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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4831, 15 September 1876, Page 2

The preamble of Sir G. Grey’s Provincial Abolition Permissive Bill is worth reading as aperfect specimen of the author’s style. It runs as follows :—Whereas ■an Act of the Imperial Parliament passed in the fifteenth and sixteenth year of her Most Gracious Majesty, chapter seventy* two, did crerfte and establish within the colony’ of New Zealand a General Assembly and Provincial Legislatures, the latter consisting of a Superintendent and Provincial Council: And whereas the Queen, Lords, and Commons of Great Britain did by the said Act confer upon the Provincial Legislatures power to make and ordain all ouch laws and ordinances as might be required for the peace, order, and good government of each province, with the exception' of laws on a few specified, subjects of general and Imperial interest : And whereas her Majesty did further waive her prerogative, and grant to her subjects in New Zealand the great aud unusual . privilege that all laws passed by the Provincial Legislatures should take effect and remain in operation without her Majesty's assent to the same being sought for or obtained, so that their legislation ou all subjects not of general or. Imperial interest was freed from all exterior interference, and rested solely with the inhabitants of New Zealand ; And iwhereas from time immemorial it has been the usage of the Empire that when Legislatures are created and established, and have rights and powers of legislation conferred upon them, such rights and powers, except in actual and open rebellion, are never taken away or destroyed, except under and with the authority of Acts passed by such Legislatures ; And whereas the several provinces of New Zealand are guiltless of offence, and it is necessary and desirable that this ancient and salutary bulwark of freedom and justice should be respected and reverently preserved.

In reference to our leader yesterday morning, we may remark in regard to the action of the Hon. Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Bastings at the caucus of Ministerial supporters, that some misconception seems to have arisen. Neither Mr. Reynolds nor Mr. Bastings advocated that Otago should-be exempted from the operation of the Abolition Act. They simply, as we indicated, pointed out that the question had been pretty forcibly raised in Otago, and that whilst it could not be acceded to, its existence could not be ignored. Neither gentleman, it may be said, has swerved from the views he has.* previously expressed ou the question of abolition.