WELLINGTON. (From the Spectator.) LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 275, 17 January 1849, Page 2

WELLINGTON. (From the Spectator.) LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Thursday, Dec 21.1848. The Fir»t Seiirion of the Legislative Council of the Southern Province was opened oo Thurhday with th« usuh! formalities by his Excellency the G .vernor-in-ChieC The new suit of rooms rec.-ntly added to the Government House was used ai a Council room, seatt weie provided for* vis tors, and the third room of the•uite was thiown op/n to the pubic. A number of settlen were attracted by the nove ty of the occasion 1 and by an anxiety to hear hit Excellency's opening address— there were also a few ladies present and a. considerable number of nnv*l and military office, a. A Ituard of honor of the 65th Regt., under ihe command of Captain Newinham wai diuwn up in (rout of the Council Chuinber. Shortly after three o'clock hit Excellency Sir George Grey entered the Council Chamber attended by the LieutenanUGovernor, and the following official member* :— The Hon. Lirut. Colonel M'Cleverty, commanding the Forces in the Southern Province ; tho' Hon. Alfred Domett, Colonial Secretary, Southern Province ; and the Hon. Henry William Petre, Colonial Treasurer Southern Province. Daniel WokefieJd, Et>q., was thsu sworn in Attorney General of the Southern Province. The following gentlemen also took the oaths and their seats at Non-offirinl Members of the Legislative Councial of the Southern Province :—: — William MacLeod Bannatyne, Esq. Francis Dillon Bell, Esq. William Hickson, Esq. George Hunter, Esq. Alfred Ludlnm, Esq. George Moore, Esq. Prayers were then read by the Rev. R. Cole, M. A., invoking the Diviue bletsuig on the Deliberations of the Council. The Governor»iu- Chief opened the busmen of tho Section by the following' address :— Gentlemen of ihe Legislative Council— It is with feelings of very great satisfaction that I discbarge ,ihe, u^ty.of. opemug.ihe^pro«eedinga*of,4he* fiut Legislative hi dy>ffluclbha& ever, asiembl din the^ Southern portion ot New Zealand, and that I now, for the first time, see the Gov«rmuent placed in possession - of the legitimate means of making known to the public the reasons for the various measure! it tnay adopt, and of thereby gaining that confidence which I feel satisfied an accurate knowledge of its intentions and views will always obtain for it. These feelings of satisfaction are heightened by my now having it in my power to ensure to the inhabitants of the South of New Zealand a share in the general legislation of the whole of these extensive Islands, by calling to the General Legislature a portion of the members of the several Provincial Legislative Councils, and by, for the present, assembling the General Legiilative Council alternately in the Northern and , Sou hern portions of New Zealand ; two measures which shall receive my early attention, in the full be-, lief that they will confer very important advantages upon Ihe Southern settlements, and will contribute greatly to the advancement of the whole of New Zealand, whilst the increased number and the more varied experience of those persons, upon whose wiidom and advice I shall have to rely in framing laws for tho general Government of New Zealand, will give me greater confidence in the various measures I may adopt, and will, 1 trust, in a great degree temove the difficuU ties I unavoidably labour under, from my necesiarily

imperfect acquaintance with the loctl requirements of so many distant and scattered settlements, and from my consequent inability to judge of the several degrees of influence which local causes should be allowed to exercise in modifying those laws which are to be put in force throughout the whole territory. The circumstance of my being aided in the General Council by the adrice and knowledge of so many gentlemen from the Tarious portions of New Zealand, will alto ensble me with greater confidence to propose and carry out any changes in the Constitution or powers of the Provincial Legislati? e Councils, which time and experience may point out as necess-Ty, and the same circumstance will ultimately afford me the greatest assistance in introducing into this country a complete system of Representative Government, a measure which I anxiously desire to see accomplished, and the removal of the difficulties in the way of which has always been to me an object of the greatest solicitude. From what I have already stated, you will have seen that the duties which will devolve on this Council are of the most important kind, being the entire conduct of all subjects of legislation connected with local affairs and the control of the Provincial Revenue— a fair ■hare in the general legislation of the whole of the New Zealand Islands— the removal of the difficulties which stand in the way o{ an immediate introduction of • eomplele Representative Government— and ultimately the supervision of all the detail* of such a ] measure, and its adaptation to ihe peculiar circumstances of each Province.— These are duties which are j in part unusual, springing from causes peculiar to New Zealand, and a right discharge of which forms an ob« ject of legitimate ambition for every intelligent mind, and will certainly, if well performed, establish a, just claim upon the lasting gratitude of the inhabitants of these Islands. I do not propose to make any remarks upon the mbject of the local affairs of this Province, as this duty devolves more properly upon the Lieutenant-Governor, who will, upon a future occasion, propose for your consideration all such measure* connected with these, as may appear to his Excellency to be calculated to promote the welfare of the Province, or to advance its interests ; but upon th« subject of the administration of the provincial revenue, I must make a few remarks, as this is i point connected with the general finances of the country, and in which the welfare of the whole Islands is involved. I would remind you, therefore, that the fact of the colony being able to defray the expenses of its internal Government from its own resources, is a necessary preliminary to the introduction of a complete repre•entative form of government ; the strongest inducement is thus afforded you to w»tch with the utmost vigilance the mode in which »he rerenue is appropriated in order to obtain the earliest possible period for the European inhabitants of New Zealand that form of government which they appear so earnestly to desire. But apart from the*e considerations you will find that an orderly regulation of the finances of your adopted country, and a frugal expenditure of the public re■ources in this the early stage of the colony will do more to establiih its preient prosperity and to promote its future welfare, than any other measure which you can adopt, whilst upon the other hand to plunge the c >lony into financial embarrassments at this early period of its history, or to create a large and unnecessarily expensive Government establishment, would entail upon New Zealand misfortunes which many years of the most careful administration of public affairs might not be able hereafter to remove. There appears no reason to doubt, that, under a prudent system of management, this Province may ■hoitly be able, from its own income, to defray the whole of its legitimate civil' expenditure. Its revenue Is already considerable, and by slight modificaii >ns in the mode ol collecting it, is capable of considerable improvement. In about two years from the present time, the great lines of ro*d now in progress will be completed, and the town of Wellington will then be connected, by easy lines of communnation, with immense tracts of fe tile country, which will, I trust, be shortly in a greitt measure the property of the Crown , and which will then be iully laid open to the industry and energy of the settlers. These causes, taken in cotijum tion with the measures which I am about to propose (or your adoption, ought to render the progress of this poition of New Zetland very rapid, and to cause a continued augmentation of its revenue. It would al«o seem probable that the revenue of the Nelson district will rapidly augment, as itsinbab tants are now reaping the due reward of their industry and energy in the stale of prosperity to which they are aU taining ; whilst the rapid increase of their flocks and herds since the acquisition of the Wairau district most speedily ensure th«m a large export of verj[ valuable commodities! Having thus before you upon every side^the prospect of an increasing revenue, whilst no corresponding augmentation is necessary in the Government expenditure, and beaing in mind that the aid this Province has hitherto received from the Parliamentary Grant has been chiefly devoted to great public works, and w 11 for the future be almost exclusively devoted to that purpose, there c*n be no doubt that, under an economical administration of it* finances, it will shortly be able to provide ihe means of defraying the entire cost of its civil Government, time relieving Great Britain from all charges which are not connected with the Naval or Military expenditure. There are two points connected with that portion of your duties, which relates to subjects of general interest lor the whole Islands, which I am anxious to bring under your notice, viz :— -The subject of Steam Communication between the various settlement*, and the »ub ject of a loan tor the purpose of promoting Emigration, i Upon the first of the above points I would ofler the , following observations for your consideration. You are aware that the purchasers of land in the Nelson aettlement have set apart a fund for the purpose of promoting Steam Navigation in Cook's Straus, which now amounts. I believe, with interest, to nearly fourteen thousand pounds. An essential part of the plan I propose for your consideration it, that the. Nelson settlers should expend this sum in bringing out emi> grants to Nelson in such propoi tion in each year, and under such system as, after due consideration, they may think most likely to promote the interests of that settlement. The subject of communication by steam, which appears to be one of general interest rather than peculiar to "ne settlement, might then be taken up by ths Government of the several provinces ; to promote such a plan, I would, upon behalf of the general Government, give up the Government Brip, and an annual turn of about eighteen hundred pounds, the yearly cost of that vessel. If to this amount the Legislature of each Province would ndd the requisite proportionate annual vote, a considerable sum would be available in each year for the purposes of Steam Navigation ; and as the whole management of the Pott Office is now in the hands of the Local Government, I think, with the amount of about £5000 yearly at its disposal, it might easily contract for the delivery at, and carriage of mails between, the principal settlements in New j <7nni«ni! bv steamers of a sufficient tonnage; the pro- \

prietors of the steamers being allowed to make such arrangements regarding the conveyance of passengers and goods as they might consider most advantageous for their own interests* I earnestly recommend the consideration of this measure to your attention, as one which is calculated in no ordinary degree to promote the prosperity of every portion of these Islands. Ihe second measure of general interest I have to recommend for your consideration is, the subject of a loan for the purposes of immigration. One of the great wants always experienced in a new settlement is that of some safe mode of investment for funds which are in the hands of the trustees of savings banks, of benefit societies, and of other similar associations. I think, therefore, that a great benefit might be conferred upon the public, and that a great advantage might be secured to the colony, by the Govern* inent being authorized by law, to sell, at par, debentures in sums of not less than fifty pounds each, bearing interest at five per cent., for a total amount of twentythousand pounds, the whole amount realized by the sale of such debentures to be immediately expended in bringing out immigrants to this country. It would be necessary to make the interest payab'e on these debentures a first charge upon that portion of the revenue of the colony which is under the control of this Council, and to secure their ultimate repayment from tbe same source. It would also be requihite to authorize tbe Government to sell these debentures from time to time, as they might be applied for at the Colonial Treasury, as it is probable that a considerable period might elapse before the debentures for the whole amount could be disposed of. The Council would further have to determine some date before which it would not be in the power of the Government to call these debentures in. It is, howevert sufficient (or me to indicate the general plan which I recommend for the consideration of the Council, leaving it to yourselves, if you are favourable to the measure, after consultation with th« persons best qualified to give advice on such subjects, to modify the detaili in such manner as you may judge most expedient. Iv reference to that portion of your duties which relates to the removal of the difficulties which stand in the way of an immediate introduction of a represeniative government into the New Zealand Islands, I should inform you that I have proposed for Her Majosty'i Government tbe plau of a complete system of representative government, which might, I think, if no j wholly unforseen difficulties occur, be introduced into the whole of New Zealand in a period of about four years from the present time. If this plan should be approved by Her Majesty's advisers, I shall have to rely upon the wisdom of the Legislative Council of each Province for rhe adaptation of the details of the plan to their particular district. In the mean time I trust that they will by their regularity, order, and diligence in the despatch of business, give an example won by of the imitation of all future legslative bodies in New Zealand. I rely al«o upon their taking care to place the finances of each Province upon so sound and perfect a basin, that when a representative form of go* vernment is introduced, there tnav be every probability of such institutions working well from the satisfactory •tate of the finances, and from the order and regularity with which public affairs are administered in every department, at the time when the new Constitution is j brought into operation. In conclusion, I would congratulate yourselves and the inhabitant* of this Province generally, both European and Native, upon the degree of prosperity and tranquility to which, under the bleating of Divine Providence, this colony has attained. Every cause of dispute between the two race*, both in the Middle Island and in the vicin ty of Wellington, has now been removed, and such questions as are still outstanding in tbe Province of New Munster are being daily satisfactorily adjusted, whilst the Native race are making advansei in civilization which surpass the expectations of tlieir most sanguine friends. Probably no smer jiroof could be afforded of the real prosperity of this portion ot the Province of New Munster than the lapidity with which its inhabitants have recovered from the effects of the recent earthquakes, from which at one time it appeared so probable that very calamitous results miglr follow. Tbe settlers, in this instance, have exhibited their u«ual energy and perseverance, and. I have done my utmost to second this by cHUbini; a circular letter to be addressed to the G^ernors ( f the neighbouring colonies, explaining the exact nature of the injuries sustained from the earthquakes, and requesting tbi m to mike public iv their several Governments the fact that public confidence it entirely restored, as alto that commercial and other operations have, for some time past, been resumed and carried on with their usual activity. I cannot allude to the great degree of prosperity and tranquillity which prevail throughout so large an extent of country, in portions of which Europeans are scattered amongst such various tribes, without a« knowledgiag chat this fact is greatly to be attributed to the exertions and prudence of the variouk Military and Civil authorities in this Prjv.nee, the value of whose services have long been known, and whose merits I am glad to have this opportunity of again publicly recording. lam sure that you will feel it to be both a duty and a pleasure, in so far as it depends upon you, to afford them every assintance and encouragement in the performance of their duties ; in your proceedings to promote thete objects. a* in all your efforts to promote the welfare of the Province, you may rely upon receiving at all times my earnest and hearty cooperation. G. Grey. Legislative Council Chamber, Wellington, 21st December, 1849. On the motion of Mr. Bannatyue, the address was ordered to be printed. Mr. Dillon Bell thtn gave noiico of the following motion — " That this council do address hit Excellency the Governor-in-Chief, requeuing that his Excellency will be pleaded to afford such further information to tbe Council on the subject of tbe introduction hereafter of a representative form of government into this Province as will put the council fully in possesiion of his Excellency's views and of the plan which it is his Excellency's intention to lay before her Majesty's Government." Tbe council then adj turned until Friday at three o'clock.

Friday, December 22. The Council met this day at three o'clock ; nil the members were pretest. Hit Excellency stated that before proceeding to busmen it was necessary to form a series of stauding orders. The standing orders were then proposed and passed singly. His Excellency then called on Mr. Bell to bring forward the motion of which he had given notice. Mr. Dillon Bell, in rising to move the resolution of which he had given notice, trusted the Council would extend their indulgence to him, while making a few remarks on the subject of it which would be as brief us possible. Hit motion was for an Address to his Excellency requesting that he would be pleased to afford the couucil such further information respecting

the introduction of a representative form of government in this Province, as would put the Council fully in possession of hit Excellency*! views, and of the plan which hit Excellency, in his opening addreis to the council, announced he should propose to her Majesty's Government. However gratified, in common wiih the other members of the council, he felt yesterday on hearing his Excellency's opening speech, he confessed that he experienced tome disappointment at the im» portant subject of representative government being introduced with so slight an explanation of his Excellency's views and intentions. Remembering that it was solely at the instance of his Excellency that the Constitution which Parliament had conferred upon this colony was suspended, and that too, after bis Excellency had declared that the Southern settlers were so well fitted for the representative institutions which it created, he had hoped that, in referring to the introduction hereafter of those institutions of which they had been temporarily deprived, his Excellency would have stated to the council, with all possible distinct* ness, the principles on which he would be prepared to introduce them. He trusted therefore that, while the Council would see no spirit of opposition to the Government in his resolution, they would concur with him in the opinion that it conveyed * desire they had some right to entertain, and some claim to hope his Excellency would meet. For he would remind the council that, to be of any use as advisers of Government; they must not only possess iti confidence, but also tome share of the confidence of the people who were to be governed ; and he was satisfied that neither the Government on the one hand, nor the colonists on the other, would place any confidence whatever in that council if so great a questiou as that of representative government were lightly passed over by it. He should consider himself wholly unjustified to hii fellow setUeri for accepting a seat at that table, if he did not take the earliest opportunity of asking from bis Excellency a distinct enunciation of the present and ulterior views of Government on- a matter or so much moment to them md to the future interest* of this Province. It was true that none of the members who had been summoned there, had been chosen to represent the settlers ; but they were not the less practically responsible to them and amenable to public opinion for what they did. On the contrarj, while, if they had been elected, they would have been answerable only to their constituents, be believed that a closer scrutiny into their acts, an* a keener jealousy of their motives would exist, just because they might be supposed to be not altogether independent of the influence of the Government, nor directly dependent on that of the commuuity. The colonists had experienced a very bitter disappointment in the withdrawal of that freedom which was for an instant-— and but for m instant— within their grasp, and he conceived they had a claim, since it had been taken away, to know exictly what prospect existed of its being restored. For his parti he hud accepted a seat in that council on the distinct understanding, and in the earnest hope, that the formation of it was but a step towards self government for this Province, a mere preparation of some things which all must admit should be settled first, among which one of the most important was the character and extent of the elective franchise. He was therefore the more anxious that the complete system of representative government which his Excellency *had already prepared for the consideration of her Majesty's Government, should be made known to the council, and through it to the settleis. It would be especially desirable that an assurance should be given of the time within which that system would certainly come into operation within this Province. All the questions which threatened difficulties before, were now either finally adjusted, or in the course of beine: so : the European population had already recovered from the depression and injury which the misgovernment of early days had inflicted upon it, and the native population was exhibiting everywhere, excepting perhaps at Taranaki, signs of substantial improvement in character »nd advancement in civilization, Which promised to realise the highest hopes for the peaceful araalga* tion of the races. Moreover, an impetus was now being given to colonisation in England connect j d with this Province, which promised to add largely to its English population in a very short time ; aud the founders of the Canterbury settlement might themselves, perhaps, be but the precursors of still larger settlements, projected on a scale and on a principle which should faintly emulate those which, led by the great fithers of British colonisation, founded in old times an empire in the wilderness of America. Those newcomers, whom they desired to welcome, would, as well as themselves, expect the assurance that they should, within a certain time, live under a representative and therefoie a responsible government. Ha dwelt the more on the matter as connected with this Province, because he desired to see it discussed strictly with relation to the intercuts and claims of this Province. If the condition of any of the other Provinces should in four years still be such that it would not be' safe to introduce representative government there, were the Southern settlers, who by that time might number 70,000 or 30,000 inhabitants, again to trait? He (Mr. Bell) earnestly trusted that the difficult native questions his Excellency had to contend with in the North, would be settled long before the period he bad mentioned ; but if they should unhappily continue, he could see no just reason why, as bad often been contemplated, even by Parliament, the Southern settlers should any longer he deprived of the benefits of selfgovernment. But it his Excellency consented to tbc motion, and gave the explanations and assurances which the settlers hoped to receive, the moderate men, who always formed the great majority in any community, might then consid -r that this temporary legiilative council could, after all, be of some use in assisting the Government tocairy out that general policy which had produced such a complete change in the aspect and affairs of this count iy since hit Excellency assumed the administration, and whioh he (Mr. Bell) believed all the colonists, without reSpect to party, did cheerfully admit to have been a liberal one, a compreheniive one, and a successful one. But they wished to see the fruits of that policy, now that life and property were secure, they desired to devote themselves peaceably to the management of their own affiirs, which his Excellency had himself d cUrrd them to be competent to do; and they wou d lej ie to -cc { n the establishment by him of a form of government without which there cou d be no perfect ir cd.m», a new distinction added to his Excellency's name, and a new luitre shed on Ms admimstiation. He (vir. Bell) repeated, that the colonists who had left England to found these settlements, bringing with them the sime claimi and rights they possei&ed at home, desired to obtain that share i» the government, or rathrr that legitimate influence and control over it, nhich belonged to and accompanied representative institutions ; and he so thoroughly concurred wiih them, and hud 10 long been imbued with the principles which they maintained, that he should be only too happy to see the labours ol the present council transfers d to others who, elected by the people, representing the people, and supported by the people, might yet some day give that council credit for honesty of motive and sincerity of purpose, and generously place an approving laurel on the page id the history of this Produce which they

had opened, with hesitation certainly, but yet with hope. Mr. Moore said it was with feelings of diffidence he rose to second the motion. He did to in the confident hope that his Excellency's explanation would be 10 full at to latiify the public mind that they were about to arrive at the end which they all desired by sound practical itepi. Representative institutions, embodying at they do the wisdom of ages which have beeu spent in their preparation and adaptation, cannot but be most suitable and desirable to all those who have been educated to understand and appreciate the privileges which they confer. But it is sometimes better to advance by safe and easy stages on the road to self government, on the same principle that you would give * knife of bone to a cbiid until be was able to use & ■teel one. This colony in matters of self government was yet' young, its legislator) young, its electors young. They would go on educating and encouraging each other by the prospective view of ultimately arriving at the attainment of their wishes, by the safest, soundest, and mokt practical ttrps. He agreed with the remarki of his honourable friend respecting the native population. The amalgamating the two races was so grand a view, and embraced so philanthropic a hope, was so just, so wise, so liberal, that they were bound to use their utmost endeavours to attain it, and if called on to make a sacrifice, they should cheerfully submit to it. He felt a confident hope that his Excellency would give the fullest explanation, and he believed that thft explanation would be satisfactory. Mr. D. Bell then moved, and Mr. Moore seconded, the following address.— To his Excellency Sir George Grey, X.C.8., &c,&c. Sir,— The Legislative Council of the Province of New Munster, while they acknowledge the clear and comprehensive character of the speech with which your Excellency opeDed the present session, desire neverthea less to address jour Excellency, requesting that you will be pleased to afford such further information to the council, on the subject of the introduction of a Representative form of Government into this Pro" vince, as may put them fully in possession of your Excellency's views, and of the plan which it is your intention to submit to her Majesty's Government. ; , Had not Parliament conferred a Constitution upou the colony, and had that Constitution not beeu subsequently suspended at your Excellency's sole and urgent instance, the council might perhaps have been satisfied with the general allusions to your intentions on this point contained in your Excellency's address on, the opening of council. But having regard to all that has passed in Parliament and elsewhere on the subject of introducing Representative Institutions into the whole colony, and especially to the probable large increase of the population of this Province at an early period by the foundation of important settlements, the council would submit to your Excellency, that in their opinion the Government would best consult the inters esti and feelings of the whole community, and most efficiently conduce to extensive immigration into the colony, by at once declaring, as distinctly as possible in detail, both the character and composition of the | Representative Government, which your Excellency stated in general terms you should recommend for adoption by her Majesty's Government, and also [ whether your Excellency has it in contemplation t»> take any steps in conjunction with the Executive Council to secure that adoption at the earliest possible period, 'ihe council are unwilling to trouble your Exeel- | lency here with an enumeration of all the points on I which they wish for information. But they submit that the questions which they more especially hope to receive an assurance upon are — First, the period withiu which the representative form of Government which your Excellency proposes shall certainly be introduced into this Province. Secondly, the principle upou which you propose that the elective franchise shall be based. And, thirdly, the power and constitution of such representative a»semblics as will be created. Relying, indeed, with confidence on your Excel, lency's consenting to afford the detailed information which they ask, ths Council would respectfully request you to acquaint them, at the earliest opportunity, with, the purport of the recommendations which your Excellency may have addressed to her Majesty's Gor tvernment on the subject. Council Chamber, Wellington, December 22, 1848. His Excellency stated that he should hava great pleasure in complying with their request, and in affording the required information ; but he should state that it was only within the last few days he had felt hi nselt at liberty to do so, because his own views ' being to some eitent different from those of Earl Grey; and his lordship having suspended at his recommendation the proposed constitution for five years, he should feel bound not to do anything which might tend to embarrass the home government. He should have refrained from commuuicating his own views to the public hud he not ascertained that they coincided with those of Lord Grey. It was only since his arrival at Wellington that he had been made aware of this. The manner in which the council had called for his views bad made it necessary that they should be reduced to writing ; he would therefore commit them to wri'ing, and in laying that document on the table would afford further explanation. He would endeavour to prepare the document by to-morrow. Mr. Bell, with reference to one of the standing •rders, asked his Excellency what course would be pursued by Members wishing to bring any motion before the council. His Excellency stated that the member would have to give notice of it in his place, or by letter to the Government, and that unless there was anything in it very objectionable, the G>verument would not only render every aoistance in bringing it forward, but would also instruct the law officer of the Government to correct any legil eiror which might exist in it. The Council ttitn adjourned until Saturday at three o'clock* (To be continued in our next.)