The Lyttelton Times. MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1867.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2126, 14 October 1867, Page 2

The Lyttelton Times. MONDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1867.

The Governor's speech at the closing; iot'-.the .session gave ft tolerably fair; Wttwifc'of most of the business-trans;--': acted,; But it was about as unlike the session itself in tone as it is possible to, imagine, . Tire Ministry was throUgliv out undecided-, and the session contradictory, in action,, but the.speech, is clear, distinct, and peremptory,. It is: tin jinihistakeable party maiii fesio,; The references which it contains to tjie Acts . passed in the direction of consolidating, the civil and criminal law, and also to those bearing upon the position of the Natives, are 'such as till must approve of. To condense and simplify our. ali'eady too extensive coda, and to hold out inducements to the Natives to come iu and share the benefits of! settled life, are most praiseworthy objects, But we confess to a fe.el.ing of surprise that hi) monlion whatever has been made of what is really, iu its. immediate operation and its peiv manont character, the piiidpal measure of tbe session. We refer to tbe Bankruptcy Bill, Session after session attempts had beeu made to introduce a satisfactory measure, or at least some needful improvements upon the existing law, But, till now, nothing-which in any sense could be termed satisfactory was the result. We need' riot remind our readers of what is fresh in their recollectiou or experience the many glaring examples which have: called for protection to the unfortunate, and puuishment upon the uiipriuciplea 1 . The Beueli has giveu an unqualified expression of its opinion, and this may more than coosolo us -for the silence of the throiie. But still it is remarkable that au important measure universally called for, and as generally approved, has beeu passed over Unnoticed, It had, however, one faultit was mainly tbe work of members; who sat on the Opposition benches. Tbe plan of raising the value of our Provincial securities, aud then purchasing them at the highest price, is commended iu the speech as peculiarly calculated to maintain the credit and character of the colony. This caunot: be gainsaid. The character of a good fat pigeon is always admired by those who pluck it. After a reference to the advantages secured by the Public lieveuues Bill, the speech goes on to inform us that the large sum of money grauted to the Northern provinces in remission of their debts was necessary iu order to allay their irritated feelings, and to preserve the unity of the colony. Some of those who are opponents of insular separation and friends to centralisation will wince under this plain speaking. It shews how, and by what means, centralism is to prevail, and what ultimate advantages may be derived from irritated feelings. It is to be hoped that these feelings will not grow on what they feed. The defeated Local Government Bill comes in for a share of indirect praise, and -uu.disgu.ised' satisfaction is expressed at the triumph over Provincialism iii the cases of Westlarid and Titnaru. The Municipalities Act deserves the praise it gets, and, along with some other measures such as the lire Prevention, Coroners, Du'tie;-', and Medical Practitioners Acts, will help, to substitute harmonious legislation for the frequently conflicting enactments of different provinces. The speech concludes with the expresiion of a confident expectation that before tbe next Session of Assembly shall be held, a fresh tide of prosperity will set in, and " these favoured "islands will have entered on a career ;" of permanent •'.progress' which inters " nal troubles will not again iriter"rupfc." It is noteworthy that the anxiety to give prominence to certain party measures lias led to the omission of even the slightest reference to the dispute with the Home Government and the claims agaiust it for the.expenses of the war—which we hope will be made good—of to the expected visit of a Prince of the Royal Family, a spa of the .good'-'Queen Victoria, Altogether, the speech is a hastily constructed, ill-advised, party manifesto—to be pardoned; both for what it contains arid what it omits, were it only a party document—but unworthy of the occasion or of the colony.