The New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, August 22, 1846.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume II, Issue 111, 22 August 1846, Page 2

The New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, August 22, 1846.

We have great pleasure in publishing the copy of a despatch from the Directors of the New Zealand Company to their Principal Agent, which was received vid Sydney by the Bee. Its arrival at the present juncture is most opportune, and we cannot but remark on the happy coincidence of its contents with recent events in this settlement. While His Excellency has been employed in earnest and unceasing efforts to put down rebellion, and has driven the rebels from the disputed districts ; while he has been engaged in laying down military roads forming the principal lines of communication from Wellington with the interior, which, opening through the few miles of thickly-wooded country by which the immediate vicinity of this harbour is surrounded, will, on their completion, give access to some of the most magnificent land in New Zealand, we are informed that the British Government and the New Zealand Company laying aside all former difference* and occasions of dispute are cordially co-operating together to secure the good government of the colony, and the prosperity of the settlers. If the rebellion is effectually put down, and the Government and the Company, which were formerly so bitterly opposed to each other, indeed unite to do justice to the settlers in Cook's Strait, by removing their former causes of complaint, and by timely measures assist them in their efforts to develop the resources of their adopted country, we may hope to find " the winter of our discontent made glorious summer," " And all the clouds that lowr'd upon our house in the deep t»osom of the ocean buried." The private letters received by the same opportunity are of a gratifying nature. They describe the feeliag in England in favour of New Zealand to be stronger than ever, and that emigration is likely to commence this season with additional vigour. Both the Madras and Clara were to sail in March ; they may both therefore be daily expected, and will no doubt bring important intelligence. We appear to be on the eve of a great change, and may shortly expect important alterations of various kinds having for their object the prosperity of the settlements in Cook's Strait Judging from recent events, we may be. assured that

our present Governor will not fail to give full effect to any instructions he may receive from the Colonial Minister, which have for their object the good of this settlement, and the opening to the settlers a fair field in which they may exert their energies unchecked. The opportunities which the recent military operations have given him of being acquainted with the capabilities of the district are greatly in our favour ; as they will, by making him master of the subject, enable him to carry out his plans of improvement to the greatest advantage. After having waited with so much patience, after having sustained with so much fortitude the trials and adversities which at one time threatened to overwhelm them, the settlers will not be slow in taking advantage of the approaching change, and we trust they may shorLly reap a rich return for the numerous disappointments and trials they < have endured.

We understand the Governor has directed his address which was published in the Government Gazette, to be translated into the maori language and printed and extensively circulated among the natives. We have no doubt that when our native allies see themselves mentioned by his Excellency in the same document and in the same warm terms of commendation with the settlers, it will greatly strengthen their attachment to the Government, and will increase their efforts to capture the rebels and prevent further disturbances. The address is certainly a very admirable one, and i« calculated to produce the best effects out of the colony as well as within it, as such statements on such authority will serve to dispel the cloud of ignorance and prejudice raised by artful and interested misrepresentations, and will secure to his Excellency the gratitude and regard of both races.

On Wednesday afternoon his Excellency embarked on board H.M.S. Castor, which shortly afterwards sailed for Auckland. It is expected that after the Session of the Legislative Council his Excellency will return again to Wellington, and it is probable that on his next visit he will be accompanied with Mrs. Grey.

Her Majesty's ship Calliope sailed from this Port on the 29th ult. for Porirua, having on board a detachment of the 65th regt., consisting of five officers, namely, Capt.R O Connell (in command) Capt. Newinham, Lieuts. McCoy, and Turner, and Assistant -Surgeon White, 7 SeVgeants and 142 rank and file. This detachment disembarked at Porirua on the Ist instant, and joined the detachments of the 58th and 99th regts., the whole under the command of Major Last, 99th regt.

A large party of natives arrived yesterday from Queen Charlotte's Sound in six large canoes. They brought with them fifty pigs, a quantity of oil, and several tons of potatoes. They appear to have come on a visit^ to their friends in Wellington. The little fleet of canoes on entering the harbour had a very pretty appearance.

State op the Beach. — We hope advantage will be taken of the present fine wenther to put the road along the Beach in a good state of repair. During the winter this road has been so muddy as to render walking extremely disagreeable, and though the prisoners have been often employed upon it, yet owing to bad management, it has always been made worse instead of better by their labours. If instead of taking the loose earth and stone from the hill at the back, they were directed to take the shingle and small stones from the beach, and spread a good coat of it on the road, irwould bind the whole together, and make a good hard surface. We have only, in illustration of our meaning, to point to the space in front of Barrett's Hotel, which was formed in this way, and which throughout the winter is always in excellent order. Half the time and labour which has been misapplied, uuder proper management would have been sufficient to have made this a firstrate road. It is time also something was done to Willis -street, which for want of a little repair is now become impassable for carts ; and to make bad worse, owing to the state of the road the carts have recently been driven over the footpath, which, unless steps are taken to prevent it, will soon be in as bad a state as the road.

In the midst of the trials which the settlers have undergone in New Zealand, the poorest may take comfort hy contrasting their situation with that of the labouring classes in the Mother Country. The recent proposal of the Duke of Norfolk to give a pinch of curry powder in hot water to comfort the poor and stop the cravings of hanger is suf-

ficiently notorious, and at a dinner of the Leicestershire Agricultural Society the Duke ofCambridge is reported to have made a speech " in which he begged to assure the gentlemen present, upon his honour, upon his own actual knowledge of the facts, that this country was not in so bad a state as had been representel with regard to famine and ' panic.' He would assure the gentlemen (and he really would not s.ty so, if he did not believe it to be true) that even Ireland was in a very comfortable state compared with the statement made concerning her in the newspapers. It was true that many of their potatoes (he thought they called them potatoes, and if he was wrong he was open to correction) were rotten, but he had understood from the Professors (who had of late so strongly recommended mangel wurzel to the people) that rottpn potatoes and sea-weed, or even grass, properly mixed, afforded a very wholesome and nutritious food. They all knew that Irishmen could live upon any thing, and there was certainly plenty of grass in the fields, even though the potato crops should iaiV Rotten potatoes and seaweed ! What man 'vho is disposed to work that will not find cause for congratulation in having escaped from the misery of the Mother Country to rude plenty of New Zealand.

The Kntherine Johnstcne on her way down on Thursday spoke H.M.S. Calliope, and learned that five of our native allies had been shot by the rebels near Wainui the previous day. A party of the rebels were out on Wednesday in search of provisions, when they fell in with five of the friendly natives ; they demanded who they were, and. our allies replied, "We are Ngatiawas." " Then," said the rebels, " you are our enemies," and immediately shot them. Their names were not known, but it is supposed tliat four of them are Port Nicholson natives. A party of forty men under Captain Stanley had landed from the Calliope on Thursday in pursuit of the rebels, the troopa also had advanced from Porirua and were in the neighbourhood of Wainui. The disaffected natives who had left Wanganui with the intention of joining Rangihaeata appear to be divided into three parties. Part of them are with Rangihaeata, another party of them under Maketu are staying at Manawatu, very much against the inclination of the natives of that district, and the remainder under Ngapara had returned to Wanganui and were trying to obtain reinforcements.

Wellington Savings Bank. — Messrs. T. M. Partridge, Mr. C. Perry, Hon. H. Petre, and Mr. Chas. Clifford, the Managers in rotation, will attend to receive deposits at Mr. Ross's office, from seven to eight o'clock on Saturday evening, the 22d August, and at the Union Bank of Australia> from twelve to one o'clock on Monday forenoon, the 24th August.