The Lyttelton Times. Wednesday, December 6, 1854.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 219, 6 December 1854, Page 5

The Lyttelton Times.

Wednesday, December 6, 1854.

By the " Dolphin," which arrived yesterday evening, we have received no news from abroad beyond the sayings and doings of Otago, to be gathered from the Otago Witness of the IBlh and 25th ult. It will be remembered that at a meeting at which Mr. Macandrew (the Otago representative

of Mr. Wakefield's tail) addressed his constituents, it was resolved that no decision should be come to until Mr. Cutten's explanations were heard. On the 9th ult., Mr. Cutten addressed a meeting of electors, who passed a resolution unanimously approving of the policy adopted by him during the late Sessions of the General Assembly.

The late Provincial Politics of Otago comprise a good many resignations and a great deal of confusion. We may, however, be pardoned for not understanding them, when the editor of the Witness, in describing a debate, in which (he says) " toe took part," confesses that the election of the Speaker, which was the question at issue, was managed in a manner beyond his comprehension as he still believes that a majority voted for the defeated candidate. The struggle at the election of Speaker, (with all due respect for the honrable Council) irresistibly reminds us of the peculiar species of races in which the last wins; the struggle having confessedly been to shelve one of the opposite party. We would state the cause of the vacancy of the Speaker's chair if we understood it. Mr. Cutten first resigned the Provincial Secretaryship, and his Honor accepted his resignation, in a letter in which he expressed his wish that the feuds of the General Assembly had not been brought into the Provincial Executive. His Honor sent for Mr, Gillies, who could not manage to muster an Executive. Mr. Macandrew Mr. Anderson resigned the Speakership to take a seat in the Executive upon which Mr. Gillies was elected Speaker in the manner above-mentioned. How the Government is at present composed, we are at a loss to understand.

The following resolution with respect to the management of the Waste Lands is the most interesting practical conclusion which has been come to : —■

" In the opinion of this house, it is essential that the whole administration of the Wastelands of this Province should be placed upon a distinct and permanent footing at the earliest possible date, and that such terms of purchase and pasturage with respect to such lauds as shall be most in accordance with the wants and wishes of the majority of the settlers, should be established ; and that pending the consideration and adjustment of this question, it is desirable that steps should be taken whereby individuals requiring bonaficle occupation of rural and suburban lands should at once be permitted to occupy the same on payment of a deposit of ss. an acre, and to give an obligation for the bona fide occupation and cultivation of said lands to such an extent as may be hereafter fixed, and to fulfil whatever terms may be ultimately determined {on they receive a title to such lands.

" That a stop be put to the sale of ail bush lands in every place where there is any considederable extent of open land available for occupation and cultivation, with only a small extent of bush in the neighbourhood, and that in no case shall more than one-tenth part of any land sold be bush land, until suitable and permant arrangements are made for the proper disposal of bush lands. " That in reference to Pasturage Regulations, this house is of opinion that the present holders of runs within the Province for a term of years should not be disturbed in their occupation of such runs. " That a respectful address be transmitted to His Honor the Superintendent, requesting that he may bejpleased to adopt such measures as shall curry the foregoing resolution into effect." AUCUIBALD ANDEKSON,

Speaker