AUCKLAND.

Southland Times, Issue 1086, 8 January 1869, Page 3

AUCKLAND.

PROPOSED SUSt'KNrf.ON OF T3E NEW ZEALAND CONSTITUTION. By the arrival of the Alhambra, we are placed in po-s>ssion of Auckland papers to the 16th instant. The adjourned great public meeting in Auckland to con*ider the exp dieney of adopting a m-rnnrial to the Queen, praying that the New Zealand Constituiou may bo suspended so far as it, relates to the Northern Island, was hed on December Bth, in the hill of the Mechanics' Institute. The hall was crow Je ito excess, and many persons were unable to obtain admittance. T'm 'revised memoritl which we print below was a lopred, and a committee was appointed to make arrangements for obtaining signatures, and to cilieet subscriptions towards defraying the cost of it:- - T.> her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen. Way it please your Majesty — We. your Majesty's loyal and duti'ul subjects residing in the Northern Inland of New Zealand, himibly beg to lay before your M.ijesty the following memo rial : — That this part of the colony was originally colonised under an 1 by virtue of your Majesty's royal instructions, and was governed for several years t'ie>-eal'ter by an officer directly responsible to the Cro*n fur the good government of the whole colony of New Zealand. That in consequence of the representations of certain interested p rsons in the colony a Constitution was afterwards granted to New Zealand. The system of responsible Government was engrafted on the Parliamentary institutions, thereby at once subverting the authority of your Majesty's representatives, and substituting for direct 'responsibility to your M "jesty and the I Imperial Government, a responsibility to the miijoiity of an elected assembly. I That' the change of Government has been most injurious to the colony, but more especially so to the portion in which your memorialists reside. As one of its many evil consequences, your memorialists may mention that tlie colony has for several years past been engaged in war with the aboriginal natives. Until Utely it received every assistance from your Majesty's land and sea forces, but, owing to the action of the Weld administration, the Imperial troops have been withdrawn, except one regiment, which is doing garrison duty in the chief towns ; and the settlers are now without any aid from your Majesty's troops, although the native war has assumed larger Hi ":>nsions. and is characterised by greater ferocity than at ony ferinur period. Tne successive defeats sustained by the colonial force on the West Coast, and the repeated defeats and recent slaughter of men, women, and children (Europeans and natives) at Poverty Bay, on the East Coast, and the evident incapacity of New Zealand Governments, as at present constituted, impress your memorialists with the conviction that safety to life and property, the protection of the out-settlements, and the supremacy of the law,. can only be attained by a suspension of the Constitution so far as the North Island of New Zealand is concerned, and a return to that system of government unier which the colony advanced in prosperity duriug the first twelve years after its foundation. Your memorialists further declare and believe that, should your Majesty be graciously pleased to accede to the prayer of their memorial, the fact will be hailed with satisfaction by a large portion of the aboriginal population who have not yet joined the rebellious tribes, and with whom your memorialists desire to live on terms of amity. . Your memorialists, therefore, earnestly implore your Majesty to cause such measures to be adopted as your Majesry may deem necessary to stay the eiliision of blood, and prevent the ruin of the North Island of New Zealand. And your memorialists, as iv duty bound, will ever pr.iy, &c. . . , The twenty-fourth session of the Provincial Council was open.-d on December 7th, at three o'ciouk. There were twenty-one members present inclu ling the Speaker 'and the Provincial Kxeeutive.