New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, June 12, 1847.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 195, 12 June 1847, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, June 12, 1847.

The long expected changes in the form of the government of this colony are at length on the eve of taking place. For this the despatch of Earl Grey to his Excellency the Governor, the concluding part of which is published in this day's Spectator, would immediately prepare us. This able document appears intended by its noble author as a commentary on the Act of Parliament, and Instructions under the Royal Sign Manual, which it accompanies. Without entering into the detail of the measures to be adopted, his Lordship takes occasion to lay down the general principles on which the new Institutions are to be moulded and the Government of New Zealand is in future to be conducted. The despatch is clear and comprehensive, and shows an intimate acquaintance with the subject. His Lordship divides the subject into three parts, — that relating to the general machinery of the Government, or as he expresses it, the " scheme of municipal, legislate c, and executive polity," the policy to be observed towards the Aborigines of this colony, and the settlement of the public lands : we may conveniently observe the same order in the remarks we propose to offer on these Instructions. Shortly after the receipt of the Act of Parliament, we took occasion, in February last, to make some general observations on the complicated system of government which it was intended to introduce, and while this objection is admitted in these Instructions, the dispersion of the different settlements, and the impediments to rapid intercourse between them, are urged in answer to the objection, and in favour of the present plan. The chief difficulty appears to be caused by the existence of two Settlements of equal importance, so widely separated, and between which so little intercourse exists as Wellington and Auckland. Hence the necessity of a division of the colony into two separate Provinces, and the machinery of Provincial Legislatures, as a solution of the difficulty, without exalting one settlement at the expense of the other, while by means of a General Assembly it seems intended to counteract and correct the tendency which might otherwise exist, of an opposition of interests between the two Provinces : so that while every freedom of local self-government is allowed the Settlers, provision is made for uniting the two separate Provinces into one country. It will be unnecessary in discussing this part of the subject to do more than refer to our previous observations on the Act of Parliament. On the publication in the colony of the Instructions under the Royal Sign Manual, which prescribe the details of the future government, an opportunity will be afforded of discussing them with greater precision. The same complex arrangements obtain in the Executive as in the Legislative department. The creation of a Governor-in-Chief with two Governors and two Lieutenant- Goovernors multiplies the number of offices, and increases the chances of embarrassment, and though at present these offices are united in two persons, from the appointed

order of succession it seems probable that the actual number of Governors will, at no remote period, be increased, and that the Governor-in-Chief will be surrounded by his four attendant satellites. But however complicated the future may appear, the present arrangement is sufficiently satisfactory. To Captain Grey is entrusted the supreme power with such ample delegated authority in filling up the various details and completing the outlines of Government which have thus been laid down as to prove the high estimation in which he is held by the British Government, and the confidence reposed in his judgment and sagacity. Perhaps no Governor of a British colony has ever been previously appointed with such extended powers or has succeeded in so great a degree in obtaining at the same time the confidence of the Ministers, and of those he is appointed to govern, The judgment and moderatipn, he has displayed on all occasions justify this confidence, and warrant the belief that he will fully realize in the exercise of these powers the high expectations he has raised. To the Legislatures thus created, that is to the settlers through the representative* they may elect, an equally wide extent of authority is granted, since we are informed that they " will be competent td mould even the Institutions which the Charter itself creates ;" and the other subordinate powers into such forms as the exigencies of society shall require, thus allowing the settlers to fill up in many respects the details of the scheme of which the broad outlines have been traced by the British Go\ eminent. Thus after so many years of complaint and struggling, the settlers at length will be allowed the privilege of managing their own affairs, and for the first time in New Zealand an approach will be made to Representative Institutions, with the promise, as colonization > extends, of their adaptation and development to the wants of the country.

We are informed that a great interruption to the trade in Wellington with the Natives living on the coast has taken place within the last month, in consequence of the recent disturbances. The Natives between this and Manawatu, who were in the habit of driving their pigs to Wellington, to sell to the Settlers, and who purchased with the money thus realized, blankets, tobacco, and other necessaries, hare lately refrained from coming ; and the same cause has completely put a stop to the trade with the Natives at Wanganui, which was rapidly increasing.

The schooner Amazon sailed on Thursday for a cruize on the whaling grounds, having been completely fitted out at this Port. We are glad to notice this attempt to carry on whaling by means of colonial vessels of a moderate size, adapted to the purpose, a system which has been often advocated in this Journal, and which possesses many advantages over shore parties ; we hope the success which may attend this effort may occasion the example to be generally followed.

New Barracks. — Mr. Wilson's tender for the additional buildings to be erected at the temporary barracks at Te Aro has been accepted, and that of Mr. Mills for the newbarracks at Thorndon ; the buildings will be commenced immediately., but we believe the supply of sawn timber is inadequate to the present demand occasioned by these and other buildings which are now in progress.

Wellington Savings Bank. — Mr. Hart, Mr. Hickson, Mr. J. Hoggard, and Capt. Sharp, 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 12th June, 1847, and at the Union Bank of Australia, from twelve to one o'clock on Monday forenoon, the 14th June.

His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to appoint Lieutenant and Adjutant M'Lerie, 58th regiment, to be Adjutant and Paymaster of the Mounted Police, in the room of Lieutenant Cooper, 58th regiment, resign- v ed. — Sydney Government Gazette.