NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Wednesday, November 25, 1857.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume XII, Issue 1285, 25 November 1857, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Wednesday, November 25, 1857.

Ocn columns to-day tilloid evidence that the Radical Reform party is actively at work. We have been furnished with the copy of a Letter, which we print, addressed by Mr Howler, ns Chairman of the “ Wellington Rei’ohm Association," to the Chairman of the Ahuriri Settlers’ Association. It contains a general statement of the views of at least 11) out of the 30 members of the Provincial Council, mid those of their most influential supporters, and invites tho Ahuriri settlers, as an important section of the community, to consult with them thereupon. We conceive that the courtesy and frankness shewn by the Radical Reformers, in this their first step after eating triumphal beef together, will be appreciated and met in A similar spirit by the men of Ahuriri, and by the run-holding interest generally. Tho lust part of it relates to the subject at present of most pressing and vital importance, namely, the collision between the Legislature and tho head of the Executive, which Dr. Featherston, as Superintendent, has threatened to bring on. The danger is imminent. Neither Dr. Feathkbston, nor the majority of tho present Council, can draw back from the declarations which they have made; theirs being declarations of policy opposed to his, —his being a sulky whine that ho won't work with anybody that isn't of bis mind. What’s to be done? Take away the spoiled child, and bring a goodtenipeied one 1 Every man in the Province who wishes to see matters of the utmost importance to various interests settled with justice mid fairness by means of calm deliberation, must be making up his mind as to some one, whom he will be inclined to support ns a uric candidate for the highest elective office. If he should be a man that either has declared, or is likely to declare, opinions in accordance generally with those of the Reform party, so much the better. But the main requisite, at the present ci isis, is a man who will not be carried away into hasty, ill-con-sidered, and obstinate pettishness by vindictive party feeling; who will be neither arrogant when victorious, nor spite I'ul when beaten; who would give his active energies to the prosecution of such public works, and to the carrying out of such legislation, ns a majority of the Council might have decided upon, instead of working at the aggrandizement of his own little clique only, with the recrecy and perseverance of a mole ; who would frankly on all important occasions consent to be guided by advisers, who were agreeable to, and trusted by, the people’s representatives. although he might often himself suggest a course to them, instead of displaying an exclusive preference for one little set, whether in or out of Council, whether trusted or thoroughly condemned by a majority of tee Legislature and of the electors ; and who would have too high a sense of the dignity of the office to make it tho mouth-piece of foul calumny of the private character of candidates for seats in the Council, men if they should happen to disapprove of the policy which he might have been advised to pursue ;—a man, in short, the very opposite of Dr. Featherston instead of such an one as Dr. Featherston is! The Steamer will carry to tho Ahuriri the subjoined account of the Reform Banquet, as well as the letter of the Wellington Reform Association. We have heard it reported that Hr. Feathhuston lias not. after all, gone so far; but that he was only bound to his own sheep-run, about half the way there, when he was met on the road with Mr. Dudley Ward and Mr. Hoy. Of tins, however, there can be no certainty. All we know is that, at a difficult and important crisis in Provincial affairs, when the Superintendent has himself provok. cd a collision with two-thirds of the members of his Council, —lie disappears from their neighbourhood.—takes to the bush,—bolts, — \ levants, instead of facing the position which lie has chosen for himself. We have no Court Circular to inform us of the real movements of the gentleman who has defied us all. So that, when we want to “have a little quiet talk ” with him, he is no where to be found! Surely, all those menaces on the hustings were not a mere " runaway knock’’ ? No ! whatever may be reported, we cannot help believing that he is gone to try and wingolden opinions from the Ahuriri settlers, in anticipation of another contest. Will they trust him without consulting with those, who have so long and so closely tried him, and found him wanting?

Another letter in our columns, from “a Wanganui elector,” gives a by no means unsatisfactory account of the manner in which the light of independence and information is gradually creeping over the minds of the pojpie even in that hitherto submissive district. We do not despair of yet seeing a candidate in opposition to Dr. Featherston divide the votes with him there. Ifmeu writhe at being considered mere joints in the tail of even u leading politician, how must they feel the in dignity of being driven to prop up the rejected Government candidates like Fox, at the bidding of such a dictator as Watt? Me trust that the Wellington Reform Association will soon have matured the leading features of their policy, in such a shape as may be subfnitted to the inhabitants of the whole Province for open discussion.