General Assembly of New Zealand.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 6, 25 November 1863, Page 3

General Assembly of New Zealand.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, 2JiTH Nov. The Speaker took the chair at 2 o'clock. The lion. E. Leslie Leo gave uotiee of his intention to move on Friday next, that the following address be presented lo liis Excellency the Governor : — " We, the Legislative Council of New Zealand, in Parliament assembled, desire respectfully to c-xprcss to Tour Excellency our strong conviction that the time has arrived when it has become imperatively necessary, for the good government of tho whole colony, and for the maintenance of its unity, that the permanent position of the scut of Government should now be finaly settled. "We are. of opinion that the just claims and varied necessities of all parts of tlic colony require that the scat oi (Srovernment should be placed in a central position, that is to say, somewhere near the shores of Cook's Straits.

" "We desire that the actual site of the capital should be submitted lo some independent, tribunal, by which the interests of the whole colony muv be impartially considered, apart from those local claims which are sure to be asserted by the several settlements of Cook's Straits in the discussion of a question so important to their respective interests. Such a tribunal would, in our opinion, be best formed by eommissioncrs having no interest in or relations with any part of the colony, and whose liigli social and intellectual standing would guarantee a full enquiry aud an impartial decision, founded solely upon a consideration of the advantages which the different sites in Cook's Straits present for the administration of the Government of the whole colony. " We venture to think that the Governors of the neighbouring colonics would, if moved thereto by your Excellency, readily lend tlieir aid in the selection of such commissioners. We therefore respectfully pray that your Excellency will be pleased to request tlieir Excellencies the Governors of New South Wales, Victoria, mid of Tasmania, each to appoint one commissioner of the character and for the purpose herein referred to, and that your Excellency will be pleased to submit to the consideration of the commissioners so appointed the question as to the best site for the seat of Government within Cook's Straits.

" We further pray that, immediately upon receiving the report of the commissioners so appointed, your Excellency will be pleased to cause the necessary steps to be taken for procuring the site recommended by them, and for erecting the buildings required for the residence of the Governor, the officers of (Government, and the meeting of the Genera 1 . Assembly. " Impressed with the conviction that continued delay in the settlement of this question will only tend to keep alive those feelings of rivalry and jealousy between different parts of the colony, which seriously impede the action of responsible government, and which threaten at no distant period the dismemberment of the colony, wo respectfully, but earnestly, pray that your Excellency will cause no time to be lost in carrying into effect- the measures now submitted."

The Hon. W. Swainson recommended that the | Council should agree to the amendment of Clause 1 of the 'Religions, Charitable, and Educational Trusts Act, Amendment Bill, as amended by the House of Representatives , which was agreed to accordingly. The Auckland 'Reserves Bill was read the first time, as was also the Wellington Patent Slip Bill, and Thursday next fixed for its second reading.' Kelson College Power of Salo Trust Lands Bill, after having been considered in committee of.whole House, where, on the motion of the hon. W. Swainson, the preamble was struck out and a new one substituted, and amendments effected in Clauses 2 and 3, was read a third time and passed. The lion. F. Whitaker, on moving the second reading of the Commencement of Acts Repeal Bill, spoke as to the impropriety of three months being the fixed time for the coming into operation of all bills, and remarked that it would be better for a clause to be inserted iu bills brought before the house, defining the period of their operation. On the motion of the Hon. F. Whittakcr, the order the day No. 6 was postponed until Thursday next, in order that the house may adjourn, and hon. members havo the opportunity of attending the funeral of the lamented officers who fell at Rangariri. The house adjuourned accordingly at three o'clock.