THE AUSTRALASIAN LEAGUE, EARL GREY, AND THE TRANSPORTATION QUESTION.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 558, 20 August 1851, Page 2

THE AUSTRALASIAN LEAGUE, EARL GREY, AND THE TRANSPORTATION QUESTION.

We briefly noticed in our last the great Public Meeting held in Sydney on the 29th ultimo, in pursuance of a requisition from the Council of the Australasian Transportation League for the Abolition of Transportation, to consider whether the conduct of Earl Grey on this Question, — as especially exhibited in his recently published despatches, and in his speech in the House of Lords on the sth of March last — did not call for a direct appeal to the Queen praying Her Majesty to dismiss his Lordship from her councils, as well as to command her Ministers to fulfil the pledges touching Transportation, repeatedly given by them in her name to the colonists of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land. The demonstration, however, was so marked in its character, and so important in its bearings, as to merit fuller attention than we had then time or space to bestow upon it. The subject is one in which our readers cannot fail to take a lively interest. As respects Transportation itself the heart of New Zealand beats as healthfully now, as it did when, some time since* a general and 'powerful manifestation was elicited by the apprehension that the curse of convictism might probably be inflicted directly upon our own colony ; and, although the roll of the League's membership may not hitherto have been largely Bwollen by names from New Zealand, theie exists amongst us a sincere approbation of its object which leads us to wish it an earnest " God-speed" in its righteous and philanthropic exertions for the entire abolition of Transportation to Australia ; — and this not merely on the selfish ground that the continuance of the system could not fail to affect ourselves extensively, (though indirectly,) owing to the proximity of the pollution, and the ease with which the polluted could migrate to our shores, but also on a deeply -seated abhorrence of the evil, and a warm sympathy with the neighbouring colonists who are more immediately afflicted by it. And, as respects Lord Grey's conduct in the matter, reluctant as we may be to come to such a conclusion, we find it impossible to doubt that it has been marked by an untruthfulness, and a disregard not only to the wishes and interests of the colonists of New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land, but of his own explicit pledges, which justify the censures pronounced upon him by the Meeting, and would render Her Majesty's compliance with its prayer by his lordship's ignominious dismissal from her Councils, only the merited reward of his deeds» We cannot attempt to give even an abridgment of the Speeches at the Sydney Meeting, which are reported almost voluminously by our contemporary the Herald. Nor is this necessary, as the Petition to the Queen, to which we invi'e the best attention of our readers,?contains a sufficiently copious digest of the substance of all that was advanced, with a careful compilation of evidence which renders it a document unusually instructive and valuable- We shall introduce it, however, by a few sentences generally illustrative of the proceedings of the assembly, — numbering from twelve to fifteen hundred persons, — by which it was unanimously adopted. The Chair was occupied by Mr. Cowper; and the principal speakers were Mr. Norton, Mr. J. F. JosErnsoN, Mr. He\ry Parkes, Mr. Gilblrt Wiugiit, Mr. C. Kemp, Mr. J. R. Hold en, Mr. Lamb, Mr. Robert Campbkll, Archdeacon M'Engroe, and Mr. Joseph Sim-

mons, senior. The addresses "were for the most part, pointed striking and pertinent. We say " for th« most part," for we cannot but think that Mr. Norton's very lengthened detail of the mis-governmeut of Lord Torhingtom in Ceylon, Avas relevant to the immediate object of the meeting, which was not so much to consider the general policy of the Colonial i office, as to exhibit Lord Grey's official delinquencies in the particular matter of transportation to Australasia. Still more out of place was Mr. Simmons' pertinacious but abortive attempt to elicit an expression of feeling in favour of Dr. Lang, whom he eulogized as " a man in whose shoes Lord Grey was not fit to stand/ — (a saying, by the by, which, rightly inter' prcted, would be the bitterest invective launched against his Lordship during the whole proceedings,) and whom he " reminded the electors it was their imperative duty to return as one of their representatives for Sydney." This last hint let out the secret ; it was an electioneering artifice ; and, after unequivocal tokens of the disapprobation with which the meeting regarded it, the Chairman ruled that the zealous partisan of the " distinguished" Doctor wai out of order. The allusion to his " Reverence" luads us to notice however, that the meeting wa9 characterized throughout by a spirit in which he would feel no overflowing sympathy — one of strong and ardent loyalty to the British Crown. But we .hall not detain our readers any longer from the Petition adopted :—: — TO THE QuEEhV J.OSy j^yCELLIMT MAJESTY. The Petition of the Colonists of New South Wales, in public Meeting assembled, signed by the President and Council of the Australasian League, on behalf of the meeting 1 , Sheweth, — THAT, humbly approaching your Majesty, your Petitioners beg to express their loyal attachment to Your Majesty's person and Government, and their entire reliance on your solicitude for the welfare of Your Majesty's subjects in this colony. That, by an Order passed by Your Majesty in Council, ou the 2'2d day of May, 1840, New South Wales ceased to be a place to which offenders might be transported. That, by an address from the Legislative Council of New South Wales to His Excellency the Govsrnor* General, adopted the 14th September, 1847, baring reference to a Despatch from Your Majesty'^ Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, touching the renewal of Transportation to this Colony, the opinion of the Com ncil was recorded, " That a return to the «y»tem " of Transportation would be opposed to the wishes of " the community, and would be most injurious to the j "social, moral, and political advancement of the | « Colony." That, with a view to a proposed arrangement for the resumption, with certain modifications, of the system of Transportation, to which it was then anticipated the legislative Council would accede, by an Order passed by Your Majesty in Council on the 4th September, 1848, New South Wales was again made 6 place to which ofl'endeis might be tranoported. That, His Excellency the Gorernor-General, purFuant to instructions given him in a Despatch ficm the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated Bth September, 1818 (No. 166). submitted this arrangement to the Legislative Council, and thereupon an address to Your Majesty wss adopted by the Council on the Ist June, 1849, humbly representing to Your Majesty, that having considered this Despatch " they declined to " accede to the proposal therein contained for the "Renewal of Transportation, and protest against the " adoption of any meassre by winch the Colony would " be degraded into * Penul 'Settlement, and entreated "Your Majesty to reroke the Order in Council by •' which the Colony had been egain made a place to " which Offenders might be Transported." That, by a Despatch from the Right Honourable the Earl Grey, your Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, to His Excellency, the GovernorGeneral, dated the 16th November, 1849 (No. 174,) the above addres* to your Majesty from the Legislative Council was acknowledged, and Hi« Lordship stated, in consequence of this address, that "after the ship " which was already employed should have proceeded " to Moreton Bay, it was not intended that any more "Convict/ should be sent to any part of New South " Wale.ssf" and he added, that it would seem inconvenient to " revoke the Order in Council until the Legislalature had deliberately adopted as its final conclusion .a determination that no more convicts ought, under any conditions, to be sent to any part of the colony." That the refusal of Earl Grey to receive -he two previous negatives of the Legislature as final, though it exasperated, did not depress, the colonists, and after renewed agitation within and without the Council, and after the presentation of petitions showing thirty-six thousand five hundred and eighty-nine petitioners against, and only five hundred and twenty-five for, the Resumption of Transportation, a second address to your Majesty wat " deliberately adopted," after thiee nights' debate, and without a division, by the Council, on the Ist October, 1850, respectfully setting forth, (with reference to the last mentioned Despatch,) that the Council adopted, " as its final conclusion, that no more convicts ought, under any conditions, to be sent to any part of this colony; and, that as there could be no security for the social and political tranquillity of the Colony until the Convict question was set at rest, the Council humbly repeated the prayer which was contained in the first mentioned address to your Majesty, dated Ist June, 1849, viz, — ' '1 hat your Majesty would be graciously pleased to revoke the Order in Council by which this Colony had been again made a place to which offenders might be transported.' " That, from the year 1846 to the present time, Public Meetings have been frequently held throughout the Colony, at all of which resolutions have been adopted, deprecating the renewal of transportation ; and, during the same period, very many petitions have been numerously signed, containing similar prayers. That your petitioneis have read a speech, reported in in the London Times newspaper to have been delivered by Earl Grey, in the House of Lords, the sth March, 1851, on the presentation of an Anti-Transportation Petition by E,arl Monteagle, from the inhabitants of Van Diemen's Land, from which they crave permission to extract as follows :—: — " The Inhabitants of New South Wales, when they calmly viewed the working of the system, would, he was persuaded, see it for their interest, that convicts should be sent to parts of that colony. He agreed that convicts ought not to be sent to Sydney, Melbourne, or any of the more considerable towns, or even the more thickly peopled country districts ; but they might be sent with immense advantage to large tiacts which were now becoming covered with sheep ; and he hoped the Legislature of New South Wales would come to that conclusion. From the accounts of what had passed in the Legislature of New South Wales, it appeared that in August last there was an eager debate on the question, whether convicts holding tickets-of-leave should remain in any part of the colony or not. After a lengthened debate, the division was so close, that the question being raised in the form of a motion to adjourn the discussion for a month, the numbers were thirteen on the one side, and thirteen on the other. The Speaker gave his vote in favour of the adjournment. At the end of the month an address to the Crown against receiving convicts was passed. But if such were the feeling at the time, it might be anticipated, when the bill of last year came into operation, and the colonies were divided, that the result would be different. The Port Phillip members, who would in future be removed from the Legislature of New South Wales, and sit in that of Victoria, voted as a body against receiving convicts at all, while of the New South Wales representatives a majority were in favour of the reception of convicts. lie trusted the colonistsof New South Wales would not be so blind to their own true interests, and the interests of this country, as to refuse receiving convicts. The act of last year contained a clause by which her Majesty, on the petition of the northern district of Australia, ( might be able to separate it into a distinct colony. And as he believed every single individual who had piopeity in that part of the colony wished to have the advantage of convict lab?ur again, he had no doubt, if | the Legislature of New South Wales refused to open that colony to convict labour, Northern Australia would avail itseli of the powers given by the act of last year,

and apply for a division of the Colony, with the view of obtaining the supply of labour which they so urgently required." That, in this speech, Earl Grey not only avows his determination to ihsregaid the remonstrances and petitions of tho Colonists, and the addresses of their Con - stitutiotial Representatives, the Legislative Council, hut his Lordship propo^s by recommending your Majesty to exercise your power of separation, to evade the promise given by him, in your Majesty's name, to the inhabitants of the whole of this colony, that no more convicts should be sent to any pan oi" it if the deliberate and final conclusion of the Legiglature should continue adverse. That, in the speech of Earl Grey, above referred to, his Lordship is also reported to have said as follows :— " His noble friend (Earl Mouteagle) in presenting the petition had referred to the assertion made last year, and then answered by him, that there had been a breach of faith on the part of the Government with respect to the Colony of Van Diemen's Land ; he must again deny in the most explicit terms the justice of that allegation." That a promise was made to discontinue the sending of convicts to Van Diemen's Land will appear by the following evidence, to which your petitioners humbly implore the attention of your Majesty :—: — lat. By reference to the speeches of Earl Grey, and others of your Majesty's Ministers, in the year 1847, your Majesty will observe, that they piocest against penal colonization, or the collection of large numbers of conricts in any single country. They assert that wherever the convict element is perceptible, it is injurious; and that wherever it is prevalent is is destructive. Your Majesty will not forget that it was in discussing the condition of Van Diemen's Land, that these sentiments were expressed ; and that Earl Grey himself then declared, " that while to the mother country the system had been expensive, to the colony it had been absolute ruin." 2nd. Earl Grey broke up the Establishment of North Australia, planned by his predecessor, because it was in opposition to the views which he then entertained in reference to the concentration of criminals. 2rd. Earl Grey announced in the House of Lords, " that the change intended w.ia of no less extent than a virtual abolition of the system of transportation which had for so many years prevailed under different regulations and modifications as to »he mode of punishment." And a little further on, in the same speech, his lordship adds, " I have already said that the change which Government has considered ought to be introduced extends to no less than a virtual abolition of tiansportation, because, when I speak of transportation, I do not include the punishment of offenders at Gihialtar and Bermuda." 4th. This change is described in an official letter addressed by Sir George Grey to Earl Grey, in which it is stated, " that, to send large numbers of convicts, collectively, though they were to become free on their arrival, would only be to perpetuate the evils of tbe existing system ;" and, " that the only restriction on the liberty of persons holding a pardon, should in future be, their not remaining in the country," and, " that the only character in which they would appear in the colonies, Bhould be as emigrants." It was with this letter that Lord Grey expressed his concurrence, in 1847, asserting at the same time, that the views it expressed were confirmed by Despatches received from the Lieutenant-Governor of Van Diemen's Land (the late Sir Eardly Wilraot). sth. In the year 1847, Earl Grey and the Ministers had resolved to attempt the dispersion of the convicts of Great Britain as exiles, among all your Majesty's colonies indiscriminately. W hat j his Lordship then proposed is evident, from the following observations made in the speech, in the House of Lords, already cited, " I see no difficulty in having the exile's pasi sage paid on board some of the usual emigrant ships, ' that he should thus be enabled to arrive at the colonies undistinguished, amid the general masa, and not be recognized as a former convict." 6th. In that year the position tnlcen up by the British Government, founded on the recent Parliamentary Report on Transportation, and the prevailing public opinion of that day was, that British offenders ought only to be sent to your Majesty's colonies, even after penal and reformatory discipline at home, in such numbers us to form a minute and almost imperceptiblt portion of the society into which they would be absorbed, and ao to be, in fair proportion, dispersed through nil the colonial possessions of England. It was, however, then admitted to be a second and equally necessary condition, that even this minute doso ot prison labour should be administered with the consent of each colony, destined to receive it ; a just principle, possibly more cheerfully conceded than otherwise it might Lave been, under the impression that the demand for labour in all your Majesty's important colonies would universally induce a ready consent. 7th. Acting, it may be presumed, under the instructions of Earl Grey, Lieu tenant-Governor Sir William Denison issued a series of inquiries to the colonials of Van Diemen's Land, for the information of the Secretary of State, of which the first was, — " Do you consider it desirable that the transportation of convicts to this colony should cease altogether." Long before the report of Sir William Denison could reach Downing-street, Earl Grey, in a despatch, dated the very day on which he replied, and expressed his concurrence with Sir George Grey, in his plan for the change of system, wrote to Sir William Denison as follows: — " I have to inform you that it is not the intention that transportation to Van Diemen's Land should be resumed at the expiration of the two years fot which it has already been decided that it should be discontinued." This decUon of Earl Grey was formally announced, by Sir William Denison, to the Legislative Council of V an Diemen's Land, and while he warned the colonists that the loss of labour would affect their future prospects, be expressed his hope " that the results which would Mbw, would neither unduly elate, nor depress them." Bth. In further proof that a promise was made to discontinue the sending of convicts to Van Diemen's Land, your petitioners beg leave to refer to the following extracts from a despatch addressed by Sir William Denison to Earl Grey, dated the 20tb of August (page 131, Parliamentary Papers), May, 1848 :— • "As her Majesty's Government have decided that transportation should cease, and as that decision has been publicly made known in the colony, I do not consider that it would be possible or desirable to attempt to carry out tho suggestions (for sending more convicts) contained in my despatch, No. 83. The feelings of a large portion of the community are so fully "fenlisted in the opposition which has been raised to the convict system here, that any attempt now to revive the system, in any form, would be looked upon as a breach oj^aith, and would cause, I have no doubt, feelings of futility, which would be very embarrassing to the Government." Again, in a despatch from Sir William Denison, dated Ootober, 1847, and when writing on another subject, (the question of Free Institutions) he says, "previous to the receipt of your Lordship's despatch, No. 54, informing me that her Majesty's Government had decided not to send out any more convicts to this colony, &c." Your petitioners humbly submit, that not a word need be added to show, that your Majesty's Government has been most distinctly and unequivocally pledged to the discontinuance of Transportation to Van Diemen's Land ; and that no argument can avail, as against the Colonists of Van Diemen's Land, founded on any circumstance or consideration whatever, either prior or subsequent to your Majesty's Royal Promise. Earl Grey has, however, thought proper to change his penal policy, and without adding a free individual to the labouring class, has continued to forward to that colony thousands of convicts annually. Your Majesty will, of course, have become awaro that this treatment of Van Diemen's Land became known to all the world, and when Earl Grey proposed that other colonies should receive a proportion of convicts, he was (with the insignificant exception of Western Australia, a colony already repenting, and disposed to retract its consent), everywhere met with a decided negative. It is with deep regret your petitioners find, that, instead of candidly admitting the total change of his penal policy, and the consequent violation of the pledges given by him, in your Majesty's name, his Loidship has thought proper to deny that such pledges ever were given, and to upbraid the colonists of Van Diemen's Land with their resistance to that gathering of offenders in masses, which he has himself denounced and with their insisting on the fulfilment of promises, specific in them o elves, and which were tbe proper consequence of the principles avowed by his Lordship during his past political life. That the construction of Earl Grey's promise to the people of Van Diemen's Land is not distorted, may ba sufficiently proved to your Majesty, by independent testimony. That it was so understood by Sir William Denison will appear fiom what your petitioners have already submitted to your Majesty ; and by reference to the Parliamentary debates your Majesty will observe, that Viscount Mahon reproaches Earl Grey with " fetteringthe discretion of his successor in office, by the promise to discontinue Transportation to Van Diemen's Land." The following are extracts from Viscount Mahon's speech :— ♦< He called the attention of the House to the instructions issued in. the years 1846 ; 1847 ; and 1848

with respect to the transportation and discipline of convicts. * "The noble Karl (Grey) the Secretary for thp Colonies, had again declared that transportation should be disused, and that we ought to provide for our convicts by the use of Hulks, and by the construction of Penitentiaries at Home. That was the ground which the noble Earl in former years, as a member of this House, Lad been accustomed to assume." * * " The concentration of criminals into one colony made it a loathsome sink of pestilence and infection, — Van Diemen's Land, suffering from this importation, complained to this country, and asked for a mnedy. The oomplaints of the colonists reached this country ently in the spring of 1846. At that time the office of Secretary for the Colonies was filled by the Right Honourable Gentleman, the Member for the University of Oxfoitl (Mr. Gladstone), and he, in conjunction with the Right Honourable Baronet, the Member for Itipon, came to the conclusion, that it was necessary to suspend the tide of transportation to Van Diemen's Land for two years. Transportation was accordingly checked" * * " He (Lord Mabon) had now brought these affairs up to the time at which Earl Grey became Colonial Secretary." * # * His Lordship then proceeds to quote from the despatches and speeches of Earl Grey the passages above extracted and adds — "Now, in making these refeiences, he (Lord Mahon) desired to be understood that it was not in the way of j taunt ; but he was of opinion that it was most impolitic and perilous thus to make pledges to the colonists which were not fulfilled." Your Majesty's petitioners are not aware of anyr thing that can be opposed to such evidences as these, pof a pledge on the part of your Majesty's Govern- I Your Majesty's Government having received the petitions of the coloni-ts, praying that transportation might cease, when jour petitioners find Earl Grey personally upholding these petitions in his place in Parliament, arguing in their favour, on the ground that dispersion of criminals, and not concentration, should be the policy of a wise and Christian nation — when they find that, long before the expiration of the two years, for which transportation bad been discontinned by Mr. Gladstone, Earl Grey announced to the colonists that lie bad determined to discontinue it altogether,— that this announcement was understood as a pledge by the colonists, by Lieutenant-Governor Denison, by Viscount Mahon, and that it was so treated by the members of your Majesty's Government in their replies, when their policy was questioned, — when your petitioners find such evidences as these in favour of their construction, it ie unnecessary for them to examine the verbal strictness of its form. It is obvious that your Majesty's Ministers have the power to enforce their own construction, until the public opinion of Great Britain shall have summoned them before its tribunal, or until the colonies shall have been exasperated into resistance. Your Majesty's petitioners further represent that the condition ok Van Diemen's Land, and the conduct of Earl Grey, have aroused a very general sympathy throughout Australasia ; and it cannot be unknown to your Alajesty, that these colonies are closely connected by all the ties which create a community of feeling and interest, and that, happily for their ultimate welfare, the shock of oppression extends far beyond the surface upon which it is inflicted. New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, and New Zealand have all a direct and awful concern in the issue of the question. The landing of convicts in Van Diemen's Land is hut as a pause in their career ; and the sacrifice of that colony increases the common danger. Your Majesty will judge, therefore, with what feelings the inhabitants of the Australasian Colonies look forward to the arrival among them of thousands of persons annually, who have spent, upon an average, seven and a-half years in the condition of convicts, and amidst almost exclusively convict associations. Your Majesty's petitioners had still entertained the Lope that Earl Grey would have received the reiterated decision of their Constitutional Representatives, to await which decision, be himself professed that the revocation of your Majesty's Order in Council was »lone deferred, ts a conclusive reason for a complete change in his policy regarding transportation ; but this last hope has been painfully dispelled by the language used by his Lordship, on the sth March, 1851, in the speech before referred to and quoted. And your Majesty's petitioners feel at length compelled humbly, but firmly, to repiesent to your Majesty in person, that the subterfuges, evasions, equivocations, and breaches of faith, practised towards these coloniei by Earl Grey, have junhappily destroyed all confidence in his Lordship's administration of colonial affaiu. Your Majesty's petitioners further rppresent that they sre most solicitous that their honor and happiness should be compatible with the continuance ot their present political relations, and the rery constitution of their League prohibits the use by them of other than moral means; but they will not disguise from your Majesty their persuasion, that what was lately but a grievance, is rapidly ripening into r quarrel, and their opinion, that the continuance of transportation, in opposition to the united resolve of Australasia leagued together against it, will peril tUe connexion, of these colonies with Great Britain, and jeopardize — what a wiser policy might long retain — the brightest jewel in your Majesty's Crown. And your petitioners, lastly, humbly submit to your Majesty, that when the oppressions even of the Supreme Power threaten desolation, men will not be reasoned out of the feelings of humanity, nor will they consent to sacrifice their dearest interests for the sake of a scrupulous adherence to those political maxims and principles, which were originally established only to preserve them. Wherefore, your Majesty's petitioners humbly beseech, that, in order to continue the happy connexion of these colonies with Great Britain, and to .secure the present affectionate allegiance of the colonists to your Alajesty'e Person and Government, that your Majesty will be graciously pleased to dismiss Earl Grey from your Majesty's Councils, and to command your Majesty's Ministers to redeem the honour of the British Crown, by fulfilling and maintaining inviolate the pledges touching transportation repeatedly given«by your Majesty's Ministers in your Majesty's n|me, to the Colonies of New South Wales and Van Diemen't* Land. And your Petitioners will ever pray, &c. In moving the adoption of this Petition, Mr. Wright * pl^jsantly observed that, "if the stren^fr^f a Petition was to be tested by its lengtJi^ea would this prove the strongest ever presented." It was not too long, however, considering the gravity of the charges preferred against Lord Grey / and the consequent necessity of affording sufficient evidence that they were not lightly or factiously advanced. It would not be difficult to cite instances in which analogous accusations have been preferreil against high officers, on grounds which, if closely and impartially examined, would be found no better than hypothetical and uncharitable assumptions, hypercritical torturings of detached passages in despatches, and even personal antipathies and resentments. We detect nothing of such a character in this document, and therefore we anticipate that it will make a deep impression on the public mind at home, It is not unlikely indeed, that before its arrival in England, Loid Grey will have been relieved from the duties of the Colonial Office. As cordially disliked by his colleagues as he is ,by the people, his Lordship would most probably, if it were at all practicable, be left out of any re-constructed Russell Cabinet; while, of course, his introduction into a Stanley Ad' ministration would not be dreamed of. But even should this be so, the Petition will not therefore be useless- It will furnish additional evidence that the event is matter not of regre but of satisfaction ; it may, as was observed a t the meeting, exercise a salutary influence on his successors in office;— and it can scarcely fail to expedite the achievement of the grand end of the League organization — the final Cessation of Transportation to Australasia.

Ploughing Match. — The " Auckland and New Ulster Agricultural Society's" Second Annual Ploughing Match came off yesterday at Epsom. The Judges appointed ueie Messrs. Clarke and Pierce. The quantity of Land to be ploughed was a quarter of an acre, and the prizes weie contested for by six ploughs from the Tamaki district, two from Mount Albert, and one from "Remuera. The first prize (gold medal or five sovereigns) was awarded by the Judges to Mr. Willt\m Hall, of Tamaki ; the second, (silver medal or three sovereigns) to Mr. John Wallace j and the third (silver medal or two sovereigns), to T. Nicholson, ploughman to Mr. A. Taylor, of Mount Albert, with a remark that it would have been given to J. Symonds, had he not mistaken his ground marks. The final award of this prize, however, was subsequently referred to the decision of the Committee, who meet on Saturday next. The work was performed by the several competitors in the time mentioned as follows . — R. Andrmvs, 1 hour 41 m.; J.Merritt, 1 h. 44 m.; T, Nicholson, 1 h. 34 m.; R, Golland, 1 h. 41 m.; J, Porter, 1 h. 3G m.; J. Wallace, 1 h. 37 m.; F. Howard, 1 h. 34 m. ; J.Symonds, 1 h. 41 m.; and W. Hall, 1 h. 36 m.

We understand that on Wednesday evening last a Public Meeting of Operatives was held at the White Hart Hotel, Queen-street, for the purpose of taking preliminary steps for the stablishment of a Working Man's Freehold Land Association. We believe that Mr. Bell's Speech in the Legislative Council on the kindred subject of Building Societies, (as reported in our columns on Saturday) afforded encouragement and useful suggestions to those who took an interest in the movement. A Provincial Committee was appointed to prepare the draft of Rules for the management of the projected Institution; — that Draft to be presented to another General Meeting on Wednesday (this day week). We shall take an early opportunity of pointing attention more particularly to the character and beneficial results of such Institutions, as referred to by Mr. Bell, and known to us from other information.

Lecture on Total Abstinence. — The Lecture on " The Nature and Importance of the Total Abstinence Pledge," was delivered on Monday evening, in the Hall of the Mechanics' Institute, by Mr. Jordan, who dwelt upon the various points embraced in his subject with much earnestness, introducing numerous illustrative statements and eloquent appeals on behalf of Total Abstinence as a piinciple, and of the pledge as a means of bringing it into sure and permanent operation. The audience was numerous, (including a number of x-espectable females), and by frequent applause testified concurrence in the Lecturer's views, and appreciation of the ability with which he enforced them. The Rev. Thomas Budole, who presided, made a few appropriate remarks after the conclusion of the Lecture, adding that the Secretary of the Auckland Total Abstinence Society would remain to receive the names of persons willing to become members. We understand that several complied with the invitation.

Resident Magistrate's Court, August 16. — This day two persons whose respective cases had on the preceding day been consideied and adjourned for the production of further evidence, were both committed for trial at the next Criminal Session of the Supreme Court. The first was William Martin, on a charge of stealing two boxes of Cigars, the property of Mr. Bryant Vercok. The other, G- Strongman was committed on a cha r ge of stealing Blankets, the property of Thomas Balme, a seaman on board the Edward.

We have to notice the death of one of the remaining crew of the unfortunate Alcmene, who had been unable to accompany his companions to Tahiti. The kind hearted 58th Regiment, followed up, in this poor fellow's case, the same generous course which they have taken throughout with respect to the shipwrecked Frenchmen, — a number of the soldiers accompaning the body, with funeral music, to the place of interment.

The Southern Cross, both in its editorial and its "Original Correspondence " departments, seems shaken with wrath to its very depths by the appearance of two or three advertisements in our columns, which — being obviously harmless bits of jocularity — insinuating no moral charge, and tending to no result beyond the excitement of a good-humoured laugh — need scarcely have raised a storm of anger in such " celestial minds" as those which seem to have been agitated by them. We at once say, that we do not approve of or practice personal attacks in any form ; and that we neither saw nor heard of the paragraphs in question until after their publication. Nevertheless, they certainly did not bear on their front, nor did they we believe, mean anything beyond an effusion of humour, which only some very " thin skinned" individual would think it worth while to wax so indignant and declamatory about as our sensitive contemporary has done. We believe that strict care has always been exercised to guard against the admission, even in the way of business, of anything that could injure character, or be open to the imputation of slander, In this respect the columns of the New Zealander would not suffer from a comparison with those of any of its colonial contemporaries, certainly not with the Ci-oss. We congratulate our contemporary, however, on his lively sense of the impropriety of personally offensive allusions. Next in value to untainted innocence is repentance, such, as will we trust in his case lead to becoming avoidance of what, not very long ago, was a besetting sin of his controversial lucubrations. His yesterday's comments upon our mode of treating public questions shall not lead us into any dispute with him. He admires his own mode ; we have still a lingering preference for ours, — believing not only that we can, but that we actually do — treat the public acts of public men, of whatever rauk, with honesty, and with as much likelihood of promoting the public good as if we were to be as abusive as our contemporary.

A Trip to the Batiiurst Diggings. — The following extract from a Letter received in this town from a tradesman who some time since left Auckland for Sydney, is worth perusal as a genuine narrative of an adventure to the GoldDiggings, which, although given here only as the experience of two or three individuals, no doubt may be regarded as a fair representation of the experience of numbers who have relinquished certain and remunerative employment ibr the

chances and the disappointment of gold-hunting. "Immediately on my arrival in Sydney, I was engaged on piece work, and the first* week I earned £3 12a., out of which, after a jolly row, I obtained 17s. 6d., — the fiim being insolvent; do, on the Monday following, I applied at tbe , and was engaged at £2 2s. per week, when the startling and awful intelligence of the gold discovery came to lown, and I, wirb hundreds of others, rushed pell-mell to the scene of

action. Myself and an old friend bought a hn\s and cait, and off we went to the gold country, provisioned for three months ourselves, — ditto ditto our families, whom we removed to the country. We staited fiom Sydney on Monday, June 1, a lovely day, and in high sprits the io.kl was almost blocked up with vehicles; anything that would go upon wheels, was eagerly bought up and set in motion— cans, cabs coaches, and omnibuse-, p.ick horse", bullocks, arid even do;>s. Such a scene l We jogged on quietly enough, until the rain set in, then, alas ! " a change came o'er the spine of the dream." We were then m the mountains, and the Dads, with the immense traffic, almost impassable; the horse, too, began to knock up, we therefore deemed it advisable to sell two sacks of flour, &c, &c, at less than the original cost, to lighten the load — suffice it to bay that we amved at the diggings sixteen (la>s after we left Sydnej — it bavin" rained the greater pait of the time. We now found, to our gu-at consternation, that instead of making fortunes, there woie bundled I*,1 *, nay, thousands, not i-arnm^ their rations, — selling their stores, even blankets, to pay their way back. All agreed that there was plenty of gold under the water — the creek having risen so much as to render it almost impossible to work to advantage. Some, the greater part, so much dispirited as not even to try. Hoiveyer, we, I and my chum, pitched our tent and ■went to woik. First clay, 711/.; second day, ditto; third day, " nokee-naok ;'' when we were politely asked if we had a license ; on replying in the negative we were told we must pay £3 on the nioriow. We woiked away again, and again the license was demanded. We said, we had had no luck, wo therefore were allowed two more days, with a gentle hint that unless it was then paid lie, the commissioner, would kick us into the creek, cradle and all. We now held a consultation, and found the finances in a by no means flounsbing condition. Cash in hand, i.'2 14s. 3d. To amount of license due, £ 3 (for current month) ; ditto for July (in about seven days), jt3, — a decided case of insolvency — so, at the end of the fifth day, having the fear of the commissioner before our e^ea, we about-ship, and aieeied homeward — selling our gold at liathurat for 12s. dd., with which we purchased one bushel of corn for the horse, and two balk for self und chum. We arrived saje in Sydney just six weeks after starting, capsizing the cart twice, sticking in a creek once, in the mud about twenty times, and losing the horse once, and for ever (82 miles from home), obliged to lure another 10 take the cart to Parramatta. Such was our luck, and such has been the luck of hundreds ; it has been the means of breaking up many a comfortable home, and will continue to do so to the end of the chapter. In consequence of the accounts from the Turoii, the fever is agari raging — hundreds aro on the road, but better piovisioned, and with better chance of success. I have no doubt but that in the spring Sydney will be nearly deserted. lam so convinced that it will then pay, that I shall try again, for I like the hie ; I was never in better health, though I was constantly wet, and &lej>t under the cart the whole time."