New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN Wednesday, December 20, 184S.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 353, 20 December 1848, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN Wednesday, December 20, 184 S.

The Legislative Council of the Southern Province of New Zealand holds its first sit* tinsrs to-morrow ! Its constitution is no longer a matter of speculation, in a few hours the first step will be taken towjytjs self government, and the colonists of the Southern Province will co-operate with the Governor in framing such measures as are necessary for its advancement and prosperity. In the controversy '"which has recently arisen on this subject the opponents of the Governor's policy assert that an advocate of representation sacrifices a principle when he refrains from opposing a different form of Government, though avowedly established with a view" of leading to representation"; They acknowledge the proposed form of Government to be better than what we have at present, and for that very reason oppose it, lest it may be found to work so well that the colonists will rest contented with it, and cease to strive for representation.' They expect the Constitution to issue forth, like Pallas, in' perfect maturity from the brain of its author, and tell us that being pledged to the principle of representation, they will have that or nothing. But is this a rational proceeding ? Did the Institutions of our Fatherland, of which we boast with an honest pride, arrive at once, and, as it were, per set f turn, at perfection ? Have they not, like the oak, the national emblem of strength, attained their present maturity through the slow growth of centuries, braving and outli--ving the storms that have assailed them t Need we refer to the recent history of other nations, — to France and Spain, — to show how certain, how inevitable is the prospect of .failure from a forced despatch, which, like a hasty digestion, is sure to lay. the secret seeds of disorder, insteadK)f proceeding progressively totjmeqdwe^ave in, view? Are not all things in a new colony necessarily; only in a slate\of progression ? If anyManf when we first landed on the Beach, had refused & aV^frSii&elfof the shelter afforded

by a warre or tent, lest it' should bs considered an abandonment of the civilized principle, of living iD a house,, apfl lest thpse should prove so very convenient that 1 he might cease to" care about living in a house, or had endeavoured to influence others by such .arguments, would he not be considered insane. ? "Yet Where is the difference between , the two cases ? . > ' Again it is necessary that those who have not given much attention to the subject, should not alldw themselves to be' deceived by the mere name. -of representation. . There may be cases where it would prove an evil rather than a good^ namely — rwhere intimidation or corruption is easy, or where a faction may attempt to usurp a power which ought to be exercised by the whole community. ' Jn, a, dependency also, representation is by.no means - such a never failing security for liberty and good government as some might suppose. In an independent state like Great Britain, its efficacy arises from the power it gives* the people of stopping the supplies, refusing to pass the Mutiny Act, &c.. and thus of controlling the Executive, but none of these would apply in a dependency, because the Supreme Government on any occasion of difference could carry on the Government of the dependency fur a considerable time from its own resources -with out acting illegally. We merely allude to this view of the subjecfto make it clear that representation is not such an infallible panacea for colonial misgovernment, such a never failing bulwark of liberty, as many might be led to imagine. The previous arguments npply to ourselves, but another difficulty in the way of its immediate introduction arises from the native population. If we were to exclude them altogether, when they are admitted to the privileges of British subjects and are taxed as well as ourselves, it would be manifestly unjust, and would doom them to what we ourselves complain of, with the addition of an invidious distinction of race, and would probably lead to disturbances ; a A this has been distinctly allowed by Lord Gsey and Parliament. On the other hand it would be absurd and pernicious to admit them without great previous care in regulating the franchise. The distrust which a certain set affect to have of the Governor may . be shewn to be equally unreasonable. To him has been committed the solution of a difficult problem, and he has grappled with it with untiring diligence, and with no ordinary talent, energy, and vigour. He lias extricated New Zealand from its dangers and difficulties, from a state of depression and anarchy it is" now in a thriving and prosperous condition.. As Governor he has since had a new and unusual task imposed upon him", that of framing a Constitution suitable to the'colo'ny.j Many schemes have already been proposed . we have had Mr. Edwar,d Gibbon Wakefield's scheme, Mr. C. Buller's, find Lord Grey's ; they have > all tried their 'prentice hand, and their * performance has been pronounced a misfit. Is the Governor a man likely to allow such an opportunity of adding to his reputation to escape him ? Is it conceivable that in the present state of opinion in England, in Parliament, and in the Colonial Office, he should purposely take the unpopular course and inflict a gratuitous injury on the colony ? If Sir George Grey were as selfish as his opponents here would r represent him, still his self-interest and the welfare of the colony are identical, he could not raise his reputation by ruining the colo,ny, or by establishing a form of Government'which would be a lasting proof of his incapacity. Let those who are ready to be influenced by the vague suspicions of his opponents consider the subject in this light. We have seen him on one occasion boldly risk the displeasure of the Colonial-office rather thando'that which he believed would be injurious to the colony, we can hardly doubt he will make a proper use of this op--portunity, rarely granted to a Governor, by establishing a form of Government adapted to the peculiar circumstances of the colony.

Thb Scotia arrived yesterday-from Otakou, having sailed on the 14th ipst. (i The Glen Hunttey arrived at Otakou on 4he'.29tniult. with a cargo.- of stock c after a tvyehre '4^B*

passage from Sydney, and sailed again for ..the latter port on the Bth insr. The Glen t fJuntfey-ws very unfortunate with her stock, having loathe .greater part of her sheep and several head of cattle., The Bernicia, from this pQrt, arrived on the lOth inst.' The Dolphin, and Ocean, from this port, 'had arrived at Otakou,, as also the cutter Hero from the Chatham Island, with a cargo of pork,,&c. The three last named vessels had sai)ed for Wellington previous to the , tcotia's departure. The Calypso left Sydney on the 12th November for Wellington, having on board the June and July mails ; she is now considerably overdue, having been out a period, of thirty-eigjit days. The Scolia spcke the American whaler Qrion in Foveaux Straits, she had taken fifty barrels sperm oil since she left Sydney.

A melancholy and fatal accident occurred to Mr. Thomas Caverhill, the Manager of JVlr. ' Clifford's station at Warekaka, Wairarapa, on Saturday last. Mr. Caverhill was engaged with some other pei sons in driving: cattle across the river Ruamahunga, which at that place is about fifty yards wide, at a ford near Mr. Gilles' station ; he entered the river on horseback below the ford, and on arriving at the oppposite bank the horse sprang up the steep bank, but missed "its footing and fell, and it is supposed must have kicked Mr. Caverhill and stunned him, as both horse and rider sank to the bottom of a deep hole in that part of the river. After dragging the liver the body was recovered and was found to be much bruised about the face ; the body was buried at Wairarapa. The deceased had only been married eight months.