THE NELSON EXAMINER. Nelson, July 16, 1853.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 593, 16 July 1853, Page 4

THE NELSON EXAMINER. Nelson, July 16, 1853.

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 they serve only to secure liberty : they maintain civilization.

Db Tocqukvillb.

Of Democracy in America, vol. v., p. 230.

Yesterday, for the first time since the settlement of Nelson was founded, now nearly twelve years ago, the colonists were called upon to exercise that great and important privilege of choosing a representative to frame their laws, and preside over their welfare. The election of the Superintendent of the Province is the first act which the electors have been called, upon to perform, and this will be followed in a few days by a number of other elections for Members of both the General and Provincial Council!?. The changes impending over the colony, to result from its altered political circumstances, it is impossible to foretell. A revolution, such as we are now involved in, cannot fail to work great changes in the whole fabric of society — social and moral, as well as political. That it will be highly beneficial, we may with certainty pronounce, for we have sufficient examples before us to show that the concession of rational liberty to the Anglo Saxon people has ever been followed by great national prosperity ; and to doubt that result in our own case would be to question the genuineness of our descent from lhat

stock which is so rapidly throwing out its branches, and taking root and flourishing in every soil. For our own part, we have a perfect faith in the benefits which Representative Government will confer upon this colony, and believe that a very short time will show this in an unmistakeable manner.

Having expressed an opinion that the tendency of the change, inaugurated by the proceedings of yesterday, is to promote both general and individual welfare, it becomes incumbent to say that the blessings we shall derive will vary^in degree, according as we make a wise or an unwise use of the powers given to us. Undoubtedly, if the work is to be good, the workmen called to the task must have ability to perform what is required of them, otherwise, greater or less disappointment will be | the result. It then becomes the duty j of all who wish well to the colony, who desire to see it prosper and put forth vigorous strength, to deliberate well on the selection they are to make of representatives, and to be careful that they choose only men whom they have reason to believe will serve the colony well and truly. From the fact that this journal is the sole organ for expressing public opinion in this Province, we have refrained, and shall continue to refrain, from making it a vehicle to serve the interests or views of any particular candidate, but shall allow every party, and any individual, the free use of our columns for the advocacy of their own particular views. We shall not therefore say one word on behalf of any individual candidate, but recommend the electors to attend the respective hustings, hear for themselves the opinions of those who seek their suffrages, deliberate well on the claims of each candidate, and then decide which is the man best entitled to their support.

The barque Circassian arrived on Tuesday last in ballast from Melbourne, in search of a cargo of produce. We received no papers by ihe mail, but have [been favoured by a friend with a copy of the Argus of the 10th of June. The commercial intelligence contained in this paper is very scanty, but we are told that oats were sold the preceding day at 13s. 6d. a bushel, hams and bacon lid. to Is. 4d. per lb , cheese lOd. to Is. 2d. There is no *price given for flour or wheat, but we have heard that flour was down to £9 a ton in the Melbourne market, in consequence of the large importations which had recently taken place there. By the same paper we learn that Captain John Whyte, late master of the Invincible, and formerly commander of the Olympus and Berkshire emigrant ships to this port, was one of the passengers whose lives were lost by the wreck of the Monumental City steamer, in her passage from Melbourne to Sydney.

We have been requested to call attention to a meeting advertised for Monday next, to consider the subject of a railway from the northern to the southern suburbs of this district, by the way of the Haven, and to be connected with a proposed railway to the Copper Mine. In England, a railway is only considered practicable in districts having a very large population, and in the majority of lines, partly from the nature of the country, and partly from the very heavy outlay required for the purchasing of land, nothing but the prospect of a very large traffic would justify any company incurring the expense inevitable in constructing such a work. Like most other persons here, we must confess that we were startled at Mr. Wrey's proposal to give us a railway from Wakapuaka to Wakefield; but with whatever feelings we may view the scheme, we think the public would do well to accept Mr. Wrey's invitation, and meet him on Monday next, to hear his views upon the subject. Without venturing a syllable on behalf of jthe scheme, we may simply remark, that it is not always prudent to dismiss a proposed public improvement merely because we cannot at the time see how it is to be accomplished, for the projectors

of great undertakings are always looked upon as visionaries at the time they first publish their ideas. Attend the meeting, we say, on Monday, hear what Mr. Wrey has to say in favour of his proposal, and then ridicule it or not as you please ; but it is only fair in the first instance to hear what can be said in its favour.

In the Government Gazette of the 13th of June last, the village of Riwaka is proclaimed .to come under the operation of the Ordinance for preventing cattle wandering at large in streets and public places ; and the Gazette of the 24th, contains a notice that bush licenses will be issued on the same terms and conditions as those upon which they were originally granted.

The Weather. — For the last two months the weather on the whole has been very fine, and remarkably favourable to the agriculturist. During the last fortnight of May, and the greater part of the month of June, the frost was nearly constant, but within the last fortnight the weather has been more mild, and., indeed, has presented all the appearance of the beginning of spring. As we have often had considerable frosts after this period, we cannot believe that we have yet done with winter, although it is highly probable the most severe period of the season has been passed. Agriculture.-— ln consequence of the great demand for all kinds of produce since harvest, and the tempting prices which have been offered for it^ our farmers have been unusually busy in getting rid of their crops, to the neglect m many instances of their wheat sowing, which by right should have been over by the end of last month, whereas, up to the present time, but little wheat comparatively has been got in. Should the weather continue favourable for another month, a great quantity of wheat, as well as other crops will be sown, as present prices, and the demand which exists for all kinds of farm produce, will certainly induce every one to get in as large crops as possible.