The New-Zealander. AUCKLAND, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29, 1851.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 578, 29 October 1851, Page 2

The New-Zealander. AUCKLAND, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29, 1851.

Be just and fear not Let all the ends them aiins't at, be thy Country's, Thy God's, and Tiutli'f..

The difficulties which have, within the last few weeks, been thrown in the way of Commercial transactions in Auckland and its district by the withdrawal of the extent of accommodation which the Union Bank of Australia had iti times past afforded, have been the subject of universal comment amongst our mercantile classes, and at present assume such an aspect as to compel us to overcome the reluctance which we have felt to make public reference to what may be deemed a delicate subject. It would now, however, be like a deieliction of duty if we were not to give expression to the general opinion that the restrictions in discounting local Bills, and the increased charge on Bills of Exchange, especially the former, are uncalled for by any circumstances in the affairs of business here and productive of embarrassments which are calculated to effect material and unmerited injury. Why a step contrasting so disagreeably with the satisfactory terms on which the Bank has hitherto usually acted should just now be taken, it is not for us to speculate. It is true that a recent case has involved the Bank in the risk of a serious loss ; but we believe that, even in that instance, the ultimate loss will be much less than was originally supposed ; and, at all events, it was altogether a peculiar case, such as had never occurred here before, and may never occur again,— a case of forgery, in which the Law Adviser of the Bank was, to his own cost, deceived equally with the Management. We are assured by persons likely to be wellinformed on such matters, that the losses on the ordinary transactions since the opening of the Auckland Branch have been, so fractional, as compared with the amount of business, that it would seem almost ridiculous to name the sum. The juncture at which this new course has been adopted adds greatly to its embarrassing consequences. Several of our commercial men have sustained, through their Californian speculations, losses which, although not such as to involve them in any permanent difficulty of a character to shake their credit, are confessedly sufficient to produce temporary inconvenience to a very annoying degree, when there is suddenly superadded a withdrawal of the facilities of meeting their business requirements which they had previously enjoyed. We would repeat, and make it as emphatical as we can, this word suddenly ; for it expresses what is really the most marked and obviously unjustifiable feature of the matter. We do not question the general right of a Banking Company to exercise that control over their own affairs which belongs to every voluntary Association as well as to individuals j although we certainly do maintain that when a Bank possesses a monopoly, such as the Union Bank of Australia actually enjoys here, its power ought to be employed prudently and in a liberal spirit, if it would not stimulate the public to take measures in self-defence to break down that monopoly ;- ',ut there can be no excuse that we can see for a discontinuance.

without any ; revious notice, of accommodation which merchants had been accustomed to leceive, and in reliance upon the continuance of which they laid their plans, and undertook ! their responsibilities. It will be for the capitalists of the district to consider whether they should or should not remain subject to such unlooked for interferences with commerce, which — because they are unlooked for — cannot lie adequately prepared against. A Banking Ordinance now exists in the Colony affording facilities for helping themselves in the case. The practical intioduction of its provisions her? has hitherto scarcely been thought of, because the Branch of the Union Bank was conducted in a manner which secured the approbation of reasonable men, (and such is the general character of our merchants, who are both reasonable and prudent men, acquainted with the solvency of those whose bills they take) ; but the piesent course places the community in new ciicumstances, and new circumstances may entail a necessity for altered action.

To the familiar iuquiiy " What is the best new s from Ireland 1 ?" the answer supplied by our recently received joui rials must, we think, be — That, amidst many difficulties from an unprecedentedly laige emigration and other retarding causes, agricultiual operations had been earned fonvaid during the last spring to an unusual extent, and the young crops showed a most flouiishing appearance. Poor Paddy's old friend the Potato— to which amidst so many reverses he has clung with all the enduring affection of his nature— would not, in the opinion of good judges, mock his hopes this year, as it has so fatally done in preceding seasons. It had been planted more largely than in any year since 1845, and the peiiod of the year in which forced potatoes had always exhibited tokens of the disease having passed without the slightest indication of its return, the most sanguine expectations weve formed that this " enemy of old Ireland" had taken its final departure. It remained to be proved whether the expectation would be fully realized ; but up to the last dates, nothing could exceed the thriving aspect of the ciops. This is attributed in part to gteaier care in selecting seed of a superior quality, and the vitality of which had not been deteriorated by disbudding ; and partly to planting at an eailier period of the season, — one of the few facts ascertained with regard to the mysterious potato disease being that a most important means of prevention is planting the seed at least a month earlier than was customary for the main crop. ..The grain crops were also extensive, and looked equally we11... 1n the North, the cultivation of flax had engaged so much attention that the breadth of ground under this crop was in some districts fully one-fifth more than last season. The increase of flax spinning mills, holding out a piospect of additional and remuneiating demand, had stimulated the agriculturists not only to sow larger quantities, but to devote more care to the preparation of the soil, and to the clearing off root-weeds, which had been found a chief cause of damage to former crops. It was gratifying that home-saced seed had been used in many instances, and was turning out as well as the imported. Still much remains to be done before the Irish cultivators can successfully compete either with the Belgians in flax, or the llussians in hemp-growing •, but there is enough of prospective advantage to excite to both study and labour in the enterprise providing a native supply for home purposes, to be inferred from the fact that the importations of foreign flax-seed, hemp, and oil-cake during the past year, amounted in value to £8,700,000. " This," says the Belfast Mercury, 11 is rather a formidable sum, and yet the figures are under the mark.".. To these favourable reports it is to be added, that the catt'e, sheep, and pig market were buoyant, although the stock was not considered equal in quality to former years, owing to scarcity of food, and neglect in the localities from which large bodies of emigrants were proceeding. At first view this generally prosperous state of agriculture may seem unaccountable, when it is borne in mind that emigration has nearly depopulated some districts. There are, it appears, localities in which farming operations had been nearly suspended for want of labour, and others in which much of the field work had been done by females. Still, it was certain, that the extent o£J*ind under tillage was greater than at any time since 1846. Referring to this, the Dublin Eve?iing Post observes, — " Many landlords, to be suie, have become farmers of their own land. We know one gentleman who has cropped some hundreds of acres, from which the tenantry had voluntarily emigrated. If the enteiprise should not prove successful this year, he will convert those acres into grazing pastures." Scotch agricultural enterprise had been introduced, and was making its way successfully. About seventy Scotch families were located on the Duke of Leinster's fine estate in the county of Kildare, on farms from which the former occupiers had emigrated. Several Scotch capitalists had also taken extensive farms on the property of the Marqui s of Slioo, in the Westport Union, where they proposed building residences, and rearing large numbers of Stock ; they had already imported hundreds of superior Cheviot sheep, and herds of black cattle. The Court for the Sale of Encumbered Estates was also steadily working out a course of amelioration in the state of the country, by tiansferring large tracts of land from embarrassed, and not unfrequently reck-

less, proprietor, to purchasers of more leal wealth, foiethought, and enterptise. On one day (the 3rd of June) the Sales amounted to £63,500. The average prices realized at the sales by the Court were satisfactoiy ; although sometimes, (as in the case ot the magnificent prope» ty of Loid Viscom.t G'oia, including the fine town of Goit wtfh its banacks, and the splendid mansion and demesne of Loughcooter), the biddings weie so veiy much below the value that .the Com t consented to adjourn the sales, to afford more time for making capitalists at a distance acquainted with the value of the investments offered for their acceptance We launch out into more troubled waters when we approach the pohtico-ieligious affahs of Ire'and. Here, as unhappily has been the case for centimes, we find collisions, beaitbunrings, and auguries of evil. The agitation in opposition to the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill continued to rage through the country. Meetings were hold almost everywhere in the South and West to denounce Lord John Russell and his measuie, and to eulogize the (< Spartan band" (called by others the '• Irish Brigade") of Members of the House of Commons who had united m obstructing the promess of the u l3ill, — although even they did not escape censure, because they did not consistently cany out the policy of voting against Ministeis whether in the right or wrong. Thus the Coik Reporter taunts them with deviation fiom their straight course because they voted ag.'itist an amendment proposed by Sir Hen u y Willoughey, the effect of which indeed would have been to lender the Bill more penal, but the adoption of which might have led either to an abandonment of the mea»ure, or a resignation of Ministers ; and which was only carried, with the aid of the " Irish Brigade" by a majority of four. "We have all through the Session," says that Roman Catholic journal, " been in expectation of this 1 turning their backs upon themselves' by the valiant brigade." An exception to the results i of the movement had occurred where it was j little to be anticipated — in the county of Tip- j perary, where the long- threatened " demonsira- j tion" against the Bill proved a comparative failure, the High Sheriff having lefused to connect himself with it, and the Mayor and Corporation of Clonmel, and even some of the requisitionists, having absented themselves fiom the Meeting. The general course, however, was one of vehement hostility to the measure and the Ministry ; and, in Kilkenny, exclusive dealing, burning in effigy, and acts of personal violence had been brought to bear against the Protestant inhabitants who had signed a petition to Parliament against Papal Aggression, and a list of whose names had been published by the local newspaper the Kilkenny Journal. " Altogether," sarcastically remarks another local paper, ihe Mode/ ut^r, " The civil and religious liberty which Rome permits her people to enjoy in every land where her influence is acknowledged, is strikingly exemplified and triumphantly vindicated in Kilkenny." On the Protestant side t it is scarcely necessary to add, a corresponding activity was shown in petitioning against Papal encroachments. An element of discord, however, had shown itself in the proceedings of the Presbyterians of the North. While they agreed in their opposition to the "Popery" of Rome, some would make the " Prelacy" of England at the same time almost equally prominent in their denunciations. The Synod of Armagh and Monaghan, (presided over by " the clerical light of the Tenant League," the Rev. David Bell), had unanimously adopted the following resolution •• — ■ "That tbis Synod, viewing with dread tbe rapid progi ess of the Puseyite hpresy throughout the British dominions, and believing that its Homeward tendency has lately encouraged the Bishop of Rome to set up his anti-Cbristian hierarchy in England, they hereby declare that Prelacy, whether Anglican or Roman, in its polity and its spirit of civil and ecclesiastical supremacy, ignoies the purity of Us ministers, claims lordship over God's heritage, contravenes tbe headship of tbe Lord Jesus Christ, and they resolve to bung tbe whole subject under the solemn cons deration, of their people."

In the Synod of Belfast, Dr. Coulter attempted to carry a similar Resolution declaring that he " regarded the whole Church of England system, with the Queen at its head, as a great system of Anti-Christ." But Dr. Cooke threw the weight of his powerful influence, and the force of his caustic oratory into the opposite scale, repudiating the proposition as " a side-winded, tortuous, and sinister mode of assailing a sister Church, when the object was to stem the flood of Popery" ; and ultimately the original resolutions was carried, condemning the Papal Aggression, the Tractarianism in the Church of England, and the Government patronage of Popery. An " Association for the Defence and Increase of Catholic Liberty" was in progress of organization, and had received the adhesion of nearly all the Roman Catholic Archbishops and Bishops. Cardinal Wiseman had been applied to for his sanction, and had returned the following prudently guarded reply :—: — London, June 2. "Sir, — I Lave received your favour of, May 26, asking for my sanction of the formation of an 'Association for the Defence and Increase of Catholic Liberty.' I feel myself too little acquainted at present with the definite purpose of the proposed association, and with the means which it intends to employ, to be able to give more than a very general answer ; that so far as the title of the Association accurately dpsciibes its objects it seems naturally to claim not only my encouragement, but that of every Catholic. I must, however, observe that if the association be of a political chaiacter, and aim at obtaining its object by political means, 1 must naturally leave it entirely in the hands ot those who better understand .such matteis than I can do. I have rigidly .uHieied thiough hfc to the rule of confining my sinol 1 * r>e of attmty to my ecclesiastical and sjmitual duties, which aio more than suft'"imit to exhaust my time and strength.

" I am sure that no measures will be taken for our common cause by the cWpy and laity of lieland which will not find thur proper encouiagement from the Catholics of England, who have so sincere and warm a sense of the obliga-ion under which they now more th<in ever are placed to their brelhien in lr> land. " I am ever, Sir, yours faithfully in Christ, « Mr. James Buike." N. Caid. Wiseman. Much excitement had been produced by an action for libel commenced by Mr. Martin Burke against the Lord Lieutenant' Some time ago a mysteriously introduced letter appeared in the Tablet, which that journal intimated was addressed by his Excellency the Earl ,of CiARtNDON to the Earl of Shrewsbury, (who was then at Romp,) and designed to be conveyed through him to the PopEand Cardinals. In this communication, thewnter, referring to Mr. Duffy, said that "he would have been at this how a deported felon, if one of the jury had not perjured himself." It appears that Mr. Burke applied to himself the accusation which we have marked in italics, — and brought the action. Lord ClarcjP^i had avowed the authorship of the letter, and entered an appearance. The declaration as filed ou the pait of the pi an tiff charged the defendant with having written the letter ; a second count held his Excellency responsib'e for its publication in the Tablet; and a third, for its dissemination generally. It is needless to add that the tiial was looked forward to with intense interest. The letter itself, as fully as it was given in the Tablet originally, will be found in another part of our present issue. It may properly be viewed as a Stute document ; and a very revnaikable one it is. — It merits attention not only from the position and abilities of the noble author, but especially from the fact that Lord Clarendon, all through his vice-royalty, has manifested a disposition to treat the Roman Catholics, both ecclesiastics and laymen, with an amount of favour which has brought upon him no small share of censure from some of the Protestant party. The (London) Morning Herald says of it, " It is no doubt an able, and not uninstructive, description of Irish parties. One idea is its leading one. It ! manifests from beginning to end a feeling of bitter disappointment that the efforts of flis Excellency to humbug the Pope have not j been as successful as they deserved." It will be observed that a prominent topic in the letter is the Romish opposition to the Queen's Colleges Ireland. We mentioned in a former number a report that the Pope had given the seal of his approbation to the hostile decisions which the Synod of Thurles, by a narrow majority, had pronounced against those Institutions. Further accounts leave no doubt of the fact, although the terms of the Papal condemnation had not yet been published. Expectations were entertained that many of the Roman Catholic laity would uphold the Colleges in opposition to any rescript proceeding even from the College of the PropaganaVf*and several of the liberal journals encouraged<*f!Se*a to make a stand for " the zelease of the Irish intellect from bondage " Meanwhile the movement for a " Catholic University" was carried forward with seal, and large sums had been contributed towards its establishment. The largest from any one diocese had been that from Meath, which amounted to £3,237. But funds were anticipated to a much greater extent in consequence of Cardinal Wiseman VpjSrmission that collections for the purpose might"" be made within the boundaries of his spiritual jurisdiction, and from an appeal made to sym_ pathisers in the C ontinental Countries. The narratives of crime in the late papers have their scenes principally in the North of Ireland, which used to present so favourable * contrast with the South in this respect. But the efforts of the Tenant Leajiue Agitators have been very strenuous in the North, and many of the peasantry have inferred from their harangues such distorted views of the relations between landlord and tenant as to lead them, practically to the conclusion that they ought to pay no rent at all. Several outrages are recorded, of which the most shocking is the murder of a gentleman named Coulter, who was barbarously beaten to death in the county of Louth, between Dundalk and Crossmaglen. Downhill House, near Coleraine, the seat of Sir Hervey Bruce, and one of the finest mansions in Ulster, had been destroyed by fire ; a chimney-sweep lost his life in the conflagrd|< tion. The magistrates having decided that the fir? '« was of an incendiary character, the enormous sum of £50,000 was to be levied off the barony as compensation. Evidences of a reorganization of the Ribbon conspiracy having been discovered in the county of Down, several baronies had been proclaimed, and an additional police force stationed in the district, for the cost of which a new rate of sixpence per acre had been levied, greatly to the discontent of the inhabitants, who denounced the tax as unjust and oppressive, and only paid it on compulsion. . ..In the South, the suicide o£ Mr. John Power, of Gurteen, (who was stepson of Mr. R. L. Shiel, and had formerly represented the County of Waterford) had excited univeisal feeling, particularly since the death of Mr. Shiel, in consequence of an attack of illness believed to have been brought on by the shock he received on hearing of the dreadful occurrence. The cause of suicide was stated to be a letter from a solicitor threatening legal proceedings for £10,0u0 for which Mr. Power had become security ; but the real embarrassment could not be crushing, as the unhappy gentleman has left a property of £9,000 a year ; and the actual debts of the person for whom he was security did not exceeded 2000.

Tl.e Census Returns for Ireland were not completed, but there was no doubt that the population would be found to have considerabfy decreased since 1841. Belfast would, however, present a mailced exception. Its population in 1831 was 37 000; in 1841, it was 75,000 ; and this Census it was expected to be 112,000. It is now undoubtedly the commercial capital of lieland.

BURGESS-ROLL-ADJOURtfED MEETING OF MAGISTRATES. Tlie Adjourned Meeting of Magistrates to hear claims to "be added to the Lists of Burgesses for the Borough of Auckland, to consider objections, and to complete and fix the Burgess Roll for the year, was held on Saturday at the Supreme Court House. There were present, Tiros. Bijckham E«q, (Resident Magistrate), Peucivvl, Bgrrky, E*q., Captain Macdoxald, J. J. Symoxds Esq. L. McLvour.vx, Esq., and S. Kemithouxe, Esq The Meeting was of course open^ to the public, and a considerable number of auditors attended. The following is an abstract of the proceedings and results. Ward No. 1 (East Town) . -Dr. Campbells name was inserted in the Roll, it appearing that, although he was absent on the Ist of August, he had occupied a house both before and since that date, which was only lent during his absence. The name of Mr. Edwin Davy was also added. That of Mr. A. TV". Haxsvrd was on his application, transferred to the Middle Ward, to whioh he has removed since the first of August. The name of Mr. W. Possexiskie was struck off, on the ground of his being an alien not naturalized. The question was raised by Mr. Haxsvrd whether the term " tenement" in the Ordinance applies exclusively to the private residence, or whether it extends to other tenements, as stores, &c, occupied by the same person in different Wards. It was decided that one individual can vote only for one Ward, namely, that in which his place of abode is, and that the term in the Ordinance applies to the private residence, not to the place of business. Ward No. 2 (Middle Town) —This occupied a considerable time, as the claims were numerous, and in some instances required special attention as forming precedents. Mr. Wm. llexderson (of the firm of Gkaiiam and IIi:v»i:nso%) applied to be placed on the 8011. It appeared that his elder brother and partner, Mr. Jamks llexdkrsojt, was already on it, and the question came to be discussed whether their joint occupation entitled both parties to votes. Mr. Robert Gii.fim.an put the matter in a very striking point of view by objecting to the name of Mr. James Henderson remaining on the Roll,— an objection ur"-ed of course merely for the sake of argument, —to show that both brothers had an equal right to be placed on it. The claim was decided in the affirmative, Mr. Beckiiam. being, we believe, the only magistrate who took a different view. James Dbvitt, private in the 58th regiment, claimed, as occupying a house in town, towards the rent of which he received two pence a, day from the Government. The question was raised whether a soldier under such circumstances was entitled to vote. After some discussion it was decided in the affirmative. This ruled the admission of several other claims. Joseph B-obixsox claimed to be on the Roll for this Ward. It appeared that as an Enrolled Pensioner he has a cottage and acre at Ilowick, and is bound to attend parade there every Sunday, and for twelve other days in the year. But he habitually resides in town, and goes out only on the Sunday morning, returning to sleep in town at night. It was 'decided, however, that he should vote not for the Ward he lives in, but for Ilowick. Ultimately the alterations in this Ward stood as follows :— Added to its List,— John j\Lvcr\nlaxe, James Derrom, Joiix McDowell, Robert Bennett, Alex. llurnußX, James Kkkgax, Robert Skeex, Thomas Joxes, William Pipkr, Martin McDermott, Timothy Duncan, George Edwards, Joiix White, William. Hopkins (a native of New Providence), Duxcax Hepburn, Paymaster Timbrell (oBlh Regiment), Edward Howell, Patrick Mahoxy, William Hendersox, and Juies Devitt. Struck off, — Abraham Keesixg and Henry Keesixg, aliens. No. 3. (West Town). — Admitted, — James Keeler, James Gerhard, Robert Gili-illax, James Burtt, Thomas Canty, David Witiierixgtox. Struck off the Roll, — Johx Sauerbier and Charles Roihxson, being aliens; and George McElwaix, Gaol-keeper, and Edward Leary, Lockup-keeper, as living in Government Houses for which they paid no rent. Haxs Christopher, a Dane, claimed to be put on the List, but was refused, being an alien, Ward No. 4c (Suburban East).— Admitted, G. M. E. Stephex, James Miller. Ward No. 5 (Suburban South).— Samuel Glencross, an Enrolled Pensioner, was removed from this List to that of Otahuhu, on the ground ruled in the previous case of Rom^son. Ward No. 6 (Suburban West). — Admitted, —Thomas Morris and Alexander Frasi h. There were no claims or objections advanced for any of the remaining Wards in the Borough. The point which has been agitated in newspaper correspondence respecting the right of soldiers, living out of barracks in houses rented by themselves, to be entered on the Roll, was, it will be seen, decided in favour of that right, as we maintain it should be, on every ground of justice and common sense, and in accordance with " the spirit of the British Constitution," to which a more frequent than appropriate reference has been made in opposition to the great principle of—Rcpi'esentahon where there is liability to Taxation. It

might be argued that the well-conducted soldiers ■who have obtained permission to live with their families out of barracks, are equally likely with civilians to form a correct view of the eligibility of candidates in a town where they have resided much longer than many of the unchallenged Burgesses. It might moreover be urged that not a few soldiers either already are, or intend to become shareholders in the new Land Association, thus evidencing a disposition to take root in the soil. But we sland upon the broad constitutional principle that there should be Representation where there is Taxation, and we leave it to those who, in the case of the military householders, would set this principle at nought, either manfully to acknowledge that they do repudiate it as a whole, or to explain, if they can, their own glaring inconsistency in talking about British rights which they would then practically deny— if they could. We may safely predict that the military men on the Burgees Roll will exercise their franchise as honestly and judiciously as any other members of the community. The decision that partners, or joint occupants of a house, may vote, may not have been (we suppose was not) in accordance with the strict letter of the Charter ; but as the spirit of the measure was undoubtedly characterized by great liberality as to the franchise, the error, if one, may be deemed of small importance, and, so fains the right was actually exercised on Saturday, only admitted three gentlemen, no one of whom should, on general grounds, be excluded. The decision which fixed in the Ilowick Ward List a man who actually lives in town, and desires to vote here, seems much moie open to objection. But we cannot afford space to-day to enter in any detail upon this or other points connected with the Meeting. We shall only add that it would be a most desirable improvement in the regulations for revising the Burgess Koll to requiie that notice should be given, a certain time before the Meeting, of all ilaims and objections intended to be brought forward. As it waf-, ex parte statements might be made without contradiction, because it could not be known previously what would be urged. We do not mean to insinuate

that this actually occurred, but the possibility should be guarded against. And again, if ifc_ had been known that the question of a right arising out of joint occupancy would be di ousscd^ no doubt many more would have obtained participation in the privileges conceded by the Bench, who were prevented from attending to the matter by the prevailing belief that the terms of the Charter had settled as the law that there could be only one vote for one house. The Burgess- Roll is now complete, and (as will be seen by an advertisement in our columns today) may be inspected by the public at the Resident Magistrate's Court. An analytical summary of the number of Burgesses in the several "Wards, distinguishing Europeans and Natives, has been compiled from the corrected Roll under the direction of Mr. Bkckiiam, which presents the following results : — Wards. Burgesses. Town (Bast) 94 (Middle) 103 (West) 304 Suburban (East) 79 (South) 34 (West) 21 Onehunga 108 Panmnrc Otaliuhu 73 Howick 161 Epsom (East) 43 1 (West) 7G Tamaki (West) 48 (East). 23

Total in the Borough... 1428 ]n tills Total thirty-five Natives are include;!, of whom one lives in the East Town Ward, one in the South Suburban, ten in the East Epsom, ten in the West Epsom, and thirteen in the West Tatnaki Ward.