THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “Véritè sans peur.” Wanganui, January 24, 1861.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 5, Issue 219, 24 January 1861, Page 2

THE WANGANUI CHRONICLE AND RANGITIKEI MESSENGER. “Véritè sans peur.” Wanganui, January 24, 1861.

Tt will he observed, from our advertising columns, that the days, ,fixed for the nominationand election of adtepresehtative.ihthe General Assembly for tin's district are the Ist and 2nd February,, and for the. .Rangitikei district the4th and-sth Febriiaryv ' ' • In the- latter*- where Mr. Fox stands, no opposition is even spoken of the only gentleman likely tq. have bean brought forward being in such an infirm state of health as makes it quite impossible for him- , to undertake. the ; duties of a member of the bouse; of. .Representatives. The nomination day will therefore see Mr. Fox duly elected as member for Eangitikei; ■ ' * • Here there is little likelihood of any candidate opposing the- one . already in the'field„ Indeed;’ there* is ’ some*difficulty in seeing on what plea,, other than a personal : one, any one cbnhfcome forward to’ "contest- the eleclion ; and this point of personal qualifications is one of-the last on which any gentleman in the district would be inclined to come into competition'With Mr. Harrison,'--who>r apart? from his political opinions, is, from his long experience in colonial'politics, and bis well kiibw| character for integrity and honour,, altogether

unimpeachable on this bead. 7’lien, with respect to his political riptnfons, it is generally understood that reflects the opinions of the great majority of the electors. The only point, so far as we are aware, on which he .differs from: what Mr." Fox’s 'hieeting showed to be a majority, though a harrow one, of the electors, is the war question.' liis opinions; on this subject ' harmonise more with those of the party opposed to Mr. Fox than with those .of Mr. Fox’s friends. ? At least, so we have been given to understand by .persons acquainted with the candidate. ; But we think it would be exceedingly injudicious for those who differ from him on. this matter to refuse him their confidence. Whatever opinion may have-been formed as to the. expediency or propriety of . commencing the contest at Taranaki, there is,but one opinion what its conclusion <.mttst;be,; so that,. with probably a few 1 exceptions, all are practically.united on this hitherto vexed-and waxing question. fdEhe :ohly -abjection «#orth? noticing* that: we have heard made';td Mr. //arrison is, that:he is f a)part^fmah.This is. a --.very. vague phrase, and is either recommendatory or condemnatory tlie/sense'-in which it is used. It it.;be-meant that Mr. Harrison is possessed of so strong a party spirit, that, no matter how injudicious and dangerous the .measures of his party may be, he will support them—-not because lie approves of them, but even contrary to his better judgment—-simply because they, are brought forward by bis party; arid that, on the other hand, he will oppose and vote against the'propositions of the opposing party, not because of, their character, but because of their having come from the -opposite side r.f the house; then we should say that the objection is a valid one, and that Mr. Harrison should.not be member 'for Wanganui. But. if it be meant, that the candidate intends to take li is seat on that side of the .house onwhich his opinions are fori the most' part advocated^—that he intends to identify himself with a certain party, and .to vote along’with them whenever lie can conscientiously do sk>! —then we think the objection will not stand. For in a frpe country with a representative' governm-'iit; the government cannot be carried on without parties. ' The. members of a legislative assembly ; differ in their views, and naturally range themselves on sides according to their opinions. But they find it necessary, in order to carry out their views, to unite with others who approach nearest to them ; and thus parties arh*formed. The members of a party do not sacrifice tlieir principles' or alter their opinions,' but they defer to the wishes .of the majority or of the leaders of their party in matters of detail, in respect td the means to be emidoyed-'to gaih their,end, the proper time, to use tliesemeans. and the compromises to he male if it is found the whole of their object cannot be at once attained. Without some sucli unioil' no abuses could be rectified, no reforms carried-—for there, is always a strong body of nfbii who would have things remain as they are.. And it is practically found, that where any men keep themselves isolated—-in dependent, as" it is termed—it’is generally for selfish ends, to glorify themselves, to show to’ the world ,? those great - talents which they would not have the same opportunity of displaying if they were attached to any party. No doubt the power of party is sometimes abused,' as it has been of late in the Wellington Provincial Council,, but where it is employed legitimately it is of inestimable advantage in political contests. That Mr. //arrison belongs to a. party is therefore no. objection to fiiim"; that he belongs to a party in opposition to the present government is a recommendation ;"for'if they are strong enough, of which there is now little doubt, we may hope ere long to see a ministry in office more capable than the present of extricating the colony from its difficulties* financial and military, and of initiating a policy that will increase the prosperity of the settlers,- and facilitate the civilization of the Maories.

LOCAL. INTELLIGENCE. Resident .Magistrate’s Court. —The following:Debt cases have been decided. Jan. 7. H. B. Roberts v. (Cumberland McT)onell, £l2, judgment confessed. * Jan.’ 9. Wm. Kells v. Rnbt. Sangster, <£lo Os 6d, judgment bydefault. . Jan. 11. Thos. Reid y. Rob. Sangster, JEI4, judgment by'consent: The following cases were for damages for trespass of cMtle v.’ John, ’■•Wallace, £Q 15s, judgment given for JBl 143, and costs, £1 9s. - Jan. 21. John Wallace v. Chas. Somerville, judgment for £1 Os 6d, and costs .£1 4s.

Mamakij, the principal chief at the head of the Wanganui, is on his way down, in order to join in the tangi for: Hori King’s lately deceased wife. Kome of the earlier settlers, we believe, purpose inviting him to a public dinner, as a mark of. their friendship for himself, and with the view of strengthening our relations with the river natives.,

The Harvest is now pretty general in the district*, and we are glail to learn that Colonel Murray is permitting, soldiers, to assist, in reaping. The samples of wheat ’threshed out are remarkably fine, and less has been shaken out by the . late heavy gale than was at first supposed. Commercial. —The trade complain much of the. very bad condition, in which country or station hides are brought to market, 'they; should be spread out on a platform clear of the ground, the flesh side up, and covered with salt, as soon as ; possible after they are- flayed. They should lie there at least one jnontli; they may then, with a sprinkling of salt, be rolled up, the flesh side out. If the hair will Come off they are not fit 'for shipment,, for this denotes decomposition. - • \, Auction Sales. —Messrs, Taylor* Watt

and Co.’s Auction.. .Sale /of, §add),ery,.- sc., came off on tbe v l7tV iustd f and' theriri was a very, large attendance 'of buyers.. The,bidding was spirited, 'and; the prices' obtained \Vould about remunerate r the importers. Judging from what we noticed money is not so tight in. Wanganui'as' it : has been for some time-past. The A uctiorieers intimated at the close of the'. auction thatthey would ’hold another orie shortly. ; : J The Contract ’ for the garrison has been taken by Mr. Alexahder—for beef and niuttoh. at 3d, and for bread at 2f 1 per lb. The article next in importance,'candles, is supplied at B|d per lh. ;; * ''' /

WEt,BINGTC)Nr

(Front our/own Correspondent.) Friday morning, 18th January,

. 1 "per W;on£a.Wo'ngtf.’'.. : TheWori|ja Wonga,has returned froih.Nel£rin and ' Pictoii; . no* additional Tarahald . ne&s. 7'he supplementary .mail for /shgfarid, forwarded triNelson, was about two hours too late, arid must i'eriiain there until next month. The Prince Alfred, steamer had a narrow escape ; was within a yard almost of the Seal rock during- rthe late heavy gale; the vessel would riot answer her helm, the passengers giive tlieniselves. up for lost. The R obert Lowe sailed on Tuesday . for ..Tara.naki and Auckland ; the' gallant Captain Turner has gone by her to return to his post. , It is said the authorities at the seat of war have behaved most .shamefully towards him. After getting leave of absence from the general to proceed to Wellington toget the ball extracted, and recruit his. health, the, whole, of bis.extras have been disallowed; lie is. merely .to receive the bare pay, and liasbeeu surcharged over £7O. .This piece of ..petty red-.tap.eism is a small specimen of, , how , jnen who have heroically served their’ Queen and coup try', are! occasionally rewarded. I hope tlie /inhabitants wijl get up a penny subscription to show tlieir appreciation of. Captain, Turner’s valuable services.' ...

Bishop /•/.braliam . and lady have gone to Auckland, by the Robert’ Lowe, to visit Mrs. Selwyn previous to. her departure for England by'that vessel, which is to leave that port about the sth February; nearly 30() bales wool were shipped here by heir,'including some, from Taylpr, Watt and Co. The /S'liaresbrook is nearly ready to receive cargo, and has more freight engaged than she can well take. 'Hie Wild Duck has, commenced discharging, and will soon load again ; freight this year Id per lb. There does not appear, much disposition to purchase wool; merchants are ..very , shy, and. prefer, advancing ;. what.small parcels have been 6old have been at a reduction of 2d to 3d per lb. , - . . 7’he annual Commissariat contracts in this place have been taken,—meat, by Revans, 3§d., one-ejghth . less than G. H. Buxford; Cliarles Luxfor.d, who is now on his own hook, kills for; Tfevans and Smith ; the bread lias been taken by Walker, baker, at the low price <>f twopence per lb.; coals at 50s by Dransfield; supplies for ships of war, not yet ascertained who the contractor is. Tlie. following members of the Provincial Council,—gamely, Wakefield, Bowler,. Toomath,. Barry, Warburton, McLaggan arid .Phillips, have tendered their resignation to the .Superintendent, which lias been accepted. The Doctor-will at. once pettion the Governor for a . dissolution, the General Government having written him to ascertain his views x>n the subject. .The..flue brig Shamrock, of Sydiiey,'wits' unfortuiiately wrecked during the severe gale in Palliser Bay; passengers all saved; she had a large cargo of timber, &c. on board, and was bound for Otago. The vessel arid cargo was sold yesterday by auction by ' Smith and Co. for £SO, Z)uncaii and Venneli purchasers. Smith (Jimmey) told me the cargo was insured for £ISOO, and the vessel only for £SOO. , I think lie stated that the captain was sole owner. ' . v

The Doctor has commenced the reclaiming of the beach land ; the portion that .is to. be done commences .where they left off a little above Plimmer’s wharf, and is to extend some yards beyond the Odd Fellows’ Hall ; it is calculated that this will cost from <£7ooo to i£B9oo. There are four, candidates in the field for the house of Representatives for the province of Hawke’s . Bay—r Joseph Rhodes, Colenzo, Ormond, and Tucker; the first will be elected. Their Superintendent is enforcing the Amative Land Purchase Ordinance, which is caiising great indignation; the Hawke’s Bay Herald says, “ he is going right stem on against public, opinion ;”and the belief is,, that, it will cause a collision with the natives in that district.

Now for country news. The effects of the late gale have not been so severe in the Wairarapa as with you. At Masterton they had commenced their reaping, and by this time nearly all will be gathered in. At Carterton, a new : settlement, comprising chiefly immigrants per Oliver „Lang and Indian Queen, the loss will be very small, the’ crops being very much sheltered by standing bush. The Waiohini bridge is uninjured; it is spoken of as a first-rate structure. ; Greytbwn : Was partially under water, but not seriously damaged. You will have heard of Morrison’s losses; they must be very great,—house, crops, fences, and many of his stock, all swept, away, and tlie old; patriarch obliged to seek a temporary home on higher lan&T Bid well,’’Smith and Revans, McKenzie, ,aml some others, have lost stock, but to what extent is hot yet ascertained. 1 hear the public works,, roads, bridges, <£c, are riot seriously injured ; ; the'-road, at the foot of. the earthquake, slip, on, the Petoni road,, is re-opened; tliel approach, to the- Kor.okoro bridge is almost finished; and. at the Gorges about 30 men are employed the road, is to be

ripened at “ tiieT # eVitl';-pj^.- J tliTi^^pi : esw^ig?eSk-' / wonder how tlie Traffic m%rriri could be carried on at such tinieS/Jf tlie /fads bad had their way-^!iVih'ely,-not'' ; t<r'UHow' : tendent to expend .any roUUejr without a vote of the Council; as 1 it ‘is; before could be got together tHe'tmffie \viH ; be- : “.as it was.” ■ ; ; '• *-■' foL.::. r. ' : The , provincial cpok, poor 'Porter Welch, was seen unsteadily//* jnoYing homeward.: last week, having obtamrid (as he : saidL-leave of absence; methinks be'/Will not need leave .again; for henceforth liis services, .will not be required. M