The Express.
London, England, 1850-04-23 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 23, 1850.

IMPERIAL I'ARLIAMENT.
HOUSE OF LORDS—MONDAT, Aran. 22.
The bore met at Aso o'cloth. Lord LAMODALI set
Speaker.
Lord BLAICTIIII took the oaths and his seat moue of the
representative peers of Scotland.
PUBLIC BUSINESS.
SMOKE PROHIBITION
IBUTION BILL.—H
S I
S BCOOL DISTRICTS
CONTRLL.
These bills sover Il west through marnittee, and wore
ordered to bo repotted.
AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS.
The Earl of HARDWICK I pee notice that he would,
to-morrow, present • petit.. from Cambridge on the sub
feet of agricultural
THE AUSTRALIAN COLONIES.
Lord MONTEAGLE, punuant to notice, rose to ask the
fleteretery of Stale for the Colonies whether any fur-
ther despatches have been received from New South Wales
and Western Australia, on the subject of the proposed change
of the constitution of those provinces, and whether it is the
lotted:a of the government to recommend any bill for form-
ing • new constitution for those provinces without the pro-
duction of further information on the subject. The evidence
berets the house al owing what the real feelings of the
colonists were was very incomplete, more especially with
reference to New Smith Wales. He was desirous of kaow-
lag whether his noble friend was in pos-cssion of any further
intormation ; and, if rot, whether he was prepared to ask
their lordships to sauction a bill altering the constitution of
New South Wales without such further reformation ?
Earl GREY said when the bill came up from the other
hones le should be prepared to state reasons which'would
justify their lordships in procee 'log with it. At preriat he
maid oily my that no information with referecce to New
South Wales or Western Australia had reached the govern-
meat which had not been laid before the house. He had,
however, received from the chairman of • public meeting in
New South Wier a copy of resolutions which he stated had
been forwarded to the government, sod which earnestly re
petted the delay of the measure of last year, sad expressed
▪ bop. that • sieni:ar bill would pass during the pre-
sent stair. With regard to New South Wales, practically
the proposed measure wo.ld not alter the conatitrion,:but
would merely effect a division of the colony into two porta,
which he believed w► university approved of. (Hear.)
Lord MONTEAGLE said it was proposed to establish •
federal government, which was altogether a novelty. There
mosso object in pass the bill for the s-peration of Port Phillip
from New Semis Wales last year. titter, hoar.)
Lord STANLEY thought the resolutions to which the
noble earl had alluded expressed regret that the separates
of Poet Philip from New South Wiles was rot effected last
year ;" but at the same time the colonists expressed satiates-
tioa at the course pursued by those of their lordship. who
objected to the passing of the whole measure without • suffi-
cient expression of feeling by the pimple of both colonies. It
was stated by more than one of their lordships that if the
government would consent to separate that portion of the
bill which separated Port Phillip from the rest of New South
Wales. then would be no difficulty in paining it. (Hear.)
Earl GREY was quite aware of the fact which the noble
lord bad rated ; but the noble lord was no doubt also awe»
that there were certain practical difficulties in separating the
two parts of she bill which had bra alluded to. The reso-
lutions to which he had referred wore prod in the town of
Mellscurnt, sad szproseed regret that the bill had not been
plaided with last year.
IMPORTATION OF CATTLE.
The Duke of RICHMOND moved for the appointment
of • select committee to acquire into the operation of an set
to prohibit the impartation of sheep, cattle, and other animals,
for the purpon of preventing the introduction of conta-
gious or infectious &semis (11 & 12 Vie., cap. 10.5), with •
view of render:lig its provisions mare iciest than at pre-
sent. Ho wished ft to be understood that he did not mean
to make this • political question.
The committee was appointed.
UNION OF CARRICK-ON.SHANNON.
On the motion Of the Illatipla of WISTRIATH, the mem-
bers of the select eommittete on the patios of the board of
guardians of the above union were named.
Their lordship thin, at half-pest 6 o'clock, adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—MONDAT, APRIL 22.
The Stimuli lock the chair at 4 °Week.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

A VOIDWEITS CONAIDRILID.—GIace and Shafts Tarn-
pile. Roads leprornamt ; Guardian Fire end Life As-
surance Company; Bills.

PUBLIC HI:SINUS.
Amos, %kir iretitioas pirefeented wen;
lamas' Larrock.—By Mr. COBDEN, from the lola-
bitaata of Kaighley, iohabiraive of Holattirth, ichabitaab
el Dewsbury, inhabitants of Parsley, against relays and
shifts is factories ; Sir J GRAHAM, from Comber:sod ;
Sit W. MOLESWORTH, Iron Lerds ; for an Elmo
Hours Bill.

Faeroiitta Btu..—By Mr. ELLIOTT, from H%uiek
Mr. EGERTON, from Chester, agalum the bill ; Mr.
J. EVANS, from a piste is Wahl, 13 favour of the bill
Coerrat. Prommuzurs.—By Mr BRIGHT (2), from
Obasiow. against capital peci.hmente; by Mr. CROWDER,
*sea Liskaard, to the same effeet.

Carsca ICasts.—By Mr. BLANEY, from Shropshire,
ageism church wee ; Mr. BRIGHT (3), from Llacdderf• I,
from Umlaut, and from Bala, lot the abolition of church
raw.

RAILW4T ToArrtc. —By Sr K. PEEL, fry Tam-
orartb, fa hone of a bill for the rcgal•tion of maws,
teak.

BLATlTikass.—By Sir R. PEEL, from Tamwortb, for
the nppreedos of the slave trade.
STAMP Drriss.—By )Zr. 1. DENISO:C, from a Flag in
Yorkshire, for the nductios of the stamp duties.

LORD LIEVIENANT OF IRELAND.
Col. LI.:NNE rave notice, on the part of his hon. friend
tie member for Westmeath, char when the 'notion for the
'beldam. of the offin of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was
Drought forward he should move that it be rejected, as Ire.
laud was already sufficiently donned.

KILRI:SH UNION.
Mr. P. SCROPE, in ofenace to the union of Kitrash,
observed that It had occurred four tines eines the beginning
of the relief that 4,000 of the outdoor paupers were with-
out sky relief whatever, the workhouse being so full that no
fresh inmates solid be taken. He asked whether the right
hors gentleman, as one of the Poor-law Cessmissionen,
thought that suck a state n' things could be justihed ?
Sir W. SOMERVILLE had no knowledge of the fact,
but +(raid mower the question tomorrow.
METROPOLITAN INTERMENTS BILL.
Lord D. STUART wished to put a gamin to his right
kola. friend the Secretary for the Ilene Department. This
bill was only printed on Thursday evening, sad it was a bill
in which the inhabitants of the notropolo felt the groa',
payable interest. He wished to ask his right hon. friend
was bin intention to novo the +rend reading of
the bill this molai, dr io further time (or roe eider-
nth
Sir O. (MET said that he had had several interviews
with persor.a interested in the bill, and he believed there
was no opposition in any quarter to the second reading;of the
bill Under then circumstances it was his intention to
move the word reading to-sight, but he would not bring it
on after ten o'clock, if then was any other basins'. He
thought then was no opposition to the principle of the bill,
and nsretore he proposed, at say hour of the night to move
the se ond reading.

CHURCH PLURALITIES.
Mr. S. HERBRKT observed thet the deanery of Bristol,
whieh lad bun held in plurality by Dr. Lush, who was
also ulster of • college, had beeline vacant. By the law,
*At seontbi residence was twister, for • dean, end it wee
obvious that the deanery and headship of a colitis could not
be held together without infringing the laws. He wished to
irk the noble lord whether he we. in • condition to state
that la future he would not advise the crown to confer on
the gessoes mentioned, viz., heads of colleges, the °Moe of
dean.

Lord J. RUSSELL was auder►tood to say that be thought
it desirable that a deanery should sot be held Ay the bead
of a college. la the pretest tostasai ha should not advise
the trowel to stake t►e head of a college a ileac.

STAMP DUTIM.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEiii:ER wished to
give notice that this day week he proposed to more for leave
to introduce the bill, which be had not been able to intro-
duce, although oi.e of considerable interest, for the regulation
of sayings banks. lie thought it very &suable that no dis-
mission should take place on the introduction of the Stamp
DOWN Bill. It was very desirable that no misunderstanding

should exist. He was quits run that, without mini
explanation, it would be intelligible to the country. If he
must make en explanatory etatement, he should propose to
do it before the other orders of the day. to to the course
which he peopesed to take as to the Stamp Duties Bill, the
house was aware that they had gone through the clauses of
the bin Only one amendethat was made. Is the proposal
he made, the first item was • tax on mortgages and bonds,
and the proposal was on. half per tent., and wittily., ap-
plied to bonds woad apply to other descriptions of
security. He had received several deputations apes
the Wisest. The gnat railway mosapaniss, who considered
themasiva saws iajared than any other persons, paid me
quarter pm mat ; but, by the prorated asseers, they weuld
have beta exposed to • duty of one-hall per mat., and they
fat that a peat hardship. The motion was carried which
reduced the duty to ona-teuth per cent. The actual vote
which the house came to was reducing the duties on all
deeds, the amount which did not emceed 5W., to one
shilling. If that principle was to be carried out, as to eon-
veyanom and other documents, it would be such • loss to the
revenue that he should he obliged to abandon tics bill. He
held in his band a report from the Board of lathed Revenue
to that t Heat, which would he printed in elm days. The
(Nati* felt was, that the carrying an equally inaform per
cent. to • higher amount was • heavy measure. Ile pro.
posed an equal one quarter per oast, from the beginning of
the duty the present duty was • gradual scale,
but R ghMated the other way • it premed infinitely
heavier upon the sap Lim amounts than upon the higher.
The old scale was one which pressed heavily on the poor ,
man. For instance, II a rase borrowed 101. he wooed have
to pay ten per seat. Oa 100,0004 he would pay sixpence
per eat. From that up to a million a man would have to
pay • halfpeany per seat. The graduated scale which he
wished to propose was made inversely. He did not propose
to ask the holies to vo•ii • hither sum than that, maims he
mule obtain that pin of the measure which rela:ed to a
quarter per mot. The prevail which he made would
relieve all bon .wira undrr 3,2001., infeed that SIMI there
would he au increaae of duty. lie ariajamed that It would
be hardly lair that hi d..ity should be curie I uniformly up.
Objections had been We.• by hest. gentleman, and he
ROUlei bide by the role W the house on • • Waling

duty being imposed on any sam snag 801., sad
h. versed to raise that to sksittssalsass os
every op to 2001. He would bane it
on uslemly up to 100,0001. Is the prossat sale Mt=
il
the diner en eoaveyeaers to 1,0001. oa every 1 Be
worald NUNN the maximumduceto that sam=weald
be by a mesa borrowing 100,0001., which would bi
W Mond Is some atter queetioaa which had been
rake& be
Wlll etartain amendments, nearly all of
whisk be tote ak to, with some slight alteratiees.
He is at mid* to the proposal of the hoe. member
lot Cfrostabse, sad alto to that part of his proposition which
Mated to its saltiest of agreements. There were oast
points raised taws setelements or capitalised annuities ; his
or giaal proposkisa on that subject be did not Insist on, but
Ito Prnlsswell to ask* some alteration with regard to that de-
scription of stock which was now exempt from duty, and
which,minsistently with other ardolso;ought to be called upon
to pay duty. He concluded by laying an the table papers
relating to the Inland Revenue, and containing the total
produce of the stamp duties on conveyances and mortgages
during the last year.
' In answer to questions from different members,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said that he
had already stated that the highest duty would be 2501,
which would be payable on the loan of 100,0001. ; and that
he proposed to give up the part relating to ontirgent
annuities; led that be proposed to create a new scale, watch
there would be no difficulty is understanding. Front 2001.
there should be a duty of a quarter per cent, on every sum
up to 100,0001., end there it stopped.
1111 r. HUME said that it would simplify the matter very
much If the right hoe. gentleman laid on the table a paper
'bowleg the house the amount that was realised by the old
system sad the amount that he expected to realise by the new
system. He (Mr. Hue) was under the impression that a
less sou would be realised by the new system than under
the old. It would be better tor the house to have the two
scales before them. Hs hoped that the right hon. gentle-
man would reconsider the matter, and not 'top the focuses
of duty at the sum of 100,0001, because it would not be
doing justice to the minor intertits.
The mere WON that ordered to be laid on the table.
HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY.

In IMPWIT to Mr CH/1.18112,
Lord PALM ERS lON said that be had received & repre-
sentation which complained that the agents of the Hwlson's
Bay Company supplied the Indians with spirits as an ankle
of commerce. He referred that representation to the Hud-
son's Bay Company, and the ,reply which he received was
that they did not supply spirits to the Indians as an article of
commerce, sad that the only quantity supplied was that
portion which was given to tn. hasten when they same Into
the establishments of the Hudson's Bay Company, and, as
. _ .

he (Lord Palmenton )—migbt say, was drab onbae.Prmaints.
(Laughter.) The reply aleo stated that they bad reason to
think thatpenwas on the American side of the line did by
contraband supply the Indians with spirits. He was not
aware that there wee any objection to produce the correspood-
nos which took place on the subject.

ine tbat so mere thug oasissixtb d ihe whale iambi, '
! weld allidally seasested with the government. The
Ma, end lammed Badman sow paging MIN that pooch
den &mild set be wriest into dada shuts be any
iseenue be the whole number of member!. Sub as altera-
tion it appeared to kin would lead as laumumienee, by
eying easesion for a etrmgale, with the view of lamming
the number of elected members. not in aecordemee with the
requirements of the milany, bat in order to disturb the
Pr !ion of the nominated to the sleeted members.
eir MO WATT suggested that as he bad given Rodeo of
en amendment Ms the report, to »dace the prepordon of
nominee members to conierth of the whole body, the bon.
sad harmed member (Mr. Assam) might, perhaps, not
think It seasesszy to prose his anemdmiaa now toe divide*.
After • few wards from Mr. Adderley, Mr. Restmek, sad
' Mr. Hawes,
ANSTEY, acquiescing in the suggestion of the bon.
member opposite (Mr. Mowatt), would sot divide the com•
mitt**.
The clause was then agreed to, u was also clause 11,
Mr. HAWES having inserted en amendment, providing
that of the non-elected members not more than one half
should hold office under the government.
On clause 12, which ',pub so much of the ad 5 & 6 Vie.,
esp. 76, as requires all bills altering judges' salaries to he
reserved in reference to the colonies of Viotoria,Van Diemen's
Land, South Australia, and Western Australis,
Sir W. MOLESWORTH wished to know why such bills
were to be reserved for the consent of the crown in the case
of New South Wales, and not in the other colonies. It was
important, is order to p the independence of the
judge', that co power should be given to the colony to redoes
or alter their salaries when once fixed.
Mr. HAWES admitted the importance of the question
and was much disposed to agree with the view taken by the
bon. baronet. He was, however, not quite clear as to the
force of she words of the clause, but if it was allowed to
stud he would make enquiry en the subject previous to the
report, and if slummy introduce some ameedment.
Mr. ROEBUCK observed that as the clause stood there
was a power as regarded the four colonies named in it, to
reduce the salines of the judges without the consent of the
crown. To that power he objected.
Mr. V. SMITH thought the house was entitled to ask the
government what was their intention with regard to this
clause—whether the colonies were to bare the power of
&Rorie* the judges' salaries or not ? As this clause stood it
was difficult to undereftied its purpose.
LDP. i J. RUSSELL re tusked that his right hon. friend
mast know very well that the powers of the colony to deal
with certain subjects must depend on her Maiere instruc-
tions given to the governor of such colony, and if the gamut
wee instructed to reserve certain subjects of Isiislation, and
not to assent to them without first obtaining the consent of
her Majesty, be would be bound thereby. There were like-
wise certain measures or alterations in the law which the
governor could not assent to, being expressly prohibited by
set of parliament, and in the present ease there wee with re-
gard to the solarise of the judges an absolute prohibition, by
the 6 and 6 Vie. which it was proposed to repeal—("no,
no," from Mr. Roebuck)—for it was proposed, after the es-
tablishment of the colony of Victoria, that that power should
he repealed—that was to say, it should no longer be pro-
hibited to the governor that he should be entitled, at the
desire of the colony, to alter or redoes, the salaries of the
judges. That was the proposal in the bill. He would not
argue the question whether that was a wise provision or not,
or whether it was right that the colony should have the
power to alter the solstice without the vaunt of the crown,
but that was the prop cal.
After a few words from Mr. ANSTIBT,
Mr. ROEBUCK sail that as the house was now making a
constitution foe a colony, he thought it a perfectly fair propo
sition that they should not alter a judge's salary during his
_ . . .

Lord J. RUSSELL agreed with the hon. member that t►e
gaieties of the existing judges ought not to be altered during
their lives.

Sir W. hIOLEBWOR 111 thought this clause inconsistent
with the 17th clause, inasmuch u the 17th dune made it
lawful for the governor, to alter all or any of the sums men-
tioned in the schedule.

i;;• —;;;d7hos Mr. AZDERLEY,

Lord J RUSSELL said that U the \mi. end lexrned
member for Sheffield should think it desirable to insert •
proviso in any clause to the effect that the salaries of the
(entire judges should not be altered so loos as they held
their office, he would be ready to give his assent to such a
proviso. (Rear, hear.)
Mr. ROEBUCK promised to take advantage of the noble
lord's sugteetioe.
Clause 12 was then agreed to.
On clause 13 being proposed,
Mr. E. DENISON begged to call the attention of the
committee to, the subject of the waste lands of the colomy.
According to the provisions of the bill, the dispaal of the
waste lands of the crown was vested in the federal meembly
without reservation or qualifiation. There were, however,
many hon. gentlemen in that house who believed that the
population of this xffintry had some interest in the lends in
question, and woo considered them as a sort of inheritance
for our own poor. Re believed that the federal assembly
would never meet at all, and that, if they did inset, they
would not constitute a very good tribunal for the manage.
mint of waste lends. The Legislauve Assembly of
South Australia had expressed an opinion, that they
could see no use whatever in a federal !trembly. The go.
Tensor of Van Diemen's Land seemed to entertain a similar
view ; and Earl Orey thought that a federal assembly would
for the present be inoperative. Would it be advisable, thee,
under circumstances such as these, to delesate to • fedinl

amenably the management of the wine lands of the clown ?
He proposed as an amendment, that the
legislatures of the separate colonies be enspow, red to sell,
lease, or otherwise dispose of the waste lands of the crown in
each c lony.
LIM J. RUSSELL said before the amendment was
secoeded, perhaps the committee would hear the view
the government were disposed to take el this ques-
tion. (Hear, hear.) His hon. friend had omitted to
allude to the great evils which bad resulted from the prodi
gal waste of land which had fr.,m time to time taken place.
(Hear, bear.) The colony of Western Australia, tor instance,
had never been able to mak? any effectual progress, owing
to the very large grants of land made at the attest of her
career. There were several other colonies in which at the
present tints it was a source of complaint that improvements
and the condensation of the inhabitants were alike p ted
by the immense tracts of soil which had fallen lett
the hands of individual proprietor.. A bill was
in•roduced, which passed through parliament in 1842, by
which the decision with reference to price was made the
decision of parliament, sad not of the Colonial-office. Now,
in providing fur the waste lands in the present
bill the government were desirous of preserving
the uni`orniity which the Act of 1842 staked
out ; and, it each colony were to have its separate system al '
disposing of the waste lands, there would be no uniformity,
for if la price were high in one colony there would thorn be
a temptation to another colony to sell at a lower price, sad
thus considerable evil would be engendered. lie, therefore, I
thought the amendment objectionable, but, on reconsidera
tion of the plan proposed by the governmen., he was willing to
admit that there were some very valid objections to man
to the federal government a power with respect to the gate
lands. He proposed, therefore, that the subject Amid
be altogether omitted for tee present. (Hear, hear,) He
agreed with the hon. member for Mahon (Mr. E Denison)
that the facility of providing emigration from the United
Kingdom to the Australian colonies, was an object which
ought to be kept steadily in view by the legislature of this
country. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. I)IVKTT expressed the gratifica.ion he felt at having
heard the remarks which had just fallen from the noble
lord. He had intended to move that clause 32
be struck out, convinced as he was that the
land fund ought to be administered upon the principle at
present adopted.
Mr. ROEBUCK insisted upon the necessity of
defining the amount of land belonging to the co-
lonists more distinctly. They should draw a line
between Victoria and New South Wales, or they would
have these colonies quarreling. Then be would give to
these colonies full control over Ike lands within the defined
area—but be would have all lands outside these, until they
got their General A.sszobly, be considered as properly be-
longing to England and the government her*, to be used for
future settlements. All the waste lands of these colonies
ought to be considered the appanage of this country.
Mr. AGLIONBY thought it was too soon to prophecy
that there would be no General Assembly. The suggestion
of the hon. gentleman for more strictly defining the
limits of the colonists' possession., he thought a most useful
one, not only to prevent disputa, but ss regarded the collection
of revenue and other purposes. But he differed from him in
thiskingthat the land within those limits should be left to
the entire control of the colonists.

Mr. J. B. SMITH was very glad that the noble lord had
consented to withdraw that part of the clause which die
posed of the crown lands. We made a great mistake in
giving to Canada the control of the crown lands,
and the consequence of doing so was that Ca-
nada costs u. much more than she otherwise
would. Our colonial policy he maintained had been
injurious ina.much as we had given up to the
colonies the crown lands and revenues. He should be
glad to know from the nob!e lord whether this was not a
favourable opportunity to propose to the colonies to pay
their own expenses on condition of having their own crown
lands and nee.

Mr. HAW ES said he agreed that as far as was possible it
was desirable to libeen the expense. of our colonial posses
sioas. On the other hand, he never would give up the right '
and the duty of this country mica:ming Its colonial posses-
sions. He did not thick that we should enter into say such
negotiati.in with our eoloniss.
In answer to a question from Mr. I/Natal.' as to the
limits of the waste !ands of the respective colonies,
Mr. HAWES said the house must not @appose that no
limits were filed. Ise that very bill the boundary was fixed
between New South Wales and Victoria.

• -----
Mr. DISRAELI—It is not the limits between the colo-
nies, but it is the limit between the respective colonies end
the waits lands to which I wick to tall attantion.

Mr. ADDBRLEY believed this to Ist.: • question of great
difficulty. At the same time he was convinced that the av
rangement for the disposal of the waste lands could not last.
Ile agreed with the hon. member for Mahon that it would
be injudicious to leave it to • general assembly or congress.
lie believed that the best way to prevent • congress
would he to pees an act of parliament to condi
tut* one No congress had ever existed that was created
by soother power. If the', wished to have one they au"
allow it to fora itself. It appeared to him absurd to
plea. the disposal of west' lands in the hsnds of • body
that was not ia existence, and might not be in existence for
witty years to come. But if there was an assembly from all
the floe colonies, they would never agree on any nne elan
At present the waste lands were at the disposal of the Land
and Emigration Commissioners, and it had been stated that
from the time this *commission had been in existence the
eau of land had diminished in an extraordinuy degree,

and that at the time tee commiesion woe created govern-
...a handed over enormous pasts of land, and handed
over squatting liaise toast extent of no Ism than 180 mil-
lions of acres. While this was the emu, what an absurd
thing it MS to establish an upset price of 11. an acre, when
the grantees were @OWL!, as fie. an sere.
Sir W. MOLESWORTH was plumed that the noble lord
did not intend to invest the land la • general assembly He
had great doubts as to the propriety of a general assembly.
Sir J. GRAHAM said this was the most difficult
the most stoitil e subject,tad at the same time it appeared to him
important.He understood that his hon. friend
the member for Melton, was not prepared to press
say amendatent at present, but would miler reserve it till
the bringing up of the report. He (Sir J. Grahams) entirely
agreed with the decision of the noble lord that the mate
lands should not be at the disposal of a general assembly.
As he understood the effect of the clause the dispose! of the
waste lands would be subject to the act of 1842. Now, he
ventured to express a string opinion that the suggestion
offered by the hon. and learned member for Sheffield was
• very 'important one. It was an amendment of
the act of 1842. As he undentood the amend-
ment it was to alter the act of 1842, accurately
to define the limits of each colony, and to give to
the colonial authorities the sppropriation of the waste lands
within their limits, bet everything beyond those limits to
leave entirely with the imperial legislature. Now, he must
say, that was an excellent proposition. It would be, as he
thought, the certain means of preventing much confusion
and angry discussion. It would retain in the (roma the
indisputable right of everything without the limits.
Mr. B. DENISON said the noble lord had in a thin
hones made a very important alteration in this bill. The
management of the waste land., which by the bill was to
have been given to the general assembly, was now with-
drawn altogether from colonial authority. The helm had
now to consider the position in which this matter stood.
When the bill was introduced last year, it contained no pro-
visions as to waste lands at all. The noble lord was asked
whether he intended to withhold the administration of waste
lands from the colonies. After considering the matt, r for a
few days, the noble lord came down to the houso and said
it was the intention of government to concede the ma-
nagement of waste lands to the colonies. Now
this had gone forth to the colonies, and when they
received intimation from all the colonies of the
great gratification with which the bin had been received, he
did not kr.ow how much of that gratification was not to be
attributed to their supposing that they were to have the
management of the waste lands. Ile thought it highly im-
proper that the house, on so short • noti:e, shoul I decide the
question. Under the circumstance he should, with the leave of
the house, not bring forward his amendment now, but he
should withdraw it ;menthe bringing up of the report.
Jar. AGLIONBY said in spite of what had fallen from
the hoe. member for Sheffield, he *gain protested against
the British people being deprived of what he conceived to be
their rights.
Mr. ROEBUCK said a great many suggestions had been
offered to the noble lord at the head of the government as to
what he ought and what he ought not to do. Ile would
suggest to him one thing—that he ought not to permit the
peeudonyme attached to • company which weat and obtained
from the wild inhabitants, for • favitious price, • supposed
power over large tracts of territory, to intern re with his ar-
rangements.
Sir J. GRAHAM trusted that the limits of each colony
would be narrowed and defined with respect to the waste
lands. Certain clauses in this bill specified the boundaries
of New South Wales on the southward ; on the nertnwari,
he understood, no limit whatever was assigned. Ile thought
with the bon, and leaned member for Sheffield that the
land to which the act of 1542 applied should he narrowed
and contracted, awl all beyond those limits held at the free
and unfettered disposal of the iSperiol government. (Hear,
hear ) Within these limit', he concurred with the hon.
member for Melton in thinking that the disposal should be
given to the colonial governments. (Hear, hear.)
Lord J. RUSSELL sai I the subject moult of course
receive every consideration ; but he thought it well to men-
tion that there was now • power, by the Act of 1542, to
lame letters potent wide? the Great Seal, by which the
limits of the colony of New South Wales might be defined.
I Hear, hoer
Mr. J. STUART, after:assuring himself that he undi r.
stood the proposal of Sir Jame. Graham, asked under what
constitution and laws the proprietors of the lands granted by
the crown would be, supposing them beyond the boundaries
of the different co:onies? It might happen :hot some of
these grantees would also be proorietors of land subject to
one or other of the colonial legislatures.
Mr. WALPOLE thought tke difficulties of the subject en
great that the committee Gould not conveniently ems to a
decision on it. By Lord Stanley's Act half the produce of
waste lands was to be applied to emigration; the 13. h clause
of the present bill reserved the whole power to the crown.
The suggestion as to defining the limits of each colory was
• very important one ; it would give the coloefill legislatures
their just rights, at the some time that it preserve!
the appanage* of the crown. The difficulty tug.
gated by the honourable member who had last
soken might be obviated by giving power to the
crown either to extend the limits of the different colonies,
or to create new ones. L ,king at the extent of what had
been called the squattaw districts, 1 ;iii miles by 400, he
hoped the system of making large grin:, e, ,u 1 he duly con,
eidered, and that the suggestions which had hcen thrown
out would be maturely weighed by the government.
Mr. MACGREGOR was favourable to the plan of settling
waste lane's pursued in the United Ststcs—not to put up any
districts for sale till they were surveyed, and to lave annual
accounts rendered of the extent of those surveyed and tin•
ye 1.
Sir W. MOLESWORTH suggested the omission from the
clause of the words " repugnant to the laws of England ;"
which seemed to limit the powers of the colonial It iris
lateens.

Mr. ROEBUCK oppo ed the omfrim of those words.
Mr. ANSTEY thought the words might be advent ge-
ously altered to :‘ repugnant to this act."
...

Tie ATTORNEY GENERAL said the object of the
words was that the colonial legislrtures should not pass ac•e
repugnant to thoic of the imperial lesis:ature ; for instance,
to impose restrictions ou imports or export! which the in.pe•
nal government did not sine' ins.

31-r. ROEBUCK said, it there was one thing more ins
portent than another, it was to prevent the colonial legids
turd from imposing restrictions which we had abolish. d.
Mr. ANSITY c-nsiderci it imporie,t to show the
colonists that they were not to he entirely independ,nt. lle
wee anxious kr a recognition and extension of the principle
by whi^h the courts of law of this country controlled the de-
Melon, of coleniel court

After &short conversation the douse was agreed to, with
the taidentanding that en opportunity for its further discus.
con would be allowed on bringing up tha report.
Clauses li end 11 were *greed to.

Ou clause 16,

Mr. ROUItUCK suggested the expediency of s ropiwering
the colonies to create, or to create themselves, a supreme
court of judicature, fur the purpose of deriding any so: s•
ti.ass that might arise between one colony and al otLer.
Lord J. RUSSELL said he would consider the point.
The clause was then agreed to.

On claws 17,
Mr. C. LUSHINOTON rose to move the omission of such
pens of the clause as provide for the sienifi:ation of tier Ma.
jesty's pleasure on every bill which shall be passed by the
council in any of the colonies referred to, altering the sums
allotted for the suetentathos of public worship, a' mentioned
in the third part of any of the schedules (A), ( and (C)
lie said that in offering the present amendment, he regretted
that he seemed to do anything which might appear to be in- '
consistent with the respect which he entertained for the
noble lord and his public serviose, or hostile to his adminis-
tration, to which he was in general attached ; hut
the bill seemed to him to contain some matters
which, in his opinion, would lead to social mischief
and differences in Sydney and New S oath Wales
Ile fonad there wee one branch of the legis:ative arthnstement
proposed which appeared to him of a character bourieus to
the feelings of the colonists, and calculated, in its operating,
to produce retentive social discord and =whist'. The bill
provided for the present maintenance of certain qualithAtions
in the existing constitution for New South Wales, and em-
powered the colonists to make the most essential alterations.
Thus, the colonists might make laws conclusively fin the
peace, welfare, and good government of their country, and
could tax themselves and ap,aopriate that taxation; but
there the confidence of this country stopped, and a most
ungenerous distrust folio +red. (Hear, hear.) Sumo
of 28,0001. and 6,0001. were set apart as allowances ter public
worship in Port Phillip and New South Wales, and '28,0001.
in addition (as we understood the hon. gentleman) bed
been appropriated for a like purpose to Van Diemen's; Lend.
and which appropriation could net in any way bo altered by
the colonists except with the sanction of the crown. ( Hear,
hear.) That amount was divided between four churches,
for the colonies were to have no lee, than four established
churches, namely—the church of England, the Roman
church, the Wesleyan. and the Presbyterian. In his
opinion, therefore, the 17th clause would have, in its present
shape, a most exasperating effect, because it not only trenched
on religious liberty, but also contained an injurious impute
tion that the colonies were not willing to contribute ails thing
to the support of public worship, whtch, in reality, was not
the face (Hear, hese.) Religious discord had ever been
the bane of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Canada; and
[(now they inoculated Australia with Its noxious infleenee,
they would not only act unwisely, but defeat their own object
in the end. (Ilea, hear.) Some of the colonies had
already determined on rejecting such interference with their
religious liberty ; and he doubted not the 17th clause would
be the signal for instant repudiation. (Hear, hear ) There
fore he begged to move as an amendment the omi-eon of the
words referred to. (ilear.)
Mr. LABOUCHERE begged to remind the house of the
real state of affairs in the colony of New Mouth Wales. By '
the present system a very moderate sum of money was ap-
portioned to, and divided among, t thefour principal churches
in that colony ; and the clause referred to in the present bill
maintained these churches and their grants substantially,
and provided that th re should he no alteration without
the consent and approbation of the crown. (Hear, hear.)
He was aware that the introduction of that within had
afforded great satisfaction to the colonists; when as the
previous system of giving exclusive privileges to ene church
(the church of Eneland) gave great offence and annoyance,
which were only removed and quieted by the intr Asiatics:
if the present system. (Hear, hear.) Whilst h. (Mr.
L sbnuchere) would strenuously resist any attempt at domi-
nation by any church over a different portion of the com-
munity—believing such to be opposed to the true interests of
religion—on the other hand, he was not alone prepared to
promote, hut also to encourage, the equelPy of all churches
and the absence of religious domination. (Hear, hear.) lie
was of opinion that encouragement to religious sernmunltle•
was a bsnefit, not en evil ; and he, therefore, should regret
m any reeolon that would disturb the harmony that at pre-
sent existed. I Hear, hear,) tinder the present system
there were vested interests of considerable importance.
Adding sal churches had been erected, el 'gym= Co.