The Lyttelton Times. SATURDAY, August 23, 1851.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 33, 23 August 1851, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times. SATURDAY, August 23, 1851.

The Canterbury Settlement has collectively, deliberately, finally expressed its opinion upon the political questions at issue in this colony. The two public meetings held on the same day at Lyttelton and at Christchurch, and the public dinner the same evening at Lyttelton, witnessed the most complete and cordial unanimity. In the great struggle going on between the settlers [and the organs of government, we have taken, our stand with those who do battle for the restoration to the inhabitants of this colony of the rights and privileges of Englishmen. Of all the inhabitants of this district, from the highest official to the neediest expectant (if such there be), from the wealthiest magistrate to the poorest labourer, not one has been found to oppose the unanimous opiniorv of the community, that the Government, under which it is proposed that we shall live, does not gain its approval, and will never possess its confidence. Sir George Grey cannot appeal to one man in this settlement to support his policy. Now when Sir George Grey shall read of these doings, it is impossible but that he will see cause for serious reflection, if not 4 of apprehension. It is impossible but that he will ask himself, What willbe the result of these things ? On the one side stands, the Governor of the Colony,—supported in the colony by a feeble body of government officials, in England by an unpopular minister and a tottering cabinet, —engaged in the task of forcing upon an English community, by an act of arbitrary power, an , un-English, an unpopular, a detested form^ of government. On the other side stands/ almost the whole body of landed proprietor^ in the different settlements, pastoral and agricultural settlers, merchants, tradesmen, and working men of every class and degree, resolved never to accept a form of government which would establish their

civil and political degradation. Nor is this the resolve of men given to idle complaint, for the inhabitants of the older settlements of this colony have long borne the wasteful expenditure of an irresponsible government: —they have borne it amidst disappointed hopes, and broken promises; and the dwellers in this new settlement know their history, and dread its repetition. The various settlements in New Zealand _ differ from one another, in sentiments, as in circumstances. One may be more politically intelligent, and commercially active; another peaceful and rural; others distinct from the rest by involving in their foundation the maintenance ;of religious establishments. Some are in a condition of settled prosperity, whilst some, like ourselves, are_ yet in the throes and struggles of their nativity ; labouring hardly for food and for shelter. But one thing we have in common, which binds us all together in indissoluble ties, common to us because we inherited it from the same source, —from our fatherland: and that is an intelligent recollection, and an ardent love of the principle of government which our forefathers built up through many centuries of political labour. No man has lived so long under the arbitrary government of the Islands, as to have forgotten the privileges he enjoyed of old. As for us at Canterbury, but a year ago, we were consulted upon questions of the government of our country, when we were asked to vote for representatives of our own views upon such questions. Now we may only stare vacantly at the pages of a Wellington newspaper to learn the edicts which affect our liberties, or tax our industry; but which we were not permitted to hear of until we were called upon to obey them. This is then the. struggle to which we are all committed, the restitution of English constitutional government. For this we join heart and hand with our neighbours in the other settlements. And if there were wanting one thing to unite us in a common brotherhood, it would be the unworthy efforts which have been attempted to sow jealousies and rivalry betwixt us. Our indignation at that attempt shall be another link in the chain which unites us.

Now, if this be the state of affairs in New Zealand, we ask again, what does Sir George Grey believe will be issue of the struggle ? He has told us that the Imperial Parliament is not going to pass a new Constitutional law this session. We are still to be left with the nominated general Council, and these new partly nominated Provincial Councils. Does Sir George Grey believe that he can make these Councils work ? Will they pass wholesome, satisfying, satisfactory laws for the colony ? It is not what they might do. Does he honestly believe there is a chance of their doing so, in the present state of public feeling ? If not, what is the alternative ? We say it deliberately, and with the most anxious solicitude for the future ; —-it is a most awful responsibility for any man to incur, to plunge the whole colony into political agitation for an indefinite time to come, whilst the noble energies and practical wisdom which might have been engaged in advancing the prosperity of the country, will be fritted away in a party struggle.

And the issue of the struggle is not doubtful. We will destroy nomineeism. No power on earth can save it. Already we heai- the general legislature, when it does come, is to consist of ttvo elected chambers. Then why not let the Provincial Councils be \*\ted now ? We must get this at last : it :\s inevitable. Why then inflict on the colctoy the trial of an impossible experiment.