Colonial News.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 352, 15 March 1856, Page 7

Colonial News.

OTAGO. Our usual file < of Otago papers have not come to had by the Louisa, which arrived in Port Lyttelton yesterday morninir. from thence. A copy of the Witness of the Bth instant, however, has been kindly lent u« by a passenger in the Louisa. We understand that the Southern Cross, with emigrants and cargo, had arrived at Otago, after a passage of 102 days from England. This vessel left England in the early part of November, and therefore bring? no later news than that we have received via Australia. A brig of over 200 tons burthen, drawing ten feet of wafer, had run up to the head of the harbour, and had been anchored close to the town of Dunedin, an event which had caused much excitement throughout the province. The question of education was being discussed with the vigour our neighbours of Otago usually bestow on all their public questions. An attempt of the Superintendent and Executive Council to force the introduction of the " Assembly's Shorter Catechism'7 into the proposed public schools had met with great opposition from members of the English church, and from the members of other religious bodies. The new sitting of the Provincial Council was opened on the sth instant. The Address of the Superintendent and the Reply of the Council we give below: — •* To tlie Provincial Council of the Province o! Omgo. "Gentlemen, —The late visit of the Governor •rave rise to your being asst-mbied on the .-"horte^t notice for the revision of the Land Regulations. I h;ne again to thank you for your prompt attention to that call, and for the precision and unanimity with which the point.*, at issue were adjusted. And I have the satisfaction to inform you that it resulted in the recommendation by Ilis Excellency to the Executive Council ot New Zealand to pass the Regulations as amended. So that the promulgation of them may be expected by the first arrival from Auckland. A copy of the communication to this effect will be laid before you. You are now assembled for the proper and general business of a Session, ami with the increased number of \ our members provided by law. The country members, with one exception, made it a comiiiion of their election that measures should be taken to enable the Council to get through its business within the shortest period compatible with due deliberation ami the sacrifice of your time to thf> public interest. The Executive have therefore drafted and circulated printed copies amon»st yon of the measures they intend to introduce, and iliese measures, which are —1. Executive Council and Official Appointments' Bill.—-2. Fencing Bsll —3. Elections' BUI —4. J'Vrrie-s* Bjjl—o" JUoads' Biil —b\ Education Bill—" Debentures' Bill, —will be Mitniiued to y, a seriatim by members of the Executive, with such elucidation of pri; cipies, and reference to details, as Until enable you at once to grapple with the discussion of them and come to aa early and decisive vote. There can be but one object —that of discussing and k'gisl.itinsr for the public good. The Ex-euthe have no other object, ami I have ever> confidence that you will' he of the same mind. I wnild -pecliily rectunmeud to your consideration the usn uutrs of receipts ami expenditure that will be sub milted. At the presort juncture oi increasing population and general expansion, the demaiui for public luiihlinj;s, including seh<v.is ami schoolmasters'houses, ro which the Province if ph>d<red, and other objects of v like nature, requiring the cost to be spread uv^r a number of years, the issue of debentures for such purposes has been initialed; audit will bo for \i>uw consider how far they should be extended. \MtK due caution as regards the moans, in auuiUoa to eunvnt expenditure, of providing the uueis^

en debentures. n>s>nher witli a sinkinsr fund U>t th«ir ultimate extinction. Tiie whole subject is Tecftiftinsiuied to y»».ir r'avoraUie ami deliberate jmi gin c n t. W • C vis t 11, •* Suywiiiueudent. *" DunfNU!!. vilf M.irch, 1556. 1 "The Pswi-.tciAi GuukU of Ouaro to bi> Honor the Superintendent of sue Province. "Sir,— fh? Provincial Ounei! eor-iiaily recinrocate the feeling of juiisfaotitui expressed by your Honor that the a(ijn«.tinent o! Uie I.ami Keg-iuaiKUts, tin which s-pecific purpose usey receuilv assembled, was >o >aastaeiory as to lead to" his Excellency the Governor reso]*-ijuT t« recenmtieua them to the approval of his Exeelieucy's Exeeiui< c <_\>utjeiS» The Provincial G'HincVi. while fully i;n pressed wuh ibe duty o< besiowiujidue ddiberatioji on all their measures, are at tne same time of option lu-:-t it is reasonab'.eto expect iliat «;;ch faci]i!;es will be sff-t:-ded for the a:«p-.*s-i\ of hnvinss?, ss iu>t to occasion tbe ?e<s;on hgine prolong-^ beyend the li'.ue shsnls.neiy neee^sary ior ample discussion ar.a CiHisisieratiou of every «i?»asure. They therefore tiaiik your Honoj tor tie course you have pursued towards accoinpHshnii: that objecL They are persuaded ihst ibe public cood is the sole object of roar Honor and your Executive Goiinc;*° as i; Vill be xh~>.x of thi? Couuci', in all measures of legislation. They beg- to assure Tour Koßor tb»i the E-umate* will receive thenVery easeful eoßsi-.ierauoa ; and tiist suca s»ppiies will be voted and prorsded for ilie exigencies of iae public ser*kw ior tiie current year as xb&\ appear to tl»eui 10 l»e repaired. ■. G. HKFBrnx, Chairaaan." Two amendments to the above Reply were urot>o*sd—one by Mr. Cuti-en, 10 insert, after the words " that object-*" ** Bu; lie Council consiaer any atieicpt 10 obtain »ipi?!ions--'j" member? prior to tiie laeeuuc of i?>e Council aivo tbe measures to come belore the Cfftisicil as uisconstii-.su.Miai &v.d irregisiar, and a< tejiiiiaiT iw csunnr^raise tiieiiii3eps«c3euee of members by p]ea<riag- lisrin to v t i:e ou iDeafnres i* wiiJcti, after due <i:scus?iou iis Gyuscii. ihey ajicwi bave srs^imiis in t»Wecui»us^'* The other amendment r>r->:>ased to strike out the third clause, commencinir with the words " They are persuaded." Bath tbese amendments, however, were lost upon divisions by one rote. W* roor r-or^ T*^ a " W:r"e« " the *o"-------lowi c s\~z2'~s y tre i^rjc^ei^ vi u>tr Co- JL — ~T»-in\ » * .?: -_m .x>a' manrr " l~c* ILr«.^ c? P" T> ftM-J *i> f>- *»i va "". i»- ------„ M* Pr « 3v a_i 10ui,,. i. .sa tue i i c- a t^ •>" --c C» — . u_^ ur - a ucc ' v^t- . tj e~v= *_' «*-»■> za ~ »* ,-i i >•- r_ 'i~ l>~t c, in -ci -i% .»- -.-l^ v ... r t *• ~ T * 'C^ f* t^-° i ~» «r 3 i j j>"»»i>= *o £Tl ~ is ~e fin s j-v •>• a _ d~ ess- „;■>. - n-*^ t_i - --> >t _ t ,o j, * «r .i \ -^ c: « v- »-_ t-a- *==... z „-> „ ... A .-, t.*.^ i -^.i _,_ w_» vco i~ —^ «r „t- ___ 4 „^^ w^ ct »a- *. t:.n tc-- c ya -^ *'- — "~~"-.S .TV « 7 -^ _, i-- '- t c -t- . t —- v : -- _ r> i , i *~ t _ J,— -. , _^_ _ ». _ __

vineial Solicitor affirms! thai the Council had the power so to legislate. Messrs Harris adn Oauc:i contended far she negative. The Government proposition w;<s carried ity the; casting; vote of the Chairman of 0.-niinutees. The Ferries Bill, winch amends the present law, under which the ferries cannot be let, nor^ the f.ir-\« to b? charg-ed be sealed by the Executive, without ihft consent of the Provincial Council, was w:irn>iy discussed on the second reading. The new bill places both these power* in the hands of the Superintendent and £xecaiive. The Provincial solicitor condemned tie existing law «* vioiatiusr the principle which t»Ui>iit u» i>e strictly tihserved of drawing a line 1 e;ween esecuiue aiui ieg:>l;Uive functions. The OjuijcH niuier that law, usurped executive functions. Mes-rs, Harris and CuUen admitted the present law to be an infringement nr-on the princif'k.iuid required to he amendedTiie last Council ban retained so much o( (.hv esecuiive powers ii) their hands because they had jjo srna.-sntee foi a responsible Government.: Inu they conteinled tha*. tlie proposed Bill went iim> the opposite extremr, and placed leg-is Isiive powers in the hands of the Executive, as it left them she power to tax liie public by raisiiisr the fares. Mr. Re\«oUis, on behalf of theGorernment, stated that he heid office on the tenure of responsible sjovernmenl, asxi that he would resign wtienever the Council \>assed a v*»je of want of confidence. Tlie second reading- was carried by a majority of two. Ou the motion to go into committee the debate was iesmne<l, Mr. Outten desirinjr an adj^nmnient until Wednesday to j>repare siseiuiiuenis, embodying- certain restriction* oa the leiiiiig o\ ferries, thai they laay be lei far auction or tender, ami that the amount of fees chaureabie be limited. He warned the Executive, that if they refused to concede she aey.nmmieM, they world give foundation for a /eenug in the public mind that they Here actuated by a desire of jobbery. Mr. Reynolds contended that the mover of she amendment had had proper time to prepare aiDen'iments, and that the system of auction coii^d t»oi be carried out. The House went into commute and passed ;he clauses nem. can. Yf-SLerilrtv the Cotincii discussed the Hoads Bilu which had not cl. s?d at the time of our g- t r,r.«r to pi ess.' We understand it is the intention of the Chago members of the General Assembly. to proceed to Auckland, in the " Slar' direct from Otago.

• rii>o'-o Customs.—The lenaeiiy \uih which i li.-c Nsmves i*f India cling 10 ihoir ;mcit'!it c>!>u»oi- is exemplified by the following report : r-i a nift-nv.sr Wtd in C--i!euii:«, for die pnrp-t.se I <*; reijo:ihi>r Government iigainst the proposed i Ar. for the ie-mavriasre ot Hindoo widows. We ; extract limn the Eui/lishinau ;is follows : —"The :■ -.iirrtriiu :-u me oid ui.ti»i<M> House on the 25th i Nvvesiiher ua> very nu nenm*]v anemietl. l'l>»> C - -<■ i i) i h t\i hem It ns than int 1 t i s In_ o i ' (Uiioiiiiu iliuiiv r* - Cl ibi s'nii In;, \sitlc Snliv— V I i) i-e iii ii v vuic qtuu 1 * - tutu nl \ ih v t, K _^ * Hii > Bit nt it Milulutd - -» • v I \ ' lli r 1 iid - '' t t M tin U.jili i>i v ii,, l U l ltl IMII W , I|lll> 'It ic)u.l -' 'I l 'I 1 II II II c llls'V I Oil Ol - w w - t 'i \ Xi iii m lit iur v- " ' l }> 'ii t in v uu v Irt <1I I s t> [1 t " '!W Ii ai ii) n v * X H i m i us i! uiv * « - » i I» t t i m ll 1N 1 now in il " « - < ( i Yin 1 - ii i . w V ' v Ii - 111 I lllc { I . I »' 'l\ I 1 I I s s > w I i l ! (i» * t ! -l• • ! v j j » t i

tlie MUH'tiotiiujr by law <if the re-marriage of Hindoo widows! Tlie Rapih Wnl, that there was no necessity ;il a!i to legislate upon ; llie subject -for willows wiiii nmy wi.-b to remarry and' feast on the Ekudussy or the llihjjtiav of the nuion, whrii she is forbidden to taste'any food whatsoever, and men who are anxious io select brides from widows and not Irom virgins couiii not be rJimbios— they can embrace Cinistianiiy, and thus marry as they cimse. Wi«ai i)t;et*ssity is there <»f ttteir remaining wiiljin the pale ni iJiijdouisiii, to coniamiiiuie by their [Hi'seiice fainiiit'S of pure Hindoos? Is it juit disitrai-f-fu] hypocrisy thus to remain under the shelter of t{ii><iu»isti], afier couicinnin<j its imxt sacred (iocLrint-s? It is .-.aid, that these >\ortiiy Hji!>siatcs do n>it believe i» Chiistiaiiiiy. ''ii'ii cannot therefore adopt it, J'iievare I» eiila t-v ijuuioo?, CJiriMtans, or Aiainjiuedan.^, l>ui ;i SjH-eir^,./' Guoslica, Wcu linned in Gibi'un's Human Empire. \Vi»y ilieu >ny liial the Hiiimmo? Sliastras sanctton the re-niarriaije of Hiiido!> widows? '.Vit_v not candidiv and openly declare, that for the bent-fit of tijose Gnostics, who d<> uol beiiere in Hinii:>u «<n or Oh'istianity, it i^ tu-ce"ary topp.« 5:.«5 this la v, and why not dt-eWe that some of the Jeyisiaiois of the country who are ostensibly bin inn really ChriMi.-uis, want to sap the fouiuiati-.n o! the Ciirisiiuu religion,by fxtendiiisr Ms iiijtmre priviifift-s to the Gniistics ami Pat-at!«. .-mii Uiu< priTenl the necessity of auj ;>fr-:<.■!.< becmniiig Cliristian.s ?Ahve !* friends. y<-. ii« fl*-- know the «rts and flevic»s ««f a wicked' woihi —and vvhat a;iiie;;rs to be fair and reasonai'le an p!ier i^ notiiiit^ mure than a tissue of pi ins to serve their own ends ! The speech whs much applauded, and at times the sne;i];pr whs quite inaudible frrun deafening cheers several persons spoke afiei Use Kaj.h, and tlie prfceedin^s of the day tvijc.'udr d 'with a s«!iscripsion to •.icfray ail" !e«;ai expenses in prepariny and fonvardino1 a •>e:iuoti to Governhjvih and to tiie authuriiie> at home. Fifty thousand rupees were subscribed on the spot.

Those who live only for appearances generalir end in milking one hi the lu.-ohent Court. Many a man Uilks wiili loud complacency al)M»t the cli;inn of Iji* firt'sitie, and yet. let i.enivatiHi) give l.uc the Mimllesl :ap at tlie door, and lie evinces tbo most wonderful alacrity in leaving it.

It is"siaiefl tlint, of 9,430 Xew Testaments and 177 Bililos, ili«.t!ibi!ieil by Mr. Sellai, an ajrent "j the Bible Society, in 'the Crimea, in the month of Jnise, 2.070 were Italian Tesiainents ilistrihiitcd amimtc '.he Sardinian troops, who crowded to his lorl^hijrs v, obtain tbera, u:iii! ljis supply w;b exhausted.