(From the Lyttelton Times )

Otago Witness, Issue 37, 31 January 1852, Page 4

(From the Lyttelton Times )

The following extract is from a letter from the Duke of Newcastle to Mr. Godley, in which the measures relative to New Zealand are commented upon : —

" You will no doubt receive by the vessel which sails to-morrow (the " Cornwall") a full report of all that has passed in the Houses of Parliament and in Downing-street since your last advices, in relation to the ' New Zealand Settlements Bill,' and the ' Canterbury Association Bill.'

" The latter, though shorn of its money clauses, will, I hope, be found a useful measure.

'* The former is, I hope and believe, now unobjectionable, though how far it will confer any benefit upon the colony I am perhaps hardly qualified to form an opinion. The great object with me and others who take an interest in the prosperity of New Zealand was to prevent the Bill as originally proposed becoming law, — and I think you will concur with us in the opinion, that to have transferred the debt of the New Zealand Compauy from the Land Fund to the General Taxation of the Colony would have involved a principle which strikes at the root of those maxims of Government for which all our colonies are now contending. To deal thus summarily at the close of a session with the revenues of a colony, when the great question of its constitution must come under consideration

as soon as Parliament meets again, appeared to Mr. Gladstone and myself to justify the most determined opposition, but fortunately opposition would, from want of time, have been fatal to the whole bill, and the clauses were thrown over. " On the second reading of the Bill in the House of Lords I urged upon Lord Grey to endeavour at the commencement of next session to settle — not one by one, but at the same time — the three great questions of the Constitution, the Sale of Lands, and the claims of the now extinct New Zealand Company. He made no answer to this appeal to him, — so that I can form no opinion whether he will make the attempt; but I added, that if the Government did not lay bills on the table at the beginning of the session, I should feel it my duty to call the attention of the House to the state of New Zealand — especially in reference to the Constitution. 1 had at one time intended to do so in the session which has just closed, and if the clauses in the bill to which I have adverted had been pressed I must have done so. Looking, however, to the position of the Government here, and their utter inability to command a majority on any qnestion, and the consequent I paral3'sis of all parties, and indeed of all politics, I think I have consulted the permanent interests of the colony best by postponing as long as possible the agitation of this embarrassed and anxious subject."

The " Times," in its remarks upon this subject, says — " The nefarious attempt to saddle our revenues with a debt has failed. For this we have to thank the Duke of Newcastle and Mr. Gladstone; but the danger is not past. Lord Grey only postponed the clauses because it was too late in the Session to carry them through the Houses, against an opposition promised at every stage. The Minister gave way ungracefully, as usual; recording his conviction that the successful opposition had inflicted an injury upon New Zealand. If we do not now speak out, we shall yet be saddled with this debt. A ministry can carry any colonial question it pleases ; and if city influence and political support are to be gained, they will be purchased at the expense of this colony. We have, however, breathing time — time to send I home our steady, unflinching determination, that, come what may, we will never pay this debt.