AUCKLAND, SATURDAY, DEC. 4, 1852.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 693, 4 December 1852, Page 2

AUCKLAND, SATURDAY, DEC. 4, 1852.

By the arrival of the barque Fancy we were yesterday placed in possession of our Sydney files to the 18th utt., and of a number of English journals brought by the mail steamer Sydney. These dates come down to the first week in August, but the Great Britain had brought to Melbourne English news to the 21st of that month. Turning naturally lo iho anxious subject of the New Zealand '-"Constitution Bill,' wo find various reports— some \ery aluminous, some very curt — of the discussions upon it during its progress through the Houses of Parliament. We soon ascertain the facts as to the points on which most suspense was fell here. The Superintendents are to be elected :— the Upper Chamber is to consist of nominees:— and the New Zealand Company ts«cn tilled lo claim one-fourth of the proceeds of Land Sales towards payment of its alleged debl. But we have vainly searched for any copy of the Act, or even any digest of its provisions which would inform us on the numerous details which may be so interesting", or even important lo us. Under these circumstances, and considering the limitations imposed on our time and space by (he late hour at which the papers reached ns — we judge it best to content ourselves to-day wilh copying in coctenso a long, and, we cheerfully admit, an able letter, published in the New Zealand Journal, by Mr. William Fox, in which —for the benefit of his friends at Wellington— he gives a copious summary of the principal enactments in the measure, accompanying his explanations with his own comments. These comments may pass for whatever ihe reader may' think their value; but as to the fuels, there can be no question that he has given a correct digest of the leading provisions This accidental circumstance will secure for the lengthened loiter a perusal more altenli\e than Mr. Fox's lucubrations would usually repay. We shall necessarily have much to lay before our readers in connexion wilh the subject; but we cannot permit even this brief notice to issue without sounding a note of preparation for a renewed and vigorous resistance to the imposition of any part of the New Zealand Company's debt on the Province of New Ulster. As the enactment now stands, it would be more oppressive than ever. But it appeared certain that an inquiry into the conduct of the Company, mainly with relation to this very debt, would lake place during the next Session of Parliament; and, if we only arc active, we may renew our representations and remonstrances in time to be heard— and heard with an encouraging hope of success. But evidently there is no lime to be lost.

The Queen, with Prince Albert and the Koyul children, hsid returned to England from their marine excursion to the Netherlands, and intended to \Uit Biilmoiiil on Ist of September. Her Majesty loft Antwerp at two o'clock on Saturday afternoon, the 14th of August. The weather was, fine, 50,000 persons witnessed the departure of the wjuadron. It, however, blew so hard on Saturday slight that the yachts returned from Flushing, and in-ocecded up the river, where they anchored, leaving; the men-of-war in Flashing Roads. It continued to Mow duringSunday, and the ilect did not stir, though all tlic squadron* had steam up at seven o'clock, it was expected they Uould shirt with the dawn on Monday for England. — Her Majesty was to hold a I'rivy Council on Wednesday, "the JHth, at Osborne, Isle of Wight. Summonses were issued on Satimlay from tho Council-oilice to tlie Ministers and Groat Officers of State. Tlve members of tiic Government were mostly in the country, pursuing the sports of the field or unbending iura-1 recreations. The grandest affair of the kind appears to have been n horticultural fete given by Sir John Pakington, in the

grounds at Westbrook Park, which entertainment was enjoyed by two thousand of the inhabitants of Droitwich. The proceedings of the day were wound up by a contrcc-danso, in which young and old, rich and poor, honourable and commoner, master and workman, joined. Sir John Pakington led off the dance with the wife of Mr. Curtler, attorney, of Droitwich. The harvest, especially in the southern and midland parts of England, hassufl'ered much from the singularly unseasonable character of the weather; violent and long-continUed rains, accompanied by high winds, having beaten down the standing corps. The bullion in the Bank of England, on the 13th, amounted to 2J,473,G40£, which, as compared with the previous week's return, was a decrease of 286, 468 J. We shall, of course, return in our next to the contents of these (to us) very interesting files.