The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 580, 5 November 1851, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

He just and fear not: Let nil the ends them aimb't at, be thy Country*, Thy God's, and Tiutli'b.

AUCKLAND, WEDNESDAY, NOV. 5, 1851.

By the Overland Mail we have received our regular files of Wellington papers to the 4th of October. Their contents possess considerable interest. The contest respecting the Roads and Streets Ordinance, in which the "persons styling themselves the Settlers' Constitutional Association" were straining every nerve to fiustrate the law, had been brought to a sudden and unforseen close, by the discovery of defects in the construction of the Act which rendered it impossible to bring it into operation. The history of this curious case, in its later stages, is briefly as follows. The object of the Association, as our readers are aware, was to procure the election of Commissioners pledged to nullify the Ordinance, by imposing only a nominal assessment for the repair of the streets, and by other steps of a similar character. Mr. Lyon, Dr. Dorset, Mr. Fitzhprbert, Mr. Cliffokd, and Dr. Featherston were deemed suitable men to carry out this notable scheme, and were accordingly nominated by the immaculate anti-nominee Associationists as fit and proper persons to fill the office of Commissioners. A Committee was appointed to "watch over" the registration of voters ; and so zealous and successful were the efforts of this Committee, that according to the boast of the Independent, they, " on the last day but one brought in four hundred and twenty-seven claims, of which fully four hundred and twenty were registered for the express purpose of electing Commissioners pledged to defeat the operation of the Ordinance." The 22nd of September was fixed for the election ; and a victory over the law, — to be manifested in a sturdy maintenance of the ruts and gulphs in the streets and roads rather than permitthem to be improved under the provisions of the local Ordinance,— was by anticipation celebrated in loud songs of triumph. But it turned out that the Ordinance had not defined the manner in which the votes should be taken, how the lists were to be prepared, or who was to be the Returning Officer ; and Mr. St. Hill, the Resident Magistrate, not knowing how to proceed, applied to the Government for instructions. The GovbRNOR-iN-CniEF directed that the case should be laid betore the Attorney-General of New Munster ; and, two or three days before the day for election, the Gazette announced as that learned functionary's opinion, that the Ordinance is defective in the particulars referred to, and that " the defect cannot be cured by any authority not equipollent with that which made the Ordinance, viz. a Legislative Council." The election could not therefore be held, and the whole affair came to an end. The Independent exults in the issue, however. In a leading article headed in large capitals, " Glorious Victory ! Defeat of the Government," it declares that " Veni, Vidi, Vici, may henceforth be the boast of every Wellington settler, for they have struck the great and final blow at the present despotism, they have laid it absolutely prostrate in the dust &c. These are fine words. They look well on paper, and would probably sound well from the platform of an Association Meeting at Barrett's Hotel. But, after all, it is not quite obvious how such mighty effects are to flow from the breaking down of an Ordinance for enabling the townsfolk to make a few local improvements, occasioned by the incompetency or carelessness with which the minor details of the Bill were drawn up. The chief immediate and practical result seems to be that the streets of Wellington are to remain in their present condition, — a condition which all pa" its ,151,6 lq describing as execrably bad.

The Constitutional Association was also gieatly elated by the receipt of letters from Mr. Addfrli',y, M.P,, and the Secretary of the Society for the Hefonn of Colonial Government, in both instances expressing sympathy in the sentiments of the Resolutions which | the Association had forwarded to London, and willingness on the pait of Mr. Adderley, Sir Wiluam Molesworth, and the Colonial Reform Society "to lender any services in their power which may be required for the attainment of representative Government." Mr. Adderley was ready to accept the office of heir " Political Representative," (as he calls it, or as the Wellington Committee vauntingly term it — their " Parliamentary Agent !" The Goyeunor-in-Chiei- had issued a Proclamation revoking his Proclamation of the 31st December, 1850, respecting Postal arrangements, and declaring new regulations in accordance with the uniform system which it is intended to establish throughout the British Colonies and Possessions, in relation to the conveyance by post of Books, Magazines, Pamphlets, &c. From and after the Ist of January J852, the followm regulations are to be in force throughout New Zealand:— the colonial rate of postage shall be two pence for every letter not exceeding half an ounce [ in weight, and, above that weight two pence | for every half ounce, or fractional part of a half-ounce : — all postage to places beyond the seas to be paid in this colony -.--Postage stamps, of such form as may be prescribed by the Local Government, can be affixed to letters, &c : — Printed Books, Magazines, Reviews, Pamphlets, &c, (whether British, Colonial, or Foifeign), shall be charged for any weight not exceeding •£ lb., sixpence ; not exceeding I lb,, one shilling; and one shilling for every additional pound or fraction of a pound : — Newspapers shall be conveyed free, also printed Prices Current and Commercial Lists, not exceeding two ounces in -weight : — Noncommissioned Officers, Captains, Stewards, Seamen and Soldiers, shall be permitted, while they are employed in Her Majesty's service, to receive letters not exceeding "half an ounce at the rate of one penny each. The plan of erecting Hundreds, with powers of local self-government, which has worked so beneficially in this neighbourhood, has been extended to other Districts. The District of New Plymouth has been divided into two Hundreds, the *' Hundred of New Plymouth," and the "Hundred of Omata." Whanganui has been constituted a Hundred; and the Nelson District has been divided into six Hnndreds. The Gazette notifies several appointments, — viz : — Lieutenant-Colonel James Campbell to be a Magistrate of New Munster, a Commissioner under the New Zealand Company's Land Claimants Ordinance for the Middle District of the Middle Island, a Commissioner under the Land Claims Ordinance for reporting on claims to land in the Middle District, and a Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Middle District of the Middle Island, exclusive of the Canterbury District :— C. O. Torlesse Esq., to be Surveyor of Crown Lands, and Clerk to the Commissioner of Crown Lands fon the Middle District :— D. S. Durie, Esq., to be Commissioner of Crown Lands within the Hundred of Whanganui -.—Robert Hart, Esq., to be a Revising Officer under the provisions of the Building and Land Societies' Ordinance :— W. Halse, Esq., and R. Park, Esq., to lay informations under the Native Land Purchase Ordinance : — T. Brunner, Esq., to be Surveyor of Crown Lands at Nelson : — J. Watson, Esq., to receive claims under the New Zealand Company's Land Claimants Ordinance for Akaroa, Banks's Peninsula, and the Canterbury District: — and J. E. Fitzgerald, Esq., to be a Magistrate of the Province of New Munster. A Ball, which both the journals describe as one of the most brilliant ever seen in the Province, was given at Government House by Sir George and Lady Grey, on Thursday the 11th of September. It was very numerously attended ; but the Independent notices that Lieutenant Governor Eyre and Mrs. Eyre were absent. Amongst the Guests were several natives, including Epuni, E Tako, Matene, Purutu, and others. E Mari (E Takos wife) appeared in a white muslin dress, and danced quadrilles " in a manner perfectly creditable." The decorations, the music (performed by the Band of the 65th regiment), and the supper all received the meed of high praise. . . . A Subscription Ball, at which also Lady Grey was present, took place at the Mechanics' Institute on the Ist of October. Sir George Grey had, however, devoted a portion of such leisure as he could command to more solid and edifying occupation. At a Meeting of the recently organized •' New Zealand Society" on the 26th of September, he, as President, read a long and very able Address, which we shall transfer to our columns in a future number. The Council Chamber has been granted for the monthly meetings of the Society. At this meeting several new members were proposed, and some interesting donations presented to the Library and Museum. A Sale of Town Land, by Mr. J. Smith, took place on the 2nd ult., with very encouraging results. The land sold realized about £1600, and higher rates than had been anticipated were obtained. Some land scrip also sold well. The Spectator deduces from these facts an augury of the benefits to be expected from the New Zealand Company's Land Claimants Ordinance. Four prisoners from the Canterbury settlement were tried at the late Session of the Supreme Court. Two were acquitted, and the third case (in which two were found guilty of robbery) the Spectator affirms, " might have been summarily disposed of under the Resident Magistrates' Ordinance without being sent to Wellington, if Mr. Godley had been equal to the discharge of the duties of the office of which he i 9 locum tenens. A case of some interest under the Customs Ordinance, tried on the Civil side, will be found in full in another column. Captain Christopher Rhatigan, of the 65th regiment, had died aged 46. He was interred in the Roman Catholic Cemetery, with due military honours. The Wellington Building Society was progressing favourably. One hundred and sixtyfive shares had been taken, and it was expected that double that number would be taken as soon as the Society commenced operations. The Rules had been prepared and were before the Revising Officer (Mr. Hart) for his sanction.

Our files of Van Dibmen's Land papers recently come to hand contain some items of intelligence which are amongst those which we had marked for laying before our readers, as more immediately urgent claims on oui columns might permit. The news comes down to the 1 7th of September. The Writs for the election of members of the New Legislative Council had been issued. They were returnable on the 11th of Nev. The elections were to commence on the 21st of October — That for Hobart Town was appointed for the 21th ; Mr. T. D. Chapman, Mr. T. Young, and Mr. John Dunn, had been announced as candidates for its representation, and in several of the country districts the note of preparation was loudly sounded. The Bishop of Tasmania had resigned his seat in the Executive Council, and the Likut.Governor had appointed the Colonial Storetary to the vacancy. Further attention had been fixed on the proceedings connected with Sir William Denireturn to Hobait Town from the interior, which we published an account in a former number of the Kcto-Zea lander)— particularly with respect to the counter-demonstration, in which Karl Grey and His Excellency were burned in effigy. The blame of this movement having been laid chiefly at the door of the "Native Youths," a numerously attended Meeting of the Native and Colonially educated Young Men had been held to repudiate the accusation, at which those proceedings were denounced as « highly discreditable to the Colony." " Being done in our name," the Young Men say, « we feel that this our Address is imperatively called for, in order to vindicate our character by a disavowal of conduct which we cannot but feel as a gross slur upon us as a body. * We consider that, in many respects, the Native Youths of this Colony are highly indebted to your Excellency for thewaun interest you have taken in the advancement of education, and in many other ways too well known to be repeated here." The Address obtained four hundred signatures. His Excellency replied in cordial terms, assuring the Deputation who presented the Address "As long as I remain in this Colony, I shall live for you, and work for y0u.". ...Mr. Thomas J. Knight, the hamster, had been removed from the Commission of the Peace, and also from his office as one of the Commissioners of the Caveat Board, in consequence, it was believed, of the part he was alleged to have taken ,in the effigy-burning" demonstration." The Irish Exile, Mr. P. O'Donoiiue had, according to the Colonist, expressed a desire that his ticket-of-leave should be cancelled, and Sir William Denison had taken him at his word, directing that he should be removed to flhe prisoners' batracks at Hobart Town, and treated in the ordinary way ; but the Advertiser says that, next day, Mr. O'l'onoiiwe repented of the step, and asked to have his ticket restored to him, and that His Excellency complied with the request. The Anti-Tractarian movement continued to go forward vigorously. At a full meeting of the Committee of " The Association of Members of the Church of England for maintaining in Van Diemen's Land the principles of the Protestant Reformation," held on the Ist of September, further steps were taken to advance the important object of the organization, and especially to counteract the Romanizing influence exercised under the auspices of Bishop Nixon. The following is a series of Resolutions adopted on that occasion. Our readers may remember that the Rev. W. Tancred is the clergyman refeired to in connection with the " Steps to the Altar :"— The committee laments the necessity imposed upon it of expressing the deep regret and alarm occasioned by the declaration of the bishop of the diocese, that principles and ceremonies inculcated in books condemned in tbe ' Solemn Declaration,' and by the great body of the clergy and laity as pernicious, unsciiptural, and Romish, are, in his opinion, identified with the true teaching of the Church of England, and that he will continue to use in his own family one of the works condemned, " Steps to tbe Altar ;" and that he will appoint to the first vacant ministerial office the clergyman who lias lately been compelled to resign his appointment for distributing and vindicating the book above named. While the bishops and people of England have, by Divine mercy, been disposed and enabled to protest against and qppose Romanizing teaching and proceedings, and by the late decision of tbe Privy Council to render ahortive a design to condemn and exclude Evangelical ministers, this committee trusts that the members of the Church in this colony will be directed ■o to understand and estimate the principles of the Protestant religion, as, with a due sense of the religious obligation and Bacred importance of the undertaking, to adopt measures for the advancement of Evangelical religion, for the discontinuance of Romanizing; teaching and proceedings in this colony, and to frustrate the attempt to set aside in this diocese the decree of the Privy Council, under pretence of its sanctioning heresy. v j This committee would direct attention to the condition of ft congregation on whom the clergyman above referred to shall be imposed by Episcopal authority. Should the members of such congregation correspond in sentiments with the great body of the clergy and laity, and repudiate tlie Popish doctrines and practices enjoined in the "Steps to the Altar," they will be reduced to the alternative of violating then- consciences, by exposing themselves and their families to teaching which they regard as contrary to God's word ; or they must leave the Church, pe>haps the only place of worship within their reach, and which they may have erected by their subscriptions. The following statement issued in the document from which the above is taken, embodies a general view of the principles of the " Association," and of the chief means by which' it is intended to bring them into practical operation :—: — The principal objects of the Association are— Ist. To promote the progress of evangelical religion, and to adopt measures for the prevention and discontinuance of teaching and proceedings of a Komnmzing tendency in the Church of England in this colony. 2nd. To obtain a constitution for the Chuich, by which its affairs may he administered in an assembly of its members, and such regulations and measures be adopted as its interests and position as si colonial branch of the Church of England may require. 3rd. To secure to the lay members of the Church the exercise of their right to propose measures for adoption, and to participate with the clergy in all deliberations and judgments of the assembly. 4th. To procure for the members of the Church in each congregation the phi-seniaiion or nominaiion of iiiEiii MiNisiMis, — the bishop exercising the same power in admitting persons so nominated as ihe bishops possess upon the presentation or nomination of the parochial clergy by the patrons of livings in England. sth. To maintain the union of the Chuich in this colony with the United Church of Fngland und li eland, and to secure the right of appeal to the Archbishop of Canterbury. 6»h. To procure the restoration of tho liccnspq issued to the clergy in this diocese to the form m which they were granted previous to the recent introduction of the clauses rendering them revocable, summaiily, and without process, at the pleasure of the bishop. The projected Van Diemen's Land Industrial Exhibition had been postponed from the Ist of January to the Ist of Match, 1852, to meet the wishes of several intending contributors. The proceeds of the Weslcyan Bazaar at Hobart Town, for two days had amounted to I imwnrrk' nf f '^00

The half-yearly Rcpoit of the ilobart Town Savings' Bank showed as the Total Amount deposited within the pieceding six months, £27,372; Total Amount of Rc]u\ments during the same penod, £20,055. The Reserve Fund amounted to £721.