Page 4 Advertisements Column 6

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 331, 21 December 1860, Page 4

TO THE ELECTORS OF THE CITY OF NELSON. , . Gentlemen—l have the honor to offer myself as a CANDIDATE for the representation of the City of , Nelson in the next Parliament. Almost all subjects of general importance likely to occupy the attention of the General Assembly at its entuing session have been mooted during that just' concluded, and you are consequently in possession of my opinions thereupon. With respect to the most serious subject of all, the war in which the Government found itself necessitated to engage with the rebellious natives of Taranaki, I may remark, that, however desirous I may be to see it concluded, I cannot think it right that any peace should be established except such an one as might reasonably be expected to be permanent; and that it is essential to such permanence, that the natives should be convinced of the power of the British Government to enforce obedience to the law. ' If I am fortunate enough to agree in opinion with ; you on this and other points,! shall be happy to serve as your representative. If, however, you prefer to v elect some one else, I can assure you sincerely it will not efface the recollection of the very complimentary manner in which you originally conferred .tfcßt'honor upon me. I have, &c, ALFRED DOMETT. Nelson, November 16, 1364 TO THE ELECTORS OF THE DISTRICT" OF MOTUEKA. 'jentlemek—The electoral district which I have had the honor to represent in the General Assembly for the last three sessions being now divided, a tepa* rate member having been appointed to Massacre.' Bay, and the district of Waimea-west added to those of Motueka, Riwaka, and Moutere, under .the title ; of the Motueka District, I offer myself to you for'election as your representative in the new Parliament. The proceedings of the House of Representatives in the sessions 1856, 1858, and 1860, are before you, and I believe you will give me credit for attention to the business of the House,'and for i supporting . the measures which appeared to me calculated. to promote the best interests of the' colony and of this . province, without reference to any personal interests of my own. You are aware that the greater portion of the late . session was occupied in discussions upon the Native War, and there can be no doubt that the same subject will receive the first attention of the members how before the constituencies. The whole of the members for this Province, firmly convinced of the justice and necessity of-this war, gave their warm support to the existing Ministry. Had they unfortunately been divided in their opinions; Mr. Fox and Dr. Featherston would by this time have,supplanted Mr. Stafford and Mr. Richmond; all hope of a satisfactory termination of the present contest with the hostile tribes would have been lost in . humiliating and probably unsuccessful attempts'to patch up a hollow and temporary peace, to he followed ■', by renewed outbreaks; and the progress and proepe-. perity of the colony, and the honor of our name, would thus have been sacrificed to the unwholesome ambition of two or three men of undoubted ability certainly, but of reckless and unscrupulous -political' conduct. It was well understood in Auckland that the first result of the overthrow of the Stafford Ministry, would have been the despatch of a deputation to the rebel W. King,.to sue for peace upon the best ' terms he would condescend to grant. What measure of justice or favor your Province would receive from their inevitable successors, should the, present Ministry be displaced, I leave for your ■ consideration. Notwithstanding the great waste of time occasioned by the factious opposition of the Wellington party, who, when foiled in their discreditable attempts on . the war question, went so far as to threaten to " talk against time," so as to prevent the passing of the estimates, and throw the whole affairs of the colony into , confusion, I am happy to say that several valuable measures were passed during the session; amongst them was the Land Registry Bill, an act to simplify . the transfer of landed property: which, I believe,' will !be found to remedy a grievance long felt and complained of. A bill to facilitate Compo9itions,between ' f Debtor and Creditor, which I am convinced would have been most beneficial in its operation, was also passed by • • the House of Representatives, but rejected by the Legislative Council. , .; : , I opposed the repeal of the New Provinces Act, be- " cause that measure secures to every district as it rises to sufficient importance, the right to manage its own local affairs; it in fact, merely carries out the intention of the Constitution Act, which treated the establishment of the six original provinces as a partial and temporary subdivision of the colony, and expressly contemplated and provided for the formation of new ' ; provinces. The opponents of the Act are; I conceive, equally the opponents of local self-government, unless ; they understand the term to mean the management of their own local affairs, and those of their neighbors a* ] well. . ■ ' ■ . : ■ ■ ■ ■' ' ■"■■■■• •■' ■■' •'■ ■ The separation of the Wairau from the Province of Nelson, I believe to have been affected against both letter and spirit of the New Provinces Act; and expressed myself to that effect in the House of Representatives. . • .. ..'■■■ .■:■. The Tariff, although the question was not brought ~; prominently before the House, in the late session, is a subject which I know interests many of you, and it is one to which I have given very great attention. I be- ~ lieve an impression prevails to some extent that; the , existing duties aria imposed unduly upon articlesi of necessary consumption in comparison with those levied ' upon luxuries, and I therefore submit a few facts bearing upon the subject for your consideration. Of the total amount of Customs revenue for 1859, namely, £168,000, the sum of £103,000 wasraised upon wines : and spirits, foreign beer, cigars and tobacco, all of which must undoubtedly be classed as luxuries. Of the remaining £65,000, probably one half was raised upon what may be considered as semi-luxuries, such as sauces, pickles, and fine clothing, and the remaining £32,500, or one fifth of the whole revenue arising from the Customs duties, is all that can fairly be said to .be , derived from articles of necessaiy consumption, such as!tea and sugar, blankets, slop clothing, &c, and I■■ may remind you, that unless such imports as these ' bore a tolerable share of the burthen, the native population, who, on the northern island, are very large consumers of them, would almost entirely escape their fair share of taxation. Whether a little jewellery and other matters of small bulk in comparison with their value, a great portion of which were previously smuggled, still escape with a low rate of duty, is, I think, a matter of very little consequence, and is not to be remedied without an entire change in the principle of this tariff, under which all kinds of agricultural implements and machines, from a spade to a si earn engine, corn sacks, and many other articles with which you are familiar, are admitted free of any duty . whatever. Should the part 1 have acted in the. last threo sessions meet with your approval, and determine you to elect me again one of the representatives of this province in the General Assembly, I shall feel honored by the trust confided to me. I remain, Gentlemen, Your most obedient servant, HERBERT EVELYN CURTIS. Nelson, November 30,1860. . 1453 NELSON TOWN SCHOOLS. 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