NORTHERN DIVISION.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 667, 4 September 1852, Page 3

NORTHERN DIVISION.

The Writ having been read, authorising the election of two members, Mr. Joseph May came forward to propose Mr. 1. b. Forsaith, as a gentleman well fitted to represent the Distiict in the Council, as well as the general interest of the Province, from his abilities, Ins long residence in the country, and his knowledge of the native character. W. S. Graliame, Esq , J.P. had great pleasure in •seconding tlie-cominaunn.^ He wouid loav» thp candidate himself to explain, as be was well qualified to do,~ his own views. Mr. Forsiith came foi ward and said, that difficulties which appear great and formidable when viewed at a distance, generally upon a nearer appioach rather dwindle into insignificance or altogether vanish away. He had this day evpeutneed the tiuth of" the saying, for he could assure them, though they might, perhaps, smile at it, or be inclined to doubt the Met.— that he had looked torwaid to the hour when he should have to stand upon that plattorm with a considerable degree of nervous trepidation. But ttie good 01 der and politeness which characterised the demeanor of his audience had completely banished his dif- | fidence, and encouiaged him to hope that he should be able to j speak a few woids with comfort to himself and satisfaction to them. . Occasions like the piesent wcie too often accompanied with scenes of riot and disoiderly licence, and he could n»t but congiatulate the citizens of Auckland upon the manner in which they had commenced the exeicije of their pnvileges. The position he then occupied was natmally calculated to excite feeliugs of a complicated character. For the last fourteen yean he had been an interested spectator of, and shaierin the chequered and changeful fortunes ot the Land of om Adoption, and after having many times, and on vai ions occasions taken an active, though humble, part in the public movements of the day he now had the honour of standing before them us a Candida le for a seat in the first Legislative Council— in the election of members foi which they had been peiuiitted to exercise a choice. But while lie felt grateful for the honour confeired upon him, and tendered his best thanks to those who had taken so active and waam an interest in his nomination and support, and thankful that the peiiod of emancipation fiom a system 1 of Government which in pi inciple, if not always in piactice, he must be allowed to teim despotic, had arrived; he also felt the lesponsibility ot his position. To be elected by an intelligent constilue-cy to a scat in the Legislative Council w^s ?n hviuui of wku.li a man ini^lit justly be proud, but it was> a pnde Hut should be tcinpiiid with, should he say fear, if not willi feai, most ceitmnly vmh caution, and wilh a due appieciation <>f |tlie impoitance of tlie trnst committed to in- hands, and the mighty lesponsibilmes connected with the proper disc hat e,e of that trust. The ultimate objects of Legislation, and consequently of every Candidate foi the h on oin ot a Legislator's seat, should be Ihe benefit and happinesi of the community. This was, indeed, the gmnd purpose for which the whole system of Government had beei> appointed, to which all its blanches should devote thete lespective powers, and in which all its functionaries should seek their highest lewaril. He did not think it necessary to enter particulary into a statement of Ins views upon the several topics which had more or less agitated the public mind during the last few weeks: because he believed that his opinions weie very geneially known: but he took his stand upon this fundamental principle as that which seemed to him to be the best and buefest mode of of disclosing the general tenour of his political views, and the sentiments with which, if elected, he should take his seat at the Council fioaid. The Legislative function was the highest and noblest power of the State, and those who would assume it should ever k«ep iv view (he paramount impoitance of the piinciple to which he had alluded, for if theii representative! lost sight of this, if they prefened then own pnvate mteiests, or the advantages of any paiticular body, if they sacrificed the public good to the tempoiary giatifiiation of gain, or the passing shouts ot popular applause, that moment they would prove themselves unworthy of the tiubt committed to their chaige, and deseive to be dismissed with ignominy and disgiace back to the private stations tiom which they ought never to have emeiged. Such were his views of the responsibilities ordinal ily and mseperably connected with the position of Candidates tor Legislative honouis ; but besides these there weieotheis which peculiarly belong to tiieposition of those who like himself stood upon the hustings thatcray; — niuj »m. nm jhciiij o»i^.».» for the honour of being entrusted with the resumption of duties which othet lepresentatives had cxcicised and lehtiquished, but they assumed to be the trustee* of new-born pnvileges, the pioneers of tuture freedom. Hitherto the electors had been called upon to dischaige the passive duties of subjects and citizens, to obey laws enacted by virtue of an authority over which they , had no contiol: but now they weie permitted, to a reitain eXtent, to assume the active part ot their duties, and appoint Legislators who were to enact the lavrs. A breach had been effected on the ramparts of despotic rule, and, if he might be allowed to carry out the figuie, they weie now -called upon to till oft the men who should ascend the breach, make good the position, and push on the advance, until the citadel of civil liberty was completely won.' How much then depended upon the courage, the intelligeuce,the prudence, of the men selected, and how much reiponsibihty rested upon the electors who had to make the choice; and he believed that those Candidates who weie most keenly sensible of the lesponsibihtes of their position would be most likely to lustain creditably and discharge faithfully the duties of a repieseutative. The responsibilities to which be his refeued were pcculiaily enhitneed when the piesent position of the Colony was kept in view. It was useless to disguise the fact. The Country was passing through an ordeal ot no oidinary character. A cloud, dark and portentous was hanging over its ajiial horizon, but it was not so dense as totally to obscure the blight light that was above and beyond it. It was not altogether a matter of surprise that a large portion of the population should be lured away by the ghltciing attractions of adjacent lands, and induced by the flattering prospect of rapid gain to give up the solid and safer, though it might be slower advantages ot this colony : but he had no sympathy with those who weie leady to despond. He had staked his all in the Count) > and bis faith {in its progtess wai still firm and unshaken. The e\isting depiession was doubtless great, and might piobably be increased by the depaiture of many of the inhabitants to the scene of the glittering attractions to which lie hart alluded. But while these influences might ictard they would not, he believed, altogether •pi event the advancement of the colony. The land which ponsrjsed so many internal resources and on which the munificent hand of nature has bestowed so many advantages, would eventually come forth with unscathed lustre and take np a permanent position of piospeiity. What then are the means which it would behove the repiesentatives of their choice to employ in order to counteiact as much as possible the piesent crisis, and hasten on the advent of a piosperous nation. The most natuial course appeared to be this. Iv tht first place to seek by the strictest vigilance and economy, to husband piesent resources, and iv the ne\t place by opening up the Country to *im it the developement ot those resomccs which at piesenl he dormant and unknown. It was their happy lot to dwell in a land of peace and plenty, and if the Electors thought fit to confer on him the honoui of their choice, it would be equally his pleasure and his duty to do all that lay in his powei to cement the peace, to augment the plenty, and foster the collective interests of the Land we live m. Mr. John Russell, of Epsom, came forward to propose | Mr. Thomas Paton. He said the candidate was so well known that it would require very little from his proposer to recommend him to notice. He stood A 1 in his private capacity, and A 1 also at Lloyds. He had proved himself a friend of the country by putting his owu band to the plough, and giving practical proof of his perseverance and industry. No man knew the need ol country roads better than Mr. Paton, ond no doubt his attention would bo directed to that subject. If he got into the Council and had his way there, there would boon be such roads about Auckland aa would iwtonish the natives. Some thought that we were going down the lull, but he, (Mi. Russell) did not believe tuat the Auckland district was uone yet. If they had more men like Mr. Paton, who endeavoured to produce an export, it was not one vessel now and then we would see loading m our harbour, but many of them carrying away from our shores gold, in the shape ol wool, flax, coppei, &c. He hoped and trusted that his young friend Mr. Paton would be returned. Mr. John Bycroft seconded the nomination. Mr. Paton then cameforwaid and said,— he bepged to thank his nominator and seconder for proposing him as a fit and proper person to represent the Noithern Division in the Plovincial Council. It was rather a novel position foi him to be in out fte Hoped it woula not be the last time that lie should have fLli'T ? addres sing such an enlightened constituency wm™, ™ gBi , lty>as a constituency with which lie had •rw ™«B« B associate . d alld one in winch he took peculiar inteiest. «t«fa^Hnn oC ? a ' l<lU 7 hlch we ou t' ht t0 ha >l with delight and nS™ ," Ofl ; th f? 0 have e° l on « Irak m «»« chain of fled un Z * S JT Wed| h ° th ° Ughl We sllould not rest i"atls1£ ' c JUJ Uo m r te rent asunacr - lle Iwd every leasoa thJ ?s™w /honing tV^nkthe electors tomorrow for the result of the poll, and under that impression he would most respectfully request his Uiends and supports not to o.n coming loi ward in time to recoid their votes. lie chappy to sty his electors were not only numerous but of the hiehest respectability, and they had said that they luvc not been influenced in their choice, merely because lie was an old settler but from a consideration that in the way he managed his own business he had displayed qualities necessary for a membei to possess. During his canvass he found several of his friends rather shy in piomismg him their votes, because from the Southern Cross report of the meeting at Epsom they believed he was opposed to cheap land. He told them that he shouldnot correct that report but would avail himself of the opportunity of the hustings to explain one or two items in his political creed that had been rather misunderstood, Although he had mentioned that he believed land was worth 20s an acie within a radius of 2u miles of Auckland, jet it could scarcely be infened jrwu that, that he would oppose laud being put up at a lowei

figure He suggested a plan at the meeting at Epsom, that would give land at 10s an acre— however to prove his asset tion he was in favour of d trial really to see what good land was worth within the above prescribed limits. Surely if land was worth is. ud. an acie at' Waikato, good land in the neighbourhood of Auckland was worth considerably more. Yet he should not like to be considered selfish, and any measure calcul-Ued to procure cheap land, he would most cordially suppoit— they had been told he was a piotectionist and one of the old school. What he wanted was to see fair play. At present flour from New South Wales was imported here fiee while our vheU and potatoes,' shipped there aie subject to a heavy duty of ten per cent. This operates mischievously against the settler and against the country He would endeavour to have a principle of jnst'ce established between the two countries so as while we admit the produce of New South Wales free, they should also on the same terms admit our piodnce duty fiee. The roads aie a most important subject with the settlers. He thought the principal loads should bo completed throughout and the bunch roads made passable by money denved from the Imperial Grants ; if not obtainable lrom that soiuce, (lien from the Colonial Revenue. One word moir and he had done They all of course had seen his tinsty iriend Mr Hill's lemarks on a private letter headdiessed to him— if he had had the coinage to have given them a copy of the uhole of that lettei they would have wilderstood it better. His advice to tli.it gentlemen was that he should retne and attend to his puvate business. Mr. Paton concluded by thanking the electoxs for their attention and patience in hearing him. Mr. Hart briefly proposed Mr. James C. Hill. Mr. Caldico t seconded the nomination. Mr. Hill, in addressing the electors, declared his advocacy of Cheap Land, and good roads making easy access to it. lie would not like to see land more than five shillings an acre, and this reduction be thought could be obtained by a loyal address to the Queen and Parliament. He would support retrenchment; he would have few officials, but tbofce should be well paid, for lie thought that public men should be put beyond the reach of want. The question of Education he looked upon as of paramount importance, and whntevei education was given by the State should be based on religion. But he would give equal rights and privileges in this matter as in others to every sect and party. Mr. Hill then referred at considerable length to the letter on the subject of the election, to which Mr. Paton had ref r ed. Mr. Andrew O'Biien said he was no orator, and would at once propose Mr. Allan O'Neill as a fit and proper person to represent the District. Mi. Hugh Coolahan seconded the nomination, Mr. O'Neill was pledged to Cheap Land, to Provincial Separation, and Education on religious principles, and on these grounds he felt it his duty to support him. Mr. A. O'Neill, in addressing the electors, expressed his sense of the importance oi the Cheap Land Question. The beneficial effects of Cheap Land would be great indeed, and should he be returned to the Council he would assist others to the best of his power in obtaining it. He always thought it a pity that this fruitful soil and healthful climate should not be placed more fully within the reach of emigrants from the mother country. With respect to the old pre-emption claims., he thought they should be given back. He would uphold equal civil rights to all classes of the people. Education on religious principles he regarded as the great and first duty which we owe to the natives ; but he would confine the benefits of the educational grants so far as (he whites were concerned to orphans and destitute children. He approved of Provincial Separation. He would vote for a sum of money for the promotion of Steam Communication with the mother country and with the other Settlements. The New Zealand Fencibles, he would maintain, should have equal rights with their fellow-colonists j and the aborigines should have mutual advantages with oui selves secured to them. Mr. Forsyth again proposed his questions, which, as in the City, the candidates partly answered in gene« ral terms. Mi. William Rowe proposed questions on the subject of Education, which the candidates satisfactorily answered. A show of hands was taken. It appeared in favour of Messrs. Forsaith and O'Neill. A poll was demanded on behalf of the other candidates. The proceedings of the day then closed, the most gratifying order having been preserved throughout the whole.

The Polling on Tuesday. The Polling commenced at 9 o'clock. The arrangements in the Market House were very convenient for the purpose, every practicable accommodation being afforded to a]] concerned. Throughout the day the Committees of the different candidates actively exerted themselves j and the circumstance that Captain Salmon was at the head of the poll at 2 o'clock, and s> ill later, stimulated some of Mr. Brown's thoroughgoing suppo'ters to anxious endeavours to secure for their candidate the position which at last he was fixed in. The numbers at the close, at 4 o clock, were— City Election — Brown, 490; Salmon, 481; Whitaker, 454; O'Neill, 313. Northern Division— Forsaith, 148 ; A. O'Neill, SO; Paton, 82; and Hill, 40. — aa^-a^™;.,,. nffrnn- ,i an }** a A T^esrsJßroTOi-_Sal-_ mon, and Whitaker duly elected forthe "City ; and Messrs. Forsailh and A. O'Neill for the Northern Division. The several candidates returned thanks, with the exception of Mr. Paton (who, we are requested to say, was not aware that it was usual for unsuccessful candidates to do so, and hdd left the Hustings). A vote of thanks to the Returning Officer was then moved by Mr. Brown, seconded by Alderman O'Neill, and carried by acclamation. The crowd then dispersed, the friends of the successful candidates chairing them from the Hustings to their respective Committee rooms.