The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 197, 19 April 1848, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

Be .just and fe<u not: Let all the' ends thou aiins't at, be thy Countiy's, Tliv Oon't., and Truth's.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1848.

By the Hyderabad, we ha\e lecened British Intelligence (ua .Sydney) to Die 17th Deceml)er. The most important feature, as far as this Colony is concerned, is the virtual abrogation of the anomalous Constitution propounded for, and recently proclaimed in New Zealand. In commenting upon tins, its most statesmanlike repudiation, the Sydney Herald appositely remarks — " Our readers will remember that we have several times stated that Go\crnor Grey would ne\cr put the New Zealand Act into operation. We find that he had written home so shaiply on the subject, that the Ministry had introduced a bill into llie House of Commons to .suspend the act foi fi\e )ears; there are Lo be municipal bodies in certain dtstucts, but the Legislative Council is toiemain as at piesent ; but should the Go\ernoi see fit to appoint an Assembly and Council he is to nominate the members' The pet tlicoiy of double election "being thus repudiated in New Zealand, it is not probable that it will be tried heie. The debate was a most interesting one, in consequence of a protest from the Bishop of New Zealand." That debate, and the glow ing eulogium (fiom the Times) on the administration of Governor Grey, will be found in our columns. For the piesent we shall content ourselves ■with congratulating our leaders, that, the slippery Fiench Electoral system, which Earl Grey preferred to the honest, manly independence of Old English lepresentation has thus been nipped in the bud, and that the vcxatu questio of land spoliation, stmedby the ciochetty subtleties of the same noble Earl is likely to be set at lest, and that in a manner beneficial both to the English and the Maori race. — by the controlling sagacity of the British Senate. Ireland, that impracticable thorn in the flesh of e\ery ministry — Whig, Tory, or Conservative, — was in a fearful state, Assassinations i\ ere rife ; the relief subscriptions of the charitable, being in a great measure, expended in the purchase of arms and ammunition wherewith to massacre their benefactors — A protestant clergyman, — the Rev. J. Lloyd, vicar of Aughriin, was shot dead in open day "on his return homewaids, half an hour after he had officiated in the performance of divine service. The atrocious system of " denouncing from the altar" was about to experience a wholesome check, by a Bill to render it felony. We trust that Act may extend to the Colonies, for we legret to percene that a priest in New South "Wales has had the temerity to import the Tipperaiy abomination into Australia. The commercial distress had reached its maximum, and something like confidence i;a > s slowly returning. There had been a long debate in Parliament on the " Crisis," and on the motion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, a committee had been appointed to enquire into the cause of the lecent difficulties.

Our intelligence from Sydney is meagre. Trade was dull, and the monetary derangements of England, combined with the depreciated value of wool and tallow, were expected to cause a hard winter. Considerable activity in the New Zealand cattle trade existed, and several large ships had been taken up, and were about to be taken up, for such tiansport, viz : — the Hyderabad ( just arrived) , for two trips ; the Marchioness of Douglas, chartered for three trips ; the Palmyra, brig, on her way hither ; the Tasmania, also on the berth ; the London, ahout to be laid on •, the Brightman, on the eve of sailing on her third voyage to Nelson, and some otheis spoken of. A trial of great interest — second only to that of the Banks of Austialia and Australasia— had occupied the Supreme Court foi seven days. It was an action, Giaham v. Barker and anr., for gross negligence and fraud, in investing monies entrusted to the defendants, in improper secunties, and in direct contra\ ention of the written instructions of the plaintiff. The juiy letired for one houi and a half, and found a substantial verdict for the plaintiff against both defendants— damages, £6 1G0; £2160 of that sum being for inteiest. A lather theatrical, but extremely natuial ebullition of popular feeling (instantly checked) greeted this announcement,—the effect of winch was that the juiy acquitted the defendants of ft and in the investment of the money ; that the defendants were employed for hire and reward, and tint they invested the money with gross negligence. An unusual quantity of lain had fallen throughout the Colony, especially in Sydney, wlicru many oi the Louses had be"n inundated, iouuUatious napped, and walla u&hcd doun,

whilst in the inteuor slock and faun pioduce had been swept away by the overfiooded rivers.

Since our last, the ship Hyderabad has anivedin thiiteen days from Sydney, whcie shi' took on boaid 380 head of cattle and 300 sheep. The moitalily of Ihe former is stated at sixteen ])ei cent., that oi the lallei too tn\uil to be noticed.

pRoc.KAMMn.-— On Thursday, April 20, at 4- o'clock, on the space of ground opposite the Council Chamber, the Band of the 58ih Regiment, will perform the following pieces of music :— Overture Op.—" Eliza c C'auiHo ". . . . . Mercandante Cay. Op. — " Riclmid et Zouide " llosiiiu Cay. Op.—" Norma " iie) lmi Waltz—" Zuttori's " - - Zuttori Polka— "The Camelia " Jiilhen Galop — " Postilion de Longeme.ui " Adam