The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 595, 17 July 1858, Page 4

The Lyttelton Times.

Saturday, July 17th. It is only by degrees that two months' news from the seat of Government can be -properly digested. We can only notice "the salient features of proposed legislation ly degrees.'

The Colonial Treasurer, Mr. Richmond, has decidedly made the two speeches of -the Session j — the one on the proposed ..native policy of the Government,—- the ■other on the financial position of the ■colony. The latter speech is published ■in extenso in our columns. We hope again to draw attention to the leading .points in both these speeches. The topic under consideration of most to the Middle Island at the time the White Swan's departure from Auckland, was the attack made by Dr. Monro mpon the apportionment of the New Zea3and 'Company's Debt between the provinces of the Middle Island. It is argued hj the Nelson Members that if the estate received by the New Zealand Company by each of the Middle Island Province's .be taken into account in the apportionment, it would be found that Nelsonshould pay very little in proportion to -Canterbury and Otago, and that Otago should pay infinitely more than either of the other provinces" Now, if we allowed -the premises on which Dr. Monro's ingenious argument is founded, his conclusions would follow logically enough. But there is a great deal of surmise in the Nelson statement of the case as to where the New .'Zealand Company would probably have chosen its unselected land; and a g-ood many considerations bearing on the subject .-at issue are not considered at all. We might ask to have the large expenditure of the New Zealand Company at Nelson taken into account, and urge' the arrangement of the Company with the Government" m 1845, before Canterbury was dreamt of, as a reason for our not paving a sixpence "towards the liquidation of" the debt. The pecuniary transactions of the Canterbury Association with the Company do not call ■for much gratitude on the part of this province/ The fact is that such an apporent of the: Public burdens as that of 1806 can not pretend to tprecision. Every single point in a compromise of the kind would be liable, if '-taken by itself, to criticism; and it is not wise on the part of any province to create % • feeling of insecurity with respect to a ■system from which, the whole colony is iwVV c,ceive ad ™*tage. We admit that the Nelson land revenue is not in a Nourishing condition ;-m a great measure, however, that is the fault of the province. The uncertainty arising from -tnereckless attempts at legislation on the ■suoject of waste lands would damage any .revenue, a l arg e portion of the best Innd in. the Amuri district has been squandered. Lat us put aside tW« right" of t e 'Jiwstowij and ask what each of the feoutriern Provinces would be best able to pay out of their, land revenue. At present has largest extent of land; but gav^ up the Amuri district to Canterbury, the two Soiithern Provinces -might take £5,000 instead of £4,OoTper .^innum each, leaving Nelson but £2,000 to pny.. - Jffmany woys/tlus would .W a'p-oo'd •me^ure v h^pnld bring Amuri into k^l ■^com^iTucat.orrwith the province with ■S C£ ]\^ rela**d in- every other war; and Canterbury might do for that district .^ i.at Nelson either cannot or will not do. A-lsoa- might meet us on Clarence Hlver ! :it!l a Post road, which is not, under f^ nfiT^m^mC^ 3ikel^ t0 horn the_ North^ as far as the Hunmui. It Otago is -cut intwo:each of the pro=vinces into which it is divided: might takp W )Of v' e]l Per anmim of the debt. Would tn.s satisfy Nekon? We take it tor granted -that the extension of Nelson bcnp to the Southern Provinces will not -be listened to for a.moment.

,Our readers will doubtless be glad to hear tbat the District Courts' Bill will not be put in force in any province-where there is a Resident Judge. Canterbury is to have a Judge fortunately. We are very sorry for the provinces that will not haveone. The Legislative Council or Upper House has taken up a better position than it used to hold in the legislature. It is admitted that the value of a Second House has been felt this Session ; the amendments proposed by. the ■" Lords" having, in most cases, been decided improvements.