The New Zealander.
Be just and fear not : Let all the ends thou aim's t at, be thy Country's, Thy God's, and Truth's.
AUCKLAND, WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 1852.
The attention of the public is at present so touch engaged by preparations for the approaching election of members for the Provincial Legislative Council that we should not wonder if many had almost forgotten, or if they remember are inclined to disregard, the formation of the Burgess Roll for the Borough, which is to be finally fixed at the adjourned meeting of Magistrates appointed for Friday next. We therefore deem it our duty to bring the matter more immediately under the notice of our readers, and to say a few words with a view of showing that the opportunity which is this week afforded of correcting and extending the list of those by whose voices men invested with considerable powers of local government are to be chosen, should not be permitted to pass unheeded. It is quite true that the Provincial Council will possess larger authority, and be in a position to influence the affairs of the whole Province more comprehensively and permanently than the Common Council can do :
—Seats in it will undoubtedly be more dignified; and this probably is a reason why gentlemen whom no entreaties could induce to come forward at the Municipal Elections | are so willing and anxious lo serve their adopted country by accepting them. We I have had the gratification of seeing ihe views which we advocated on the first publication of the draft of the Provincial Councils Ordinance, as to the amount of self-government which the measure would confer, adopted to a great extent by some who then expressed a very opposite opinion, but who now would scarcely hesitate to admit that, formidable as the list of subjects on which the Council is prohibited from legislating may look^ there really are not amongst its fourteen particulars more than two or three which they would themselves represent as of much immediate practical importance, or on the discussion of which they would feel any strong desire to enter at present. But it by no means follows that the jurisdiction of the Common Council, or the capability of the Charter to be worked for the great benefit of the Borough, is to be treated with contempt. On the contrary, we maintain that a Common Council, competent and disposed to carry out the provisions of the Charter honestly and energetically, may, so far as the Borough is concerned, make its operations sooner and more agreeably experienced than it is likely that the acts of the Provincial Council will prove, however superior in general magnitude and ultimate potency the latter may possibly turn out. "Blessings on the man who first invented chimneycorners, — the man that built the pyramids was a dunce in comparison with him!" is the exclamation which an old dramatist puts in the mouth of one of his heroes, who, after having lost his way in a wood on a stormy winter's night, at length finds himself comfortably housed by a blazing fire in a snug though homely cottage. We all feel to how great an extent our happiness in life is dependent on comparatively little things, provided they are things which come into close contact with our personal and domestic enjoyments; and, valuable as measures of more extended legislation may be, depend upon it there is virtue and and advantage too in good footpaths, passable streets and roads, safe bridges, well constructed drains, precautions against fire, regulations for the removal of nuisances, and the various other humbler, but essentially practical, measures "for the good order, health, and convenience of the inhabitants," which properly fall within the province of a Corporation. There are several grounds on which we feel warranted in giving to this subject just now what might otherwise seem an exaggerated importance. In the first place, representative institutions have been so recently introduced amongst us that it would not be surprising if some of our population had not yet acquired that acquaintance with the nature of their privileges,— or at least with the mode in which the law ordains that they shall be exercised, so far as forms are concerned — which arc to be found in communities where they have been long enjoyed. It therefore is by no means a work of supererogation that the press should recall the principal points to recollection, especially at the seasons when the opportunity for turning them to account comes round. A more immediately urgent reason, however, is that the lists, as made out for this year by the police, are more defective than those of last year were, and, in consequence, a considerable number of persons entitled to vole will be excluded if they do not prefer their claims on Friday. The defectiveness has resulted, we believe, not from any negligence—still less from any intentional omissions — on the part of the policemen employed in collecting the names, but simply through the want of a clear understanding of the altered conditions under which persons were lo be placed on the roll. Last year, every male person who on the Ist of August was in the occupation of a tenement, was to be deemed a Burgess of the Borough, even though he should have arrived in the district only the day before; — the intention apparently having been that the first Common Council under the Charter should be rendered in the fullest sense representative, by being chosen by a virtually universal suffrage of the inhabitants, without reference to length of residence. This year, the provisions of the Royal Instructions on which the Charter was based, come into operation, according to which, (although there is no property qualification or similar class restriction introduced;, the right of voting is limited to those who have occupied a tenement for six months before the Ist of January last. The words of the Charter are, — "Subject to the exceptions afterwards mentioned" — (referring to the cases of Aliens, Lunatics, Convicts, &c, who are disqualified) — " every male person who, on the first- of January in each successive year, shall be in the occupation of any tenement within the said Borough, of which he shall have been the occupier for six months at i least next immediately preceding that day, shall, during the next ensuing twelve calendar months, be a Burgess of the said Borough." This, even on the strictest interpretation, includes, we apprehend, all occupants of tenements from the Ist of July, 1851, to the Ist of January, 1852, notwithstanding their having removed since that date to another part of the Borough : they still possess their ! right to be placed on the Roll for the Ward 1 in which they lived on the Ist of January, and for the preceding six months. But it is likely that, through misapprehension, several so circumstanced have been left out of the List. In this and other points, however, 1 the spirit of the Charier was questionably J wclusive rather than exclusive — liberal rather than narrow ; and we have no doubt that the Magistrates will be found disposed as far as practicable to carry it out in this spirit. Accordingly, the Resident Magistrate has, by public notification, invited all who conceive that their names should be added to the Roll lo prefer their claims on Friday. We therefore recommend the residents generally to examine in the interval the lists which are now posted in their respective Wards, and, if any find that their names are omitted, to attend for Ihe purpose of securing their privilege. With a view to facilitate such examination we subjoin a list
of the places at which the Returns are posted. East Town Ward — The Gate entering the grounds of the old Government Gardens. Middle Town Ward— Post Office. West Town "Ward — Kesident Magistrate's Court. East Suburban Ward — Windsor Castle Inn. South Suburban Ward — Mr. Abraham's Gatepost. West Suburban Ward — Alderman O'Neill's Gatepost. Onehunga Ward — Post Office, Onehunga. Panmure Ward — Mr. M'Dowell's Inn, Panmure. Otahuhu Ward — Mr. Foleys Inn, Otahuhu. Ilowick — Police Station, Howiclc. Epsom West Ward — Half-way -House. Epsom East Ward — Tutty's house at the junction of the Tamaki and Epsom lloads. Tamaki East Ward — East bank of Tamaki a,t the Punt. Tamaki West Ward — House near the Church Tamaki. We may add, as another motive for our urging attention to the adoption of means for securing the completeness of the Burgess Roll, our apprehension that many of the inhabitants of the Borough, through disappointment and disgust at the conduct of the Common Council of the current year, may feel indisposed to take any further interest in the Municipal Elections. That such a feeling exists is beyond doubt; indeed we believe it is certain that in several instances persons when invited to fill up registration claims under the Provincial Councils Ordinance refused to do so, avowedly on the ground that the Common Council had "done no good," and that they would not trouble themselves about another Council which might turn out equally badly. It is scarcely necessary for us to repeat that we not only concur in the judgment of those who regard the Common Council as having "done no good," but are deliberately convinced that they have done harm, — that, in more than one point of view, it would have been better for the Borough if they had, at the beginning, instead of at the end, of the summer gently passed into the limbo to which they are now self-consigned. We are (rce to declare thai, in our opinion, it would be more for the advantage of the Borough I that the Charter should be resumed by the ■ Governor, than that the mischievous follies of the last year should be acted over again by another Common Council. But on the other hand, we cannot yet bring ourselves to the conclusion that the interests of the Borough may not be so represented and cared for as to elicit benefit to the public i from the Charter even as it stands, and still j greater benefit to the public from the amendments which we might hope to see made in it, if we once had its defects as well as its capabilities fairly exhibited in the experience of a Common Council who had not merely promised to work it, but who had in good faith fulfilled their promise. At all events, it is to be borne in mind, that another Common Council will be elected in November, however limited the Burgess Roll may be, or however small a proportion of those enrolled in it may think it worth while to take any concern in the elections ; and the members chosen, whatever may be the number of votes recorded in their favour, will have all the powers which the Charter conferSj-'-nol excepting the much-dreaded power of Taxation. It is therefore obviously the interest of every man who is entitled to vote at the Municipal Election to secure his right; and for this, we say, as well as for Uie other reasons to which we have referred, we desire to sec all who should be on the Roll, but who have been inadvertently omitted, preferring their claims at the Meeting on Friday, that being the last opportunity they will have of getting the omission remedied.
Tl-IE following — forming portion of the feneral digest of intelligence on " Church latters" contained in the late English files, -which wo had prepared for our last number,— was (although in type) unavoidably omitted in consequence of the pressure of other demands on our space on Saturday: — The Tractarians, — ever fyusy, subtle, and scheming — were zealously persevering in their efforts for the universal establishment of Diocesan Synods, and the setting up of the rival Parliament, under the name of Convocation, after which they pant. The Diocesan Synod movement, which was organized last year at Derby, received an impulse from an influential meeting held in London in the end of January under the presidency of the Dean of Ripon. Resolutions were adopted declaring a conviction of the necessity of such Synods to the well-being of the Church, and indicating steps for the attainment of the object. There was an evidently guarded avoidance in the proceedings of all that might quicken the alarm felt by many as to the invasion of the rights of the laity, and the clerical encroachment on the functions of the State, to be apprehended from the scheme; but Lord Lyttelton, though he too was cautious, significantly urged a " pressing on in the path of justice and right, without reference to tlie speculative opinions on the ultimate tendency of reviving Diocesan Synods." In February, at the nominal Convocations for the Provinces of Canterbury and York respectively, attempts were made to secure business sittings of Convocation,which issued in results curious in themselves, and very illustrative of the anomalous relations in which the Establishment at present stands to the State. The Meeting for Canterbury, held in the Jerusalem Chamber, Westminster, excited groat interest, as it was generally thought the Synod would declare its sittings en permanence. In the Upper House several of the Bishops presented petitions praying that Convocation might sit for the despatch of business. An animated debate ensued, in the course of which, — "The Archbishop of Canterbury appealed to his right reverend brethren to forbear pi'esoing the subject at the present moment, when so few of the Convocation properly understood its functions. However much synodical action might be desired, he (the most reverend prelate) did not think that any good •would arise from petitioning Her Majesty, for he felt quite certain that in the present blato of the Church and its multitudinous divisions, their prajer would never be granted." Just then, Dr. Lyal, Dean of Canterbury and Prolocutor of the Lower House, appeared at the bar to present an address agreed to by the Lower House, recom-
mending 1 a revival of Convocation. After some demur on the ground of form, the address was received, and " best attention" promised to it. The members of the Lower House were then about to enter on further business, when the Archbishop's Apparitor summoned them back, and, by his Grace's I command, the Queen's Proctor read the formal prorogation of the Convocation to the 19th of August. This sudden closing of the proceedings called forth many expressions of surprise and disappointment, but there was no appeal. . . In York the proceeding's were still more summary, even the pro forma Meeting of Convocation having been prevented by the paramount authority of the Archbishop. When several of the clergy assembled armed with petitions similar to those presented in Canterbury, they found the doors of the Chapter House closed, and were told by the officials that there were no preparations for them. Archdeacon Robert Wilberforce and others thereupon addressed the Archbishop, requesting to {know when " they might have an opportunity of performing their duty in* this respect ;" but his Grace replied that "in the absence of any license from the Crown to proceed to business," he could only direct them to forward to him the memorials, " that the same may be placed securely by the registrar amongst the records of Convocation. — But what of the Bishop of Exeter all this time \ Was he quiescent while there was so much ecclesiastical agitation around him? Truly no : if 'Lord Harry's" name did not appear in some strife or other, we might expect to find it in the obituary. Imprimis, he was present and active at the Convocation debate : item, he had published a pamphlet dedicated to Sir R. H. Inglis in reply to an article entitled " Bishop Philpotts, 5 ' in the last number of the Edinburgh Jieview, (to which, by-the-by, the Reviewer had just published a '' Rejoinder") : item, he had published a second edition of " The Bishop of Exeter's Letter to the Archdeacon of Totness on the necessity of Episcopal Ordination." No, no, Dr. Philpotts was not out of sight : if we may without irreverence apply to a Bishop a vuigar but significant phrase, "Lord Harry" was still " alive and kicking."
Auckland Freehold Land Association. — Notwithstanding the cordiality with which this project was taken up by many of the industrious classes, whose benefit it is so eminently calculated to promote, some months have now elapsed without the actual commencement of business operations. The delay has not been owing, however, to any unwillingness on the part of the shareholders to go forward with the undertaking, or to any negligence on tJie->par(> of the Committee, but to causes over which neither could exercise any control, such as, first, the length of time which elapsed before the receipD here of a copy of the Building Societies' Ordinance passed at Wellington in August last (in conformity with the provisions of which the scheme was to be arranged, in order that it may have full legal sanction and protection) ; then, the absence of the LieutenantGovernor, and the consequent want of any authority here competent to appoint a .Revising Officer, as required by the Ordinance ; and then, on his Excellency's return, to the delay connected with application for the appointment, and the announcement of the appointment having been made. Now, however, the waj* seems clear to proceed, with a strict conformity to law ; and it will be seen by our advertising columns that a meeting of the Shareholders is summoned, to be held on Saturday evening next, at the Mechanics' Institute. We trust there will be a full attendance, that there may be an immediate forwarding of a plan which holds out such advantages to operatives as one of the best and safest forms in which the mutualas&istance principle has been embodied. It will be observed that persons willing to become shareholders, as well as those already on the list, are vited to attend.
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New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 652, 14 July 1852, Page 3
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2,963The New Zealander. New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 652, 14 July 1852, Page 3
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