Colonial.

Lyttelton Times, Volume X, Issue 606, 28 August 1858, Page 5

Colonial.

AUCKLAND. "We extract the following intelligence from tlic Wellington and Ahuriri papers. The White Swan was being detained till the end of the Session, to re-convey the southern members to their homes—her owner to make one intermin trip to ICaipara. A Bill entitled the " .New Provinces Bill" had been introduced, under which the Governor in Council is to have power to grant separation to any district having a population of one thousand, and having one million acres of territory, upon the requisition, of threa-fifths of the resident electors. A Bill to impose an export duty of 2s. 6d. per oz. upon gold was also under consideration. Ministry do not intend to advise the Governor todepart from the intention to hold the next meeting of the General Assembly at Wellington We refer our readers to the motion made by Mr. "Ward, on this subject and published below. The Xew Tariff has been fixed, and will also be found at foot, but it is to be sent home fur approval before coming into operation.

\ THE SEAT OF GOTEEKiIEXT QUESTION. 1 From the New 'Zsalander, ■Tidy, 31. I In the House of Representatives on Tuesday the 27th July, 2Ay. Ward, in accordance with i notice, moved " That it is desirable that this j House be informed of the intentions of theGoI vernment with respect to the Beat of the General Government, and the place of Session of the General Assembly, for the future." The hon. member said he did not desire now to raise the f question of whei'e the Seat of Government [ should be placed, but simply asked that infonrsation as fall as possible should be given on the j views and intentions of the Government on the subject. The demand was put in the form of a resolution, that hon. members might have an opportunity of speaking to it if it was desirable but chiefly because a simple question generally failed to elicit a full and satisfactory reply, it was generally understood that the next session of the Assembly was to beheld at Tv'elliugto;:, J but so far as he (Mr. TV.) knew, oven so much j information as that had not yet been rendered ofncially or jiuthorkively to the House. It was very important that lien. v; embers should be distinctly assured of this intention, as well as any of others which might exist, but which had not been privately circulated. It was not only for the members, however, but also for that of the public that explicit information was required. There was nothing which offended the people of a distant Province more than the want of information, which it was supposed those nearer to head quarters possessed. He (Mr. W.)could find himself vividly recall the feelings of a resident in a distant Province, desiring information upon points of general policy, ar.d his disatisfciction when mail alter mail arrived without a. word of explanation which the public could get hold of. This feeling of iritation was the same whether the more favoured Province were real! v in possession of satisfactory information : for it was alwaj's supposed, and in fact it was often the case, that a question might be perfectly understood in ail its bearings by those near head quarters, without any authoritative statement having- gone abroard. This was prettr much the state of things in the present case, and he would urge that the fullest explanation should be given, not only of what was intended, but of what was not intended., that the public might be relieved from apprehension on tha

subject. Mr. Halt, seconds:! the motion. Sir. Stafford s-.tated in reply that, as to tluj first portion ol' the question—the Soafc ot" Government for the I'viture —the answer 'was simple, for Government hud actually nr> intention on the subject. As to the second portion— thi place of next session of the Assembly—his Exct.-riev.yy hrd entered into an undertaking that the nest session shauid lw exiled at Wellington, and Mh"ii>tsr.-5. would not advise a departure from that intention. Further ih-m tlint- tlus j Government hnd no inior.tion on the subject.. Mr. Watji) said ti.-at the information roci-ive.l was quire as extensive as ho. had expi-eied The motion had ;v.).-;".vered ail tin: purpose fc>which it was iuten-U'd r.iul he would ilicrofovo be^c leave to, wiliulraw it. j\Fouon ai;cor('i\!::ly withdrawn. Vvastk l.j\ii v.z IJii.l.—A nu\>sa:;e Av;i.fs rereived from his Kxeeilo'iry, enclf.sjri;' a dr:iff <>C :i Bill to regv.l.xto t'ue. l::.~;k.s;i1 and adiniuis*ration oi" tise'wastc lands ia the Colony of ~Nvv: Zealand. On the mo:ion of ?.]••. vSiali'ord, (ho bill was iv.-:d ;i ih'si tiuii\ ov.;cr;d u> bo prinhv'l, an.l tote read a p^cgvul ii'.ne»>i! Fi ;Jay, July '.1.,. ():i this d.;te ii j-;^.^-;; ii.> s!--:..)ud i-i.-uiijujr, atler i'uuside.r.-iidil (l;s-t:^^iri:!, ■svliie!), iVuiii ! o ivM;.>rt: :i]»[>;.v;"ii"i:i:;. wo ;:r.¥ svii.-ibio ii) .v.iinin.1:, :/.>.•. ai".;!.>);';•; v ovvi' i!;e ■:!•!> ':;.ii :.: ihi' v.: : -!c ].;■ :'■.■, to ', i^' p!-H'ii:e<'-', '-ur '„-■• ,-r.-;:i;:O r. -.:;;is ,-i.n^o nuv;I.'-'.'^ uf conlfoi.

THE NEW TAEIFF. The following is the new Tariff for the Colony of New Zealand, proposed by Ministers, and agreed to in committee" of the whole House on the 30th ult, without alteration :— £ s. d. 1. Coffee, chicory, cocos. and clioclate the 1b... ° ° 3 32. hardware, plated ware, "" holloware, ironmongery of all sorts, and candles and soap of all sorts, the cwt. 0 3 0 3..Manufactures of silk, cotton/linen, andwoollen,and all articles manufactured therefrom drapery, haberdashery, hoisery, millinery, hats, hoots, shoes, dried fruits (except nuts of all kinds), mustard, olive oil, salad oil, pickles, preserves, bottled fruits, sauces, and spices of all kinds (measuring outside the packages), the cubit foot 0 4 0 4. Spirits and strong waters of every kind, sweetened or otherwise, of any strength not exceeding the strength of proof by Syke's Hydro- ; meter, and so on in proportion for I any greater strength than the I strength of proof, the ga110n...... 0 9 0 5. Sugar, raw and refined, of all kinds, and treacle, and molasses, the lb. 0 0 1 6. Tea,the lb 0 0 4 7. Tobacco, the lb ; 0 1 6 All articles not enumerated will be duty free. The Act will have to be sent home for the Queeo's assent, before the new Tariff comes into force. The AycKLASD Fire.—The ' Eegister' of 26th July informs us that the charge which has been preferred against Mrs. King and her son, Henry J. King, on suspicion of having willfully ■occasioned the late fire in High-street, still occupies the attention of the Resident Magistrate. On Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, the Court was occupied for from thi'ee to four hours each day in the examination of the witnesses. Many of these gave their testimony before the Corener,; which, if more ample on this occasion, varied but slightly on the general tendency of their previous examinations. In substance it was the same. There was, however, one glaring exception to this general rule, and that was in the evidance dragged from the witness Edward Barnett, which was so diametrically opposite to, and so subversive of, that given before the Coroner, that Mr. Merriman was compelled to treat him as a hostile witness, and the Court to caution him, over and over again, as to the position in which he stood. On Friday there was another extraordinary witness produced, by name John Hewse. This individual, after stating in answer to Mr. Meririman that there was no furniture in the Osprey Inn during his mouth's service there) except two or three chairs and tables, furnished Mr. Brookfield, on cross-examination,with a long list of articles in several rooms. But the climax of this man's effrontery was reserved till the moment of his exit from the witness box, when he muttered something about seeing Vernon for his pay. Hewse, hereupon was recalled, but, after further consideration, he was dismissed without being questioned, the court suggesting that the police should have an eye upon him. The case for the prosecution is as yet unfinished ; but Mr. Merriman, in asking for a remand, stated that he should be able to close if at an early hour this morning, till which day, at ten o'clock, the proceedings were adjourned. —Mrs. King and her son, H. Jas. King, who Tvere remanded from Friday, the 23rd, were again brought up before the Resident Magis-. trate on Monday the 26fch ult.; on which day Mr. Merriman closed the case for the prosecution. Mr. Brookfield called no witnesses for the defence. And after an adjournment of half an hour for careful perusal of the testimony adduced., the Court considered it would be wanting in its duty alike to the public and the prisoners if it did not send the case before a higher tribunal. The prisoners were accordingly committed to take their trial for arson at the September Criminal Sittings of the Supreme Court. A Public Holiday had been appointed by his Excellency, and was held on the 23rd ult., in celebration of the marriage of the Princess Royal. It was understood that after the close of the session, the Superintendents would appoint an early day in their several provinces for a like observance.