The New-Zealander. AUCKLAND, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 1853. ENGLISH NEWS TO THE 24th OF DECEMBER. CHANGE OF MINISTRY.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 730, 13 April 1853, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

AUCKLAND, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 1853. ENGLISH NEWS TO THE 24th OF DECEMBER. CHANGE OF MINISTRY.

Be just and fear not: Let all tue ends thou aim st at, lie thy Country s, 'I hy Goi/s, and Ti uth's.

By the Moa and the Algcrine, which both reached our harbour on .Monday, we have Sydney papers containing late and very important intelligence from England, brought—no* by the Australian Mail Company's Steamer Adelaide, which had sailed from Plymouth on the 18th of December, but which, under the disastrous fatality which seems hitherto to have ruled the destinies of that Company's Australian steam ships, had, after reaching the Buy of Biscay, been obliged to put bark in a leaky conditionbut by the more fortunate Peninsular and Oriental Company's successful steamer Chuxan, via Singapore. The Adelaide was at Plymouth at the latest dales, and was expected to be again ready for sea about the *2Gl!i; but if so, her passage must once more have proved at least tardij, as on the iili ins!..--thai is, after she had been out ninety-eight days—she had not yet made her appearance at her destination. The news claiming our first attention is the downfall of the Derby Ministry, and the induction to office of a Coalition Cabinet, Willi the Marl of Aberdeen as Premier. As we give elsewhere the most explanatory details on this subject which we can find in the colonial journals through which our information is derived, it will suffice that we here briefly narrate in their order the leading facts connected with the important change. Our readers are already aware that, through Lord Palmerston's conciliatory intervention, the life-oi•-death struggle which Mr. Yillicr's Free Trade motion was expected to produce was for the time averted. As we had not before an opportunity of publishing the words of his Lordship's resolution, we introduce them here : " Thai it is the opinion of (his House that the improved condition of the country, and especially of the industrious classes, is mainly the result of recent legislation, which has established the principle of unrestricted competition, and abolished taxes imposed for purposes of protection, and has thereby diminished the cost and increased the abundance of the principal articles of food to the people. That it is the opinion of this House, thai thai policy, firmly maintained and prudently extended, will best enable (he industry of the country to bear its hardens, and will (hereby most assuredly promote (he welfare and contentment of the people. That this House will be ready (o take into consideration any measures consistent with those principles which, in pursuance of Her Majesty's gracious speech and recommendation, may be laid before it." The harmonising point in this, as the Atlas explains it, was—that, u though declaring Free Trade to be csscntiallo the prosperity of (he country, it was worded so as to save the Protectionists the humiliation of voting for the original Free Trade resolution." Mr. Disraeli withdrew his amendment; but, notwithstanding this, the question was debated for four nights. Eventually, tsvo divisions took place, with the following results:—for Mr. Villiers's resolution, 250; against it, 536; majority against it, 80: for Lord Palmerston's amendment, 408; against it, 53 (consisting probably of the immoveable adherents of Protection); majority for if, 415. This rock escaped, Mr. Disraeli brought forward his.Budget on the 3rd of December. We have recently compiled from the California!! papers an outline of the chief points of this financial scheme, which, however, we could now present much more fully, but as its interest has become rather historical than immediately practical, it may be postponed (o a less occupied day. The speech was received with the approbation due to its singular cleverness, but when the House came to vole, tin* issue proved adverse. After various discussions a decisive division was taken, —on the house-lax nominally, but, as was clearly understood, on the whole scheme. The House was unusually full, and the numbers stood thus: For the Ministry .... 280 Against 505 Majority against the Budget 19 Lord Derby's view of the character of this defeat—as " really intended to prove the want of confidence of the House of Commons in the Government."—and of the combination of parties by which it was effected, will be found in a remarkable speech in the House of Lords which we copy in another column. The movement succeeded. "I felt," said his Lordship, "and my colleagues felt wiih me, that no option remained for us than that of tendering to her Majesty the

resignation of those offices of which we were no longer able to perform the functions \vi;h satisfaction to ourselves, or so as to carry out our views and projects." Her Majesty entrusted the formation of a new Cabinet to the Marquis of Lansdowne and the Earl of Aberdeen; but the Marquis was prevented by gout from undertaking the task, (not to speak of his having already signified his withdrawal from active political life); and the duty devolved on the noble Earl, who, though nearly seventy years of age, seems to have shown no lack of energy in its performance. The following is given as the List of the New Ministry, as it was believed to stand at the latest dates, although from all we can gather from the different references to the subject in the papers before us, it cannot be deemed so absolutely and finally fixed as that them may not have been alterations, before the official announcements were made:— 1 First Lord of (he TreaEarl of Aberdeen . , ( sury, and Leader in ) the House of Lords. Foreign Secrefary, with Lord John Russell . r (he Leadership of (he J House of Commons. Lord Palmerston. . . Home Secretary. Lord CitANWORTii . . Lord Chancellor. Duke of Newcastle . Colonial Secretary. Mr. Frederick Peel Under Secrefary. ~ _ ) Chancellor of (he ExMr. Gladstone , . .j cheqaer. Mr. S. Herbert . . Secretary of War. _. „ ~- ) President of the Board Sir Charles Wood .j of Con(rol< „. _ „ ) First Lord of the AdrniSir James Graham . . \ ra n v Lord Clanricarde . . PoslmasleF-General. There are here unquestionable elements of strength and stability according to the present aspect of parties, including, as the list does, the most eminent and experienced of both the Whigs and Peelites,—that is, if men who, in past limes, have been so frequently opposed to each other can now agree to act together in harmony and mutual confidence. The "if," however, in this case suggests, we think, a doubtful, if not improbable, issue. As respects the Colonies, while we could not but appreciate highly the diligence, straightforwardness, and manifest desire to do right so far as his information and opportunities permitted, by which Sir John Pakington's brief official career was characterised, we are disposed to anticipate good from a Cabinet in which the Duke of Newcastle holds the Colonial seals. Both he and Mr. Gladstone have turned much attention to the affairs of New Zealand, and, on the vital subject of the New Zealand Company's debt, they evidenced* throughout the discussion in June last, an insight into the question, and at least a readiness to investigate the charges brought against the Company, from which we may expect that they will promote the searching inquiry which cannot issue otherwise than in a demonstration of the unprincipled wrongs which that griping and fraudulent Body has inflicted on the Colony. It will be remembered that the Petitions against the charge of any part of this pretended debt on the Northern Province, adopted at the Public Meeting of last year, were forwarded to the Duke of Newcastle and Mr. Gladstone for presentation to Parliament, so that they must be acquainted in some measure with the grounds on which we protest, against the claim, and are resolved by all legal means, to resist it. Mr. Frederick Peel, once more the Lnder-Secretary for the Colonics, did indeed strenuously defend the Company during the debate on the Constitution Act, but at that lime the Company's great patron, Lord Grey, was his Chief; and, under new circumstances, and perhaps wilh additional light on the subject, he may take a different course. So far as talent is concerned, he is generally regarded as giving high promise, as being indeed the only one of Sir Robert Peel's family who can in any considerable degree be said to inherit 'his abilities. The rumours of war excited serious attention, although Lord Malmesbury, in formally announcing to the House of Lords the Proclamation of the Empire in France, stated that the Emperor had declared very pacific intentions. Louis Napoleon is too well known to permit of much weight being attached to such declarations coming from him. The following paragraph from the Spectator gives a view of the preparations j for national defence which were in content--j plation or progress. It refers apparently to the plans of the late Ministry, but we canI not suppose that the new Government would ! be indifferent or apathetic on a subject on which so strong an opinion was manifestly entertained by a large portion of the public: " Increase of National Defences. The Times, followed by the Herald and Standard, j has kept up a series of announcements respecting an immediate increase lo (he forces of Ihc eoun- ! try, wilh a corresponding increase to (he mili- | tary and naval estimates. The public must ; expect a very large increase indeed; but the I scale of it is only indicated in particular items j which are let out by degrees. The Herald | proclaims that " Ihc vote for (he steam marine j will be comparatively enormous"—sßo,ooo/. j u for steam machinery alone." It is understood I that as soon as ministers have obtained (he assent of Parliament, the entry of seamen and | enlistment of marines will proceed. The number of men to be added lo the navy is 0000, (o ! the marines 1500. By (his lime next year there will probably be about twenty two-decked and three-decked war screw steamers afloat; and machinery for eight screw line of battle ships has been ordered of Messrs. Maudslay and Mr. Field, and Messrs, Penn and Co. In the Ordnance there is to be a very considerable increase 2000 men, 1000 horses, 200 guns, with carriages : and ammunition waggons, the latter to be ready ! by the end of winter or beginning of spring. j No mention is yet made of any increase to the i Army, but great activity is noted in the move* I menls of the, different regiments. There must also be an increase for fortifications. Orders have been issued lo begin, and (q hasten, as much as possible, the construction of batteries on the Isle of Wight; a very proper point for special activity, but of course not Ihe only point, Altogether, we must understand that the jour-' nals have not yet been enabled to announce the total amount of the naval and military considerable as it must be from the items already before us. 1 ' j Three elections had taken place in Engand. At Abingdon, Lord Norreys had

been returned by a majority of 2-i over Mr. Burr:— at "Durham, Lord Adolphus Vane, by a majority of 54 over Mr. Fenwiek .'— and at Oldham, Mr. W. J. Fox. by a majority of 116 over Mr. James Heald. Amongst the recent deaths were those of ProfessorEmpson, editor of the Edinburgh Bemew (an office in which he was succeeded for thettmeby LordMontoagle); Dr. Mantel), the celebrated geologist; Mr. Peter Borlhwiek, once a well-known M.P., and editor of the Morning Post; Admiral Sir Thomas Briggs, Commander-in-Chief of Portsmouth ; Lord Willoughby de Broke, " reputed one of the richest fund-holders of the aristocracy;" Admiral Cookesley; and Lieutenant-General Werayss. Rear-Admiral the lion. Sir Fleetwood Pellew had been appointed Commander-in-Chief on the East India and China station; and Major-General Sir K. Nickle had been appointed Commander of the Forces in New South Wales. The Sydney Herald has the following notice of the new Commander's military career: "Major-General Sir Robert Nickle was born in 1786. He entered the Army in 1801, and attained the rank of colonel in 1838; served before Buenos Ayres in 1807, and led the forlorn hope on the sth July, when he was severely wounded ; served throughout the whole of the Peninsular war, and received a medal for Nivelle; afterwards distinguished himself in the American war; and finally volunteered his services in Canada, in 1837." A variety of items of additional intelligence, English and Foreign, will be found in our other columns. Having no Engilsh files by the late arrivals, we can add nothing to the summaries of our colonial contemporaries. The arrival of the Marmora yesterday has brought no addition to the European news, but her mail makesour Sydney fdes complete to the 4th of this month*. Their local contents, however, do not present many points of any general importance. There was nothing of a novel character from the Gold Fields cither of New South Wales or of Port Phillip. But, in referring to them, we may notice the interesting circumstance that amongst the passengers by the Moa were seven Maories whose digging had been so successful, and whose care of their acquisitions had been so prudent, that they have brought home drafts on the Union Bank amounting in the aggregate to upwards of 1000/. Merchandize of almost all kinds was scarce in Sydney, the stocks being nearly—in some instances" wholly—exhausted, and the demand continuing very brisk. Flour had risen to 27/. per ton for fine, and 257. for seconds. The supply of wheat was limited, and first samples realised from 10s. to 10s. 6J. per bushel. New Zealand Gold was attracting considerable attention. The following is from the " Gold Circular" of the Sydney Herald of the 2nd instant . Through the kindness of J. I. Montefiorc, Esq., of this city, we have been furnished with a report of some New Zealand gold from Coromandel harbour. The specimen shown to us is (he most extraordinary we have ever seen. It weighs some ounces, and by the aid of a powerful magnifying glass, a perfect mixture of gold with sandstone is distinctly visible ; it also contains some particles of virgin silver, and it is altogether a most unique example of the mineral wealth of that important colony, and establishes beyond the possibility of a doubt the existence of the precious metal in New Zealand. Some little difficulty was experienced by the Government in dealing with the natives, who had placed an exorbitant value on the land which appeared to be auriferous, but when we last heard they were beginning to sec that it would be their policy to conciliate the Government, and hopes were entertained of an amicable arrangement. A small portion of the specimen alluded to has been assayed with the following result: ozs. dwts. grs. Weighed before melted. .1 10 12 Weighed after melting . .0 17 lo Loss ... 0 12 18 The loss in melting is only -42 per cent, and the button of metal contains about 20 percent of silver, which would leave the gold as of 18 carat value. Some flake gold, in the possession of the same gentleman, has been tested with a like result, and agrees with our previous advices of the quality ef New Zealand gold. Much inconvenience was felt at Sydney owing to the delays, irregularities, and confusion of the English postal communication for some time back. In several instances, goods has arrived, but the invoices had not been received. The Herald of the 4th inst. complains that "very few persons in the colony have letters from England of a later date than the middle of October, when the steamer Melbourne left England," and reiterates the trite, but true and important, fact that the only satisfactorily quick mode of communication must be by the Panama route.