NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Wednesday, December 9, 1857.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume XII, Issue 1289, 9 December 1857, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Wednesday, December 9, 1857.

Mn. St. Hill fob Supeuintendest whenever a vacancy shall occur! On Monday it was ■determined to ask him to assume that position. A requisition was drawn up, and the first name was signed to it at about 5 o’clock that evening. Yesterday evening.—little more than 24 hours afterwards,—it was presented to Mr.St.Hill with 158 signatures, upwards of 50 of which are from the Hutt! Among these are comprised 18 members of the Provincial Council. There ■would, no doubt, have been 20 if Messrs. G. Hart and Ashton St. Hill had not been absent, one at Canterbury, the other at Wanganui. A glance nt the list in our advertising columns shews that men of all shades in the Hadical Reform party have united in this movement; from Dr, Welch (who thus manfully and honorably fulfils the declaration he madq at the Reform

Banquet) to several of thdso electors who voted for Dr. rather than an unknown candidate, but wlio, of two wellknown ones, now vastly prefer Mr. St. Hill to Dr. Featiikiiston.

The Rcquisitionists recount Dr. Featherston's threats from the hustings of obstinate resistance to any Council adverse to his policy ; and also his foul charges of private and public untrustworthiness against all the candidates holding such adverse opinions. They show that two-thirds of the seats in the Council having been filled by such candidates, the collision, which Dr. Featherston has threatened, cannot fail to occur ifhc remain Superintendent. They describe the evils of such a collision. They advocate the propriety of losing no time in finding a man of impartial charac. ter, on whose word reliance can bo placed, and who will engage to govern in harmony with his Council, should he be elected on the occurrence of any vacancy. They state their reasons for believing Mr. St. Hili, to be eminently possessed of the necessary qualities They urge upon him, ns a public duty, to hold himself ready’ to avert, if possible, the threatened obstacles to “ peace, order, and good government.”

They conclude by explaining, that they consider despatch in obtaining a reply so important, as to warrant the presentation of the request without waiting till the large numbers have signed it who will do so as soon as they have an opportunity. The Requisition was presented to Mr. St. Hill yesterday evening.

His reply is prompt, and highly satisfactory. He describes the reasons of personal convenience, which induced him to refuse a request made to him before the recent contest, that he would then become a candidate. 1 hose reasons still exist; but. bowing to the Urgent appeal made to his public spirit at the present important crisis, he waives all personal considerations, and consents to the request now; —distinctly entering into the only declaration demanded of him, namely, that if a vacancy should occur, and ho .be elected, he will fnitlitully carry out Responsible Government, by acting in harmony with a majority of the Council.

Nr. St. Hill, by this ready and generous self-denial, has relieved the rellccting and

prudent mon of all classes front much anxiety, and has deserved the warm gratitude and support ol his fellow.citizens. Few would , u had the courage thus to declare themselves before a vacancy had actually occurred : a cause the time is indefinite, during which he will, doubtless, bo subjected to the usual malignant abuse of the expiring faction. But the names already appended to the requisition will assure him that there is a powerful array of zealous, able, popular, and perseverin’’ supporters, ready to rally round him, and to get inn ten hearty cheers for every malicious snarl that his determination niar provoke Ironi the mortified vanity of the beaten party.

We are certain that even- day will add largely to the number of those who have declared themselves ready to support him. A false report was spread about the town yesterday, that the election of Dr. Featherston had already been disallowed. 'This was impossible ; as our latest dates from Auckland shew that on the 28th of November, their latest news from hence only extended to the Jth. Hie petitions against Dr. Featherston’s return were only delivered to the proper persons on the 14th ; and were not despatched till some days afterwards. The tone of the Auckland press, however, and private letters from thence, appear to intimate that the legal objections to Dr. Featherston’s return will probably be considered good. So that it may not be long before a vacancy shall meet the eager wishes of a large majority of the electors.