THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “Véritè sans peur.” Wanganui, February 7, 1861.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 5, Issue 221, 7 February 1861, Page 2

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “Véritè sans peur.” Wanganui, February 7, 1861.

The elections have passed over very quietly here, and have resulted in the return of Mr //arrison for Wanganui, and of Mr. Fox for the new district of Rangitikei, without opposition. Wellington thus sends up to the Assembly a compact body of able men, united on all the great political questions that may come before them ; and, though they may differ on minor matters, and on subjects that will not come before this session of the Assembly, prepared to support each other in obtaining justice to the various provinces, in enforcing a diminution of government expenditure, in passing effective measures for the increase of the revenue, and the proper adjustment of the incidence of taxation; and, when the time arrives, in introducing such a system of government and law for the natives, as may at once benefit them and the colonists. That the time for legislation in native affairs may arrive speedily is a consummation devoutly to be wished for; But we are scarcely so san guine on this point as Mr. Fox, judging from wliat he said at Turakina, seems to be. No doubt the Government will make a strong effort to obtain some decisive success before the end of autumn, which may induce the natives to submit. Already the natives must be aware that in open ground they cannot make head against the coolness and resolution of our soldiers and the skill of our engineers. And if the permission to engage in bush work be taken advantage of so soon as the proper clothing recommended is procured, and our soldiers prove their superiority in that mode of warfare aiso before the rainy weather sets in, there may be some hope of convincing the natives that it is time for them to yield. But jpclging;‘fr,om: ihe{*:pastt. ; .and. -looking at the slowness with which our officers learn to adapt themselves to the varying, circumstances of an irregular warfare, there seems little ground for believing that all this will be accomplished in so short a time. The disaffected Waikatos are doing their utmost to impress on their countrymen that: the contest is now one between the two races, that; they are to .be thoroughly subjected and deprived of their lands—and they say, “ the men first, the land afterwards ; you must first destroy, the inhabitants, and then you may get the country/' They may not succeed in their endeavour in this way . to obtain the assistance of .their countrymen in a body;.but no doubt these representations have had, and will continue to have influence with a.number, who will go to supply the places of • those who have, fallen. Vuch was their effect on Mamaku,, who was here last week. On his way down the river he endeavoured to, persuade Hori Patene and Peht, two other chiefe, to go with, him.to Wai,tara. They refuged, and the representations of the authorities and- others here- changed his mjnd, so fajr that lie. resolved, not to go himself in the meantime, although he said he could not hinder some of. bis people. Some of those chiefs, however, who do not lend an ear to the Waikatos’ suggestions, say that they'will not hesitate to go to war so.soon as an occasion arises. If, for instance, a Maori be killed by a white man, and the Governor do not give them up the murderer, to be dealt with by. themselves, they will consider that an occasion of war. The execution of the murderer by the British authorities will not satisfy them. It is thus I evident that a mere accident might occasion the war to spread much more widely. There, is somie reason-for-supposing that an attack on Auckland may be; made by the Waikatos, if fbey : ’find r theMselves 7 again;' defeated . at Waitajca ;• and W<f believe; it is considered in* quarters well .furnished with information, thatj there , is greater danger of * the war becoming more.general, now than there has been hitherto. Still, the Maories;must haveplaces fronpwhicli to draw their supplies; ofc European, commodities. This circumstance alone may prevent them from, enlarging , the scene, of hostilities, and all the present brayadoes of' the discontented, be soon, hushed to silence by. a

deeded advantage obtained' by us at Taranaki.In*Shy case, as Mr: Fox observed, legislation may be commenced with the peaceful tribes in the north. :

The 1 province of Auckland does not seem «o unanimous as Wellington. Our latest date it • the 16th ult. Up to that time five members had been returned. Mr. Thos. Bussell had been elected for the .Eastern division of the city, Mr. Forsaitb, the other candidate*; having retired early in the day. Mr. Firth and Mr. Williamson headed the poll in the City West, Mr. O’Niell and Mr. Daldy being the unsuccessful For Parnell Mr. Reader Wood is elected in preference to Mr. Heale, his opponent; and in the Afewton district, Mr. Geo. Graham beat his opponent, Mr. : Clark, by a "majority of six. Four of the sue-, cessful r candidates are anti-ministerial, i and thoropgli-gding provincialists -T—’ men to go c along 'with dur • .SDfte'. other, Mr. Firth, we are not so sure of, having seen no statement of his opinions; except that after his election be assured his constituents, that his principal object in his political labours would be, the securing speedily an honorable [peace.’* We believe, however, that he is a supporter of the Stafford ministry. Of the five, Mr. Williamson is the only one who was a member of the late Assembly. The Wanganui Natives state the maori loss at the No. 3 redoubt to he 60- killed and at least 40 wounded.:

THE ELEC TlbN ATW^NGANUL

On Friday, the Ist inst., the electors of this district met for the purpose of nominating a candidate for a seat in the house of Representatives for this district. The meeting was held in the Court house. /<bout 50 electors were present. D. S. Durie, Esq. having taken the : chair, and readt the election writ, called on those present to proceed with the nomination. Captain Campbell shortly proposed TLS. Harrison, Esq. as a fit and proper representative for the district.

Mr. Watt, in rising to second Mr. Tf»rrison*s nomination, did not consider it necessary to say much about that gentleman’s qualifications to represent us; but as the mover had remarked, Mr. Harrison was one of our oldest colonists, and had been connected with the legislature of our province for a number of years pistj he was elected to represent them in the first provincial council, and had been found a useful member on all occasions; his interests were identified Very largely with our owh, and his views were at all times moderate and in favour of the people ; he perhaps did not adopt such extreme views on the ; native war question, but that was nSWiihmaterfcl; as ■ the war was assuming a much more general appearance than when it broke out, and the quarrel now, instead of being between W. King and the Governor,'was taken up by the Waikatos and Ngatiruanuis, who had no quarrel with us whatever, and the Imperial Government had taken it up, and would carry on and finish it, without the settlers - having any more to say in the matter; and whatever other differences were between ourselves would soon be forgotten, and there was no doubt but they would find Mr. Harrison the right man in the right place; he had'therefore great pleasure in seconding his nomination. Mr. Harrison then addressed the electors to the following effect, — Gentlemen, —/ am here before you. this day as a candidate for your suffrages in relation-to the General Assembly. I have much pleasure in meeting you, as I am anxious that ;we. should v well and clearly understand: each other, ’js -v '■ Legislation at the present day is not the easy and pleasant task imagined by a! distant observer. It is not merely the adapting of existing laws to meet the requirements of a steadily progressive and developing colony; thrice happy and cheerful would legislative labours be under such circumstances. But apart from the consideration of a numerous and enterprising European population, there is a large native population, at once powerful, ambitious, intelligent., and exacting, the adjustment of whose demands claims the greatest circumspection. And I may here remark, ana I do it in no acrimonious spirit, that had their spiritual guides contented themselves with inculcating the Christian sentiments of peace on earth and good-will tqwards. men, and so pointing the way to heaven, the government and legislature of this country would .in all probability.bave been materially relieved,tan<U>Qtli races b£ inhabitants m;uch. benefited.; I may add* in connexion with this .subject, that though, during, my pilgrimage in New Zealand, I have ever wished; to cultivate ,a . friendly : feeling towards gentlemen engaged in missionary labours-*-though I have ever appreciated theu society, ,and should have pleasure in cooperating with any matter of social impor,t-r-ryet, in a matter of collision with The natives, they are the last of intelligent beings on God’s earth whose opinions or- advice I should seek. On such a subject I should yield a cautious, not to-say a. distrustful, ear to their■counsels, and conclusions, as the. painful' ex-, perience of many native conflicts has convinced fm£, that the missionaries, in their zeal and anxiety for the welfare of their flocks, have been betrayed at times into the position of ad■Vocates and apologists for the. ruthless, deeds of misguided rebels; . . : •; .;- ss • i v. ;;

I will here advert to, my political- views., i'Alas !~I ought to feel- a degree, of sbampFn ; the admission. My political'views, like my ; fortunes and' ray qualifications, are of: the , moderate order—of the medium caste. T am i no thick and thin partisan—-no up hill and • down dale follower of a party. With regard ; tq:the party how in power—the present Go-. , vernment —when we consider that: Govern- • ment, which ought to. have -been- a paternal : Government, pouring out its vials of wrath,

upon the.province, of. Wellington, curtaiUpg its revenues, nibbiing at its customs, and frowning upon and spiteirtg its people, I cannot hut, conclude that such a Government has small claims upon the support of the members for this province. On the other hand, with, regard to the opposition known as the Featherston party though I bear , willing testimony to those great qualities which form the prominent characteristics of that party, to their high courage, unwearied industry, indomitable perseverance, and widely-acknowledged talents —yet, gentlemen, I am not prepared to set lance in rest, and follow those adventurous spirits in every charge to which the genius of opposition may prompt them. I am not prepared for this; but should I have-the honor of representing you in the Assembly, so far as might be consistent with the duty due to my constituency, so far am I prepared to give to that party my humbler conscientious, support,,, /.may further say, tb&l should-wish, -as our ■ m embeiy rto be favoured with y.our views on all important questions, and to afford all the information of which I might be possessed, in order to strengthen the bond between ua, and as much as possible to prevent those differences which otherwise . might occur. These are my general sentiments, and I now shall have pleasure in giving my attention to any questions which electors may think fit to propose, concluding with an assurance, which I make in every sincerity, that rather than forfeit one single friendship, or break the harmony which has for so many years subsisted. between us, I would resign this grave responsibility, and retire to my few sheep in the wilderness. There being no questions put and no other candidate nominated Major. Durie declared Mr. Harrison duly elected.

.. EJECTION „V-., ; IN TH£ Ry/NGITIKEI, TURAKIN/f, AND MANAWATU DISTRICT. ,

OnMonday, the 4th inst., the electors of this district; met in the School-room, 7’urakina, for the purpose of nominating candidates. The attendance was not large, the, settlers being at this season too much occupied with their harvest operations to attend a nomination at which there was to be only one candidate proposed. Among those present we observed Messrs. Alex... McDonald aud R. Hammond, Rangitikei ; Jas. Wilson, senr., Jno. Wilson, H. Wilcox, Crichton, J. Cameron, #c. Turakina.

X>. S. Durie, Esq., Returning officer, having mentioned the object of the meeting, and caused the election writ to be read,—

Jas. ITilson, Esq., J.P., rose and said.—l have.great pleasure this day in proposing Mr. Fox, of Rangitikei, as being a most fitting person to represent these'districts in-, the ensuing sittings of the General Assembly. lam sure you will agree with me that he is well qualified to represent us there. We have proof of this in the able manner in which he assisted in the debates of last session, when so many important measures were brought before the house; and the electors of Pangitikei may

feel glad that Mr. Fox has allowed himself to be nominated at this time. There has been no period of our existence as a colony in which there has freed so much need of wise counsellors being obtained for the guidance of its affairs as the present; and the general views of Mr. Fox are in accordance with those of the greater part of this constituency. True, there may have been a slight difference between hint and some of us on the expediency of the native war being entered into at the time it was ; but we are bound to give Mr. Fox credit forhonesty of principle in, the .measures he advocated regarding the . same. There is-one very important point on which I believe we are pretty well agreed; and that is, , that the war should be prosecuted with the greatest energy until the rebels lay down their arms, and allow the matter to be fairly brought before the Legislature of the colony, when I have no doubt endeavours will be made to have justice meted out as far as possible to all parties concerned. I will not detain you longer, but now beg to nominate Wm. Fox, Esq., of Westoe, as being a fit and proper person to represent the electors of the JRangitikei, Turakina, and Manawatu districts in the next sessions of the General Assembly of this colony. Mr. R. Hammond briefly seconded the nomination.

No other candidate being proposed, Major Durie declared Mr. Fox duly elected. Mr.-Fox then shortly addressed the electors. He returned thanks for the honor that • had been done him in flits being elected , as- member of the house of Representatives for the district for which he was a resident and an elector. He had, however, to complain of the manner in which the polling f laces in the district had been chosen. The government had shown its usual ignoranc* in the selection of these polling places, the choice having been made apparently without any regard to the convenience of the electors. For instance, Mr. Duncan Fraser’s house, the polling place nearest the southern boundary of the district, was 26 miles from the nearest settler on the Manawatu, and 35 miles distant from Mr. Kebbell’s, the elector furthest up the river. Was it to be expected that the electors on the north side of that river were to come the distance of 26 to 35 miles-, to record their votes ? Was not the distance a virtual exclusion of them from the enjoyment of the franchise ?—-and in the Case of a contested election, might not the distabceidf their voting place affect the return of the candidates ? .

A/ajor Durie here explained, that the new districts had been so lately altered, that the Government had not had sufficient time to choose the best localities for polling; but be would bring the matter under the notice of the Government. Jlr. Fox continued by saying, that three

months had elapsed since the., Assembly was dissolved, so that no exc.use could be made by tb(e Government of want of time. .'••'lt was incumbent on them to choose places that would suit the convenience of the Electors, rather than that of the returning officers. The arrangement was just in accordance with the usual procedure of the General Government, and he would excuse them on the same ground as for other faults and omissions—namely, the

profound ignorance of themselves and their officers regarding all that it was incumbent on them to be acquainted with, whether near, or at a distance from, the seat of government. He believed, as Mr. JFilson had said, that the , opinions of the electors and himself were closely allied on all political subjects. In the present state of the war there was no necessity for. entering into a defence of the opinions he had advocated regarding it. Indeed, if these opinions had been properly represented, there would not have been found-such a difference as was supposed to exist. He' thought the war unjust in its origin, but, after its commencement, he considered there was no alternative

but its vigorous prosecution. There never had been, so far as he was aware, a “ peace at any price ” party, as the ministerial journals had striven to impress on the public. No better proof of this assertion could be brought forward than the result of a meeting which was held lately in Auckland, convened by some of the Auckland members of the late General Assembly, in order to defend themselves against an imputation cast on them by Mr Thos. King, late member for Taranaki, of having proposed to send - a deputation to Wi .Kihgi to sue for terms of peace. The statements made by this person were utterly false, and were pronounced to, be so by the largest meeting that has ever been held in Auckland. When the resolution

declaring their falsity was put to the meeting, every hand was held up except two ; and when those of the opposite opinion were called upon, two dirty hands were held up for an instant and immediately withdrawn, as if the persons to whom they belonged were ashamed of themselves. (Laughter.) All that the members of the house who opposed the ministry on the war question wanted was inquiry. Inquiry was refused. But in regard to its continuation, he had in all cases and circumstances desired its energetic prosecution. Wherein then did his sentiments on this question differ from those of his constituents ? A great deal, had been said about maintaining the honor and dignity of the British name in this dispute. He had taken the course he had thought most likely to do so; and no statement could be more unfounded than that which represented him as belonging

to a “ peace at any price ” party. But the war was-now t&ken up by the British government. It was no longer r a Colonial question, /t had been taken completely out of our hands, and it had-now become an Imperial question. It was impossible to say with certainty when it might be concluded ; but he would not be at all surprised if it was brought to a close within the next three or four months, or before the General Assembly met. But even though this should not be the case, it would not be again brought up for discussion in the Assembly. It would no longer be a bone of contention, unless indeed the ministry, for their own purposes, endeavoured to make it so.

: The most important question at present on the carpet was that relating to provincialism. The ministry had shown the strongest determination utterly to destroy provincial institutions. They had all but ruined Wellington, by refusing to disburse moneys which rightfully belonged to her. They had stopped all public, works in the province, and had .done great injury to its iuterests«-~'By-'keeping.back <£30,000 of one kind of revenue,;£3o;oo6 of another, and so on, they had tried to ruin both Wellington and Auckland. In the latter province their conduct had excited universal indignation, and to show how strong was the feeling against them there he had but to cite one instance, that of Mr. Williamson, the Superintendent, who had at one time been the mainstay and most strenuous supporter of the ministry, but who, when convinced that their object was to ruin provincial interests, had become one of their„ most determined opponents. If they were allowed to go on, they would next lay their red hands on Otago and Canterbury. Nelson was a willing victim, and was so completely in their power, that she could not remonstrate against her own dismemberment. But Canterbury and Otago

were too strong to . succumb. These would soon be the most important provinces in New Soon Otago would have as many sheep as any other province, and its population was increasing rapidly. Canterbury also was advancing daily in wealth and population. Well, the late members, for these provincesMr. Moorhouse of . Canterbury, and Mr. Gillies of Otago-~-had pledged themselves to stand with the Wellington members shoulder to shoulder for the defence and support of provincialism. And with the aid: of them-and the Auckland members, the question- of provincialism would soon be placed in such a position that, in this province public works could be resumed, and other means of promoting its prosperity taken advantage of; _ - - As soon as the war was ended, the relations of the native with- the- European race must be a subject for immediate consideration and legislation. The natives had; been neglected; in so, far as government;.was concerned, A well organised system must he instituted;, by Which they might be meanwhile enabled to govern themselves. Even* indeed, •;whif£: the war continued, this might be tried among, the friendly natives, those for instance it* the northern portion of.the province of , Auckland, and some-of the southern tribes. The prac ticability of such a scheme had already been shown by Mr. Fenton. Institutions analogous to our owu. must. be introduced among them,,

by which order niight be~maiatame(l.at pre-. sent, and by means,of which be hoped they might in time be enabled,.to talce a share in the general: go.vernqientTof > country. The Waikato committee, tested tbe r propriety of such a. system. . It .was appointed ostensibly to report on Mr. Fenton’s for the purpose of; making". Fenton’s system, .arid- sys-. tem. The “ sugar,and blanket’Lpolicy of the latter had beeii practically condemned. Mr. Fenton’s theory had been ’found to } he sound and practicable. The aim.and objectrif any government with which he (-Mr, Fox)' might be connected, would be to carry out the principle of self-government so well- putYto the test by Mr. Fenton. His (Mr. Fox’s) conviction was, that the native /race-' twriild- in no long period be extinct ; but the only chance of preserving it, and of benefiting any that might surviye, lay in the carrying out of such.a-pHn..' .. .The hon. gentleman conclude'd-i)y; saying, th'athis conduct during the past Asseinbly was before them. If in Wanganui', the very hotbed of the war spirit, his past services had met with thanks, he thought that’ till electors here would be satisfied' with them. He hSd only to say, that if they found that thdit‘ideas' and his differed on any public questioh.' but to send him a requisition, signedby a- triajority of the constituency, for bis resignation, arid he would at once comply with their request. (Applause) ' ' : The proceedings ended by Mr. Fox proposing, and Mr., John Wilson'seconding. a vote of thanks to - Major' Returning officer, for his conduct on the occasion, which that gentleman acknowledged:-id-.a Suitable Planner. ' l r- r r