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Lyttelton Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1261, 9 July 1864, Page 3

The Imperial Government and the Confiscation Act.—The Otago Daily Times, commenting upon the views of the Colonial Office, so far as they are expressed in the telegram received by last mail, Bays:—"We are, of course, arguing in the dark, since it is impossible to know what modifications of the Act the Imperial Government will decide on asking. The. question arises, what course should the .Colonial Government adopt ? As long as the dispute was between the Governor and his Executive, the latter were right in leaving to the former the responsibility of calling the Assembly together; but if the Governor has to suspend or modify an Act of the Assembly, in obedience to instructions from Home, the matter becomes different. In assenting to such an over-riding power, the Government would become a party to it, and tacitly admit that the laws of the Assembly were amenable to such revision. It is for the. Assembly to resolve what attitude to take. The colony will doubtless have t,o submit to the Imperial dictum, but it is for the Assembly to decide whether to acquiesce in the modifications or alterations desired, or to throw the whole responsibility of them on to the Imperial Government. In taking any action in the matter the Colonial Government will be most improperly committing the Assembly. The position is a very simple one; the Imperial Government offers objections to a most important measure passed by the Assembly; the Assembly should be convened to consider these objections and to decide upon what course to take in regard to them." Mr, Fisher, who is on his way to the Warrego, writing under date of the 17th May, from Fort Bourke to the Pastoral Times, states that the Darling for 700 miles is on an average forty miles wide, varying in depth from one inch to twenty feet, sandhills only appearing above water. The party had to leave horses 250 miles below Fort Bourke, and to take a steamer, travelling on horseback being an impossibility. Wlun the flood first can.e down they had a narrow escape, being camped on a sandhill which the water surrounded for half a mile. They made a raft for the swags and saddles, and only ons swimmer being amongst the party, he towed the others by a tent line from tree to tree. A Week in Bed.—lmmersed in continual occupation, as in this age of competition every man of business must necessarily be, and too mnch accus* tomed to tread daily the same circular round of thought, jjuch change of ideas as is produced by a day's leisure cannot hut be beneficial. Half the world, says the proverb, does not know how the other half lives, and alas! seems but little to care. Men's ideas get cramped for want of elbow-room, and stifled for want of breathing-space. Lying on your back helpless, and reading of bold, venturous deeds, you take pleasure to think that you too have ercwhile had life depending on quickness of eye, or readiness of hand, or knowledge, or practice, or presence of mind—that you can claim kindred from some previous experience or another, with the brave; at all events, that you are possessed of coolness, energy, and courage on occasion. " The pride of a young man is his strength." You begin to think that you have never been thankful enough for the strength and activity you possessed, till now that you are deprived of both by yo.ur late misfortune. Ilow plfPftut it syenig to be jiblc to run, leap, skate, or ewimj Kay, to walk erect down the sheets, to go unassisted over the crossings, even to hail an omnibus, and climb deftly to the roof. You begin to remember, with something of the desire that arises from separation, and something of the attachment that springs from Ihe misgivings of loss, the many blessings and enjoyments of every-day life: you are ashamed you have hitherto prized them so little. You wonder you could ever be cross when your wife kept you waiting, and could speak harsh words when your dinner was late or your boots badly blacked. To walk sound to-day you would cheerfully wear a pair that had not been cleaned for a week. Things seem very trifling now that were sufficiently provoking to you in full health, and the irritating condition of high strength constantly epj? ployed. Ypu remember that (hero is a keen pleasure t]ie very fact of ablpbotfied existence, and frotn jroiir heart you pity the poor fellow who sweeps the crossing near your office so cheerfully on one leg, and you wonder how you could yourself bear to bo crippled for the rest of your days. Would your eye lie as bright as his, your voice as cheery, your thanks for small mercies as sincere ? Compensation, you believe, ,is the fundamental principle that keeps 1 humanity in equipoise, and you suppose that he too J has hopes and happiness of some kind. They can j hardly, however, be on this side of helpless old age— ] the hospitality of the workhouse, a friendless deathbed, and a pauper's grave Dear, dear! if woman would only be as good to us when we are ] well as they are in our sick-rooms, if they could but ] share our high spirits as genially as they coax and ] comfort our low, what a world it would be for Jack ] and for Jill too! Before slie belonged to him, he 1 cannot but remember how Jill's eyes used to brighten 1 when lie came in. How she shared his triumphs, $n<l J listened so eagerly with those red lips wylp to ] (p his details, sufficiently voluminous, of his p«rn »' jpapps, and exploits," and pecularities—of his . wit, wisdom, and general success in everything he \ undertook. Because poor Jack may have got a : thought prosy witli increasing years and rotundity, : shall Jill thefore become a damper ? Though it be ; but a farthing rushlight with which lie illuminates, : shall hers be the blanket to put it out ? Why should thev SDill a drop of that pail of water they went together so far up the pleasant hill to fetch ? Notwithstanding the French wit's saying, a man does like to-be a hero to his valet de chambre, and very often is; much more would he wish to assume the heroic part in the eyes of his wrfe. It is officially announced that tiieNew Zealand Government have arranged for the passage to New Zealand of the wives and families of miliary settlers. They are to be carried by steamers, the first vvhlqi leaves on 10th July.