THE NELSON EXAMINER. Wednesday, November 14, 1855.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XIV, Issue 66, 14 November 1855, Page 2

THE NELSON EXAMINER. Wednesday, November 14, 1855.

Journals become more necettwrj at men become more equa and indiridualiira raora to be feared. It would be to underrate their importance to mppote that they tenre only to «ecure liberty: they maintain civilization. Db TocaciTiLLt. 0/ Democracy in America, rol. T., p. 330.

The elections which have just terminated for members to represent the Province o( Nelson in the next session of the General Assembly, present some features which are worthy of notice : and first we will observe, that out of the six members elected, only one has previously sat in the House of Representatives, so that five-sixths of the representation is in new hands. This somewhat singular result has been caused by two of our late representatives, Mr. Weld and Dr. Monro, withdrawing themselves, with a view of paying a visit to their mother-country ; two others, Mr. Stephens and Mr. Picard, have been removed by death ; and the fifth, Mr. Mackay, lost his seat in a contest, so that in the next session Mr. Travers will be the sole representative from this province who has previously held a seat.

Our next remark will apply to the contest for Nelson, on Monday, when a gentleman was returned who is personally unknown to a considerable number of those who supported him, who has not resided in Nelson for upwards of seven years, and about whose election there had been so little previous concert, that it was not until his friends arrived at the hustings that they determined to put Mr. Domett in nomination. The manner in which Mr. Domett's election was carried in the teeth of a most active canvass on behalf of his opponent, is a recognition of Mr. Domett's talents, most honourable to the constituency which elected him; for what does it imply but that the electors were anxious to be represented by a man of proved ability and known aptitude for official business, and therefore made choice of one whose reputation was his sole recommendation, without solicitation on his part; for he was residing in another province, 300 miles distant, and who was not aware even that he was to be brought forward as a candidate. Even supposing it possible that the choice of Mr. Domett were to prove unfortunate in any way, the motives which dictated the choice made by the electors of Nelson were most creditable to them; for even his late opponents cannot refuse to admit, that setting all other considerations aside, and fitness for the duties of a representative being the sole question, the name of Mr. Domett: stands forth pre-eminently among the public men of the colony.

After so radical a change as that which has just taken place in the representation of the province, many would like to learn whether the public service will be likely to gain, or suffer loss by it. This is a difficult problem to solve, and had better be left to time to determine. Against the tried ability of Mr. Weld, Dr. Monro, and Mr. Picard, we have secured the services of Mr. Stafford and Mr. Domett, both men of proved ability also, possessing a most intimate acquaintance with the | affairs of the colony, and both likely to held as high a position in the new House of Representatives as any members whom they may meet there. Of the remaining three new members, let us hope that they will not disappoint the expectations which their respective constituenciei entertain of their ability to serve them.