ELECTORS BEWARE!-THERE'S A SNAKE IN THE GRASS.
Thk supporters of Messrs. Wakefield and Bowler aro very busily engaged in endeavouring to persuade the friends of Dr. Fenlherston and Captain Rhodes to split thoir votes in favor of Mr Bowlor. Tho enthusiasm in Mr. Bowler's favor appears to bo at a very low ebb, and to make it n little stronger, tho report bus been raised that Captain Rhodes will not go lo Auckland, should-the promise of the Governor, to hold the next sitting of the Assembly'here, bo broken. This report is not true. Both Cuptain Rhodes and Dr. Featherston will go to Auckland, should the next sittings of the Assembly be held there. This they both distinctly pledge themselves to do, und what is more, they us distinctly pledge themselves to use their utmost, endeavours to get tho seat of Government removod to Wei liugton. But how about Mr. Buwler ? Dooshepledge himself to vote for making Wellington politically what its natural position and advantages destine it really to be—the capital of New Zealand. HE DOES NOTHING OF THE KIND. If our readers will take the trouble to read Mr. Bowler's printed address, as found in our advertizing columns, they will find the following remarkable sentence :—
"Ibelievetliatre.il justice cannot be done to the. Provinces of Nelson, Canterbury, and Otago/nriy more than to Wellington, unless the beat of the Executive Government, as well as the Sittings of the General Assembly, be removed from Auckland to a MOIIE CENTRAL SPOT. I should, therefore, consider whatever means lnay'appear bust suited to gain that end, as the first and principal object of mv endeavours." .
Mr. Bowler is almost as touch interested in Canterbury and Nelson as he is iv Wellington, aud the MORE CENTRAL SPOT may mean either of those settlements, quite as much as it does Wellington.
The favourite phrase used by the Messrs. Wnkefield in tho recent articles they have written for the " Spectator," when describing the Southern Provinces,' is that of the "south aud centre," but Mr. Bowler in his address, does not say that his; principal , objeot will be to remove the seat of the General Government to the " centre," by whidh we should understand- " Wellington," -but simply to a " more central spot" than it now is
New Plymouth would be a " more central spot" than Auckland, and so would Nelson or Canterbury. Depend upon it. Electors of Wellington,' this is done designedly, aud we will tell you -why we beliere it is so.
... No one supposes Mr. Bowler to have written his owu address. Mr. Bowler oould noc write four such paragraphs as oompose that'dooument, not if you were to make hima J.P. fordoing it. Mr. Gibbon Wakefield, in all probability, wrote it for him. This is not guess work on our part. On-the morning of the day on whioh the address was published, the Uth.of Jnly, : Mr. Bowler was a very early visitor ot Mr. Gibbon Wakefield's resi denoe, and there is but liltle doubt that it was then and there written for hi m . Had Mr. Gibbon Wakefield no motive for purposely leaving tho expression ab O ut the seat of Government ambiguous ? Those who know how carefully that gan. tleman weighs "every sentence he writes, will be at uo loss for an answer. Mr. Bowler would stand or full hereafter by hi.s published address, not by what any of his supporters chooseto say. If he sold you, as Mr. Wakefield sold you before, could he not excuse himself for voting for Canterbury or Nelson, and appeal to that document'in justification of his treason ? Could he not say that he never pledged himself to stick to Wellington through thick and thin, but only to remove the sent of Government to a MORE CENTRAL SPOT.
Electors, miud what you are about! Be careful, for there is a snake in the grass. Take a lesson out of Air. Ludlam's book/and have'nothing to do with Mr. Wakefield or his protege, for as surely as Mr, Jerninghain hus already acted traitorously to ihe South, so will Mr. Bowler throw Wellington overboard, when it suits his purpose. All words have a meaning; in some it,is plain and straightforward,-in others it is hidden and deceptive. We all know what Dr. Foalherston aud Captain Rhodes tueau when they say they will vote for the removal of the soat of Government to Wellington, but who knows what Mr. Bowler moans when he talks of its removal to a " more central spot ?''
ELECTORS BEWARE!-THERE'S A SNAKE IN THE GRASS.
Wellington Independent, Volume X, Issue 1310, 28 July 1858, Page 5 (Supplement)
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