The Governor-in-Chief on Emigration to California.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 529, 10 May 1851, Page 2

The Governor-in-Chief on Emigration to California.

We find in one of the recently received London papers, the following despatch from Sir George Grey, which accompanied Captain Rough's Return of Immigration and Emigration at this Port for the March Quarter of last

year. It was forwarded to the Directors of the New Zealand Company hy the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

(No. 28. — Miscellaneous) TO THE RIGHT HON. EAUL GRET, &C. "My Lord, — I have the honour to transmit, for your Lordship's information, the return of immigration and emigration ot the port of Auckland during the quarter ended the 31st of March last, from which it will be BPen that whilst the population of this town lias, during the quarter, received additions from Great Britain, Auitralia, Van Diemen's Land, and the islands of the Pacific, 263 people have quitted it for California, having been induced to do so by the exaggerated reports which have been circulated of the state of that country. " Upon the 28th ultimo a vessel arrived from California, bringing back teveral unfortunate people who had been wronyly persuaded to quit this place for California, and at the same time conreyed most authentic information that the great majority of those who had quitted New Zealand for that country bitterly lamented having done jo, and that such oi them as could r»i*e the meant to re'urn here would do so as opportunity offered. There can, therefore, be no doubt not only that the emigration of persons from this country to California will ceaie, but also that we shali regain a considerable number of thote persons who had Jeft us. — I have, &c,

"G GREY." His Excellency here only expressed the views entertained by all intelligent observers who were not themselves more or less deceived! by the Californian snare. With scarcely an exception, every arrival of information since has demonstrated more and more clearly that the reports which laid such mischievous hold of many minds were "exaggerated" indeed. We have " regained" many of those who lefd us for California, and others who had not opportunities of directly returning here, have found their way to neighbouring colonies ; — but some have not means to return, though they would; and not a few, alas? have died on its strange and inhospitable shores. It is a comfort, however, that the prediction that " emigration from this country lo California, will cease" has already been so nearly verified to its full extent.

By the arrival of the Isabella we are in possession of Hobart Town papers to the 19th of last month. They contain some intelligence of interest, particularly in relation to the introduction in Van Diemen's Land of the Australian Colonies Act of last Session, — a Bill to enact the necessary arrangements for which purpose was to be laid before the pre» sent Legislative Council at its Meeting, fixed for the 29th ult. A Draft of this Bill had been published ; but before we state its principal provisions, we shall condense from the long accounts in the local journals a brief narrative of circumstances which occurred before its appearance, and which form a somewhat curious episode in the history of the new Constitution, so far as Van Diemen's Land is cobcerned. Whaterer may be their differences of opinioa respecting the actual merits of the measure, it appears that the politicians of Tasmania wereanxious to see it in operation, and thought that Sir William Denison was unnecessarily slow in taking the preliminary steps requisite to that end ; — about three months having elapsed since he had received officially a copy of the Act, while other Governors had lost no time in announcing their preparations for Us initiation. Accordingly, a Public Meeting, (which Mr. E. G. Wakefield has told his readers is the constant mode by which colonists seek the redress of their grievances), was held, at which a Resolution was unanimously adopted expressing disappointment at the delay, and nominating a committee to inquire of the Government the probable time when th& Council would be called together to pass the measure. This committee included two mem!- ! bers of the Council, — Messrs. Dry and Dunn. The Resolution was forwarded to the new Colonial Secretary, Mr. Fraser, for presentation to the Lieutenant-Governor, with the following remarks : — In accordance with the abore reiolution, pasted not; in a ipirit of undue interference with the proceedings of the government, but called forth by the great and increasing necessity which exists to relieve public anxiety on this important subject,—I bare to request, on behalf of the committee, that you will immediately lay this communication before His Excellency and respectfully solicit the required information. I hare, &c. (Signed) Richard Dry, Chairman* Peter Fraser, Esq. Colonial Secretary. Now, although it may not always be perfectly in accordance with etiquette to ask such questions of a Government, or always perfectly convenient or even proper for a Government to answer them, yet we really cannot see th-at there was anything either in this request itself, or in the manner in which it was made, to warrant a discourteous reply. It was not proposed for the gratification of private curiosity? or expressed in language savouring of impertinent officiousness ; — it merely implied solicitude respecting an important public measure, and, on public grounds, sought to have that solicitude quieted. An analogous case occurred in our own community last year, when (without the formality of a regular meeting) a number of our townsmen inquired of Sir Geor&e Grey respecting the truth of rumours the ptevalence of which produced considerable anxiety at the time. It will be remembered that His Excellency replied to the inquirieswith a promptitude which in itself betokened courtesy, and, at all events, in terms of fault-

less politeness. The Hobart Town applicants, however, did not fare so well. They got an answer in due course indeed; and they got, after a manner, the information they asked for ; but they got also what they themselves aptly call an unequivocal " snubbing." Mr. Fraser, after acknowledging in the usual style the receipt of the communication, thus proceeded to " snub" them, — first, it will be seen, on his own particular behalf, and then on behalf of his official Superior : — It wns not without some consideiation that, in accordance vritli your request, I submitted to the Lieutenant-Governor a document proceeding from a self-constituted and irresponsible body, in which a claim is aisertcd to powers and privileges to which Mich a body can in no way be entitled. I have, however, taken HU Excellency's pleasuie in the matter, and am directed to inform you that, although Sir William Dcnison cannot admit the competency of a self-constituted body, similar to that of which you were chairman, to call upon the Executive Government for information or explanation as to the course it has pursued, or is about to pursue, on any giren occasion, he gladly seizei ihis opportunity of assuring the Colonists that every effort i>> beine; mude by the Government to bring into active operation, at as early a period ai possible, the Act for the better Government of the Colony. — I have, &c, (Signed) Peter Fraser. Richard Dry, Esq. On the receipt of this model specimen of conciliatory statesmanship, the Committee adopted the following Resolution as a rejoinder :—: — That the Chairman be requested to state, in reply to the letter of the Colonial Secretary, that thii Committee determines so far to vindicate their own position, ac to assert that thpy <)o not consider the Public Meeting, nor the Committee appointed by that Meet* ing, ♦' a self-constituted body," as it is offensively designated by the Colonial Secrelary ; — that this Committee consider the letter of the Colonial Secretary discourteous and uncalled for, and decline to hold any further communication with a Government which treats contemptuously the respectful application of a public meeting, on a legitimate subject of enquiry. Another Public Meeting was then held, to which the Committee, having performed their "limited service" in thus communicating with the Government, surrendered their trust. They were, however, re-appointed, " with a view of forwarding the correspondence now read to the Secretaiy of State for the Colonies, with such observations as they may deem it proper to make." In a few days after, the Draft of Sir William Denison's " Bill to provide for the Establishment of a Legislative Council, the Di\ision of the Colony of Van Diemen's Land into Electoral Districts, ar»d the Election of Members to serve in such Council," made its appearance. The Bill contains fifty-five clauses. The new Council is to consist of twenty-four members, of whom eight are to be appointed by the Crown, and sixteen elected by the people. The Colony is divided into fifteen electoral Districts, namely Hobart Town, Launceston, Cornwall, Westbury, Longford, Morven, Campbell Town, Oatlands, Hamilton, and Bothwell, Richmond, Brighton, Sorell, Buckingham, New Norfolk, and the Huou. Of these, Hobart Town District is to return two members; and the other Districts one each. The qualification to vote is,— a Freehold Estate within the District, of the clear value of One Hundred Pounds, possessed for six months before the dute of the writ of election, or before the last registration of electors ; or the occupation of a House of the annual value of Ten Pounds, resided in for a similar period : —or holding a Depasturing License from the Government -, or having possessed for three years a Leasehold Estate of the annual value of Ten Pounds: — provided that no convict shall be entitled to vote, unless he shall have received a free pardon or one conditional on not leaving the colony, or shall have undergone the punishment passed upon him for his offence ; and no man who has not paid up all rates and taxes to within three months of the day of election or registration. A subsequent clause provides that if any question shall arise whether a person is or was a convict, proof that he was at the time in question ordinarily dealt with as, or reputed to be, such, shall be deemed sufficient, notwithstanding the non-production of any record of his conviction. The Courts of Quarter Sessions are to be the Courts for the revision of electoral lists. Votes are to be given by the delivery to the Returning Officer of a voting paper containing the name of the person voted for, and signed by the elector. Very strict provisions are laid down against bribery and corruption, going to the length of denouncing the gift of a " cockade" as bribery ; promises of every kind, — the giving entertainment to electors with a view of influencing their votes, — the keeping open public houses with that object, whether liquor or refreshments given thereat or not, — all are denounced ; a candidate who, himself or by his agent, is guilty of these acts, is to be disqualified ; any other person so influencing electors may be punished by fine or imprisonment ; and any elector asking or receiving money» employment, or any other reward for voting or abstaining from voting, shall be liable to a penalty ot fifty pounds and costs These are the principal enactments proposed in the Bill, in addition to the usual provisions of practical detail. As the draft had only just been issued at the date of our last papers, we have scarcely any intimation of the opinion formed of them by the constituencies. At the Criminal Session of the Supreme Court, Buchanan Wilson (a prisoner of the Crown, who had been, twice transported for

other crimes) was found guilty of highwayrobbery, being armed at the time with a gun. He was sentenced to be hanged, Mr Justice Horne declaring that there was not the slightest hope of his life being spared, as " the Government were determined to afford no mercy in cases such as that for which he had been found guilty." Two other men, named Jones and Moruis, were also sentenced to death for robbing a soldier of the 99th regiment, but there was no doubt that in their cases the punishment would be commuted to transportation for life. Before one of the trials a juror, (Mr. Horton, a pawnbrokei) requested to be excused on the ground that "he could not conscientiously sit in a case where the life of a fellow creature was involved. " His Honor refused to comply with the request on such a ground ; but ultimately Mr. HoßroN was challenged by the prisoner, and another juror was sworn in his stead. The lush State Prisoners and their alleged grievances continued to find many sympathisers. O'Donohue had arrived from Port Arthur at Hobait Town, where he was anxious to remain in order to conduct his newspaper, the Irish Exile ; but the Government were inexorable in their decision that he must reside at Oatlands. The Exile was, however, to be carried on ; and, judging from the last numbers of it we have seen, it is in hands in which it will lose nothing of its Anti-Saxon earnestness, A letter is stated to have been received from the fugitive McManus, written "at sea," in which he, naturally enough, exults in his escape. The Royal Society of Van Diemen's Land had been in treaty with the Building Committee of the proposed Royal Exchange for the erection of apartments for their Museum, &c-, in the new structure, but the negociations had been broken off. Sir William Denison had authorised the purchase of the valuable microscope of the late Mr. Biciieno for the Society. His Excellency had, at the April Monthly Meeting, read a paper giving an account cf the results of some interesting experiments on the culture of the potato, which he had conducted under varying circumstances as to distance between the rows and sets, the sort of manure employed, flee.The "Mechanics' School of Arts" was also enjoying Government favour, having received a grant of £100, to be continued annually. Intelligence had been received from California, but not so late as that which has already reached ourselves. We extract the following paragraph from the Guardian, as stating one of the results of Hobart Town speculations to that market : — W ft regret much to learn that the cargo of the " Dorset" turned out very bad, as the flour got heated, atid, to save the vessel, about 50 tout of goods had lo be thrown overboard, for which duty had to be paid! in the land of gold. The onions thim vessel took were completely spoiled, and jams, for which ten-pence per pound was paid in Hobart Town, were sold in California for three-pence half-penny t In the Hobart Town Market, on the 17th of April, wheat was Bs. 7d. to 6s. 9d. per bushel ; Flour, £17 per ton, " and likely to advance ;" Bread, 3^d. per 21bs. loaf; Potatoes, £3 ss. per ton, " and a shade upwards ;" Hay, £6 10s. per ton... At Launceston, on the 16th, wheat was 6s. 6d., "very little coming into the market, and eagerly bought"; Fine Flour, £16 ; Seconds, £14 per ton; Potatoei, £3 ss. per ton,

Postponement of the Bible Meeting. — Although a considerable number assembled at the Presbyterian Church on Wednesday evening, yet, as undoubtedly many were prevented from attending by the great inclemency of the weather, the Committee deemed it advisable to postpone the Meeting of the Auckland Auxiliary to the British and Foreign Bible Society until Thursday evening next, when it will be held in the same place at half-past six o'clock. An hour was occupied, however, in devotional exercises, conducted by the Rev. J. Inglis, and in which the Revs. J. H. Fletcher, A. Machonald, and T. Buddle took part.

Coroner's Inquest. — An Inquest was held yesterday at the " Duke of Marlborough" Inn, Queen Street, before Dr. Davies, Coroner, on the body of a Maori child, aged one year and ten months, named Wilmot Panehamina. It appeared that the child was missed for about an hour on Thursday, and then found dead by the mother in a well on premises in the rear of Chancery Street. — Verdict, Accidental Death.

LATE NEWS FROM INDIA. [Translated from the"Cemesn dc Maurice," Feb. 18] Sir. W. Cotton, general in-chief of ihe Bombay army, set out for England on the 3rd January. This gen» eral-nfficer who has seen thirty years of service in India, is universally regretted in ihe Presidency which he commanded. The inhahitants of Bombay had expressed to him all the regret which they felt at his departure in a grand and magnificent fete, which they had given him at the Hotel dc ville some days before his embarking. Sir John Grey, X, C. BMB M arrived in the steamer " Queeu" on 30th December, took the oathi the same day, and succeeded Sir. W. Cotton in the command of the Bombay army, and also to the second seat in council. Sir William Gomm had set out for the northwest provinces on the 7th January. He spoke with great praise of the last order of the day of Sir Charles Napier, on the subject of debts contracted by the officers ; he announced that he had determined to publish an order of the day calling the serious attention of officers to the advice which it contained, aud.

.declaring that he was determined to execute with firmneis the orders of his predecessor.— The 4l AthentEum" gives the details of the reception given to M Achille Bedier governor of the Fiench establishments ia India, arrived ar Pondicberry on the sth J.inunrv, by the " Eurydire." The new Governor landed from the vessel which brought him over in the middle of a salute of thirteen pieces of cannon, to which the battery on shore replied. He was received on the quay by the judfff, who conducted him to the Government Hotel,— where, io the meantime, the governor and the consul of the administration were awaiting him, who escorted him to the Reception Hall. The governor, in resigning his authority into the hands of M. Bedier, addressed him in a speech to which the new governor answered with a few words, well-timed, and elegantly expressed. All agree in acknowledging M. A. Bedier as a worthy successor of M. Larlande de Cnlan, whose death has been a source of such keen regret to his admireri. «' The character of M. Bedier.'' ttiites the Pondicherry Vuardian, " gurnntees to us the solicitude with which he will occupy himself for the interests of the country, and we are crtain that our new governor may rely on the attachment of the functionaries who have beea choien to assist him in his administration."