NELSON.

Wellington Independent, Volume VI, Issue 563, 5 March 1851, Page 3

NELSON.

(From the Nelson Examiner, February 22.)

Although we long ago discovered that Sir George Grey was not one who always observed the rules of conduct and policy which govern most men, and t'lat, by carrying reserve to.an almost ridiculous extent, he often.ran the risk of defeating his own plans—of converting would-be supporters into opponents, of creating party strife, which, although hitherto moderated by good feeling in our own settlement has made fearful outbreaks in one not far distant from us. No previous experience however, which we had had of Sir George Grey prepared us for the disclosure made by his Excellency to the Deputation who waited upon him yesterday respecting the necessary amendments in the Provincial Councils' Bill, to render it an acceptable temporary measure for the government of this colony.

The points which the Deputation agreed to bring before his Excellency were these. First, the franchise, showing the restrictive tendency of making the occupation of of mure " dwelling-houses" a qualification for voters, instead of tenements, which would include lands and all improvements; secondly, that Nominee seats should be confined to servants of the Government who should ha limited in number; thirdly the assent or otherwise of the. Governor should he signified to all measures.passed before the end of each session ; fourthly, that the General Council, when summoned, should not be less popularly constituted than the Provincial Councils The Deputation, which consisted of Messrs. Saxton, Bell, Sclanlers/Fravers, Elliott, Robinson, Renwick, Mackay, Moore, Biish, Wells, White and Rankin, found his Excellency well disposed to listen to their statements, and in respect of the franchise, Sir George said that the operation of the Bill, as pointed out to him, would certainly defeat his own intentions. When the next topic was introduced— that of the exclusion of nonofficial nominees from the Council, out came this disclosure, which must startle our readers as much as it did the Deputation ; namely, that his Excellency expects the General Council of the colony, as it will be constituted by the Home Government, will consist of two chambers, both elected by the people, but the upper one requiring a higher qualification for its members. Thi.s Council to possess full powers to amend the Provincial Councils, which were only large municipalities.

Now it is unfortunate that his Excellency did not acquaint the colony of this three months ago. To say, that had he done so, he would have prevented all the agitation which has since occurred, would be wrong, because the Memorials which have gone home claim other things than those likely to be given unsolicited by the Home Government; but the questions at issue would have been so much narrowed, as to render the present Provincial Councils' Bill about which there has been so much fighting, a matter of very little importance. We must leave to another week the further remarks we have to make on this subject, and at present only call attention to the meeting summoned for Tuesday next, to allow the Deputation to report the particulars of their interview.