New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, June 2, 1847.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 192, 2 June 1847, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, June 2, 1847.

Through the kindness of Captain Forbes, of the Sir John Byn-f, we have received the Sydney Morning Herald of the 11th May, containing English news to the 28th January, by the Prince of Wales, which had made a very quick passage of 100 days. The length and importance of our English extracts prevent us from indulging in any lengthened observations. The attention of both houses of Parliament was engrossed by the condition of Ireland, which is described as truly deplorable ; the opening of the ports, the suspension of the navigation laws, and other most important measures, have been resorted to to alleviate the existing distress in that country. Mr. Eyre, the newly appointed Lieute-nant-Governor of New Zealand, was to leave England in the February packet, and would bring with him the long expected instructions issued under the recent act of Parliament for the government of this colony. A Commander of the Forces had also been appointed for New Zealand.

The period of his Excellency's departure is uncertain, but his stay in this district on the present occasion will not be of any duration, as we observe that the ball intended to have been given at Aucktand by his Excellency on her Majesty's birth day is appointed to take place on the 18th of this month.

The Calliope returned on Monday morning. After leaving Kapiti on Thursday, she experienced very rough weather in the Straits and did not arrrive at Wanganui until Sunday morning, when the ammunition and other stores were immediately landed. She sailed for Wellington in the afternoon and made the passage in seventeen hours. Captain Stanley is at Wanganui with two of the boats of the Calliope and-, forty men. The "Inflexible will proceed to-morrow to Wanganui with reinforcements of troops, and will

also take the pin-iace and all the men that can be conveniently spared from the Calliope, who will be under the command of Lieut. Kane. Captain Stanley will return to Wellington in the Inflexible.

The Sir John Byng arived on Monday from Newcastle with cattle and horses, and two hundred tons of coals for the service of the Government. She has had a long passage, owing to had weather and contrary winds, having left Newcastle on the 13th of May. The portion of the 58th regt., amounting to 550 men, now in Sydney, were ready for embarkation, but it was not known whether they were to proceed to -Wellington or Auckland. Up to the 11th May, H. M. S. Racehorse had not arrived in Sydney. It is supposed the troops would be embarked on board the Thomas Lowry. The Munjord with a cargo of coals for Government may be daily expected. The Spec was to sail for Auckland with Government Stores, and the steamer Juno would also proceed to Auckland with stock, unless an arrangement should be made in the interval for conveying the troops by her to New Zealand. The Union was chartered by C. Clifford, Esq., to bring down sheep to his station on the Middle Island. The Mount Steuart Elphinstone was also under an engagement to bring down stock to New Zealand.

With the desire of affording the public every information relating to recent events at Wanganui, his Fxcellency has directed the publication of Capt. Laye's despatches in a Government Gazette.

The notice which appeared in our last number directing the attention of the mercantile part of the community to the amount of dollars now in circulation has had the effect of causing many of the merchants and storekeepers to adopt a resolution mutually agreeing to receive dollars and five franc pieces at the rate of 3s. 6d. sterling each, and other smaller foreign coins in the same proportion.

By the Hero from Nelson, which put into Porirua on Monday on her way to Wanganui, intelligence has been received of the wreck of the Louisa Campbell on the 10th ult., on the sandy peninsula, near Cape Farewell. We have copied the account of this unfortunate occurrence from the Nelson Examiner, with a few corrections, which have been kindly supplied by one of the passengers. The passengers agree s in stating that no blame whatever is to be attributed to Capt. Darby, the commander of the vessel.

The chiefs of Waikanae and Otaki are daily expected in Wellington to visit Te Whero whero and Tamate Waka, and to have a korero with them on the different questions affecting their interests. It is also reported that Te Whero whero and Tamate Waka will go on board the Calliope for the purpose of having an interview with Rauparaha.

The following natives hare been appointed under the •' Resident Magistrate's Ordinance," to be Assessors along with the Resident Magistrate at Wanganui. for settling disputes between persons of the native race — Honi Kingi, Tahane, Wiremu Eruira, and Tahuri.

Wkllington Savings Bank. — Mr. Rowland Davis, Mr. P. M. Hervey, Mr. P. D. Hogg, and Mr. M'Donald, the Managers in rotation, will attend to receive deposits at Messrs. Johnson & Moore's store, from seven to eight o'clock on Saturday evening, the sth June, 1847, and at the Union Bank of Australia, from twelve to one o'clock on

Motklay forenoon, the 7th June. The Superintending Committee will meet at Barrett's Hotel, on Monday evening next, at 8 o'clock.

Ist June, 1847. Spirits and Tobacco. under boiid This Day : Brandy 81 0 gallons. Rum 7060 do. Gin 883 do. Whisky 46 do. Cipara 462 lbs. Tobacco 4255 1 do.

The following regulations respecting the transmission of letters and newspapers from this colony to England via India hare been published in the Government Gazette :—: — General Post Office, Auckland, 18th May, 1847. Notice is hereby given, that in future''Letter from New Zealand to the United Kingdom, via Sydney, will be made up for transmission from that Port by the following different routes, namely — By Private Ship, direct. By Packet Ship, via India and Southampton. By do., do. and .Marseilles. The following table shows the number of British and French rates to which letters for* v/arded via Marseilles, are liable on arrival in the United Kingdom, according to their weight : — British. French*. A letter under a frofam ounce is liable to 1 «ud Irate. Do. weighing $• and not exceed. $ oz. 1 »» ' 2 „ Do. exceeding k and under 3oz 2 „" 3 », Do, weighing j and not exceeding loz 2 „ 4 „ Do, exceeding 1 oz, and under If oz., ...4 „ * «• |

It must be observed, however,'tbat the English and French modes of charging by weight are dissimilar : a letter not being liable to an increased British rate, unless it exceed the half ounce or ounce — while an additional Foreign rate is chargeable if it actually attain, though it do not exceed, the quarter, half, f of an ounce, or ounce, respectively. The single rate of postage, therefore, for a letter from New Zealand, weighing under a quarter of an ounce, forwarded via Marseilles, will be — 8. d. British « > 1 5 Foreign 0 5 Indian Ship letter rate.... 0 4 2 2 When forwarded via Southampton, it will be under ha/ an ounce — s. d. British rate 1 0 Indian Ship letter rate .... 0 4 1 4

When letters are forwarded to Ceylon, for despatch to the United Kingdom, the Indian Ship L'tter rate is not chargeable. The single rate for a letter under half an ounce, forwarded from Sydney by Private Ship, will be eight pence. Newspapers sent by Private Ship are liable to a charge of Id. each ; if sent via Marseilles, 3d. eacu. The above Postages are those chargeable on delivery in tlie United. Kingdom, and do not affect the New Zealand rates payable in" this Colony. The Contractors for the conveyance of the Sydney Miils have the option, under their contract, of landing the Homeward Mails at either Calcutta, Madras, Singapore, or Ceylon ; and the vaiious officeis in India, entrusted with the despatch of the British Mails, have orders to send all letters for England by the route of Marseilles, that being the quickest route, unless specially addressed to be forwarded via Southampton, The days of ihe month on which the Contract Packets usually leave the Indian Ports with the Homeward Mails, are as follows :—: — Calcutta on the 10th of each month. Madras .....15th „ Singapore 1 0th „

Point de Galle (Ceylon) 19th „ And the Mails, via Marseilles, generally arrive in London four or five days earlier than ihose forwarded via Southampton. N.B. Letters to be sent via Marseilles, or via Southampton, should be specially "so addressed. Henry D'Arch, Acting Deputy Postmaster-General.