THE COLONIST. NELSON, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1860.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 306, 25 September 1860, Page 2

THE COLONIST. NELSON, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1860.

The arrival of the LoVd Worsley with' the July mail enables us to give extracts to the 26th of that month, and to the 17th inst., from Sydney papers. ; ./.,:./.' On the 28th June last a bill was laid before the Houbo by the.Duke of Newcastle "for the better Government :of New Zealand, and for facilitating the purchase of native land." At the second reading on ttie 3rd of July his Grace remarked that the bill did not arise out of the late disturbances, but was intended to conciliate the natives and produce a better feeling between theni and the settlers than had lately existed, especially with those of the latter who had recently arrived. The institution of a local council was, proposed to revise native laws and land purchases, the members to be selected frpm such;, settlers as would be independent of the changes of the ordinary local governmental system, And composed of not less than three 'or more than seven members, - possessing the confidence of both races. Lord Lyttelton feared that the effects of the Bill would be to create jealousy and irritation between the proposed new body and the local government. The Earl of Derby considered it a measure of doubtful policy; he did not understand that there was any question of jealousy between the natives and Europeans, and asked for information of that which had rendered such exceptional legislation necessary. , „

The Duke of Newcastle admitted that the proposed measure was exceptional legislation; but said with respect to laying papers upon the table referring to it, their lordships were aware of the difficulty of producing communications between the Government at home and the colonies, as publicity might in some cases be productive of harm; he would-however put before them sufficient documentary'evidence. He believed that althoughseme of the colonists were inimical to the bill, the generality were favorable to it. The bill then passed through committee. L ' In the House of Commons the: Under Secretary, in reply to a question from Sir J. Pakingtoh, said before he asked the house to pass the bill a second time the correspondence between the Government and the Governor of New Zealand on the subject should be in the possession of the house. A pamphlet,'by James Henry Fitzgerald, Esq., has been published in London, which sensibly .and in season sets forth various points of argument against the .proposed measure as unwise and needless, and characterises it as an • invasion 6t the constitution of the colony.' ;

The Cresswell, which left here on the 31st March arrived in London on the 16th July last..,.We are sorry tovrecbrd. the death ;of two of her passengers, well known here", namely, Mrs. Smithy of Hardy-itreet, from palsey twenty-one day s after leaving our port; and Mr. P. M. Hervey, on the 26th May, when off Rio Janeiro* from a succession of fitS. :■",. ..\',vV., .■-■:■ .;■:.:/■ ■-. ■' :-.*.■■ SV

On Sunday jmorning a new paddle steamer called the Rapid arrived from Sydney. She "came |into harbor with half flood tide as far as the new wharf; she then turned against the tide,1 and made good progress back towards the entrance; this was under a pressure of 4 lbs. She is now lying by the bank for the purpose of being cleaned. The following particulars appear in her register: Gross Tonnage 96*26; Register, 60.64; Draught of Vater, 6 feet 6 inches; Length 86 feet; Breadth 17 feet; Depth 9 feet. She was. built by Napier of Glasgow, is heavily coppered and copper fastened, and has capacity for. 50 tons under hatches. We believe she is intended for either sale or contract.