The Sun.
London, England, 1845-08-01 00:00:00

eharges against the New Zealand Comptmristen those
who represented that important body wero absent from
the House. If the Government gave facilit s %o the
exchange of the commodities of that colony with this
country great good could not Fail to accrue to both.
Mr. PACIUNGTON drew the attention of the

House Co the religious state of the colony, and read a%
extract from a statement of a Mr. Latrobe, the presi-
dent, which stated that the greatest irreligion prevailed
amongst the population of the colony—that they were
like athens. The Hon. Gentleman read other state-
ments, one from the bishop, which went to show that
there was a great deficiency of churches, and that con-
sequently no proper provision was made for the religious
instruction of the inhabitants. Ho would, therefore,
press upon her Majesty's Government the necessity of
turning their attention to the subject, but more par-
ticularly to the Act relating to the appropriation of the
funds arising from sales, one-half of which was at the
disposal of the Crown, and not be applied to the objects
he advocated. .

Mr. HOPE said that the Hon. Member for Lambeth

had not shown his usual practical good sense upon thie
subject. If the main object of the Bill had been to alter
the law for leafing lands, the observations of the Hon.
Member would have barn correct, but it was not. The
main object of the Bill was to provide employment for
the redundant population, There were 3,000 labourers,
and probably there might now be 6,000 • who were to
be employed in irrigating the land, and in other ways,
for the general improvement of the district ; and he
many thought that after this country had spent so much
in supportintr' these labourers, it was entitled to the
benefits to be derived from it, and he thought this object
could not be attained by the admission of Australia
corn.

Mr. MILNER GIBSON said that as the object of
the Govern:nent was to remunerate the services of the
settlers, he thought that it would be best effected by al-
lowing them to go to the best market, and if his Hon.
Friend pressed the matter to a division he should
feel it his duty to support him. Another lion. Member
had complained of the spiritual instruction of the people.
Now, it should be remembered that this Bill was con-
fined to Van Diemen's Land, and by a return which he
held in his he.nd, he perceived that among the prisoners
there was a greater proportion who could read and write
than among any free people, and, therefore, it was not
spiritual instruction which the people wanted, but food.
The House then divided, when there appeared—
For the motion
Against it
Majority

-28

The House then went into Committee, and the clauses
up to clause 8 were passed according to agreement. On
the proposition of the 12th clause,
Mr. HAWES said that this was a case in which it was
justifiable to offer every opposition. Here it was evi-
dent that the price of corn was rising, and yet, while
there was evidently a dearth of food, they were shutting
out the produce of their own colonies, under the pretence
that it was necessary to provide eraployment for the
redundant population.
Mr. R. YORKE said that his lion. Friend (Jr.
Hawes) was perfectly justifiable, and he should certainly
'support him.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM said that the object of those
on the other side of the House was neither mere hor lass
than to deprive the colony of that improvement which
it so much needed.
Mr. HAWES said that the Government were de-
termined to pass this Bill, and therefore opposition to it
would be useless: It should be remembered that the
petition which had been presented to the House had
keen signed by the principal merchants in London, and
now it was backed by the dispatch of the Governor of
the Colony. Now, if they were to allow Australian
corn to be introduced they would be doing a benefit to
this colony, and reduce the taxation of this country.
The other clauses were then agreed to, and on the
motion that the report be brought up,
Mr. VILLIERS said that all opposition to this Bill
passing this session would cease if there was a promise
given that some Bill containing the principle which had
been just put forward by. his Hon. Friend the Member
for Lambeth, should be introduced next session.
The report was then brought up and adopted.
QUEBEC FIRE.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
that in bringing this great calamity under the notice of
the House, he was unable to state precisely the number
of dwellings which had been destroyed, but on one occa-
sion the fire had lasted from twelve o'clock at noon till
twelve at night, and on the other occasion, on the 28th of
June, it had continued from ten o'clock at night ; and
he believed that more than 1,200 houses had been re-
duced to ashes. He trusted, therefore, that the House
would unanimously assent to an address to the Crown to
grant the sum of 20,0001., to be applied to the relief of
the sufferers.
Mr. HAWES said that it was with the utmost satis-
faction that he saw this measure had been taken up by
the Government.
Sir R. INGLIS said, that so far from the matter hav-
ing been exaggerated, it had been understated by his
Right Hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Sir H. DOUGLAS said that in one instance, when a
fire had happened of a very serious nature in the pro-
vince of which he was Governor, the inhabitants of
Quebec had come forward in the most liberal manner,
and contributed to the relief of the district.
The House then resumed, and an address was
adopted.