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The New Zealand Spectator and Cook’s Strait Guardian, Wednesday, January 19, 1853

[Editorial, The New Zealand Spectator and Cook’s Strait Guardian, Wednesday, January 19, 1853]

The first step has been taken towards bringing the New Constitution into practical operation in this colony, by the proclamation by his Excellency the Governor-in-Chief, published in last Monday's Government Gazette. Within a few short months the different Provinces will be constituted, their boundaries defined, the number of members of which each Provincial Council will be composed determined, the different arrangements and details required for the practical working of the Bill settled, and the political machine brought into working order. Hitherto no great amount of activity has been displayed in the different settlements with reference to the impending elections under the new Constitution. In Auckland nothing whatever has been done, so far as we can gather from the papers. In New Plymouth Mr. Halse appears likely to be the Superintendent chosen. The greatest amount of activity in the Southern settlements seems to have been displayed at Canterbury, where candidates have offered themselves both for the office of Superintendent, and as members of the General Assembly. At Wellington whatever has been done by aspirants after Legislative honors has been done very quietly, and with a prudent desire to avoid general observation. Still, however those who have been feeling their way, with a view to ascertain their probable chances of success before publicly declaring themselves, may wish to escape notice, the time shortly is approaching when they must declare themselves openly, and submit their pretensions to public scrutiny; till then we repeat the advice we had occasion previously to urge upon the electors, namely, that they should withhold any promises of votes, and on no account to commit themselves in favor of any particular candidate, until they are all fairly before the public.