The Auckland Chronicle. Thursday, August 29, 1844.

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 56, 29 August 1844, Page 2

The Auckland Chronicle. Thursday, August 29, 1844.

Through the kindness of a friend we have been favoured with a Sydney Herald of the 3rd instant, by which we perceive English News to the 3rd of April has reached Sydney, and from which we learn that “The Presbyterian Marriage Question is exciting great attention in Ireland. The point at issue is, whether the Presbyterian ministers can marry persons not belonging to their communion. In a case of bigamy, where a man professing to belong to the Church of Ireland was married to a Presbyterian,] by a Presbyterian minister, judgment was reserved, on the ground that as one of the parties belonged to the Esiablished Church, a clergyman of that church was the only person who could marry, and that therefore the marriage by a Presbyterian was void. In the Court of Queen’s Bench two judges were of one opinion and two of the other, and the case was carried to the House of Lords, where the law lords were equally divided, aud the decision tha t {'re marriage was not valid was given by ih e casting vote of the Lord Chancellor. It was supposed that a declaratory act would be introduced to settle the question.”

The Herald[ of the above date has a long article under the head of “ Perilous State of affairs in New Zealand,"

in which is introduced a letter from C. Hector, Esq., at the Bay of Islands, describing the outrages committed by Held, or" Ilakey, and his tribe. The Herald says

“ Tu consequence of these outrages it was determined by the Government to bring 11 akey to justice, but hearing of this he.had suddenly decamped, and was supposed to be endeavouring to incite and muster as many natives as possible : and

it was this supposition which induced Captain Fitzroy to send to Sydney for military assistance, in order that there might be a respectable force on the spot. We believe one hundred aud fifty soldiers of H. M. 58th regiment are under orders to proceed to New Zealand by the Sydney on Monday. The cause of this outrage does not appear to be clearly understood, but is supposed to have arisen from a native woman, married to a person named Lord, not having complied with some native custom, and their first overt act of defiance of the law was the abduction of this woman from her husband. In other parts of New Zealand also there were great difficulties arising from the intricacies of the land question, At New Plymouth the natives had been destroying fences, pulling down bridges. and d committing] other to shew that they did not recognise the sales of land made byjthe New Zealand Company. Fortunately H.M.S. Hazard arrived at the Bay of Islands on the 15th July, and immediately proceeded to New Plymouth for the protection of the residents. We fear that these outrages are but omens of what are to ensue, for there is a large number of men of bad character, both English " and American, residiug among the natives, who are anxious to get rid of British rule entirely, and these men have considerable influence over the uatives, which they exercise in the way they consider Jo be most prejudicial to the interests of the Government, and best adapted to effect their own views—the creation of anarchy and confusion. We c&nnot conclude these remarks with anything more calculated to shew the ignorance which prevails in England respecting New Zealand than the following extract from the proceedings of the House of Lords, on the 2nd April: “ The Earl of Malmesbury presented a petition from the inhabitants of the town of Wellington and the district of Cook’s Straits, New Zealand, praying that a permanent armed force might be established For their protection, and that Government would adopt some course for the purpose of settling the titles to land there. Since the melancholly occurrence that took place on the 17th of June, 1843, at Cook’s S traits, (and which grew out of a dispute relative to title) a great deal of apprehension existed amongst the settlers with respect to their ultimate safety—an apprehension in which their friends naturally participated unless a suitable force were employed for their protection; he requested, therefore, to know what steps, if any, had been taken by the Government for the protection of the settlers? and whether any steps had been taken as to the settlement of titles to laud in that country ? The Earl of Ripon said, that a force had, by the orders of Government, been sent from New Soulh Wales and Van Diemen’s Land to New Zealand, for the protection of the Settlers, under existing circumstances. But at once to establish a body of troops there might be extremely inconvenient; he could not say, therefore, how long they would remain. It would be right to ascertain what the inhabitants cquid do for their own protection, and how far their claims for the establishment of a permanent force were well founded. There certainly were means within the reach of the colonists which they might adopt for their own safety. The Governor was authorised to levy a militia, and to establish a constabulary force, as in Ireland, for their safety » and, when there were 10,000 inhabitants, he could not see why such a course might not readily be adopted. With respect to

(he other question, which related to the settlement of titles to land, he could onlysay that instructions had beeu furnished to Captain Fitzroy, which, it was hoped would prove satisfactory. If misunderstanding had occurred, so far as the Government here or in the Island were concerned, no blame whatever attached to them. The Earl of Malmesbury said, the colonists wished a small armed steamer to be stationed at Wellington. They allowed that the instructions sent out were perfectly proper, but they were obliged to add that the local authorities did not act up to those instructions. He did not make any complaint against the local authorities, but, if Jthe allegations were true, they de. served serious consideration.

We are not aware how the petition from Wellington was disposed of, but are astonished that his excellency has not made known by some measure or another, that he was authorised to levy amiliti, and to establish a constabulary force as in Ireland , as soon as the Governor, has a little time at his disposal, we hope and trust this subject will receve that consideration to which we think it is justly entitled. The Sydney Herald is perfectly correct in the remark regarding the ignorance which prevails in England respecting New Zealand. We submit that a properly organised militia would be most beneficial to all parties but from the nature of this country, and the population, (including men, women and children,) not exceeding twelve thousand, it would require a considerable time in its formation. As to talking of a constabulary force, similar to that formed in Ireland, the idea is rich. We would like to know what the Earl of Ripon would have said if he had been told that the whole constabulary force of the city of Auckland consisted oi four men! to do duty night and day; it is true his Excellency, Captain Fitz Roy, said, was he to consult his own feelings, the Police force should rather be increased than diminished, but the financial arrangements of the colony compelled him to reduce that establishment to its present very limited number, and this being the case, how is the constabulary force to be paid, that the noble Earl speaks of P The members of the Legislative Council appointed Dr. Nicholson Chairman of Committee of the whole House during the remainder of the present Session. We perceive by the Herald above alluded to, that the schooners Carolangatlia, and I dorCt blow , are laid on for the Bay of Islands and Auckland ; the Ariel and the Star of China , were also advertised for Port Nicholson.

“ Upon looking through our English files we perceive there is a general impression abroad that Sir James Graham, Secretary of State for the Home Department, will retire from the Miaistry. His endeavours ro force the education clauses of the Factory Bill through the Hojse of Commons lasi year, and then being compelled to withdraw them, was the first check which the Peel Ministry had to encounter. This year, ou the “ time clauses” of the Factory Bill, the Ministry had two roajos rities against them, and although it was not a matter involving any necessity for resignation, it must have been very galling to Sir R. Peel to see his party deserted by the Ashleys, Siblhorps, aud Eerrauds, who had been his constant supporters. Added to this, it was stated that Sir J. Graham was anxious 'do be appointed to

the Lord Lieutenantcy of Cumberland, which was vacant by the death of Lord Lonsdale ; but the appointment was conferred upon the present Lord Lonsdale. It is very evident that a great majority of the Conservatives are much opposed to Sir James Graham, while the Whigs detest him most cordially. We should not be surprised to hear that Mr. W. E. Gladstone had been appointed to the Home Department,