European News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 211, 4 October 1860, Page 3

European News

• " TO 26th JULY.

HOUSED-'OF.-PARLIAMENT: • Tflie Duke of Newcastle, in* moving, the second' reading in the house of Lords of the . bill for the better government of New Zealand, and for facilitating the purchase- of Native landsi'on. the 3rd. J-uly,' said,—-New Zealand, as their-Lordships knetv, like' :m'ost of : the colonies'.of Great.Britaiu,at present,. possessed v a responsible government, and the natural and easy plan was to place in the hands of. that government 'subh-feinedies as might be thought

state of feeling between the -natives and the settlers. But there were ’ certain questions concerning the. natives in which the government of New Zealand could not be the best medium of communication-with them.' The present case•• was ah exceptional one. It al : most involved a question o-f good faith as regarded the natives, be eause it was not to the English inhabitants of New Zealond, it was to the Crown that these territories bad been ceded ; the natives had submitted themselves to the good government of the Crown, and hitherto, though, occasions had . arisen when the) r had shown distrust towards the local government, they * had reposed confidence in the Imperial' government—a confidence which lie hoped to show them was well placed. There Was another reason why this country had a right to interfere in questions between the natives and the colonists, because, if quarrels arose between them, as was now unfortunately the case, and if these resulted in an outbreak, it was .upon : the imperial government the whole expense of quelling such an outbreak fell. We had therefore a strong pecuniary interest in measures the result of which would be to remove the cause for any quarrels. Under these circumstances, after communicating with the government of New Zealand, it was resolved to institute a local council, upon, whom should devolve a revision of the native laws, and arrangements respecting the sale and purchase of native lands. He proposed that the council should consist of not less than three or more than seven persons, to whom the Crown should transfer the powers which it possessed, but which- it had never yet been able to exercise. This council would only continue a certain number of years, as its duties might be expected eventually to die out. On the sth July, in the house of Commons, Lord Palmerston moved a series of resolutions in reference to the rejection by the house of Lords of the bill for the repeal of the Paper duty, with the view of maintaining the right of the house of Commons to grant the supplies and provide the ways and means for the year. The resolutions were agreed to. On the 12th July, a vote of £3,356,104 was made for carrying on the war in- China, and on the 16th Mr. Gladstone intimated, that he proposed to meet this expenditure by the produce of the paper duty for the financial year and by an additional duty of Is. lid. per gallon on ardent which would leave £1,286,000 to be provided out of the balances in the exchequer. On the 23rd July Lord Palmerston proposed a resolution, with the view of carrying into effect the recommendations of the Royal Commission for the defence of our dockyards. Eleven millions would be required for this purpose, and the resolution lie moved was for a grant of two millions for the present year. In the course of his speech he referred to France with her 600,000 soldiers, and constantly increasing navy, as a power an attack from which ought to be guarded against. 2’he debate was adjourned till 30th July.

A meeting of New Zealand colonists was held on the 11th July in London, at which a discussion arose regarding the bill for the regulation of Native affairs referred to above. The following resolutions were agreed to by a majority of 20 to 5, — 1. That this meeting looks with great distrust upon the measure now before Parliament, by which the powers of the General Assembly of New Zealand are seriously curtailed, and the policy of the Constitution act is reversed. 2. That it is desirable that a petition be presented to both bouses of Parliament, praying that the bill ‘in question be not passed until it has been referred to the colony, and the opinion of the local legislature ascertained. 3. That Mr. Newman, Mr. H. St. Hill, Mr. Fitzgerald, and Mr. Cargill be appointed a committee to draw up and obtain signatures to such petition.

. The Great Eastern arrived at New York on the 28th June, in ten days and a half. None of the passengers were sea sick. Skittles were played on the lower deck during a storm. She was received with enthusiastic acclamations, and was to be exhibited at the charge of a dollar a head. The Prince of Wales sailed for Canada on the 10th July. He visits the United States as Baron Renfrew. The Princess Frederick William of Prussia has has been safely delivered of a daughter. NAPLES AND SICILY.

The Neapolitan troops had left the island, and letters from Naples 'to the 21st July announced that Garibaldi had left Palermo with 8000 to 10,000 volunteers —his immediate destination being Messina, but there being no doubt that his intention was to cross over, to Italy. The King of Naples is at bis wits’ end —offering liberal constitutions, which his people have no confidence in his adhering to, and preparing for escape in a Spanish man of war.

TURKEY. In Syria a great massacre of the Christians has taken place. The Druses attacked the town of Zalili, and murdered a thousand ol them other 500; had been massacred in Damascus ;• and the Anti-Lebanon had been the scene of numerous acts of incendiarism, pillage, and murder; The Porte had sent 16000 men, under Halim- Pasha, for the protection of its Christian subjects. • France was about to send 10,000 men, and Great Britain had despatched a. iVavai force- for - the same purpose. •