NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cnoft’s strait (Suartiian. Saturday, December 5, 1857.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume XII, Issue 1288, 5 December 1857, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cnoft’s strait (Suartiian. Saturday, December 5, 1857.

The Elections for members of Provincial Council are completed. The last of them took place in the Ahuriri District on the 17th of last month :—and on the 24th Mr. Gollan and Mr. Fitzgerald were declared duly elected by an overwhelming majority over the Government candidates, Messrs. Russell and Pharazyn, the numbers being as follows : Donald Gollan. 82 Thomas Henry Fitzgerald 81 Robert Pharazyn 42 Purvis Russell 41 The Hawkes Bay Herald of November 28, from which we obtain this information, gives “ a very condensed report of Mr. Fitz Gerald’s speech, which was very well received.” It also adds, “We regret to learn that the election is likely to bo set aside upon an informality." No informality, however, can make any difference in the state of public opinion in the Ahuriii District, of which that election is the sign. The speech of Mr. Fitz Gerald, as reported, is not very clear. But its general tone is one of censure and condemnation of the existing Provincial Government, which, indeed, he treats ns " virtually defunct.” The Hawkes Bay Herald, regards “the result as strikingly indicative of the feeling of the people—as testifying far better than words to the desire of a majority of the settlers for local self-government.” The writer goes on to say,—“ We may add, perhaps, without being far from the truth, that the voting of Tuesday was tantamount to a vote of, at least, very little confidence in the Wellington Provincial Government.”

On the evening of the election Dr. Featherton arrived at Napier. On the 2Gth he “ met the settlers, or as many of them as could be collected at so short a notice." A letter from “ Alpha,” in another column, will shew that although the wounded lion obtained some sympathy, he did not succeed in changing public opinion by the profusion of his promises. The Ahuriri settlers appear to have been well aware that he had, while having the power, failed to treat them with due consideration or even-handed justice ; and that, therefore, they could not believe him either willing or able to perform the magnificent promises which ho holds out just as his power is departing.

In short, it is evident that, if the Ahuriri election be set aside for informality, the same members will be returned again : and also, — what is more important,—that should a vacancy arise in the office of Superintendent, any candidate who may bo well-known and esteemed will poll a large majority of votes in that district over Dr. Featherston. The letter addressed by the Wellington Reform Association to the Ahuriri Settlers' Association was to be considered at the regular monthly meeting of that body on Monday next.

The threat of the Government, conveyed through its newspaper the Independent, to thcclTect that the Country Districts would keep the Town in order, falls harmless to the ground. In no district except Wanganui can Dr. Featherston and his clique hope to obtain a majority, either for himself or his supporters. Even there, a spirit of independence and reform is fast developing itself. It is currently reported, indeed, that Mr. Handley intends torcsign in favour of Mr, Fitzhehbert. Should the Government’s pocket borough be again used for such a purpose, nobody need complain except the Wanganui people themselves. How long it would suit them to embrace (ho “ rejected addresses ” from all other districts of the Province, remains to be seen. Wc are clearly of opinion that the leaders of the Reform party would rather have Mr. Fitzherbert in the Council to talk to and deal with, 1-han a more dummy like Mr. Handley. J erhaps Captain Campbell and Mr. Watt

vnll also retire in favour of the Rev. Jonas Woodward and Mr. Samuel Rkvans? There t on d be 119 half-measures about that course. J-nat would be, Dr. Featherston and Wanganui against the rest of the Province ! In that case, what objects would the Wanganui people seek to gain by such an obstinate a lance with a set of manceuvrers, whose s mllow tricks have been detected and defeated elsewhere ? Like the men in all other parts ot the Province, the people 6f Wanganui want “ ptace, order, and good government.” Ihcy also desire, no doubt, a fair share of Government expenditure in proportion to their population and their contribution to the Provincial revenue. They desire to manage their local affairs as much as possible among themselves, without that unnecessary interference n- P art of un,J Government sitting in Wellington, which often leads to favouritism and waste of public money. It is surely worth while for them to consider calmly, whether the Radical Reform party, which has a large majority in the Council, is not prepared to meet them in the most liberal spirit on the above principles. If so, why should they obstinately hold up the very little tail of the three I.s which can no longer wag in their favour ? ob

It is true that, for a little while, Dr. Fea therston, as Superintendent, may “ kick against the pricks.” But he is sure to be beaten in the end. The Constitution Act provided the means, by which the majority of a Provincial Council arc to subdue a refractory ; Superintendent. Will the Wanganui people gam anything, by backing him in that expiring struggle, which must speedily end in his defeat ? It is with an earnest wish that the fairest measure of good government may be extended to them as well as to every other part of the Province, that wc urge upon them the propriety of calm reflection on the subject. There seems little doubt that another man can be found, who will, by engaging to govern according to the wishes of the majority of the Council, put an end to the lamentable state of stagnation in public progress, which is sure to last for a short time, if Dr. Featherston be allowed to bring on the “ dead-lock ” which he has threatened. It is a pity that the Wanganui people have no other acknowledged representatives of their opinions on public affairs, than four members who are pledged to support the kicking Superintendent. If they would organize some body, like the Ahuriri Settlers’ Association, which would represent all the opinions of the locality, instead of the mere party opinions of Fox, Featherston, and Fitziierbert, “ a frank and unreserved interchange of thoughts on public affairs ’’ between such a body and the Wellington Reform Association might lead to a solution of all difficulties, as satisfactory to the Wanganui people as to the rest of the Province. We feel certain that, even without such communication, any well-known candidate, who shall engage to be advised bv a majority of the Council, will receive a large number of votes even at Wanganui. If a vacancy should occur, the reign of Dr. Featherston, who has abused the office of Superintendent to serve only a party, is at an end.