New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, July l4, 1847.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 204, 14 July 1847, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, July 14, 1847.

It is currently reported that the Pensioners who are' about to be 1 sent, to New Zealand by the British Government to form a Battalion for the ; defence of the settlers are ,to be Stationed at the North, because it is- alleged the Government' has no land 'in the' Southern Settlements on which to locate

ihem. V Assuming for the sake of our present argument that there^s some* foundation for this report," *admittmg>jl tg^eJpdVslfelethat such an arrangement-may be^contefapkted, a cursory comparison of faiie pjpsfent state of the two divisions of the colony will show where the services of this new force will be most required. Ever since the capture^ofCßuap*ekapeka and^the submission of Heki and Kawiti.tlie-iNortherji Districts have been quiet and appear likely to remain so. ,But the present disturbances at Wanganui 'are unhappily of themselves sufficient evi.dence to^how that, for some time- at least, the presence of a large force will be absolutely required in the Southern" Settlements "fdr tfieif protection, arid for the preservation of peace, and therefore any nfeasures intended for the general. defence,aud safetyof the colony ought riot to be confined to that division of it where it appears to be least, needed. The necessity for a portion, : perhaps the" greatest portion, of this force"being established in the Southern settlements being admitted/ and we think from the present state of the neighbouring' districts' tne necessity can 'hardly be denied; many localities may = be pointed out where detachments, or companies of this force may be posted with great advantage, without interfering with private rights or existing- arrangements. A strong detachment, for example, might be posted in the valley of the Wairarapa where the new road from the Hutt enters that district, which ' would serve at once to protect the stations established in that district and also encourage and promote the occupation of the upper valley of the Hutt. After our experience in the Hutt district and the recent attacks on the outsettlers at Wanganui, it can not be .expected or desired that the 'settlers should imprudently isolate themselves in the occupation of country land, but such an arrangement would effectually protect them and causejthe occupation of the upper and lower districts of the Hutt to proceed simultaneously i and such a concentration of population -would be effected as would'prevent the chance of any future disturbance. At Waikanae also, and on the further bank of the Manawatu eligible positions offer themselves for the establishment of detachments of these pensioners which would connect and complete the '' chain of military pos,ts already established and effectually tend to the security and protection of these districts. , It,may;be objected that such arrangements might interfere with the right of pre-emption to these districts waived by the Government in /aypur. of , the. New Zealand Company, but we hardly think, such an objection could be seriously urged on the part of the Company: ' Fot- recent events sufficiently, demonstrate that Without efficient protection ' there ean 1 be ; no beneficial occupation of the country districts. Let the - New- Zealand- Company only calculate the present value of land in the districts to which w_e have,* alluded, and the increased value .which would be . conferred upon them by the establishment of detachments of this force, forming in each district the nucleus of a settlement which would gradually extend, until the whole were united in a compact body ; and we imagine that selfinterest would make them eager, to render every assistance in their power- in furtherance of ) the yiews^of the; Government. Besides, it would, be preposterous to allow the /pretensions of the Company to interfere prejudicially in any question ' which concerns the present safety of- the settler's, particularly where the' land has not yet been acquired from the Natives! But if it should prove that, the Company's pretensions are found to i thwart the .plans of the Government,, it would furnish another illustration of the opposition of interests of the Company and the Settlers, an' opposition only to be removed by the dissolution of the. Company. , ,

.The Mount Stewart Jblphinstone, w,ith sb,eep for Mr. Clifford's new station a.t Cape Campbell, 1 arrived at Cloudy Bay on" the 4th inst., after a longhand tedious passage from Sydney, daring which, a_great number of the sheep died. On arriving at Cloudy Bay ten. of the crew deserted, the vessel, and .the Captain has been obliged in consequence to come to Port Nicholson to try and engage fresh hand.*. The Mount Stewart 'Elphiri' stone will proceed from Cloudy Bay direct

to Valparaiso. The' Dysbri scad London, also , with sheep for Mr.' Clifford, we're to Sail from (.Sydne^TvfqrtlCloudy Bay the beginning of uthis 1 month/? so that, they may be daily expected. -After landing 1 their stock they will oil toPort Nicholson. Mr. and Mrs. jCliftord ]arriv;ed^'in^ the Catherine from , Cloudy Bay r on Sunday.,

YBSTBftDATafternooivag^legant dejeuner a la fourchette was given by „ Captain Sothebyof H. M. S.- Raceh>>r^e, to a numerous party _bf his' acquaintance in* Port Nicholson'. The , company began to arrive shortly after one. >The quarter, deck of the vessel was, covered in with an awning and tastefully decorated with flags for the occasion. Dancing commenced at' an early hour and was continued through the afternoon. At three o'clock 'the> guests >partook of an elegant entertain - roerifin the cabin, after which dancing was resumed with great spirit and kept up to a ' iate'hourl The day proved particularly fine for the

AVklmngxon Savings Bank. — Mr. Jaraes Smith, Mr. <Strang, Mr. Spinks, and Mr. Clifford, 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 17th July; 1847, and at the Union Bank of Australia, from twelve to one o'clock on Monday forenoon, the 19th July.