Page 7 Advertisements Column 1

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 593, 16 July 1853, Page 7

" HPO FREDERICK A. WELD, Esq.— -*- Sia— We, the undersigned, elector! of the s Wairaudistrict,requestthat you will allow yourself to be put la nomination as a Candidate for the repreientation of that district in the General Auembly of the colony. , Your knowledge of the public affairs of the colony generally; the energy and ability which l you kave displayed in exploring and reporting upon the pastoral districts of this province ; the large interest yon personally have in the Wairau, and the knowledge which you posses* of its re* qnirements consequent upon your long connexion with it as one of its earliest settlers ; render you in our opinion eminently qualified to represent that district. Should you accede to this request, we pledge ourselyes to support your election to the best V our ability. v We remain, &c, E W Stafford Henry Bedboroogh C Elliott Robert Tinline H Redwood, senior A Mowatt R X Newcome George M'Rae Edward Fearon W H Byes C Goulter George Kemp ► CB Wither N G Morse Charles Empson F W Trolove Joseph Ward Edward Bolton William Wells W Dickinson James Mackay F L Vickerman To E. W. Stafford, Esq., and the Gentlemen who have signed the above Requisition. ' Gbntlemin — I have received your requisition requesting me to become a candidate for the representation of the Wairau in the General As* sembly of New Zealand. | I cannot but feel it imperative upon me to comply with a request emanating from so large a proportion of the electors of the district, and which by its flattering appreciation of any slight services I may have endeavoured to reader the colony, holds forth an assurance that future efforts will be regarded with candour and indulgence. I am fully aware that the period of the introduction of a Constitutional form of Government into a country that has long been ruled by an irresponsible Executive and Legislature, is a period of difficulty and crisis— that on the acts of the first General Assembly of New Zealand will depend in great measure our future, as well as our present prosperity— and should I have the honour of obtaining your suffrages, I shall endeavour, under a deep sense of responsibility, carefully to form my judgment upon measures proposed, and as far as may be without dereliction of principle, to afford my aid towards carrying them out in a spirit of conciliation and temperate discussion. One of the earliest functions of the General Assembly will doubtless be the consideration of the form of the Constitution under which it will meet ; it will thus carry out the views of the framers of that measHre, as expressed by her Majesty's late Secretary of State for the Colonies in introducing it into the House of Commons, when he said, that he did not consider the bill as in itself a perfect measure, but as a means of enabling the colonists of New Zealand themselves to work out a Constitution adapted to their wants, la the event of such discussion on the Constitution arising, I should give my support to such modifications as might seem best calculated to secure the principle of responsible self-govern-ment on a broad popular basis. I believe, and ever have believed, such a form of Government (the principle of which is admitted in our present Constitution) to be the only one which can naturally grow out of the circumstances of the colony, and which, whilst it will ensure our ultimate prosperity by giving us full power to manage our own affairs, will, by merely reserving to the Home Government all matters of an Imperial character,, also maintain the rights of the crown, and secure the affections of the colonists. ' Disapproving of undue centralization as opposed to the genius of our race and institutions, I should uphold the principle of local self-government within proper limits in reference to the Provincial Legislatures. As representative of a most important pastoral district, I should give my especial attention to any measures affecting the pastoral interest— an interest which has provided the colony with its most valuable exports — which has at once furnished profitable employment for the labouring man and a means of investment to the capitalist— opened up the country, and acted as pioneer to agriculture. I consider therefore that the pastoral interest has a claim to every support that can be given to it without detriment to the rights of the agriculturist and landpurchaser, and no further. Fully recognising the importance of education to our moral and material welfare, I should support such means as might appear to me best calculated to promote it without infringing upon that perfect religious equality which I hold to be the only true policy of mixed communities. I should oppose all public grants or endowments for any purely ecclesiastical purposes whatsoever. I should support the establishment of a system of cheap land sales, believing as I do, that such a By stem will tend to the. promotion of agriculture, will render the colony more attractive to both labourer and capitalist — and that any expenditure for the purposes of emigration should rather fall upon the general revenue than solely upon the landpurchasers, who do not alone reap the benefit of Buch expenditure. Sensible of the importance of securing to the country the official services of the most able meto by salaries commensurate with their merits, anas the duties they may be called upon to perform — I should at the same time anxiously seek by a wise s/ economy, to render the greatest possible amount of our revenue available for those public works which are the best investment for a rising colony. Gentlemen — We have hitherto been engaged in a struggle for free institutions which has scarcely left us time to consider matters of internal policy ; henceforth new subjects of interest will arise — they will be viewed in various lights, and create new parties, new shades and gradations of opinion — these, the natural results of a representative system, I believe to be rather advantageous than detrimental to the community ; however, they are inevitable, and as they arise, no man holding the responsible position of your representative, can hope in every case to obtain the approbation of the entire body of hit constitucats. In becoming