THE NEW CONSTITUTION. (From the New South Wales Government Gazette.)

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 396, 30 January 1850, Page 3

THE NEW CONSTITUTION. (From the New South Wales Government Gazette. )

S<2oMiV Secretary's Office, Sydney, Ist Jan. 1850. -?Hjti Excellency the Gorernor lias . been ploaied to d^ccf that the following despatches from the Right ftqndr^ble. the Secretary of State for the Coloniei, be published for general information :— No. 135. Downing Street, 18th August, 1849. Sir;— la reference to my circular despatch of 24th May last> enclosing the Report of the Committee of Her Majesty's Privy Council for Trade and Foreign Plantation!, on which the Bill for the better govern* ment of Her Majesty's Au*tralian Colonies, recently introduced into the House of Commons, wag founded, I have now to inform you, with very great regret, that it bat been found imponible to proceed with that Bill during the session just concluded t in consequence of the heavy pressure of business of a most urgent character which has occupied the attention of Parliament even down to its cloie. 2. It will, however, be again introduced with the least possible delay, after the reastembling of Parliament modified in one important particular only. Tbe provisions for a general and uniform Tariff, to be established by the Act itself, and unalterable, except by the General Assembly when convoked, will be omitted. For while Her Majesty Government continue to think it of the utmost importance that all possible freedom should be given to that inter-colonial trade which is year by year increasing in importance between the Austrlian settlements, enquiry and discussion have rendered it evident that the proposed uniformity could not be curried into practical effect without a variety of subsidiary arrangements, which could only be well considered and matured on the spot. 3. the Bill, therefore, when while it will empower the colonies to establish an uniform Tariff through the General Assembly, will not impose one updh them. There will probably be some other changes 1 introduced into the measure, with the view of rendering it more perfect in detail; but, with the exception above-mentioned, it will be substantially tbe same with that of the late session. And I sincerely hope that the delay thus unavoidably interposed (nay iif productive of advantage, by enabling Parliament to consider these questions' of detail with greater preparation. Jv Phave the -honor to be, Sir, Your most obedient humble servaV, Gbby. Governor Sir C. A. Fitz Roy, &c.