The Lyttelton Times.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 22, 7 June 1851, Page 5

The Lyttelton Times.

SATURDAY, June 7, 1851. The Legislative Council of New Zealand has met, and the Governor-in-Chief has opened it with a speech which we publish in another column. At present the council consists of seven official members of the Government, and of two nominees ; but his Excellency expects two more nominees to attend. Sir George Grey's speech is a very able document, it deserves the most careful perusal from ail those who take an interest in the government of this country. It evinces an earnest desire to govern well and wisely. No one can doubt the anxiety of the governor to promote the prosperity of the country under his care to the best of his ability. The point at which we differ is this, that whilst Sir George Grey would legislate for the country by his own influence, exercised personally, or through nominee members of the council, we would see legislation for the country carried on as in England, by a parliament consisting of representatives of the people. The difference is just that between doing one's own business, and having it done for one by somebody else. And the question is not, as is pretended by the government party, merely how soon representative institutions shall be introduced into this colony. It is one as to the very nature and meaning of representative institutions. The imperial parliament will in the course of the present session pass a bill, so we learn officially from the Governor's speech, establishing a General Legislative Council for New Zealand. And that General Council will pass an ordinance establishing Provincial Councils. Sir George Grey has given to the public his idea of what those Provincial Councils should consist of; it is against that idea we argue. We do not think that the colony will have representative institutions at all, in the real sense of the word as it is used in England, if such Provincial Councils are imposed upon its various settlements. Of the various bills about to be discussed in the General Councilnowsitting, we shall \ have to speak in detail hereafter. Of one, that for regulating the pasturage of New Munster, we have already treated, but the most importanf ordinance of all, is that for settling the claims to land purchased under the New Zealand Company. We shall reserve our opinion upon this most important measure, till a future occasion. One remark, however, it is impossible to withhold. ,- The question of these land claims is one affectinga multitude of the mostimportant interests in the colony. The governor himself recognises its extreme difficulty, and earnestly begs the council to give Kirn their expe-

rience, their local experience, upon the details of the measure, which he admits may require modification. All this is wise and good, wise and good if addressed to an assembly, collected from the various settlements of the colony, elected by the people to represent their views, and so reflecting the feeling and opinions of the whole community ; all a mere sham, when addressed to seven members of the government, with whom the Governor may be in daily communication, and by whose assistance the measure was in all probability framed. That one sentence in this interesting speech is the most powerful argument we have yet heard in favour of a complete and real representative government for this colony. That one sentence most completely justifies those who have striven long and earnestly to gain this end.