SYDNEY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 236, 3 February 1855, Page 5

SYDNEY.

Prorogation of the Session.—Saturday last closed the twelfth legislative session in this colony since the introduction of the elective principle into the constitution of the Council. If we are not mistaken it was the longest of them all, having occupied niuety-six clays. We cannot add that it was proportionately industrious, or that its fruits have added much to the importance of our statute book. Perhaps the most notable feature of the session, as compared with its eleven predecessors, was the paucity and tameness of iis debates. This may have been the more, striking from the fact that the session of last year, being the one in which our New Constitution formed the grand and all exciting theme, was pre-emi-nently distinguished for the length, the elaborateness, and the ability of its discussions. And it so happens that the present year has been singularly deficient in topics calculated to draw honorable members out, still less to call forth earnest and laboriously prepared speeches. It by no means follows, however, that the absence of long speeches is a thing to be lamented for its own sake, or that their presence is necessarily a subject of gratulation. On the contrary, we consider that senatorial loquacity is one of the crying evils of the day, both ' in Great Britain and in the United States, and in not a few of Great Britain's colonies. The House of Commons has long been notorious for its sins in this respect. The precious time that is there sacrificed in the unnecessary multiplication of speeches and protraction of debates,fto the serious prejudice of the real business of the empire, is with, sober and reflecting men a subject of deep regret. We could wish that the Legislative Assembly of our own colony should regard this practice as a warning rather than an example. We believe it will he generally admitted that the most important of all the measures adopted during the late Session,, is the enactment which devolves upon the Executive the future conduct and control of colonial railways. But this measure had the narrowest possible escape from being an ineffaceable blot upon the reputation of the colony. At the eleventh hour of the session, and with breathless precipitancy, the Council were in the act of violating one of the most sacred principles of legislation—thejprinciplc which respects the rights of property, and never allows them to be touched by ihe strong arm of power but when there is an invincible necessity for there being so, and not even then but on terms of equitable treaty and fairly assessed compensation. In this instance, much as we approve of the general principle of leaving railways to the management of the Government, we do not see that any invincible necessity could be pleaded. And yet certain honorable members were for seizing upon the private property of two established companies ac once, without giving its holders an opportunity of saying whether they were or weve not willing topait [with it—without providing any mode of ascertaining what would be a fair equivalent for their lnss,>iind forcing them to surrender on terms dictated by the arbitrary will of the Legislature ! Had this measure passed into a law, cot o:-y

would tiifj colony have been dishonoured, but our credit in the money market would have been destroyed outright. Most fortunate it was dint we were saved from this calamity, albeit by the skin of our teeth. Another proof, and a vury strong one, of the necessity fur a Second Cii.'imiicr. This session is the eighth and last prorogued by Sir Charles Fitz Roy. Of the administration which has thus drawn so near to a close, we shall have to take a comprehensive survey at another opportunity. But we cannot forbear remarking here that the harmony which has on the whole subsisted between His Excellency and the""Legislative Council may be regarded as a strong presumptive proof that he has studied well, and to good purpose, the art of governing in accordance with the general feeling of the House.