Page 4 Advertisements Column 4

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 333, 28 December 1860, Page 4

> v WUh^regwd t6; the measures that have recently ibeenf proposed for Uhe-future management of .the natives; you'will readily 'believe that I should, riot have.' felt disposed-to subject myself or any of my fellow jcolonista to, ''three years' imprisonment, and a fine of five hundred pounds'' at the option of a single Justice of the Peace; but I should have been quite disposed to supporta very stringent measure to ensure the" prevention of <any more, arms being sold to the natives. The Native Offenders' Bill I should certainly not have supported., Any thing., Jjut would have compelled the natives to make t&lpmvea independent of those European comforts and luxuries, which they have now so largely adopted, would have necessarily made them more dangerous and unmanageable enemies in this inaccessible and mountainous country. The nominee native council, which is to'possess no practical power, is simply an .addition to the frightful number of officials to be supported by this small community. The same amdunt of money spent in giving ' a complete English education to a few hundred native children,' would have been infinitely more likely to accomplish some useful purpose. ' The amount of debt incurred by the present ministry in time of peace', appears to me to be quite sufficient to prove to any thinking man that such an administration would take but' a very short time to bring the colony to a state of hopeless insolvency. Borrowing money for their successors to pay, except in cases .of great emergency, is not only an imprudent, but a decidedly unjust course for any ministry to pursue, and one which would never be allowed by any House of Representatives that did not contain by far too large a proportion of tax receivers, of men who are more interested in the emolument to be obtained from Government, that in the solvency and ultimate prosperity of the colony. No British ministry, would have dreamt of proposing to a British parliament, even in a' time of war, to borrow the same amount of monsy in' proportion to the population which the, present ministry had been allowed to borrow in a time of peace. [ believe borrowing money to be a more dangerous md delusive expedient for a community'than it even' s for an individual, and I should always be more disjosed to support a Government that would honestly md courageously meet its own'expenses, however jreat, than one which took upon itself the very deasant and profitable business of spending, and left ts successors to find out some means of paying their lebte. , - ' One of the first things which I should be anxious to eform in the House of Representatives is the constiutionofthe House itself. Nothing appears to me nade more self-evident than that the measures proposed >y any executive should be submitted to the consideraionand examination of those who are quite at liberty to idopt, alter, or reject them as they please, and thereore not to those who, holding office''under, and reeiving payment' from the Government, can only be ixpectedtoaid as the mereservapts or assistants of the Government by which they are employed; and itappeara yen more unconstitutional and absurd for taxes to be ajsed and debts to be incurred by those who have to eceive and not to pay them. A Colonial Secretary, a lolicitor, and perhaps a Treasurer are necessary evils n this way; their presence in the House is necessary 0 explain the measures and intentions of the Execuive of which they forma principal part; and it is erhaps as well that they should be allowed to vote, a their own Votes^JV generally' be only about a fair et off against the voles of' the place-hunters who are nxiously-endeavoring to supplant them, and who are herefore pretty sure to be dissatisfied with everyhing they propose, but nothing can be more undesirble than that the votes and wishes of the independent nembers oftho House should be nullified, by the otes of Land Commissioners and other paid serants of the Government ,* nor can I understand how ny intelligent constituencies can be induced to commit uch a suicidal act as to choose for their representaives men in such a .position; men who are not at berty to consult their intrests, but who will naturally nd almost necessarily support whatever government appens to have their office and salary at their disposal, The District Court has, I understand; been conemned by a resolution'of the late House, and will, trust,1 be abolished by the new one. The hardship nd suffering endured by some unfortunate debtors; \e improper expense incurred by the colony for the jppoit of themselves and their families, and the unecessary loss sustained by creditors, should long nee have pointed out tlie necessity for some new w relating to insolvency. ' I should be disposed to ipport a law that abolished imprisonment for debt [together, bat rendered a fraudulent debtor liable to be unished as a criminal. Such a law should offer very encouragement to an early and equitable comromise between a debtor and his creditors. I shall not trouble you with any remarks about the >ew Provinces Act. I see its warmest supporters do at now attempt to defend the manner in which has been made to apply to this Province. It is I am. sure unnecessary for me or any other ssident in the Middle Island to say that he would Dt consent to the land fund of this Island being ,ken for the purchase of land in the North Island, >r do I believe that any member of the House of epresentatives ever seriously proposed anything of le sort, although I see that both parties in the House )w accuse their opponents of having some design of, lat kind. And this reminds me that I ought to sVy raethinsr about what 1 cannot designate by any ore appropriate name than the electioneering cry hich the late representatives of this Province apsar to have so unanimously agreed on. Two of the embers for the province of Wellington, Messrs. eatherston and Fox, arc painted by them all in the ackest possible colors. Mr. Kelling could •'discern leir bad motives afar off." Dr. Monro has now, disivered that the man he used to hold up to our poor immon-place Superintendent as a pattern of elolence, enterprize, and statesmanship, is very exavagant and very inconsistent, and has succeeded in ingirig his own province to a state of bankruptcy; id that Mr. Fox is all this and a great deal more, r. Curtis has exhibited such an extensive knowledge the '•Wellington party's" motives and intentions tat I: should think.he' must have been extremely tithate with them,' although v!Mr; vVemyss informs 1 that they were guiltyl of the most traitorous .corBpondenee; with i therebel WiKingi.^ ! ,'■ ' But,; notwithstandingialt these grave charges; we are' Id by the same honorable members; that ttoeise very ack legs would be the ''inevitable''successors of the esent ministers. . , , , , Altogether L think you will agree with me that lese gentlemen are endeavoring to prove by far too uch for their own case, and that if these Wellington en' are one twebtieth.part so unreasonable, so unjust, un-English, and so traitorous as they are represented us; it would be a great insult.to the Governor and the Hottte of Representatives 'to suppose' for'one oment that such men would be delibera'tdly'chosen t the Governor, and'supported by1 a majority of the buse of Representatives; both of which must'be done ifore they could'become the " successors" of the ssentministers. :- ' ' • - ' ' ' I must however admit that ifl'go to the' House of spresentatives, I'shall go by no means'prejudiced in' vor of Wellington men or Wellington pretensions, hich are not always of a very, modest description; it no dread of -them will prevent me from attemptg to " stir-up " or even to weed any Ministry that I ay conscientiously believe to require it. I hope the sw House of Representatives will not be without men sufficient common sense, prudence,, and honesty form more than one Executive. But there is >tbing that I would more anxiously avoid'than the ghtest approach to that purely factious opposition any existing Government, which is generally more ischievous than the most servile and unenquiring pport. I am, Gentlemen, Your obedient Servant, I ALFRED BAUNDEBS. Richmond, December 8,1860. HO THE ELECTORS OF COLLINGWOOD. By an Act of the, late General Assembly, the dis-' let extending from the West Coast to the Watered of the Takaka Valley has been constituted an .ectoral District. I beg to announce my intention of soliciting your >tes at the ensuing elections. A district so essentially ineral requires a representative conversant with >ur wants and habits. Forty years passed in the irsuit of mines and minerals, justifies my plea of a lowledge of the subject. The present position of political matters in New •aland requires the grave consideration of matured dgment; it behoves you, therefore, to look well to horn you return as your representative in the new ssembly. ■ The only profession I will make, is that will serve you faithfully, and will never become a ace-hunter. W. LONG WRBY. Nelson, November 28. 1410