MR. SEWELL'S MISSION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 502, 26 August 1857, Page 3

MR. SEWELL'S MISSION.

We find reprinted in the northern papers the following Circular letter from the Colonial Secretary- to the Superintendents of provinces, informing them of the despatch received from Mr. Labouchere, the important part of which we gave to our readers six weeks ago.

{Circular. ,) Colonial .Secretary's Office, Auckland, July 6th, 1857. Sir,— Referring to the Financial Resolution passed by the General Assembly, in its last session, which, if carried into effect by the aid of the Imperial Government, would make the Land Fund Provincial Revenue, and especially to the 17th of those resolutions, I have to inform your Honor that, in a despatch from the Secretary of State for the colonies, dated the 28th February last, Mr. Labouchere expresses himself to the following effect — " I have no expectation that her Majesty's Government will entertain and recommend to Parliament the proposal to guarantee a loan of £500,000 to the Colonial Government. " It was only under very special circumstances, as pointed out in his despatches of 4th July, 1855, that my predecessor, Lord John Russell, felt himself warranted in suggesting an arrangement for the settlement of the New Zealand Company's debt by means of a loan, not exceeding £200,000, to be guaranteed by the Imperial Treasury, on the conditions then specified. "No grounds whatever have been stated which would justify an extension of the guarantee proposed by Lord John Russell to the further loans which the New Zealand Legislature desire to contract, and no arrangements based upon the guarantee for £500,000 thus proposed can therefore be carried into effect. " It would seem from the J sth of the resolutions passed on the 2nd July last, that it is the proposal of the House of Representatives, that the arrangements detailed in these resolutions should take effect in and from the Ist July, 1856. At the same time it is proposed by the 16th resolution

that this arrangement should be effectuated by an Act of Parliament, for which application is made. I am, therefore, unable distinctly to understand the operation of these resolutions taken together, which probably Mr. Sewell will he able to explain. But I cannot suppose that it was intended by a simple resolution of the House of Representatives to set aside the express provisions of enactments of the Imperial Parliament, and I assume, that no acts will have been done in .pursuance of that resolution, until it should be ascertained that they were conformable to law."

Mr. Labouchere also intimates that the Imperial Government would not come to a positive conclusion until they had the benefit of the information possessed by Mr. Sewell, (not then arrived) with respect to the questions submitted for their decision.

I have to add that Mr. Sewell arrived in England on the 12th April, consequently, although no communication from him has yet been received by the Government of of New Zealand, further information on the subject of the Financial liesolutions may soon be expected.

1 have, &c, lee, E. W. Stafford,

His Honor the Superintendent,