The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 117, 2 April 1853, Page 6

The Lyttelton Times.

Jpril 2,1&53.

A Correspondent who conceals his individuality under the classic name of Syphax, has addressed to us a letter which is a delightful mixture of irony, banter, and gravity. It is impossible not to sympathise \ with him when he depicts the loss we shc^y sustain by so many embryo statesmen having their .purposed labours taken put of their hands. The contemplation would be melancholy indeed were it likely to be the case; but is it so ? Will not, father, Sir George Grey's arbitrary edict have the effect of raising that host of Chathams -whom Syphax supposes are now mute and inglorious. Oratory is the result of indignation, for it is difficult to get the mental

sieam up without the feelings being thoif^t&hty rouseo^ Contemplate for a moment MflSrthe speeches that have been rehearsed to

the winds of the Plains (typical of bluster and pertinacity) in anticipation of the coming arenas of debate ! The fact of so much, labour lost, of blue book pored and

pondered over in vain, will excite an indigent flow of words sufficient to outvie the winds of the Kakaia. We are not in the confidence of those who intend canvassing the " sweet voices;" but we should consider it an immense bore to be fixed at a station, the owner of which is just now a Candidate for Legislative honors. Sheep and Cicero —Cicero and Sheep ; with post-and-irail tea and indigestible damper, the only sedatives.

Syphax would seem to be one of that class of easy-going mortals who prefer that everything should be done for them, rather than have the trouble of doing anything themselves. He has a very indifferent opinion of the capabilities of our future legislators. Because, forsooth, the constitutional machine might not work lubricously at starting, that delay might ensue, and uncertainty be produced, —that is valid reason for the Executive stepping in and forestalling its functions. When the Crown placed at the disposal of the Legislative Assembly of New Zealand the controul over its waste lands, it was surely not intended that that act of grace should be a dead letter. If

so, we have been convening public meetings,

and expressing our thanks for favours which exist only on paper. The question of waste lands was. one-which required the gravest consideration, and on which it was essential that the expressed public wishes of the difierent Settlements should be obtained. That could only he effected through the

instrumentality of the Legislative Assembly; and though it is very possible that much diversity of opinion would have

existed, yet the question would have been thoroughly ventilated, the feelings of the

Settlements ascertained, and.a measure pas-

sed, stamped with the authority of public opinion. As it is, the Act has not the force of established law, and is not unalterable; hut it will be more difficult to deal with a question thus arbitrarily established, than to have initiated it. An opinion prevails in some quarters that Sir George Grey has exceeded his powers, but this is not so; he has strictly conformed to the Naw Zealand Constitutional Act, the seventy-second clause of which empowers him, until the General Assembly shall enact otherwise, to regulate the sale, letting, and disposal of waste lands. He has taken every effectual care that the Assembly does not enact

otherwise. We have little reason, however,

to be thankful for a boon, which was no boon at all, if Sir John Pakington intended that frjhe Assembly should have no hand in dealing with it.

The question is one of immense importance for Canterbury. How long shall we remain without the provisions of the Act

extending to ourselves ? Is it even advi-

sable that our price of land should stand at 605., while it ranges a few miles off at ss. to 10s. ? If the Act fulfils its anticipated

consequences, and a large immigration flows into New. Zealand, is it prudent or

wise on our parts to stay the wave from flowing over our district? We think not. Some deterioration in the value of land round Christchurch would temporarily ensue, but the influx of population would ultimately give an enhanced value to cultivated lands; for those districts would necessarily be preferred which possess the advantages of roads, markets, and facilities of approach, without which the most fertile land is comparatively worthless. We must prepare ourselves for the change that is assuredly coming, and it will be wise on our parts to take such steps as will ensure the least loss and inconvenience. It is, nevertheless, an unpleasant thought that lands which have been rendered valuable by our money and our energies, should be at the mercy of jobbers who may purchase them with Scrip bought at a nominal value. We have a right to demand that this, at least, may be prevented, and that in the event of Canterbury lapsing to the Crown, its lands may be purchased with hard cash. Otherwise, our land fund will be nil, and then farewell to improvements and public works. Syphax talks of compensation : we echo his wish, and wish we may get it!

We see nothing extraordinary in the paragraph Syphax takes exception to, nor can we discover any threat in it. The thing is simple ; certain members of the committee advanced money out of their own pockets to the Association, which must he repaid. The nature of this, loan will be ascertained when the accounts are before the public; tlil then we are necessarily oracular^

The following paragraph appears in the Morning Chronicle in connection with the Canterbury Association's ceasing its colonizing functions and its handsales on the 30th September:—

" The circumstances which have led to this result are—first, a..misunderstanding-with her Majesty's Government; and secondly, with the directors of the.New Zealand Company, to whom the Association is largely indebted. The Committee of the Canterbury Association, feeling themselves placed in a difficult position, have endeavoured to transfer their functions to the Colonial Legislature. Her Majesty's Government, however, have refused to allow this, without a settlement of the claims of the Crown and the New Zealand Company on the funds of the Association. The demands made are considered by the Canterbury Association to be unjust, and there appears at present no hope of terminating the dispute, except by the most summary proceedings on the part of her Majesty's Government, or an action at common law between the Company and the Association. The correspondence between the Canterbury Association and the Colonial Secretary has been published, from which it appears that the Government has refused to comply with the proposals of the Committee of Management, and that all friendly negociations are at au end."

Lord Lyttelton has addressed a letter in reply to this statement, stating it to be inaccurate, and urging the suspension of any decisive judgment till the whole matter is brought before Parliament, as his Lordship hopes it will shortly after it meets. For the prosent, contenting himself with noticing the following points :—

"We do not admit that we are 'largely indebted' to the New Zealand Company. " It is very possible that the Company might bring an action, and it is also possible that the Government may take certain proceedings, summary or other; but nothing that either of them can do will prevent the transfer of the general functions of the Association to the Colonial Legislature of Canterbury. Nor was the resotiou of the Committee to transfer those functions

caused by any difficulty of their own position at home.

" The power to transfer their functions, confirmed by the late act for the government of New Zealand, is absolute and unrestrained. Of course all the liabilities, and all the conditions of existence of the Assocration, pass to the colony in that transfer. But, subject to that condition, the transfer requires the consent of no party except the colonists themselves. .

" And the Committee long ago Tesolved that they would exercise such a power as soon as they should be furnished by Parliament with the means of doing so in a formal and regular way; a resolution to which they were moved by those essential principles of free action and selfgovernment which colonies ought to possess, which are no less a fundamental part of their own scheme than they are of all systems founded on true colonial policy, and which, I may add, have been as strongly advocated in the Morning Chronicle as in any other writings in these days. " I request you to insert this letter in your next number. " I am, Sir, your obedient servant, " Lyttelton. "Hawarden, Chester, Oct. 14." His Lordship has also addressed the following letter to the Times:— - "Sir,—ln' a leading article in the Times of the 13th instant (published in our Journal of the 19th March), the Canterbury Association are accused of sacrilege, on the statement that they have confiscated both the ecclesiastical portion of their land fund and the money that has been voluntarily contributed towards the same purpose to secular objects, and that the colonists have thus been deprived, as far as the Association is concerned, of' the endowments of religion." " This statement is false. " It is impossible here to present a detailed account of the expenditure of the funds of the Association, but my reply is this:—- " "The expenditure of the Land Fund is by the charter subject to an annual audit by an officei\of the Government. " The proper application of the -Ecclesiastical, among other proportions of that fund, was last year certified by that auditor. It will be so again next month at the recurrence of the audit. To that we appeal. " With respect to private subscriptions, which are not subject to the same inspection, I make the same assertion ; and any subscriber will receive satisfaction on the matter who may think fit to inquire. "I request you to insert this, letter in your next number. " I am, Sir, your obedient servant, " Lyttelton. • " Hawarden, Chester, Oct. 14.

The monotony which was the prevailing feature of the road between Christchurch and the Ferry is now pleasingly diversified by numerous corn-ricks attached to the small farms which line the road. What but two years since was a dreary swamp, now presents acultivated and civilized appearance. The ricks do not, indeed, possess that rounded finish which characterise those of England ; labour is too scarce and dear to be spent in farm ornamentation; but they are striking evidences of industry and progress. The larger farms under the hills form quite an imposing feature in the scenery from the numerous stacks which meet the eye in every direction; while herds of contented and well-fleshed cattle attest the grazing properties of the land. Indeed, in every direction round Christchurch progress is uumistakably apparent, and the general feeling is strongly in favour of the future and rapid advancement of Canterbury. Slock of every description is in request at advanced rates, and horses are difficult to be acquired, and large sums paid for very inferior animals. It is to be regretted that nothing is done to keep the road in repair. An outlay now of a few pounds would save many in a few months. If the deep ruts are not soon removed, the hundred of pounds spent will just be so much money lost, for the gravel laid down is being scattered into the ditches instead of being amalgamated with and metalling the road. With a large amount of money flowing weekly into the treasury, surely some small portion might be spared to maintain in repair a road which is a credit to the colony. The mischief is, it is no one's particular duty.