THE Wellington Independent Tuesday, August 19, 1862. "THE WEEK OF WEEKS"

Wellington Independent, Volume XVII, Issue 1755, 19 August 1862, Page 2

THE Wellington Independent Tuesday, August 19, 1862. "THE WEEK OF WEEKS"

There is a full and varied order-paper for to-day. First we have the resolutions of the Ministry on the question of responsibility ; then we have the consideration of the finaucial statement delivered last Friday ; next the second reading of the Bill introduced yesterday " to remove the restrictions which now exist upon the sale and occupation of Native lands ;" and finally the resumption of the debate on tbe Superintendents Nomination Bill.

How much of this large amount of work the House will dispose of, may be gathered from tbe anticipation that the 'responsible resolutions' wilj alone take more than a day in the discussion. Already two days have been devoted to the consideration of one phase of the subject, the phase introduced by the Fox Ministry ; and it is not unreasonable to suppose that something like the same amount of consideration will be extended towards tbe phase now introduced by Mr. Domett. It might be supposed that as members had already said their say, the discussion would not be a prolonged one ; but the Duke of Newcastle's despatches invest the question with fresh interest, and as there wil 1 this time be no meeting the Ministerial resolutions by a mere negation, no dodging the arrival at a positive conclusion by again moving the previous question, we may be sure there will be the fullest debate before a decision — either way so important in its results. What will be the precise attitude the debate will assume we cannot of course be supposed to know ; but that the debate will be thorough may be safely assumed from the fact of Mr. FitzGerald having given notice, yesterday, of no less than twenty resolutions in reference to the Duke's despatches.

The Budget, the Native Lands Bill, and tbe Superintendents Nomination Bill will have to stand over ; but as on the two former ol these Ministers will probably stand or fall, it will readily be seen that they have a most intricate piece of navigation befoie them. If they steer clear of the responsibility question, they will still have to keep their weather eye open, or they will dash their ship to pieces against some of the rocks that lie so numerously in their channel ; not tbe least of which is the proposition to des-

troy the land revenue of the provinces ia this Island by throwing open Native land for sale to any one — a proposition which, at the first blush, seems calculated not only to destroy tbe land revenue of those provinces, but also to inflict a very powerful cheok to their progress.

The proposed legislation of the next ' few days, is perhaps the most important that bas ever been introduced into tbis Colony. The question of responsibility in Native affairs, — i.c: shall the Colonists govern the Natives, or shall they continue to be governed by the Home Government — will have to be con. clusively settled for a period of several years Tbe throwing open of native lands to private purchasers, if decided in .the affirmative, must inevitably affect the future most seriously— if only by drying up a most important source of revenue. The imposition of a million to our present loan, to be p.iid for solely out of the customs revenue of this Island, is a proposition wbich cannot fail to make us tremble for the consequences, since there cannot possibly be any guarantee that the immigrants, when introduced, will choose to remain, on the frontiers oi the disturbed districts, in preference to trying their luck iv the gold districts or taking themselves off elsewhere, as so many have done before them. There is yet another important subject of legislation for this week — not the Superintendents Nomination Bill, for that does not trouble us, as it willbe sure io be negatived — but that whioh relates to the seat of government. We have noticed this subject separately; meanwhile we have said enough to show that this week is fraught with tremendous consequences, aud that in the discussion of its many grave questions, there is need that the calmest deliberation should be brought to bear.