THE NELSON EXAMINER. Nelson, July 27, 1850.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 488, 27 July 1850, Page 86

THE NELSON EXAMINER. Nelson, July 27, 1850.

Journals become more necessary as men become more equal and individualism more to be feared. It would be to underrate their importance to suppose that tbey serve only to secure liberty : they maintain cinlization. OX TOCQUMVILLC, OPDemocracy in America, vol. iv., p. 200.

By the Supply and Torrington, we have receivedjpapers from Wellington to the 6th instant, Otago to the Bth June, Sydney to the 6th, and Adelaide to June 14th. The latter contain English news to the 12th March, some extracts from which will be found in our columns.

The Legislative Council of the Southern Province is to be called together on the Ist of next month, principally, we presume, for the purpose of going through the form of voting the Estimates for the current year: a duty, by the way, which, if necessary at all in a colony, which, at different times, for four or five years of its existence, has seen the appropriation of its revenue on the mere dictum of its Governor, should have been performed some weeks back ; as the period over which the supplies voted last year extended, has already expired. We trust that none of the Nominee members who reside in this settlement, will attend in the approaching Council. The experience of last session must have convinced them how impotent for good they must ever be under any form of constitution analogous to the present; while by their presence they apparently give a sanction to the acts of the Government, of many of which they do not approve. When the voice of all English politicians so unanimously declares that Representative Institutions should be granted to the Colonies, liberally and immediately, as a matter of right and not as a favour, the only points in discussion between Statesmen being those of detail ; when the Colonies themselves have so repeatedly asked for this as essential to their prosperity, their feeling of selfrespect, and their continued connexion with that country from ■which they are sprung ; when all experience has shown, that, after repeated refusals to make the smallest concessions, Ministers are suddenly compelled to bestow on these Colonies, at first trifled with, infinitely more than would have served to satisfy them, until they had become exasperated by denial or neglect ; and when it has now been determined to yield to their demands more completely than has ever heretofore been the -case, rendering the freedom, from Colonial Office trammels, of even this, the youngest of Great Britain's Colonies, bat a question of a few months ; it would be more decorous and dignified, that those gentlemen, who have been nominated to the Provincial Council, should, even if yet unconvinced of the inutility of their attendance, defer to the so generally expressed opinion against the continuance of any mode of legislation except a representative

one. The false position, also, which, as quasi- legislators, they occupy, subjects them to unceasing ridicule, and personal Attacks, having a tendency to destroy that reverence for tbe senatorial office which it should be the aim of all wellthinking men to preserve, and which would be readily afforded to some amongst their body, if, as elected representatives, they had met to enact the laws suited to the requirements of their constituents, instead of placing themselves in a position where they are unable to originate any measure of which the Governor should not approve, (witness their last year's ineffectual attempt on the Education question), and have merely the power of dealing with some cut-and-dried bills introduced by the Government.

We have, indeed, whilst we write this, reason to believe, that more than one of those who might take their seats in the approaching session has determined not to be present ; and we sincerely hope that for the future, none will take a part in the acts of the Council Chamber, save those official members who are necessarily obliged to attend. Such a proceeding on the part of the non- official members, would have the effect of preserving to us that unity of counsel, and power of co-operation, which would be found to be eminently beneficial when the inhabitants of this Province are called upon, as will occur on an early day, to deliberate calmly upon the measures best calculated to advance their interests, and the men best fitted to carry them out ; while a persevering disregard of the wishes of the community to which they belong, will as surely create in the public mind a feeling of irritation, injurious at the present time, and lasting in its effects, beyond the mere abstraction of personal confidence in the public conduct of the gentlemen themselves.

* The inhabitants of South Australia were in all but open revolt against tbe Government, in consequence of the imposition of taxes by the Legislative Council, which is a Nominee one, very similar in its constitution to our own. Deputations were waiting upon the Governor, and memorials being presented, to the effect that these taxes would not be paid, and associations were being formed throughout the country under the title of the Anti-Dray and Land-Tax League ; in one place, five thousand men had pledged themselves to pay no taxes until they elected their representatives, having adopted for their motto the words which, for centuries, have been typical of the liberties of Englishmen — " No Taxation without Representation."

The operations of Sir William Parker on the coast of Greece, were likely to involve us in a war with Russia and Austria, the former of which countries had protested against our occupation of Cerva and Sapienza. On the other hand, we could, if Russia took a part in the quarrel, calculate on the assistance of Turkey, which country is at present in a more prosperous condition than she has been for many years, and Which would rejoice in being enabled to clear off old scores with Russia, while sup* ported by such a powerful ally as England.