The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 660, 11 August 1852, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

Be just and fe.ir m>r • Let nil Die emh thon ann'st at, be thj CcmntrjS, Tliy God's, and Tiutli'a

AUCKLAND, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1852.

Returning to the English news contained in the papers which have lately reached us, (which the various other claims on our space oblige us to present in instalments) we this day copy several extracts which will well repay perusal. We particularly refer to the long and able speecli by Lord Derby, which, taken in connexion with the reports of parliamentary discussions in our last, will enable the reader to form his own judgment on the ground taken by the new Cabinet — both actually and prospectively. It so happens that the majority of the leading articles extracted in the colonial journals before us from the English Press, are from papers whose well-known party attachments would lead them to wage constant warfare against Lord Derby's Government ; and we have seen but little of what is advanced by its supporters. Judging from the explanations and declarations of Ministers themselves, however, we can find no inconsistency — but, on the contrary* much of apparent candour and manliness in their course. We find them saying in substance, — " We occupy a position into which wo have been brought mainly by the falling asunder through inherent weakness of the Russell Ministry : if wo were now to abandon office, there is confessedly no party prepared to assume the reins of power with the confidence of Parliament and the country : but we know that we cannot command a majority in the present House of Commons, and therefore are only able to conduct public business on sufferance : still, there is an amount of business which it is absolutely essential should be done, and done without delay : to the transaction of this we propose to confine ourselves, engaging that so soon as necessary measures are passed, wo will advise the Queen to dissolve Parliament : the new Parliament shall be convened for a bona fide sitting in the latter part of the current year, and then the voice of the country can declare the national will with respect to our policy and ourselves, and our arrangements will admit of such decision being come to before the usual time of the commencement of the regular Session for 1853." We must say that this seems to us straightforward and honest language ; and that the attempts to cast suspicion on Lord Derby's sincerity — because he did not perform so impossible a task as fixing the actual period for dissolving, while yet a number of measures remained to be discussed,— savours more of the captious fault-finding of political partisanship, than of a candid and generous sympathy with the difficulties with which he has to contoi)d, or a concern for the interests which might be sacrificed by a hasty and j headlong breaking up of Parliament. But, what do Mr. Cobden and his friends of " the Manchester school" care for any interests beyond their own selfish and sordid objects \ It would give them little trouble, we suspect, if the most urgent affairs of New Zealand, for example, were to be thrown overboard for an indefinite period, provided only they could make a Government that they hate succumb to what Sir. J. Tyrcll, in a i-econt debate, called <c the dictation of the broad-brimmed Opposition of the Manchester School." We note briefly a few of the proceedings of Parliament, in addition to those mentioned already. A Reform Bill introduced by Mr. Hume, (embodying universal suffrage, vote by ballot, and triennial Parliaments) had been rejected by a majority of 244 against 89 A motion in favour of Vote by Ballot, brought forward by Mr. li. Berkeley, was lost by a majority of 244 over 144 The Irish Encumbered Estates Act was to be continued for another year The St. Albans Disfranchisement Bill had passed A Select Committee of the Lords had been appointed to consider the propriety of renewing the East, India Company's Charter Mr. Spooner had a forthcoming motion for an inquiry into the subject of the Maynooth Grant, the issue of which was looked forward to with much interest, as it was reported that the Government would support it. Lord Albemarle had directly questioned the Premier respecting his intentions as to the continuance of that Grant: Lord Derby replied that the Government had no present intontion of proposing to Parliament any interference with the Maynooth Act of 18-15, but he added that " the highly objectionable course which has been pursued by a large body of the Roman Catholic clergy in Ireland, and the aggressive attitude which they of late years have taken, have added maturely to the difliculty of defending an endowment which was intended for the purpose of binding the clergy of the Church of Rome to the State by the ties of loyalty, contentment, and peaccfulncss." The final decision as to the fate of the Crystal Palace was immediately impending

and excited great interest. The Commissioners (Lord Seymour, Sir W. Cubitt, and Dr. Lindlcy) bad presented a report supporting" the sentence for its destruction, which it was rumoured had already found favour in high quarters. The Ist of May I was the date for its being- taken down, if the Government should not interpose. The builders Messrs. Fox and Henderson, had appealed to the public for its retention in its present completeness, and had allowed free admission, and given musical promenades there, with a view of exciting- a manifestation of concurring opinion. At one of these 70,000 persons were present. Petitions for its preservation had been signed by immense numbers ; and a feeling of national pride was the more excited because just then the French Government had announced an intention to construct a building- exactly like it. The Engineers strike was still unsettled. The Amalgamated Society of workmen had offered terms of reconciliation which showed that they could not much longer hold out ; but the employers declared a firm determination to maintain their ground. The Atlas states that the Duke of Northumberland had directed a ship of war to call at the Solomon Islands for the purpose of investigating- the alleged murder of Mr. Benjamin Boyd by the natives, and their subsequent act of cannibalism on his remains, and, if established, of chastising them. The Atlas adds, " There arc not wanting dreadful suspicions that the unfortunate gentlemon was made away with in the vessel (the Wanderer) which was afterwards wrecked in Macquarie Bay." Lord Eglinton's reception in Dublin had proved far more cordial than many had anticipated. The attendance at his first levee was numerous almost beyond precedent, the visitors having exceeded 1700 : it was remarked, however, that " not a single Bishop or minor Dignitary of the Roman Catholic Church was present at the ceremonial." When His Excellency received the address from the heads of Trinity College, the Presence Chamber at the Castle was so crowded that part of the floor gave way. The new Viceroy in his Replies to the various addresses from public Bodies had conciliated favour by graceful allusions to the merits of his predecessor, Lord Clendon, whose patronage and subscriptions to benevolent Institutions he had promised also to continue, without respect to religious or political differences. To this is to be added that His Excellency had given banquets surpassing those of previous Viceroys or Lord Mayors, so that, as it was expressed "he w^s. fairly eating his way" into popularity. Primate Cullen had been elected successor to the late Dr. Murray as Archbishop of Dublin by a large majority. The votes stood. — Primate Cullen ( DignissimusJ 23; Very Rev. Dean Meyler (Dignior) 9 ; Rev. L. Dunne, P.P. Castlodermott, (Dujnus) 8. The account of this important election, as given by the correspondent of the Times, will bo found in another column. A subscription for a monument to Archbishop Murray had been opened ; Lord John Russell was amongst the contributors Lady Morgan was pleading for a similar tribute to the memory of Thomas Moore. The contributions to the proposed " Catholic University" during the month of March had amounted to upwards of £1200. The notes of preparation for the General Election were resounding through the country, and the " Catholic Defence Association" was ah*eady arming for the combat. Mr. H.^W. Wilberforce, its Secretary, had issued a strongly worded appeal to the Catholic electors of the County of Dublin to reject the present members, and "keep their votes for two candidates whom a Ca- | tholic may support without dishonour or inconsistency." Young Ireland was not unlikely to have a representative in the person of Mr. Gavan Duffy,' editor of the Nation newspaper, who was about to contest New Ross with Sir T. N. Redington, Lord Clarendon's late Under- Secretary. The friends of the " Irish Exiles" were cherishing strong hope that they would be pardoned through the interference of the United States sympathisers. The American movement for the liberation of Smith OBrien and his fellow-prisoners had acquired sufficient influence to draw from President Fillmore an assurance that (although he could not take official action in the case) he would do all that the policy of his government permitted to effect tire object ; — as a pledge of which he had directed the American Minister in England to " make every effort that he could with propriety." Meanwhile several of the Irish Corporations had petitioned the Throne to the same effect. The tide of emigration had set in this year with even increased strength. From all parts of the country, multitudes were speeding to America, very many of them being small farmers in comfortable circumstances. ' While this continued depopulation was going on, it is cheering to find from even one district such a testimony to homeprogress as the following statement from the Tralee Chronicle supplies : — From all the accounts that reach us, the exertions of the landholders seem to be redoubled as compared with any year since the famine. It appears as if we are settling down into the new social state that has been forced on us. At all events, whatever is the cause, the fact is, we never had better farming prospects to congratulate ourselves upon than wehave this spring. Cultivation }s everywhere in a most forward state. Land is in high demand ; rents are offered and accepted which would not have been listened to two years ago. We have no Avaste lands, and agrarian outrage is unknown where tendencies change ; so that' we may hope that the " turning corner" of ouv race has been successfully rounded by peaceful industry." The Joseph Fletcher, a new vessel built for the trade with this colony, and chartered by Messrs. Willis, was announced to sail for Auokland on the 10th of May. If her qualities should prove equal to the praise bestowed upon them, we may anticipate her arrival early in the next month.

Koyal Sappers ani> Misers — Woolwich, Maich 31. — Detachments of this branch of the Ordnance service will leave head-quarters here about the end of April for the Cape of Good Hope, Gibraltar, New Zealand, and Malta, to fill up the companies at these stations, the 7th company, under Captain Mann, are expected to proceed to Ilur&tcastle, near Lyraington, Hants, for the puv-

pose of repairing the fortifications at that fortress, as soon as the works at Browndown, near Portsmouth, are completed. A general desire appears to prevail among the officers, noncommissioned, officers, and men, that the Master General would order that they may be supplied with a better musket, the present arm they now use being very uncertain in causing a ball to hit an object at any range beyond 100 yards. The Minie, or any other light rifle, having a good range, would be of great advantage to the Royal Sappers and Miners for their protection while engaged in raising field works or constructing fortifications. — Times, April 1.