WELLINGTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 168, 25 March 1854, Page 5

WELLINGTON.

[From our own Correspondent.] March 8, 1854. Since I last wrote, two events, both of considerable importance, have occurred here. The first was the " Founders' Festival," held at Pitone on the 28th ult., in commemoration of the gallant enterprise of the first 1200 colonists ; who, by persevering in their determination to colonise New Zealand, and by landing at Pitone in January, 1840, really secured New Zealand as a British colony, and saved it from becoming a French penal settlement. A. building, 250 feet long, and 30 feet wide, had been erected for the purpose about 8 months before, by the very tribe of natives who, in 1840, received the pioneers of the colony; and it had been intended that the Festival should be held then, but it was postponed to a. more genial \\me of year. The day at length fixed upon turned out ,most favourable for the occasion ; and every conveyance that could "be obtained was engaged for visitors from Wellington. At 3 o'clock 60 of the natives, headed by the venerable chief Epuni, entered and took their seats, under the direction of the Rev. J. B. Hutton, the Church of England clergyman residing- at the Hutt. The other guests then poured in, completely filling the tables, which were laid /or about 280. Mr. St. Hill, one of the earliest settlers, took the chair at a raised table, supported by several ladies, and by the Speaker, 'Mr. Clifford, and the Provincial Secretary, Mr. Fitzherbert. Besides these, there were present Messrs. E. Gibbon Wakefield and Ludlam, .members of both the House of Representatives and of the Provincial Council for the Hntt District; Messrs. R. Hart and E. J. Wakefield, Members of the House of Representatives: and Messrs. Bell, Renall, and Moore, Members of the Provincial' Council. The Superintendent and the Judge had both been invited as guests, but the former was obliged to start for the Wairarapa the day before, and the latter unfortunately missed the last conveyance from Wellington. The natives, including- several women, were most of them very well dressed, and behaved with perfect propriety and attention throughout the dinner and the succeeding speeches. For the details of those I must refer you to the New Zealand Spectator, which furnishes a very complete report of them: the Independent's report, besides being very ineomplete^attempts to give to the occasion a political significance, to which it was in no way entitled. It maintained, on the contrary, throughout, the character of an entertainment in which all parties had consented to "lay aside the petty animosities of local party politics, in order to commemorate a noble achievement of past days in which all were interested, and to do honor to the natives for the share which they had contributed to it by their kind welcome and hearty aid of the early colonists. A ball succeeded the dinner; and to this, as there was ample space, the natives, men, women, and children, were freely admitted. There must have been 3-50 of them at one time in the room, and about 300 white people at the same time. Many of the Maoris danced quadrilles, polkas, and galops ; and though they have no idea of tune, as they have a very good one for time, $nd a great power of imitation, they really managed to get through them very well. The natives got tired first, and had nearly all disappeared by one or two o'clock; but a large number of the white guests kept it up till five o'clock. Last Monday night a public assembly of a very different character took place in this town. This was a public meeting, called by a public requisition signed by about forty leading electors, for the purpose of urging on the Members of the House of Representatives for the Province the paramount duty of attending at Auckland on the 24th May, " in order to take part in the vitally important proceedings of the first Session of the General Assembly/ At 8 o'clock there appeared to be about 500 people in the room. But the assemblage was not so remarkable for numbers only, as for the general attendance of those who may be said to represent the conservative part of the community, the substantial mercantile interests, the classes who from motives of caution generally abstain from attending political meetings in which exciting questions of a mere party nature are agitated. Thus, besides the essentially political men of both parties in the Province who were present, including all but one of the Members of the House of Representatives for the Province, the Provincial Secretary, and

some of -the leading members of the Provincial Council, there were present many of the merchants and others who seldom attended public meetings, in the time when public meetings meant only agitation against the constituted authorities. The fact that this meeting was a movement joined in by constituted authorities, —that is, by the Representatives who were about to exercise a substantial influence on the legislation of the colony,—evidently procured the effect of calling attention to its proceedings ; and the assemblage therefore consisted not only of the active minds which are so often in advance of the general feeling on public affairs', but also of those slow-and-steady-going men who pay respect to the constituted authority of the time being. This fact is not without considerable importance: because, on that account, the meeting must be considered as a representation, not of one section only of the community, but of the community at large. The same character was displayed by the meeting in its earnestness, and attention to the business in hand. On one or two occasions, an attempt was made to attract attention b.y one or two privileged buffoons, who had been tolerated in former meetings, probably for a certain amount of coarse jocularity and vulgar comedy, which was allowed or encouraged by the promoters of former public demonstrations, in as much as it kept the audience in good humour. Last night such exhibitions were distinctly obnoxious to the meeting; and any attempt to force them on the meeting was put down with marked determination. Even those speakers, who addressed themselves seriously to the subjects before the meeting, were checked, by unmistakable signs of impatience or disapprobation when they wandered from the point into irrelevant matter or recriminations as to things gone by. The meeting appeared to be bent mainly on two points ; the punctual attendance of their members at Auckland, —and the attainment of ministerial responsibility in the General Government, Mr. Fox, the former agent of the New Zealand Company, who has recently returned from England, after much travelling in North America, was called to the chair, with hearty expressionsof welcome. He opened the proceedings with a lucid statement of the all-important functions and constituent powers of the General Assembly. His statements derived additional weight from a general knowledge that he had taken an active and efficient part in the construction of the Constitution Act. The mover of the first resolution, Mr. Allen, explained that the members had anticipated the meeting by themselves agreeing beforehand to a set of resolutions, f which we publish elsewhere,] forming a kind of declaration of the policy which they meant to adopt; and the resolution which he moved was to the effect of adopting and sanctioning that policy, and of strengthening the hands of the members, by every constitutional means, in their endeavours to carry it out. lam not sure that I shall be able to procure a copy of these resolutions in time for this letter, but the Chairman will probably forward them to you. This motion having been seconded, all the members, except the member for Wanganui, who is Superintendent, (and was not present) addressed the meeting, and stated their views. All seven of them engaged to go to Auckland, to seek above all things the establishment of ministerial responsibility in the General Government, and besides that, to advocate the transfer of the management of the Waste Lands to the Provincial Governments, and the settlement of a permanent appropriation of a certain proportion of the general revenue to each Province. They all spoke in favour of an elective, instead of a nominated, second chamber, but with some little difference of opinion as to the immediate urgency of tlie change. All advocated an equitable adjustment of any debt which might turn out to be justly due to the New Zealand Company, among the different Provinces, —but with some difference of opinion as to the respective liability of particular Provinces. All agreed to consider the price fixed by the present land regulations as a proper minimum ; leaving it to each Province to put a higher price on its own lands if it pleased. I must refer you for a^ full report of the speeches to the Spectator of this day. The Independent gives its own version in a leading article, without any report for the reader to judge by. On .Saturday it will probably transcribe the Spectators report with a few variations to hide the plagiarisms.

My. Jerningham Wakefiekl briefly asserted his belief that the Canterbury public and members would, in a general way, give their cordial support to the policy proposed by the Wellington members; and that they would be punctual in their attendance at Auckland. The Provincial Secretary expressed his concurrence in the policy of the members : but diverged into a laboured defence of" cheap land," and of the legislative provisions, by way of taxation, which had been made by the Provincial Government against the possibility of cheap land being snapped up by monopolizing speculators. He professed to ridicule the idea of such an event; even though it was stated at the meeting, and is well known, that a son of the celebrated Australian millionaire, " Long Clarke," is actually travelling through the Wairarapa and Ahuriri districts with a view to form an opinion of their capabilities. But this part of the Secretary's speech met with but faint applause, considering the great popularity which the cry of " cheap land" has obtained in Wellington. One could almost imagine a large portion of the audience to be reflecting, that, although the " cheap land" regulations had been in force for a whole year, the bona fide settlers of the poorer classes had derived but little real benefit from them; and that rich speculators like those spoken of might not only manage to endure, but even to evade, that raising of the price, for them in particular, which is very imperfectly concealed under the cloak of road-tax and compulsory fencing. The adhesion of the conservative classes to the purpose of the meeting was marked by the speech of Mr. Raymond, the manager of" the Union Bank of Australia, who confessed that he thought this ,the first occasion on which he could properly take a part in politics. He expressed a general concurrence in the policy proposed by the members, and its sanction by the meeting ; and moved a resolution to the effect that copies of the proceedings of the meeting should be transmitted to every member, and to every newspaper, throughout the colony. Both the resolutions were carried unanimously ; and a cordial vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings at midnight. I imagine it will not be long before these proceedings are echoed by every one of the Southern Provinces, even if some have not done the same before hearing of this meeting. The " Stately" arrived last night from Otago. I have received copies of the Witness to the 18th ult. only. There are two interesting pieces of political news. The first is a resolution passed by the Provincial Council respecting the appropriation of the Revenue. [.The resolution referred to by our correspondent was published in our issue of the 18th ult.] I will almost venture to predict that neither of the papers here will publish this resolution ; for in this matter of the Governor's financial arrangements, they have both entirely abstained from making public the decisions of the Nelson and New Plymouth Legislatures. Strange conduct, you will say, for the public press ; positively to keep back authentic information, because its knowledge may tell against the particular opinions of the editors. At any rate, it behoves you the more to take every means to make the' fact fully known, that the Nelson, New Plymouth, and O;ago Councils have all thoroughly concurred in that opinion as to the illegality of Sir George Grey's arrangements, which was first put forth by the Superintendent and Legislature of Canterbury, and supported by the Lyttellon limes. Wellington and Auckland are left alone in their tacit acceptance of money and local power by means of disregard for the Constitution. The second interesting piece of news, is an example of the working of responsible government. The Executive Ordinance of Otago had provided for the appointment of a Treasurer for the province, but the Superintendent had only appointed an interim Treasurer. A majority of the Council were of opinion that the appointment should be made permanently ; and refused to vote the estimates "unless the Executive Council recommend to His Honor the immediate confirmation or rescinding of the present interim appointment of Treasurer." Tlu- Executive Council, leelinsr that this decision^ was tiintainoiuit u> a want of confidence, -""'^ uot being- ai>le to recognize so direct an iofinenea over .mil intevfvreinjc with the prerogative of His Hiinm-'s oilu-.c, leudoi-ed their resignations. The Supfrinieu-ifiii, \-\ bi* reply to this tender, nrsy skcu-hes ihe d:)\- -.-A limits between the duties

of that officer and those of the Council, and explains the means by which he had attempted to initiate, aud hoped to continue, the system of ministerial responsibility in the Provincial Government. He concurs with his advisers in the belief that " the making or unmaking of appointments, being made a condition by the Council of proceeding with its own duties would be subversion ;" but he " cannot believe that such was the meaning of those who voted for delay ; more especially as that vote might be construed into a stoppage of supplies, the last and extreme resort against the illegal usurpation of an Executive." The following sentence of His Honor's letter is so instructive, as to the true position of the Superintendent, that I extract it for you entire. " Superintendent's duties and those of the Council are clearly defined. The former appoints, the latter provides for, and neither can encroach upon the other without confusion. Appointments when made, may be canvassed and objected to, and in such an event the holders of the public purse are omnipotent ; but the practical balance is based upon mutual confidence. The maker of appointments must needs be amenable to public opinion and responsible for his integrity and discretion ; but if the Council, in addition to its power of granting or withholding subsistence, should stretch that power to the right of primary dictation, the Constitution would be unhinged. And therefore it is that I cannot believe the proceedings, of which you complain, are anything more than an indication of temporary difficulties in a new sphere of action ; difficulties which will speedily disappear as the novelty and apparent complexity of our duties shall be better understood." He goes on afterwards to say, " At the same time, in order to guard what may be called the prerogative of the Superintendent, and which, so long as in my power, shall be carefully preserved, I shall at once wijh your consent, and with many thanks to the gentleman who has kindly undertaken the interim duties, appoint a Provincial Treasurer." After stating the necessary qualifications, he instances " the Provincial Solicitor, Mr. John McGlashan, as possessing the proper requisites in an eminent degree." His Honor then requests his advisers to "recall their resignation, and meet the Council, so as to elicit a clear expression of its confidence, or no confidence." The correspondence between His Honor and the Executive Council (Messrs. Cutten and Macandrew) is published at full length; the new appointment is gazetted ; the Provincial Council meets ; the Provincial Secretary gives a "ministerial explanation" ; the leaders of opposition express their satisfaction; and the Appropriation Bill goes smoothly on. The whole affair does great credit to all the parties concerned, and especially to Superintendent Cargil, who appears to have eminently shewn his " integrity aud discretion" in settling the ministerial " crisis" by consenting to the wish of the Legislature: while the advisers also deserve credit for offering to resign rather than recommend submission to any undue encroachment on His Honor's prerogative. Thus Otasro, with its small population of about 1800, its provincial Council of nine, and its cabinet of two, has afforded an admirable example of the manner in which responsible government, administered with " integrity and discretion," enables a representative legislature to work in harmony with a chief Executive Officer.