THE COLONIST. NELSON, FRIDAY, MAY 28, 1858,

Colonist, Issue 63, 28 May 1858, Page 2

THE COLONIST. NELSON, FRIDAY, MAY 28, 1858,

" As truth is truth, ' And-, told by halves, may, from a simple thing By misconstruction to a monster grow, I'll tell the whole truth." '

Sheridan Knowles,

A Government vessel now. lies by our shore waiting to convey-to Auckland the representatives of this Province. As the craft is only a common one she may possibly be a month ere she arrive at the happy port with her precious cargo. Some five or sjbc other freights, of a similarly rich description, will have or should'have,'ere now, lauded their Senatorial valuables ;at our New Zealand peck or tail, whichever it may happily be. In a limited period we may have to number as many Superintendences as English Counties or American States. What a glorious sight, could some archdemon shew all these Governments of our mimic empire, our new world of the South, "in, a moment of time." And a costly fleet going full sail to our remote metropolis with members f What a " glory" would such a scene diffuse in the eyes of the next generation of rate and tax-payers! But if future members should take pet, or choose not to repress either themselves or their infatuated constituents, how the Grand Magician, Prince Clovenfoot, would be tempted to lash the clouds into hurricanes and drive the unfreighted barques back again in empty.confusion! But the worst part of the devilment is its probability. Only consider the patriotism of our own eloquent Traverses, our Examiner Elliotts, our high-domed Dometts, our clear Wells, our commercial Curtises, and the like staying nobly at home to mind their own affairs, laughing" at a good-natured public'and at some midwife Stafford delivering the laboring Assembly of the mighty farrow of fifty-twp^acts —-a grunter for every week in the year I We beg pavdon—the things are rabbits, —a manifold increase every season ! What blessings for rejoicing posterity!

It is high, time that skilful Monro should be called in professionally. He must feel that the wight without the-diploma must have had a sweating time of it. It is to be feared some dozens of the poor littered bare and blind beauties must have died for want of proper treatment. This, of course 5 the Doctor will look into; and if there has been drugging, any foul play, in the name of iEscuLApius, dig into the State Quacks, with both hands. We did grumble at Saunders fearfully when he did not contest Waimea against his present friend. It might be an error of judgment; but we almost growled—we don't.gare whether it was like puppy —cat —tiger—bear—or lion—but growl we'did # And wherefore ? It was to see how Mr. Alfred Saunders, the legislative Miller, could put Dr» Monro, after ha had crushed him, and ground him, and made him all bran, and rather smutty bran too,—yes, put him through again, and by the full rushing, boiling, thundering stream of his astounding oratory, after a few turns of his grinders, bringing him out so fine, so sweet, so white—bless you, Nelson never yet had such excellent flour! Now, excuse us, but we could not but growl to see our talented friend so overwhelmingly clever.

But it is to be feared he went a line too far, when he declared to the astonished Richmondians, that "the, Lord" had done something in this strange business. He alludes to Abraham's sacrifice, and the entangled ram in the thicket. Monro says that Saunders means him by the "ram;" and hints that the sheepruns have supplied the "thicket." This may be a good interpretation; and possibly, without a miracle, the said runs furnished the ample fleece on his back too; but we have grave doubts whether Saunders' ram was not sediicecl into the thorns and briars there by a certain personage with similar horns,-and these not quite divine.' N6ither do we believe that the substitution of Monro for Saunders is the work of any angel, unless it be a fallen one. We say this because there is somethingy«!/je in the affair. Let us see. A short time since these men, our "Sweet Singer in Israel," our David, and his beloved Jonathan were awfully at issue, as the olden pair of friends never were. The former was all for protection to the bodies at the runs and their thickets —the latter would never sup with such wicked " supperists" on monopoly, and treated them with scorn; the former would give cheap land to none beyond the runs—the latter would have it everywhere; the former would himself take credit for land, and he got it in the perfidious mode of a lease, but would never give it in any other form —• the latter would give it to' every poor man who would occupy land ; the former was for the old mode of voting with all its deceit and cowardly truckling and bribery—the latter was for the simple, quiet, honest ballot, as adopted by the most sensible people and associations all over the freer parts of the world; the formel' was and is for a costly College and" all its expensive nonsense' the latter was for plain useful schools"and such preliminary institutions. Here, at present, we stop to take breath; for the subject is a sublime one f and we should like to get rid of it, as probably our readers have done ere this. From this little sample of contrasts, our gentles may judge

for themselves whether, if these two worthies do now agree in some things—as, heaven knows, we all do even with savages and pagans; yet how our heroes agree in what are called politics!—principal doctrines of political science (!) —it will really need something mbre than a sheep caught in a thicket to explain. Mr. Satjnders may try to catch the public by surrendering his pretensions to Dr. Monro, —or he may deceive himself, caj»tare benevolentiam, to catch the good will of a friend on whom he may gaze with admiration of novel friendliness; but if principles, and great ones too, are involved, more emphatically at the -present most eventful time, in such matters as cheap land, land on credit, the ballot, &c, then assuredly Mr. Saunders—disguise it as he pleases —either formerly contended for mere things of nought, or just now forswears and betrays the cause,of the multitude. We say it with genuine sorrow. Whatever may be Dr. Monro's qualifications, in other respects,—on all the main subjects—unless his conversion to liberal measures be a secret unknown—he is the very last man that, should have been sent to the Assembly, .

The reason, and that a truly sapient one, why Mr. Saunders allowed Dr. Monro to lay legislative eggs in his nest was, that having ''screwed his courage to the boiling point," (!) in order to " the delivery of something of a statesmanlike speech (!) it was a great relief to his feelings to find that he had escaped Me responsibility and honor sought to be conferred upon him."; Modest man; of course, he never encouraged any one to wreathe him with such " blushing honore." Nimporte;. But having only " minor differences witlr Dr. Monro," had he " allowed himself to be put 'va. opposition to that gentleman,"—after years of opposition on what used to be treated as great principles—" he felt that he would have taken upon himself such an amount of responsibility (Good gracious, why did'nt the poor fellow think of that before ? ) as he should always be inclined to* shirk." Bravo • "See the conquering hero comes!" But what cowes the bold looking candidate? -Sub rosa: it is " the apportionment of the New Zealand Company's debt." What! is there to be.any roguery in the matter? If it is an honest'debt, who is such a scoundrel as not. to be. willing to pay his shave ? If Auckland folks v or any others, want Nelson to pay more, what dreadful responsibility ■is there in resisting the demand ? Two questions only arise on this subject:—firstly, what proportion of the debt does Nelson owe ? And then, what do the morejreeent provinces of this island owe ? This may soon be found out we presume, and still sooner fairly stated. For shame, Mr. Saunders, to adopt so lame an excuse as this!

The timid, retiring candidate then goes on to assure us, that no man but Dr. Monro would be able to obtain a reduction of the debt that had been apportioned to the Nelson province. Well done Mr. Saunders ! You hit hard! You tell the Doctor how cleverly he can over-reach the upright Assembly! The audience cheered, for Monro "got in" splendidly.. Well time will shew what our representative can do; but, as Mr. Saunders could have been returned easily, it may be supposed the .electors of the Waimea will not forget him, should his " substitute," although as he improperly intimates " found by the Lord," prove to be no better than " an old ram."

It would be out of place here to attempt any special wisdom on the Compensation Report, now remitted for more complete inquiry. With, so many hundreds of cases to examine, by the commissioners, we cannot see how the Report could have been much more perfect than it was, or how its classification could be easily amended. Under each of the four general divisions of claimants the Commissioners will find many who are fairly entitled to compensation. Nor should they beless strict tothe laboring class than were those who awarded so bountifully to the first land purchasers. In the former court of inquiry all were friends; let us hope that in the present commission there will be 3io foes.

The Qualification of Electors Act, 1858, according to Clause 1, enables a man aged twenty-one to vote, if for six months previously to registration he has occupied a tenement of the annual value of £5. By Clause 5, such an elector may be a Representative. By Clause 6, such a Representative may continue in his Representation, although he may lose his tenement and have to live in a sty not worth a shilling! Moreover he may vote in Council on all sorts of qualifications for voting at all sorts of elections, whilst himself may not have a qualification out of Council to vote either for a candidate for Council or Legislative Assembly, or any Trust or Corporation requiring the'lowest pecuniary qualification, Now this is statesmanship! Why it is no better than the Yankee policy of which we once heard O'Connell speak. In one of the States, it seems, a forty shillings, qualification was indispensable. After summing up one fellow's valuables to thirty-five shillings, in order to make out the other five shillings, he had to add a donkey to the inventory of his possessions. However, that would have enabled him to vote for the candidate for the Presidency. His name was consequently being registered at the election. Meantime, somehow, poor donkey died. Its death was announced, and the elector was disqualified—although he was senatorial enough to see and to say—" Oh ! oh! I guess how it is: its "the living asses that have .the .votes." But 'it would appear, under the regime of his-Excellency, that if one of the Assembly survive one election, he can then let his carcass vote at a hundred.

His Honor's Speech at the Prorogation of Council on Wednesday last, was conceived in good taste. Somewhat concise, it was still clear, and buoyant with hope. The shabby treatment this Province has received from the General Government was properly intimated. But improved usage in future is looked for. Whether in this his Honor be mistaken a little time will shew. After a " grand consult" our seve.ral Representatives have we'believe resolved at theeleventh hour to repair to the tlieatre.of their duty. AYe compliment them* on this sensible course... Surely if things at Auckland did not merit their approval, it was all the more necessary for them to do their utmost at their posts.; Sincerly do we hope that this settlement will not again be so unwisely trifled with.'

Tns General Assembly.—Nelson is now, properly speaking, disfranchised, not having a single representative' at the present sitting of the General Assembly at Auckland. Bills of the greatest importance are being brought forward to the number of, we believe, twenty-eight, and yet Nelson has no voice in the matter, and the bedridden electors of Nelson are gulled by the small talk of their should be representatives.1

Our Gold Fields.—Several communications have been received from correspondents at the Diggings to their friends in town, with reference to the recent findings at the Aorere, all speaking in the highest terms of the present prospects of the Diggings and of the excellence of the discoveries lately brought to light. * All speak well of the future ; and we may yet see golden times in Nelson, and a promising brisk trade with the Aorere.