The Express.
London, England, 1848-02-10 00:00:00

-
g.Y/‘A/

through the landaus of a castractor, to whom 3,0001. wee
owing. Ltrd Farnham was chairman of that tialai, The
union was a wealthy one, but mane oldie guardians had net
paid their own rates. A case occurred in that union ern very
striking character. A poor woman named M'Evey, with
her children, had been turned out of the outset in &state of
convalescence. She resorted to a hut in a neighbouring
erocd, and there on the 23d of October one of her children
died. The ooroner'a jury reported that the child died of
starvation, and they added to the verdict a warning to the
guardians that, unless relief was afforded, the rest of the
family would die of starvation also. This resolution
was sent up to the poor law commissioners, and by
them referred to the board of guardians with iii-
enaction& to inquire. But would the house believe
it t— on the 23rd of November the poor woman lied
also in the NAM hut, nothing having been done by the
guardians for any member of the family. Was the law k
be considered a reality or a nudity ? He begged en
answer to that question. Ile knew it would be raid that
allowances must be made for the present state of Ireland,
for the circuordancsa of the landowners, and the ditticultiee
of administering a new law. Well, but did they make etch
allowances in the ease of poor persons, of whom there were
numbers in their prisons, charged with stealing turnips, and
with other minor offences, caused by their desperate condi-
tion. He had called upon them to supplement this law to
measures of relief. They had not done that, and he thought
they were wrong • but into that question he would nut go,
but, seeing the indisposition of the house to listen to him,
would conclude at once by putting his question.
Sir W. SOSIRRVILLE complained of the great in-
justice done to the house by the hon. member in charging
them with disinclination to attend to the sufferings of Ire-
land. (Hear, hear.) He did complain also that the hat.
gentleman hod greatly underrated the difficulties with which
they had had to contend. One system had been suddenly put
an end to, and another, with a machinery much more com-
plicated, had been ea suddenly introduced. It was difficult, nay
be would say it was impossible, suddenly to make that ma-
chinery perfect for the administration of relief to a distress
,so intense and so general. With respect to the question
i the hon. member had put to him, he W only to refer him
to the sequel of the correepondezoe from a part of which
he had quoted. He would there find that the commissioners
in the case of the Balling twice, for instance, had dissolve,
the board and appointed paid guardians, with instructions to
press on the oolleedon of the rates with every peseible speed.
It was quite true, as the hon. member had said, that the
size of the unions had, in every case, operated against the
well working of the system. In no cue had that circum-
stance operated more prejudicially than in the union of Sal-
tine. But the commissioners bad endeavoured to remedy this.
They had divided Ennis into a separate union, and they were
about to make a farther division. He was glad to say that this
measure had been productive of good results. He was also
glad to say that the rates there were in course of better col-
lection since the paid board was appointed, and he could as-
sure the house that everything in the power of the govern-
ment was being done to collect the rates and mitigate the
pressure of distress in this barony. He might say the same
of the barony of Carrick-upon-Shannon. The met of Cavan
was somewhat different. His hon. friend had net stated
that in that Calla eny relieving officer of the union had de-
nied relief to say poor perso.i, who had died in consequence.
That allegation was not rnsde, nor did be think such a case
could be brought frewerd. But he might say that it such •
case could be proved, the party, in his oprieen, would be
open to punishment. TI.C6C were his replies to the hon.
member's questions. lie was not able to say that other
measures had' been adopted . but i.e might declare his
belief that nothing had been left undone that it was pos-
sible to do, and he could assure the house that nothing should
be left undone.
Mr. F. O'CONNOR thought the country owed a deep debt
of gratitude to the hon. member who had brought leeward
this question.
Mr. HUME, in explanation, said lie hail net a ithed to
, stop the debate on the ground of its not being of importance
only because it interfered with the business more regu,itly
iiefore them.
Mr. S. O'BRIEN called upon the government to prevent
the people of Ireland from dying of starvation, as they were
now dying. Ho complained that nothing hail been done
with reference to the cultivation of waste lassie in Ireland.
The poor law in Ireland required immediate amendment in
various particulars.
Mr. DRUMMOND and Sir B. HALL deprecated the in-
troduction of such important topics on an occasion when
due consideration could not be given them.
Mr. REYNOLDS thought that no time should be lost in
applying relief to the people of Ireland in their immediate
distress, and seeking es practical a remedy as could be devised
against the recurrence of that distress.
The subjea then dropped.
EPIPHANY QUARTER SESSIONS BILL.
Mr. PACKS moved the second reading of this bill,
the object of which was to postpone the Epiphany Quarter
&tenons until after the Chrrittnas hnlidays, al no, how-
ever that they should not be held later than the sth Jan. At
Kermit they were most frequently opens el on Neer-year's
day, to the gnat inconvenience of a large and most useful
body, the unpaid magistrates.
Sir Cr. GREY anl that the casual inconvenience
sought to be removed would be far more than coun-
terbalanced by the permanent inconveeiences created by
the proposed change, a change which would altogether pre-
vent barristers from attending these sessions, term beginning,
as it did, on the 11th Jan.
Sir J. PARINUTON concurred with the right hon.
baronet, that she necessary absence of the gentlemen of the
bar from these sessions. if they were ponporrisd till the Bth,
would be most prejudicial to the due administration of

justice.
Mr. BANKES supported the bill.
Mr. Serjeant TALFOU RD opposed the bill, al wholly st-
alled for, and as calculated to operate Most injuriously
against the administration of justice.
Mr. SPOONER and Sir 3. DUCKWORTH opposed the
bill on similar grounds.
Mr. PACKR consented to withdraw his bill, hoping that
government would endeavour to apply a remedy in some
other way to the inconvenience of which he had complained
The bill was then withdrawn.
NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT BILL.
On the motion that the house should go into committee on
this bill,
The Earl of LINCOLN appealed to the government whe-
ther, after the understanding. which had been formally
agreed upon prior to the recess, in reference to the discussion
of this measure, it was proper to commence that discussion
on a Wednesday—and on a Wednesday, more especially,
When so many gentlemen connected with the sutject were
absent from the house ? In 184. the discussion of the affairs
of New Zealand occupied nine nights of heavy debate • the
affairs of that colony were now in a scarcely less critiesil po-
sition than at that period, yet the government proposed to
discuss them in a Wednesday sitting, of which but three
hours now remained. He hoped the right hon. gentleman
would poatpone the committee until a more fitting occasion.
Mr. LABOUCIIERE felt it impossible to comply with
the noble lord's request. The government having but two
nights of the week at its disposal, experienced more and
more difficulty in effecting due progress with 4reat national
measures; and it was, therefore, earnestly anxious to avail
itself of every opportunity for advancing the public business.
He trusted the house would, at all events, go into committee,
so that he might explain the provisions of the measure.
Mr. OLADSONE, passing ever the inconvenience of
taking the discussion of this most important measure on a
Wednesday, begged to observe upon one or two points, con-
nected with the bill itself, and upon some other collateral
questions, not directly within its provisions, but, at the
same time, of such vital importance to the welfare et
New Zealand, that no measure of the kind could
be properly considered without embracing them. The
provisions of the bill were, in part, suspending pro-
visions, and in part enacting provisions'. As to the
i enacting provisions, though they were of an unusual cha-
t rater, delegating the powers of parliament to individuals
I in the antipodes, yet, as they corresponded with the views
and wishes of Governor Gray, and were declared by him
to be necessary, he was not indisposed to consider them as
they stood ; but he viewed the suspending clauses with a
different eye. He did not understand why the constitution of
'46 should not be altogether repealed rather than suspended
—and suspended, moreover, for tine years. This was not the
case of an existing constitution, which, for special reasons, it
was considered desirable to suspend for a given period, re-
newing it when those special causes should cease to operate.
The constitution in question did lilt exist, and had never
existed. It was a mere paper constitution, which had nevi r
been called into actual life in the colony, but had remained
the mere object of speculative question there; and even as
to the theories termed respecting it, there was
no affirmative opinion in evidence, showing that the
popular mind in the colony regarded it as the
constitution which it was desirable to establish at all. He
considered, therefore, that the adoption of the suspending
clauses would be a most inconvenient mode of fettering the
[ware judgment of the house on the question, an altogether
premature and crude decision upon a point not really before
the house. (Hear, bear.) He thought that, as the time
for enacting a constitution had, by the admission of all par-
ties, not yet strived, and as the constitution of 1846 was, as
confessedly, erroneous legislation, the simplest, and wisest,
and most practical course would be to repeal that constitu-
tion altogether—(hear, hear)—promising to New Zealand,
for a futuze time, a constitution which mould give full scope
to popular principles, while it embraced all those wise pre.
visions which past and coming experience should dictate.
(Hear, hear.) He could not paw by this stage of the present
bill without adverting to a subject of the mast urgent prac-
tical importance to the social welfare of New Zealand, and
even, it might be, to its peace and tranquillity.
lie referred to the Question of the disposal of
the public lands, and to the claims of the natives
in relation to land, • question so intimately mixed
up with every New Zealand topic, lying so near the
root of every other question relating to that colony, that it
were vain to adopt even the wisest and mat prudent mea-
sures for a constitution unless this fundamental matter were
first settled upon a just and satisfactory basis. The discus-
sion of this subject, he conceived, could far more neve-
niently be taken in connexion with this bill than in the form
of a substantive motion, which might involve the house in a
premature and injudicious judgment. (Hear, hear.) He
would beg to Mate to the government the difficulties which
occurred to his mind in relation to the present state of
things, in this respect, in New Zealand. There was no man
in the house more anxious than he to have it clearly shown
him that the views of the government on this vital question
were founded on meson, justice, and good faith, Red, as
such, calculated to romote the peace and welfare of the
colons. (Hear.) lie thought there could be no doubt as to
what had been the understood construction of that treaty—he
would not stay to inquire whether a fortunate or an unfortunate
treaty in the first instance-
had been viewed as settr
recce to their lands.
had been in the hal
portions of their grin
had hunting grounds
tracts which were e'
strictly speaking v

instance—the treaty of Waitangi, which
so settling the claims of the natives in refs-
.ds. I: was well kno ••• • natives
habit of el:diva:to, Ala Soca AiStiyablii
la grinuads. The • • vegighnted Oskar Mists
ands for pigs, an V. 4 .
~ .Ul3 TOL4I
e of wide este - • bait
cultivated by .. • •• • ' lAN,
...- - .,4 ):::,, • • ...
ig z t 4400 41
'4 ...