The New-Zealander. AUCKLAND, SATURDAY, DEC 13, 1851.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 591, 13 December 1851, Page 2

The New-Zealander. AUCKLAND, SATURDAY, DEC 13, 1851.

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By the arrival of the Lord William Jjenlinclc, which readied our port on Thursday, wo have our usual files of Hnglish papers from the middle of July to the h'rst week or ten days of August. But the papers for some weeks in June and July nre still missing; — probably they had been sent, after a mode in which we arc only too well accustomed to be treated, on a tour to the Southern Settlements. Parliament was prorogued on the Bth of August by Her Majesty in person, with the usual ceremonials, and with the equally usual manifestations of loyalty on the part of the people. The following is THE QUEEN'S SPEECH. ' "My Lords and Gentiyemen, j " I am glad to be able to release you from your attendance in Parliament ; and I thank you for the diligcn«e with which you have performed your laborious duties. "I continue to maintain the most friendly relations with foreign powers. " 1 am happy to be able to congratulate you on the vci'y considerable diminution which has taken place in the African and Brazilian slave trade. '_TKe exertions of my Sc|i.iadi oil's on the coasts of Africa and Brazil, assisted by the vigij lance of the cruisers of France and of the United States, and aided by the co-operation of the Brazilian Government, have mainly contributed to this result. " GrKNTLEMKN OF THE lIoUSB OV COMMONS, j "I thank you for the readiness with which you have granted the Supplies necessary for the service ofthe year. " My Lords and Gjrntjvemen, "It is satisfactoi'y to observe that, notwithstanding very large reductions of taxes, the revenue for the past year considerably exceeded th e public expenditure for the same period. " I am rejoiced to find that you have thereby been enabled to relieve my people from an impost which restricted the enjoyment of light and air in their dwellings. I trust that this enactment, with others to which your attention has been and will be directed, will contribute to the health and comfort of my subjects. " 1 thank you for the assiduity with which you have applied yourselves to the consideration of a measure framed for the purpose of checking the undue assumption of Ecclesiastical Titles conferred by a Foreign Power. "It gives me the highest satisfaction <o find that, while repelling unfounded claims, you have maintained inviolate the great pi'inciples of religious liberty, so happily established among us. " The attention you have bestowed on the Administration of Justice in the Courts of Law and Equity, will, I trust, prove beneficial, and lead I to further improvements. "I have willingly given my conspnt to a bill relating to the administration of the Land Kevenucs of the Crown, which will I hope, conduce to the better managemeut of that department, I and at the same time tend to the promotion of works of public utility. "Jt has been very gratifying to me, on an occasion which has brought many foreigners to this country, to observe the spirit of kindness and good-will which so generally prevailed. i "Itis my anxious desire 1o promote among nations the cultivation of all those arls which ace fostered by peace, and which in their turn contribute to maintain the peace of the world. " Tn closing Ihe present Session, it is with feelings of gratitude to Almighty God that T acknowledge the general spirit of loyalty and willing obedience to the law which animales my people. Such a spirit, is the best security at once for the progress and the stability of our free and happy institutions." Much of iho intelligence, particularly as respects the proceedings of Parliament, has — at least to results — been anticipated by the summaries which have already reached

us from the neighbouring colonies. We have now, of course however, full reports of ilic debates, on which wo may draw in the way of extract for future numbers. The new proceedings of nio&t interest to this colony had relation to tlio affairs of the New Zealand Company. Wo devote a separate article to this .subject, which will be found below ; and proceed here to sum up a few further particulars of general intelligence. The Commons met in their new chamber on the 24th of July, for the fit>t time this session. The accommodation had been enlarged, so that the House would now hold upwards of seven hundred persons ; the facilities for hearing and reporting had been increased; and windows of stained glass, an ornamental ceiling, and other improvements in the aspect of the chamber had been introduced. Mr. G. I* 1 . Youncj, the celebrated Protectionist leader, had been elected for Scarborough by a majority of 314 to 283 over Lord Mulcirave, who had come before the constituency again in consequence of his having been appointed Comptroller of the Quocirs Household The Eight Hon. E. Strutt had been elected without opposition for Aruiidcl. vacant by the resignation of the Earl of Arundkl. under circumstances to which we adverted a few days since. This noble Lord had succeeded at Limerick, his opponent, Mr. TCussh.i,, having retired from the contest. As this election excited more than ordinary attention in Ircland,and was somewhat remarkable as regards its own proceedings, in our next a report of it will be copied from the Times. Some interesting statements respecting the health of persons of note arc given. Lord Brougham s constitution was believed to be " fast breaking up ;" he had retired to Brougham Hall on the urgent advice of Sir Brnjamin Brodif, whoso opinion was that a continuance of his Parliamentary labours would prove certainly fatal . ....Sir (j iorge G iucy (Home Secretary) had been so severely j indisposed as to be unable for some time to attend to his official duties.. ..The Marquis of Lanspowni-: had mot with an accident, being thrown from his horse, by which his arm was injured Mr. Hume had been obliged by illness to resort to Brighton for J change of air Mr. Jlolbuck had been bitten by a dog, with results which, "owing j to his very nervous temperament," were not only painful, but for a while, even alarming ; he was getting better however The Earl of Derby (Lord .Stanley) had been confined by a severe attack of gout. The Peace Society had held its Congress at Exeter Hall, the Sessions extending over three days. Sir David Brewsthi presided, and Mr. CounbN, Euiiu Buuiuir, the Rev. An&ell Jamfs, M. Emii.r do Gliuauihn, and Mr. S. Gurnby were chief speakers. The topics, were, as usual, the evils of war, the blessings of peace, international arbitration, non-intervention, the immorality of warloans, &c. A deputation of fifteen tradesmen, sent over by the working classes of .France, attended, and a soiree at Willis's liooms, at which seven hundred ladies and gentlemen were present, gave an agreeable conclusion to the proceedings. Baron dc Rothschild had convened a meeting of his City friends to consider what should be done in consequence of the rejection of the Jews Bill by the House of Lords. Resolutions were enthusiastically passed condemning the vote of the Peers, and calling upon Ministers to introduce — as a Cabinet measure by which they would stand or fall — a bill for the total abolition of the .present oath of abjuration. The Spectator remarks, " the way in which Lord John Hussku.'s name was received showed that he had not improved his position in the City by the legislation of the last five years. 3 A movement had taken place which was expected greatly to promote the important object of an "ocean penny postage," — at least of so much of it as may be found feasible. An association comprising several distinguished Englishmen and Foreigners, had. been formed for the purpose of inducing the Governments of their respective countries to establish a low and uniform rate of postage on letters to and from all parts of the world. They propose that the whole postage on foreign letters shall be prepaid, in all countries, by means of postage stamps, and according to an uniform system of weights. The project seemed to find favour in influential quarters. The Wcslcyan Methodist Conference was holding its one hundred and eighth Annual Session, assembling this year at Newcastle on Tyne. Dr. Hannah was chosen President, and the Rev. John Farrar, Secretary. Two vacancies were to be supplied in the General-Secretariate of the Missionary Society, the Senior Secretary, Dr. Bun n no, having been compelled by ago and infirmities to retire from active work, and Dr. Alobr having re-entered upon the ordinary work of the ministry, in the Southwark Circuit. The llcv. G. Osborn, and the Rev. W. Arthur were chosen Secretaries We observe by the Report of the Missionary Committee of Review that a new master had been appointed to the John Wesley. We cannot but regret Captain Buck's removal from a post for which ho was eminently fitted by his attachment to the service to which the John Wesley is devoted, and especially by his intimate knowledge of the intricate and often dangerous navigation of the islands which the vessel is usually employed in visiting The Conference had confirmed the decision of a lower Church Court declaring Dr. BeauMONT — Avhosc conduct during the recent agitation in the Connexion had been regarded as vacillating and unconstitutional — unfit to hold any office which would devolve on him specially the obligation to administer the discipline of the Body. A censure (of a milder character however) was pronounced on the Rev. D. Walton, on account of a pamphlet which he had published, and which was deemed injurious 1o the exercise of discipline Thirty-one Ministers had died during the year, and, at this Conference, twenty-live obtained permission to become supernumeraries, through age, or bad health ; but there were forty candidates for the Ministry reported as accepted, besides twenty five promising individuals who were approved of as As-

distant Missionaries in various parts of the world. We have noted various other items ol general intelligence to be transferred to our columns as opportunity may occur. Our next news directly from homo will most probably be by the John Wesley, which was to sail about the 10th of Sept., and may therefore be looked for in the early days of the Now Year.