New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, December 26, 1846.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 147, 26 December 1846, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, December 26, 1846.

From the Nelson Examiner received by the Sarah Jane, which Arrived on Thursday; we learn the arrival of the Hope at Nelson on the 12th inst. During the passage out the Hope sprung a leak, the repair of which may cause some detention at Nelson, but in any case she may be expected here very shortly. The Commander of the Hope died during the voyage. Our Nelson contemporary states that Mr. Buller's proposition of last year, and Mr. Wakefield's scheme appended to the Company's 20th Report, are to be made the basis of the ministerial plan for remodelling the Government of the colony; that the seat of Government is to be removed to Wellington, but eventually the site is to be determined by the colonists themselves, and that the new settlements at Otakou and Wairarapa are to go forward as soon the Government of the colony is settled. These are the, last reports which, if true, would show the report of the dissolution of the Company, to which we alluded in our last number, to be without foundation. The Sarah Jane brought the Hopt's mail, r wbicb> the Postmaster, with his usual desire to consult the convenience of the settlers, delivered yesterday afternoon*

It is reported that his Excellency will proceed to Wanganui in the Driver on Monday next.

Thursdat being Christmas eve, the different shops were tastefully decorated with flowers, and boughs of^ native trees and shrubs ; the dark foliage and crimson flowers of the ra{a supplying the place of the ever green holly with < its red berries, which at this season is so much in request in our Father Land. The seasons being reversed, old Father Christmas wears not here the same chilly venerable aspect as in the land of our birth. There is no thought of sea coal fires or the other accessories which winter renders indispensable to comfort in England. No change of country or seasons, however, diminishes an Englishman's homage at this annual period of festivity, to plum-pudding and roast- beef, which are held in due honour in New Zealand. There was an excellent show of meat at the different butchers' shops. A very fine calf only eight weeks old, bre3 by Mr. Ludlam, and a fat ox weighing upwards of , 7$ stone, were killed by Mr. Flyger. Mr. Allen and Mr. Luxford also exhibited some very fine meat.

On Thursday afternoon the detachment of the 65th regt. was landed from the Driver.

Eaklt yesterday morning a party of seven of the armed police (including two maori policemen) were despatched by Major Durie to Okiwi after the native Petomi, who was seen the day before near the creek by Brown's house, where Hobman's body was found. We hope they may succeed in capturing him.

Wk are deeply concerned to learn from the Nelson Bxayiiner the loss of the PhoeniXj •which sailed from that port for Wellington on the 21st Novr., and there is too much reason to fear that all on board (seven persons, including Mr. A. Perry the owner of the vessel) have perished. , We must defer the particulars to our next number.

Wellington Savings Bank. — Mr. James May, Mr. Chas. Mills, Mr. S. Mocatta, and Mr. Geo. Moore, the Managers in rotation, will attend to receive deposits at Mr. Ross's office, from seven to eight o'clock on Saturday evening, the 19th December, and at the Uuion Bank of Australia, from twelve to one o'clock on Monday forenoon, the 21st December.

Want of room obliges us to 'defer our observations on the following letter to our next number.