Page 2 Advertisements Column 4

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 650, 7 July 1852, Page 2

will practically give, excites an inteiest far beyond the limits of the Pensioner settlements. Your fellow colonists are looking to see whether they can lely on you as fellow labourers in the duties of a representative government;— or whether habits of obedience, — admirable in a soldier— have become so inveterate as to destroy your independence as citizens, and theiefore to unfit you for the duties of electors. The existing law d^es not confer on the people the right to elect all the members of the Council, but reserves to the Government the power to nominate one-third, or six out of eighteen — of the number of which it consists. The proportion of nominees is large ; and it could never have been contemplated, that Government officers would obtain any of the elective seats. Nor is there a chance that such will be the case in any other electoral district in the Province. Why then should you set yourselves apart from every other constituency ? What reason could induce you to take a course so different from all others 1 I will not say that the best motives may not guide you to do so ; but such motives, you may rest assured, but very few will give you credit for. I neither say, nor mean, anything offensive to Government Officers ; but I do say, and I maintain, that, when the Government has secured a full representation for itself by reserving the power to nominate one third of the Council all those who represent the peopie should befiee, unbiassed, and independent; qualifications, which it would be most unreasonable to expect from those who enjoy both place and pay as Government Officials. It would be no more preposterous to elect me to command you in the field than to elect my opponent as an independent Representative for the Council. And as you, assuredly, would not commit the former absurdity, why should you stultify yourselves by the latter ? You have it intimated to you by the Lieut. - Governor himself that you are neither expected nor desired to be false to yourselves and your fellow colonists. You are free to act as you think best ; and the responsibility, therefore, rests exclusively with yourselves. As far as I am awaie, you are the first Constituency of a similar character that has ever been called upon to excercise the elective franchise. Some of your friends have misgiving as to the use you will make of it. lam not of that number. I have no such misgivings ; or I should not have offeied myself to you as a Candidate. For myself, I place full reliance upon your honesty, judgment, and independence; and I anticipate, with confidence, that you will not throw away your first opportunity of showing to the world that yuu are not deficient in these qualifications, so essential to all Electors. 1 I have the honour to subscribe myself, Your obedient servant, W. Mason.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Auckland, 28lh June, 1852. Sir, — With reference to your letter of the 25th instant, requesting lobe informed whether the Local Government propose to exercise any influence whatever in the e'ection fora member for the Pensioner villages, I have the honour to inform you, by direction of the LieutenantGovernor, that the Government have no wish, nor indeed any inclination to interfere with the freedom, of election, either in one settlement or another. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, (Signed) Andrew Mnclair, Colonial Secretary. W. Mason, Esq., Tamaki.

ON SALE EX GWALIOR. \ LARGE assortment of CROCKERYWARE, consisting of CUPS AND SAUCERS, a great variety Dinner sets, Breakfast sets, Chamber ditto, of the newest styles and patterns. Also — A lot of BOOKS to be sold cheap. And A variety of, JAMS, consisting of Black Currant, Plumb ' Cherry, Red Currant Damson,, Gooseberry Raspberry, &c, at Is. per lb. George Hunter, Red House, Queen-street. Auckland, July 7th, 1852.