New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, January 6, 1849.
The opposition which has been raised by a few persons in this settlement to Sir George Grey's recent measures in establishing a Legislative Council in this Province, has found a responsive echo in the columns of the Nelson Examiner, in an article, in which the writer, who seems connected by secret ties of sympathy with the faction in this place, repeats many of their objections and charges and arrives, " with the greatest unwillingness" at the conclusion that he most "give Sir George up." Hoping his Excellency will outlive so great a misfortune, we will proceed to notice a few of this writer's statements and opinions. He accuses Sir George Grey of inconsistency, "of a change in his views," for withholding Representative Institutions, but we have so recently and so fully refuted this charge that it would be superfluous to renew any discussion on it. The writer speaks of Sir George Grey being "great in a corner," but as being* unwilling in " the broad open face of day to give an exposition of his views" or "to place himself in a position where he might be called upon to defend his own actions." The clear and detailed explanation of his views given by him to the Legislative Council of this Province in their recent session, and through them to the colony at large, sufficiently vindicates him from such charges, nor can we conceive why there should be any unwillingness on his part to defend his own actions, since they have generally been attended with success, and have conduced to the prosperity of the colony. But we may be content, so far as it .affects the Governor,- with this notice of the splenetic effusion of a writer who deals not so much in argument as in vague assertions and opinions. / ' " Joi " ,' ;"" '
* His rertiarks relating to the Council exhibit an arrogant offensive spirit which is open to severe animadversion. To talk of a packed majority in a Council in which the non official Members so greatly preponderate is absurd, especially when we know that Sir George Grey evinced great anxiety that all opinions should be represented by offering seats in the Council to those who were most opposed to him ; this does not appear to be the readiest way to secure a packed majority. Contrary to his expectation, our contemporary will' find that the Governor has succeeded in. constituting a Council, composed of respectable intelligent men of moderate opinions, and of local experience, and that this measure has given general satisfaction. We can further assure him that the talk of " the Wellington people, about addressing the Queen on the subject " of representative institutions will end in mere talk, since it is confined to a little knot of meddling gossips, who greatly overestimate their own importance ; the great majority of persons in this settlement are persuaded that by co-operating with the Governor, they are pursuing the readiest course to obtain them. It appears rather inconsistent that the Examiner, who formerly indulged in an ovation, when three Nelson settlers were appointed the pnid officials of a "despotic" Government, should affect to speak in contemptuous terms of gentlemen, who in accepting a seat in the Council desire to promote the best interests of the colony, hoping for no other reward than the approval of their own consciences and the approbation of their fellow colonists.
We have received a letter from Mr. Thomus in reply to a letter signed A., which appeared in last Wednesday's Independent, referring to Saturday's meeting at Barrett's Hotel. The writer in the Independent, by a tissue of gross misrepresentations, wishes to convey the impression that the result of the election on Saturday evening was wholly unexpected, and created general surprise, and is not to be considered as affording- any test of public feeling 1 on the subject ; and attempts to show that a majority was obtained by Government influence. But what are the facts ? Why, that every effort was made by the faction to carry their point, and yet they could only -muster ten votes ; of these two persons previously declared their intention of voting against the faction, to mark their disapprobation of the attempt to mix up politics with social amusements, and only subsequently voted for the amendment, from their objection to one individual on the original list, while two others (Dr. Featherston and Mr. M' Donald) qualified for the occasion (the latter having never previously been a subscriber to the race course), that they might add their personal weight and influence to the opposition. Of those present at the meeting on the other side, only thirteen voted ; so decided a majority settled the question : but there were several others in the room who would have voted, if necessary, on the same side, while Messrs. Bannatyne, Ludlara, and many more, were not present. On looking over the list of subscribers to the Burnham Water race course, we find there are 103 subscribers ; of these seven are absent from the colony ; of the others, from their known sentiments, we are satisfied that, if each vote had been recorded, at least seventy subscribers would have voted, to prevent politics from being introduced into our social amusements. The result of Saturday's election has given unequivocal satisfaction, and has strengthened the feeling which: previously existed of resistance to the arrogant and dictatorial spirit exhibited by the faction. Of the officials, who are stated by this writer to have " voted for the Nominee list," two, the Colonial Secretary and the Auditor- General, did not vote at all, though, as the friends of Mr. M'Donald excuse the active part he takes in politics, by affecting to distinguish between ' the individual and theJManager of the Union Bank of Australia, we do not see why officers of the Government, as subscribers to the Burnham Water race course; have not an equal right to exercise their votes in any matters connected with its regulation and management, particularly when, in doing so, they desire to prevent a few violent persons from creating ill feeling, and dividing- the community with their disputes. Our previous remarks htwe received the fullest confirmation in the result of last night's meeting. The faction have chosen their own ground ; they have appealed to the public, and must acknowledge, in the 1 signal defeat they have ..sustained, . that public feeling is
decidedly opposed to the course they have adopted.
Mr. Dillon Bell has returned from Queen Charlotte's Sound, having succeeded in purchasing theWaitohi from the Natives. We understand the following are the terms on which the purchase has been effected : — a village and a church are to be built for the Natives, and a portion of land, equal in extent to the cultivations they give up to the Government, is to be brought under cultivation for their use ; they are also to receive the sum of one hundred pounds in money. The number of Natives living at the Waitohi is inconsiderable, and they are perfectly satisfied with this arrangement, which appears to have been conducted by Mr. Bell in a very liberal spirit, and with a view to promote their comfort and improvement.
Horticultural Society. — In consequence of the Britannia Saloon being closed for the present, for the purpose of decorating the interior, and' of making several other extensive improvements, the ensuing Exhibition of the Horticultural Society is unavoidablypostponed until Tuesday, the 16th inst.
Programme of the Performance by the Band of the 65th Regiment, at Thorndon Flat, on Tuesday, the 9th^ January :—: — 1. Overture — Allesandro Stradella .... Hotow 2 Trio— This magic wove Scarf — } „„_„*« tut j. • oiu }■ Harriett Mountain Sylph j 3. Ernani Quadrille Jullien 4. Finale — The rapture dwelling within ) „ ,- my Breast— Maid of Artois j Daj 5. La Rose Valse Stratus 6. Duetto — Well ! if I must speak my "I „ f - mind—Siege of Rochelle J * aJe 7. Galop — Storming of Constantine .... Lanner 8. Cricket Polka Jullien
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New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 358, 6 January 1849, Page 2
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1,321New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, January 6, 1849. New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 358, 6 January 1849, Page 2
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