The Lyttelton Times. SATURDAY, August 9, 1851.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 31, 9 August 1851, Page 5

The Lyttelton Times. SATURDAY, August 9, 1851.

Upon Wednesday next at Lyttelton, and Thursday next at Christchurch, will be held the first public political meetings by fte inhabitants of this settlement. The occasion for this public demonstration is very remarkable. Political meetings in colonies have almost always been called to protest against some crying injustice, or to expose some notorious piece of misgovernment. On the one hand have, mostly, keen arrayed the Government and its servants, on the other, the people and their turned leaders. Not so with us. The meetings which are to take place next week, are called by all the magistrates of this settlement, in consequence of a public announcement by His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief, that he will act in accor-

dance with the wishes of the settlers in the separation of their district into an independent Province. The Colonists have taken as yet no public part in politics: they have most wisely kept themselves to the task of surmounting the difficulties which have to be grappled with by all in a new country. But we do not believe they are ignorant of or indifferent to the management of their public affairs : if they were so, they would be different from all English communities. And upon an occasion like the present, when they are called on by the representative of the Crown to state their opinions, they will no doubt do so with the intelligence and prudence which our countrymen always exhibit in dealing with their own public affairs.

We have of course no knowledge of what line will be taken by the speakers on Wednesday next; and it would be presumption to dictate what they should say ; but we may be allowed to suggest what the public will expect to hear.

The people will require to know what the public at large will gain by the separation of this district from the rest of the province of New Munster. They probably all agree that they ought to have a voice in the taxation of themselves, and in the expenditure of the money which is the produce of that taxation ; but they will expect to be informed in what way the separation of this province will extend to them such privileges.

They will perceive at once that the possession of local powers of government in all local affairs, is an essential to good government ; because no government can be good, which is administered at a distance from the governed ; but they will naturally ask what guarantee they will have, that the erection of their settlement into an independent province will not be made the occasion for the multiplication of sinecure offices, and for an extravagant government expenditure. A letter which we publish in another column, though somewhat strong and crude iii expression, does contain serious questions, which it behoves us all to consider well, before we determine upon what reply to make to His Excellency's appeal to the community. To call for the creation of the province of Canterbury in the gratification of an empty vanity, would be a piece of childish extravagance on the part of a young settlement ; —to demand the real, practical, and permanent control over all their own local affairs, the expenditure of their own funds upon their own objects, the appointment of their own officers to transact their own local business, —this would be a task worthy of sober and prudent men. Let the question as to the separation of Canterbury be submitted to this test, let it be decided by this alone. Not indeed that we should refuse it, if it will not give us at once all we want, and all Aye ought to have, but let us be satisfied that it is a step in the right direction ; and once satisfied of this, let us never rest till we obtain it.

So important to the future destinies of our settlement is this our first political step —the discussion of the first great public question referred to our decision by the Governor of the colony,—that it is hardly necessary for us to point out that it is the duty of every colonist to attend one of

these meetings. No business and no pleasure should interfere with this, the only public duty permitted him to exercise in his adopted country. We lost our franchises when we sailed from England: we exchanged a free constitution, with all its valued rights and cherished privileges, for a despotic government in which we have no share, and over which we have no control. Two rights we still enjoy,—the liberty of the press, and the right of public meeting. These are our means to use—our end the restoration of Constitutional Government.