Auckland.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume XII, Issue 1289, 9 December 1857, Page 4

Auckland.

[From the Auckland Weekly Register, Nov. 23.] By the schoonet Acadian, Captain Robbins, which arrived from Wellington on Thursday night, we have papers to the 4tb, and private intelligence to the sth. The news is of a stirring character. Dr. Featherston has accomplished his return for the Superinlendency, hut at an expense of personal reputation and popularity that has rendered his mere individual success as disastrous to h ; s policy and position as would the most ignominious defeat. In Wellington itself lie was topped by bis opponent, whom the triumvirate F’s. vainly endeavoured to sneer down as a man of yesterday—one who knew nought ot the Province or its affairs. The sneer has been a most unhappy one for the sneerers, since the practical reply of the citizens of Wellington has been that they consider the three F’s to know a vast deal too much to entitle them to retain their future confidence. Dr. Featherston plumes himself on beating Dr. Welch by more than two to one, belauding the constituencies of Wanganui atid Ahuriri for voting for him to a man, and scowling at that of Wellington which had caused him so signal a defeat. There is nothing that we can discover for Dr. Featherston to be proud of in receiving the undivided support of the extremities of his Province. Ahuriri espoused his interests simply because he is a gigantic squatter, a deeply interested promoter of squatlages, and in so far bound up with themselves. Wanganui gave its adherence because there are many past favours to be gratefully remembered, and msny future benefits in eager expectation—added to which Fox was in possession of the field and ladling out a 'tsrnal amount of electioneering bunkum. And yet, with all these potent aids, how stands the poll !—Featherston, 834 ; Welch, 404 I

Dr. Featherston’s address on his return (which will be found in our columns) is one of those emanations of dictatorial impertinence and malevolent slander, which more resembles the bellowiogs of an infuriated lunatic than the expositions of a statesmen selected to rule a Province. Heaven help the people surrendered to bis unbridled will. Luckily for the people they appear determined not to be trampled by such an outrageous rough rider. They are leaving nothing to chance. They are well posted and well instructed. And they seem to be acting in judicious concert with Mr. Edwsrd Jerningham M akefield, a leader in every respect competent to grapple with and overthrow the rampant Philistine who so despises and defies tbe serfs that dare oppose him. Auckland repudiated her Dictators—and Wellington is giving proof that she will no longer bo the slave of hers.

The election of Members for the City of Wellington was concluded on the day the Acadian sailed. It was a spirit-stirring affair, such as we of the North are altogether unused to, the interest being kept alive by means of bands and banners, and the opposing partizans displaying their favours with all that gallantry for which “ tbe old country ” was once so famous. The result of this election is absolutely stupendous. It is an answer of quiet and unmeasured significance to tbe ravings of the newly-returned Superintendent, every on* of whose faction has been ignominiously rejected, the lowest candidate on the Reform List beating tbe highest candidate on the Featherston List (Mr. Clifford) by not Jess than 44 votes, whilst his vis-avis, Mr. Hunter, outstrips him by 129 votes. As for tbe wily Fox, be is nowhere, being only 87 votes astern of the least-considered of his competitors. Mr. Fitzherbert aspires to a seat for the Hut, to which that galling interrogatory, “Don’t you wish you may get it ?" seems to bo the invariable response.

The result of the Wellington elections cannot fail to have a most beneficial influence not merely over the future of that Province, but upon the best interests of every province of New Zealand in the general Councils of tbe Colony ; so much eo, iu our opinion, that we cannot but feel grateful to Mr. Wakefield for tbe manly and energetic efforts by which he has reduced our common, and pretentious, tyrants to their true level. If tbe Province of Wellington, as Dr. Featherston avers, he in any danger of bankruptcy, it is by his spendthrift and falsely-ttyled “ Progress ” policy that the risk has been incurred. It was high time that such a policy should be curbed, and though it leaves a trying legacy for those who shall frame a wiser and a sounder one, yet we cannot doubt that they who have had tl e manhood to arrest impending ruin, will be equal to the emergency of restoring the Province to a sounder and a surer condition.