The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 575, 18 October 1851, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

He just an<l fear nut: Let all the ends them .li-iis't .it, be thy Countxy'n, Tin Goo's, .mil 'truth's

AUCKLAND, ~ SATURDAY, OCT. 18, 1831.

THE APPROACHING- MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Since our last publication there have been movements prepaiatoiy to the election of Common Councillors under the provisions of the Municipal Chaiter of which it is our duty to trive some account. It may however be brief. On Wednesday, in conformity with the fomteenth and fifteenth clauses of the Charter, a Special Meeting of Justices of the Peace was held in the jsupieme Court House, foi the puiposp of forming a List of the Burgesses qualified to vote. The Justices piesent were, Thomas Bbckham, Esq., Resident Magistrate ; Percival Kerrey, Esq.; Major MvrsoN; Captain lUultain ; Captain Macdonald ; Captain Smith ; L. M'Laculan, Usq., and J. J. Symonds, Esq. The proceedings occupied but a short time, as the Lists had been compiled by the Police, under the direction of Mr. Beckium, with so much caie and accuiacy, that, after a brief examination of those relating to their respective Wards, and of the plans which weie laid on the table, the Magistrates only found it necessary to confirm them, and authorise the posting of them in conspicuous places in the seveial Wauls. The adjourned Meeting, to hear claims to be added to the Lists and any objections theieto, was fixed to be held in the same place, at noon on Saturday next, the 25th instant. The Lists collectively contained fourteen hundred and thiity names, of which about thiee hundred were in that for the- West Town Ward. A number of Natives were amongst the Burgesses ; and, in glancing over the List for the Epsom West Ward, we were particulaily struck by ten names of Natives having each the term " Monitor" connected with it in the column for recoiding the " calling or business." These weie Maones s,o designated i at the Three Kings Native School, and it was ! giatifying to obseive the incidental evidence i thus afforded of the progress of education amongst the aborigines. The Roll, when finally corrected and completed, will doubtless (together with the Census Return) furnish much interesting information never before.collected respecting the population — both Native and European— of the Borough.

A Meeting of the Burgesses of the West Ward was held, pursuant to public advertisement, on Wednesday evening, at the White Hart Hotel, Queen -street. It was very numerously attended, several persons from the other Waids also being present, but of course taking no part in the proceedings. The Chair was taken in the first instance by Mr. J. Finley, the Chairman of the Preliminary Committee. Mr. Griphn, as Secretary of that Committee, read its Minutes, together with a list of names of persons resident in the Ward who were eligible to be elected, which, however, did not in any way indicate or suggest a preference. Mr. Finley then reliied from the Chair, and Mr. J. W. Bain was called on to preside. Mr. J. A. Gufiuan rose to piopose Captain Salmon as a fit and proper person to repiesent the Ward in the Common Council. Seconded by Mr. T. Lewis. Captain Salmon, however, not being present, and his pioposer not being preparedto state his views on the Chaitei, his qualifications did not come under the immediate consideration of the Burgesses. Cap'ain Daldy was then proposed by Mr. Finley, and seconded by Mr. Dingvvall He addressed the Meeting at some length, (partly extemporaneously and partly from a written paper,) terming the Charter an " unconstitutional measuiP," and condemning the endowments connected with the Coipoiation as wholly inefficient for practical purposes. He would not impose any additional tax on an already oppressed and oveiburthened people, believing that the general revenue already raised was sufficient for eveiy purpose, and that the people ought to have control over it by their representatives. Neither would he come as a " beggar" to the Government to ask for further endowment. In his opinion the Corporation could not incur debts; having no funds to meet them, no corporate property to give as security, and no right to pledge the credit of the people. We really could not very clearly understand Captain Daldy's "practical intentions from his .Speech and the fiuther statements which he made in n-ply to questions, but they seemed to amount mainly to an assurance that he would carry out the Charter only in " the letter" not in " the spirit" of its provision. Dr. Lee was then proposed by Mr- Craig, and seconded by Mr. Si'.vre. In his address he characterised the Charter as "a miserable abortion," and ridiculed the endowments — reading portions of the Governor-in-CuieVs despatch on the subject with a view of showing that cci taiu of the statements in it weie not borne out by the facts of the case. He then informed the Meeting that, on "Saturday, he had addressed a letter to Lieutenant-Governor Wynyard requesting him to inform him (Dr. Lee) of the actual sura to which the endowments would amount. His Excellency had leplied through his Private Secretary within two hours, — a promptitude and couitesy for which he wished to return his sincere acknow - ledgemeuts. He proceeded to read the U eply, which was meiely to the effect that the Liioj-tenant-Goveknor had no information to communicate beyond what was contained in the Chatter and Despatch. Dr. Lei; then dwelt on the propaety of what lie described as "the piotective policy," meaning, we believe, Bub-

stanlially — that theie should I c no taxation, atid simply an expenditure of the endowments which the Go\ eminent hdve given to tb> Curpoiation. Dr. Bennett was proposed by Mr. W. Guiffin, and seconded by Mr. John Price He said that he had not come piepared to appear as a candidate, as the gentlemen who had pieviously spoken evidently had, and tnat he did not wish to be considered a candidate in the sense of soliciting their votes or taking steps to secure his own election ; but if the Burgesses fixed upon him, he would, as he believed every citizen ought under such cncumstances, do his best to promote the interests of the Ward and the Boiough. After some remains pointing out the impoi lance of a right use of the. piesent opportunity in its bearings upon the establishment of an extended franchise, the probability of obtaining a full measuve of self-government, and the future prosperity of the town and district, he proceeded to speak of the amount of j endowment now given as insufficient; he thought that the Government might be expected to grant more, on gtounds not of mere geneI ro.sity, but of justice ; and he had little doubt that they would do so, provided the application came fiom a Common Council which had ! shown no factious desne to frustrate the measure, but had, in good faith, endeavoured to work it to the best advantage for the benefit of the community. He thought that a very small taxation only would be required, and he could not be peisuaded that the people oeneially would refuse this, if it were levied by their own freely -chosen representatives, and expended with due regaid to economy, an I on iea,lly necessary and beneficial undertakings He maintained that the common-sense couise would be to make the most of the endowments and privileges already conferred by the Charter, while, in every proper manner, they ueie endeavouring to obtain more. No further nomination being made, Dr. Lee proposed that the Meeting should call a General Meeting of the Burgesses of the. several Wards, to " dovetail" some plan for returning members who would, as we understood, act together in carrying out the " protective policy." This was seconded by Mr. D. Russell. Dr. Bennett opposed the proposition as stepping beyond the province of that Meeting, at which the Burgesses had assembled to do the business of their own Ward, and deprecated an attempt to organize a general scheme for rendering the Charier inoperative, as tending only to great injury to the present and future interests of the Borough. He moved an amendment to the effect that the Meeting, on its rising, should adjourn to that night week, and should only pioceed with the business of its own Ward. The amendment was seconded by Mr. Gilfillan, and carried by a very large majority. The former committee was then re-appointed, with power to add to their numbers, and the Meeting stood adjourned until next Wednesday evening, at half -past seven o'clock. It is simple justice to state that the proceedings were conducted on the whole in a very orderly manner, and that, although there were differences ot opinion, there was nothing inconsistent with good feeling and good humour manifested by any party. The Burgesses of the Middle Ward held their Meeting, according to previous announcement, on Thursday evening, in Mr. Thompson's Assembly Room, High-street. We cannot with truth congratulate this meeting on its having thoroughly preserved a deliberative or orderly character*, but the circumstances were novel, and we may trust that future Meetings in the Waid will not Liy themselves in any degree open to such censure as Mr. T. S. Forsaith, in the commencement of his speech, pronounced upon this. Considerable delay took place before the chair was taken, several gentlemen who were called on having declined the office. At length Mr. Makt.f lace consented to preside. Mr. George Hunter rose to propose Mr. John Williamson as a fit and proper person to represent the Ward. He, however, took a mode of making the pioposilion (producing a written requisition to that gentleman to allow himself to be put in nomination, to be signed in the Meeting) which did not meet apprubation, and was not acted on. Mr. Rout was then proposed and seconded. Mr. T. S. Forsaith, having been proposed and seconded, addressed the Meeting at considerable length, declaring that he was by no means so much of a Radical as it had been the fashion to consider him, and especial y avowing his disapprobation of Universal Sufftage, except in such a form as would render the vote of a man of property equivalent to those of a certain number of the labouring class His course, if elected (which he declared his earnest wish he might not be) — would be to expend prudently and economically such Funds as the Corporation might be endowed with, firmly refusing to impose any assessment for its purposes. Mr. Hoylan, on being put in nomination, declined to be a candidate, but took occasion to make a long speech, in which he " ran amuck tilting at all he met." Both the local journals came in for pietty nearly equal shares of his impartial lash. The JSew Zealander was not independent of Government ; — the Southern Cross was abusive, dealing with the man rather than the measure. He was opposed to Mr. Forsaitii's views, and hoped that neither he nor Mr. Williamson would be returned. In conclusion, he stated that there was only one pledge he would require from a Councillor, namely, that there should be no Mayor's dinner, as, from the accounts he had read of Lord Mayors' feasts, he considered them wicked and impious, while so many of the poor were in want of the necessaries of life. Mr. Williamson met Mr. Boylan's imputation on the New Zealander (of want of independence) with an emphatical contradiction He declared that that journal was independeni of any Government, denominational, or cliqw influence ; and was animadverting on Mr. Boylan's inability to prove his unwarranted as> sertion, when the Chairman interfered on th< ground that this was not the business of the Meet' ing, — admitting, however, that he ought to havi interfered when Mr. Boylan made his attacl on the press. Mr. Williamson then proceede< to argue that the Chaiter should be accepted and worked with sincerity, on account of tin immediate and prospective advantage's which i was calculated to confer, and concluded by ex pressing his confident hope that Mr. Forsuti would not, with such opinions as he avowed obtain a seat in Council. Mr. T. S. Forsaith felt called on by thes remarks to speak again, which he did to th same effect substantially as before. Mi. Archibald Cl-vrke was then propose by Mr. Boylan and seconded by Mr. Mender

son. We believe he was not piesent, and no means of foiming any opinion of his views on the ( harter weie affoided to the Meeting After some iT&itlilrss and very desultory further discussion, the Meeting bioke up.

We have received, by the late arrivals, files of papers from some of the neighbouring colonies, containing infoimaiion which we have not more immediately brought under the notice of our readers only because we wished to present it in a more complete form than we could well have done, until the pressure of news of greater urgency from other quarters had been in some degiee lengthened. Of these journals the most important are those from South Australia, the affairs of which — in addition to the general measure of regard to which they are entitled as affecting one of our sister-hood of Australian colonies, — have especial claims on attention just now, as including the first practical development of the New Constitution conferred by the Australian Colonies' Act. We have already inseited an account of the opening of the Legislative Council, togethe r with a full report of Sir Henry Young's elaborate Addiess. Wi'h respect to the general We and proceedings of the Assembly, the Amiial Examiner of August 29th observes, — " The Legislative Council is by no means a sham. It is doubtful whether any body of gentlemen, assembled for any given purpose ever commeinced the business of their association in moie thorough earnest, or evinced greater aptitude in anew and difficult position. * * The temper displayed by the House is admirable. The independent members, and we really fpel constrained to embrace in that designation some if not all of the non-official nominees, have taken a position which does them honour. It is bold, firm, anl far-see-ing." The reader will probably agree -with us that the ascription of " earnestness" and " boldness," at any rate, is not exaggerated, when he learns that, within a few days after their meeting, a temporary stoppage of the supplies, a peremptory refusal to renew the ac» customed Grants for Religious purposes, and the appointment of a Committee to memoralize the Queen for alterations in Acts of Parliament the effect of which would be to invest the colonists with greatly extended powers of selfgovernment, were amongst their emphatical sayings and energetic doings. The character of these proceedings warrants our dwelling upon them at some little length.

The Registrar-General proposed the formal motion — thai the Council do go into Committee for the consideration of the Estimates, — making, at the same time a financial statement, designed to explain " the mass of papers on the table. " Capt. Bagot therefore proposed as an amendment " That the Council do not go into Committee on the Estimates until the various information required be placed on the table," — enumerating several items on which he deemed it desirable to obtain moie amp'e details than had yet been given. The Register-General concurred in the opinion that no sum should be inconsiderately voted from the public purse, but contended that the papers contained abundant information, especially as the Officers of Government were present to supply any omission in their details : — nay, more, he would himself move for Sub-Committees to inquire into any matters (on which closer scrutiny might be desirable ; and it was not intended to ask for a single vote without- the fullest consideration of it. — Meanwhile, the public business might b e advanced by going into Committee on departments respecting which no lack of information, was alleged. This certainly seems reasonable;, but the Council, notwithstanding, adopted the amendment by a majority of thirteen to ten -having previously negatived a proposition for adjourning till the next day. The Austral Examiner (by no mpans a Government paper) remarks—" The refusal to discuss the Estimates is equivalent to a temporary stoppage of the supplies. It is a strong measure, and not sustained by the facts stated in recommendation of it." It is observable that the amendment did not specifically postpone the Committee until some future day, but until satisfactory information was obtained ; and (as one of the speakers remarked) all the information in the world, at least all that could ever be procured, might not suffice to satisfy the objectors. The question of State Endowments in aid o Religion, had, (as our readers are aware), not only a prominent but an engrossing influence at the Elections, and several of the members were chosen — in opposition to men confessedly of higher general qualifications— on account of their unconditional avowal of the Voluntary Principle. The fidelity of these gentlemen to their pledges on the subject was soon evidenced by their refusal to permit the " Grant in Aid" Bill to be even read a first time. Previous to the discussion, a Petition was presented from the Bishop of Adelaide and a number of the Clergy and Laity, which, as it was short, and may be interesting to some of our readers^ we subjoin : — "The petition of the undersigned Clergy and Laity of the Church of England to the Legislative Council of South Australia, in Council assembled, " Sheweth— " That your petitioners believe that there is nothing in the New Testament writings, or in the nature of the Gospel economy, which would lead them to infer the abrogation of the principle of State Aid, Divinely sanctioned under the Old Testament dispensation. "That your petitioners are sustained m this view by the testimony piactically borne by the Universal Church for upwards of seventeen centuries, and by the vast maiontv of Christians at the present day. "That your petitioners fuitber believe 'the powers that be nro ordained of God, for the punishment of evil doers and the praise of them that do well. "That it is the duty, therefore, as it is within the province of Civil Government to see that the people commuted to its charge are taught moral law, whose violations it is instituted to punish.

"'llul lln> foinni imlmiMil . of (J>! ii'vimli i] in 1 1 is Hoi \\ ollli .nc ilic i»ilv tni" (li'< I.uiiDdiis ol tlj.it !m , as til" Cuts of tin' CJiMv.li id U\< l.ition .lie Us pi-jjirr billK (li)ll. " Your petitioners llicicfoic would '-olcmiilv m^" on \oui llojjoiii il>le Assi inlil>, al tin- i ommriii < mi nl ol its l,e»i-.l Hive /unctions, llio (IIIU of pulilnlv "to;; jnsnii;\li(i Mipieme authority ol I!" 1 Ciikimhv Iliviimiiin, J>y jmiMilui" loi (li» cMciision ol n-, iili»uk). okliii mres thiouu;h einy poiiinn of this piounu'. *' And your pctitioneis will e\oi |>i >J , N<". Mt. Gwynni moved the fust ic.idiup; of the Bill to continue " An Oidmance to pioinoLc the "Building of ( lunches and Chapels foi Chi istian Woi.ship, and to piowde lor the Maintenance of Mmisteis of the Uiiisnnn Religion." Us object I hetefoie w;i , not to enact any new law, hut to resuscitate the four of a law which had oxpiied on the assembling of that Council. Mr. Hart met the pioposilion dneclly by an auiciHlineulth.it the Mill he i<\ul a socoud time that day six months. Il was titled in suppoit of the Hillth.it its ohj-cls woe undoul)led!y good, the only point open to di.sputc licinp, the TTie^TS by winch tho^: objects should hv t.u.ied out ;— that it ivas lihci.il, leaving denoimnational dilToiences untonched, and .simply pio])osii)g to aid the coninion Chiistianity they all agreed in piofcssing ;— Unit it^ tendency was t° Miiiiiilate vohmtary cfloit, as (he giants wei 1 to he given, not uticonditionally, hut m aid o' n'ligion in sums equal to those subscribed by congiegntions themselves ; —and thai the, scattered character and indigent condition of the population in vaiiou.s puts of the colony icndeied some assistance indispensable. The me. its of the case weic little cntcud into on the oilier side. The speeches tended mainly to the point that, as <( the battle had been fought out of doois," and the ultimate rejection of the nieasute was certain, it was bettei to dispose of it at once, in older that they might come more speedily and in a spinl of harmonious co-openifion to the consideiatMii of other questions. It \uis however, bne/ly aigued that the meauue was objectionable as ofleiing suppoit to the Roman Catholic leljgion at tlie \eiy time when a gieat nio\ement was in piogiess at home against Papal Aggiession ; — that ample means existed to piovide voluutatily for the suppoil of religion throughout the colony ; — that the high authority of the P>ishop of Mki i'.oi-rnk was in favour of thioiving sm h sujtpoit upon the people; —and that, with many, the lefusal of State aid was not a matter of mere expediency hut of conscience. On a division, the amendment was carried by a majority of thiileen to ten, — a decision the announcement of which was received with manifestations of delight by a laige assemblage of Anti-Giant elcclois in the gallery. It will be interesting to observe how far the voluntary system will now supply the acknowledged necessities of the colony. Il s adherents are of two classes, — those who conscientiously object to Stale Aid foi Jteligious purposes, and who prove their sincerity by theii liberality in taxing themselves foi its maintenance ; and those who, undervaluing the benefits of religious institutions, or loving money supremely, oppose this as they would oppose any other tax fiom which they had a chance of fieeing themselves, and then leave Keligion to be either unsupported, altogether or supported by the zeal of a comparative IVvv. Tune will prove in which of these classes the South Australian Anti-grant men may fiitly he reckoned. r lhe topics which the IVremorial lo Her Majesty to which we have alluded was to comprehend, may be inferred from the terms in which Captain Bagot brought foiwaid the subject. He moved. ]'or tho appointment of a special Committee of fue membeis, iustiuctetl to juep.ir<« a memorial to lici Majesty the Queen, praying fornerttuii alterations in spvoim! Acts of l'ltrlinmeiit now in form in tins province, aflectuv* the administiation of tlie General Revenues and (lie i'unds deiiral doin (lie sale of land ; also as nllccling tho appointments to ofhco in tho Civil Seivico of tho province, and tho reaei vation of all Hills passed by the ocal Legislature for lu»t Majesty's appioval. J^ , , ,

VIT'.WS OF TFIB OI'IIIR GoLI) RI'f.IONS. We invite attention to the announcment in our advertising columns, of the publication of a series of views of ihe Ophir Gold Regions, by Mr. G. F. Anoas, whose former Illuslialed Woiks have acquired for him considetable rcputdlion both in the colonies and at home. The views, six in number, are in tinted lithography, andpiesenlthe scenes and occupationsof the Gold Field in aspects, the fidelity of which tt^as, we believe, been borne witness to by many who have themselves visited and observed the lealities here pouitrayed. The representations must have an interest both for such as do and ior such as do not, expect ever to see Opiut and its di<r[!fiiip;s for themselves.