The Invercargill Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1863.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 4, 17 November 1863, Page 2

The Invercargill Times. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1863.

The ministerial crisis is over, and a new Cabinet has been formed. Mr Whitaker, as Premier and Attorney-General will represent the Government in the Legislative Council, and thus settle the little difficulty in that quarter. Mr" Fox, a 9 Colonial Secretary jind Minister for Native Affairs, will have full sway in the Lower House. Mr Reader Wood and Mr Thomas Russell both retain their portfolios, and Mr T. B. Gillies will keep warm the office of PostmasterGeneral until the return of Mr Crosbie Ward from England. What party does this Ministry represent ? None. Here we have Mr Fox, the John Bright of New Zealand, sitting in thes meGabinet with Messrs Whitaker and Russell — who, compared with him, are fire-eaters. As to Mr Reader Wood, he has served uuder Mr Fox before, is a good man for his office, and enjoys the general confidence of the colony. The fact is, no party question has had anything to do with the Ministerial change. The policy the Government and country must now follow, as far as the important question of the day — Native affairs — is considered is too obvious for political partis. s to dispute about. There may be a few agents of the ultra-pcice party i-i the House, but they are too few, and their influence too small to enable them to affect a Ministerial crisis. We may accept the coalition of which the new Ministry is composed, as a favorable omen of the unanimity concerning the war policy enunciated in His Excellency's opening address. 'lhe new Ministry will most probably adopt, with scarce any alteration, the Bills in connection with the war, prepared by the j late Government. We care little of whom the Government is composed, provided a vigorous policy is adopted aud carried out. The old land marks of parties are all or nearly all broken down. The Waitara has been disposed of, and it will be no longer a political watchword, although the mode aud nature of such dispoisal will no doubt give birth to much eloqu. me. But the Waitara question, as a qu ;stion, is gohe. The war has assumed such limits that all the disputes of former time have become merged into one grand struggle, a struggle in which we

must not only come off victorious, but conquer speedily and effectually. The Government that shows itself Competent to wield the sceptre of authority firmly and unflinchingly will receive the hearty support of the colony. But there must he no truckling — no hesitation. With the Government will, -in a great measure, rest the decision, on what terms the submission of the rebels will be received. That submission must be complete and final, and the colony must not rest until, by bold and comprehensive measures, the mischevious powers of the Natives are reduced to a minimum. We may here glance at the Bill prepared by the late, and which will doubtless be adopted by the present Government, for the suppression of the rebellion. This Bill proposes to empower the Governor, during the continuance of the rebellion, to issue his orders to persons duly authorised to take such vigorous and effectual measures for its suppression as may appear necessary for the public safety, and for the protection of the lives and property of loyal subjects, to punish all persons aiding or abetting in any manner the rebellion, according to martial law, either by death, penal servitude, or otherwise. All persons engaged or concerned in the rebellion may be arrested and detained and brought to trial in a summary manner by courts martial. Nothing done under the authority of this Act shall be questioned by the Supreme Court, and a declaration under the hand of the Governor shall be deemed sufficient indemnity for anything done in conformity with orders under the Act, Should any person under arrest sue out a writ of Habeas Corpus, it will be a sufficient return to the writ that the Governor notify in writing that the person is in custody under a warrantbyvirtueofthe Act. The Military Settlement Bill is another measure bearing on the suppression of the rebellion. This Act is to enable the Governor to set apart any land for the purposes of Military Settlements, for which no Crown Grant or certificate of title under the Native Lands, 1862, shall have issued. All such land shall be declared Waste Land of the Crown, and all titles or claims other than those just specified, will be discharged. Compensation, however, will be given to all claimants who have an interest in the land, with the exception of those who have in any way taken part in the rebellion. The claims for which such compensation will be given are to be decided by a Court constituted for the purpose. The lands acquired under the Act, will be laid out, and let, sold, or otherwise disposed of, and the proceeds applied to various purposes, and in defraying the cost of the war. These two Acts really embrace all that legislation can effect towards the suppression of the rebellion, and it is very probable they will, with trifling alterations and amendments, be passed by he House. It will then remain for the Government to carry them out with the spirit of unflinching promptitude aud determination absolutely necessary to their success.