The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 275, 17 January 1849, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

Ke just and fear not: Let all the ends thou aims't at, be thy Country's! Thy Goo's, aud Truth's.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 1849

The Ship ' Duke of Portland/ Captain Cubitt, arrived in harbour on Monday forenoon, having sailed from London on the 9th, and the Downs on the 11th of September. She brings a general cargo for this place and Wellington — with twenty three cabin and six steerage passengers for Auckland, and five cabin and three steerage passengers for Port Nicholson. We congratulate our Presbyterian fellowcolonists on the safe arrival of their minister, the Rev. Mr. Pantqn, who, with his wife and family, is at length amongst them. The ' Duke of Portland,' has experienced a rather boisterous passage, having, on the 29th of September, in lat. 16 ° , 50' N., long. 24 ° , "W., experienced a hurricane at N. E., which veering suddenly to S. W., caused a terrific sea, and split many of her sails. On the 31st of October, in lat. 17 ° 50' S.,long. 28 ° W., she spoke the French barque Emilie, from Rio de Janeiro to Havre ; and on the 14th of November, in lat. 23 ° 13' S., long. 30 ° 38* W. the ship Ajax, from London for Otakou. The Ajax left the Downs with two hundred and seventy emigrants on the 11th September. On the 9th of November, in lat 30 ° 36 1 S., long. 25 ° W., at 2 40 a. m., the Duke of Portland was struck by a violent squall which carried away her three topmasts, main and tnizzen top-gallant masts, fore-topsail yard, flying jib-boom, and split several of her sails. On the 20th of November, she rounded the Cape of Good Hope, and has experienced light winds ever since. We are indebted to the courtesy of Captain Cubitt for some of the latest London journals, from whence we glean, — That Her Majesty had arrived in safety, and had been greeted •with the most enthusiastic loyalty at Aberdeen : the royal yacht making the unprecedented passage of thirty- nine hours and a half from Woolwich. The Italian quarrel is still in a state of uneasy fermentation. The French and English mediation had been accepted by Austria; but the armistice between Charles Albert and Raditzky had but a few days to run, and the several proposed bases of treaty, were considered questionable. The Sardinian monarch stood pledged to renew the campaign should honourable terms be refused. The Emperor of Russia, meanwhile, had transmitted a commendatory missive to Marshal Radetzky, applauding his brilliant victories, and rewarding them with the highest military distinction of Russia, by electing him a Knight of Saint George of the first class •. — a very significant hint, as it strikes us, to " put his trust in Nic, and keep his powder dry." Austria was beating the Hungarians on all points, and the navigation of the Danube was greatly impeded, lo be equal to any emergency, the French army, through the energy of General Lamoriciere, had been placed in the most effective state. A concentration of troops on Burgundy was taking place, and a superb review of 70,000 men had occurred in the Champ de Mars of Paris, during the first week of September. We fear, therefore, the warspark is not yet extinguished. The comments of the French journals, on the Queen's speech, in proroguing Parliament, are, in general, satisfactory, indicating as they do, a sincerity in their desire for the preservation of the peace of Europe. An armistice between the Danes and the Germans having been entered into, a number of vessels which had sought shelter in Plymouth and Falmouth, had profited by the occasion, and sailed for Hamburgh and other German ports. And in good time, for the armistice entered into, principally at the intervention of Prussia, had been indignantly scouted by the Schleswig Hofstein, Duchies, aud the central Junta of the German Empire convoked at Frankfort. Ileie, therefore, is another causus belli, and the disputes of these two paltry duchies may yet rouse Europe to a,i ms. Screw steam-ships are beginning to triumph over all others : — of this we shall shortly furnish ample details; suffice it, in the meanwhile, to mention </the complete, success of H..M. Ships Dauntless, Encounter, Niger, and others, which have more than realized the most sanguine expectations of their constructors. The great sale of the Duke of Buckingham's effects wai going on with spirit at Stowe. Eight hundred and twenty eight lots had been disposed of, on the Bth of September. We are happy to perceive that not only the Times, the Spectator, and other British journals, are loud in commendation of the courage and conduct of the gallant Sepoy Subaltern, Lieutenant l&wardes, whose services in quelling the Moultan revolt have recently been j placed before our readers, but that the Parisian Journal de Debats, does him the most grateful homage, as an officer of unexampled bravery j and merit. The British service is one almost of sordid seniority and routine. Inferior officers ldiely expeiience approbation commensurate with their deserts . — never rew aid coequal to the services they have rendered their countfy. We could, in the Navy and Army, cite instances without number. We trust Lieut. I J

Edwardes will not only himself be appropriately distinguished, but that he will form a precedent for the future reward and elevation of all flubalterns of energy, ability, and daring.

We feel confident that it will afford unqualified pleasure to our readers to learn that our late respected Governor, Captain Fitzßqy, has been appointed to the command of one of the finest Steam frigates in the British' Nayy — the u of 46 guns. Captain Fitzßoy, (as we learn from the Morning Post of the 9th Sepieiiibci,) was present with the Lords of the Admiralty, and a large scientific party, to witness the trial trip of the " Niger," screw steam sloop, which gay« a most satisfactory exhibition of her powers between Woolwich and Sheerness on the 7th of September.

We have intelligence from Sydney, by the Thomas Fielden, to the 6th instant, on which day she sailed, arriving here on the 15th, with 165 out of 171 head of cattle, 20 horses, and 350 sheep, all of which came safe, and in remarkably good condition. Their sale has been entrusted to Mr. Hyam Joseph. Amongst th« horses brought by this vessel, are two very beautiful ones, expressly selected for His Excellency' &ir George and Lady Grey. Dr. Forbes, r Capt. Vignofei, Mr. Burgess and Mr. M'lntosh — came passengers in this ship. The Colonist, Capt. Marshall, (late of the Haidee), was advertised to sail positively on the 7th, and the Deborah in a few days thereafter. The Cheerful came in yesterday afternoon, bringing the London mail for August. The Walmer Castle, Johnstone, and Louisa, had arrived, but we must defer our Sydney summary until our next.

On Monday morning, shortly after eight o'clock, we were taken rather by surprise, by the appearance of a man of war, which came into harbour in beautiful style. She was in such first-rate order, so smartly handled, and 1 oomed so large withal, that no one was able to recognise her as a previous acquaintance. Such, however, she was j proving to be H. M. ship Fly, of eighteen guns, Captain Oliver ; from Fort Nicholson the 28th ultimo, and from Nelson the Bth current. His Excellency the Governor-in- Chief and suite, were passengers in the Fly, but Sir George having landed privately, and his flag having been struck prior to her bringing up, the active sloop slipt quietly into the anchorage, affording considerable speculation as to the who and whence the well disciplined stranger. By this conveyance we have Wellington papers to the 27th ultimo, ana Nelson to the 6th instant. It appears that . Messrs. Dillon Bell, and Kemp, the Commissioners appointed on behalf of the Government and Company, to purchase from the natives, the district of the Wairarapa, have returned with the satisfactory intelligence of a successful termination of the negociations, and that all impediments to the occupancy of the valley are removed." It is furthermore gratifying to learn, that the Governor-in-Chief has evinced his woated ability and experienced his customary success when treating with the Maories — his Excellency having arranged the purchase of the splendid harbour of Waitohi, in Queen Charlotte's Sound, as a port for the Wairau. The New Zealand Spectator of the 6th ult., is eloquent on the subject of the establishment, in the Wairarapa, of " Canterbury," as the metropolis of the South — deprecating the creation of further rival settlements, and fresh conflicting interests. Acknowledging the evils of " localism," as fully as the Spectator can do, it is nevertheless, a question whether or not the lands ©f the Thames — either for fertility of soil, facility of native purchase, beauty of climate, advantages of situation, and means of internal communication — do not surpass those of the Ahuriri, Manawatu, and Rangitiki. At all events, Mr. Thomas, if desirous of forming an unbiassed judgment, should, ere he shall decide, inspect the Thames, as well as the Wairarapa and Port Cooper. On the subject of Nominee Councils — a subject which, as was to be expected, has excited a moral, social, and political convulsion, much more violent than the earthquake — the Spectator and the Independent are at bitter issue : — the former journal arguing the propriety of their establishment with the most amiably versatile exhibition of " sense and sensibility :" — the latter giving the rein to characteristic, but consistent, indulgence of " passion and prejudice." The Spectator has brought forward many pecuniary motives for submission, rather than solid arguments in favor of acceptance of such a constitution ; and, taking his line of reasoning for what it is worth, we are bound to admit, that as far as pence are concerned, he has shown some cause why such a system should, at least be tried. At Nelson, however, (par parent hese), a vote of thanks was passed for the manly and inde • pendent opposition offered to Nomineeism by the Auckland Nominees, Messrs. Kennedy, Merriman and Barstow. Detesting Nomineeism as we ever have done, and ever «hall do, even in its most promising aspect, it is still but common honesty to distinguish between its features here and elsewhere- We have always been of opinion, that

the elements, moral and physical of New Zealand, were widely different from those of the other Australian colonies — and, if we look at the present constitution of her Nominee Councils, her separate legislatures, and her distinct rulers, we shall find that these are neither copies of the old Auckland Council, nor yet fac-similes of the servile institutions so long endured by New South Wales, and still forced upon Van Diemen's Land, and South Australia. On the contrary, if the Governor is to be believed, (and we see no earthly reason why the word of his Excellency — solemnly plighted before God and man — should be questioned) , then, these Nominee Councils are to be regarded but as precursors — a sort of qualified induction to a species of representative system, shortly to be established, and to which they are meant to stand much in the same relation that dressed rehearsals do to performances of another but less important kind. Viewing them in that light, we think they may be looked upon with less of virulence than that which they have elicited from the Wellington Independent and the Nelson Examiner ; at all events, there is nothing in them to warrant the intemperate and ungentlemanly language of the chairman at Wellington, however much they might provoke attack from the speakers at the public meetings held at both towns. It was hardly to be expected that the privilege withheld from every neighbour colony, would, without any previous probation, be conceded to New Zealand. Population has, hitherto, been held to be the ground of colonial claim to free institutions. If so, our claim must be small, since Auckland boasts less than six thousand European inhabitants, and Wellington, according to the Spectator, but four thousand five hundred. Nomineeism, therefore, appears to be a purgatory through which all weak colonies must pass. It is an evil, qualify it as one may, which we can never cease to consider as other than the most impalpable shadow of civil liberty. Give us the unshielded dictation of Sir George Grey, rather than the guarded legislation of any Nominees, however unquestioned their independence, however brilliant their talent, for — " disguise it as thoii wilt, still, Nomineeism, thou art a bitter draught !" We cannot, with our limited space, and the unusual pressure of the moment, do justice to the opening address of His Excellency to the Council at Wellington. We must, therefore, reserve our comments on that masterly document until our next. It is a truly statesmanlike production, and, as such, we commend it to the calm and dispassionate consideration of our readers. Below, we give the reply of the Wellington Committee to the Auckland Relief Committee. It must be matter of heartfelt satisfaction to every subscriber to know that the injury done to that .settlement was so comparatively trifling, that their contributions were not required. The transactien, nevertheless, has been a most honourable one to both lettlements. To Auckland, for the promptitude and zeal with which she proffered aid. To Wellington, for the grateful and gratifying manner in which she declined the assistance she could herself supply. May this occasion, serve to show their inhabitants to each other in their true light ; and, henceforth, may their rivalry be void of rancour, however rife of laudable emulation. Reference is made in the following address to the resolutions of the public meeting at Wellington. These will be found in our journal of the 3rd instant. We have been requested to state that the Members of the Auckland Committee are invited to meet at the counting house of Mr. W. S. Grahame, Fort-street, at three o'clock, this day, Wednesday, January l'7th.

Wkllisoton, December 15, 1848. Gentlemen:— YV« beg to acknowledge, with mixed feeling* of gratification and regret, the receipt of a Communication, from jou, bearing date November 18, 1 848, and containing a Draft for £iOQ, (duly honored,)—a Copy of Resolutions, passed at a Public Meeting, at Auckland, — and the Address of Sympathy trom its Inhabitants. A gratification, not easily to be conveyed to you, has been universally felt, that sympathies of so generous and so » acred a nature chould have been excited on our behalf; — and as general has been the regret, that expressions made use ot ut a time, when the excitement under the visitation — necessarily great— was at iti high* | e»t intensity, should hare beea the means of creating, in the triads of our Felllow. Colonists in the worth, im> pressionf) as to the distresses involved by the extent of the losses sustained, which, on -calm r*tteetioivand> mature observation and enquiry, are seen to be erroneous and unnecessarily painful. For the purpose of giving formal publicity to your Communication and enclosures, the Committee cor. teued a public Meeting, at Wellington, on the 30th November. We now beg to forward, by the first Mail, a Copy o-f the Resolutions ja-sed at that Meeting. aad the Addiess of Thunks unanimously and cordially agreed to ; — with a Bill on the Union Bank for £400. To th« terms, but more especia ly to the spiiit of the Adi'reni ot Thanks, publicly adopted, w, the several undersigned Members of the Committee, beg ire'ry heartily to »üb»ciibe ; and we alio beg to conless to an mtire acquiescence m the Kentimem of the. third Kes> luti.ii, which rela es to the dispojal of the funds cuiriinitted to our tru^t. Jo have di-mbuted the fund', to bountifully and read ly »upi>lied, io pe,>o< s not m the condition cow ieni|li'ed by the subscub rb, wouli!, we conceive, h»\e been, muuile^tly aua beyond all question, di>hon0 ulile Htl I unjust. ILut tte suffjierb weie not reduced to a state border1 g, ut alt, on the dtgtitu ion suppoheil, may we would ope, be gathered, and believed, from Mm fact, that n> c. 11 was felt for u local geueial cwilcciiou for their idiot,

It is to be concluded, that there were cases needing immediate assistance ; but sufficient fortbii emergency wit the disposition, on the part of those least affected, to bear one Another's burdens, — sou pled, as it was, with the disposition, on the partof the chief suffereri, to meet their reverse with a good courage and a proper spirit. By reference to the fourth Resolution, it will be seen, that in order to justify the view taken,— aod thatthe inhabitants of Auckland might be assured that the. decision, not to take advantage of the uoble and substantial proof of their tjood will, so fully appreciated by us all, proceeded only from a feeling that there was an absence of the case contemplated and of the need requiring it,— it win determined, that by an advertisement in both papers (in addition to the publicity given to it at the Meeting) those who had suffered and conlidered that they were in want of aid, should be requested to apply for the same, and hare their claim for assistance fully enquired into. In answer to this advertisement, thrice repeated, eleven applications, only, were made. Of these, twp were afterwards withdrawn,— three were not considded pressing,— three were for loans, — and the remaining three were for free assistance. To "satisfy these applications for loans and for fres gifts, the sum of £68 was voted by the Committee,— to be supplied from the balance remaining out of the fund raised for the relief of sufferers by the Fire of 1842, which, being sufficient to meet the sums awarded by the Committee, renders any further appeal unnecessary. Repeating, now, the assurance of the full appreciation, by ourselves and the public of this settlement and neighbourhood, universally, of the most acceptable expression of your sympathy and good will, — a good wilU reciprocated, we have reasou tokuov, by oar whole community,— We subscribe ourselves, Gentlemen, Your very obliged and obedient servant*/ Robert Cole, Chairman, Wm. Hicks on, J. Woodwaid, John Johnston, Abraham Hort, sen'r, M. Hervey, Cb«i. Sharp, J. J. P. O'Reily, John Inglis, Henry fat. Hill. To TheopMlus Heale, Esq., W. S. Grabame, Esq., R r A. FitzGerald, Esq., John How, Esq., D. Nathan, Eiq , J. M'Can, Eiq , Dr. M'Gauran, Captain Salmon, &c.

Cricket.— The return match between the Garrison and the Albion Club, will be played in the Albert Barrack Square, this forenoon. Programme.— On Thursday, 18th January, th« Band of the 58th Regiment will perform the following pieces of music, within (he enclosure of the government grounds, from half-past four to half»paat lix o'clock :— Overture— Op " Stradella" Flowton Waltz " The Prague," 2nd Sett Libitzky Song "My Ellen is the Fairest Flower" ...Rogeri Cavutina.. .. "Casta Difa," Op Norm* .-. Bellini Quadrille -'The Royal Irish" Jullien Song " Gloomy Wioter'a now a'wa' . . .. Balgonie P.lka "Theltedowa" Calop "DerAitber" Libiizky MarcJi " The Grand Imperial' 1 .... Baldien