The Lyttelton Times. Saturday, August 23.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VI, Issue 396, 23 August 1856, Page 7

The Lyttelton Times. Saturday, August 23.

Notwithstanding- the increase in the material wealfh. of this Province, we are sharing with the rest of New Zealand the difficulties which have fallen upon the colony from the want of a market for our grain. The whole agricultural population, of these Islands had speculated upon the high pricea of the years of the first Melbourne gold fever.- New Zealand farmers.' have grown a large surplus ,of wheat intended for the Australian markets which have been fully supplied from other quarters. The consequence is that farmers cannot meet their liabilities at the present moment, and their difficulties have of course reacted upon every other class of the community. When we look round, however, at the state of prosperity of all classes 'so far as material wealth goes, we can have no fear as to the ultimate result of the present tightness in the money market. We would warn our readers against the system of exaggerating the state of difficulty the Colony is in. We are really suffering more from panic than from the want of money. If every body met his liabilities as fair.as he was able at once, a great deal of money

would be circulated which is at present locked up, and every one would be relieved ; for in a small community the debt of one. man may indirectly affect a very great number of persons. "We have reason to.know on good authority tha^t some persons, who are very ready, at most times to meet their liabilities, are'now nervous about paying away what money they have, for fear of being pi-essed immediately by more importunate- creditors. What happens in England on the occasion of a mercantile panic is repeated here on a small scale, and a quantity-of money is withdrawn from circulation, perhaps enough to oil the wheels of the whole machine. The idea which people entertain of the danger of making payments in a time such as this is a totally erroneous one. What conduces to the.public benefit will conduce to the benefit of each.individually. We again repeat that we have every reason for believing that present difficulties are unnecessarily aggravated by, an unreasonable panic. Let every individual pay his own way as far as he can, and we shall soon see our way out of the slough, .

The House of Representatives, besides debating-, has made very great progress in legislation. The Government has not been remiss in 'introducing measures, and some private members have been even more prolific. Mr. Travers, one of the members for Nelson, isresponsible for the following:— ■ A Bill for the regulation and management of Friendly Societies in New Zealand. A bill to facilitate the establishment of Institutions for the promotion of Literature, Science, and Fine Arts, and to provide for their better regulation.

A Bill for preventing Frauds upon Creditors by Secret Bills of Sale of personal chattels. A Bill to repeal an Ordinance to provide for the Registration of Deeds, ai\d to substitute other provision in lieu thereof. A Bill to prevent Bribery, Treating, and undue Influence at Elections. A Bill fo make further provision for the same purpose. A Bill to provide for the regulation, by way of specific Appropriation and the Audit of the cost of Collection, of the Customs and Land Revenue. The remainder on the list, as follows, are chiefly due to the Government, but some to Mr. Ward, Mr. Macandrew, and oilier private members. A Bill to establish District Courts within the various Provinces of New Zealand. A Bill to enable Banki..g Companies, incorporated by Royal Charter, to issue Paper Money. A Bill for bringing into operation certain Acts of the Imperial Parliament. ;)fJA Bill to amend the Resident Magistrates' Courts Ordinance. A Bill for the management of Lands set apart for the benefit of the Aboriginal Inhabitants of New Zealand. A Bill for regulating the Procedure of the Supreme Court in Civil Cases. A Bill for the amendment of the Law of Evidence, and the Law of Debtor and Creditor. • A Bill for enabling the affairs of the Colonial Bank of Issue to be wound up. A Bill to remove doubts respecting the validity of the appointment of certain Justices of the Peace.

Besides these, there are many more introduced by the Government, relating to Waste Lands, Loans, Debentures, Provincial burdens, &c, dependent on the complete carrying out of the Ministerial Financial policy. Several of these Bills had, by our last accounts, passed the Lower House, and it is probable that most of them will be the aw of the colony before the end of the Session. Truly our senators have rot been idle. They have not only debated but they have legislated. Our readers, who have seen in our columns chiefly the reports of more or less eloquent speeches, in more or less interesting debates, may be surprised at this long list of actual tangible work which has accompanied so much talking. We cannot say that we are either surprised or pleased. Iv a young senate it is a more mischievous ambition in a private member to make laws than to make speeches. Freedom of debate, ample discussion, the offering of ever so crude an opinion by any member, we look upon as of the greatest service in an assembly-where no, member can much surpass another in experience. We. go further, and say that a strong and clever opposition, short of faction, and clear from political dodges and fraud, is indispensable to proper legislation by such a body. Members are unused to application, and opposition is a stimulant to labour. They are inexperienced iv sifting and deciding upon a policy, and opposition produces every argument on both sides for comparison. 1 he heads of the Government themselves are. as s-uch, inexperienced, and opposition, if they are wrong,, demolishes them ; if they are right, by investigation confirms them; and, in any case, it searches the weak points ot a policy, compelling alterations where any thing is defective, and securing the support of the House to whatever is proved to be sound. Now, on the other hand, from a.mistaken, sense of duty, and perhaps \vith some self,-

sufficiency and conceit, members may wish to use their power to make laws. It is unnecessary to remark the faulty nature of laws already existing. To alter crying evils in these is very desirable. But we must observe, that almost all Bills of importance in the Imperial Parliament, are introduced by the .Government, .or, if not, adopted* by-them'and made their o*vn. The Govemment,besides their own consideration, employs upon them the best English legal advice', and always refers them to the Public Offices connected with the subject matter, attending- to every word of advice or suggestion. While the Government has thisassistance at command, it is felt to be presumptuous in a private member to press a bill of his own for enactment, unless it is on a question ■of policy. The same rule ■will apply to New Zealand. To the Government, who are able and responsible for the duty, should be left the preparation of laws. Private members will find work enough on their hands 'in committees, and in studying and if need be.in opposing the Government measures. If the Government lias little time to spare, os at present, private members may rest assured they will not mend matters by ill-considered and irresponsible legislation. We do not approve of the'member who rushes into blind factious opposition; less of him who gives 'up his opinion to his leader; but least of all ot him who, whether from a ..deficiency in judgment or a 'superabundance- of conceit, takes advantage .of his position and the careless liurry1 of the House incontinently to load the legislature of the colony with his own crude notions of right and wrong on any subject that strikes him. If any member believes that the Government of"the day does not do its duty, it is his part tc.tryto provide a Government that will, not to take upon himself to supply its place. ..-.■'.-. ; ■ -•■:■■'

A Barque,'-supposed to be the Lihertas, has been .shrnailed from Mount Pleasant since Wednesday afternoon. She was seen about three miles out on Thursday afternoon; but the thick fog which closed in with the breeze in the'eveningprevented the pilot-boat from reaching her, and the ' cqntrary wind since has probably prevented her from coming up. „ / ■ .■.;■..