The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 211, 8 November 1854, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times.

Wednesday, November 8, 1854. w In another column will be^' found the "Provincial Council Bill" brought by 4^ Government before the Council. It is as unlike the Extension Bill as one measure can be unlike another which has the same object in view. The former may lay claim to the praise of useful legislation; the latter, if it becomes law, will be a disgrace to our statute-book. The Provincial Council Bill bears marks of care and consideration, and is calculated to remove many of the evils of the former*system of representation. The Provincial Council Extension Bill merely provides for doubling the numbers of [the members of Council in a manner which would only lead to renewed difficulties, and further injustice to some of the constituencies of the Province. It is true that the second bill does not come before the public with the eclat which the suspension of the Standing Orders lent to the first; it does not recommend itself as a surprise to the public ; but rather as a measure founded upon the ascertained w^nts and wishes of the Province.

The new Executive deserve the more credit for the introduction of this Bill when it is considered that those members of it who are in the Provincial Council supported the Extension Bill. Their conduct shows an anxiety to bring before the public every measure in their power for the good Government of the Province even at the risk of being charged with inconsistency. But we must be pardoned for expressing our opinion that they are not wholly free from this charge. They made a false step at first, which is as difficult to recover as it was rash and hasty. We cannot agree with our correspondent 'Fairplay,' while at the same time it is to be hoped that our differences may be put an end to by the passing of. the Bill now before the House. We rejoice at its introduction because we never could agree with the advocates of the former Bill. But we cannot but hold that those gentlemen are inconsistent who supported the Extension Bill, and now bring in another which, if passed, will virtually nullify it. There can be but little doubt, when two Bills are presented to his Excellenc)', the one a good one, and the other a bad one, as to which of the two he will sanction. In giving credit to the present Representatives of Government in the Council for "a tacit acknowledgment [of their former error," we wished L to do justice to what we conceived to be a very graceful exhibition of public spirit. If their advocate ' Fairplay' really represents their opinion on the subject, we can only say that we are still more rejoiced to find that, although they neither see nor acknowledge their error, they have been providentially induced to take a step by which they may unwittingly amen dit.

As we were going to press we received intelligence of the second readingof the Provincial Council Bill which took place last night.