The Invercargill Times. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1863.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 3, 16 November 1863, Page 2

The Invercargill Times. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1863.

The ministerial crisis is over, and a new Cabinet has been formed, Mr Whita&er, as Premier and Attorney-General will represent the Government in the Legislative Co-iancii, and thus settle the little difficulty in that -quarter. Mr Fox, as Colonial Secretary and Minister for ; Native Affairs, will have full sway in the • Lower House. Mr Reader Wood and : Mr Thomas Russell both retain their portfolios, ami Mr T. B. Gillies will keep warm tti« office of PostmasterGeneral until the return of Mr Orosbie Ward from England. What party does this Ministry represent? None. Here | i we have Mr Fox, the John Bright of j Now Zealand, sitting in the s me Gabiuet with Messrs Whiuker and Russell — who, compared with him, are fire-eaters. As to Mr Reader Wood, he has served uuder Mr Fox before, is a good man for J his office, end enjoys the general confidence of the colony. The fact is, no party question has had anything to do ! with the Ministerial change. The policy the Government and country must now i follow, as far as the important question of the day — Native affairs — is considered is too obvious for political parties to dispute about. There may be a few a-ents of the ultra-peace party in the House, but they are too few t and their influence too. small to enable them to affect a Ministerial crisis. We may ' accept the coalition of which the new ' Ministry is composed, as a favorable kpmen of the unanimity concerning the fcyar policy enunciated in His Kxcelwacy's opening address. 'lhe new will most probably adopt, with any alteration, the Bills in conwith the war, prepared by the We care little of the Government is composed, a vigorous policy is adopted out. The old land marks are all or nearly all broken Waitara has been disposed be no longer a political although the mode and disposal will no doubt much eloquence. But as a question, is has assumed such the disputes of former merged into one a struggle iv which we come off victorious, but and effectually. The that shows itself comwield the sceptre of and unflinchingly will hearty support of the there must be no truckWith the Go, ernia a great measure, rest the en what terms tile subof the rebels will be received. must be complete and the colony must not rest until, and comprehensive raensures, mischevious powers of the Natives are reduced to a minimum. We may here glance at tlie Bill prepared by the late, and which will doubtless be ! adopted by the present Government, i for the suppression of the rebellion. This Bill proposes to empower the Governor, during the continuance of j the rebellion, to issue his orders to I persons duly authorised to take such vigorous and effectual measures for its suppression as may appear necessary for the public safety, and for the protection of the lives and property of loyal subjects, to punish all persons aiding or abetting in any manner the rebellion, ' according to martial law, either by death, penal servitude, or otherwise. All persons engaged or concerned in the rebellion may be arrested and detained and brought to trial in a summary manner by courts martial. Nothing done under the authority of this Act shall be questioned by the Supreme Court, and a declaration under the hand of the Governor shall be deemed sufficient indemnity for anything done in conformity with orders under the Act. Should any person under arrest \ I sue out a writ of Habeas Corpus, it ; will be a sufficient return to the writ that the Governor notify in writing that the person is in custody under a warrantbyvirtueoftheAct. The Military Settlement Bill is another measure j bearing on the suppression of the \ rebellion. This Act is to enable the Governor to set apart any land for the j purposes of Military Settlements, for which no Crown Grant or certificate of title under the Native Lands, 1862, shall have issued. All such land shall be declared Waste Land of the Crown, ; and all titles or claims other than those J just specified, will be discharged. Compensation, however, will be given to all claimants wh > have an interest in the land, with the exception of those who have in any way taken part in the rebellion. The claims for which such compensation will be given are to be decided by a Court constituted for the purpose. The lands acquired under the Act, will be laid out, and let, sold, or otherwise disposed of, and the pro* ceeds applied to various purposes, and in defraying the cost of the war. These two Acts really embrace all that legislation can effect towards the suppression of the rebellion, and it is very probable they will, with trifling alterations and amendments, be passed by >he House. It will then remain for the Government to carry them out with the spirit of unflinching promptitude and determination absolutely necessary to their success.

The -oensure^onveyed in the resolution of the/fq^vu Hoard on Friday last, anent the letter of the Engineer, was temperate, wcftl-timed, and^fullyto the point. Withoiifenterihg into the question of the Engineer's skill or otherwise in matters of formation of highways or byways, all the lioard had to consider "was their position generally in regard to their right to criticise any action of their Engineer ; and the terras of the resolution agreed to by all but one member, fully-Upheld that right." We arc not aware^what action the Engineer, will take on receipt of the ultimatum of the Board. Although virtually the resolution of the. Board is tantamount to a vote of "want of confidence," it does not in the present instance involve the same result as a similar vote in the case of Ministerial members, or that a resignation of his portfolio must be the next step of the Town Board. Engineer. The most judicious action" we should suggest to the Town Engineer, would be to accept the mild rebuke administered by the Hoard, and allow its recollection to. operate as a check on any overflowing of petulance on a future occasion. The action taken by the members of the Town Board is one that will be fully endorsed by every person, and will have more effect in establishing its position with the ratepayers than many a measure in reference to more important municipal matters. Latt -riy the Town Board had commenced to lose caste in the estimation of the people of the town, and the firm stand they have taken on the present occasion to uphold aproper a :d becoming dignity vvjll have its due effect. 'That the Town Board should be an important local representative body is undeniable. The interests of the town are in its charge, and to a certain extent, its future progress may be retarded, or forwarded by the mismanagement, or by the fostering care tf the Board. We have heard that some of our most energetic business men will likely be turning their attention to the next vacancies occurring in the Board, and although we do not altogether find fault with the pr sent constitution of that body, yet the infusion of a little new blood will tend materially to reinrigorate it.