New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK’S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, January 29, 1851.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 573, 29 January 1851, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK’S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, January 29, 1851.

The Nelson Examiners recently received contain a report (extending over nineteen columns of that Journal, the greater portion in very small print) of the meeting held in that settlement to consider the future form of Government for the colony. It is not

our intention to attempt any summary ot I the proceedings, which commenced at noon | and lasted (with only a short interval for refreshment) until between one and two in the morning ; our readers will gathei the principal points under discussion, with the objections raised to them, from the Memorial we have extracted from the Examine) t - which is described by that Journal as emanating from the minority of the meeting. However this may be as to mere numbers, it is to be observed that the Memorial to the Home Government, in support of the resolutions passed at the meeting, is merely signed by the Committee, while the counter Memorial published in another pait of our paper has, as we are informed, appended to it the names of the greater part of the settlers of influence and property. The resolutions, ten in number, submitted to the meeting, were published some weeks previously in the Examiner, and district meetings were held before the meeting referred to, to discuss their merits, so that there was no attempt to take the meeting by surprise, and those who attended came fully prepared to express their deliberate opinions. Besides the two Memorials above mentioned, we understand a third is in preparation by those (a considerable number) who, being perfectly satisfied with Sir George Grey’s administration, acquiesce in his proposed arrangements. There is, however, one feature in the Nelson Meeting too significant to be passed over without notice. While at the meeting held in Wellington some weeks since, at the instance of “ the gentlemen styling themselves a Constitutional Association,” Mr. Fox was appointed their Delegate or Travelling Agitator, at Nelson, where Mr. Fox resided for some years as Company’s Agent, no allusion whatever is made to him. It is believed the partizans of that gentleman were ready enough to have proposed him for that office, by way of giving additional weight to his credentials from the Association at Wellington, if they thought such a step would have been attended with the slightest prospect of success, but the nefarious Duppa Compensation Job, the particulars of which we explained in a recent number, has raised such a strong feeling of indignation against him at Nelson, that the attempt would have created a perfect storm of popular fury; his friends, therefore, with commendable discretion refrained from provoking such an expression of public opinion, being well convinced that where he was best known he was least trusted.

In the proceedings at Nelson there is a straightforwardness which is totally wanting in the course pursued by the Faction in Wellington. The resolutions submitted to the Nelson meeting were published beforehand, so that every one intending to , take a part in it could make himself acquainted with their nature. In Wellington, with a mixture of audacity and conscious weakness, the Faction affect to speak and act in the name of the settlers, who, for the most part, regard them with indifference or contempt, while they endeavour to carry out their ends bytrickery, and manosuvering. They talk of proposing a constitution for New Zealand, but they carefully keep their embryo constitution, like a bagged fox, concealed from view, until the night of the meeting, when it is suddenly to be let out for the diversion of the public. Can such an attempt to palm off their nostrums “in the name of the people” be regarded as otherwise than disgraceful ? Can it for a moment be supposed that their crude project, once hastily read j over,—half mumbled,—imperfectly 'heard I amid the bustle and noise and confusion of | a public meeting,—will be received as the . deliberate expression of opinion of the settlers of Wellington ? Are constitutions so easily flamed that they may be disposed of in this off-hand manner ? The idea is too preposterous to be seriously entertained.

. But we suspect that before entering seriously into the business of the evening many of those present will desire to have a satisfactory explanation of certain points that want clearing up. Why, it may be asked, have not the soi disant Association published

the answer they have received from Lord Grey to their resolutions ? When they vaunt of the effect of their agitation, and the good likely to result from it—let us know what good it has done in this instance—us judge of the tree by its fruits. H as done any good ? Can they say, as other quacks of their nostrums, if it has done no good it has at least done no harm ? H ave I not their misrepresentations induced Lord Grey to spurn them from him with contempt ? Does not their silence effectually j proclaim that they feel ashamed at the ridi. culons figure they cut ? And unless the set. tiers are careful to repudiate these agitators, will not the ridicule and contempt to a certain degree extend also to them ? And also when ' Mr. Fox presentshimself to the meetingtobe confirmed as the delegate of their choice will ■’ they not wish to know why he, of all others | should endeavour to create dissension by his unprovoked and ungenerous reflections on the Irish colonists. Is a man to be stigma- > tized and branded as a Pariah, to be in. I suited and spurned by Mr. Fox because he I is an Irishman ? Will the Irish tamely submit to his insults ? Are we not all here, English, Irish, and Scotch, united,— the children of our common Fatherland,— as colonists of New Zealand ? And how can he dare to throw among the settlers i. this fresh apple of discord ? But, above all, ; will not the settlers seek, have thev not a * right to demand, some explanation about I the Duppa compensation job ? Can they | have the slightest confidence in Mr. Fox’s professions, can they place anv re. I liance in his promises to serve them, when I they see him placed in a situation of autho- I rity and trust, with a salary greater even ■ than that of the Lieutenant-Governor, and, ' as the term of his office draws near, thev i find him gratifying his partner at the ex- | pCuCc ux tiic community, and abusing his - authority by acts of malversation, by mis- ; appropriating to private benefit those lands | which were held in trust for the general I good ? Will they follow this guide who is i attempting to lead them for hiu -Q&ru on A, who, the moment his sinecure ceases, prepares to leave the colony by the very first ship ; —are the shallow devices of such an one to be preferred to the maturely considered plans of the Governor for the good ; of the colony ? Fellow settlers! look at your present prosperity compared with the anar- j chy and confusion that prevailed on Sir i George Grey’s arrival, consider the sub- | stantial benefits that have been conferred on 1 the colony by his administration of the Government, the prospects opening out to you now that you have got nd of the Company I with its expensive staff of sinecurists —that i old man of the mountain that would have! i ridden you to death, —and suffer yourselves , ■ no longer to be hoodwinked by men who -j are only using you to obtain their own selfish objects.

Our readers will doubtless be amused with an article in our present number extracted from a Cape Town paper called the African Journal, recently received. It may be recollected that the Constitutional Association, some twelve months ago, took it into their heads to sympathise with the settlers at the Cape in their late movement. The Journal referred to wishes to do the civil thing by the sympathisers, but evidently looks upon the officious intermeddling of these friends of humanity and general grievance-mongers as a piece of cool impertinence, and in a; quiet way intimates that they had better have kept their sympathy to themselves. We hardly think the alliteration of Messrs. I'lyger, Fox, and Featherston, as being! among the principal sympathisers, will be; regarded as a compliment by the first-named | person. However, as the Constitutional| Association may consider this notice feather in their cap, we present it to them' for their especial use, to be worn with theif I bells at the next public meeting The Sisters arrived on Monday from Auc»J land, but we are without our usual files eq Auckland papers, the mail having been despatched by the Sir Eduard Paget ■which-i had sailed for Wellington via Taranaki and; may be considered overdue. We regvett®! hear by thia opportunity of the death. 011 1 the Bth instant, of his Excellency Maj® l l General Pitt, K.H., commander of tl ie Forces in New Zealand, and Lieutenant' Governor of the Northern Province, ag e | 76 years. His Excellency, who had i ol j I

some time past been in a declining state of health, had, during his lengthened military career, seen a good deal of active service.

Programme of the performance of the Band of the 65th Regt., at Thorndon Flat, on Wednesday, January 29 : — 1. Overture—Zampa Herold 2. Cavatina—Tutto e’ sciolto—La So- ] „ nanibula Bellini 3. The Prince of Wales Quadrilles .... Glover 4. Duetto—Conte Conte Prendi Bellini 5. Olga, or Princess Waltz Jullien 6. German Galop Strauss 7. Row Polka Jullien