Original Correspondence. WELLINGTON.

New Zealander, Volume 2, Issue 86, 23 January 1847, Page 3

Original Correspondence. WELLINGTON.

tFrom the (t Wellington Spectator," January 6th.] . . Through the kindness of Captain Graham of H.M.S. Castor we have received a Hobart Town Courier of the 23rd December, containing English news to 19tU September, brought by the Sir Robert Peel, which arrived from England two days before the Castor sailed, after an unusually quick passage of ninety-two days. ' We do not find in the Courier the slightest allusion to New Zealand affairs, nor can we learn through any pi irate channel any English news relating to New Zealand. The mail was on board the Tropic, which had not arrived at the time of the Castor's leaving Hobart Town ; still any news of apublic nature would have transpired through the English journals. We may therefore be led to conjecture that the newt of the rebels plundering and driving the settlers from the Hutt may have reached England in sufficient time to prevent the expeiiment of a proprietary government from being carried into execution. To this would succeed the news of the murder of the Gillespies,and (he other outrages committed by the rebels, which would prevent any Minister from incurring the grave responsibility of withdrawing from British subject* so peculiarly situated, the protection of the British Government, and transferring its authority to a private Company. We may also reasonably infer from their silence as to New Zealand affairs, that the Bill for regulating the Government of New Zealand had not been introduced into Parliament during the last session. Should this prove to be the case, we shall be gainers by the delay, as it will allow further lime for reflection, and for the receipt of information which must materially influence the decision of the Colonial Minister. He would learn, if this truth had not previously reached him, that the interests of the Company and the settlers were not identical, and that their pa*t experience of the New Zealand Company's management did not lead the settlers to desire any extension of authority to that body. We must for a short period still remain in ignorance as to the future, but there is reason for hoping that the rumours which have lately been so confidently circulated of the establishment of a proprietary government may prove to have been premature.

In a debate in flic House of Commons, August 14th, on a petition from Van piemen's Land in favour of a Representative Assembly, Lord John Russell in reply to some observations by Mr. Hume, said he had no hesitation in telling him that he thought, " generully speaking the Representative constitution ought to be introduced further into our colonies." He then observed with

reference to the petition— 11 1 beg to say one word with, regard to the colony from which this petition comes — Van Diemen's Land, with regard to which my honorable friend &ys .truly, that the plan of sending great numbers of convicts there, year by year, lias failed. It has been said that it is owing to a policy adopted when I succeeded the Secietary or Slate for that depaitment » my policy was to leave oil' the then system of transportation to New South Wales. But I intend to go further, and adopt in great part, though not altogether, the policy recommended in the works of the Archbishop of Dublin. My opinion is, that transportation ought to be very much diminished : 1 therefore intended to introduce bills to take it away, in cases of larceny, and only leave it in some very grave cases, and where the punishment of death was commuted. If 'that had been done, the number sent to Van Diemen's Land in a year, instead of 4000, would have been but 500 or 600." Hobbkry by Tiic Natives.— Messrs Sellers and Scott, arrived in town on Sunday night from Wanganui. On arriving at the Rangitikei river the natives of that neighbourhood plundered them of their blankets, and the change of clothing they had with them, leaving them only the things they- stood upright in. Mr. Scott can identify one of the robbers, if not mote, as having been connected with the rebels on the Hutt ! The rebels are located on the Manawata, liangitikei, and Wanganui, and property and life will be insecure unless some attempts are made to dislodge them. Petomi, the suspected murderer of the boy Hobman, having been seen in the vicinity of Okiwi, where the murder was committed, a party of the armed police have for the last few days been on the watch to apprehend him. Yesterday a native was apprehended and sent into town on suspicion of being concerned in the murder, and the native wife of Biowu was also apprehended, proof having been obtained that .she had been supplying the murderer with food. Caution to Parents.-— Last week a boy named Wilhelmn, aged four years, had a' narrow escape from being poisoned. The child had eaten a large quantity of tutu berries, a most deadly poison. Dr. Fitzgerald and Dr. Dorset promptly attended on the little sufferer. The stomach pump was used, but for several hours the boy's life was despaired of. ,He is now however, thanks to the timely medical assistance, slowly recovering We trust that parents will for the future be cautious in allowing their children to stray from home. The life of the little sufferer, in this instance, has been saved it is true, but the poibon is of so deadly a nature, that the worst results may always be anticipated. School Examination. —The Children attending the Church of England School at Nelson were examined yesterday (Dec. 1 1 ) by the Rev. C. L. Reaj\ Many respectable persons were present. The mode of'examination adopted by the reverend gentleman was designed to show rather that the children understood thoroughly what they were taught, than to make a display of knowledge which might be superficial. The children acquitted themselves very satisfactorily. A great tea party followed, to which the children from Mr. Campbells school were invited, and the little urchins united did fearful execution to the cakes and buns. Accident.— The Rev. C. L. Reay met with a serirouS accident on Sunday last. The reverend gentleman was returning from the Brook Street valley, where he had been pecforming afternoon service, and Iwhen opposite to the residence of Mr. Fell, the strap of his saddle broke, and be was thrown to the ground with violence, and broke his collar bone. Surgical assistance was fortunately at hand, and we" arc happy to hear he is now doing well. Tub late Boat Accident.— The body of the unfortunate young man, John Askew, was found by some Natives on the sands of the VVaimea, on.Tuesday last. The deceased when last seen by bis brother, was in the act of taking of his coat, and, as he was found with his arms only partly extricited from it, the probability is that he got them entangled in making the attempt, and that his life was lost in .consequence. A coroner's inquest sat on the body, and returned a verdict of "Accidental Death." The deceased belonged to the Royal Howard Lodge, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Manchester Unity, and though, as we understand, he had not been a member ibe required time to be entitled to any assistance from the funds, yet his lodge, with the liberality characteristic of the order, voted the sum of £10 to the widow, the amount to which he would have been entitled had he been a full member Most of the bretliern residing in the town, to the number of at least 100, followed the body to the grave, where an oration was delivered by C. S. Sul. livan in a feeling and impressive manuer.