New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, September 2, 1848.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 323, 2 September 1848, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, September 2, 1848.

We observe by the English papers recently received, that the New Zealand Bill has re- ! ceived the Royal assent ; we may therefore presume that it has been officially transmitted to the Governor-in- Chief, and that some steps will shortly be taken, to give effect in the Colony to its provisions. In the debate in the House of Commons, which we reprinted at length, it appeared to be generally admitted, that owing to the course pursued by Lord Grey, too much time had generally been unnecessarily lost, and needless delays had occurred ; where this feeling is so prevalent both within and without the Colony, it becomes an additional reason that something should be done, and that no further time should be wasted. The first preliminary will be to resuscitate the Legislative Council ; but we imagine it will not be necessary for his Excellency the Governorin- Chief on this account to return to Auckland . Before the division of the Colony into two separate Provinces, the principal officers of the Executive Government residing at Auckland, it appeared to follow as a necessary consequence that the sittings of the Legislative Council should be held at the North ; butthe case is now altered. The same offices (with the" exception of the office of At-torney-General, vacant by Mr. Fox's resignation,) exist in the Southern as in the Northern Province, and the presence of the Governor- in-Chief, who is Governor of both Provinces, is alone necessary to constitute either of them the seat of Government. No difficulty can arise then on account of the official members composing the Legislative Council, as the Attorney- General, if his services were required, would readily 'visit the Southern Province. As regards the nonofficial members we apprehend that many serious difficulties would be obviated if the sitting of the Legislative Council were held in Wellington. The former Legislative Council, it is well known, has always been regardedinthe Southern settlements as a tedious farce, the proceedings of which from the ignorance of its members of the requirements and interests of the Southern settlers, and the want of communication between the two Provinces, were entirely destitute of any interest. The Northern settlers have shown the utmost indifference to the new Constitution, and it is chiefly ontheir account that

its 'suspension for five years has been made, while, on the other hand, the Southern settlers have always manifested an anxiety^ for liberal Institutions, which they have^befen pronounced by the Governor-in-ChiefVell fitted to enjoy. By holding the sittings in Wellington of the Council which is to determine the nature of these Institutions, his Execellency would have the advantage of the assistance of those men who have given most consideration to the subject, for whose benefit these Institutions were especially intended, and who have hitherto been practically excluded from taking a part in the proceedings of the Legislative Council; while its deliberations would be. freed from the importunate and interested cjampur of the land claimants under Captain Fitzroy's Proclamations, and its attention would- be exclusively devoted to the important questions which it would be called upon to decide.

The Royal Assent was given by Commission to the New Zealand Government Bill on March 7th.

H. M. S. Fly returned from, the Southward on Wednesday morning with his Excellency the Lieutenant- Governor. His Excellency visited Nelson, where he remained but a very short time, and afterwards proceeded to Akaroa, where Messrs. Mantell and Wills remain to mark out the Native Reserves, and complete the other arrangements connected with the late purchase of land.

We have republished from the Auckland Government Gazette of August 10, the Depasturing Regulations for the Northern Province, to which we alluded in a recent number. As nearly the whole of the Middle Island is now acquired by the Crown, we suppose that similar arrangements will be made by the Governor-in- Chief during his stay in the South for granting licenses to the owners of stations in this Province.

Whaling Stations. — The following are the latest returns from the southward : Fyfes station, Kai koras, 37 tuns; Wood's do. Goashore, 25 tuns; Rhodes', Island Bay, 22 tuns.

We have made enquiries respecting the opening of the new churcn in Willis Street, and can state on authority that it is fixed for Sunday week next the 10th instant, when Divine Service will commence at half-past ten o'clock in the morning, and at half-past six in the evening. '.