Untitled

Anglo-Maori Warder, Volume 1, Issue 12, 11 July 1848, Page 2

Wakeful, indefatigable "X," with his eye of lynx, and claw of cat, is once again upon us. He long kept watch and ward over the New Zealander, never letting slip a chance of calling it to order, and has followed his game, like a true bred sleuth hound, even into the columns of the Warder. We owe him our best thanks for his attention, which has at least had the advantage of impressing the necessity, by a sort of argitmenlum in terrorem, of weighing every opinion that has been advanced with double care. It may be recollected that much curiosity was raised some while ago, touching the person of the said "X "; that many guesses were made at the name of a champion, always so ready to throw down the glove for the government. And one of them, from its exceeding drolluess, is worth recording. An idea was seriously entertained—it is a fact—that X, was the short for Excellency ! ! adopted as a kind of distinguishing monogram, for the benefit of those who had been initiated into the secret. We ourselves, know no more than any one else ; but merely observe, that the signature implies no singularity. X, in algebra, is an unknoiin term, which may stand for any number; for there is reason to believe, that there are many " X's " in the firm—many Richards in the field; and that one of them wears a petticoat. The charge of inconsistency contained in the letter of our correspondent is easily explained away. The argument made use of, was briefly this-. —that the laws and institutions of a new colony, (and it is of a young colony only that we have ever spoken,) must be fashioned for it either at home or upon the spot. That if the absurdity of home legislation for a colony at the antipodes be granted—an admission which few who have witnessed the mischievous effect of Downing-street interference will be indisposed to make—if we be right iu assuming that our laws should be framed and adapted to circumstances, in the very place where they are to be enforced, it remained only to be considered with whom the power of making them should preferably lie ; with the settlers themselves, or with some authority appointed over all. For reasons which were assigned, a prematuie accordance of legislative powers to the colonists was deprecated, whilst the advantages of absolute authority for a limited period, upon which the whole load of responsibility should be thrown, by taking from it the support of what we are pleased to call a council, were maintained. And " X " now asks, why in the teeth of that argument, the creation of municipal rights are immediately afterwards advocated. The simplest answer that can be given is in the words of the preamble to the old Municipal Corporation Act, which was disallowed from home. " Whereas it is necessary that provision should be made for the good order, health, and convenience of the inhabitants of towns, and their neighbourhoods, and whereas the inhabitants themselves are best qualified, as well by their more intimate knowledge of local affairs, as by their imti direct interest therein, effectually to provide for the same, and whereas the habit of self government in such cases, hath been found to keep alive a spirit of self reliance, and a respect for the laws, and to prepare men for the due exercises of their political privileges. Be it therefore enacted, &c." Setting aside the considerations of health and convenience above insisted on, which have been hitherto so deplorably neglected, and which are likely so to remain until powers of providing for them be made over to the inhabitants themselves ; the necessity of preparation would be alone enough to support our views. And it could be wished that such necessity were not so urgent as it is: but in the present temper of the times, there is no chance of representative institutions being long delayed ; they are more likely to be recklessly hurried on, to be forced upon us before we are ready to receive them. There is surely no inconsistency, after stating what form of government would probably prove most advantageous to the colony, in attempting to provide against certain inconveniences, which, as can be clearly foreseen, must follow the adoption of another form of government, one likewise that we shall perhaps be forced to accept.