The Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, MONDAY, 10th JULY, 1865. THE RESIGNATION of W. COLENSO, Esq.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 4, 10 July 1865, Page 2

The Hawke's Bay Times. NAPIER, MONDAY, 10th JULY, 1865. THE RESIGNATION of W. COLENSO, Esq.

In our last we published an address to the electors of Napier from the pen of their highly respected representative W. Colenso, Esq. notifying that he had with some regret, re' signed the seat in the Provincial Council to which they had elected him. Unfortunately we did not receive the document at our office until just as we were going to press, and too late to admit of comment on our part. Although we were fully aware of Mr Colenso’s intention, our regret is none the less that it should have been necessary for him to take this extreme step. And we do not know that it is altogether wise on his part, to expose his party to the danger of being made weaker just at a time when it most needs an accession of strength; as, should the Government succeed in filling his place with one of their supporters, the popular cause becomes weakened, if not endangered. But much as we regret it, we cannot blame him ; we rather justify him under the peculiarly irritating and annoying circumstances by which he has been surrounded. For a series of years past he has almost unsupported, stood in the breach, the sole promoier and defender of the interests of his constituency against the selfish schemes of a corrupt and time-serving faction, deserted and opposed by his fellow-representatives, as though they had no other duty to perform in the Council, nor end in entering it, than the advancement of their owu interests by the support they were able to give to the measures of the Government, and wbo were returned by the electors solely because more worthy men had failed to offer themselves for election, and not because the electors had confidence in any one of them. In view of the serious catalogue of charges brought forward, and as we believe justly by Mr Colenso against the Provincial Government and its supporters in the Council, we repeat that we are unable to blame him for

the course he has taken in resigning his seat, it had in fact become necessary to record a powerful protest, which could not be so well done in any other way, against the whole policy and proceedings of that government. But we are truly sorry that such necessity should have arisen, and the more so as this resignation gives the Government an opportunity of once more trying to weaken the hands of the people’s men, which the constituency had but even now succeeded in strengthening; and there can be doubt that they (the Government) will strain every nerve in order to obtain the services of one of their own dependents, who, neglecting alike the interests and desires of his constituency, will be a mere puppet of the Government, to be moved at the will of the Superintendent. In view of the above it becomes a very important question to the electors how had they best act in an emergency so trying as the present ? Shall they take the advice given them by their late representative, and, permitting him to retire from public life, choose a representative from among themselves ? We say a thousand times. No! In the first place, because to try to do so would be only to work into the hands of the Government, who would be only too glad to avail themselves of the opportunity of serving a supporter in preference to a new and untried man, and one too of the working classes. At another time we may do this, but not now; —now we have but one course, and it lies plain before us. We must shew our appreciation of Mr Colenso’s past securces; —our sympathy with him in the very trying situation in which he has so long been placed,—the arduous duties he has fulfilled, — and our cordial agreement in his protest against a corrupt Government, —by triumphantly returning him once more to fill that place, which he, of all our fellow-townsmen, is most fitted to fill, and which he has so long occupied to the satisfaction of the people whose representative he is. And now, fellow-electors, do not be led astray by any who may tell you that, having resigned, he will not again accept of a seat in the Council. If we understand the matter aright, he resigns, not because he is tired of working in your behalf, —not because he can for one moment suppose that he has lost your confidence. —but simply and solely that he might record his protest. —a protest in which he will be joined by you. Against a corrupt Government this protest being made, the duty devolves upon us to show that we understand and approve of it, as well as of the course he has followed in exposing and opposing “such a gross sham as this mis-called “Provincial Government’”!!