WELLINGTON ELECTION.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 867, 23 November 1853, Page 3

WELLINGTON ELECTION.

Mb. Fitzherbert having resigned his seat in the Provincial Council on accepting the office of Provincial Secretary, Monday the 31st inst. was appointed for the nomination of a memher to fill the vacancy. It being generally understood that Mr. Fitzherbert's election would be unopposed, very few persons were present at the nomination. H. St Hill, Esq., the Returning Officer, briefly explained to the assembled electors the circumstances which had brought them together, and called upon them to nominate a fit and proper person to fill the vacancy in the representation of the city of Wellington occasioned by the resignation of W. Fitzherbert, Esq. Mr. \V. "W. Taylor came forward to nominate W. Fitzherbert, Esq., to represent the electors of Wellington again in the Provincial Council, and felt quite assured that he had justified the confidence the electors had shown towards him by the high position they had placed him on the poll, by his conduct during the short period which had elapsed since his election, particularly in resigning his seat on accepting office and in appealing to them for approval of his conduct by the renewal of their confidence. He said it was a subject of congratulation to them that Mr. Fitzherbert's reelection would be uncontested on the present occasion. Mr. Carter seconded Mr. Fitxherbert's nomination, and hoped on the reassembling of the Council there would be work done for the good of the Province ; and that the Council ■would carry out the views of the Superintendent without mutilation. Mr Fitzhbrbeet, in presenting himself again for re-election, wished to direct the attention of the electors to the peculiar circumstances in which he stood before them. This was the first instance in which the attempt had been made to carry out responsible government with representative institutions. He did not assert that the resignation of their seats by members on accepting office was a necessary part of responsible government; but the step he had taken was an acknowledgment on his part of the principle of responsible govern-

inent, which he regarded uith the deepest interest. On broacl constitutional grounds, therefore, he rejoiced on this recognition of the power of the electors, on this recurrence to fust principles. Most persons were apt to go astray from the point from which they started ; -while, on the other hand, there were some \sho always carried with them a clear conception of these first principles, that were ever present to them as a household god. Wherever this occurred the conduct of such persons would he duly appreciated. There vrere others -nliom no considerations, no scruples could bind, who ran riot and forgot the point from which they started ; or who, if they did not forget, heeded it not, who wore tempted to dissever the hand that launched them, and to cut the painter. He rejoiced, therefore, on the present occasion j on this recurrence to first principles, and with a full recognition on his part of the principle brought forward of the responsibility of members to their constituents, he had returned to the point from which he started, and should leave his election entirely in their hands. After a short pause, no other candidate having been brought forward, the Returning Officer declared Mr. Fitzherbert to be duly elected. Mr. Fitzhebbeht thanked the electors for this fresh proof of the confidence they reposed in him. He received it as a pledge on their part that they recognized and approved the policy laid down by the Government. By this act they placed their countersignature to his appointment by his Honor the Superintendent. A vote of thanks to the Returning Officer for his impartial conduct terminated the proceedings.

We have great pleasure in publishing the following Address to his Excellency Sir George Grey, which has been unanimously adopted by the settlers of Ahuriri, and which it was hoped they would have had the opportunity of presenting to Mm in person on his way through the interior to Auckland. The Natives have offered an extensive and valuable block of land for sale to the Government, and in the opinion of well informed residents if Mr. M'Lean | could prolong his stay in the district for a few , months longer, from the great influence he has with them, he would succeed in extinguishing, by purchase on the part of the Government, the Native title to all the Pastoral and Agricultural land between Table Cape and Wellington, except to such portions as it might be considered necessary to reserve for the use of the Natives living in the district. The greajest obstacles which have hitherto interfered to prevent the purchase of land by the Government in this part of the island, have been the jealousies existing between the different tribes, but these are fast disappearing, and Mr. M'Lean's great influence with the Natives, from the extensive confidence they place in him, and their intercourse with the settlers, now spreading in considerable numbers through that part of the country, would have the effect of establishing the most friendly relations between the different tribes. '1 he improvement which has taken place among the Natives in the District, who a few years ago were reckoned among the wildest and most uncivilized in New Zealand, is of the most marked kind, and may in a great degree be attributed (among other causes operating) to the judicious mode adopted by the Governor in paying for the districts purchased from them in yearly instalments. The instalment now due, about £8,000, will be spent by them in the purchase of flour mills, ploughs, and working bullocks. We understand that the Natives are also making arrangements tor obtaining from England the machinery for a mill of considerable power for grind ng flour, to be erected in the district. To His Excellency Sir George Gret, X.C.8., Governor of New Zealand, &c, &c. Ahuriri, August, 1853. We. the undersigned settlers in this district, beg respectfully to address your Excellency, on the eve of your departure from this colony, and to tender your our heartfelt thanks for your unwearied exertions to promote the prosperity of our adopted country, aad the interests of all classes under your Excellency's Government. When we consider the conflicting nature of those interests, and the difficulties you had to encounter in furthering the welfare of the European and Native races, and that you have succeeded in procuring to us a state of tranquillity and security not surpassed in any part of Her Majesty's dominions, we should be wanting 1 in gratitude did we not express to your Excellency our high appreciation of the services you have rendered us, and of the firmness, ability, and judgment you have- evinced in carrying on the government of New Zealand. We wish your Excellency and Lady Grey a safe and pleasant passage to the shores of your native country, and, with the assurance that we will ever keep in happy remembrance your sojourn in these Islands, we beg to subscribe ourselves with the greatest regard, Your Excellency's most obedient and Humble Seivants. (Signed by every adult male resident in this district.)