WELLINGTON EXTRACTS.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 767, 20 August 1853, Page 3

WELLINGTON EXTRACTS.

APPROACHING DEPARTURE OF THE GOVERNOR. From the Wellington Spectator .Inly l(i. It is generally understood that it Is the intention of the Governor to leave Wellington in about a fortnight to proceed overland by way of the East Coast, Wanganui, and Taranaki, to Auckland, with a view of using his personal hifluence with the natives of those districts in which it is desirable to acquire additional land for the convenience of the settlors. His Exellency will proceed by Wairarapa to Hawke’s Bay, where ho wil! meet the Wairarapa natives, and make arrangements with them for the purchase of that district. It is expected also that there will be a large assembly of natives at Hawke’s Bay, and that they will take advantage of his Excellency’s presence to dispose of considerable tracts of land in that district in addition to those they have already sold to Government. From thence his Excellency will cross the country, and after visiting Otaki', goon to Wanganui and Taranaki, at which latter place he will arrange for the purchase of fresh blocks of land for the use of the settlers of which they are greatly in need, and thence continue his journey to Auckland. His Excellency will be accompanied by Mr. Commissioner M‘Lean, by whom the arrangements for the purchase of land will bo made.

The settlers will not fail to appreciate his Excellency’s exertions to forward the best interests of the colony, in undertaking at this most inclement season of the year a long and toilsome journey, at a considerable sacrifice of time and personal convenience, and that too just a period when the introduction of Representative institutions demand so much of his time, and when he is desirous of availing himself of his leave of absence to visit England after an absence of twelve years. But however beneficial the operations of the new Land Regulations may be, however universally popular throughout the colony, unless t heir he an abundance of land to dispose of in the different provinces in the hands of the Government they would remain comparatively a dead letter—they “ would keep the word of promise to our ear, and break it to our hope.” Sir George seems therefore determined to carry out liis engagements to their fullest possible extent, to unlock the lands, to throw open to the settlers an ample field for the dcvelopement of the resources of the colony, and having offered them every facility in his power, having done his part he leaves them to do theirs. Since the disolution of the New Zealand Company, in about twenty months the Government has acquired a million of acres in this Province .from the Natives ; the arrangements now contemplated will probably add another million acres to the Cr<swn lands, and the purchases already made will, with those about to he effected obviate those difficulties that might otherwise have arisen with reference to the purchase of land in this Province. When we remember that the New Zealand Company, by dragging on its wretched existence during the previous three years, not only did nothing itself hut ahsolutelv prevented the Government from acting, we may form some idea of the loss the colony has suffered by this forced inactivity on the part of the Government, by what has been done since that period.

Wellington Athenvkum — A meeting was held yesterday evening at the Wellington Athenaeum, of the members of the Institution, for the purpose of considering and adopting an address to his Excellency the Governor, as President of the Institution,on the occasion of his leaving the colony for England. The chair was taken by Mr. Lyon, Vice-President.

Mr. Seed, the Secretary of the Institute, then read the following Address.

May it Please your Excellency, Wp, the Officers, Committee, an 1 Members of the Wellington Atbcnscum, beg most respectfully to expn ss our deep sense of the benefit our Institution lias received from your countenance and support, ami our regret that we should be deprived—even temporarily—of tbe advantage of your presidency. Establish d among tbe first of the public Institutions of this settlement, it has always been the aim of those who have bad the management of die .Mechanics’ Institute to keep it before die public in such a manner as to develop its capabilities for aiding in the self-culture of its members, and the improvement of tbe social feeling of tbe entire community ; audit is, therefore, matter for grateful acknowledgment that during tiie period in which your ExceUency has presided over us, we have been enabled to fake a better position than we ever occupied before; whilst by tbe additions you have personally made to our Library, and the generous aid you have otherwise afforded, our Institute now offers to its members other and more solid advantages. Permit us then—at tbe same time that we express the hope we cherish that we shall again see your Excellency, and your amiable Lady amongst us—to assure you that our warmest wishes accompany you, and that wire our power equal to our desire, our wishes would make your future career as bright as we believe, and as happy as we hope, that it will be. Mr. Moore, Vice-President, moved the unanimous adoption of the Address, and dwelt in forcible terms on the important assistance which on all occasions His Excellency, as President, had rendered the Institute, the deep interest he had always taken in its concerns, and the great benefits he had conferred upon it. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Ailen seconded the motion, and said he cordially concurred in the Address.

Mr. Duncan referred to the subscription list in 1848, for building the Hall, which had been headed by Ilis Excellency, to whose deep personal interest in the undertaking he traced the successful result of their exertions. He alluded to the Grant of 200/., which, through the recommendation of His Excellency, had been voted by the Legislative Council, and which had materially contributed to the efficiency of the Institution; and referred to the conversaziones given by their President, which was a perfectly new feature in the Institution, and had afforded much enjoyment to the members and their families, and had been productive of much good. He would therefore warmly support the adoption of the Address. (Applause.) The Address was then uanimously adopted.

A subscription was entered into for the purpose of having a portrait of His Excellency painted, which should ho preserved in the Institute, and the list we observed was rapidly filling up.— Spectator, July 13. (From the “ Spectator,” July, IP.) The Governor’s approaching deparlure appears to have called forth the hearty sentiments of good will and regard which the settlers entertain towards him. We alluded in our last number to the testimonial in preparation from the work ng classes of Wellington. The execution of ihe medal which it is intended by them to present to his Excellency is confided to Mr. Harriot, and judging from the design which we have seen, will be a very neat and chaste production. In addition to that from the members ol the Mechanics’ institute, an address to the Governor and Lady Grey, expressing in general terms the respect and esteem which the settlers entertain for their private worth, and their approval of His Excellency's prudent and vigorous administration of the Government of this Colony, is in course of signature, and during yesterday, a very rainy md unfavourable day, a considei able number ol signatures were obtained. A third substantial mark of the regard and good will of the settlers to His Excellency remains to be ipentioned, as

! honourable to them as it will no dcubt be gratiI lying to him. A subscription has been set on foot among the merchants and others to present His Excellency with a handsome piece of pi ate 1 as an enduring memorial of their appreciation of his public services, and although it is as yet known to comparatively few persons, the subscription already amounts to 100 guineas, and we daresay will in a few days be more than double that sum. i The subscription list is in the hands of J. Yarnham, Esq., Hon. Secretary, with whom and a few other friends we believe it originated. The following is the address, now in course of signature, above referred to. To his Excellency Sir George Grey. K.C.8., Governor and Gommander-in-Chief of the Islands of New Zealand, &c., &c., etc. We, the undersigned settlers of the Province of Wellington, beg to offer to your Excellency the warmest assurances of our respect and regard on your temporary departure from New Zealand. In referring to the present prosperous state of the colony, the contentment, the greatly improved condition, and rapid advancement in civilization of its native inhabitants, we acknowledge with feelings of satisfaction that its progressive improvement, and the growing developeiuent of its resources, which offer so marked a contrast to the state of depression and confusion that prevailed on the arrival of your Excellency in New Zealand, are in a great degree owing, under Divine Providence, to your vigorous and prudent administration of the Government. We indulge the hope that the future advancement of our adopted country may he further identified with your name, and may oder fresh illustrations of your acknowledged

ability and reputation. Wo desire at the same time to avail ourselves of this opportunity to express to Lady Grey our appreciation of the urbanity and kindness which have on all occasions marked her relation

with the settlers, and to offer to her our gratefu acknowledgements for the warm and personal interest she has always shewn in promoting th> cause of education in Wellington, and for her active sympathy in the relief of distress and mLTortune.

We s necrely trust that the kindly feelings which your private worth and intimate intercourse with the settlers, and the desire so uniformly manifested by you to promote thoi social welfare have established, may be strength ened by renewed intercourse on your return t > the seat of your Government; and we beg you will accept our most sincere wishes for tli ■ health, happiness, and future prosperity of yourself and Lady Grey.

Last Wednesday’s Gazette contains a notification of Dr. Featherstone’s election as Superintendent of the Province of Wellington, and notices by 11. St. Hill, Esq., Returning Officer, for the election of members for the Provincial Council and House of Representatives. The following are the arrangements made : —• For the Provincial Council. —For the city of Wellington, d-iy of nomination, .Monday Bth, day of polling, Tuesday 9th August; for the Wellington Country District, day of nomination, Wednesday 10th, day of polling Thursday 11th August ; for the Hurt District, day of nomination, Friday 12th, day of polling Saturday 13th August. For the House of Representatives —For the city of Wellington, day of nomination, Monday loth, day of polling, Tuesday 16th August; for the Wellington Country District, day of nomination, Wednesday 17th, day of polling, Thursday 18th August; for the Ilutt District, day of nomination, Friday 19th, day of polling, Saturday 20th August.

The days of nomination and of polling for the Wairarapa and Hawke’s Bay Districts, and the Wanganui and Rangitikei Districts, are to he notified" by the respective Returning Officers- for those districts.

“ Noah’s Ark,” on Lamhton Quay, is appointed as the place of nomination and of polling for the city of Wellington and the Wellington Country District ; and at or near the Ilutt Bridge for the Hutt District. (From the “Wellington Gazette,” July 11.) Civil Secretary’s Office, Wellington, Ist duly, 1858. Ilis Excellency the Governor lias directed the following letter to be published for general information. By Ills Exccllcnc}’’s command, Alfred Domett, Civil Secretary. Blackwall Yard, near London, October 2Cth, 1852. Sir, —With reference to, and in continuation of our letter to your Excellency of the 80th of September, wc take the liberty respectfully to request, you will submit to the proper Government Department in the General ami Provincial Government of New Zealand, that in the event of their not having made any engagement for their Monetary arrangements in this country, we tender to them or either of the Provinces our services to act as their agents in London, or for England, under such instructions as they may send, with any remittances they may entrust to us, pledging ourselves to appropriate the money according to their orders, and for their purposes only. We are induced to submit this offer from having already found in preparing the Shipping arrangements referred to in onr letter to your Excellency of the 80th ultimo, the advantages that will arise to New Zealand, by promoting Emigration there, and securing a superior class of Agriculturists in the event of, and when the Government of each Province, and the General Legislature of New Zealand may appropriate Funds, and make them available in England for that purpose. We hear of some parties of that description who have been farming beneficial y in the quiet parts of England disposed to emigrate to New Zealand if they could not get funds to assist in paying the expenses of taking labourers and their families with them.

Hoping to be honoured by your Excellency’s noticing and promoting the request of this letter, We have the honor to be. Sir, Your Excellency’s most obedient humble Servants, Money Wig ram & Sons. To His Excellency Sir George Grey, Governor-in Chief of New Zealand.