GENERAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Auckland, Thursday, Nov. 16, 1848.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 258, 18 November 1848, Page 2

GENERAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Auckland, Thursday, Nov. 16, 1848.

A. Special Meeting of the General Legislative Council of the New Z aland Islands, assemble! at the Court Home, Auckland, on Thursday, pursuant to a notice in the Government Gazette of the same morning. His Excellency Sir George G<ry, Governor^n Chief,

took his scat a few minutes pn*,t tlivec o'clock, p. m., when the following gentlemen, who had been summoned to attend, took the required oatlu and their seats as Members ol the Genciul Council, The Honorable Andrew Sinclair, Colonial Secretary, Northern Province The Honorable William Swainion, Attorney Gener«l, Northern Province. The Honorable Alexander Shepherd, Colonial Treabu cr, Northern Province C. W. Ligai. Esq , Suiveyor General of New Zealand Alexander Kennedy, Esq , and Frederick Wnid Mcrriman, Ksq. The Rev. J. F. Clmiton, Colonial Chaplntn, offered up appropriate players for the Divine blussnig on the deliberations of the Council. The Governor-in-Chief then opened the business of the session by the following

ad d an s s, Gentlemen of the L r.GisLATivra CoUNcrr,, The recent calamitous accounts which hate reached us from the Southern Piovince have induced me to summon you suddenly, nnd at an earlier peiiod! (hail I had pieviously contemplated. I had hoped to have assembled in Auckland, the Lieutenant-Goveinorof New Minister, and oilier gentlemen from that Province, to have associated \vitl» them various other officers, and the Members of the Legislative Council of this Province, and then to have availed myself of the wisdom and experience of the Council so constituted, for the purpose of making several changes in, and additions to the general laws of the colony, which circuins ances have rendeied requisite. The recent calamities at Wellington, have, however, rendeied it hopeless for me to expect that tlie Lieutenant Governor of New Minister, and the other gentlemen from that Piovince, upon whose aid I had it-lied, can, for a considerable penoJ of time, abandon those calls which lecent events have imposed upon their time and their energies. I also feel that at the present moment, the restoration of public confidence, and the whole future piospeiityof AVel]iiigton,depend upon prompt and enetgetie measures being taken, to lcmedy the disasters which have occurred, and 1 am anxious that 1 , in so fur aa depends upon the general governmont, the local authorities, and settlers, at that place, should have placed in their own hands, the means of adopting those remedies which thojr local experience may point out to them as those best suited to (he urgency of the case, i, at the same time, indulge the hope that, whilst they bow with entire resignation to the blow which Divine Providence has inflicted upon them, they will, with that energy they have so often exhibited, strive to repair their present disaster, and show that t they are both able and willing to aid themselves, und that they have a becoming confidence in their own constancy and resources. I propose, therefore, that with the least practicable delay, the powers which by Act of Pailianient me vested in the Governor-in-Chief, conjointly with this Council, should be exercised for the purpose o! calling into existence Piovinchl Legislative Councils, in the Colony of Now Zcd\mi\, to which Councils I propose to entrust all those powcis which wcie vested in the local Legislatuies, by the 9th and lOlh Victoria, cap. 103. being An Act to make hu'luT piovision for the Government of the New Z 'aland Islands. The large powers which will thus he vested in the local Legislatures, will cmb'e the Provincial Lcgisla* live Council of New Minister, not only to dt.vibe and frame all thos'j measures which are necessaiy to mctt the urgent demands of the piesent ciisis, but will en~ •ible them fiuther io provide for various matteis of local concernment, which aie of such pies «ing impoilnnco that any longer delay in their adjustment would inflict a serious injury upon the Southern Province, and gieatly increase the disasteis, against which they have at this moment to contend. A Bill for the purpose of providing for the establishment of Provincial Legislative Councils, has therefore, by my directions, been prepared, und will be laid before you. When this Bill is read, I will explain in detail the reasons which have induced me to regard the proposed measure as the one which is best suited to the immediate circumstances of the colony. It may be sufficient for me now to say that alter having bestowed many months most careful attention upon the subject — aflei an extensive personal acquaintance with, I believe, eveiy settlement in New Zealand, and after having enjoyed the benefit of frequent conversations with some of the leading men in all parts of the colony, and of every shade of opinion ; under also an entire knowledge of the magnitude and difficulty of the task which has been imposed upon me, and from which I would willingly have shrunk, I have been unable to devise any other measure which, in the exciting stale of New Zealand; appeared to me to present so many advantages* and to be so free from defects. Remembering Ih-refore the great interests which were dependent on the com se I pursued, and that, in some sort, the present happiness und concord and the future amalgamation of two races were involved in my doing that which was right, I felt it to be my duty, after having bestowed the gieatcst attention upon the subject, and having carefully weighed the opinions of other men, to form my own delibeute judgment as to the line of proceeding which my duty required me to pursue, and then to adopt that, and, as far as in my power lay, to follow it out, although it might be opposed to the views aud wishes of thobe whose opinions I lespecr, and whose interests I have, to the utmost of my power and to the best of my judgment, hitherto— as in this instance— endeavoured to promote. lam sure that the many peisonj> in ibis country, with whom I have communicated on this subject, will at least admit that I have spared no pains to acquire information concerningit, and that 1 have attentiveiy heard and carefully weighed the numerous and conflicting opinions which have been exptessed to me legarding it. I am fully aware, however, that this measure can only be regarded as a temporary one, and I trust that it may be found that I shall always be ready cheerfully and anxiously to consider any proposed amendments in the form of the Local Legislatures which the circum--stances of New Zsalund may appear to call for— and which may prove to be more in consonance with tho wishes of its inhabitants than those which I have pro« posed for adoption. 1 sh ill only have to request yourattention to two other measures : lstly. To a Bill, the object of which is to place the Post Offices in New Zealand under the control of the local Government— 2ndly. To a Bill for the purpose of enabling Barristers of the Supreme Court to practice as Solicitors, and Solicitors as Barristers for a further period of five years. The first of these measures is one which admits of no delay, as you will find from the despatches which I have laid upon the table that it is doubtful whether any law at present exists which aulhoiises the levying of Postage in New Zealand. The second measure also admits of no delay ; for,, should not some legislative enactment be passed upon this subject before Januaiy next, the legal profession might be aubjectcd to the moat serious inconvenience. I do not propose on this ui.casion to bring any other

measures under the attention ol the Gfiicial Legisla- | Jure of New Zealand— firstly, because, as 1 have before stated, circumstances have prevented me from j at present imparting to this Council the general cha- j racter which I had desired, aud which 1 yet hope to be able to give it ; and secondly, because 1 urn anxious as speedily as possible to reach Wellington to assist, | id as far as I am able, in devising and carrying out those measures which may appear most likt ly to restore public confidence, and to secure the future prosperity of that settlement. Had I met this Council a few days since, it would have been my pleasing duty to have congmtulated you upon ihe great measure of tranquillity and piosperity with which, for some time past, it hud p'eas-d Divine Providence to bless every portion of New Zealand}; the recent calamitous events at Wellington have now, however, shed a deep gloom over one portion of this Colony, whilst the other portions of New Zealand arc stillleft in the enjoyment of, 1 believe, a more than usual degree ot wealth and prosperity. I have no doubt that those who ate so blessed will extend every aid in their power to those of their fellow colonists upon whom such a disaster has fallen ; and I trust that the assistance which, by your aid, I hope it may be in the power of the Government to afford to the inhabitants of Wellington m»y enable them speedily to repair their pre»ent losses, and still fully to develope the great resouices of their adopted country. On the motion of Mr. Meniman, the address was ouleved to be printed. The Governor.in-Chief then laid on the lible, three b.lls, as follow: ; J, "A Bill to provide for the Establishment of Pro vincial Legislative Council in the Colony of New Zealand," 2. " A Bill to amend the Supreme Court Ordinance. 3^ "A Bill for the R'gulatmg the Conve)ai.ce and Postage of Letters." The Attorney General gave notice that he would move the first reading of the Provincial Councils.' Bill on Friday. Mr. Merriman gave notice that he would move tlic first reading of the Supreme Court Amendment Bill, on Friday. The Colonial Secretary gave notice that he would move the first reading of the IVAagti Bill on Friday. The Governor-m-Chief then laid on the table the following despatch aud enclosure fiom the Secietary of •otatc for the Colonies, dated April '21, 1843 No. 27. Downing Street, 24th Apiil, IS 18. Sir, With reference to my despatch No. 11, of the 24 h February last, I herewith transmit for your inioima<ion and guidance, the copy of a communication from the Board of Tnasury, enclosing copies of two letteis from the Post. Master General, relative to the Post Office arrangemen sat New Zeahnd ; and I have to desire that you will take an caily cypurtuniy ot cariryin» into i-ffVet Loid CUniicarde's 6Ugucstions on this subject, by proposing to youi Council thepiepaiajion ol an Ordinance, placing the Post Office uuder t he control ol the Local Government. I am, Sir, , Your most obedient servant, (Jsigned) Grey. To Governor Gicy, &c, &c.

Treasury Chambers, SibApul, 1843. Sir, With ipfewnre to your Ictt. ra of lMi Januaiy and 24ih Febiuary last, ornl to previous correspondence «>d the subject ot the Post Office ainm.-e Kients at New Zealand, I am commanded by th- Lords €ommissioneis ol Ucr Majesty's Treasury to tiannmit f«\e accompanying copies ot tv»o letters fiora the P^t-inaster-Geneuil (or the information and consideration of Eail Grey. I am at the same time to lequest ynn will state to his Liordbhip that my Lords concui 111 opinion Will) the I'obtmdster-Genp'al ibat it is destratlc Ui.it tlw control of the I'cst-Office nrranjrpmpnts in New Zea J>ind should be vested m the local Governmeut; and you will supßcst to his Lordship, tlmt any « q-nsite instructions in tins respuct should be convi-ycd \o Governor Grey, and that tbc Guvcmoi's attention should be ca.lcd to the expediency of causing PtJj s to be taken, without delay, for removing uny doubts as to the legality of the demands made in the Colony for I Postage. I am, &c, [ (S'-gned) C. E. Thbvelyan. To Hermann Menvale, Esq.? &c, &c, &re.& r e. On the motion of Mr. Metriman, the despatch vas ordered to be printed, Tne Council then adjourned until Friday, afc tluee o'clock. [We are obliged to de r er publishing our report of yesterday's Council iKoceeedings until Wtdneid.iy next.]