The New=Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 635, 15 May 1852, Page 2

The New=Zealander.

Be just and fear not : Let nil tiie ends tliou ahn'st at, be thy Country't>, Tliy God's, and Truth's.

AUCKLAND, SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1852.

The non-arrival of a mail by the Daniel Webster would have left us wholly destitute of recent intelligence from Sydney, had not private courtesy placed us in possession of the Herald of the 17th ult. (the day on which that vessel sailed), an abstract of the principal contents of which we have already laid before our readers. By similar kindness we have since been favoured with a number of additional Heralds, filling up the interval and completing- our file from the dates brought by the Nina. "We have thus a variety of news of considerable interest, including" English summaries and extracts to the 31st of December. We find amongst them several articles on the secession of Lord Palmerston from the Ministry. Comparing- the different statements, we are led to infer that that important occurrence was owing- to the combined operation of the old jealousy with which Lord Grey and his party in the Cabinet regarded their able but rather selfwilled and quarrelsome colleague ; the dissatisfaction with which other members of the Government viewed his Lordship's sympathy with the sentiments, so offensive to Austria and Russia.which were expressed by the Finsbury Deputation in the case of Kossuth ; and the apurobation of the proceedings of Louis Napoleon which his Lordship was understood to have avowed. Referring to the last named question the Times observed, "On one point we entertain no doubt whatever, namely, that the direct cause of the schism was the highly favourable opinions which Lord Palmerston ostentatiously expressed, in person, aud by his public organs, of the late military rcvo- j lution in France, and the measures he I thought fit to take in consequence." Speculation was busy respecting the probable efficiency of the new Foreign Secretary, Lord Granville ; but little more than speculative opinions could be formed, his Lordship having" been, comparatively speaking, scarcely known to the public except in connection with the Great Exhibition. .And yet, on the troubled sea of European politics, the interests of the nation would seem to demand with more than common urgency that the helm of the Foreign relations of Great Britain should be confided to no doubtful or unpractised hand! The point in the change most immediately affecting ourselves as colonists, is the increased strength which Lord Palmerston's secession gives to Lord Grey's position in the administration. It is notorious that the two noble Lords were so hostile that it was matter of snrprise how they got on so long together in the Government ; and the withdrawal of the Foreign Secretary rendered it very likely that the Colonial Despot would be able to retain his place, — unless indeed, as is far from improbable, the infirm and tottering Russell Cabinet should before now have altogether fallen in pieces. The ''Australian Royal Mail Steam Navigation Company" (registered provisionally) had issued a prospectus, setting forth as their general plan, the establishment — according to their contract with the Government — of a bi-monthly communication with Australia by moans of four iron screw steamers of about 1500 tons burthen and 300 horse power, to touch at the Cape de Verd Islands, the Cape of Good Hope, King* George's Sound, Adelaide, and Port Phillip, on the way to and from Sydney : the communication to be made monthly as soon as possible, and to be further augmented as experience may prove to bo expedient. The capital was to be £500,000 in £10 shares, to be increased to £100,000 ii necessary. According to an estimate given in the prospectus, the profit of each voyage is calculated at £6,G18. This rests mon an assurance that there will be I^o passengers of all classes and 700 tons of freight out and home. Several highly respectable names are connected with the undertaking; Mr, William Hawes being Chairman of the Board of Directors; Messrs. E. Gurney, Joseph Hoare, and Benjamin Lancaster, Trustees; and Mr. Isambard X, Brunei, Consulting Engineer The Times of the 19th of December contained a letter from the Australian merchants animadvertingstrongly on the apathy of the British Government with respect to postal communication between the colonies and England, and expressing a determination to look elsewhere for aid denied at home. The Royal Commissioners for the Great Exhibition had addressed a letter to the Colonial Department expressing their sense of " the important services rendered to the Exhibition by many of Her Majesty's Colonies," and their intention to present to each of eleven colonies a series of the several Medals distributed by them, together with a copy of the Jury Reports, illustrated with photographs of articles exhibited, and also a copy of the Illustrated Catalogue. The Colonies referred to are, Barbadocs, Canada, Cape of Good Hope, Ceylon, British Guinea, Malta, New South Wales, New Zealand, Nova Scotia, Trinidad and Van Diemen's Land. ("A copy of the letter, forwarded by Lord Grey to Lieutenant-Governor Sir W. Denison, has been published at Hobarl Town.]

It was stated that Lord John Russell had declared himself in favour of universal suffrage ; but we think the statement verydoubtful, although it is given without qualification in the colonial papers before us. The 71st Regiment, Ist battalion, stationed at Ncwry, and the 89th, at Cloumel, were under orders for Australia. It was said that, in consequence of the recent reIHforcement of the troops, at the Capo of Good Hope, an augmentation of 5000 men would be required early in the year, to enable the military authorities to carry out the system of reliefs. Combinations amongst the working classes were forming in various parts of England, and a general turn-out of mechanics was apprehended in Lancashire.

Louis Napoleon had succeeded as triumphantly as was anticipated by his friends at the Presidential election. The " people" granted his claim to an election for ten years, by a majority of about nine to one, the numbers being, "Yes," 6,011,000," No," 709,000. Thus, however the votes were obtained, the result was as conclusive as this enormous majority could render it, and usurper though ho bo, his usurpation is now sanctioned and ratified by the people's voice. Louis Napoleon was promoting and otherwise rewarding his friends, and seeking further popularity by instituting various new public works; while, for his adversaries, there was still little clemency. A fleet had been prepared to transport political offenders, the number charged as such being very great; and a decree had been issued apportioning M. Ducos, the Minister of Marino and Colonies, a credit of 658,000 francs, " for providing eatables, clothing, and medicines" for them in Ceyenne, which is described as * a marshy island, at the mouth of the Ceyenne, on the pestilential coast of French Guiana." General Cavaignac had been set free, however, and immediately after his liberation was married to Mcllle. Odier, with whom he was about to depart for Holland. Six eminent persons still remained prisoners at Ham, namely, Generals Changarnier, Lefio, Bedcau, and Lamoricicre, with MM. Bazo and Miot. Louis Napoleon was about to promulgate a new constitution, the natui'o of which was not known, but the permancnce'of which, whatever might be its character, obviously could not be relied on ; and, it was confidently stated, that he was seeking a matrimonial alliance with either the Princess Marie Amelie, daughter of the Emperor Don Pedro, of Brazil, or the Princess Charlotte of Sweden The Pope had addressed to his Nuncio at Paris a letter expressing his " entire approbation" of the acts of Louis Napoleon, which, His Holiness said, had " saved society and religion." But it is difficult to know what amount of credence should be given to any statement resting merely upon the authority 3f the French papers, which, says a correspondent of the Times, " are literally one mass of falsehood and misrepresentation. No sheet is allowed to go to press until it is first examined by the authorities of the police." Queen Isabella of Spain had given birth to " ix robust daughter" on the 24th December. There seems to have been some unexpected difficulty connected with the reception of Kossuth in the United States. The people generally-greeted him with enthusiasm, out neither the President nor the Senate appeared equally cordial. Referring to some proceedings in Congress not clearly leported, Kossuth observed, in his reply to a leputation from the city of Philadelphia, that a resolution to bid him welcome, ' simply to bid him welcome," had been withdrawn in Congress on account of apprehended opposition. Had he anticipated ihat, he might not have come from Europe it all. " His movements were now embarrassed ;" whether he would go beyond New Xork he could not yet say; " he would not ,vish to intrude."

Cue columns of the Sydney papers devoted o local matters are for the main part occu)ied by the proceedings of the Australasian inti-Transportation League with articles n support of it 3 object, and the details of he movement towards the formation of a Church of England constitution for the colony. An immense public meeting assembled in Malcom's Circus on the 6th of April, on the invitation of the Council of the League, to consider Earl Grey's determination to continue transportation to Van Dicmen's Land, as avowed by him to the Victoria delegate, Mr. King.— Charles Cowper, Esq., MX..C. occupied the chair. The (Speakers the Chairman, Mr. Lamb, M.L.C., Archdeacon M'Encroo, Mr. C. Kemp, Mr. G.K. Holden, Mr. W. R. Piddington, Mr. It. Campbell M.L.0., Mr. Flood, M.L.C., Mr. Gilbert Wright, Mr. H. Parkcs, and Mr. G. A Lloyd. The most striking feature in the meeting was the open manner in whicli several of these gentlemen contemplated an appeal to physical force, if the Britisl: Government could not be induced by more peaceable means to discontinue transportation. Not to dwell just now on other and higher views of the subject, we cannot bui deprecate such threats on the ground ol policy. Many, both in the colonies and in England, who would strive with every energy of soul and body to attain the object by moral influence, would shrink with abhorrence from the idea of a rebellion for its accomplishment,andbe unwilling, though in so good a cause, to be associated with men who avow even a contingent readiness to embrace such an alternative; and we greatly fear lest the speeches at this meeting may place a formidable weapon in the hands of the opponents of the cause. Resolutions expressive of sympathy with the Tasmanian colonists, admiration of the stand made against convictism by the representative members of the Van Diemen's Land Legislature, indignant reprobation of Lord Grey's conduct, and a solemn engagement on the part 3f the meeting to " resist to the uttermost" the continuance of transportation to Van Diemen's Land and the separation of Moreton Bay from New South Wales for penal purposes, wore passed with enthusiasm, and ordered to be embodied in an Address to bo piesented by the President 'Mr. Cowper) to the Tasmanian Delegates it the Hobart Town Conference.

We give in a separate article an abstract of the proceedings at the meeting- of Church of England Clergy on the 14th and 15lh ult. The Legislative Council of New South "Wales was summoned to meet for the despatch of business on the Bth of June.

Intelligence from the Capo of Good Hope to the 2nd of February had been received at Sydney by the Yarra Yarra steamer. We regret to hear that the prospect of a speedy termination of the Kaffir war held out by the preceding accounts was not encouraged by later information. The rebel chiefs who had sued for peace had been informed through the Gaika Commissioner that "Her Majc&ty cannot treat with rebels," and that " their surrender must be general and unconditional, trusting to Her Majesty's clemency." This demand not having been complied with in eight days, a General Order had been issued on the 23rd of January directing that hostile operations against them should be continued with every activity.

By the Lucy James we have received Wellington papers to the 24th of April, and the Lyttelton Times to the 10th ult. There is little news of general interest. The New Zealand Company's Land Claimants were rapidly reaping the advantages of Sir George Grey's determination to revive the operation of the Ordinance for their benefit. The Spectator of the 21st ult. states that two hundred Crown Grants would be ready to be issued that week,and that thercmainder would be issued with as much despatch as the insertion of the plans on the margins of the grants would allow. At the Annual Licensing Meeting for the Port Nicholson district, all the original Publicans' Licenses were renewed, except one, the consideration of which was postponed ; but no new application was granted. A memorial signed by one hundred and sixteen inhabitants of Lyttelton had been forwarded to the Governor-in- Chief expi*essing surprise and regret at the recommendation of Mr. Godley and the other magistrates that the surplus revenue which his Excellency had offered to devote to local purposes, should be expended otherwise than on the road connecting Lyttelton with Christ Church and the Plains, which the settlers generally consider of vital importance. The Spectator mentions that steps had been taken to establish a new paper in Otago ; the Witness— under Capt. Cargill's direction — having offended many influential settlers by its incessant attacks on Sir George Grey and on individuals of the Otago community. In the Wellington market on the 24th ult. flour was £30 per ton ; bread 7d. the 21b. loaf.— At Lyttelton on the 10th ult. flour was 355. to 40s. per 100 lbs ; bread, the 2 lb. loaf, 7d.