The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 553, 2 August 1851, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

He just and fear not : Lot nil Die ends tliou ainib't at, too thy Country's, Thy God's, and Truth's.

AUCKLAND, SATURDAY, AUGUST 2, 1851.

We have been favoured with the loan of a New York Tribune for California, of the 11th of April, in which there is English intelligence to the 29th of March. The second reading of Lord John Russell's Ecclesiastical Titles Assumption Bill was carried in the House of Commons on the 25th of March by a majority of 438 to 95. The debate was postponed (so far as we can infer fiom the meagre summary before us) over three, if not more, nights, and seems to have been conducted with much warmth of feeling. The only importance that fairly attaches to the result aiises out of the evidence which it aflbrds that in the judgement of an overwhelming majoiity of the House, same parliamentary stand should be made against the Papal Aggression. Beyond the assertion of tins principle, the vote really settles nothing j and we have little doubt that many who supported the Government in that stage of the measure will be found to have striven earnestly in committee to prevent that excision of the only leally stiin D enlamlefleclive clauses of the Bill,

which Sir George Grey (in his statement on the 7th March, copied into out columns last Saturday) avowed the willingness of Ministers to concede. The Morning Ho aid gave an analysis of division which shows a somewhat novel nomenclature of paitics in the House. It was as follows -.—Ayes, Slanieyitcs, 220 ; Pcditcs, 27; Whigs, 191: — Xoes, Roman f athohcs, 35 ; i Peelltcs, 1 2 ; Puscyilc Protectionists, 6 ; Whigs and Radicals, 42. The only additional proceedings in Parliament noticed in this paper, arc, the introduction by Lord John Russell of a Bill to reform the administration of the Court of Chancery, (a long-needed and much-needed reform indeed!), and a conversation in the House of Lords, raised by Lord Lyndiiuust, on the propriety of doing something to check the operations of Revolutionary Societies of Germans, Italians, and Hungarians in England ; in the course of which Lord Grky said that the Government had been thinking on the subject^ and would ask for a new law if they found it absolutely wanting. The American contributors to the Great Exhibition had held a meeting on the 2Gth of March at the Chapter Coffee House, to consider grounds of complaint which they have, o^ think they have, against the Royal Commissioners, the Executive Committee, and the British Government. Several reporters from the daily papers attended, but they were informed that their notes of the proceedings must be subjected to the supervision of the meeting. This Yankee notion of the freedom of the press we need scaicely say was not acquiesced in by those gentlemen, and the result was that the proceedings were not reported at all. We gather, however, from a biief summary given by the Morning Chronicle, and from the correspondence in the Tribune itself, that the alleged grievances were, that the contributors would be obliged to pay somthing for the carriage of their contributions to the Crystal Palace, and for the "fittings" connected with their exhibition ; — that a place was not provided in which their empty packing cases could be stored free of charge ;— that the Committee on Premiums was to be composed of equal numbers of Englishmen and Foregners, thus giving, as the objectors supposed, " a balance of power to the English" ; — that u the Premiums were to be Bronze Medals, instead of something more valuable ; — that exhibitors \t ere to pay for admission (except where the article exhibited was of such a nature as to make a personal explanation of it necessary) J —and that there was 100 great delay in securing their inventions from piracy. It is to be remembered that all the information we yet have on this subject has reached us through cousin Jonathan himself. A letter from Commander Pullen, tt e officer in charge of the Boat Expediiion in the Arctic Seas, in search of Sir John Franklin, had been received by the Secretary of the Admiralty. It was dated " Fort Good "Hope (Mackenzie River) July 17, 1850," and contaiued various particular of the steps which the writer had taken or intended to take ; but unhappily nothing more than wishes and hopes respecting " the whereabouts of the missing ships." Two dreadful catastrophes are mentioned. Fourteen persons were killed at Stockport, on the 17th of March, by the explosion of a boiler at Mr. Mokeland's Cotton factory. A still more frightful calamity had occurred at Paisley, by an explosion in the Victoria Coal Pit. the actual loss of life had not been ascertained, but there was too much reason to fear that it did not include less than sixty -two men and boys. An Inter-Oceanic Canal Company, to cut through the Isthmus of Darien, had been announced in London, and was said to he warmly supported by the British Government. The notices of Foreign news are also more recent than any we bad previously received* but do not contain much worth quoting. In France, the political parties were busy in intrigui s with a view to the approaching Presidential election.. .In Italy, it was said, an arrangement had been made with the Papal Government by which it was to pay for the Bibles belonging to the British and Foreign Bible Society which it confiscated on coming back to the City in 1 849. .. Dresden advices gave no hope of a speedy settlement of the German question with respect to the differences between Prussia and Austria.. .Turkey was in great financial embarrassment. There were troubles at Bagdad with a powerful tribe of Arabs who had visited the city. A conspiracy to poison the Sultan had been discovered and defeated. In Canada, the Annexation movement had shown some symptoms of revival. .. From the West Indies, it is reported that a political conspiracy had been detected at Poit-au-Piince, in which three Cabinet Ministers, and the late Chief Justice, M. Fiiancisque, were inplicated. ..The Kingston (Jamaica) Morning Journal of March 25, publishes the Budget as piesented to the House of Assembly. The liabilities of the Island are estimated at £248,300 ; the income at £215,850, leaving a deficiency of £32,400. The operation of the American Fugitive Slave Law was exciting considerable commotion in Boston, where, under its oppressive provisions, a peison — alleged to be a slave, but, it would seem, in a position to prove his freedom — had been aricsted.

The Sandwich Islands. By the Iliomnma we have Honolulu papers to the 7th of June. The Legislature was in Session, but its proceedings had little beyond local importance. More general interest is connected with the Reports piesented to the Council by the Ministers of the several Departments. They are very elaborate documents ; nearly as long, and in some parts as verbose and tedious, as an American President's Message to Congress; but they embody statistical and other facts which may repay the trouble of collection and condensation, as affording an authorised exposition, in various particulars, of the actual condition of the Hawaiian Kingdom. The Report from Keoni Ana, Minister of the Interior, is the most compact and businesslike of the whole. From it we gather the following information. The expenses of the Government Press for the past year have been 9,255 dels. It is incidentally noticed that the number of copies of the Polynesian printed is 550, of which»2so are subscribed for, 53 furnished to, and 75 reserved for, the Government; 50 exchanged and sold singly; and 122 reserved for sale and binding. . .Licenses to the amount of 24,125 dols. were granted during the year. ..The Rinount sold at auction was 1,060,760 dols... Little had been done in the improvement of roads, which generally throughout the Islands are in a very bad condition... There is much need of lights for the harbour of Honolulu, . .The state of the prisons is exceedingly bad ; " there is not one decent or safe prison throughout these Islands." A skilful foreign supervisor of prisons, roads, and wharves, is much required., . . The " law of estrays" greatly needs attention, as there is no end of quarrels and litigation arising from the trespassing of cattle.. .One hundred and fiftyone foreigners have taken the oath of allegiance during the year, of whom sixty -nine were from the United States, and thirty-seven ! from Great Briiain.. .The number of vessels of over twenty tons registeied under the Hawaiian flag within the year was 33, and their tonnage, 2751. The number of coasting licenses issued was 74. . . The Land Commission had taken evidence in nearly two thousand claims, and made eleven hundred awards ; still the work of the Board progresses slowly, and it will take two years at least to complete it with the present force. . . As respects Sales of Real Estate, the number of Royal Patents granted was 344, — viz.; 25 to Aliens, and 319 to subjects ; the number of acres sold in the islands was 31,618. The operation of the law abolishing the disability of Aliens to hold land in fee simple, had not justified the fear that foreigners would not take the oath of allegiance, since -tkey ooul<3 obtain lands without ; on the contrary, a much greater number than in any previous year had become Hawaiian subjects, and the law was likely -to woik beneficially for the kingdom. The Report of Mr. Armstrong, Minister of Public Instruction, includes tables and rather minute details, some of which are not clearly intelligible to any but those who possess local knowledge of the Islands. The impression must, however, be left on the mind of even the distant reader, that the magnitude of the subject of Education is to a great extent appreciated by the Government. Of the " Select Schools," (in which, as we understand the distinction, instruction is given exclusively in tteh c English language), only one — the Royal School — is supported by the Government. In this, the plan of admitting white children, as well as young chiefs, has worked well. " Fewer evils and greater advantages have resulted from the association of the two races in the same school than was anticipated."... " What seems to be most needed now, is provision for the instruction of the interesting and increasing numbers of white and half-caste children in the several white settlements on the Islands, but more especially in Honolulu ; and for natives who wish to acquire the English language." Mr. Armstrong suggests the enactment of a law to provide for the education of such children by a special lax upon the while population, — to be under the control, however, of a board of trustees, elected by themselves, only accounting annually to the Government for the funds they may receive. . . The " Government Schools" (in which instruction is given in the Hawaiian language by Native Teachers) number 543, with 15,308 scholars. Of these 7,851 are "Readers;" 4,210 "Writers;" 6,931 are learning Arithmetic ; 6,593 Geography ; 770 " Moral Philosophy ' — (some may think rather a curious heading in an official schedule of Native Hawaiian Schools) ; and 1,983 Singing. Of the Schools, 441 are Protestant, with 12,949 scholars : 102 Roman Catholic, with 2,359 scholars. The average daily wages of each teacher is twenty-five cents... A considerable portion of the Report is devoted to a refutation of the charge of partiality in favour of Protestants, in conducting the public schools, which has been advanced by the French. Mr. Aumstrono proves that the Roman Catholics, in proportion to their numbers, actually have the advantage both in regard to money and the average number of scholars. Their schools^ owing to the Roman Catholics being the minority of the population, are less numerously attended than the Protestant schools, while their teachers have the same pay. «• The one simple, high, and direct aim of the King's government has been to provide the means of piimaiy school instruction for all the native children in the Islands, without regard to the leligious belief of any."

So long as it remains true, that the Piotostnnt population oi the islands constitute the majority m all the v « distiicts, and not only so but possess most of tbe wealth, intelligence, and the enterprise of the nation, and is marked for their loyalty to the King ; and on the other hand, so long as the King's Catholic subjects enjoy tub most entire religious fieedom, ate placed not only on mi equality in the public schools, hut have the advantage, both in regard to money nnrl numbers, they cannot complain of partiality, and they actually have not. Nor bnvo tbe propagators of Christianity from abroad, of whatever name, any ground ot" complaint. They enjoy not only the protection of the laws, but the most perfect liberty to preach and teach on all parts of tlio Iblands, so long us they respect the authorities, and obey the laws. Mr. Junn, the Minister of Finance, reports an unusually prosperous yeai, — this prosperity having arisen, not from the imposition of any new tax, but mainly from the increase of duties, licenses, and sales of land, showing a growing improvement in commerce and agriculture. There has been a steady advance in the financial condition of the Islands since 1842, when the management of the national property, which before had been in a very disoideily and ill-regulafed state, was devolved upon a special and responsible agency. Since that dale, " early and overwhelming embarrass- I merits have been removed ;" the national debt, with "its devouring 12 per cent, per annum interest," has been extinguished ; and a regular and sufficient provision has been made toy all the wants of the Government. In referring to the financial resources of the Islands, Mr. Junn observes, " It is well known that one important item of exports consists of bills of exchange drawn upon the United States and Europe, upon which a profit is made of from 10 to 20 per cent., — say 15 per cent, as an average, — a profit quite equal to, and soonec available than could be made upon return cargoes of sugar, coffee, and other Island products. Probably one-half of the deficiency of our exports is made up in this way." Mr. Wyllie, the Minister of Foreign Relations, is more prolix than any of his colleagues. His Report would make a moderate -sized pamphlet, hut we can give the substance of so much of it as possesses any fresh interest in a brief space, as the greater portion of the document is devoted to a telling over again of the oft told tale of French injustice, with which the readers of the New Zealander may be sufficiently acquainted, as we have more than once called their attention to its principal features. Mr. Wyllie traces the disputes partly to " personal spite," but mainly to the fact that France has identified itself with the cause of Roman Catholicism in those Islands, and has persevered to this day in a wish to " interfere in matters relating to the religion and education of the King's subjects, in a way which no other nation has ever claimed —in a way which France herself never allowed in her own case — in a way which the laws of nations do not permit ; and in a way which, it is believed, would neither promote the true interests of Catholicism in this Kingdom, nor the internal peace of the Mate.".. With Great Britain and the United States the most fiieiidly relations have been maintained ; and not a single case occuned during the year to require diplomatic discussion with any of the Foreign Representatives in the Islands. But, communiI cations from California had warned the Go- ' vernment that evil disposed persons there were conspiring against the peace and safety of the Kingdom ; relying, however, on the loyalty of the people and the friendliness of the United States, the Government did not think it necessary to adopt any extraordinary precautions.. . The following are Mr. Wyllies remarks iv relation to the mission of Mr. Judd and Mr. Jarves to Europe and the United States : — Among the objects sought to be attained by the musions of Mr. Judd and Mr. Jarves, to the United States, Great Britain, and France, was a joint accord between those three great powers, in regard to diplomatic interference — a uniformity in treaty engagements — an amicable mode of settling disputes arising under treaties— and a mutual guarantee to respect the King's neutrality in all wars which may arise. It was believed then, and it is believed now, that such a mutual concert, while it would aflbrd relief and security to this weak government, would promote the interests of those three, and of all other maritime nations ; for it must be obvious to every one, that were these islands— either by conquest, or otherwise, to fall into the hands of either of the three, it would be easy so to fortify the port of Honolulu, as to make it the Gibraltar of the Pacific. It is not believed that Great Britain would offer any objectionsjjlo such an arrangement ; for she, considering (it is presumed,) her own supremacy over the islands, founded on the most solemn and repeated acts of voluntary cession, calculated to excite the jealousy, and injure thecommerce of other nations— voluntarily divested herself of that right, and declared her wish that the King should govern his own islands, independent, both of her own, and of all other foreign control. The King will either so govern, or He will abandon the reins of government, altogether. Such is a " bird's eye view" of the existing internal and external condition and relations ' of the little Hawaiian Kingdom, as presented by its own official authorities. Monsieur Emile Pkrrin, the French Commissioner, had embarked on the 26th of May for Panama and Paiis, and was expected to j return within twelve months, empowered, as was hoped, to effect a final and amicable adjustment of the differences between the French and the Hawaiian Governments. It had been arranged that, during his absence, Stephen Reynolds, Esq., should, with the assistance of Baroji de Thierry, attend to the interests of French shipping and commerce; but Mi. Reynolds had transferred the duties of the Agency to Monsieur P. A. Wirt. The Legislative Committee on Education had invited the Foreign Residents at Honolulu to meet them, for the purpose of considering the proposition of the Minister of Public Instruction referred to above. The meeting took place on the 4th of June, and it was agreed to recommend to the Legislature the adoption of an Act which would carry out the plan of taxing the white community for the purpose of educating the white children, subjecting the fund, however, to the control pf those from whom it was raised.

Queen Victoria's Biith«day (the 24th of May) had been celebrated with all honour. The British Consul- General entertained at dinner a laige party, including the King's Ministers and the Foieign Consuls. Her Majesty's health was drunk with enthusiasm, aud a thorough cordiality of international feeling seemed to pervade the whole company.

The Officers and surviving crew of the unfortunate French corvette Alcmene— numbering in all one hundred and ninety-two— sailed from our harbour yesterday in the Alexander, which has been chartered to convey them to Tahiti, and, if required, thence to their own country. On Wednesday the ship's company went on board. On the morning of that day they attended mass at the Roman Catholic Chapel. The band of the 58th regiment played at their head to the place of embarkation ; and the gallant Colonel, His Excellency the Lieutenant -Governor, was amongst those who accompanied them to the point of their departure from our shores. It is no more than simple justice to pay a parting tribute to the propriety and steadiness with which these men conducted themselves ■during their sojourn amongst us. There is no charge of brawling, disorder, or misbehaviour of any kind to be preferred against them. In no single instance did one of them commit any act of which the Police would have been required to take cognisance. Their whole demeanour was such as to render still stronger the interest and sympathy which iheir misfortune had first excited in the breasts of both our military and civilian population. They depart with the best wishes of our townsfolk generally ; and we have no doubt that, on their own part, they entertain an appreciation of the kind treatment they have received,— especially from the gallant regiment whose officers and men greeted and aided them in the spirit of brothers — which, on their return to France, they will not be slow to express. We had hoped to lay before our readers a detailed account of the wreck of the Jlcmene, which the Compte d'Harcourt was drawing up as a report to his own Government, and which he had courteously promised us permission to copy ; but it was afterwards thought, (hat as an official document it ought not to be published until after its presentation to the authorities for whom it was prepared. The leading facts of the disaster, however, have long since been known to the public.

Evangelical Alliance Lectures. — It will be seen by an announcement in our advertising columns, that the Second Lecture of the Series on Intemperance will be delivered on Tuesday evening next, in the Wesleyan Chapel, by the Rev. John Inglis, of the Presbyterian Church.