Notes of the Week.

Auckland Examiner, Volume 1, Issue 1, 11 December 1856, Page 3

Notes of the Week.

In his Address to the Sixth Session of the Auckland Provincial Council, delivered yesterday by Superintendent John Williamson, there is much that deserves attention and serious consideration. In our next we will venture upon a full, frank, and free examination of the Address, which our Constitutional contemporary tells us “ speaks so fully for itself with respect to the main features of the policy intended to be pursued by the Provincial Government.” Among other striking passages are the following : — “ The Legislation of the General Assembly during the past session, has in several important particulars improved the position of this Province. I refer more, particularly to those measures by which we have been relieved from further contributions.on account of the New Zealand Company’s Debt, and by which the dir. ct management of the Lands which have been or may be acquired from the Natives has been conveyed to the Provincial Legislature. “ Provision having been made for the acquisition of large tracts of land, and for ensuring accurate and speedy surveys, the greatest difficulties in the way of introducing a liberal system of disposing of these lands will be removed; and the attention of the Provincial Government has been earnestly directed to the consideration of a measure for the disposal of our lands, by which not only Capital may be attracted to this Province, but the utmost encouragement be given to desirable classes of Immigrants to settle in it. “Deeply sensible as I am of the injuries which may arise from capricious and frequent alterations of Land Regulations, I am nevertheless impressed with the necessity for an immediate change—those now existing not being,, as I believe, calculated to promote either of the objects which I have named.” It will be seen from our advertizing column that Miss Fisher, the actress, is to give a Ball in Mr. Southwell’s new Salle de Danse, Theatre Royal, this evening (Thursday). When we are again to have Dramatic performancies by a regular and efficient Company. Mr. Southwell has not yet informed the public or ourselves. On dit that tlfe celebrated wizard Jacobs is expected by the next “ Denny,” and that-we may hope soon to see our theatre re-opened for dramatic representations by a Melbourne Company. , The Constitutional party seems resolved to surround oui Superintendent with men who if unable to assist, certainly will not thwart him. Major Matson is brought forward for the city, vice Captain Beckham resigned. A contemporary describes this Major Matson as “ the nominee of the Association which calls itself Constitutional, but .of which the unconstitutional doings have been pretty freely exposed within the last day or two.” We were glad to hear that some gentlemen of this city had determined tb erect a memorial in honour of those braves who fighting, the battle of civilisation have fallen upon the fields of New Zealand. It is time that justice be done to these men, and that the heroes who fell beneath Muscovite swords or riddled bv Muscovite bullets at Silistria, Oltenitza, Eupatoria, Alma, and Inkermann, although worthy of immortal honour should not engross our sympathies to the utter exclusion of other less fortunate heroes. War is a frightful evil, but there are evils yet more frightful than those which war carries in its train. We would rather men should love peace than war, would gladly see all nations “beat their sword into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks,” but the}’ will not in our time, pdrhaps not in any time. Many there are who believe that war, like the spear of Achilles, doth heal the wound it makes. While denying that we admit that the sword has done much to civilize barbarous tribes who could scarcely be reached without it. When General Bugeaud governed Algeria, he was asked to Christianize the natives, “ No, holy father,” said he, “ the sabre first then the cross.” In the school of war men learn some of their best lessons and the lessons there learned are never forgotten. No where, perhaps, so intensely as on the battle field, or (worse yet) in the Military Hospital after a battle can we feel the grand moral of Gray’s lines—

The pomp of heraldy, the pride of power, With all that beauty—all that wealth ere gave, Await alike the inevitable hour, The paths of glory lead but to tho grave.

Glad then.arc we that Major Greenwood, Mr. Burn, and other influential persons are determined that a “storied urn” shall no longer be wanting to commemorate the devoted heroism .of those British soldiers who have fallen in New Zealand. Among other means of raising the necessary funds will be a Dramatic Performance at the Theatre Royal under the

immediate patronoge of Colonel Wynyard, in which performance we are informed Major Greenwood, Mr. Dillon Bell, Mr. David Burn and other “ notabilities” will take part. •