A.—3a,

76

expression of opinion on the form of Government desirable to be recommeuded to the consideration of Her Majesty's Ministers, your Lordship will be aware from the receipt of an address forwarded to your Lordship from Nelson on the Bth November last, that the inhabitants of this settlement, on learning that the Bill alluded to above was in contemplation by Her Majesty's Government, determined to hold a general public meeting for the purpose of affording to all classes of the community an opportunity of recording their opinions on a subject, to them, of such vital importance. And they were the more encouraged to do so from having observed in the reports of the debates on the Australian Colonies Government Bill the very frequent expression of a desire on the part of your Lordship and other members of the Ministry to become acquainted with the wishes of the colonists before passing the Bill by which they were to be governed. A general public meeting, to be held in the courthouse of the Town of Nelson, was accordingly called for the 27th instant; but, as on an occasion of such great and lasting moment to all it was imperatively required that every facility should be given for the calm consideration of the principles to be contained in the resolutions which might be adopted at that general meeting, various meetings of the public were previously held in the rural districts and in the Town of Nelson, at which these principles, which have been adopted by the final meetiug, and which are embodied in the accompanying resolutions of that meeting, were submitted seriatim to the inhabitants of each separate district, having previously been published in the local newspaper. The proceedings at these several meetings, equally with the features which characterised the final one of the 27th instant, deserve to be particularly noticed. They were attended, with scarcely an exception, by every male adult residing in the district where each was held, comprising magistrates, clergymen of different persuasions, and individuals of every class, profession, and pursuit, most of whom took a part in the discussions and in the voting by which the successive resolutions were carried. At all of these meetings the most earnest attention was afforded to the subjects discussed, none of which were hastily disposed of, but were in turn subjected to the most acute criticism, in which their present and future influence on the circumstances of the colony was considered in all its bearing. The intelligence and grave reflection displayed on these occasions ; the temperate tone of language, and the in every respect decorous conduct of all present were in themselves most convincing proof's, if such were wanting, of the fitness of the inhabitants of Nelson to enjoy in its most uncontrolled form the power they so eagerly seek to obtain of governing themselves. The final meeting, held in Nelson, by which we have been deputed to address your Lordship, was attended by a larger number of the inhabitants of the settlement generally thau had ever before been assembled in Nelson for any public purpose, deeply impressed with a belief of the magnitude and lasting importance of the subject they had met to record their decisions upon, and with a full knowledge of the responsibility which would attach to these decisions. A.t this meeting, which lasted from noon until an hour after midnight, the same principles which had been discussed at the previous meetings were adopted either unanimously or by large majorities, the only resolution which encountered any considerable amount of opposition being that in favour of voting by ballot. With respect to all the other resolutions, so great an amount of unanimity was shown as most justly entitles them to be considered as representing the deliberate sentiments of the inhabitants of this settlement, although, as a matter of course, there were, as there ever will be in any community, some dissentients to some of them. While, therefore, we believe that the most perfect means were taken to arrive at the opinions of all, we are equally convinced that to no other principles of Government as a whole would such a very general assent have been afforded. Tour Lordship will perceive that the first of these resolutions recommends that there should be one general Legislature for the whole colony, composed of two Houses, both elective, in both of which certain members of the Executive would have an ex officio seat, which seat, together with their office, they would vacate on the passing of a vote of want of confidence by two-thirds of the members of both Houses. It is also suggested that this general Legislature be styled the Parliament of New Zealand. The reasons which appear to recommend that, as a general principle, the Legislature of a British colony should consist of two Chambers are so obvious and must be so familiar to your Lordship that it will be incumbent upon us to notice this question but very briefly. We believe that it is universally admitted that where one Chamber only exists there will be, during periods of excitement, a tendency towards impulsive and hasty legislation, which is still more likely to occur where the Legislative Assembly, as must for some time be the case in New Zealand, is composed of but a small number of members, over whom occasionally one individual may exercise such a predominating influence as in effect to counteract many of the advantages which ought to arise from a representation of the views of the several constituencies. Where, however, it is required that any Act of one Chamber should be assented to by another, that jealousy of external dictation which is universally found to exist between separate bodies of men would effectually cause every measure to be well sifted before it was confirmed by the second House; new arguments would be brought to bear upon the question, which would be considered from a different point of view by those who were asked to agree to it from that which would attend it where it was originated. It may be thought that materials for two Houses do not as yet exist in so young a colony; but we believe that where materials exist for one House they are equally present for two; for it is necessary for us to represent to your Lordship that the advocates of two Houses do not desire that the Upper one should be an hereditary House or that the members should be elected for life. A future resolution points out what might he required as a qualification for the members of this House; and, whether this qualification is adopted or not, we are inclined to hope that the principle recommended may not be lost sight of, especially as we have observed that it is insisted upon in the Report of the Lords Commissioners of Council for Trade and Plantations, dated the 4th April, 1849, as being a most desirable element in the constitution of government for a colony ; and further, that Her Majesty's present Ministry, in the debates on the Australian Colonies Government Bill during the session of Parliament just passed, have frequently expressed a belief that it was the best form of Legislature, which they stated they were only prevented from establishing in the new Constitution for the Australian Colonies out of deference to the supposed wishes of the inhabitants of