The New Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 349, 1 September 1849, Page 2

The New Zealander.

He just ami fear not: Let all the ends lliou aitns't at, be thy Country's, Thy God's, and Truth's.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1849. The Governor-in- Chief sailed on Thursday in H.M. S. "Fly," for the Bay of Islands, where he is expected to be present at a great native feast. His Excellency was accompanied by Lady Grey and his Private Secretary, Captain Nugent. He wil ] probably return to Auckland in about eight or ten days.

By the " Susan," which arrived in this port on Thursday, we have Sydney papers to the 18th August. In the "Sydney Herald'" we find English and Continental news to the 7th of May, which had arrived hy the Overland Mail at Ceylon, and had then heen brought down to Sydney by the " Torrington." This is principally taken from the " Ceylon Times" of the 16th June. We devote a considerable part of our space to the intelligence which reached us, and some of which will be found very important.

The two engrossing topics in Parliament were the Navigation Laws, — a question important in itself, and rendered yet more so, by the understood fact, that the continuance in office of Lord John Russell's Ministry depended on the fate of their measure on the subject ; — and the policy for Ireland, — no less now than ever the " great difficulty " of British Statesmen. The third reading of the Navigation Laws Amendment Bill had been carried in the House of Commons by a majority of 275 to 214, being an increase of five votes over the majority {on the second reading. la this debate the most remarkable speeches were, that on the side of protection, by the member for Midhurst, Mr. Walpole, (who is one of the most rising men in the House); and those in support of the Government measure by Sir James Graham, who bent all his strength in reply to Mr. Walpole, and by the Premier himself. The great struggle however, was in the House of Lords, where Lord Stanley, with his characteristic ardour and ability, led the opposition. The critical debate had commenced on the 7th of May , but — (with that tantalisin g disappointme nt which here at " the ends of the earth " we so frequently have to endure,) — our information breaks off just before the division. Speculation was rife, but contradictory, as to the issue. The protectionists were so sanguine of success, that already their programme of a new Cabinet was handed about ; while, on the other hand, the free-traders calculated on a large majority. Lord John Russell had made what is justly stigmatised as an " unconstitutional " attempt to carry his Irish Rate-in- Aid Bill, by summoning the whole of the Irish members to a conference with him out of the House, and throwing upon them the responsibility of accepting the measure, or dictating a substitute. He threatened them, should they prove refractory, with an extension to Ireland of various English taxes, and, especially of the most obnoxious of all, the Income Tax. But they saw through the stratagem, and simply passed a resolution declining to give an opinion " out of tlm House " on any specific measure. Ministers had therefore to return to Parliament, without having taken anything by this movement. They however, proposed a measure supplemental to the Rate-in-Aid, and embodying a fuller development of their Irish policy. They pro - posed to establish a Commission for superseding the jurisdiction of Chancery during three years ; the Commission to transact the conveyance of land, to give to the purchaser a complete Parliamentary title, and to claimants satisfaction of their just claims. There was to be also a series of Bills for facilitating the transfer, marketable use, and improvement of i land, by amending the technicalities of the law relating to limited interests, perpetual leaseholds, &c. The plan is manifestly a plaI giarism from Sir Robert Peel's more substantial and coherent scheme ; but he, notwithstanding, gave it his support. The ''Spectator," comparing the plans of Ministers with that of | "their rival and ally" Sir Robert, observes — | " their plans are a series of scraps, as yet miserably incomplete ; his scheme, even in its j initial state of uncompleted suggestion, has an [ eye to wholeness, including great essentials, of which they throw out not a shadow of a promise." Several measures had been driven out of the field for the present. Mr. Ewarts motion for the abolition of capital punishments had been negatived by a majority of 51 to 25 ••••Sir John Pakington's bill for preventing bribery at elections had heen virtually thrown out by the rejection of the clause requiring a member to make a declaration of purity before taking his seat. . . .Mr. Locke's bill to facilitate Sunday travelling on railways, was defeated, though only by a majority of nine in a House of 253 members. Both Houses of Parliament had by acclamation passed votes of thanks to the GovernorGeneral of India, the Commander-in-Chief, and the officers and men engaged in the late Indian war. The Duke of Wellington made a speech on the subject, embodying such an able outline of the campaign, as afforded gratifying proof that the veteran hero (who has just entered his 81st year,) retains, at least on mili-

tary affairs, the clearnessand comprehensiveness of view which signally marked his early career. We shall give this speech in a future number. The liberation of Duffy had diverted,not closed, the seemingly interminable agitation on the Irish State prosecutions. The writs of error in the cases of Smith OBrien and others, were to be argued before the House of Lords on the 1 Oth of May. The appointment of Mr. Ward to the lonian Islands, having caused a vacancy in the representation of Sheffield, Mr. Roebuck had been invited by the constituency, and elected to the seat. He is an able and independent though crotchetty man ; and if, during his temporary absence from senatorial life, he has learned wisdom enough to command his irascible temper and restrain the bitterness of invective which so often gave offence and pain even to his friends, — he will be a valuable re-acojusi-tion to the House of Commons, The expectation of a more speedy communication between the Australian colonies and the mother country has been for the present disappointed, — the India and Australia Steam Company having sent an official notice to the Government, relinquishing the contract for the conveyance of the mails between Singapore and Sydney. It was hoped, however, that the object would yet be attained, by the establishment of a second line of steamers between India and China. Mr. John Abel Smith (an East India proprietor, and head of the banking firm of Smith, Payne, & Co.) was to be the new Secretary of the Admiralty. The Meeting of the Proprietors of the NewZealand Company to take steps against the sending of convicts to this Colony, was held (according to the announcement to which we referred in a former number) on the 27th of April. The report of it given by the " Times" will be found in another column. It will be seen that, in addition to strong statements on the immediate object for which the meeting was convened, great stress was laid on the necessity of a charter of free government for the Colony, as its best security against the evils of convict emigration. Prince Albert had laid the foundation stone of a grand system of docks at Great Grirasby, on the mouth of the Humber, projected by the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway Company, as a Lincolnshire port to compete for the European traffic engrossed by Hull. His Royal Highness won golden opinions by his urbanity, and the interest which he manifested in the commercial and agricultural affairs of the district. From Ireland, the sad and oft-told tale of poverty, disease, and almost hopeless suffering continued to be repeated. Cholera was added to the other calamities of the wretched province of Connaught. At Hallinasloe the deaths in the Avork-house exceeded 100 per week. Prom the county of Limerick also, it was reported, " there is no trade so profitable as coffin making.".. ln the counties of Clare, Roscommon, and Galway, a great number of grazing farms were offered for sale, but the low prices of cattle discouraged any investment of capital in them. .. From the South, extensive emigration, chiefly of the farming classes, was going forward. The emigrants by one vessel (the " Countess of Durham") ftom Waterford for Quehec carried out £7000 amongst them.

The accounts fromthe Continent continue to diappoint the anticipations of those who hoped that after the convulsions of 1848, Europe would settle into tranquility. At the last dates France had not only resolved on an armed interference for the restoration of the Pope to his. temporal sovereignty, but had vigorously commenced operations. A powerful expedition for the purpose, which had sailed from Toulon and Marseilles on the 22nd of April, had landed at Civita Vecchia ; 6000 Frenchmen had actually appeared at the gates of Rome. The Roman Triumvirate had formally protested ; and an agrarian law, a levy en masse, and a public oath to conquer or die, had followed the news of the landing of the French. The defeat of the Danish fleet had been followed by a disastrous defeat of the Danish forces in [the field, with a loss computed at 4000 men. After a severe contest the town of Kolding, in Jutland, was taken on the 23rd of April, by the army of Schleswig Holstein, j commanded by the Prussian General Bonin. The Danes retreated to F/edericia, which they were fortifying. But the German aids of Schleswig were three to one against them. The Danish ministry, however, had declared their determination to continue the war. The Hungarian war had assumed an increasingly fearful aspect. The Austrian army numbered 126,000, to which 125,000 Russians were to be added. The Hungarian army, including 20,000 Poles, amounted to 154,000. It was stated that the Hungarians had achieved an important victory near Pesth. The King of Prussia had refused the Imperial Crown offered him by the Frankfort Parliament on the condition of his accepting with it the Constitution they agreed to ; so that thaf body must modify the Constitution or lose the Emperor — unless, indeed, as some expected, the King should abdicate, when the heir to the throne, would, it was believed, accept the Im« perial Crown,

" The kingdom of the Punjaub is at an end, and all the territories of the Maharajah Dulleep Singh are now and henceforth a portion of the British Empire in India." Such was the declaration officially proclaimed at a grand Durbar held at Lahore on the 29th March. The Proclamation sets forth the turbulence, dishonesty, and treachery of the Sikhs since the death of Runjeet Singh ; it then states the terms imposed by the Government ; and concludes by promising to the obedient and peaceful a rule of " mildness and beneficence," and threatening any who may prove disloyal J#th " prompt and most rigorous severity." jJulleep Singh was to have four lakhs of rupees per annum, and to reside wherever he may be sent by our Government. The few Chiefs who have not engaged in hostilities against the British were to retain their property and rank ; but the property of those who took arms was to be confiscated. Moolraj was to be hanged, it having been proved that he gave an elephant to the murderer of Mr. Van Agnew. The Government of the Punjaub was to be conducted by a Council, of which Lieut. -Col. (Sir Henry Lawrence was to be President. It remains to be seen whether the tranquillity thus apparently restored will be permanent. A writer in the " Moffussilite," who was present at the Durbar, hints that some of the Sirdars even then shewed a disposition to murmur. However, as a London contemporary observes — " If the hot season affordi them a time of repose and leisure for new plots, the next cold season will find Sir Charles Napier on the ground." Amongst the items of military intelligence in the " Agra Messenger," it is stated thatja number of soldiers of the 24th foot, supposed to have been killed at Chillianwallah, had only heen made prisoners, and were restored to General Gilbert. Several of their wives, however, believing them dead, had already been married to other men.

The Legislative Council was still sitting at Sydney, and, judging from the foity-council-lor power of speech-making displayed by some of the members, he would be a wise seer who could predict when its Session will terminate. As some of the discussions bore on topics the interest of which is by no means limited to New South Wales, we shall take an early opportunity of recurring to them. The "Lady Clarke," having several of Sir Chas. Fitzroy's family on board, had arrived from England, after passing through extraordinary difficulties. The Sydney " Herald" contains a narrative of the voyage written by one of the passengers, which possesses an almost romantic interest. The Governor's family set a good example, on the Sabbath after their landing, by publicly returning thanks to God, at S. James's Church, for their delivery from the dangers of ship-wreck, and their safe a' rival in the colony. The Intelligence from South Australia is to the 27th of July. The Legislative Council was sitting at Adelaide. It was chiefly occupied in the consideration of the Estimates. The Secretary of State had approved of the conduct of >ir H. Young, in giving up the claim to Royalties, and had authorised the introdustion of a Bill to declare the reservation clause in 'he deeds of grant null and void. Business was flourishing, and Burra Burra shares had risen to £160. The Legislative Council of Van Diemen's Land assembled at Hobart Town on the 31st ult. It appears from Sir William Denison's " Minute" on opening the Council that there had been a falling off in the Revenue as estimated to the extent of £4,614; but the Customs showed an increase of £1,100, on the last quarter, as compared with the corresponding quarter of last year. The Governor stated that, as he " expected to receive the Act of Parliament authorizing the change from a nominated to an Elective Council before the end of the year," he had " postponed several matters of great importance to the colony until he should be able to ascertain upon such subjects the opinion of the community, I as expressed by their duly elected representatives." We have news from the. Cape of Good Hope , to the 7th of July. Public feeling ran higher , and higher against the reception of convicts. We quote from the " Graham's Town Journal" the following squib, not because we greatly admire either its poetry or its morality, but as a significant indication of the spirit which was abroad : — " We every man will hiss and hoot Who cloei a Convict hire, And cast his effigy to boot Tnto a blazing fire : If this won't do, another plan f* We'll very soon devue, * And tar and feather every man A Convict who employs." At a public meeting on the 4th of July, attended by about 8000 persons, an indignant protest against the colony being made a penal settlement, was agreed to, and a sum of £3,400 was guaranteed to send the convicts back. A General Colonial Anti-Convict Association was in course of formation to provide for the registration of freemen : no person was to be admitted unless he could produce sufficient evidence that he did not go out to the colony as a prisoner. The convict ship had not arrived ; but Sir Harry Smith had signified that on its arrival he should, according to his instructions, distribute the convicts through the colony. The

next intelligence will therefore be anxiously looked for.

The " Despatch" had arrived at Sydney from California, bringing valuable intelligence, though not to the extent anticipated. "We have little doubt," says the " Herald" of the 6th instant, " that our letters and papers are onboard the "William Hill," which sailed from San Fiancisco a day or two before the " Despatch." We copy, however, from the " Herald" of that date and from some preceding numbers, extracts well meriting attention ; particularly official notifications from the MajorGeneral commanding in California, and Mr. Williams, the American Consul at Sydney, which exhibit with sufficient plainness the difficulties thiown by the restrictive legulations of the United States' Government in the way of foreign gold-seekers, even before they can enter on the perils and precarious profits of the " diggings." We shall, in our next, give some additional extracts, and then offer a few comments on the whole of the information on the subject which has reached us. The " Her.ild" says — "A number of letters from persons who left the colony in January and February last have been received, some of which we believe express great dissatisfaction and discontent." This is just what the various accounts would lead us to expect.— Gold itself may be bought too dearly.

Supreme Court. — The Court will sit for the trial of criminal cases this morning, at ten o'clock. We understand there are four cases, — one or two of a serious character.

The New Zkaland Company and the Convict Question. — Yesterday (April 27) a large meeting of the shareholders in this company was held at New Zealand-houie, Bn ad street-buildings, for the purpose of consider n^ the propriety of adopting measures to prevent the itigma likely to be cast on New Zealand, by making it a p*nal settlement. Mr. Aglionby, M P., presided, and expressed his opinion that the directors ought to offer no opinion at present, but to hear the views which hrtd led so nanny of the shareholders to request that such a meeting might be called, Mr. Watson then roie and moved a series of resolutions, expressing the s'rongest condemnation of the introduction of convict emigration into New Zealand, and urging the company to adopt, w tbout delay, steps for sterling such a cnlam ty. He pointed out the following jrnunds for the conclusion that Government intended including New Zealand among the colonies destined to receive convict emigrants :— First, that the operation wai to be carried into eftect with such secrecy that no colony should know of convicts being sent to it till they had arrived. 2nd. That a pledge of Lord Norm nliy's that New Zealand should not be 6til>ject to this diigr cc, had already been broken or evadeJ. 3rd That a despatch had been received by tli" Govcnoi from Earl Grey, pointing out New Zsaland as one of the colnnie* to which the new pan of convict enrgiaticn might be properly apj lied ; am', lastly, that tins despatch had been withheld from the papers relating to New Zealand annually laid bofoie Parliament, while the di-ectors of the company, notwithstanding their i itimate rcla'ions with the Colonial Office, were unable to inform the proprietors whether anything of the kind was in contemplation. Mr. Watson then weat on to show how completely the ex- | penment already made in violation of Lord Nrr« mauby's p'edt>e had failed, (he convicts, having disappeared amon? the native { opulation, instilled into their ductile minds the poison of vice, and prepared the destruction of those seeds of virtue and moiaity which had been planted witli so much cara in New Zealand by the missio-ia y labmn. The Government miuht Bttempt to smu gle convicts into that colony, but as tluse wiie sure to a sociate with the aborigines, it cou'd not adopt such a course without doing the greatest injury to the cause o f civilization. Mr Watson was followed by Mr. Frederick Young, who in seconding the resolution proposed pointed out 'o the meeting that the company wai not bound to cuggest the way in which convicts might best be provided for, but simp'y to take care that none should be sent to the colony over the interests of which it had to watch. Colonies were either sinks for the criminal population ofthemoher country, or outlets for the most enterprising and adventurous portions of her people. It was upon the last plan that the colonization of New Zealand was undertaken, and as thousands had emigrated on the faith that this course would be persevered in, a g.oss breach of public faith wuuld he perpetra'ed if the sys'era was now changed. The tide of emigration would then cease altogether, and the company's land would then become valueless. Mr. Haswell, a judge in New Zealand, in supporting the resoluticns, stated that in his judicial capacity he had tried three of the boyi sent out from Paikhurst, and that two of them had been banished from the colaiy. The mesting was then addressed by Mr. Burnard and Mr. Dawson. Mr. J. A. Smith, who expHss^d his full concurrence in what had been said, did not think that ! there was any chance of relief from Government, and ! asked what courie Mr. Burn md intended to pursue. The latter gentleman in reply suggested that a petition should be piesentcd to the Legislature, and that the whole | arliamei tary influence of the company shou'd be set in motion. General Briggs moved a resolution, that the best security against the evil of c-nvict emigration would be to grant ihe colouy a charier of free government. This lesolution, which was seconded by Mr. Martin, was considered by Mr. J. A. Smith as a digression ; Earl Grey was more anxious than any one else to give a free constitution to New Zealand, and he believed that measures for that purpose were in progress, and would be carried into effect as soon as possible. The chairman, Mr. G. F. Gurney, and others, expressed themselves in the same sense, but the resolution wai eventually carried unanimously. It was tben agreed that a petition be presented to Parliament, and after the usual vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting terminated.— Times.