The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume XVIII, Issue 1723, 13 September 1862, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

tie just and fear not; Let all the ends thou aim'st at, be thy Country's, Thy (lOD's, and Truth's.

AUCKLAND, SATURDAY, SEPT. 13, 18C2 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

The session will, probably, by this time have reached its close. The most important measure that remained to bo disposed of was the Native Laud Bill. This bill, which has met with some very strenuous opposition, had passed the second reading and been committed. Six of the clauses had been considered, altered, and adopted in Committee. The remaining clauses, it was thought, would also undergo considerable and important modification, chiefly, however, affecting matter* of detail. The title of the bill has been changed, and is now " An Act "to render the Title of Natives to their ,{ Lands as valid and effectual as the Title of "Europeans under grant from the Crown." Clause 2, as adopted, is as follows:

All lands in New Zealand over which the Native title shall not have been extinguished arc hereby declared to be the absolute property of the persons entitled thereto by Native custom, and may, save as hereinafter excepted, and after the respective owners of the same shall have been ascertained as hereinafter provided, be dealt with by such owners in like manner as Her Majesty's subjects of European race may deal with lands held by them under Grant from the Crown. A court, under the presidency of an European officer, is to be constituted, to inquire into the title of Native claimants, " upon the application of any tribe, community, or individual of the Native race," —to define the right title or interest therein, and register the same, and "to certify such definition or registration to the Governor." There was no doubt, wc understand, that the Act would pass, but it had been settled that it shall not come into operation uutil Her Majesty's assent has been obtained.

The '' Nominated Superintendents Act, 1862," had come to grief. The second reading having been carried, it was thought by the supporters of the bill that it would be worked through; but an unexpected motion for its discharge from the order paper was carried by a "majority of one," and there is an end of the matter, for the present session at least. The Superintendent of this Province, Mr. Williamson, has obtained leave and brought in a bill to enable the Auckland Provincial Council to make certain alterations in the Auckland Laud Regulations, so as to shorten the period of residence required of holders of land orders from five to three years, and also to provide for the satisfaction of the claims of certain naval and military settlers. A bill introduced by the member for the Bay of Islands, apparently with an eye to "Bunkum," but in which the claims of the military settlers were not provided for, was thrown out by the House of Representatives on the motion for second reading. We have printed the first-named bill below.

A handsome addition has been made to the Civil List. We observe that the salaries of the high officials have been greatly increased. The Ministers are each to have £IOOO a year. There was once a "young" candidate for the representation of the City East who pledged himself upon the hustings, that he was going in for retrenchment, who was resolved to cut down salaries one third, and who was to do several other things which he has no doubt forgotten; we are curious to know where that patriotic reformer was when the touters of the war-party were offering Mr. Wood £I2OO a year to take the treasurership, and when those large additions were voted. We do not say that it was not perfectly right and proper to have voted all and more than has been given, what we desire to point attention to is the value of the hustings' pledges in the particular instance. When a gentleman is elected on the " cheap government" ticket, one expects a decent show r of resistance at least to increasing expenditure; but it is, perhaps, more creditable, as in the present case, that, the primary object, election, being secured —the hypocritical profession should at once be boldly and openly renounced.

The place of meeting for the next session of the General Assembly was the subject of a funny little game in the House, in which Wellington was beaten. Our friends at Wellington are playing that game somewhat too hard, and will very probably hurt themselves. When it becomes a political necessity lo remove the seat of Government from Auckland, the case of the separationists will have been made out. Wellington, we think, is not likely to be the capital of the Northern Island. The Government resolutions, defining the relations of Responsible Ministers with the Governor in reference to native affairs, wore moved in the Legislative Couneil. The Council, wc learn, would not consider them or pronounce upon them, and they Avere consequently withdrawn. The Legislative Council is a dormant power in the state, and is, for the most part, treated with great indifference if not contempt by the louder branch of the Legislature. We are anxious to know what may bo the effect of this incident upon the Domett Government. In the House, the adoption of the resolutions was made a Ministerial question. Are Ministers responsible to the General Assembly or only to the House of Representatives? and are the views of the reverend signors of the Council, in reference to questions of State which are made Ministerial, to be regarded by the responsible advisers of his Excellency as being like the opinions of Mr. Toots, " not of the least consequence, thank you ?" Wo shall see.

A Hill intituled .In Act to enable alterations to be made in the Regulations for the disposal of Waste I.'ukU in the Province of Auckland in certain cotes. Whereas by the "Waste Land Act, 1858," it is provided ftmQP.gss other things t.ha_t covf-iiq A'^t^ < Ordinances

and Regulations, and the Bills specifiedinthe Schedule annexed to the said Act, shall from the passing of the said Act have the full force and effect of law in tm* several Provinces to which they respectively relate; and/ whereas it is expedient that power should be giV«n M the Provincial Legislature of the Province of Auckland to alter and amend the said Acts and Regulations in respect to the particul >rs herein set forth ; Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly of New Zealand, in Parliament assembled, and by the > authority of the same, as follows :—• I The Short Title of this Act shall be The Auckland Waste Lands Act Amendment Act, 1862" H It shall be lawful for the Superintendent and I rovinci'al Council of the Province of Auckland, by any Law or Ordinance to be passed by them and reserved for the assent of the Governor, to alter and amend the Land Regulations of the Province of Auckland in the following particulars or any of them: 1 To shorten the period of residence required by ' clause 79 and other clauses of the Ordinance intituled "The Auckland Waste Land Act, 1855," to the period of three years, and to make such provision as may be necessary to enable the Holders of Land Orders to claim and receive a Crown Grant for such Land after three years' residence. 2 To provide for the issue of Land Orders or Scrip ' in lieu of cash for any land heretofore or which may hereafter be taken or required for making or altering any Public Road or Highway within the Province. 3. In cases where persons have selected land ' under any former Regulations imposing on such persons conditions of improvement or otherwise but which conditions are not imposed on persons selecting land by the existing Regulations, to authorise the issue of Land Orders to such persons in like manner as if they had originally selected land under the existing Regulations without such conditions. 4. In cases where Naval or Military Settlers may have retired from Her Majesty's Service with the view of settling in any part of the Colony and such settlers shall have actually settled in the Province of Auckland, to authorise the issue of Land Orders to such persons entitling them to Crown Giants in like manner as if such settlers had retired from the Service specifically with the view of settling in the Province of Auckland. 111. Upon any such Law or Ordinance reserved as aforesaid being assented to by the Governor, the Regulations therein set forth shall have the force of Law, and the person selecting land thereunder and having fulfilled the terms thereof, shall be entitled to receive a Crown Grant for the same, and the Governor may make and issue such Crown Grants accordingly.