WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1850.

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 398, 6 February 1850, Page 2

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 18 5 0.

The New Zealand Company's ship, the Berkshire, which left London on the 4th of October, had arrived at Taranaki, bringing a mail for Auckland, which we may hope will reach us about the end of the present week ; — no inconsiderable attainment, when we remember that the letters posted in London for this town in July last have not yet been received. But we question whether in the voluminous annals of Post Office mismanagement there is to be found another arrangement, for a large community, so absurd in its mischievousness as that which now regulates — or, to speak more correctly disordert — the communication between New Zealand and the home count xy. In anticipation of our " overland mail " from New Plymouth, we are enabled to state that Sir George Grey and Lady Grey weie there, in health, and in all the spirits which their expected pi esence at approaching marriage festivities could inspire. A lady had come out by the Berkshire to be married to LieutenantGovernor Eyre. We do not suppose that we shall infringe on any delicacy in naming her, as there is httle doubt that, by this time, Miss Ormond (sister to the Lieutenant-Governor's Private Secretary) has become Mrs. Eyre. Sir George and his Lady were to remain for the ceremony, and then, it was supposed, his Excellency would proceed to Wellington. Rumours of Sir George Grey's recal, in order to his receiving another, (and, if another, undoubtedly a more valuable) appointment, are revived, and with more semblance of authority than those which werej current here a few weeks since. If we may add our own conjecture to the other straws now floating on the current of speculation, we would say we think not only that Sir George Grey will not be a permanent fixture here, but that he will, at probably no distant day, be placed in another field for the development of those statesman- like powers which the authorities of the Colonial Office, believe him to possess.

Since the above was written we have received further intelligence from the Southern Province. The report of the Governor's recall has been repeated with apparently stronger confirmation. It was rumoured that the 34th Regiment (which, at the date of the last Army List which reached us, was stationed at Gibraltar) was under orders to relieve one of the Regiments in New Zealand. The Mooltan had arrived from the Clyde at Otago on the 26th of December, bringing English news to the 4th of S eptember. The Pelcin from London had arrived at Wellington, The mail for Aucfcbud by the Pckin,

and the newspapers by the Berkshire, arrived here last night by the schooner Diana. The letters by the Berkshire may be expected next Monday by the overland mail. Taranaki was full of visitors. The Gover-nor-in-Ciiief, Lady Grey, Lieutenant-Go-vernor Eyre (who had arrived from Wellington) Mr. Ormond, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Bkrrey, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Clarke, Lieut, and Mrs. Paoe, Miss Pitt, and Mr. A. Piti were all there. A Ball was to be given to his Excellency and the visitors, by the Bachelors of Taranaki, on the 31st ult. We are informed that Sir George Grey may be expected in Auckland in about a month. We have been kindly favoured by Mr. Berrey (who arrived last night from the South) with a Wellington Spectator of the 19 th ult., but it contains no news of any interest •

The brig Two Friends arrived in our port on Monday, in 56 days from San Francisco. She brings, it is said, Californian papers to nearly the date of her sailing, (Dec. 9), but, by one of those mistakes in policy, which a celebrated statesman described as worse than crimes, they have hitherto been withheld from the press. We have however, some viva voce information, which, it is only justice to the Captain and Supercargo of the vessel to say, was communicated readily and frankly. Intelligence from the United States had been received to the eflect that no less than forty million feet of assorted timber had been shipped for California. This is in substantial accordance with " Panorama's " last letter ; but, no doubt, there will be found a paying market for that supply, and far more. Flour, potatoes, and onions continued to command a prompt and amply remunerative sale. The vast influx of immigrants, which had experienced no check, maintained — and is likely for some time to maintain — a steady demand for provisions. Heavy rains took place in November, and the beginning of December. The streets of San Francisco were in such a wretched state as almost to vie with the unenviable preeminence of the streets of Auckland, when we are visited with wet weather. The Authorities there, however, peem to have some regard for public comfort in the matter, as, notwithstanding the value of timber, they had caused platforms to be erected by which passengers might escape being engulphed in such abysses as may be here seen in West Queen Street, Wyndham Street, and other leading thoroughfares. Wages were high. Carpenters, (including not a few who were dnly amateurs in the trade) received an ounce of gold per day ! Vessels which had been detained by the desertion of their crew 3 were getting away, the sailors having wearied of the hard and often unprofitable labour of the diggings. H. M. Frigate Inconstant had also aided some British vessels in depaiting, by putting part of her own crew on board of them. Gold continued to abound. We never doubted that it was to be had by the more fortunate portion of the adventurers who had made up their minds to pay the price for it. But as we have repeatedly said — Gold may be bought too dear. There were six steam -vessels plying on the Sacramento — one, the Senator, of 700 tons. The mutineers of the U. S. schooner Ewing (of whose rising against their officer we published an account some weeks ago) , had been taken prisoners by Commodore Jones, tried by a Court-martial, and sentenced to death. Only two — the ring-leaders — were executed, however ; one of these was hanged at the yardaim of the U. S. frigate Savannah, and the other at the yard-arm of the Ewing. Their punishment is stated to have made a strong impression on others who might have felt inclined to follow their example of insubordination. Several vessels, of various tonnage, were preparing to sail to this port for cargoes of our produce. Probably we shall not find them so chary of printed intelligence ; and, may on their arrival, be able to give more than the 07-a%-ieceived news with which we are now forced to content ourselves. We subjoin, from the Polynesian of December 15, a short but important article on the assembling of the Californian Legislature, to which we referred in a summary in our last : California.— The rapidity with which political matters move in this new State is as amazing as every thing else connected with its more recent history. Ita present political position could have been anticipated a few years ago, no more then the discoveriers of gold w ith which its soil it so ahundantly impregnated. This I day, (December 15th,'1849,) the first Legislature is to meet, and thus the Constitution so recently adopted commences its practical operation. The old and imbecile government of California, as a province of Mexico, is superseded by a new one, as full of vigor and energy as the ancient one was of venality and inefficiency} and men have come upon the stage of poliU ical action, and are .taking n part in the enacting drama, who, till now, were unknown to fame, but who judging from the ability dixplayed in tin drafting of a Const! utlon. will come op to the exigencies of the times like men who have something to do, and know how to performe it. Accustomed to self-government, they know how to govern themselves any where , and truly they have an arduous work before them. They have, as enjoined by the Constitution, two Senators ttf elect to the Congress of thb Uniten States ; to organ ; zo the executive department of the State Government ; a Secretary of State to appoint, in conjunction with th« Governor ; Comptroller, Treasurer, Attorney General and Surveyor General to chc-oie by joint ballot \, to

organize the Judiciary of the State, and to elect a Chief Justice and two Associate Justices. The duties of the fint Legislature, as enumerated above, wauld be sufficient to occupy a long session, but added to theie, it it enjoined upon them to perfect ■ Country and Town Organization throughout the entire State, to provide a revenue for the immediate necessities of the State, and to eUablish a system of State Taxes for the premanent support of the government. Other important matters, demanding immediate attention, will pren upon them, in regard to which the editor of the Pacific News remarks : " Among thene are the questions of adequate provisions for Public Education, of the organization and disciplining of the Militia of the State, of Public lot provements within the State limits, and of such Legislation as may be deemed proper on the subject of existing Titles to lands in the State. These questions may not come up in form before the Legislature at this first session, but some of them are doubtless destined at no distant day to form the main local issues on which parties in the State are to be organized tnd arranged against each other."

The days fixed for the election of Wardens to regulate the right of pasturage within the proclaimed Hundreds in the Auckland district, (under the Crown Lands' Ordinance), being now just at hand, we reprint for the convenience of those who have obtained Depasturing Licensps, the times and places of the several Meetings for such elections, as published by the Commissioner in the Government Gazelle of the 15th ult. For the Hundred of Auckland, at the office of the Commissioner of Crown-landi, on Thursday, the 7th February, at 1 o'clock p. m. P For the Hundred of Onehunga, at the Village, on Wednesday the 6th February, et 1 o'clock, p.m. 1 For the Hundred of Panmure, at the Village, on Friday, the Bth February, at % p. m. For the Hundred of Howick, at the Village, on Saturday, the 9lh February, at 2 p.m. For the Hundred of Otahuhu, at the Village, on Monday, 11th February, at 2 p. m. For the Hundred of Pupuke, at Mr. Mellivin'i, near the Roman Catholic College, oa Tuesday, the 12th February, at 1 p.m. None but penonal attendants at the meeting 1 will bo allowed to vote* Every tuch voter will bo entitled to one vote for «ach of the three wardens, and U requested to bring hit license with him, for production, if required. We have more than once reminded the Electors— that is, the Holders of Depasturing Licenses— that it will be both their duty and their interest to choose as Wardens in their respective Hundreds, men of tried integrity, intelligence, and experimental knowledge of the several localities. It is to be borne in mind that the imposition of penalties, the levying of a tax, and the expenditure of public money are amongst the powers which the Ordinance confers on the Wardens ; and it is obvious that the persons to whom such a trust is confided should be men of established character and ascertained fitness. This is the more necessary as— the arrangement being new—no precedent exists for their guidance in the exercise of their authority ; and it is obvions that any partial, representation of the License Holders by the election of Wardens with a view to selfish purposes or for the gratification of merely personal feeling, would only lead to confusion and mismanagement, extracting evil from provisions which the Legislature designed for good. We trust, however, that the License Holders will in every case select Wardens who will efficiently and honourably perform their duty, and that thus this incipient concession of selfgovernment will prove satisfactory in all its results. We would suggest to the License Holders the propriety of consulting amongst themselves before the actual election, as to the most eligible persons to be chosen. It is far better so to consult and if possible, agree, than to leave the issue to the chances of such hasty and ill-considered nominations as sometimes take place when previous thought has not been exercised in the selection of suitable candidates.

Jury List. — We invite attention of those concerned to the Notice copied into our columns from the Government Gazette calling a Special Meeting of Justices of the Peace for tfiis day for the purpose of forming the Jury List for fche ensuing year.