The Southland Times. TUESDAY, DEC. 20, 1864.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 84, 20 December 1864, Page 2

The Southland Times. TUESDAY, DEC. 20, 1864.

The mail from the North winch has just come to hand contains intelligence of more than ordinary importance to the Colony at large. The Assembly has been prorogued to meet again in Wellington, the future capital of New Zealand, in four mouths. The policy of the Weld Ministry as set forth in certain resolutions submitted to the ' House of Ec : preservatives has been very considerably^ modified. One point in Mr. Weld's' resolutions was to the effect that in the opinion of the House the time, had arrived for the withdrawal of the Imperial troops in order that the G-overnor might be guided by_ his responsible advisers on native as well as all -other matters, excepting those where the prorogative of the Crown or Impei'ial' interests were directly implicated. It is evident that so long as the British G-ovomment maintains a large body of soldiers in New Zealand, and otherwise renders material assistance in the supx^ression of the rebellion, it will claim the right, to a certain extent, of supervision. It is idle to say that there is not justice in such a proviso. By removing the troops, and becoming liable for all the charges of the war, and of native government, the right .of interference on the part of the Colonial office would be at an end. The Assembly did not, however, appear to think that the time had arrived when the Colony could raise and pay a sufficient body 01 troops without Imperial aid, and the consequence has been the modification' of the resolutions which we above alluded to. In their amended form they stand as follows, and very few, will be disposed to quarrel with the sentiments they express : — (1.) " That the House takes this occasion of expressing its loyalty and devotion, to the Crown, its deep gratitude for tho generous assistance rendered by the Mother Country to tliis. Colony, and its cordial appreciation pf the gallant services performed .by Her Majesty's Land and Naval Forces in New Zealand. (2.) " That thia ' House, having in its last Session accepted the decision of the Duke o£ Newcastle^upon tho subject of tlie responsibility of directing and controlling tho Native policy of the Colony as imposed upon it by his Despatch No. 22, of the 26th April, and No. 65, of 26th May, 1864, of tho Bight Honorable Edward Cardwell, oxprOSSOS tllO confident trust that these instructions were issued lojmcot a temporary emergency, and may lapse the moment a normal Btjjte of tilings shall be restored to tho Colony. < ■ . (3.) "That this House docs not dispute the claim of tho Imperial Government to oxercisc a reasonable control over tho policy upon which the restoration of pcaco must necessarily depend,whilst the" Colony is receiving the aid of British troops for tho suppression of internal disturbances, yot cannot shrink from tho expression of its conviction that tho joint responsibility of G-overnor and Ministers has resulted in divided counsels,

which have been productive of great evils tO both races of Her Majesty's subjects in this colony, and have entailed heavy and unnecessary expenditure both upon Great Britain and on New Zealand. (4.) That the resources .of New Zealand have been already heavily burthened, and their'developmenfc retarded by the great sacrifices that 'havebeen entailed upon the colony by the native insurrection- That nevertheless the colony is resolved to make every further possible effort to place itsself in a position of self-defence against internal aggression, with a view to accept the alternative indicated by the Home Government, namely,, the withdrawal of Her Majesty's land forces at the earliest possible period consistent with the maintenance of Imperial interests, and the safety of the colony; thereby enabling- the Government to issue such , instructions to his Excellency the G-overnor as may permit him to be guided v entirely in the - recommendations of his constitutional advisers in native as well' as.in ordinary affairs, excepting upon such matters as may directly concern Imperial interests and the prerogative of the Crown. (5.) "That these resolutions be "embodied in an humble address to His Excellency the" Governor, requesting him to transmit them to Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies. ' The financial statement--of the Colonial Treasurer is more satisfactory than was, on the whole expected. It is not remark- ' able for great perspicuity, but from "it 1 the outside public can. obtain a rougrh" ! estimate of the present position of the 1 Colony. During the past year the 1 estimated revenue-.has been, exceeded; by ! the receipts, notwithstanding the existing depression in all the Provinces. The estimated revenue' was £091,000, but the actual receipts amounted ', to-. £708,000, being in excess £17,000. " The estimated ordinary revenue for the .year 1865 is '£663,351, and the Customs duties are set down at £610,000, to which the Pro- [ vinces of the Middle Island will con- , tribute in the following proportions.: — Otago, £194.,00O t ; Southland, £45,000; Canterbury, £87,000 ,- Marlborough, £11,000; and Nelson, £25,000, being a total . for . the . Middle Island of £362,000! • ■ - -- ; " It -has been determined -to ratify the contract for/the Panama service, entered into by. Mr. "Ward on behalf of the New Zealand G-'overmnent ; but the company are not to have a monopoly of the InterProvincial and Inter- ColohiaLbranch lines. We do not think the company will hesitate to ' accept the contract as amended, •in fact, they appear- throughout to have been willing to meet • the Colony on any reasonable grounds. It will be seen in another part of today's issue that a new Tariff Bill , has been passed, by which the duties on theprincipal Customs articles are raised, in many instances, nearly half. As was expected, the Assembly has declined the Imperial G-uarantee to the million of the Three Million Loan, the Act requiring the amount to be secured J on the territorial as well as the ordinary revenue of the Colony, and there being prior- creditors whose - interests would thereby be affected. The rate of interest" on the unguaranteed loan has been raised, and a million is to' be obtained onExI chequer Bills bearing 8 per cent, interest. - , - -. The war is said to be costing "New Zealand something like £4*2,000 per month, • and the Colony is indebted to the linpej rial Government more than £500,000. The seat of Government is to be reI moved without " delay ' to "Wellington," where the Assembly will meet.