WELLINGTON EXTRACTS.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 776, 21 September 1853, Page 3

WELLINGTON EXTRACTS.

Address to the Governor from the New Zealand Society. [From flic “ Spectator,” August 3.] A deputation of the oilicers and members of the New Zealand Society succeeded, with the following address to the Governor which was presented by the Superintendent To his Excellency Sir George Grey, K.C.8., &e,, &c. May it please Yocu Excellency. — We, the Office Bearers and Members of the New Zealand Society beg very respectfully to address your Excellency on your approaching departure from this colony. ; We recognize in you the founder of this Society we know and value the important objects which it was your desire to advance, the chief of those objects being to promote a love of science and at the same time to develop the resources of New Zealand ; yet we appreciate more warmly the eminent services which you have personally rendered to the Society, and therefore feel, that in losing you as our President, we are being deprived of the aid of our most valuable member and efficient supporter. We console ourselves with the hope, that even at the distance of sixteen thousand miles, your Excellency will not forget a society which owes not only its existence to your exertions and also whatever vitality it possesses, to your fostering care; hut that op the contrary your Excellency will use the influence of your well established reputation in connection with various learned societies, to obtain for us that aid without which the objects we contemplate will never he carried out. In conclusion, we beg to express our most earnest wishes for the health, happiness, and prosperity of your Excellency and Lady Grey.

The following is the Governor’s reply : Government House, Wellington, 2nd August, 1853. Torn Honor and Gentlemen, —My thanks are due to you not only for the kind manner in which you have come forward on my approaching departurc'from this colony to offer to Lady Grey and myself such kind wishes for our future prosperity and happiness,-—but tor the important aid you afforded mein coining forward and assisting me with your countenance and advice, when I endeavoured to secure the establishment of a Scientific Society which might so materially promote a knowledge of the resources of this country, and their future development. I trust that yourselves and those scientific persons who are to be found in each of the settlements of New Zealand, will still continue to endeavour to aid the progress, and increase the usefulness of a society which might do so much for the future of New Zealand. I can assure you that I will endeavour to perform my part in the work by forwarding from Europe to your care all that 1 think can aid a knowledge of the natural resources of New Zealand, or can footer a love of knowledge amongst its inhabitants; and that I will do my utmost to induce the Societies of Europe to interest themselves in this, the youngest of all Scientific Societies, and which has so recently been established, and in so distant a country. Lady Grey and myself thank you sincerely for the kind wishes you have expressed for our welfare —wishes which have a great value as proceeding from the New Zealand Society, but which have a far greater value to us as proceeding from so many highly valued friends. G. Grey.

Governor-in-Chief. His Excellency further expressed his strong interest for the welfare of the-Institution, and the desire he should always feel in promoting its success, and among other valuable suggestions recommended the society to elect as honorary members several persons (friends of his) who were leading members of learned societies in Europe, a list of whose names he promised to furnish the society, and who would thereby feel a more direct interest in the welfare of the society. Ills Excellency, as an example, mentioned Admiral Beaufort, Hydrographer to the Admiralty, who he thought would on his recommendation furnish them not only with set a of the published charts of New Zealand, but also with those of other parts of the world, and that the collection might prove of great service to the colony. Anoiinss I’ItOM TUB ScHOI.AItS AT TIIORNDON F L A T . (From the "Spectator,'’ Aug. 3.) Yesterday afternoon, the children of the Church of England schools in Wellington were entertained with cake and tea by Lady Grey at the School Room, Thorndon. Upwards of two hundred children were assembled in the building, and an additional interest was given to the meeting by the fact that it was understood that Lady Grey, w r ho hits always taken tire warmest interest iu tu« welfare, and an active personal part in the

management of the schools, would avail herself of that opportunity of bidding the children good 1)3*0. The school room was decorated with great taste, the walls being ornamented uRh paintings and engravings. A plentiful feast was provided for the children, who, having sung a stanza sf “God Save the Queen,” and said grace, addressed themselves with great glee and good will to the enjoyment of the good things before them, while the numerous visitors whom the occasion had collected seemed to derive almost equal gratification in witnessing so many merry and happy* young faces. A great many Natives were also present, including Te Ruuparaha and Rangihaetu’s sister, and other influential natives from Porirua and Otaki, who had come to Wellington to pay* their respects to the Governor. After tea a short hut interesting lecture was delivered by* Dr, Ralph to the children, on the uses of the microscope, in which he explained to them the structure and organization of the muscle, and other shell fish of that class, a portion of the membrane of the muscle having been prepared for their inspection by the microscope. After the lecture the following address, which was entirely* got up by the children and signed by them, was presented to their warm friends and generous patrons, Sir G. and Lady Grey, having been first very* clearly read hy Master Mason, in the name and on behalf of his school-fellows;—

Church of England School, Thorndon Flat, Wellington, New Zealand. August 2nd, 1853.

To Siu Georg*; and Lady* Grey, —We, the Children of the Church of England School, Thorndon Flat, having heard that you are about to leave this colony* for England, desire to thank Sir George for his constant interest in our progress, and for his assistance in providing a good school room and play-ground, and for his many presents of hooks and other things for our use. We hope to grow up good and loyal British subjects. Our obligations to Lady Grey* are so numerous that we scarcely know where to begin to thank her.

We all remember with pleasure her hind, amusing, and regular instruction. We all thank her for a microscope, books, maps, and pictures, and for her help in promoting our amusements in-doors and in the playground. We all pray that you may have a safe, speedy, and prosperous voyage home, and trust that should you hear o’f us in after years you will find that we have emulated the high and good example set us in your constant communication with us.

To this address Sir George for himself and Lady Grey, who was standing by his side, replied hi kindly expressions of regard and good will, assuring the children of the solicitude and deep interest that Lady Grey and himself felt in their welfare, and in the success of the school, and that in taking leave of them they both felt that in each child they were parting from a young friend. He expressed a hope that some one among them would so far bear them in mind as to send him a copy of the annual report of the schools whenever published, to inform them of the progress and continued prosperity of an Institution they both had so much at heart, and hoped that by God’s blessing those whom lie now addressed would grow' up to he good men and good women. Sir George concluded by thanking the children for their address which he said was nicely thought of, well composed, and well delivered by the boy who had read it on their behalf. A* general clapping of hands and three cheers followed from the children who, by flie animation they evinced, plainly showed that this was on their part a heartfelt demonstration. Addrkss fuom tub ll i"it Settlers. (From the "Spectator,” Aug. 13.) Upwards of two hundred settlors mustered outside of the long Room at the Aglionby Arms, at the Hutton Saturday, the Gth inst., at four o’clock iu the afternoon, to receive It is Excellency the Governor. Shortly after that hour his Excellency arrived, and was received with three hearty cheers ; he then proceeded into the room, which had been tastefully ornamented with fern leaves and flowers, and having taken his scat, Mr. Renall presented the following address, which was passed at a public meeting at the llutt, on the 25th July—

To His Excellency Sir Geo non Guev, K.C.8., Governor of the Islands of New Zealand, and

Commander-in-Chief of the same, etc. May it Please Youu Excellency, —We, the undersigned inhabitants of the Hutt district, having learnt that your Excellency is about to leave this country for England on leave of absence, cannot allow you to depart from these shores without tendering you our warmest thanks for the uniform attention you have shown to the local interests of this district. When we consider the condition you found us in upon your arrival in this Province, and contrast it with our present quiet and prosperity, we cannot but remember that the change is due to the measures you adopted, nor omit to record the acknowledgments that are so justly due to yourself from tlie inhabitants of this valley. Wishing Lady Grey and yourself all health, happiness, and prosperity, we subscribe ourselves, &c. (Here follow 109 signatures.) River Hutt, July 25th, 1858. His Excellency then read the following reply. Government House, Wellington. August 0, 1858. Gentlemen, —When in the year 184(5 I arrived in this portion of New Zealand, the inhabitants of the Valley of the Hutt formed a Militia, which rendered the most essential services during the war, and to which I was greatly indebted for its fortunate termination. When peace succeeded to war, the same people set an example of and developed the resources of the colony in a manner which has much contributed to its prosperity. When subsequently warm and generous political support was of great consequence to me, the inhabitants of the Valley of the Hutt again came forward, and in the most generous and disinterested manner afforded me the warmest support and aid in favour of the measures I was adopting. Now that lam about to quit this portion of New Zealand, at least for a very considerable period of timp, the inhabitants of the Valley of the Hutt again came forward with the warmest thanks for my labours in their behalf, and with their good wishes for my future happiness and prosperity. For each and all of the acts I have thus enumerated, I tender you my parting thanks. Lady Grey begs me also to return her thanks for the kind manner in which you have mentioned her, and we both assure you, that we shall never cease to remember the inhabitants of a District with whom my interests have been for so long a time hound upj and from whom during so many years, and under such trying circumstances I have received such valuable assistance and expressions of regard, G. Gkey.

To A. Ludlain, Esq., and others) who signed the address. / Upon its conclusion, the settlers gave Sir George nine cheers and three cheers for Lady Grey. Mr. Renall then said that the settlers were extremely desirous of shaking hands with his Excellency previous to his departure, upon which the settlers passed the chair, each shaking hands with the Governor as ho passed in the warmest manner, while on every side were heard exclamations of “God bless you Sir George,” “ We hope you’ll come back to us,” “ Sorry to lose you,” &c. The meeting was a most gratifying exhibition of the warm and sincere regard which the settlers pf the Hutt bear to bis Excellency, of their strong appreciation of his private worth and of the groat advantages their district and the colony at large have derived from his wise and prudent administration of the Government.

Important Purchase of Land. [From Ihe “ Spectator,’ 1 August 3.] During the last ten days the Porirua tribes and some of the tribes in the Middle Island have been in Wellington to discuss the terms, and make arrangements for the sale of the whole ot their claims to that portion of the Middle Island they

had not previously ceded to the Government. The result is that they* have now disposed of the whole of the west coast of the Middle island, as well as the different hays and harbours at Cloudy Bay*, Queen Charlotte’s Sound and the Pylorus, except D’Urville’s Island, and such reserves as may* be necessary* for themselves, for a consideration of Five Thousand Pounds. Of this sum a first instalment of 4:2000 has been paid to the Natives on the 10th instant; the remaining sum of £3OOO is to be paid in six annual instalments of £SOO each. Reserves of two hundred acres each are also to he given to some of the principal chiefs, amounting altogether to a few thousand acres, to be selected from the land thus ceded; these reserves will be confirmed to them as their personal property by* a Crown Grant, in the same way as a settler receives a title to his land. We mention this fact as a proof of their advancement in civilization, and as showing the clear notions the Natives have on this subject, and their distinct apprehension of the difference between their general claims as native owners of these districts, their title to which has been extinguished by* tills purchase, and the right of individual property* in land conferred by* a title from the Crown. It is said that when the arrangement was proposed to them hy the Governor, they exclaimed with one voice “ Excellent, Sir George,” and willingly consented that the payment in money should be reduced in proportion to the sum above mentioned. By this arrangement the Natives have ceded altogether about a quarter of the Middle Island extending along its West Coast, including besides some of the best harbours in the Island, and some valuable mineral districts. The implicit confidence reposed in the Governor hy the Natives has induced them at the last moment to come forward find relinquish these districts which they* have hitherto refused to part with ou any consideration, in order that the general settlement of their claims might take place before ills Excellency’s departure from the Colony*. The completion of these important arrangements has delayed for a few days Sir George’s projected departure, hut it is reported he will leave Wellington for Wairarapu in the early part of next week. This acquisition will prove of very* great value to the Provinces of Nelson and Canterbury* in which those districts are included, particularly the former Province, while the extinguishment of those Native claims hy the Governor removes many* serious difficulties and obstacles to the progress of these Provinces that might have otherwise arisen, as well as prevented the increased expense that would have attended their purchase if it had been put off to some future day*.