The Taranaki Herald.

Taranaki Herald, Volume 1, Issue 36, 6 April 1853, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald.

NEW PLYMOUTH, APRIL 6, 1858.

The Wellington Overland Mail brought our files of the Spectator and the Independent to the 19th ult. They contain two very important and lengthy proclamations One settling the electoral districts of the several provinces and the number of members to be returned by each district to tbe General Assembly and the Provincial Councils ; together with full instructions and regulations for taking a new registration, and generally for conducting' the elections. The other proclamation brings into operation the new Land sales regulations. The substance of the first of these proclamations as far as relates to this settlement may le briefly stated as follows. The Province of New Plymouth is divided into three electoral districts j Ist. The Town of New Plymouth, 2nd. The Grey and Be 1 districts which include the Waiwnkaio, 3rd. The Omata district which includes Tataraimaka. The Ist of these disti lets is to return one member to the General Assembly, and twomembers to the Provincial Coun • cil ; the 2nd, one member to the General Assembly, and four members to the Provincial. Council ; the 3rd, one member to the GtuenJ Aa*embly, and three members to

the Provincial Council. A new registration of the voters is to take place immediately and all claims to vote must be made between the 15th of the present 'month and the 15th of May. The new ' Land Sales Proclraation is a very 'important document, and in its operation cannot fail to have a wholesome influence on the colony. Nevertheless some opposition , to it is spoken of at Wellington, what shape it wiU'tuke docs not at present appear to be understood ; at one time a protest is spoken of, at another legal pioceedings. The .Spectator characterises the movement as originating in a desire to sustain and perpetuate jobbing and monopoly in laud, but, private advices lead us to believe that the objections of the dissenting parties are principally to the C/iTecling of large sales of lands before the General Assembly contemplated by the new Constitution is in operation, to which authority, as the more constitutional, they consider it might have been discreetly left to inaugurate these new regulations ; and that there has been a suspicious haste about the whole proceeding which betokens some -covert object 'to be obtained; and this is -further made colourable by an advertisement from the Crown Commissioner giving notice that printed forms of application under the provisions of the proclamation may be obtained on and after the 21st ult. Whatever may be the object of the Government in taking the initiate 'in (his matter the ultimate operation of the measure cannot fail of being beneficial, and it will be very shortly in the power of the representatives .of the people to modify it if deemed necessary. For tbe present week we are obliged to postpone further consideration of these documents. We copy from the Spectator of the 9th ultimo, a paragraph calculated to imprest us with the idea theft, the representations of the settlers heie have not been altogether unavailing, and that active measures arc in progress to relieve us ftom some of the disadvantages under which the settlement has long laboured. In concluding a statement of large purchases of lands made in other piovinces, out contemporary says : "We have also noticed lately several meetings at tbe Government Offices, which we believe have had reference chiefly to negociations for the purchase of a considerable tiact of I -i dat Taranaki." The Indcjtnidi nt of the Ifith ult., has the following: — " On Thursday Inst His Excellency Sir George Gre< proceeded on an overland journey to Auckland, by way of Ahuriri and the East (.oast. Mis Excellency was to have srarted a week previously in company with Bishop Selnyn, but was detained in consequence of the -inclemency of/the weather. They were, however, to meet and proceed on their journey to the North together." In our shipping intel'igence we mention the arrival of the Minerva at Wellington — This vessel is one of Messrs. Money Wigram and Sons vessels, and is the first sent out by them under the arrangements by which they have connected themselves with emigration from Eng'and to this colony. — The New Zealand Settlements cannot fail to derive the greatest benefit from the exertions of el influential a shipping firm in promoting emigration, while the comfort of Emigrants will be effectually secured in obtaining passages in such a well appointed class of firstrate vessels as that to which the Minerva belong*. ' ~

The overland mail from Auckland brings our files to the 19th inst. They contain English news to the 24th of November. The Duke's funeral had taken place -on the 16th of November, and was attended by a million and half of people. The present arrivals give also some additions to our parliamentary intelligence, of which the substance of Mr. Viiliers's motion is the most important, being undeistood as aiming a blow at the existence of the Derby cabinet. The terms of the motion were as follows :— " That it is the opinion of this House that the improved condition of the country, and particularly of the industrious classes, is mainly the result of recent com* meicial legislation, and especally of the act of 1846 which established the free admission of foreign corn ; and that that act was a wise, just, and beneficial measure. That it is the opinion of this House that the maintenance of free trade, as opposed to that of protection, will best enable the property and industry of the nation to bear the burdens to which they are exposed, and will most contribute to the general prosperity, welfare, and contentment of the people."

11 That fhe House will be ready to take into its consideration any measures consistent with the principles of this resolution which may be laid before It by Her Majes* 'ty's Ministers."

An amendment of these resolutions had been eritered on the books of the House by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the following effect : —

" That this 'House ai knowledges with satisfaction that the cheapness of provisions, occasioned by recent legislation, has mainly contributed to improve the condilT^l^and inctease tlie comforts of the working'classes; and that unrestricted competition having been adopted, after due deliberation, as the principle of our commercial system, this House is of opinion that it is the duty of the Government unreservedly to adhere to that policy in those measures of financial and administrative reform which, under the circumstances of the country they may deem it tlieir duty to introduce."

'Observing upon these documents the Times says': — " Pompey is so like Caesar and Cesar so like Pompey, the only question is which is the more like of the two :" and "if the debate was really to go into the respective merits of the two compositions it would be rather a philological than a political controversy," It was well understood, however, that a difference does exist, and that the latter' contains an implied reference to an intended compensation to the agriculturists for their losses by the repeal oT protective duties; in other words, the introduction by a side wind of some measure of class-legislation which, if it do not go far to neutralize the principles of free trade might accomplish such a breach in the outworks as would render it more vulnerable to the sap by which it was hoped ultimately to destroy it. There was to be a call of the House on the 22nd of November, when the question was to come on, and it was confidently asserted that ministers would resign if Mr. Villiers's motion was carried.

We have also the further intelligence that Committees had been reappointed on Indian affairs, the treatment of criminal and destititute juveniles, and other matters ; but we can find no reference to Sir Wm. Molesworth's promised motion for a committee to inquire into the. misdeeds of the New Zealand Company. Shottly before the meeting of Parliament, however, the Times had doDe good service by devoting a leading article to an unflinching renew of the * fraud*

of the Company, and a warning to Sir John Pakington that, " the thing cannot be hushed up ; the colony will be heard on its own behalf : he may mix himself up with the misconduct of Lord Grey as Lord Grey did with that of the New Zealand Company : he cannot save them from exposure, but be may if he will share it with them." Bu t we (with the Times) " sincerely trust that better councils will prevail.