The Lyttelton Times. August 27, 1853.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 138, 27 August 1853, Page 6

The Lyttelton Times. August 27, 1853.

Our readers will have noticed for some weeks, in our advertising columns, the prospectus of a new journal, about to be established in the settlement. As on a similar

occasion, some fifteen months past, when the Canterbury Guardian was announced,we have much pleasure in- drawing the notice of the public to the Canterbury Standard, and to assure its proprietors that we are prepared to give it a hearty welcome. When the Guardian was announced we expressed doubts, whether the settlement was then sufficiently advariced to afford the luxury of two journals. The result justified those doubts. : The attention of the colonists was then too much taken up with the cares and anxieties attending the foundation of a new settlement, to devote much time to other pursuits than tho^e immediately connected with themselves. No one had time to at-' tend to politics, and there was but slight differences of opinion upon the few subjects of interest which were occasionally, brought under the notice^ of the colonists.1 ;'. We had not so much money jingling in our .pockets. We were, in fact,. but starting into- existence, and not, as now, a firmly established and rapidly progressing settlement.

The case is now materially changed, and we conceive that there is ample room for another journal. We are beginning thoroughly to understand and to have more leasure for the active pursuit of politics. With the granting of representative institutions a! new life was infused into the Province, and all now feel that when they are called upon to express 'opinions', upon the various and important .questions that come before them, these opinions will lead to practical results. But the. constant recurrence of conflicting opinions, in the columns of one journal, can barely be expected to afford such results, for, in order to conduce to them, it must necessarily adopt one uniform line of policy, and advocate certain defined principles. Now this must involve in a great measure the exclusion from its pages of letters of hostile correspondents,-, and an important portion of the community is thus; as 'it Mrerg~,&unrepte&nted;' The natural result follows; of steps being taken to meet the occasion, and under such circumstances the Standard enters the field. We entertain no doubt-that though on many occasions, and on- various topics, our contemporary ' may advocate different views, yet that they will be argued in such a spirit as to conduce to the advantage of the public ; for opposition; conducted m a spirit of moderation, cannot fail to give a healthy tone to politicsj and to exercise a happy influence upon the growing progress' of the settlement. .With these premises "weonce more hail the advent of-another newspaper.

• ays In returning thanks to the electors of Lyttelton for the honor they had conferred in electing him their member to the General Assembly, Mr. Fitzgerald, after, expressing his cordial thanks both to those who had supported him for their exertions and interest, and to those who had opposed him for the kind and friendly spirit in which their opposition had . been- conducted^asserted that the contest which had been just concluded, Ayas not„otte~pf principle between the working-man's friend and the working man's enemy, for his-lopponents had been grossly deceived if they supposed that he was deserving! of the latter appellation. Nor was it a contest between the upholders of cheap land and the advocates of dear land ; for although tfeat cry had been raised, the meaning jof the" result was simply this—that the people desired to enjoy the privilege of fixing thej price of land for themselves. That was the real question at issue in the present cbntesf, for that was the principle upon which he, had '.asked 'for their votes. The only jother question to which he alluded was the objection, which had been raised by Mr. Dampier, thathe (JMr.- Fitzgerald) had been given too miich power : that, having a veto upon; the acts! of-th;e Provincial Coun-

cil, as Superintendant, he had now a second veto upon those acts by his influence in the General Assembly. The answer to that was simple enough. The subjects upon which the General Assembly were about to legislate were not, and ought not to be, the same as those upon which the Provincial Council would have to deliberate ; he would not therefore have the power of expressing an opinion twice on the same subjects, but ■ .simply of expressing opinions in different .characters upon different topics. " Gentlemen," Mr. Fitz Gerald continued—" I have •but one single object in wishing to attend the General Assembly, namely, that I may fully comprehend how this new constitution . is to be worked most efficiently for your benefit; and I am fully persuaded that • when I return from Wellington or Auckland, -.' I/shall; be able to conduct the government of •I 1 this Province with far more efficiency,' for .your interests, than if I had not gone there. ■ I shall most certainly resign my seat as soon as the first session of the General Assembly has come to a close."