OTAGO.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 231, 17 January 1855, Page 5

OTAGO.

(From the Otago Witness, December 2.) The proceedings of our Provincial Council , during the last Session have shewn a retrograde movement in the cause of liberal institutions, and the little we possessed of the principles of "Responsible Government ,Ims for the time been annihilated. His Honor the Superintendent has been advised to govern by means of a minority in the Council, and to refuse to take an Executive which could command the confidence of the house. The consequence has been, that the supplies have been refused for a time, and the business of the Province much impeded. This retrogade movement is the more surprising, as at the commencement of our first Session the principle of ministerial responsibility was fully admitted, and was carried out to the greatest extent which, under the circumstances of the Province, it was possible to do. The Executive Ordinance which was then passed provided that the Superintendent should act by the advice and with the consent of the Executive, but during this Session that law has been set at nought, and the system of irresponsible messages introduced, leading of course, as such messages always do, to a collision between the head of the Government and the Provincial Council. The office of Secretary has been abolished, and an Executive appointed, which not only does not possess the confidence of the Council, but fails to inspire respect in that body ; it being perfectly evident that the Superintendent pays as little attention to their advice as the Council respect their political characters, it believing that they assent to any thing and everything His Honor may please to desire. December 16. We have been under the necessity of cutting down our reports of the proceedings of the Provincial Council, but yet cannot keep up with them. We therefore <rive the following outline of the business. On Tuesday His Honor attended the Council, infperson and delivered a rather long address, in which, after referring to the state of parties in the Council, he expressed his opinion that the Superintendent was not bound to act in accordance with the views of the majority of the Council, and expressed his determination to retain his present Executive, fie then intimated that despatches had been received, from which it appeared that the General Government proposed to retain one-half of the general proceeds of the customs revenue, instead of one-third, as heretofore; and one-half of the gross proceeds of the land funds, leaving the Province the other half, but subject to payment of the expenses of the department. His Honor then stated the policy proposed to be pursued in regard to land regulations as follows:— The price to be fixed at 10s. per acre, subject to Auction Sales within the neighbourhood of Towns and Villages, with conditions compelling an annual outlay for four years at the rate of 20s. per acre; the grants to be withheld until the conditions are complied with. The expenditure of £4 per acre at any time short of the 4 years to the person to an immediate grant. Purchasers to be fn?e of the cost of surveys, Roads and Immigration to be provided for by Ouliuunce [i. r. taxation.]

The Land Department (Sales and Depasturage Licenses) to be administered by a Board of not less than three commissioners. Land to be given free to immigrants to the extent of passage money. No lands to be sold until proclaimed as open for sale. '"'■.':. We cannot for want of space express any lengthened opinion on this question. We consider the fprinciple sound, but the details imperfect; and the price appears to tis to be rather too high, and the conditions too hard. The Council were subsequently engaged chiefly on the Estimates, which were nearly completed; and a vote of want of confidence in the Executive was passed. A petition from the members of the Church of England was considered; and if was resolved *that it was not advisable to grant sites to any denomination of Christians whatever; but seeing that the Council were to a certain extent pledged to give the petitioners a site on objecting to the grant in Moray Place, the members of-Council undertook to procure the site required by voluntary contribution.