The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 572, 8 October 1851, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

Be just aiT*. foar not • Let all the ends thou aims't At, be thy Country'h, Tliy God's>, and 'i'rulh'b.

AUCKLAND, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 8, 1851.

If we were required to single out one qualification, which, above every other, we should pronounce indispensable in a candidate for a seat in our Municipal Council, we do not think we could hesitate in naming — such a general recognition and approbation of the benefits which may be derived from the provisions of the Charter of Incorporation, even as it now exists, as would ensure his devoting his influence and energies to a faithful working out of those provisions for the public advantage. We do not mean that he should consida it so perfect as to admit of no improvement— tv lequire no amendment,— to be such " a faultless monster," as the world never saw before in the shape of a new-born political constitution. We have never ourselves taken this ground in relation to it ; for, although our remarks have been for the most part of a decidedly laudatory character, that was chiefly because our immediate call of duty, as honest journalists, seemed to be, to counteract, as far as we could, the attempt to raise such a storm of popular opposition as would lead to an inconsiderate and fatal rejection of the privileges which it actually confers. Having this specific object in view, we addressed ourselves to the twofold task of showing, first, that many of the objections urged against the Chaiter were wholly unfounded or greatly exaggerated ; and, secondly, that, even in its present condition, — without reference to any future enlargement or modification which it may undergo — it gives an amount of self-government which should render it highly acceptable to every genuine lover of Free Institutions, and is capable of being so worked as to produce much and immediate practical good. But we have kept ourselves at the fullest liberty to watch its operations in an impartial and scrutinizing spirit, and to unite in all proper endeavours to obtain any additions, excisions, or other alterations that experience and the progress of circumstances may dictate. We should not therefore expect, or indeed desire, that the Council should be composed of men, (if such there be) who think the present Charter absolutely faultless —an embodiment of the perfection of wisdom ; while, on the other hand, we deem it all-im-portant that it should be composed of men who see and own that there aie large elements of

good in it, and who aie ptepaied lo develop those elements in ihe best way. For, supposing that men sympathising in the sweeping condemnation of the mcasuie which . was expressed by some on its Cast publication* 1 weic lo be installed in the Corpoiate offices, and , to acioxii thi'ir principles of unqualified hostility, what would be the lesult? Tney would, we aie wauanted in nppiehending, set themselves, not to lender the capabilities of the Chailei available to the utmost and without delay, but rather to frustrate its intention, and dead -Jock its operation 1 ;. They would piobably say, — by their conduct if not in so many woids, — ' This measure is so bad that ue can tuin it to no piofilable account ; we must have such and such other mateiials to woik with, befoie we can do anything woith undeituking on behalf of the public' No doubt it would be difficult foi persons who acceptrd seats under (he Charter with such a purpose as this, to shield themselves fiom the imputation of hypocnsy and dishonesty towards the electors ; but there ar c causislical lefinements on political subjects by which men of geneial uprightness in their tiansactions occasionally permit themselves to be blinded, if not convinced ; and it is quite possible that there may be minds so constituted as fo see no breach of integnty in such a course, if they had once peisuaded themselves that their adoption of it might eventually bung about the concession of privileges more in accordance with their own views. Meanwhile the lesull would be an indefinite postponement of «he benefits which the Borough might have received fiom a judicious administration of the powers already conferred ; and, moieover, there would b? a distrust naturally created on the pait of the Government towards representations ni'ide by Councillois who bad evidently brought to their office a spirit, not of candour, bul of factious fault-finding} and the leply to them might reasonably be, — 'It would ba\ebeen time enough to call for amendments when you had given the existing provisions a fair trial.' We need not multiply arguments or illustrations on this point. It must be evident that the Burgesses will not be true to their own inteiests if they do not satisfy themselves fully that their lepiesentatives, however zealous they may be in seeking impiovements in the Chaiter, will— pending such alterations — honestly strive to do all the good they can by means of the provisions it aheady"' V contains. "While we are on the subject of the qualifications of candidates, we may adveit to one or two other points on which we have heard some conversational discussion. We allude to the amount of importance which should be attached either to what is designated " practical knowledge," or to the possession of propeity. Each of these as qualifications has its warm advocates, and to a ceitain extent we concur with them all. But we must say that we have heard the value of both the one and the other — accoiding to the best judgment we can form — over- rated. If by i( practical knowledge" is meant an acquaintance with men and things — with the wants and the resources of the community — such as is obtained by personal observation, and intercourse with the various classes of the people, — as contrasted withtheknowledge which is merely speculative, theoretical, hook-ac-quired — then we agree in all that can be said of its necessity. But if it be taken to mean the possession of a personal acquaintance with the scientific, or the mechanical or manual, processes by which the works which the Corporation may resolve upon, are to be performed, then we think that its place amongst the qualifications of a Councillor, especially in the first Council, is only a very secondary one. For instance, although any information which members of the Council may possess as to the actual way in which roads and bridges and drains are made, would undoubtedly be useful, yet much more would depend upon their selecting as their officer a Surveyor whose competency and integrity could be relied upon, than upon their capability of doing the work with their own hands, or their possession of any more knowledge of the subject than would enable them to exercise due supervision over the plans and details which he may lay before them. This view, we repeat, is especially just as respects the first year, during which a primary and most responsible part of the duty of the Council will be vhtually that of legislation, — of constructing a scheme for future operations — laying a foundation on which succeeding Councils may advantageously erect the superstructure of their undertakings for years to come. There will be much to be done in the consideration of the general principles on which funds shall be raised and appropriated, and the Government of the Borough be best conducted, and in the preparation of rules for the development in business procedures of those principles, before " practical" steps (in the sense of which we have spoken) can properly be taken to any considerable extent. As respects Property, the Charter has not made it a qualification for candidates, and if it becomes so at all it must be by the free choice of the Burgesses themselves. We do not undervalue its claims in their own place, bul here also, as in the foregoing instance, we think those claims, should hold but a subordinate rank. The circumstances of society in the Colony render some ot the considerations to which weight is attached at home in making a property qualification requisite, only paitially, if at all, applicable in this new country. Many who now possess wealth have only iccently

acquned it, and some of them at least may not be h) an) menus as likely to serve the public efficiently, as some otheis v. ho lia\e yet to climb the ascent winch then- moie opulent neighbouis have successfully sunnountecl. The intelligence and talent of the colony is &ha v ed in full proportion by the latter class. Beside?, viewing the matter in lelalion to the inteiest which candidates may be expected to feel in the improvements of the Boiough, — a man ma) have Luge possessions in the Funds or in mortgages, or in ships, and yet not have ai real or close an inteiest in the affairs over which the Council is to rule, as anothei who is in comparatively poor ciicumstances, but is bi ought into immediate contact with the localities and its inhabitants in his daily professional or industiial avocation 1 ?, and who holds, — though not an estate — yet a house or faim liable to taxation. Who aie the men who may be believed to feel the deepest interest in the permanent prospenty of the place? Aie they those who, with a large nominal piopeity, perhaps, belonging in great part to firms or parties at a distance, aie rather draining its wealth fiom the colony than augmenting ltsiesouices 1 Or are they nof lathci those who, howo\er some may choose to consider them humble and lowly, have with their families, taken root vi the soil, and look to no earthly futme foi themselves or their childien except as connected with New Zealand ? A property qualification i hat would exclude such men as these would be equally unjust and impolitic ; they form much of the bone and sinew of the colony's growing stieugth ; and not a few of them have the intellectual and educational acquirements which may be desired in a Councillor, at all j events to an extent that would lift them up to if not above, the level of some " men of property." We conclude therefore that, while property ] should not be wholly disregarded as a qualification, it should not be demanded as an indispensable, 01 even a primary, lequisite. Indeed, in every case, theiewill be numerous considerations to be weighed and balanced ; and we can only hope that this will be done so judiciously and impartially that the best men on the whole may be fixed on. Our chief object in making these remarks was to submit some of the thoughts and suggestions by which it appears to us the selection should be guided on the particular points refened to.

By the Overland Mail we, yesterday afternoon, received Wellington papers to tlie 6th of September. The principal local news from Wellington is connected with the proclamation of the Eoads and Streets Ordinance, which had been made the object of a furious onslaught on the part of the Constitutional Association patriots. A "glorious meeting" (according to the Independent) had been held at Barrett's Hotel, at which speeches elaborately confounding the question of repairing the highways with the most vexed questions in the administration of the colony, were poured forth in the usual oratorical style of Drs. Dorset, Fkatiierstox, and Co. A more influential movement against the measure, however, was made by the Grand Jury, who agreed to a presentment setting forth the dangerous state of the townroads, which they urged should be repaired, not by an additional tax, such as would be levied by the obnoxious Ordinance, but at the charge of the local revenue. The Independent, as the organ of the opposition, was earnestly stirring up the malcontents to elect as Commissioners under the Ordinance " men pledged to defeat its operation." Referring to this exquisite suggestion of political morality, the Spectator justly observes, "What shall we say of the morality, the honesty, of those who could deliberately undertake an office only for the purpose of betraying its trusts, — who arc ready to conspire together to evade and defeat the law. * * We hope, for the credit of the settlement, five such persons cannot be found in it." The remarks met our view rather appropriately, just after we had written an article in another column, which deaL with the possibility of an analogous occurrence here. A Public Meeting of the Ilutt settlers had been held to consider the Draft of a Charter for the Incorporation of the Ilutt District. Mr. Rbxall moved that Sir George Grey be requested to confer the Charter upon the inhabitants, " and to give a distinct pledge on the part of the Government that the Ilutt settlers should not be called upon to tax themselves for the maintenance of the main road.'' Mr. McDowall moved an amendment declining the responsibilities of Incorporation until "there shall be constituted one truly General Representative Assembly for the whole colony, with a fair share in the power of controul over the general revenue." The Ilutt folk were wise enough to see the hollowness of the pretences on which this opposition to an immediate benefit was based, and adopted the original resolution by a large majority. The Wellington papers were occupied in controversy on the speeches and resolutions at a public meeting at Lyttelton, to consider the offer of the Governor-in- Chief to erect Canterbury into a seperate Province, should the settlers desire it. The following were the Resolutions adopted at this'Mccting; — we may afterwards find room for some further account of its proceedings in which Mr. Godley eulogized himself and the Association, vilified the Government to his heart's content : — 1. That in the opinion of this meeting the erection of Canterbury into a separate province would materially promote the welfaie of the settlement, by securing .attention to us local interests ; by confining, as far as possible, the expenditure of its local revenue to local objects ; abovo all by giving to its people a direct participation iv political affairs, and thereby supplying them with woithy objects of ambition, interest, and action. <£. That by a strict economy, by the avoidance of pageantry and display, and \>j tbe piovisional combination of offices (whenever such combination shall be possible) this change mny bo effected without any material increase in the public establishments. 3. That it la no pait of the business of this meeting; to point out the boundaiies of the proposed province; but that it distinctly disclaims any desne toencroncb on tonitory to which other settlements mny have a fanclaim.

4. That 'Ins mooiing, while inking Us claim toa lornl Government for Cantcihuiv, desires to guarl it -elt i.uehilh ,i»a'iist being Mippo*ed to imply absent to, or appioval of, the measure lor establishing piovincml council!! which ins lately been enacted, inasmuch as th.it measuie cloi'S not give, to the people of this count) v any ronl or efficient conuol over the management of (linn own aflans, and the expendituie ot their own levonue*. .'). That the (lnnlc<? of this meeting lie conveyed to His Excellency Sir George Gi' j y ibr tin 1 giacious and constitutional manner in which he h.ii icfeiied the decision o< ihib question to tlio^e whom it mainly, if not alone, concerns 6. Th.it a memonal founded on the abovo resolution be dnwn up mid cncilat^d for sign.miip among the inluibuant^ of the settlement, and that the magistrates bt* n(|in'sled to form themselves into a committee for that puipose. Some excitement had been produced at Canterbury by a lumourcd. discovery of Gold ; but it scorned to rest on as little foundation as the report ■which lately set some of our own townsmen on the gui vine. The following extract from a Lyttelton letter in the Tadrpcnilent states how the case stood on the 15th of August : — It would hardly accomplish my desiie to furnish you with all interesting information relative to this settlement, if I omitted noticing; "gold diggings." 1 h.ive avoided so doing up to the present, in the hope of arriving at ■something like truth ; a substance is found lieif (or Slid to be found hero) that greatly resembles gold, but what 1 have seen I*l in such small quantities, and dispersed in such a mass of spmious matter that it is quite doubtful if it is woith uoilung. Yet it is quite amusing to see the numbers of both sexes, on a Sunday afternoon, pegging :i«ny with am thing like a pick or bammei in sp.ircb of the " Goldpn god," yet with all their toil, no solid foundation has 3'et been discovered, therefoie it onl.y appears ic.wonable that piudent peisons should lemain in <Lulus ijho, until those whose souls are ihnsiing for gold s!kiU have fallen m with the precious fountain, and then let the needy drink. A correspondent of the Independent also calls attention to the fact that within a few weeks the arrival of the expected ships from England would add from fourteen hundred to sixteen hundred to the population of Canterbury, — for whom supplies would be required. The Government Brig, having made a short stay at Wellington after her return from Nelson, had sailed for Port Victoria on the 4th of September. In the "Wellington Markets on the 6th ultimo* First Flour was £30 per ton ; Bread 7d. the 2lbs loaf.

Tiik Mission Schooner Border Maid arrived here in the course of Monday night, with the Bishop of New Zealand on board. She sailed from Sydney on Wednesday the 24th of September. She has brought no papers or letters, but the Emma was to sail for Auckland on Thursday the 25th, and the Moa on Saturday the 27th. Both those vessels may therefore be hourly looked for. During his absence, his Loitosiiip visited fourteen Islands in the New Hebrides and Loyalty Groups, and brings back with him thirteen scholars from six different Islands, for education in New Zealand. Five of these are from the Island of Mare in the Loyalty Group, who confirm the account of the destruction of the cutter Lucy Anne, belonging to Mr. Towns of Sydney, by the Natives of another part of the Island. This was the Island where (as will be remembered) Capt. JLnwis last year killed three Natives, under circumstances which led to a trial at Sydney, a report of which appeared some time since in our columns.

The Auckland Freehold Land Association, the piovisional formation of which a short time since we recoided, has, we are gratified to learn, gathered round it a considerable amount of influential support, and is now in a fair way of realizing its objects. The Rules and Regulations for its management have been drawn up by the Committee, aided by the professional advice of F. W. Meriuman, Esq., and we cheeifully give them a place in our columns, with a hope that their publication in this way may call more fully the attention of the industrious classes to a scheme which will enable working men to become proprietors of a piece of land for themselves at a very early period, and on terms so easy as to be within the reach of all who are in employment. In publishing these Rules, however, we wish to state that they are not -absolutely and finally fixed; — before they can be so, they must be brought into accordance with the Building Societies Ordinance passed at the late General Legislative Council, of which no copy has, we believe, yet been received in Auckland. The Rules are therefore strictly speaking only provisional although there will no doubt be little beyond technical and formal changes (if even these) required. Still, as conformity with the law in the minutest particulars is necessary, the Committee have judged it right to postpone even the reception of the weekly Contributions (which the subscribers for shares are most anxious to pay) until the Association shall have its proper legal existence, — which will be as soon as possible after the receipt of the Ordinance. We should not omit to mention that His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor — perceiving the value of the scheme to the working classes, and, as usual, anxious to promote the welfare of the public generally — has in the most cordial manner accepted the office of Patron of the Association, and also practically evidenced his good feeling by himself taking shares in the Society.

The Aborigines of New Zealand : — Two Lectures delivered by the Rev. Thomas Buddlk, Wesleyan Minister, at the Auckland Mechanics' Institute, on the evenings of the 25th March, and 12th May, 1851. Published by request. Bvo, pp. 51. Williamson and Wilson. Our readers have not forgotten that, shortly after the delivery of these Lectures, we published the pnncipalportionsof them in successive numbers of the JSeiv Zealander. Some passages, however, were necessarily omitted, and the unavoidable division into such sections as suited the limited space we could devote to the Lectures in a single paper, prevented their being presented at once in the consecutiveness and completeness which the reader must have desired. At all events, the numbers of our journal in which they appeared were immediately bought up, and many who were anxious

to cret copies have been unable to obtain them. Under the.se mcu instances, Mr. Buuiilh has complnd A\ith the ipquest for their rp-publica-tiou m the picsent form. We ha\e, however, not a meie lepiint of what formeily appeared. The omiited portions have been restored ; several new notes have been added ; the arrangement of the topics has in a few instances been altered, and, as we think, improved ; and the whole has been carefully revised by the Author. As the Lectures aie now given to the public, we can have no hesitation in characterising them as containing, iv a brief but comprehensive and clear summary, information respecting the Aborigines of New Zealand the value of which can scarcely be exaggerated, considering that it is entirely trmlwoithy. The Author lived for years in the midst of a Maori population, to whom he habitually ministeied in their own language, having the intimate and confidential intercourse with them that only a respected and beloved Missionaiy can, to the same extent, obtain. lie has therefore brought j to this work the knowledge acquiied by obseivation under the most favourable circumstances, and the Lectures afford abundant evidence that he observed intelligently and closely ; while his personal character, and his freedom from any of those political or meiely secular motives which might h;ive given an unfair bias tohis opinions, entitle his statements to an unhesitating and confiding leception. He modestly tells us that he " pietends to furnish nothing beyond a few ungarnished ' Extiacts from Maori History ;' " and indeed the shoitness of the pamphlet is the chief ma!« ter of regiet connected with it. But although he has not given a Ihstonj, properly speaking, of the Maories, he has at least done the work of an efficient and skilful pioneer, whose labouis will be inestimable to the historian — should one arise— who may set himself to the task of compiling a fuller account of one of the most interesting^ aboriginal races that the march of Christian Civilization has ever reached. To our fellow-colonists' therefore — especially to those recently arrived, — and to those who desire to forward to their friends at home a view of the Native population of New Zealand, as it was up to a very recent period, (and, indeed, to some extent still is in parts of the country) — on which they may place the fullest confidence , we can with all impartiality and sincerity commend these Lectures. And we do not see why any affectation of delicacy (on account of the pamphlet having been printed in the establishment from which our own journal issues) should prevent our adding, that, as a specimen of New Zealand typography, we should feel some pride in having it seen and compared with similar productions, either in the neighbouiing colonies or at home.

Robbery at Parnell, — We i egret to learn that, on Monday night or Tuesday morning, the shop of Mr. Bull, General dealer at Parnell, was robbed of propeity to the value of about £10. The robbery was effected by the removal of a pane of glass from the window. The ai tides stolen included Flannel, Diaper, Calico, Ribbons, and a variety of Drapery and Haberdashery ; and it is to be hoped that if any such articles should be offered for sale under suspicious circumstances, proper inquiry will be made respecting the parties offering them. The Police are on the aleit in the affair.

Coroner's Inquest. — An Inquest was held yesterday, at the New Loith Inn, Onehunga, before Dr. Davies, Coroner, on the body of Alexander Dixon, Esq. It appeared that, on Monday evening, between eight and nine o'clock, while Mr. Dixon was riding homewards, he dropped from his horse on the road between Epsom and Onehunga, and was found there about ten o'clock by James Magee, Ranger of the Hundred of Onehunga, who had him removed to the Leith Inn. The last place at which he was seen alive was Tvris's, Albert Inn, Epsom. Dr. Warringtox stated that he had made a post mortem examination, and that the cause of death was Apoplexy > in consequence of the ruptnre of a large vessel at the base of the brain. The Jury returned theirverdict accordingly.