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New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 750, 22 June 1853, Page 5 (Supplement)

COLONEL WYNYARD’S COMMITTEE TO THEIR FELLOW-CITIZENS AND THE ELECTORS OF THE PROVINCE OF AUCKLAND. ENTLEMEN, — We, the Committee of Lieut.-Col. Wynyard, feel it incumbent on us to lose no lime in laying before—not merely our own friends, but the Electors of the Province at large—a brief account of tbe proceedings at Auckland, this day, at the nomination to the office of Superintendent. We can have little doubt that you will agree with us in thinking, that no good cause could require, and that no cause whatever could be other than damaged, in the estimation of all intelligent and judicious men, by]such conduct as that pursued by Mr. Brown’s party on this occasion—the character of which you will bo able, in some degree, to appreciate, from the following brief but faithful outline: At noon, according to the published arrangement, the Returning Officer read the writ, and called upon the assembly to give a fair and impartial hearing to all who might address them—advice which was received with applause at the moment, but soon practically disregarded by Mr. Brown’s supporters. Mr. James O’Neill came forward to propose Mr. William Brown as a fit and proper person to be elected Superintendent. Mr. J. T. Boylanseconded the nomination. Tbe proposer and seconder delivered speeches of considerable length, and were heard with as full an amount of attention as could have been expected in a popular meeting, convened on so exciting an occasion. Beyond an interjeetional word of dissent or disapprobation, no attempt whatever was made by Colonel Wynyard s supporters to prevent their being board to ibo end of their addresses, as indeed they actually were. This exhibition of forbearance and courtesy is the more worthy of notice, as the speech of Mr. O’Neill in particular, contained much that was of a very offensive and insulting character. Mr. William Connell now came forward to propose Lieut.-Col. Wynyard, but the first announcement of bis object, was the signal for the commencement of a scene of a most disgraceful uproar on the part of Mr. Brown’s friends, which was kepi up, with scarcely a moment’s intermission, tothe close of the proceedings, whenever any of Col. Wynyard’s supporters attempted to speak. From the fact that this noise proceeded chiefly from a body of persons standing and acting together, there is every reason lo believe that it was the carrying out of a previously concocted plan. It was also observed that these persons closely watched the movements and echoed the sentiments of the adherents of Mr. Brown on the hustings, amongst whom may be mentioned as having made themselves especially remarkable, Messrs. A. Kennedy (of the Union Bank,) Walter Brodic, Waller Lee, Robert Mitchell (of Mr. Brown’s concern), and David Burn (the nominal editor of Mr. Brown s newspaper). After repeated, but nearly fruitless efforts lo obtain a hearing, Mr. Connell desisted from the effort, and concluded by proposing Colonel Wynvard. 31 r. T. S. Forsailh then came forward lo second the nomination : but as soon as he had taken his stand at the front of the hustings, and before ho had lime to utter a word, the clamour and disturbance was icnewed with increased vehemence. Mr. Lee, Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Burn, and others of Mr. Brown’s friends on the hustings, were zealously animating, both by voice and example, the exertions of their part} below. Mr. Brown once—having been called on to interfere and reminded that a responsibility for the conduct of bis party must rest on him—asked the disturbers lo bear tbe speakers—but this did not seem to be understood as any real prohibition, for the noise was not at all diminished in consequence of it. Mr. Forsailh repeatedly attempted to obtain a hearing, and even requested a show of hands upon the question whether it was their wish that he should or should not be heard. A most respectable show of hands was the result of this appeal, but no sooner did be attempt lo avail himself of inis opening than bis voice was again drowned by the clamors of Mr. Brown’s parly. Mr. Forsailh then elevating his voice so as to lie heard even above the uproar of his opponents, said “your noise is the effect of your fears, you are afraid lo give me a hearing”—and then desisted from his attempt and contented himself with merely seconding the nomination. Mr. Brown then addressed the assemblage —at first be was interrupted by calls for Mr. Forsailh, proceeding probably from some of those present who fell ashamed of the grossly unfair treatment that gentleman had received at the hands of Mr. Brown’s parly. Whereupon Mr. Forsailh again made the attempt to be heard. But the booling and yelling being renewed, he saw’ that it would be useless to persevere, and turning to Mr. Brown, said “It is useless for me lo attempt lo go on, for your party are resolved not to hear me. ! therefore give place, not because I have nothing to say on behalf of the Colonel, but because I sec that your supporters are determined to prevent my being heard.” Mr. Brown accordingly proceeded, and lie was beard, as bis proposer and seconder had been before, without interruption. At the conclusion of bis statement of bis merits, bo expressed a willingness to answer questions ; but il would o!w ious!y have been vain to look for anything like fair play for a questioner, and therefore none were put. The adherents of Mr. Brown had repeatedly made jeering and triumphant allusions lo the non-appearance of Colonel Wynyard upon the hustings. This circumstance is easily explained. Having been led at a late hour on Saturday to believe that Mr. Brown intended to be present, the Committee were at first desirous that Colonel Wynyard should also appear; hut whatever may have been the opinion of the majority of the Committee on that occasion, they are now’ persuaded that if the appearance of Candidates is expedient in elections for the Council, it was more in accordance with the dignity of the office of civil head of the Province that iho Superintendent should be chosen without personal appeals to the Electors, and without putting il in the power of any with whom ids duties may bring him in contact afterwards, to say liiat, lie was under an obligation lo them because a / his on n solicitation they bad supported him by their votes. Colonel Wynyard was because he was averse to, or had any reason to shrink from meeting a body of Electors whose interests and welfare he was sensible he bad done bis utmost lo promote, but because lie was not willing to exercise even that amount of interference with tbe freedom of the election which bis attendance on the hustings might he supposed to exert on some of the electors. Il is lo be regretted that Mr. Brown did not lake the same view of the position, and that he did not abstain from appearing on the hustings to extol himself, and to appeal, in supplicatory terms , for the suffrages of the electors, and avoid establishing a precedent so inconsistent with the dignity of the office to which he aspired. Colonel Wynyard had written a letter which was intended to be read on the hustings, and at the proper time—after Mr, Brown had spoken.—Captain Salmon came forward lo read it. The yelling by Mr. Brown’s friends, was instantly vociferously renewed. Captain Salmon good humoredly persevered for a while, and the letter would have been read, although it might have been only in dumb show, but that Mr. Brown instantly protested against its being read, — and Mr. Kennedy, (of the Union Bank,) vehemently said lo the Returning Officer—“lt must not be read /” Whereupon , the Returning Officer decided that it should not be read —a decision which, how’ever the Committee may regret il—they of course immediately submitted to. The following is the letter which Capt. Salmon was not permitted lo read : Auckland, 20th June, 1853. Gentlemen, At the urgent and repeated solicitations of a large and influential body of the Electors of the Province of Auckland, I consented to discharge the duties of Superintendent, if elected to that office. On the day of nomination you wdll be at liberty to assure the Electors that although 1 Ii ave no pledges to give, and no promises to make, yet that whatever of freedom from party feeling—whatever of impartiality, and whatever of zeal for the interests of the Province, may have guided my conduct, while administering its affairs as Lieutenant-Governor, will be found to influence mo in discharging the duties of Superintendent, if it should be the pleasure of the Colonists to elect me lo the office. I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, Your obedient Servant, R. H. WYNYARD. To the Proposer and Seconder on the day of Nomination. Wc leave this brief narration—to the correctness of which wc defy any truthful contradiction—to be considered by the Electors at their leisure. Wc confess liiat the conduct of a few —and wc arc happy to add of but a few —of the Electors filmd our minds with shame and regret, because it was calculated to sully the reputation which the constituency of this Province had so honourably and creditably acquired by the propriety ol their behaviour on the occasion of the late elections. This handful of unreasonable and unreflecting men must have forgotten that they were bringing disgrace upon the entire constituency, and giving an opportunity to the enemies of a popular franchise to point to this day’s proceedings as an evidence that wc are not yet filled Tor (lie privileges that have been so liberally conferred upon ns. Il is gratifying however to remember that the polling dag will afford every lover of good order and fair play throughout the Province, an opportunity of shewing by their voles that they disapprove of such conduct. Already, within the few hours that have elapsed since the scene we have depicted, several Electors, w ho before were undecided, and had come into Town to hj <r the argilmenlson both sides, and form their determination accordingly, have voluntarily come forward to declare that they must now decide against Mr. Brown, being satisfied Fiat it is Ibeirduty lo oppose, a man who, with ins parly, sought to carry their point- not by flic force of reason, and the superor cogency of their arguments, but by slipping the months of those who believ'd and wished to show that Mr. Brown was not the most suitable man for the oflice to which be aspired. (Signed on behalf of CM \\ nyard’s Com mil, me) W. POM PITCH, nailman. Monday Evening, June 20. Williamson and Wilson, Printers.]