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Lyttelton Times, Volume II, Issue 103, 25 December 1852, Page 11

The arrival in Port Philip of.the world-famous Great Britain steamer, the largest and one of the most splendid vessels afloat, is a memorable era in the history of Australia. It would have been considered incredible a very short time ago/that such an event could occur in November, 1852. But the genius of commercial enterprise has only commenced to give the world assurance of what it will one day accomplish. The vast pi oportions and superb interior arrangements of this magnificent ship have already been familiarised by description.to our readers; and doubtless many of them will have an opportunity of personally viewing this marvel of shipbuilding before she departs for England. The passage of the Great Britain would have been perhaps the shortest ever made to these colonies, but for the untoward circumstances which caused her detention. Her course, from the 21st of August, the date of her departure from Liverpool, up to the 18th of September, was most successful, averaging 206 miles a-day ; but a scarcity of fuel, which it was found could not be supplied at the Cape, compelled her to return to St. Helena, whereby 16 days were lost. The passengers she brings are of a very superior class to. those usually brought to" our shores. There is a much larger proportion of intelligence, energy,and skill, to be found amongst them than amongst the same number of average emigrants. These are .the qualities that insure success in colonization. These are the qualities most im-peratively-needed here and now. We cordially welcome the Si Great Britainers" to Australia; and feel warranted in assuring them that whatever temporary vexations and difficulties may meetthein upon the threshold of their new home, they will soon find out that ability, perseverance, and indomitable, self-reliance, are sure to be successful at last in the golden colony of Victoria. A very creditable newspaper was one of the amusements got up during the voyage. The manuscript numbers were printed in one neat broadsheet at the Cape. It contains well-writ-ten memoranda of daily occurrences and other matters. — M.Argus.

Mb. Lowe and N.S. Wales.—The following is an extract from a communication dated 10th July, 1852, addressed to Mr. Gilbert Wright, Secretary of the League, by Robert Lowe, Esq.,' M.P.: —" I congratulate you on the immense immigration (estimated a 5000 a week) now going on to Australia, which will effectually settle the convict question, and place you in a' position in which it will be your own fault if yoixare not as'free as any subjects of Her Majesty can reasonably-"desired I cannot deny myselfthe pleasure of informing you that I have been the means of obtaining for you through the agency of. your excellent and indefatigablefriend, Sir Wm. Molesworth, a cession to the ordinary revenue of the amounts received from gold aiid.silver—a grant valuable in itself, bin more so still as a sure precursor of the concession of the territorial revenue, lam of opinion that the present Government will not long survive the meeting of Parliament in the.autumn, and that whoever may suoceed will be quite willing to concede to you ail your just and reasonable requests. - The petition of the last and present Council was a masterly document, and produced a great effect, but those who placed it in the hands of the Duke of Argylle either neglected or were unable to give his Grace the requisite information as to the points in question,; and thus a very able advocate wns prevented from doing justice to a very good cause. I am; not a walkthrough whom the Petition was sent,