PAPERS ON THE NEW CONSTITUTION OF THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES.

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 360, 27 September 1849, Page 3

PAPERS ON THE NEW CONSTITU TION OF THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES.

Circular to the Governors of the Australian Colonies, except New Zealand. Colonial Office, Hay, 1849. Sir, — 1 transmit to you a llepoit of the Committee of Her Majesty's Privy Council for Trade oncl Plan* tations on the subject of the proposed Bill for the Separation of Port Phillip from New South Wales, and the extension of Rupie*entative Institutions to Van Diemcn's Land and South Australia. The importance of the questions which required to be determined in making arrangements for the future sdministratiou of these Colonies induced me to advise Her Majesty to refer the subject to the consideration of the above Committee, hy which it has accordingly been very can-fully and deliberately investigated ; and though some delay has thus been ocrasioned in matu ring the measure for currying into effect the proposed changes in the existing institutions of Her Majesty's Australian Poiseskiou?, I taut that this loss of time | will be more than compensated by the advantage which has been derived from the labours of the Committee in rendering the Bill* which will now be submitted to Parliament, as perfect as possible. The llepoit itself explains so fully the general purport of the proposed measure, that it is unnecessaiy for me to state-raore than that a Bill, framed in accordance with the recommendation of the Committee, will be introduced forthwith into Parliament: but, as some time mutt necessarily elapse before it can become law, I have thought it advisable that you should be made acquainted with its proviaionu through the medium of fchu Report ; and the highly interesting nature of the general subject of which it also treats, affords an additional reason for its transmission. I have, &c. (Signed) GREY. Lieut-Governor Sir William Denison, &c, &c.