"DISSOLUTION OF THE NEW ZEALAND COMPANY."

New Zealander, Volume 6, Issue 478, 13 November 1850, Page 1

"DISSOLUTION OF THE NEW ZEALAND COMPANY."

We are not accustomed to rejoice over deaths, pleasure. The " Company" goes to its tomb but we confess that this heading to the subjoined article from the Sydney Herald gave us much " unwept, unhonoured, and unsung,"— at least here ; for we do not believe there is an uninterested man, in New Ulster at all events, who will not feel gratified at its demise, and wish that it may never have aresunection. We have 1 no particulars respecting the fact beyond those thus given by our Sydney contemporary ; — " Dissolution of the Nkw Zealand Company. — The New Zealand Company held a General Meeting on the 2nd of July, at which it was unanimously resolved that the Charter of 1847 should be at once resigned into the hands of the Government. This was accompanied with other resolutions which > suited that "the course was forced upon the shareholders by a haid and cruel necessity, which admitted of no delay, and precluded explanation ;" and that such a measure " was equally demanded by a consideration for the interests of the colonists, and by juslice_ to the

Company." A vole of thanks were given to Mr. CiiAiiLFsCox,hcr Majesty's Commissioner, and to the Chairman and Directors. Although the Charter no longer exists, the direction remains for the purpose of administering the affairs of the Company as it at present stands. The expenses of the Company's establishments were ordered to cease from that date, except those absolutely necessary to carry on the functions for which it will continue to exist, and instructions to that effect were to be sent out to the Principal Agent, by the Phccbe Dunbar. An adjourned meeting was afterwards held, at which, however, nothing further of any importance transpired."

Concert.— The "Saint Patrick's Band" gave a musical entertainment on Monday evening, which was very numerously attended : — indeed the Hall of the Mechanics' Institute was thionged from end to end on the occasion. Ft would obviously be unjust, and indeed absurd, to try such a performance by the standard which might be applied in England to Concerts in which professional singers and players of high standing are engaged. Here ye have to do with amateurs, and amateurs most of whom have as yet had comparatively little practice, and very scanty means of improvement. But every effort of the kind in the colony merits encouragement, and we have always, so far as we could, aided in the promotion of such laudable objects as the cultivation of a love for music and the acquisition of such skill in its execution as may be attainable. The only remark we have ever made which could even by perverseness itself be construed into severe criticism was in an instance in which we thought, and still think, that musical art was degraded, and an experiment made, the success of which could only issue in the vitiation of public taste. The selection on Monday evening was unobjectionable, and the performance, was, on the whole creditable to all concerned, and satisfactorily indicative of progressive improvement. We legretted, however, to find that the usually decorous character of our public assemblies here was not fully maintained on this occasion -, — a few — a very few — persons having made themselves almost ostentatiously troublesome during the evening. We should be grieved to see the manners of the Upper Gallery of a London Minor Theatre on " Boxing Night" introduced here ; and we are satisfied that the Auckland public would soon put down the attempt to do it. We have received a pamphlet written by James Busby, Esq., in vindication of the character and proceedings of Archdeacon Henry Williams. We are just now too heavily pressed by other demands on our space to give any lengthened notice of it ; but, in the mean time we may recommend it to the perusal of those who — on the principle that an impailial judge should hear both sides of the argument — may desire to see the side presented by one of the most able, temperate, and influential of the Archdeacon's defenders.