WELLINGTON.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 270, 22 May 1860, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

(From the Independent, May 19.) THB PROVINCIAL COUNCIL AND MAORI WAR.

The Provincial Council met on. Tuesday evening and adjourned on Wednesday for a few days, when it will again adjourn for a month. . The two njght3 sittings have been djstingimhed for the unanimity and mutnal good feeling evinced by both parties. Each of them appears to have vied with the other, as to how they could best prove their sympathy for those who have so gallantly borne the brunt of the troubles, occasioned by the resolution of His Excellency to maintain the Queen's supremacy. They met with the determination to .show a practical sympathy, and they have happily united in ascribing to each other a desire to, carry out the common object in the best possible manner—so true is it that'

" One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."

The Superintendent sent down a Message (printed elsewhere) recommending a vote of £500 for the relief of the refugees at Nelson, regretting, at the same time, that the present state of the Exchequer prevented his naming a larger sum. Tho opposition had comeprepared to vote double that sum, and it was finally agreed to meet the wishes of all parties, by unanimously agreeing that ,£I,OOO should be remitted as funds would allow. An address to the Governor,, (also printed olse r vthfpe) was moved by Mr. Wakefield, which,

afteradiioussioni conducted in the naoat cordial spirit,. wa| agreoi upon w<jot co»«. ' T „.■.,,, i .. ] We d^aw atfetionto some £b^r^tional which; fell from Mr.Fitzherbeft, as embracing his views; of the policy that ought to animate members of the General Assembly, and others at the present' crisis. '*y Whaalevier (said thafc gentleman) ;may be the differences of opinion as to the real state of the case /between the Governor and those from whom he has purchased, this is hot the time to bring them forward. Our duty is to endeavor by aUthemeansinourpowertoputdoff'n rebellion—and iit the meantime to sink all minor political differences in the presence of a common danger. We should do what wo can to help his Excellency to maintai.i a bold front towards the enemy; reserving our ultimate judgment .till the whole circumstances of the case pan be investigated calmly; and With impartiality. Probably the greatest possible benefit that could at present be conferredupon the nßtive3, would be to endeavor to; teaoh them the great constitutional lesson that, whatever their grievances, they must leak a remedy fof them,not by ah «ppeal to arras and violence, but ia reasoning and petitioning, trusting to thY belief that there are men ofprobity, coUrage,and humanity in the country, who will bt ready to assist them in all their just appeals, and in the raamtenauc* of all their constitutional rights; but who, at the same time, aw fully resolved to hold no parley with rebels in arms. A difficult lesson probably to be taught, but certainly 6ne that I think ought to be attempted, and need not, if set about in an earnest spirit, be despaired ot as hopeless/ < ' - :

F ifto|i our. report of,, the proceedings :,.of. the Provincial Council it will be »e«Q that an unanimous rote was agreed to of bije thousand pounds to our :» and*th«t btftl p^rtm oo^alljrttnitW' io thi* act of «ym■pathy Jn A way. tM we hope will enhance its value in the estimation of thoie for whom it is intended. The deba'tt oq Mr. Wakefield'g address to this Governor wasthe occatiqn of, much longer discussion than under' the' circumstances might have beert expected, seeing that both sides agreed in its main object. The address was so framed as in our opinion almost toj)reclude the necessity of discussion. Without offering an opinion as to the origin of the rebellion, or the way in which the military operations have been conducted, the address simply; regards the.fact of the rebellion against the Queen's authority, expresses the hope that vigorous measures will be taken for its prompt suppression, for the punishment of the murderers, and the maintenance of the Queen's authority, and assures his Excellency of the cordial co-opera-tion and support of the Council as loyal subjects. There can be no difference of opinion on these points; with the present force in the Colony, the longer the war is protracted the more confidence it will give to the dis tffected, and help to decide the opinions of those who are waiting to join whichever side they believe to be the strongest. In the meantime meetings are held by the natives in different parts of the island to talk the matter over, and to make up their minds as to the course they intend to pursue. One is to be held very shortly at Wairarapa, at which many of the diiefe of Ahuriri intend to be present, and to which Tamihana Teßauparaha, who very much to his credit took a mo9t prominent part in the opposition to the Maori King movement at the late meeting at Otaki, has gone on the part of the Otaki natives to dissuade the Waivarapa natives from joining the Maori King., But the meeting from which the most important results are expected is that to be held at the North in July. As this appears to have been specially summoned by the Governor, we hope he will not commit the mistake of making it a packed meeting, by summoning only thpse chiefs that are believed to be well affected to the Europeans. If it is expected to hrve any effect on the natives throughout the island, both parties ought to be present, the disaffected chiefs as well as those that are friendly ought to be invited to attend,—so that the decision of the meeting should carry with it a moral weight which otherwise it cannot be expected Ito have. Unless this course is pursued we fear that the meeting will not be attended with any beneficial result.