GENERAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (From the "Wellington Spectator.") Thursday, June 26th. Provincial Councils Bill.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 556, 13 August 1851, Page 3

GENERAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (From the "Wellington Spectator.") Thursday, June 26th. Provincial Councils Bill.

Sh'GrortGr Grky said, before the report an this bill was bi ought up, he wished to make a few observations, j as his intentions were much misunderstood, and from the remarks that had fallen from the Lieutenant-Go-vernor a piejudice had been unjustly raised against the bill. A kind of complaint had been mude that he had not done anything, but he had never received anyrepre- j sentation on the subject of representative institutions from the Lieutenant- Governor of New Munster and Ins Executive Council ; no plan had been traced out and submitted for his consideration ; he (Sir George) was here a Government officer with but limited powers. Persons were often in the habit of saying the Governor ought to do so and so, but he should remind them he had no power left to proclaim new provinces ; authority had been given to him to proclaim two provinces, and there his autbonty ceased. The Queen h.id positively instructed him to proclaim two provinces, and to appoint certain officers, and since this mistake had been fallen into, he had, so long ago as October, JB l9, written home in these words. (His Excellency here read extracts from his despatch to Lord Grey, pubhshpd in j our last number. He then continued). From these extracts it would be seen that, nearly two years ago, he had made preparations for making these Provincial Councils large municipalities, and he thought it right i that this should be known, in order that his objects j should not be misunderstood. It was supposed by some persons that this measure was something less liberal than would be received from home, but he had no wish to press this specific measure, or any other measure on the colonists. He had recommended to Ministers at the same time that constitutions were granted to the Australian Colonies, to introduce the same or a similai measure into New Zealand. Owing to some delay in its transmission, that dispatch which was sent by him in November, 1849, instead of ai riving in February, before the commencement of the Parliamentary session, did not i each England till April, and he therefore found that Repiesentative Institutions had not been intioduced. He then reniemberid a delay of several years had occuired in introducing a Constitution in Australia from similar causes ; and in proposing the immediate j introduction of this measure he had been induced to do so from a desire to prevent similar delays, in the case ot New Zealand. lie had no desire to force what he believed to be a real benefit on an unwilling people, lie had to the best of his ability prepared the present measure. The council might, if they thought proper, withhold their assent to it at this present stage or at the third reading. If the bill wa" not passed he should feel sorrow, because he believed it would be a gieat benefit to the countiy, he should also feel sorrow that he had not been allowed to introduce Representative Institutions in New Zealand, but this would be a soirow of a personal kind, 110 had no wish, to force this measuie on the Colony at the present timo, but fiom recent events in England he felt certain that nothing would be done this Session, and if it weie rejected peihnps a delay might occur of two, three, or even more yeais in the introduction of Representative Institutions. The Atiorney-Genlr>il or New Zealand then brought up the report of the Committee on this bill, which was adopted.

Friday, June 27ih. Marriage Amendment Bill. On tlie motion of the Colonial Treasurer the Council went mlo committee on tins bill. The title and preamble having been read, an amendment >v as proposed on the fust clause by the Colonial Treasurer. Sin Glorge Grey observed that clergymen lming the power to issue licenses who were under a recognised head in the colony, it they performed then functions improperly were accountable to that head, and he consideied it would not he expedient to vest this power m clergymen not having a lecogtused head. The mcrabeis of the Chuich of Scotland agreed it would not be proper to give this power to any cloigyman without a recognised head to prevent his exezcising this power impiopeily. 'iho considemtion of preamble and thrpe first clauses after some further discussion was then deferred. Clauses 4 to 8 lead and agreed to. 1 he Colonial Treasu.iu n proposed to strike out the ninth clause; lie wished tonffoid every iacihty consibteiit with logul.nity of proceeding-, but he thought this clause would, in its opeiation, be productive of dangerous con«c(|U( j ncf-s. '1 he Colonial Sicretary of Nrw MuNSirn objected to stnking out the cl.nw\ Mr. Jjill and Blr. Dillon were also opposed to the Colonial Tieasurei's amendment, and coiibideied tins the only useful clause in the bill. Sir George Grty exposed a fallacy of the Colonial Secietaiy of New Mun^trr, in hit, objection to the piinc!])lc of tlw bill, and said that as no piinciple v^at. applicable without iaomo chiiuge to the ciuuui