The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 525, 14 November 1857, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times.

Saturday, November U The newspapers mention the passae*' c three New Zealand Bills through the I perial Parliament, and that is all. rpu~ most detailed information as to the'debat which occurred on their presentation 2 different stages to the House of Common is given in the ' Home News/ and will b* found transferred to our columns to-da These debates contain the expression of some crochetty objections, and also of much good-will to this colony, on the part of the several speakers; but they display a some what inaccurate knowledge of the general subject, which is natural, but which does not at all help to elucidate to ourselves the precise nature of the measures under consideration. The 'Home News' does not give us any additional information; indeed its report tends to mislead. We are, therefore, obliged to fall back upon the resolul tions of our House of Representatives in the last Session of the General Assembly whose recommendations on these particular points have, very probably, been closely adhered to. • J

First, as to the Loan Guarantee Bill Certain resolutions containing- the finance scheme of the Stafford Ministry were adopted by the House of Representatives on the 2nd of July, 1856.. They will be found printed at length in the columns of this paper in the issue of the 23rd of August of that year. They assert, briefly a determination to apply for the promised imperial guarantee for a loan of £200,000 to pay off the New Zealand. Company's debt j and to request the same guarantee for a further loan of £300,000 to extinguish certain liabilities, and for the purchase of native lands. The 'first New Zealand Bill is, doubtless, a simple enactment guaranteeing these loans as requested. The Finance Resolutions go on to appropriate the money thus raised. First £200,000, reduced or increased perhaps by a small balance on the interest account at the time of settlement, in satisfaction of the claims of the New Zealand Company. One third of this sum to be charged to each of the three southern provinces, bearing interest at four per cent, with an annual payment towards a sinking fund of two percent in addition. Secondly, £120,000 in satisfaction of outstanding claims against the" colonial' treasury, some of which are embraced in a preliminary loan authorised to be raised in the colonial market. Out of this, unless the first sum of £200,000 leaves a sufficient balance after satisfying the New Zealand Company, will also be taken an amount of £45,000 to be paid to the Province of Auckland, as a reimbursement of the sums which that province has already paid as ' Company's fourths.' Thirdly/the sum of £180,000, to be divided between the three northern provinces for the purchase of native lands j Auckland taking* one-half, Wellington threetentns, and New Plymouth two-tenths j with a charge of four per cent interest and two per cent for a sinking fund upon the amount granted to each province, except upon £20,000 of that granted to NewPlymouth, which sum that province is to receive free of charge. The Sales of Land Bill is doubtless, in conse" uence of thelnew arrangement with the New Zealand Company, a removal by Act of Parliament of the burden laid upon the colony by the Constitution Act of a contribution of one-fourth the proceeds of all land sales, &c, towards the payment of the Company's debt. Our creditor is no longer the Company, and a general security is substituted for a special one. The third or ' Government Amendment' Bill is fully explained by another resolution of the House of ' Representatives ; adopted, in accordance with the report of the committee which considered the question, on the 25th July, 1856. The debates on this subject can scarcely dwell in our readers' memory; they were lengthened, intricate, and indifferently reported. The conclusions come to are, however, very clearly expressed in the terms of the resolution. It represents the necessity of obtaining powers for the General Assembly to alter,and amend the Constitution Act, with the exception of certain specified clauses. We cannot tell whether the bill carried through the Imperial Parliament grants more or less power than was demanded; but from private sources of information we are led to believe that it closely follows the resolution. The clauses, reserved are numerous, but few of them are significant; they are those repealing previous acts and proclamations ; establishing the General Assembly and a Legislature for each province j granting' the power oi

legislation; treating* of the summoning, duration, time and place of sitting and prorogation of the Assembly, the oath taken by members, and the decision of disputed elections; restricting 1 to the Governor and the Superintendent the power of recommending the appropriation and of issuing monies; treating of the assent, reservation,'and veto of bills by the Superintendent, Governor, and Queen; and of the relations between the Queen and the Governor; forbidding the levy of duties upon articles required for the service of the army and navy, or any dues, &c, inconsistent with existing treaties; creating a civil list, and restricting the power of altering it; enforcing the maintenance of natives laws and customs; and others treating of formalities. This is all the information we have on the subject.