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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume II, Issue 68, 16 October 1862, Page 5 (Supplement)

The last two or three clays of the session have been very exciting, owing to a serious disagreement in the ministry—a disagreement which, if it had taken place earlier, must have produced a break-up ; as it is, it has caused the withdrawal of Mr. Sewell from the office of Attorney-General, and opened the way, wo presume, for the appointment of Mr. Whittaker.- -Independent, Sept. 16.

WRECKING. The circumstances attending the wreck of the Lord Worsley steamship still occupy public attention. Opinions are divided regarding the conduct of the Government, who are stated to have bought the hulk to prevent a dispute arising betweenanyprivateindividualand the Taranaki natives. Whether this was a prudent act remains to be determined. Suppose a wreck occurs on the West Coast in a few weeks from this, and that the natives take forcible possession of the entire property, holding the lives of the survivors at ransom, will the Government again step in and pay the forfeit ? If the same thing occurs on the East Coast, will they also make matters smooth there in the way they have done at Taranaki ? The underwriters should satisfy themselves whether a higher sum could have been obtained for the wreck, if it had not become known at the sale that the Government were anxious to become the purchaser, which is said to have put a stop to the competition. This proceeding on the part of the Government may have been, and doubtless was, Judicious, have reference only to the preservation of the semblance of peace but there other considerations of equal importance involved. Commercial morality surely is of some account in this colony; and the commercial men of Auckland ai’e not in a position to condone an act which may have a very injurious effect on their business. We refer thus pointedly to the alleged action of the Government, in reference to the Lord Worsley , because we think it is stteing a dangerous precedent for the future. It will have the effect of stimulating the cupidity of the natives, of increasing marine risks on vessels coming to our ports, and by consequence of placing an embargo on our foreign commerce. These are evils to be avoided if possible, and certainly should not be courted to guard against another evil which might never have occurred. GENERAL ASSEMBLY. It may be of interest to enumerate the business of the late session of the General Assembly. The House of Representatives sat for five days before the proceedings of the session were opened by his Excellency's speech. The formal opening of the session took place on the 14th July. Since that date the session has lasted 04 days, and the house has sat on 46 days, and disposed of the following business: — Bills introduced 56 ” passed and assented to 3S ” reserved for Royal assent 5 ” lapsed in Ilousoof Representatives 8 ” lapsed in Legislative Council ... 3 ”to be read this day six months... 2 56 The following bills were assented to by the Governor at the close of the session : Public Reserves Act Ammendment Act, 1862. Panama Route (Postal) Act, 1862. Crown Grants, Act, No. 2, 1862. Relegation Continuance Act, 1862. Marino Boards Act, 1862. G old Fields Act 1862. Steam Navigation Act. 1862. Crown Lands Act, 1862. Court of Appeal Act, 1863. Naturalization Act, 1862. Native Purposes Appropriation Act, 1862. Land Revenue Appropriation Act, 1862. Land Revenue Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1862. Appropriation Act, 1862. Loan Bill, 1862. Juries Act, 1862. Sale of Non-payment of Rates Act, 1862. Resident Magistrates Jurisdiction Extension Act, 1862. Debtors and Creditors Act, 1862 Militia Act, 1862. Native District Regulation Amendment Act, 1862. Native Circuit Court Amendment Act, 1862. Commencements of Acts Act, 1862. Colonial Defence Act, 1862. The following hills were reserved by the Governor for the assent of the Queen : Crown Grants Bill, No. 1, 1862. Civil List Bill, 1862. Auckland Waste Lands Act Amendment Bill, 1862. Native Lands Bill, 1862. There were several other bills passed no list of which is in our possession.— J).S.Cross.