ENGLISH NEWS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 68, 24 January 1846, Page 3

ENGLISH NEWS.

What thou Dost, do Quickly. — The correspondence between Lord Stanley and the Directors of the New Zealand Company, which has. been published this week, is more encouraging in its tone than any that has preceded it. But it is action — and prompt action, not words, that h wanted. " While the grass grows, the steed starves ;" while Lord Stanley and the Directors are interchanging amenities, the colonists are going to — a gentleman whom it is inexpedent to name. What New Zealand wants is — secure land tenures, a loan, and- an efficient local government. The necessity of the first-mentioned is admitted. The necessity of the second — at- least to the amount required I — is less explicitly admitted. Yet there is ! truth in what the Directors of the New Zealand" Company say, that, if the mischief that has been incurred in their settlements is to be remedied, their operations must be resumed with energy and op an extensive scale. And there aremoi e' pikiet v ~*neea rpecuniar'fassistance thw^the Company, The settlers would now be fomparatively little benefited by receiving merely their grants of land. In cunse;q««hce of the state of ruinous inaction in which they have kept by not getting secure possession of their lands, their capital has been frittered^away, -debts incurred, .and their landclaimi given in pledge. The. grants of land, in their actual penniless cqndition, with, the high rate of interest that prevails in the colony,, would go to benefit their creditors, not themselves.- Aloan on the security of the lands, at the English rate of interest (3 per cent.), to enable them to pay off creditors who take (and with perfect fairness, under the circumstances) ! ID per cent., alone can save the original set- ! tiers — those who have borne the burden and the heat of the day. But, of the three wants of New Zealand, a representative government is the least likely to be granted, and yet that is the only guarantee .for administration ip.a practical and kindly, spirit. Lord Stanley will hear of no legislature in which the Government officials or nominees do not constitute a majority. A legislature without any admixture of representatives is better than a legislature with a majority, or even an equality, of exojficio members. The elective members and the nominees are sure to split into two parties, of whom the latter always contrive to have their, own way. Such an arrangement |r meant to give the - appearance without the reality, and the trick' is seen through. An exclusive nominee legislature may irritate, sometimes,, but a composite legislature, keeps the community in a constant chafe. We make no reflections on any one. Gladly would we let bygones be bygones : it shall be no fault of, ouri if their memory is revived. But somebody must have «rred, or the evils whicbexist would never have existed. The affairs of New Zealand are in a perilous -and critical state, and immediate action is wanted.— ?Cl. Gazette. From returns recently issued, it- appears that the total number of letteis delivered in the United Kingdom in the year, 1844 was 242,000,000, which is an increase of nearly 22,000,000 on the previous year. The number before the reduction of the, rate was 75,000^000. In the London or old " Two-penny-post" district, the letters have more than doubled since the penny-rate was established. A letter from Hong-kong, quoted- by the Times, says — " You will be pleased ta hear that opium can no longer involve us in China. It is openly admitted at every port; and .carried about the itreets. In fact/ it is legalized

to ill fntettts and porposw; but they, are ashamed to publish it. > The trade of<Cau{op' for the past year exceeded all previous expe-' I rience, notwithstanding tlie other four ports ; t | and the Emperor gained a.revenue of 2,500,000 > dollars from that port alone."