The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 557, 16 August 1851, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

Be just and fear not • Let all the ends thou aims't at, he thy Country's, Tliy God's, and Trutli'h.

AUCKLAND, SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 1851.

By the Moa, which arrived in our harbour yesterday afternoon, we have Sydney journals to the 6ih instant. There had been no English mail received, of alattr date than that, the news of which was brought us by the Emma. Some papers had however, been obtained by the Herald, containing additional, though not more recent intelligence, which it sums up as follows: — We regret to observe that, in answer to a quesiion "whether it was intended to send a steamer to endeavour to ascertain whether Captain Austin's expedition in search of Sir Joiiv Franklin was safe, it was replied that upon the fullest consideration the Lords of the Admiralty had arrived at the conclusion that the time had arrived when it was their duty to ribk no moi c lives in that service. The Ministry had another narrow escape on the Bth April, when Sir 11. W. B\rrox moved for a Committee to enquire into the cause of the agricultural distress in Ireland. The motion was opposed by the Government as savouring of protection, and was only rejected by a majority of nine. The House was not to <*o into committee on the Ecclesiastical Titles' Bill until the 2nd of May, after the Easter holidays. Sir Symuel Romilly had been appointed Master of the Rolls ; Sir A. Cockhurv, AttorneyGeneral; and Mr. Page Wood, Solicitor-General. The Derwent, from Hobart Town, had arrived with seventy-five packages of goods for the Great Exhibition. A person named William Grf,y Smytiie, a surgeon, GO years of age, was sentenced, at the Central Criminal Court, to be transported for life, on the 10th April; he was convicted of a rape on three children, and the seduction of eighteen others. His Excellency Baron de ScuoErriNG, the charge d'Affah s for liubsia at Lisbon, has transmitted to Ireland .£99,000 to be laid out in encumbered estates. On Monday morning, 7th April, a serious fire took place in the Eanclagh Road, Thames Bank, Pimlico, London, consuming buildings to the amount of one hundred thousand pounds. These buildings were newly erected by a Mr. Harrison, for the reception of visitors to the Great Exhibition. On Thursday morning, April 10, an alarming lire broke out in the premises of Messrs. Gordon and Sons, seedsmen, Fenchurchstroet, London. - The frequent visits of Sir James Clarke to Her Majesty indicate the approach of an event " in which the nation feels deep interest." The Great Float at Birkenhuad was opened on the 10th April. It covers a space of about 50 acres, and is capable of affording more accommodation than any dock in Europe. The Morning Advertiser of the 10th April mentions a rumour, that the Duke of ISToßroLit had been converted to the Presbyterian religion. Ihe Hobart Town Advertiser of the 16th ult. has an English Summary covering nearly the same dates, in which we find the important intelligence that the Income Tax had been renewed by Parliament for a peiiod of thiee years longer. We give this statement just as we find it ; there is no intimation whether the Tax was modified in any way, or whether it was reimposed in all its former partial and unjust oppressiveness. Ministers had announced their intention of abandoning the measure for the abolition of ihe Irish Vice-royalty. Lord John Russell had stated, that on the 15th of Apiil he should move the adjournment of the House until the 28th of that month, for the Easter recess. There are various extracts from the English journals which we shall avail ourselves of in futuie numbers, — should no fresh arrivals claim precedence ; hut they do not come under the character of immediately pressing news. There is not mucb intelligence from the Gold Districts, but, so fyr as it extends, it is of a favourable character, especially as regaids the Turon diggings, where, as the accounts agree in stating, a large proportion of the population are doing well. There was consider-

able excitement ptoduced by the subsequent history of Dr. Krim's hundied weight of gold. It had been put chased for Messis. Timckfr^ and Co., for £4, 1 60; but aftf>r the sa^ had been effected, Mr. Commissioner H\rdy, on the part of the Gomnmen', demanded it, and, on Lhe demand not being complied with, proceeded to take possession of it by foice. Ultimate'y, the Go\ernment informed the pu:chaseis that the gold would be given up to them on then enteiing iato a bond to pay to the Quj-r.N a loyalty often per cent., should the Home Government, on a representation of the facts of the case, demand it. To thi&, the Messis. Thacktr had no alternative Lut to submit. The transaction seems to have produced much dissatisfaction. The finder, it is admitted, had no license for digging, but the Government subsequently accepted a license fee fiom Dr. Klrr j paid avowedly because he had this gold ; — it was openly placed m the Bank, where it remained for ten days as his property, without any claim being made by the Government ;— the Commissioner, Mr. Hardy, was cognizant of the sale, and " partook of some champagne on the occasion of the money being paid;" — and yet six -days after the gold had thus bccom c the property cf a thinl pr.it/, who had faiily bought it at a high price, it i\as seized by tins same Commissioner. The Herald chaiacterizcs the seizure under such ciicurastances as " mos 1 unfortunate and unjustifiable, and calculated to be extremely mischievous." The Government Gazette of the sth instant contained a Proclamation limiting the operation of the licenses to digging, &c. for alluvial gold^ j — and specifically excluding from the ptivilege confeired by them, the working of matrix gold combined with quaitz or any other rockj remaining iti its original bed or situation Regulations for the working of this were lo be published, and pending their establishment, it might be woiked by pei mission of the authorities and payment of a royalty of ten per cent if the gold weie found on Crown lands, and five per cent if on private lands. Numbers had left Ophir, as the floods prevented their digging profitably. Provisions weie higher than ever in Baihurst •• — Mom,! fifty shillings per hundred pounds, Meat, thteepence per pound, and other necessaries of life N in propotlion. A Bathurst writer in the Herald of the 6th inst. says, " Gold digging may be a fine thing for some, but those whose means aie limited, find it very hard to make both ends meet these gold -digging times." The wits for the election of membeis to seive in the Legislative Council of New South Wales had been issued. The elections aie to take place duiing the month of September. For the city of Sydney, the nomination is fixed for the 15th, and the polling for the 10th. The Australasian League had made a strong demonstiation against Karl GRE^with refeience to his conduct on the Transportation question. At a great Public Meeting held in Sydney on the 29th ult., resolutions were enthusiastically canied condemning Lord Grey ; and adopting a Petition to the Queen, entreating Her Majesty to dismiss him from her councils, and to command her Ministers to redeem the honour of the British Ciown by fulfilling the pledges touching Transportation repeatedly given by them in Her Majesty's name to the colonists of New South Wales and Yon Diemen's Land. Adelaide papeis to the 18th of July had been received. They were almost w r holly occupied with details of the South Australian electioneering politics and proceedings. The elections were over. Eleven of the successful candidates were said to he opposed to grants of public money for the support of religion, and five in their favour. This was the point on which the contests principally turned. Captain Ciiisholm, husband of the celebrated Mrs. Chisiioi.m, haJ arrived a. Adelaide on business connected with the Family Colonization Society. The last Herald (the 6th inst.) contains recent news from India, which we copy in cxtenso.

Some interesting Despatches frcm Governor Grey to the Secretary of State for the Colonies will be found in cur other columns. They have appeared in a Blue Book lecently received at Wellington, but which has not reached us here, and have been copied into the Spectator, from which we transfer them. They contain developments of his Excellency's views on various points of Colonial policy, which are fuller than those we have usually been favoured with on the spot. Evidence seems satisfactory affoided in these documents that Sir George Grey did keep steadily before his mind's eye the introduction of Representative Institutions, and advanced towards that object step by step in such manner as, — whether i» may or may not be deemed by others the Lest, — was that which most commended itself to his own judgment. From the Despatch dated November 30, 184.9, it appeals— not only that in the year IS4B His Excellency had stated his opinion that a system of Representative Institutions might be brought into complete operation throughout the whole Islands in four years, and that he intended as steps towards this consummation, the establishment of Ilundieds with Watdens elected on the lepresentative principle, and invested w ith power over a portion of the Land Fund— but that lie, in 1849, anticipated and concurred in the extension, (simultaneously with the passing of the Australian Colonies Hill), of a Repiescntativc Constitution to New Zealand, to come into operation &o early as the beginning of eighteen hundred and fifty-cue,—-

An ncridenlal delay m ihe transmission of that Despatch, (which instead of at riving in England in February, about the time of the opening of Parliament, did not arrive until April), pie-tented the leconimendation embodied in it fro-n being acted on ; but this circumstance docs not interfere with the testimony which the published Despatch bears to his Excmjen'Cy's disposition to promote the object to which it lefeiied. Ti e,e Despatches afford information also respecting the proposals for the formation of New Piovinces in the Colony •,— a topic to which fiesh interest is just now given by Mr. Gon-li-y's application on behalf of Canterbury, and the collaleial questions taised in connection with the Canterbury settlement, with which our leidershave been made acquainted by theieports of the proceedings of Council which have alieady been tian&ferred to our columns. From the Despatch dated October 22, 1849, it appears that independently of all considerations of the expediency of forming additional Provinces, his Excellfncy did not conceive himself possessed of power to do so, even if he would. Mr. Godley indeed urged in his application (which we published on the 6th instant) that " Lord Grey had lately intimated to the Committee (of the Association) that a ve-arrangement of the Provinces of New Zealand would be left altogether to his Excellency's decision •/' but His Excellency, as was stated in his reply, * ( had as yet received no instructions from the Secretary of State on the subject." Supposing Mr Gohley's information to be correct however, and that the Governor is to be invested fully with this authority, it is important that he should be impressed, as he declares he is, with a conviction of the necessity of financial prudence and economy in making the new airangements. The Despatch to which we refer will explain his Excellency's views on this point ; we here only, in passing direct attention to his recognition of the propiietyo^ " keeping the expenditure on account of the several Governments within very narrow limits," and even making such arrangements as " consideiably to reduce the expenditure on account of the Government establishments in the existing Provinces." The Despatch dated November 27, 1849, tieals of two topics, — both important, — namely the proposed reduction in the military force serving in New Zealand, and the establishment of steam communication between the several settlements of the Colony. Though connected in the Despatch, those topics require to be consideied separately. It is the fashion with the Cobden school of financial reformers in England to declaim against the military expenditure in the Colonies as an abuse and a grievance which should be unsparingly and promptly dealt with ; and that party has succeeded in inducing an influential portion of the Press, and e\en the Government, to extend a ccitain degree of assent to their representations on the subject. Now, without stopping atpresent to inquire into the reasonableness of the application of the economical principle to the force maintained in other colonies, we think no man acquainted with the circumstances of New Zealand can fail to see that any large diminution in the number of troops stationed here would—for years to come — be premature and hazardous. This is especially the case as lespocts the Northern Province. Our European | population is as yet comparatively small, and ! thinly scattered over a wide extent of country > while there is a large population of natives' who are at best only in a transition state from barbaiism to civilization; — who, (though partially disarmed), still have arms in no inconsiderable quantities, as was illustrated not long since in the half hostile visit of the Ngatipoa tribes and their Maori friends to this town ;— and who, however tranquillity may be, and happily is, the rule as respects their conduct, yet undoubtedly may, in exceptional cases, such as might occur at any moment, be found in a position which it would require a display of effective military force to rendei innocuous to the settlers. Who would venture to assert that in the instance referred to, peace was not maintained mainly by the manifestation of an over. whelming force which the authorities were enabled almost instantly to present? Or that calami ous consequences may not have resulted from that irruption, if the offended tribes had been assuied that no adequate and disciplined force could be brought into immediate action against them 1 We are amongst the first to acknowledge and to hail the improvement which is taking place in the Maori people, through Missionaiy exertion, through the operation of the Educational Oidinance, and through the various civilising and elevating influences, which the Government and the settlers, in their lespective spheres, have brought to bear upon them. We anticipate with lively pleasure the coming of a peiiod when the fact of their dwelling in laige numbers around us, will afford no reason for the maintenance of any additional militaiy force ; but that period is yet in the futme, although the interval to its full advent is rapidly diminishing ; and we could therefore have wished that the Despatch had not expiessed so much of agreement in the Downing street policy of taking away a considerable proportion of the troops foimeily stationed in the colony. Sir Georgb Grey recommends, (and this is the last topic in the Despatch), as a wise precaution in case the military force should be largely reduced the support of a steamer to lun between the seveial settlements. It is clear that as a piecaution in such a case it is most necessaiy ; but on other and obvious giounds,

the establishment of steam communication in [he colony has an importance which is itniveisally admitted, and which it would be difficult to exaggerate. His Excfilency's recommendation as to she means of supporting a steamer, meiits attention ; for, should it be adoptpd by the Home government, the terms will be most favourable to the colony. Estimating the expense at £SOOO per annum, it will be seen that only one-fourth is intended to be raised from the colonial revenue towaids that amount. We further copy the Despatch with which Sir G. Ghet accompanied the condemnatory manifesto ayamst his government and himself personally, forwarded with such a flourish of diums and trumpets by the " Seftleis' Constitutional Association";— also Lord Grey's pithy reply,—expiessive of continued confidence in his Excellency, and laki-ig occasion to compliment him on the " results of his administration both of his former and his present governments." We may close this mnning commentary on the Despatches which we insert, by the following paragraph in which the Spectator lefers to some other Despatches in the same Blue Book, which it has not yet copied. These Blue Books are very awkward rcvenlers sometimes. So Lieutenant-Grovernor EYREmay probably think, now that he seems inclined to couit the favour. of the opposition paity,of whom in his Despatch, he seems to have spoken so contemptuously .—. — By the recent arrivals we have received the last Blue Book on New Zealand. We have only had time to glance at its contents, and will take an early opportunity of returning to the subject. In hastily turning over its pages our attention was arrosted by nn elaborate refutation by his Excellency the Lieutenant-Go-vernor of Now Munster of certaiu resolutions, of August 27, 1819, '' emanating from an association designating themselves thp Settlers Constitutional Association," in which Mr. Eyre is desirous " that two circumstances should be strongly pointed out" to Loid Grey, namely — " that in this document several inaccuracies exist in the statements put forth as absolute facts, whilst others, substantially trup, are so put as to lead to very incorrect inferences," — in short, that in the opinion of his Excellency, the persons " designating themselves ihe Settlors, Constitutional Society," havp been guilty either of supprasio veri or the suggestio fuhi that they have made either deliberate mis-statements, or misrepresentation. His Excellency then examines and very satisfactory refutes these resolutions in detail, and in a subsequent despatch is still more severe "on the subject of a letter addressed by a Mr. John Dorset to Lord Giev, on behalf of a Constitutional Society at Wellington."

Conckrt. — Mrs. John Bell's Concert of Vocal and Instrumental Music took place oh Wednesday evening in the Hall of the Mechanics' Institute, and passed off in a very agreeable and satisfactory manner. The Lady's own performance on the piano-forte was the principal attraction, and it is simple justice to say that it realized all the anticipations that had been formed of its excellence, high though those anticipations in many in* stances were. The pieces selected for the occasion were sufficiently vaiied to admit of an extended development of the performer's resources, and were all played with a delicacy and precision of touch, a biilhancy of execution, and yet a chastened and artistical taste, which could not fail to be appreciated by judicious lovers of Music. The vocal performers weie old friends of the concert-going public here, and in this instance exerted themselves with their accustomed zeal and success to augment the entertainment of the evening. The Hall was crowded to excess, — a circumstance which, with the hearty and reiterated applause bestowed on Mrs. Bell at the conclusion as well as throughout the Concert, must have satisfied that Lady that she has come amongst a people who, though " at the ends of the earth," recognise and values uch talents and acquirements as she exhibited on this occasion.

Total Abstinence Lecture. — It will be seen by an advertisement in our columns that a Lecture, in connexion with the Auckland Total Abstinence Society, will be delivered in the Hall of the Mechanics' Institute on Monday evening next, at 8 o'clock, by Mr. R. Jokdak, on which occasion the Rev. Thomas Budi>le will preside. We rejoice at thus seeing the Reverend Gentleman identifying himself with the temperance movement, and trust that his good example will be followed by every clergyman of every denomination in the colony. We understand that the Lecturer (who is a stranger in New Zealand) has for many years taken a prominent lead in connexion with these Societies in Van Diemen's Land, where ho held an appointment in the Schools' Department of the sister Colony. We hope that the interest of the subject itself, as well as the manner in which it may be expected it will be discussed by one who has given so much attention to it, will insure a large attendance.