The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 336, 2 August 1849, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

He just and (car not: Lot all the ends, tiiou nims't at, be thy Country's, Thy God's, and Tiutli's.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 2, 1849.

According to the announcement in the " Government Gazette" which we copied into our columns a few days ago, the General Legislative Council assembled yesterday. The opening Address of the Governor -in -ChidT will be found in our other columns, and will be read with the attention to which, under any circumstances, it would be entitled, but which it especially claims on the present occasion from its bearing on the question of the Crown Grants of land, — a subject which, w r e need not say, involves so extensively the interests, and affects so largely the prospects of a considerable number of the inhabitants of the colony. Having inserted, in a late number of our journal, the Bill brought forward by his Excellency, and having then commented upon its impoitance, it is not necessary that we should now enter upon any detailed examination of its provisions. Further observations upon it will be moie appropriate when it shall have engaged the attention and elicited the opinions of the Members of Council. We, however, repeat the expiession of our conviction that it will operate most beneficially qn the general ■well-being of the country, removing many doubts which must necessarily have exercised a chilling influence on enterprise and industry. If it were only from its adjustment of the questions connected with the exchange-grants in the vicinity of Auckland, it would afford much satisfaction, and be productive of much advantageIt will not only set at rest the doubts which more or less hung over the possessions of intermediate purchaser?, but will also bring a large quantity of land into the market, probably at such moderate prices as will meet the ■wants, and facilitate the plans, of many who have hitherto been unable to carry out their purposes, through the scarcity or dearness of land adapted to their circumstances. It will be seen that what we ventured to advance as a supposition respecting the motives which influenced the Governor in the course pursued by him, in reference to the Crown Grants, is substantially borne out by his Excellency's own statement. There were doubts as to the legality of those grants : lawyeis entertained such doubts, and the Home Authorities did paiticipate in them : the desire of the local Government was — not to haiass the claimants or holders by any vexatious or costly proceeding? in the Courts — but simply to ascertain what actually was the Law in the matter •. — and now having obtained the decisions of the proper expositor of the Law, no time is lost in taking the necessary steps to quiet the titles and restore confidence. It is easy to find fault, especially when the cavillers have not practically to grapple with such difficulties as those adveited to by the Governor ; but impartial men must, we think , see that there was nothing in his line of procedure to warrant the suspicions entertained by many, and openly and vehemently declared by some, of evil intentions and sinister purposes on the part of His Excellency. We are assured that the Returns relating to the grants, which were presented yesterday, contain much information corroborative of these views ; and should they be published (as we suppose they will be) will furnish a large amount of startling and inMiurtive facts for the consideration of those who desire fully to understand the subject. We need not just now comment on the proposed Waste Lands Ordinances its object seems !'" to merely to give foimal legal sanction to

regulations already in operation, the value and efficiency of which can only be tested by a longer trial than they ha\e yet obtained. It would, however, have been moie satisfactory, and very promotive of the agricultural and general welfare of the colony, if some measure to facilitate Squatting, and thus to open up the country more extensively for the use of graziers, had been proposed. Any difficulties connected with such an arrangement are small in comparison with the good that would result from it ; and the Government will disappoint the expectations which many have, not without reason, formed, if the subject be not speedily and effectively taken up. There are one or two other matters — (we particularly allude to the oppressive and sectarian injustice of the Marriage Ordinance) — which we hoped to find noticed in his Excellency's Address. "We shall, if necessary, speak more at length on them at another time. The Council will meet again this day, at one o'clock. We do not anticipate, however, that any business will be transacted beyond the form of the first reading of the Bills introduced yesterday.

A case of some interest to our mercantile fellow-townsmen was heaid and adjudicated in the Police Court yesterday. Captain Wilson, of the barque " Jane Catherine," lately arrived from London, was summoned by Messrs. Brown and Campbell to answer for the loss of a cask of spirits, consigned to them, the contents of which had almost entirely leaked away during the voyage. Several witnesses were examined, from whose evidence it appeared that the cask was originally good, but had been indented and injured by careless stowage. On the other side, a certificate was produced from a person who had surveyed it before its removal, and who thought that it had ever, thatalthoughsucha survey would have been been properly stowed. It was understood, howsatisfactory had there been no visible marks of injury, it was of no value when, as in this case, such marks were undeniably to be seen. The Court determined that the ship was liable for the loss.