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The Attorney-General moved the further consideration, in Committee, of the Crown Titles Bill. Bill further considered and amended. Report brought up; and on motion of the Governor, Bill recommitted and amended, and report brought up; and on the motion of the Colonial Secretary, Bill ordered to be read a third time on Saturday, 25th instant.

On the motion of the Colonial Secretary, Pensions Bill read a third time and passed.

Mr. Merriman, according to notice, moved that the correspondence between Mr. Grahame and the Colonial Secretary, be considered by Council. Correspondence read. Mr. Merriman stated that he should not, during the present session, make any motion on the subject.

Mr. Barstow, according to notice, moved that Council do resolve itself into a Committee to take into consideration certain disabilities of the Half-Caste Race and Native Women married to Europeans. A discussion thereon ensued. Motion withdrawn.

Mr. Merriman, according to notice, moved that Council do resolve itself into a Committee, to memorialize the Governor to introduce an ordinance to amend the Resident Magistrates’ Courts Ordinance. A discussion ensued. Motion withdrawn.

Mr. Barstow gave notice, that at the next sitting of Council he would move that Council do resolve itself into a Committee to memorialize the Governor to introduce an ordinance to amend the Resident Magistrates’ Courts Ordinance.

The Governor, according to notice, read his reply to the Report of the Sub-Committee on the Waste Lands belonging to the Natives, which was ordered to be printed.

Council adjourned to three o’clock on Saturday, 25th instant.

SATURDAY, 25TH AUGUST, 1849.

PRESENT:
His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief and nine Members.

ABSENT:
His Excellency Major-General Pitt, K.H.

The Council met pursuant to adjournment. The Colonial Chaplain was in attendance and read prayers.

The Minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed.

Mr. Barstow presented a petition from a numerous body of the inhabitants of Auckland praying that some measure might be introduced to prevent individuals leaving the Colony without giving due notice. Petition read and received, and ordered to be printed.

To His Excellency the GOVERNOR-IN-CHIEF and the Honourable the Members of the General Legislative Council of New Zealand.

The Memorial of the undersigned Inhabitants of Auckland, in the Province of New Ulster, Sheweth,

That many people have already left the Colony—particularly for California—without paying their just debts, whereby many of us have sustained considerable losses; but from the very general desire now pervading the community to leave the Colony, we are apprehensive of sustaining, in the manner we have pointed out, still more serious losses.

That as it is a practice in other Colonies for the Government to require of those leaving the Colony to give a certain reasonable length of notice at the Custom House before their departure, we think a measure of the same kind of great use and importance here under the present circumstances of this Colony; and we would, therefore, respectfully bring the subject under the notice of your Excellency and Honourable Council, in the hope that some legislative enactment may be passed before the present Council separate, requiring all persons leaving the Colony to give a certain specified number of days’ notice before their departure.

And your memorialists, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

The Attorney-General moved the order of the day for the third reading of the Crown Titles Bill.

On motion of the Governor, Bill recommitted and amended, and report brought up; and on motion of the Attorney-General, Bill read a third time and passed.

Mr. Barstow, according to notice, moved the consideration of the subject relative to the disabilities of the Half-Castes and Native Women. A discussion thereon ensued. Motion withdrawn.

Mr. Merriman, according to notice, moved that Council do resolve itself into a Committee to memorialize the Governor to introduce an ordinance to amend the Resident Magistrates’ Courts Ordinance. A discussion ensued. Motion withdrawn.

The Governor, according to notice, read his reply to the Report of the Sub-Committee on the Waste Lands belonging to the Natives, which was ordered to be printed.

GENTLEMEN—In reply to your address, requesting that I would cause a measure to be laid before you, having for its object the introduction of a system by which lands, the property of the Natives, may be brought into the market under such restrictions as are required by the interests of both races; or that I would be pleased forthwith to bring into operation regulations, with a view to render the native lands of this Province available for depasturing purposes by the European stockholders; I have the honor to state, that it has always been my own opinion that the permanent interests of both races, and the prosperity of the country, would be most effectually promoted by the Government purchasing large tracts of land from the Natives (on the plan which has, by my directions, been pursued in the South of New Zealand), spreading the payment for these lands over a period of several years, and making ample reserves for the Natives, which they would be at liberty to lease to Europeans, and by then throwing open these districts to the European stockholder in the ordinary manner.

With a view to the promotion of this plan, the Surveyor-General has, for a considerable period of time, been authorised by me to purchase from the Natives any large district of country which the stockholders would themselves select as best suited for their purposes; and he has, I believe, in compliance with my request, communicated these instructions to the principal stockholders, and made them acquainted with my anxiety to secure for their use the most fertile and available districts.

Such a plan would, I think, present much greater advantages for both races than any plan that could be devised for rendering the Native lands available for depasturing purposes, under regulations framed by the Government; and I think that here, as in the South of New Zealand, the settlers would find it infinitely more advantageous to themselves to hold their runs under a secure tenure from the Crown, than to be subjected to the caprice of the Natives.

If, however, the Surveyor-General and the other officers whom I will appoint for that purpose should not, within the next few months, succeed in securing large and fertile tracts of country in every respect available for depasturing purposes, I will, under certain restrictions, permit the European stockholders to depasture cattle on land, the property of the Natives, although it may be necessary to gain considerable experience on this most difficult subject, before it will be practicable to issue a complete code of regulations in relation to it. I should, however, inform the Council that I have for a considerable time past directed my attention to this matter, and have carefully considered numerous suggestions which have been made to me regarding it.