and Press, of Canterbury.

There is, however, a strong party, though in a minority of the Council here, wlio are likely to view the matter in a more independent manner, and with a staunch feeling of New Zealand patriotism. Two parties are thus sensibly forming themselves here: the Provincial, who only care that the Province should obtain, no mutter how or from whom, the largest possible powers of every kind; and the General, who conceive that no real good can be done for the colony or for any Province until the General Assembly shall have enacted whatever cession ( 'i powers to the Provinces may prove, after deliberate inquiry and discussion, to be most desirable for each and all.

Auckland appears to lie as exclusively Provincial us Wellington. The very able address « tolonel Wynyard, which is generally attributed to Mr. Suainson, the Attorney-General <" the North, treats the appropriation of the avenue as a fait accompli; and goes, more practically than perhaps any of the other inaugural addresses, into what is to be done with iue money and powers of the Province. The not only chimes in with this view, but,

passing' over the General Assembly as a farce and a cipher, petitions the Queen and British Parliament to make Auckland a separate colony !

The Superintendent of New Plymouth, in the shortest of all the Addresses, lavishes praise on Sir George Grey as the principal author of the Constitution, and tacitly accepts his financial arrangements. The Council appears to have sanctioned tin's course.

It is worthy of remark that the Governments and Legislatures of the three Northern Provinces have, hitherto, bestowed little notice on what is, really, the most important question affecting them'; that, namely, of the extinction of native title to land, and the other relations between whites and natives. Auckland has little land yet purchased from the natives, and earnestly longs to dispense with the 73rd clause of the Constitution Act, so that private individuals might make their own bargains with natives for land, independently of the Government. Wellington feels a somewhat similar difficulty. Notwithstanding the recent purchases of land in this Province, much of that desired and required for its real advantage still remains in the hands of the natives. They have discovered that the only way to get rid of a stock-owning tenant whom they happen not to like, is to refuse to sell that particular tract of land, and to harass him by claims for back-rent, notices to quit, &c. They know that, if they once sold the land in question to the Government, their unwelcome neighbour would buy a square mile in the best part of his run at ss. or 10s. an acre ; as those actually do who have kept on friendly terms with the natives, and induced them to sell to the Government that which they, the stockowners, intended to snap up for themselves. New Plymouth is fairly hemmed in hy the natives. Some of the recent purchases, by the Governor, of land about Waikanae, and other places on the west side of the Wellington Province, will add to the difficulty; because the vendors will migrate to New Plymouth, and swell the numbers of natives claiming high prices for, or positively refusing to sell, those tracts of land which are absolutely required for the-progress of that Province by European settlement. While thus keeping silence as to the difficulties of their '■ native question,' 1 each of the three Northern Provinces appears to shut its eyes to the fact, that all power in that matter remains with Sir George Grey, uncontrolled by the Hepresentalives of the Colony in the General Assembly. They perhaps hope that, in the pursuance of his sop-iu-the-pau manoeuvre, he will give them better terms than even their own Representatives. There may be reliable grounds for such a hope. Having boldly entered into the course of driving his coach and six Provinces through the Constitution Act, what matters another clause or two? In this way, to satisfy the Provincial need of Auckland for land, His Excellency might suspend the 73rd among the other lifeless clauses of the ' Act, and the eventual result might very likely be the renewal of a war between the races, fatal not to Auckland alone, but to the whole Colony and every one concerned with it; except, the voracious contractors for supplies to the belligerent forces on either side. This is only one instance of the manner in which the illegal granting of large powers to separate Provinces might involve damage to the whole Colony. Crossing Cook's straits, we find Mr. Stafford, the Superintendent of Nelson, opening his Council with a grave and statesmanlike address, in which he dwells repeatedly on the supreme powers of the General Assembly, indicates the confusion and danger caused by the delay in convening it, and simply refuses to submit to his Council any Bill for the illegal appropriation of revenue. As founding his whole policy on that principle from the iirst, Mr. Stafford deserves great credit. The declaration comes with all the more grace from the Superintendent of Nolson, as he is not a member of the General Assembly. It stands forth, sans jieicr et .ictus reproche, as the firm conviction of an upright mind, founded on careful investigation, ami j embodying the unshaken principle of adherence j to law, and respect for truth. It calls for remark, that Dr. Monro, who of all the Provincial Councillors of Nelson manifests the strongest disposition to oppose the Superintendent, has expressed his thorough concurrence with His Honor in the one point, of condemning the illegality of Sir George Grey's fiuancial arrangements. So that the Nelson Council will proba-

bly support its Superintendent in this matter. We cannot yet tell what Otago will say. But looking to the fact that Captain Cargill has ever been a staunch supporter of Constitutional law, and that his Council c&nsistsalmost entirely of men who are used to think and act with him, there appears little reason to doubt that the three Southern Provinces will be unanimous in refusing to become accomplices with Sir George Grey in burking the Constitution, and ignoring the General Assembly.

What is to be the result ? All this at present tends to a disagreement between the Northern and Southern Islands, to a mutual misinterpretation of each other's motives and disposition, to a jealousy and suspicion of each other, which must be deeply regretted by every true New Zealand colonist. The united strength of the six Provinces is in danger of being frittered away in individual scrambles for Provincial power. The bundle of sticks lies scattered about, each stick all the weaker for its apparent independence. The difficulties in the way of useful co-operation between.the Representatives of different Provinces, in order to obtain responpousible General Government, are augmented and multiplied. The appetite for Provincial independence and selfishness grows at every mouthful. On the first glance, the future of New Zealand seems to be, the fostering of individual strength in order to maintain the weakness of disunion fur the whole. And the successful contriver of this political legerdemain sits and smiles, sole master of the position ; ready to bequeath its difficulties to any successor who may be too honest to take advantage of it, or to rebuild his own supreme power on the infirm results of desultory and unconnected efforts, should he really ever return from his leave of absence.

But there is hope yet for those who steadily aim at the greatness and prosperity of New Zealand, and therefore at the clue and legal cession of powers to each Province, after.deliberation among the Representatives of all. A feeling- will surely spring up, among the electors generally, of unwillingness to confide th.c exercise of unwonted powers to men who are unscrupulous in accepting them. They will learn to trust the man who wields power legally obtained, with modesty and care not to exceed it, rather than him who is ever ready to assume any power thrust upon him, no matter whether rightfully or not. They will remember that they elected the Provincial legislators to exercise certain functions, and no others until legally conferred upon them ; and that they elected Representatives to determine in a General Assembly what those additional powers should be. They will, in the course of time, demand that each class of legislators shall do its own duty and no more, in order that the progress of Colony and Provinces may be supported by the security of law. They will demand from the Governor obedience to the law by convening the General Assembly without delay: and they will call on their Provincial Representatives to beware how they mar good laws by assuming an illegal power to make them. This will be especially the case in those Provinces which have chosen different men to represent them in the Central and Provincial Legislatures. At Wellington, indeed, so exclusively Provincial was the tone of feeling even at the time of the elections, that seats in the House of Representatives went begging, and the eight members were returned, almost without exception, unopposed. But in Nelson, Canterbury, and Otago, where some men were pitched upon and returned by the majorities of each constituency as especially fitted for the Central Legislature, and other men as peculiarly adaptsd for Provincial law-making, the electors theaiselves will not long bear the present anomalous state of things. They will gradually form a party, not wanting in leaders of ability and judgment, whose every effort will be directed to the maintenance of the integrity of the Constitution, and to the initiation of all necessary reform in its provisions by the legal authority of the General Assembly, instead of the dangerous intervention of an intriguing Governor and unscrupulous Provincial politicians. Such a party will be a real " Constitutional" Association. The simplicity of its principles, the distinctness of its aims, the unanimity with which true colonists of New Zealand in every Province will advocate its views and help its advancement, must rally both numbers and intelligence round such a party. Fur those who shall lirst raise its banner, and sound its cry, there may be a time toy struggle and disap-

jpuiutment; but there will certainly be for them, also, the satisfaction of acting with the most far-sighted and patriotic of their countrymen, and, ultimately, triumph in the greatness and prosperity of New Zealand.

There is little news here of any other kind. The re-elections of Mr. Fitzherbert and Mr. Brandon, the Provincial Secretary and Solicitor took place very quietly. At the latter, indeed, yesterday, no one was present except the Returning Officer, the learne 1 gentleman himself with' his proposer and seconder, and a warehouseman sitting on a hag of sugar. No opposition was offered, and no great manifestation of support evinced. Mr. Dillon Bell, the Commissioner of Crown Lands, has been returned to the Provincial Council for the snug borough of Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay; few of the electors being independent of the Crown Lands' Office. The Commissioner is at Wanganui, engaged with His Honor the Superintendent in making some arangements as to the Waste Lands, in exercise of the powers in that behalf delegated to those officers, whether legal or not, by His Excellency. Captain Daniel, a strong supporter of the Superintendent's Government, is canvassing Wangamri; and will probably be returned by the support of his fellow occupiers of compensation land, at Bangitikei.

Several members of the House of Representatives are here just now ; besides the eight returned from this Province, there is one of the N.-IFOn members,' Mr. Weld, and there are four from Canterbury, Messrs. Moorhouse, Sewell, E. J. Wakefield, and Wortley. The member for Akaroa is on his way to Melbourne and England; being probably of opinion that there will be no General Assembly in this country for an indefinite time.

Two gentlemen of this Province are spoken of as having accepted seats for life in the Legislalative Council: namely, the Honorable H. W. Petre, late Treasurer of New Munster, and now Post-master General: and H. St. Hill Esq., Sheriff, Resident Magistrate, and late AuditorGeneral of New Munster.

The weather has been very dry of late, occasioning some feav for the crops. Strawberries were sold yesterday at ss. per quart. The town and harbour seem unusually dull: which may be partly accounted for, as to the town, by the departure of a few to Wanganui for the race week.

. P.S. The Hashemy has just arrived, on her way to Lyttelton with stock, bringing Sydney papers to the 26th of October, and English news to the 11th of August. I have not had time to peruse these papers; but one announcement made in them will interest most of your readers, namely, that Mr. Godley has received the appointment of a Commissioner of Income tax in Ireland.

fcerclasliery, sugar, arrowroot, sago, rice, coffee' brandy, gin, and sundries, Order. In the Shepherdess, — 1 hhd. rum, 1 do. brnndv, 50 cases gin, 2 qr. casks wine, 1 case cigars, 10 dozen buckets, sugar, tobacco, raisins, wine, soap, suit, and sundries,-Order. In the Water Witch,— Boo sheep, 100 head of cattle, 25,000 bricks, cedar boards, and sundries, Order. fn the Necromancer, —20 tons flour, 11 sides bacon, 1 keg butter, Order.

Sydney Market Nov. 5. —Flour is firm at £27 per ton for fine, with an inclination to advsuice; seconds, £.25. As high as 12s. 6d. has been given for good samples of wheat. Oats 7s