WELLINGTON.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVIII, Issue 98, 7 December 1859, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

By the Active we have received papers to the 26th ultimo.

The Provincial Council has been engaged in going through the estimates for the two years, and the item for the Boomerang subsidy was disallowed, because the Superintendent entered into the arrangement without consulting the Council. The working men of Masterton still continue to hold public meetings, and one Marcus Collison has forwarded to the papers the following " political creed," which had been agreed to at their meetings, and the profession of which was to constitute admission to membership of the proposed " union :" —

I beliere that the well-being of the people at large, as distinguished from that of classes and individuals, is the supreme law ; and that the actuating principle of all government should be to consult the greatest happiness of the greatest number. I believe further, that no delay or impediment should be interposed to realizing the will of the people, clearly expressed through their genuine representatives, further than may be necessary to prevent rash legislation or bad faith. I also believe that no representation can be considered satisfactory but such as is founded on the simple basis of population ; and that no individual should be allowed more than one vote for a single representative as ..distinguished from having several votes for various representatives, in different localities. I am further of opinion that, in order to prevent the evils of contested elections, canvassing, bribery, corruption, and intimidation, vote by ballot is indispensably necessary for the protection of the timid, or those who may be obnoxious to undue influence. I also believe that the system of double government, where two governments are perpetually clashing with and endeavouring to thwart each other, is a practical absurdity ; and that there can be no safety for the Provincial Governments so long as the General Government exists ; and that it is expedient not only that each Province should be preserved territorially intact, but should possess the management of its own affairs in their entirety, as in the Australian colonies ; the interests of the Crown being represented and consulted for by a Governor-General for all the Provinces, or some other functionary to be appointed for that purpose. A.nd I hereby engage, other things being equal, to support, in preference to all others, such candidates for the Provincial Council and General Assembly, as profess adhesion to this Political Creed, and are prepared to realize its principles.

On the political affairs of the province, the New Zealand Advertiser, of November ,16th, thus remarks :—: —

The Superintendent and his Executive are responsible for the present distress of the labouring classes, because the Council will not submit to be deprived of their right, as the people's representatives, to inquire into and sanction the expenditure of the public money. This is the true posture of political affairs here, and the real reason of the complaints of the Government party. The Council is acting on behalf of the people. The Superintendent is striving for the aggrandisement of himself and his friends.

Should the Superintendent follow the constitutional course, and take his Executive from the majority of tho Council, action would be restored to the machine of Government. Should he persist in governing by a minority, the Council must persist in maintaining their rights ; it is their duty so to do, and the people expect them to perform it. It is, therefore, manifest that the Superintendent can immediately put a stop to the present state of things. Let him bear tho blame if he does not. We subjoin a few paragraphs : —

Election for the General Assejibly. — A meeting of the Wairarapa electors took place on the 7th instant, at the School-house, Greytown, Wairarapa, for the purpose of electing a member to represent that district in the General Assembly; when Mr. Carter, having been proposed by Mr. Moles and seconded by Mr. Fisher, waa declared to be duly elected, there being no opposition — Advertiser, Nov. 16. Business during tjhe past week has shown a decided improvement ; and we trust that, ere long, depression in trade will be numbered with the things tliat were. With & fine harbour like Port Nicholson, trade at this season of the year should begin to. show some iin'proveinent after the winter months, taking into consideration that for some time to come we shall have a larga exportation of this year's wool clip; and although two vessels are advertised as loading wool at

Napier, yet Wellington must, as a matter of necessity 1 bo the depot for the export of wool from this Province ; and we sincerely hope that we shall have the pleasure of seeing Wellington acknowledged tho great centre of New Zealand commerce. — Id., Nov. 19.

Wesleyan Missionary Society.— The annual public meeting on behalf of the Weslcyan Missions, took place in the Wesleyan Church, Manners-street, on Monday evening last, at seven o'clock, which was numerously attended, tho Rev. J. Buller occupied the chair. After singing and prayer, the Rev. R. L. Tickers read tho report, which was adopted. After several speeches had been made by ministers of tho various denominations present, a collection was made, which amounted, including, collections made for the same purpose on the previous Sunday, to £20 ; and the chairman announced that on Sabbath next collections will be made at the door of the church on behalf of the same fund. — Spectator, Nov. 19.

An inquest was held on the 15th instant, at the house of Mr. Scott, Rangitikei, before S. M. Curi, Esq., M.D., coroner for the district, on the body of a man found on the river bank, about a mile from the ferry. The body being in a great state of decomposition, it is unknown at present who the man was. The jury returned the following verdict : — " That the snid man, to the jurors unknown, on the 13th day of November, 1859, on a certain beach situate on Rangitikei river, in the Province of Wellington, was found dead, and the said man, to the jurors aforesaid unknown, hns no marks of violence appearing on his body ; but how, or by what means he came to his death, no evidence thereof doth appear to the said jurors. — Independent, Nov. 22.