The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-29 00:00:00

PRIVATE BUSINESS.

Sir John Simeon's (leasing) Estate, Westminster Im-
provement, Tyne Improvement, and Kingston-upon-Hull
Docks Bills were read a second time.

The Cornwall Railway, Liverpool Improvement, New-
castle-under-Lyme Marsh Lands, Nantwich and Market
Drayton,Universal Private Telegraph, and Leeds, Bradford,

and Halifax Junction (Amendment) Bills were read a third
timo and passed.

THE GROWTH OF COTTON.

Lord BROUGHAM begged to call the attention of the
noble duke opposite to the important subject of the growth
of cotton. He trusted the Government would pro-
mote by every means in their power, and the
Colonial-office would also encourage the same object.
He had rec.eived several specimens of cotton raised in Ja-
maica, and having submitted them to the best authorities,
they had fixed the value at very high prices. Even
at 6d. per lb. a great profit could be made,
growing cotton in Jamaica, for it had been calculated that
an acre of ground there would yield 6001 b., which would
be worth £l5, and the cost of raising the article would only •
amount to £B.
The Duke of NEW CASTLE said the noble and learned
lord had not given notice of his question, but ho was in a
position to give him an answer. alio Government had no
neglected the consideration of the important subject, but the
real difficulty was not the country in which it might be
grown but the amount and the price of labour.
If the noble lord meant by encouraging the growth
-of cotton that the Government way tO ' offer a bounty
then he must inform him that there was no such intention.
If the profit on cotton grown in Jamaica was as large as
the nobly lord said, it did seem to him totally unneces-
sary for the Government to interfere, as many individuals
would only be too ready to engage in its produce. The
Government, however, would give every encouragement
man in communication
withthe Indian Government to withdraw the restrictions
upon the introduction of coolie labour.
THE ATLANTIC MAIL CONTRACT.

The Marquis of NORMANBY gave notice that on
Thursday neat he should move for the production of the
correspondence between the Government and the Lord-
Lieutenant relating to the Atlantic Royal Mail Contract.
NEW PROVINCES (NEW ZEALAND) BILL.
- - - - --

On the order for the second reading of this bill,

The Duke of NE WCASTLE said thatin the Constitution
Act passed some years ago for the colony of New Zealand
there were certain provisions by which provinces—Canter-
bury and others—were established, and there was a provi-
sion to the effect that the general assembly should be the
representative body for the whole colony, and that the as-
sembly might divide the provinces into separate province
with the approbation of the Queen. In 1857 an act was
passed by which many of the restrictions which had been
imposed upon the general assembly were removed, and it
was intended thereby to remove those restrictions which
prevented the constitution of new provinces in the manner
then provided; and giving the legislature permission to do
it by an act of the ordinary character. In making those
alterations the imperial parliament made this mistake, that
it repealed the 62. th clause of the constitution act, which it
obviously had intended should be done. Since that
period the general assembly of New Zealand had separated
one of toe provinces into two, by an act of the colonial
legislature, and that act was in the usual way confirmed at
home, no doubt existing that the course pursued was regular
and the act valid. Subsequently doubts arose and the
matter was referred to the law officers of the Crown, and
they were of opinion that it was not competent to the

colonial legislature to separate the province in the manner
which he had stated. This bill was merely for the purpose

of correcting the mistake, and to render valid the act of the

colonial legislature. He begged, therefore, to move the
second reading of the bill.
Earl GREY said this bill was one to which there could
be no possible objection. But he could not allow the
second reading to pass without stating that. in the present
critical and distracted state of New Zealand he was sur-
prised this should be the only measure submitted by tb.

Government to Parliament in reference to tliat colon

They knew from the papers on the table and

more recent accounts that for more than two years

had been raging in New Zealand; and that in that
unhappy war 50 officers and men of the European force

therei;dbeen killed and 140 men wounded, a vast amount
of property destroyed, and one settlement laid waste. He
thought the enormous expense incurred would greatly dis-
arrange the calculations of the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer as to his surplus at the end of the financial year. He
felt persuaded that this unhappy contest would not be
'

A . IL -- vat,. -
minate the race of Maories ; but that would be an end of

the war to which he could not look forward without feelings
of horror, and which he felt sure would be shared by all
right-thinking persons in this country, and such a course

of proceeding would not only be a calamity but a disgrace

to this country. When they considered all the circuni-

stances of the war, they must see that, if the Maories were

driven to desperation, they would, before they would yield,
inflict a large amount of suffering upon the Europeans. It
would not be enough to send out additional troops, but the
Government ought to make some attempt to bring about

peace by conciliatory measures, and thus endeavour to gain
tho confidence of the /geodes. (Hear.) If under the circum-

stances which had arisen the assistance of Parliament was

necessary, that assistance ought already to have been asked
for. The war had been produced by errors on the part of
the Government of New Zealand—errors which it might
not be too late to correct. Their lordships were aware that
this war began by an attempt on the part of the Government
of New Zealand to take forcible possession of a piece of land
acquired by purchase, which was disputed by one of the
native chiefs. Much had-been said whether that purchase
was valid, and he should abstain from entering into that
part of the subject. It would be sufficient for him to say that
some high authorities were against the validity of the pur-
chase, which showed at least that it was of doubtful validity.
In the first place there was the authority of the Bishop of
New Zealand, and a great number of the missionaries.
(Hear, hear.) He knew that an attempt had been
made to lower their authority because they were sup-
posed to have sympathy with the natives. The validity
of the purchase was also denied by Mr. Clark, protector of
the aborigines undor Sir G. Grey ; by Mr. Swainson, for-
merly attorney-general; and above all, by Sir W. Martin,
who had been formerly chief justice of New Zealand, and
had attained the highest reputation in that position. These

were some of the quoted authorities ; and if a shadow of
doubt could rest upon this transaction both justice and ho-
nesty required that the Government of New Zealand should

_ --
have abstained from making that purchase. Considering
the extreme jealousy and sensitiveness of the natives on

questions relating to land, this was a subject on which great
care out to exercised. It ought to have been understood
that no advantage likely to be derived from the possession
of an insignificant plot of land could be compared with the
danger likely to result from the excitement which might be
supposed to follow such a transaction. Of course that po-
licy was adopted in forgetfulness of the wise advice of Sir
G. Grey a few years ago, when great excitement existed

among the Maories. When an act was passed for esta-
blishing a constitution, Sir G. Grey pointed out that war at
that time was scarcely over, and that by the proposed fon
stitution the entire power of the revenue would be vested in
the represensatives. of the settlers to the exclusion of
the natives, and that in his opinion an attempt to enforce
that constitution would lead to armed resistance. It was
his (Earl Grey's) duty as Colonial Secretary at that time to
ask their lordships to suspend that constitution,
result, he believed, showed that that was sound advice.
Sir G. Grey adopted the principle of repression witthhereapect
to anything like violence or disturbance; but ata
tion to same
time his policy was one of kindness and d consand the
admen were not
well.disposed. Sir G. Grey
ersbyeotitlaec;hing their minds,
rapidly made
though barbarous people.
and he believed
to be governed by mere laws Imbudt
and especially among a barbarous
community.
downand complete peace was
adepon the minds of a highsatisfactory._
mindedln a short time
during
easutoetaa Irinitnuenimodergeei dtdtdthii h dsiaft at: it
thht eoprce
ter inoasadt constitution
powerui
nt
impressions could be rap
minded and generous,
most
He (Earl
believedandNevtlhat that fair prospect would have been
The result was most
put
disturbances Zealandfi was. on the high road to become
Bweefroerenofit
five
eor
years
erms ihstaaakeetxhpaitrewdasa afterwards
Grey)
istratoifonp
oionism.huinsgt be put in force, reserving
Sir G. Grey
to the Crown the soleuerfchthaseinhgebllane
earld. lenppleBssit2e,
(Lord Derby), a bill was passed much in accordance with the
views of Sir G. Grey ; but unfortunately that bill contained
one provision which led to great misfortunes. It was de-
cided by that measure that a chief executive officer should
be elected, instead of being appointed by the Crown. That
was In accordance with the advice of Sir G. Grey ; but
though he was a most able man, on whom general reliance
could be placed, he could net claim to be infallible, and in
this matter he (Earl Grey) thought, it was clear then and
still clearer now that Sir G. Grey was wrong. He (Earl
Grey) had given that clause his most earnest opposition in
that house, but he had not succeeded in securing its omis-
sion. The clause was passed in the shape in which it was
proposed, and the result had been the fulfilment of his worst
anticipations. With respect to party government, he had
always thought it little suited to a colony, and that the evils
resulting from it were considerable. In Australia the evils
of this system were insignificant compared with those of
New Zealand. It was impossible that a few thousand Bri-
tish settlers could be placed in juxta-position with a larger
number of natives, sensitive of their rights and jealous of
their liberties, and who could not see all power placed in
the hands of a European minority without creating in th
minds of the native majority deep discontent. It was clear
from the papers which had been placed upon the table that
such was the result. As long as the governor possessed
1 authority to support him 44 the represeutatiyo of the Crow