The New-Zealander. AUCKLAND, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 19, 1853.

New Zealander, Volume 9, Issue 784, 19 October 1853, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

AUCKLAND, WEDNESDAY, OCT. 19, 1853.

Be just and fear not: Let all the ends thou aim’st at, he thy Country’s, Thy Cod’s, and Truth's.

His Excellency Governor Sir George Grey, with Lady Grey and suite, arrived here on Sunday last by the Government Brig Victoria. A considerable number of persons were assembled to welcome His Excellency and Lady Grey, and had it been any other than the Sabbath Day, there can be no doubt that very many more would have cordially embraced the opportunity of manifesting their respect and esteem, so far as that coidd be done by their presence on the occasion. A Guard of Honour of the 58lh Regiment was in attendance.

It has rarely been our lot to receive atoncea more curiously miscellaneous collection of journals than has reached us by the mail of the Government Brig. There are odd numbers of the London papers of January and February, and of the New South Wales papers of June and July, besides other specimens of the Home and Colonial Press. Then, as respects New Zealand, we have the file of the Nelson Examiner for several months ; the file of the Lyttelton Times , ditto ; the file of the Otago Witness, ditto; and the files of the Wellington papers from the 21 si of September to the Bth of this month. Our Wellington files are still deficient from the 20lh of August to the 21st of September,— the Overland Mail which arrived on the 3rd instant having (as our readers will remember) brought none, and the Overland Mail which arrived on Saturday last having likewise brought none, with the additional aggravation in this case that we have not now received even a number of the Taranaki Herald. The hiatus in Wellington news is, however, partially supplied by the Nelson Examiner , in which we find a number of extracts from those journals which some peculiar management or mismanagement has hitherto withheld from us. We give such a view of the leading points of intelligence as other and imperative claims on our attention permit us to present to-day. The opportunity afforded by Sir George Grey’s unexpected return for a short time to Wellington was improved for the further manifestation of the feelings of respect and attachment which the colonists were so earnest to express to His Excellency on his departure from the Province. On the 7lh ult., he was entertained at a Public Dinner at Barrett’s Hotel by u the largest number of settlers that ever met together in Wellington on a similar festive occasion.” Mr. Allen officiated as Chairman, and Messrs. Carter, Masters, and Kenall as croupiers. Sir George Grey’s health was drunk with the utmost enthusiasm, and responded to by His Excellency in a very interesting speech, concluding with a high eulogy on the abilities and services of Mr. Commissioner McLean. Amongst the toasts one was ‘‘The Aborigines, their happiness and prosperity,” which was acknowledged by E Tako in an animated speech in the native language. It would be strange indeed, and an instance, of almost unequalled ingratitude, if the Aborigines of New Zealand did not feel a lively sense of the benefits which Sir George Grey’s administration of the affairs of the colony has conferred upon them,—even though the nature of some of the best of those boons—especially that of an education based on right principles —is such that only the lapse of years can fully develope the real amount of their value. That the Natives are not insensible, to the wise and fatherly care with which His Excellency has watched over their interests may be seen from the accounts of their proceedings at Otaki, on the occasion of the Governor’s last visit, which we transfer to our columns. The Address to their “Father, kind Governor, and Friend,”—the presentation to him by the hands of llangihaeta (who was at the period of His Excellency's arrival in the colony one of the most resolute of the hostile Chiefs) of a Green Jasper Ear Ring, the oldest and most prized heir loom of the Ngaliloa Tribe,—the singing of the Maori Waiata of Farewell,—in short, the entire proceedings, together with His Excellency’s touching reply, will be read with more than ordinary feeling, not only in New Zealand, but also by the friends of the Aborigines wherever the narrative reaches. A Government Gazette, dated the J4lh nil., contained notifications, by His Excellency’s command, that the Principal Returning Officer for the Province of Auckland had certified that Robert Henry Wynyard, Esq., Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Lieutenant-Colonel of 11. M. oHlh Regiment of Fool, had been duly elected to serve as Superintendent of the Province of Auckland ; and that James Edward Fitzgerald, Esq., of Christchurch, had been duly elected Superintendent of the Province of Canterbury ; —also that certain gentlemen (whose elections have already appeared in our columns) had been returned as Members of the House ol Representatives and the Provincial Council respectively, for the several Districts in the Province of Wellington. The following appointments were announced in the same Gazelle, —The Hon. Henry William Petre to be Postmaster-Gen-eral of the colony of New Zealand John Hoggard, Esq. to be Postmaster of the Province of Wellington Stephen Carkeek, Esq., lobe Collector of Customs for the Province of Wellington Henry Tacy Kemp, Esq., (under authority of the sth clause of the Destitute Persons Relief Ordinance), to lay information before any Justice of the Peace against Fathers of Half-caste Children refusing to provide for their support; Lieut.-Col. Patience, Major G. F. Murray, Captain 0. B. D’Arcy, Major of Brigade, Captain W. P. Young, and Captain 1). Bazalgatlc to be Justices of the Peace for the Islands of New Zea'and; —W. J. W. Hamilton, Esq.,, to be Collector of Customs for the Province of Canterburyand Michael Fitzgerald, Esq., to be Surveyor in charge of the Survey Department at Wellington.

The Gazette further contained a notification that in future the interest due upon Debentures will be paid by the Collectors of Customs in the Provinces of Nelson, Wellington, New Plymouth, Canterbury and Otago respectively; and directions that the Heads of various departments in the Southern Pi •ovinces shall receive their instructions from, and make their reports to, the Superintendents, and that the buildings, furniture, tools, and stores in their possession shall be delivered to the Provincial Authorities, inventories to be made of the property, one copy of which is to be forwarded to the Superintendent of the Province concerned, and another to His Excellency at Auckland. The Meeting of the Wellington Provincial Council was fixed for Tuesday the 2sih of this month. ... A Public Ball was To be given as a mark of respect to.the Superintendent. It is staled by the Independent that the Ball lately given to the Members of Council for the City of Wellington passed olf in a very satisfactory manner. Our contemporary adds, that men who formerly wore strongly opposed in politics arc now brought together, and that “a universal feeling of loyalty; and a general desire to advance lire interests of the settlers seems now to pervade the community in sequence pf the great boon, which Her Majesty, Through her Ministers, has conferred upon the colony.” This is as it should be, — as it

must be if Representative Institutions are to be indeed anv blessing to the country. A revived movement against tbe imposition of the New Zealand Company’s debt was in progress at Wellington. A Public j Meeting, Mr. C. Clifford in the Chair, was j held on the I2lh uU., at which a Committee ! was appointed to draw up a Petition to Parliament protesting against the colony ! being saddled with the debt. The Chairman i observed—“ as there is no doubt that one of the first acts of every Provincial Council will be to prepare a similar memorial, I think there is little doubt that the Home Government will be induced to bring the question before Parliament early next Session, and with every hope of success.” The Auckland Council have strong and special grounds of action in this mailer, and we are confident will not be remiss or lardy in doing all that lies in their power.

At Nelson the Elections had terminated. We some lime since learned via Melbourne, that Mr. Stafford bad been chosen Superintendent. We have now 7 the final slate of the poll. The total numbers were Stafford 251; Saxon 206; Jollie 130. The elections for members of Council resulted as follows: House of Representatives. Town of Nelson , Messrs. James Mackay and W. T. L. Travers, —unopposed. [A curious piece of what seems to us, at this distance, political coquetry, was connected with the case of Mr. Travers. He was also a candidate for the Provincial Council, but was rejected at the election which look place on the following day; whereupon he threw up his seal in the House of Representatives. At a meeting of electors, however, “explanations” were mutually given and received, and it was understood that Mr. Travers would be persuaded after all again to come forward as a candidate for the seat vacated by himself.] Waimea Districts , Messrs. W. 0. Caulley and Dr. Monro, —virtually unopposed, for although, in Waimea South, some votes were polled for Messrs. Saxton and Elliott, those gentlemen had retired from the contest after the nomination. Molucca and Massacre Bay Districts , Mr. A. C. Picard. Mr. Stephens was unsuccessful. Wairau District, Mr. F. A. Weld. Provincial Council. Town of Nelson , Messrs. D. Sinclair, T. Renwick, W. Hough, G. F, Bush, and H. Adams. —Unsuccessful candidates, Messrs. Travers and Richardson. Suburban Districts, Mr. William Collins, unopposed. Waimea East, Messrs. F. Otlerson, and J. W. Barn icon t, unopposed. Waimea West, Dr. Monro, unopposed. Waimea South, Messrs. E. Baigent, and J. W. Saxton, unopposed. Molueha, Messrs. S. Stephens and C. Parker.—Mr. Picard— who had been elected for the House of Representatives on the preceding day, —though he went to the poll, wish drew at 12 o’clock. Wairau, Messrs. C. Elliott and Joseph Ward, unopposed. The Examiner states that the Governor had nominated the following gentlemen to the Legislative Council;— Matthew Richmond, David Monro, Henry Seymour, and Ralph Richardson, Esqrs. Should Dr. Monro accept this seat, there -would of course be a vacancy in the representation of the Waimea Districts. The Governor bad effected a most important purchase of land from the Natives. It is thus described by the Examiner of the lOlh ult.:

u ln staling, a fortnight ago, that the Governor had purchased the Pelorus district of the natives, and a portion of the west coast of this island, we were little aware of the extent of country over which this purchase extended. By the more recent accounts from Wellington, we find that the native title has been extinguished to the whole of the land in the Nelson Province, except D’Urville's Island, and that with the above exception, and land which the Government may i(self set aside for Maori occupation, the Native title is now extinguished to every foot of land in the Province of Nelson. The price of this purchase was GOGOL, of which 2000 1. were paid down, and the remainder is to be paid in yearly instalments of 30OL each. It has been for some time known that valuable minerals exist in the lands thus alienated by the natives, almost in the immediate neighbourhood of this port, and it is believed in quantities calculated to highly remunerate the individuals who shall undertake to work them. Until now, however, such mineral lands have been completely sealed to the colonists, as any attempt to ascertain their worth would, in all probability, have induced the natives to attach a value to the lands which would have precluded their sale altogether. Now, for the first time, the value of these minerals can be ascertained, acd a field of enterprise is thus offered to capitalists which may well engage their attention.”

Canterbury had also completed its choice, of representatives. The following were the results of the elections: General Assembly. Town of Christ church , Mr. Henry Sewell, -■-defeating Mr. Fooks. Christchurch Country Districts, Messrs, J. Smart Worlley, and Edward Jerningham Wakefield, who had respectively G8 and GO votes over Mr. W. G. Britlan, Town of Lyttelton , Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald, (the Superintendent), defeating Mr. Dampier. Akaroa, Mr. W. S. Moorhouse, defeating Mr. R. 11. Rhodes. Provincial. Council. Town of Christchurch, Messrs. Cass, S. Bealey, and Parker, —defeating Messrs. Fooks and Dobson. Christchurch Country Districts , Captain Simeon, Messrs. Tailored, Hall, and Bowen. Mi-. Burke was unsuccessful. 'lown of Lyttelton , Messrs. J. T. Cookson, J. W, Hamilton, C. E. Dampier, and Dr. Donald. .Unsuccessful, Mr. R. Davis. Aicaroa, Mr. IJ. Rhodes, and Rev. W. Aylmer, defeating Mr. W. S. Moorhouse, and Mr. G. H. Tribe. Mr. Aylmer succeeded only by the casting vole of the Returning Officer. The first meeting of the Canterbury Provincial Council was to lake place at Christchurch on the 27th of September. A new journal was about to be started under the title of The Canterbury Standard. From Otago we learn that—Mr. Williams having retired from the contest for the SuperimemJoncy —Captain Cargill was returned without opposition. Jhe elections of mem-

- - - --,111,1,-1, |uni-, m it—— _j i bers for the Councils had not taken places our latest date—the 17th ult. They were appointed for days ranging from the 19th of September to the 7lh of October. A Public Meeting had been held at which a strong feeling in favour of gi George Grey’s Cheap Land Regulations and in opposision to the exclusive principle of the Otago Association, was manifested* Resolutions were passed declaring that ih upset price of land should not exceed lof per acre,--that the funds arising from the sale of land should be devoted to Immiffra lion and other objects of public benefit and that “ the selection of Emigrants ou«bi lobe made without preference of any pefi! | gious class.” The Witness of August 20, slates “with great satisfaction” that the purchase of t{J whole of the country lying south of ih P Otago block to Foveaux Straits had been completed, and that the land would shortly be open for pastoral purposes under the ft/ vernment Regulations.