The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 368, 14 May 1856, Page 6

The Lyttelton Times.

Wednesday, May 14

By the " Zingari" we have news from Auckland up to the 29th" of April. The General Assembly had commenced its labours. licspousible Government being

represented in the House of Representatives by Mr. Sewell as Colonir.l Secretary, with Mr. Bell as Treasurer, and in the Legislative Council by Mr. Whittaker as Attorney-General, and Mr. Tancred. An ample exposition of the ministerial policy had already been laid before the House in a very able speech by Mr. Sewell.

The new ministry appears determined to address itself to business in right earnest. It is to be hoped that the interests of the Colony may he served in the Assembly by its supporting and expediting the work. The first thing proposed to be dealt with is the settlement upon a permanent basis of the responsible character of the Government of the colony : which will involve an immediate determination of the question of compensation to the old officials displaced by the new executive. This being done, Government proposes an adjustment of 4> the relations between the General and Provincial Government." A measure very much called for. Although the plan of ministers on this head, as far as we can gather, will admit of very advantageous alteration in some particulars, yet we see in it a prompt and statesmanlike recognition of ihe pernicious reading of the Constitution that has been adopted in all the Provinces. It appears to be intended by ministers '• to relieve the Land Fund of its existing charges, and to make it a Provincial Revenue, subject to a contribution to the General Revenue, to be fixed upon equitable principles." In order to this end, it is proposed to contract a loan of about £500,000 for the purpose of redeeming the New Zealand Company's debt, the old debentures and floating debt, and extinguishing native titles to land.

A new system of General Audit is promised; also a revision of the Tariff, and Improved administration of the Customs. Lasily, the constitution of the Supreme Court, and the practical extension of its jurisdiction to the Provinces, will, if possible, be dealt with by Government during the present session. The ministerial programme comprises matter enough to occupy the Assembly during the whole of a long session, even in the event of ministers running a smoother course than is the ordinary lot of politicians. But, when we consider the j.fact that all the proposed legislation is upon matters of the greatest possible moment to the colony, and in which mistakes committed would be so very seriously inconvenient, and difficult of remedy, we may feel ourselves justified in doubting the entire accomplishment of the work carved out for the Session.

There appears "to be a division of opinion in the cabinet as 'to where should be the seat of Government, and it has been, consequently, left an open question.