WELLINGTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 508, 16 September 1857, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

We have news from this Province to the 2nd instant. There is not much, of importance in the papers. The following para-' graphs relate to the movements ..of'..-the Wonga AYonga steamer :—• ■ The Wonga Wonga steamer arrived in port yesterday evening alter a passage of four days.

She left Auckland, on Monday, at 30, minutes past noon, anchored at Table Cape for 12 hours on Wednesday, strong wind from the southward, started at midnight, weather r.iore moderate, find anchored here exactly at 7 o'clock last -night, nut having called in at the Ahuriri on her passage. We are told that while at Auckland, she had her bottom cleaned and examined, and it exhibited no appearance of being in the slightest degree injured by being ashore on the •sand spit at Napier. The Hon. the Colonial Treasurer, Mr. Richmond, and the Inspector of the Oriental Bunk, W. EHis, Ese^., are passengers by her. The, Sea Serpent had left Auckland, .with a full cai-go, for Ahuriri three days 'before the steamer, and may therefore be looked for in almost a week hence from Napier, Great activity is -manifested at Auckland in opening ■up the trade to Ahuriri. The Erin would leave in a few days, also a full ship: and about the same time the schooner Ann with 60 tons cargo for Woodhon-se and Buchanan, who are intending to establish a branch of their house at Napier. Bain, Grahame, arid Co., of Auckland, have offered, we hear, to advance liberally,- and to pa^y off liabilities of the stock owners to Wellington merchants, provided they are promised the ensuing clip. The Aorere gold diggings must be producing attention at the North, as we are informed the seamen on board the steamer shipped to come south at' Is."for the run down.

The "Wellington Steam Navigation Company's" S.S. Wonga Wonga started on her first trip, since she became the property of Wellington shareholders, yesterday afternoon punctually -■at 4 o'clock. We understand that tl.ere were three cabin passengers, and about 45 steerage passengers bound for the gold diggings, Aorere. To all appearance, her being alongside the wharf, allowing passengers to embark free of expense, was a great accommodation. The scene-:when she cast away from the quay was really full of novelty, excitement, and interest, both to those on board and to all who were on shore bidding adieu to their friends, and recalled to mind forgotten scenes of the old country. Hearty cheers were given by those aboard, and heartily responded to by those on. shore. To all who have taken their departure, and to those .who intend trying their luck, we wish them most sincerely the greatest success. Whether good or bad fortune, however, attends those who have .left .us, we are sure we speak the sentiments of adarge number of Wellington settlers when we say. a welcome will be accorded to all who return. Several of those whose passages were paid were too late. It is most desirable .that strict punctuality should be observed as regards the advertised time for sailing. Although some few may thus have been inconvenienced, jet the benefits arising from a punctual adherence to time are so great and so manifest, that those who are behind time must submit to the consequences of their own fault with the best .'grace they can. We are informed the Wonga Wonga" is expected back in Wellington from the 'diggings on Friday''afternoon.. It will be seen *by an advertisement in our columns that she vv ill proceed again to the diggings on Saturday next, at four o'clock, and then stretch across to' ■-show herself to her other proprietors, our friends at Wanganui. They, we doubt not, will be us well pleased with tha little Wonga as her Wellington shareholders are. We hail with great satisfaction the announcement that the Company offer to bring back to Wellington ;ill who like to avail themselves of the opportunity of returning, at a eou■siderable reduction on Hie rate of passage money to'the Diggings. There is now a powerful Wellington interest felt to be in existence at the Diggings; it is of no use now to argue whether this is a subject for congratulation or the reverse, such is the fact, and the true commercial policy should, as we are sure will be, "to afford the greatest facility for quick and regular communication between that place and ■■this port and Province. Whilst referring to this subject we cannot avoid expressing a little regret that the offer made to our friends at Ahuriri to take shares and exhibit an interest in the formation of the Wellington Steam Navigation Company has been somewhat misunderstood, whatever political differences of opinion and good grounds for dislike there may exist (which we are sorry to say they have good, cause for believing) against the Provincial" Government: we feel certain it is unwise to decline co-operation in a scheme which would have increased and improved their present means of -communication with Wellington. Besides, wethers may yet be wanted at "the Colling wood Diggings, and the distance is not practically greater from Napier than Auckland is. We wait with interest the Wonga's return on Friday, and will furnish our readers on Saturday with the fullest information we can obtain of her trip, and the latest news from Coliingwood Diggings.— Spectator, Sept. 2. ' The Hawke's Bay Herald and Ahuriri Advocate' is to be published on the 10th Sept. The ' Southern Cross' says " the- new journal ■will be conducted by Mr. J. Wood, for some while past sub-editor of the ' Southern Cross.' From our knowledge of his literary ability, and—what is of equal importance in the establishment of a newspaper—his perfect acquaintance with the more practical details of management, we venture to predict complete success'to the undertaking." .