POLITICAL—GENERAL.

Southland Times, Issue 1049, 2 November 1868, Page 5

POLITICAL— GENERAL.

j The native rebellion is the chief news of importance since our last Summary. The Chatham Island prisoners have been joined by numerous rebels from the discontented tribes. Several encounters between the colonial forces and the rebel Maories have taken place, and we regret to have to state that in almost every instance has resulted with greater loss on our side than on that of the enemy. Several of the most skilled officers in our ranks have been shot down, and what is more melancholy and humiliating is the fact that the bodies of our poor fellows were in more than one instance left on the field of battle, our defeat being so complete that all efforts to bring them into camp for burial failed. It is feared that they were mutilated and used for food by the rebel natives. The defence department is at present in a very disorganised condition, and it is beginning to be generally felt that j as all the seeds of the rebellion were sown by Imperial mis-government qnd fostered by Imperial interference the British G-overnment should now give the colony aid adequate to crush it "out quick and decisive. We want Sir Charles Napier with one or two thousand of his Indian warriors, and with such aid, j we doubt not the rebellion could be finally terminated in a few months. The Imperial G-overnment is, in justice, bound to grant this aid, or consent to the Separation of the two islands, taking over the North Island, and governing it as a crown settlement. The session of the General Assembly which came to an end on Tuesday, the 20th October', although an important one, cannot be deemed by any ;neans satisfactory. The Stapeobd Ministry have failed to fulfil the pledges made at a previous session to produce a full and fair policy of Retrenchment and Constitutional Eeform, and the position of the Provincial Governments, as regards their relationship to the G-eneral G-overnment, remains very mmch in the same state of uncertainty as it did previous to the assembling of Parliament on the 9th July. Thus nearly four months have been occupied in little more than party strife and recrimination. The advent of Mr Fox as the leader of the Opposition was looked upon by the Provincial party as calculated to bring the reform question to a head, but they experienced signal disappointment. Mr 3?ox gravely mistook his mission, and greviously blundered in the task entrusted to him. He has succeeded in procastinating the Eeform urgently required, and uselessly extended the length of the session, without initiating any defined policy or introducing a single measure of public utility. It is not therefore matter for surprise, notwithstanding the complete organisation of the Provincial party, that the Staffobd Ministry should have retained its ground, -and even improved its position towards the end of the session. The address presented by the Speaker was tame and uninteresting. It sets forth that the result of the session is " the addition to the Statute Book of eighty-one public acts." In the number of acts passed, the late session has been more prolific than any of its predecessors, but

in quality far ; inferior. In looking over the list of bills passed we can scarcely find one of any public importance, a large majority being simply to slightly amend existing ordinances framed for provincial use. Not one of the important measures expected to become law, such as the consolidation of the Constabulary force, the harmonising of the fragmentary laws now in operation in the various provinces, by the introduction of one code of enactments for the whole of the colony, has been passed. "We cannot accept the announcement that, " the addition to the Statute Book of eighty-one public acts" is evidence of wisdom. It is not tinkering with crude and ill constructed provincial ordinances which is required by the country, but broad and wise Colonial legislation. The prorogation speech of His Excellency Sir G-eobge Bowen is essentially of the stereotyped character of viceregal addresses; still there are one or two sentences of public import. He speaks hopefully of the Imperial and colonial forces in the colony, and friendly natives, being effective in shortening the duration of the native rebellion. The chief point of the address, however, is contained in the following paragraph: — "The numerous petitions from inhabitants of outlying districts of the colony which have been addressed to the General Assembly during the present session, praying, in one form or other, for increased power in matters of local concern, indicate the existence of a wide-spread feeling of dissatisfaction with the working of existing local institutions, and leaveno doubt of tb.3 necessity for an improved system of local government as the most effective means of removing discontent and disunion amongst important sections of the population, and of preserving the unity of New Zealand." This is evidence that the Ministry are determined, during the recess, to perfect a policy of retrenchment, reform, and union. Mr Staffobd has heavy work before him, and many difficulties to surmount ere the Assembly again meets. The retirement of Mr Hall from active service is much to be regretted, and will be a serious blow to Mr Stafford. Mr Hall has proved himself an able debater, a persevering worker, and a consistent politician, and his abandonment of office at the present time is a public misfortune*. Mr Staffobd has pledged himself to meet Parliament with a definite policy for such reforms in the constitution as will conduce to the unity and general prosperity of the colony. It is fervently to be hoped he may be more successful than he has been yet in destroying the noxious weed of Provincialism, and building up a system purely colonial, while giving equity and justice to all parts and classes of the colony. The General Assembly, after a somewhat protracted and unprofitable session, waa prorogued by his Excellency the Governor, on Tuesday, the 20th October. The following is a summary of the business got through : — From a Parliamentary paper we find that during the last session the House met sixty-two times, and sat 466 hours,. 29 sittings being after midnight. On ao occasion has the House had to adjourn for ■want of a quorum. There were 284 Notices of Motion given, 109 papers laid on the table by command of His Excellency, and 52 returns on various subjects asked for. There were also 132 reports from select committees. The following are the acts which have been passed and assented to, viz. :— Mete Kingi Paetah Election, Imprest Supply (No. 1) Interest on Money, Pawnbrokers, Treason-Falony, Public Houses, Bishop of New Zealand Trusts, Bridges and Ferries, Trignometrical Stations and Survey Marks, Bills of Sale, Mortgages of Stock Registration, Provincial Audit Act Amendment, Westland Representation Amendment, Nelson and Cobden Eailway, Imprest Supply (No. 2), Lunatics, Printers and Newspapers Registration, John Jones' Land Claims Act Amendment, Petty Sessions, Offences against the Person Act Amendment, Canterbury Rivers, Marriage Act Amendment, Registration of Electors Act Amendment, Escheat, Distress and Replevin, Goldfields, Companies, Conveyancing Charges, Provincial Appropriation Validation, "Weights and Measures, Provincial Lawsuits Act Amendment, Ngaitahu Reference Validation, New Zealand Post Office Act Amendment, Customs Regulation Act Amendment, Tauranga District Lands, Colonial Forces Courts-Martial, County of "Westland, Treasury Bills Regulation, Provincial Acts Validation Act Continuance, public Revenues, Bankruptcy Act Amendment, Public Domains Acts Extension, Public Debts Sinking Funds, Protection of Animals Act Amendment^ Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Amendment, Otago Surveys Correction, Resident Magistrates, Russell Military Grant, Law Amendment, Gold Mining Claims Drainage, Hawke's Bay Land Regulations Extension, University Endowment, Distillation, Municipal Corporations Amendment, Immigration, Courts of Law Trust Moneys, Green and Spencer Land Claims, Deeds Registration, Constabulary Force Ordinance Amendment, Indemnity, Consolidated Loan Provincial Charges, "Wellington and Hawke's Bay Public Debt Apportionment, "Westland Public 1 House Ordinance Act Amendment, Canterbury and Westland Public Debt Apportion-

meht, Native Lands Act Amendment, Treasury Bills, Groldfields Act Amendment, Otago Roads Ordinance, Amendment Ordinance "Validation, Electric Telegraph Eeserves Kelease, Confiscated Lands Eevenue Appropriation, JuriesWilliamson Compensation, Hawke's Bay and Marlborough Eivers, Otaga Education Eeserves Abandonment, Miners' Eepresentation Act Amendment, Otago Road Boards Endowment, Marlborough Eeserve Leasing, Government House Site, Interpretation, Native Lands (East Coast), Appropriation.