New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, October 23, 1847.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 233, 23 October 1847, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, October 23, 1847.

Owing to the unusual press of local matter we have been obliged to defer to our next number our remarks on the late arrangement made by the Government with the New Zealand Company.

On Wednesday last the committee appointed at a public meeting presented •to Captain Stanley, R,N., the Address -qf the settlers of Wellington, acknowledging the important services he had rendered the Southern settlements during the period of his command and their regret at his approaching departure. Shortly after two o'clock a boat from the Calliope conveyed the committee to the vee- j sel, when Mr. Fitzherbert, in the name of the settlers of Wellington, presented the following Address to Captain Stanley on the quarter deck of the Calliope : To Captain Edward Stanley, R. N., in command of H. M. S. Calliope. We the undersigned settlers of Port Nicholson are desirous, on the occasion of your departure, of expressing our grateful sense of the important services you have rendered this settlement during your command on this station. Arriving at a most critical period, when the natives were in open rebellion against the authority of the Government, and a general feeling of danger and insecurity prevailed, occasioned by frequent murders and by the destruction of the property of the settlers by the rebels, in the operations which were undertaken for the protection of this settlement and the support of the Queen's authority, the gallant exertions of yourself and the officers and men under your command were conspicuous and essentially contributed to their success. Not to multiply instances we may allude to the capture of Te Rauparaiia as chiefly effected by your energy and judicious arrangements. But while we recall the remembrance of your public services, we are uot unmiudful of your hospitality, of your attentive consideration of the interests of the settlers, and of those numberless acts of kindness to those who stood in need of your assistance, by which you have so deservedly ingratiated yourself with all classes of the community. On leaving these shores we beg to assure you that you bear with you our high regard and esteem and our best wishes for your prosperity aud success ; we deeply regiet the departure of our tried and valued friend, and are satisfied that, wherever the destination of the Calliope, the honour of the banner of Old England will always be maintained inviolate by the courage and gallantry of her Captain and of those under his command. The Address was very numerously and respectably signed, including the names of settlers of all classes and denominations. The following answer was returned by Captain Stanley to the Address : I H. M. Ship Calliope, Wellington, New Zealaud, 20th October, 1847. Gentlemen, 1 accept with pleasure the very gratify- | ing address you have .done me the honour to I present, and beg to return my warmest thanks for the very kind feelings expressed therein I towards myself, and the officers and men under my command. Coming amongst you as we did, at a time i when life and property were both insecure, it will always be a consolation to us to reflect that in doing our duty, we have aided in establishing in this immediate neighbourhood at least, peace and security for the lives and property of her Majesty's subjects. With reference to the compliment you are pleased to pay me, as regards the capture of Te Rauparaha, I shall always -look back upon the share that I had in that most desirable event with the greatest satisfaction. It has always been my desire, as far as consistent with my duty, to assist to the utmost of my power, all who stood in need of help, without regard to rank or station, and however inadequately I may have succeeded in carrying out my wishes, it will ever be a source of gratification to me to feel that my motives have been duly appreciated by so large and influential a body of the colonists. I part from you with sincere regret, having been so long at Wellington as almost to feel like one of its inhabitants. I shall treasure up this testimonial of your esteem, and the many happy days passed amongst you will always be remembered with pleasure. Be, assured gentlemen on the part of the officers and men, as well as myself, serving on board H. M. Ship Calliope, that the honour o£ Old England will always be our first care, and that the signal of the immortal Nelson is ever uppermost in the mind of a British Sailor.

For the present I bid you adieu, and should this be our final parting, sincerely thanking you for your Jcindness, and fervently wishing health, peace, and prosperity to yourselves and families, Believe me, Gentlemen,, ) Your faithful friend and servant; ' E. Stanley, Captain. The Settlers of Wellington, New Zealand. The committee were then hospitably entertained by Captain Stanley,- and on their return Jto " the shore -received three, hearty* cheers fr om the crew of the Callio^ c, which they as cordially returned. ' It will be unnecessary for us to recapitulate Captain Stanley's services in New Zealand since they are well known to our readers and duly appreciated by them, but the following sketch of his previous career' may not prove unacceptable. . . ... Captain Stanley entered the Royal Navy ' in 1812; he joined the Queen Charlotte hi , 1816 as a volunteer in the expedition against Algiers, where he was wounded, and was '< promoted to_ the rank of Lieutenant in Ja-u nuary, 1826. ' <"'*-> While serving in H.M.S. Gloucester, on , the 20th June, 1826, he commanded 100. seamen and marines at the suppression of an alarming fire in Fort St. John, Cronstadt, and by his exertions and those of theGlqu-. cester's crew saved the fleet from destruction! On the following evening a most dreadful confjagation having broken out in the store yard of timber adjoining the Mole (where 400 vessels lay, chiefly laden) he landed with' a party of 300 seamen and ■ marines under the direction of the Captain of the Gloucester and but for their united exertions not,only f those vessels, but in all probability the Rus*- , sian fleet would have fallen a sacrifice to the flames. He was recommended by the Em--peror of Russia, through Prince Neselrode, to the favourable consideration of the British Ministry, but received no marked honor or favour either from them or the Emperor of Russia for these services. He was promoted to the rank, of Commander in March 1832, and in Feb. 183*5; while in command of H.M. Sloop' Wolf; re-J ceived the thanks of Sir Benjamin DUrban for the zeal displayed and the services rendered by him during the Caffre war. During the years 1836, 37, and 38/ while in command of the Wolf, Captain Stanley was engaged in the suppression of in the Straits of Malacca- and adjacent seas, where he so zealously and effectually exerted himself, and rendered such important; services to commerce, as to 1 receive the thinks of the Governor General of India in Council, of the Naval Comraander-in-Cbief Sirßladen Capel, of the Governor of Prince of Wales' Island and Singapore, of the Resident Committee at Prince of Wales' Tsland, of the Penang Chamber of Commerce, and of the Madras Chamber of Commerce. From the? Chamber of Commerce at Singapore he received an equally flattering acknowledgement fo his services, and a resolution from that body to present him with a sword of thevalue of 100 guineas (which he received the 1 year following) the blade bearing the following inscription : •, s " Presented to Captain JEdward Stanley by the European and Chinese 'mercantile, community of Singapore iri testimony of the ' grateful sense entertained' by them of'hisunwearied and successful exertions for the suppression of piracy in the Straits of Malacca [ and the adjacent seas during the years 1 836. 1837 and 1838 while in command of H:M. Sloop Wolf." In June 1838 he was promoted for..hia services, particularly for those against, the Malay pirates, to the rank of Post Captain. In the evening a ball was given at Barrett's Hotel by the settlers to Capt. Stanley and the officers of the Calliope. Advantage was taken of the occasion to invite his. , Excellency the Lieutenant- Governor, as affording the first favourable opportunity of J b.is familiarly mixing in social inter. course.,, with the settlers ; the officers of the ssth. regt. were also invited as guests, a& a farewell"entertainment on their approaching departure, and the officers of the 65th regt. on their recent arrival in Wellington : the invitations also included Capt. Sotheby and the officers of H.M.S. Racehorse. A large temporary ball room nearly twice the size of the room used on the occasion of former balls was constructed in the yard at the side 11 of 1 the Billiard Room,' which served asa promenade and refreshment room. 1 This - arrangement was a very great improvement on' former" j entertainments, as an additional room was given for dancing while the space -between the lining of the room and the outer .covering kept the apartment at a pleasant temperature. The room was covered wiflisaijs and was very tastefully ornamented yfrifh flags of different nations, which ,were-kindly lent by. Captains Stanley and Sotheby; the Stanley arms with other appropriate" emblems and devices, and, naval and/ military trophies, surrounded with garlands of flow-* ers, decorated the sides of the apartment.

, . „*.* formed at the end of the The orchestra wa'fo^ rf the 65th T &- attended - extent music added greatly the attractions of the evening. Great credit / sr^ ue to tne Stewards for the excellent way in which the arrangements were made, and nothing appeared to be omitted \rhich could promote the convenience and comfort of the guests. The company began to arrive about nine o'clock, at ten his Excellency the Lieutenant- Governor arrived, and was received by the Stewards in the ante-room, and conducted by them into the ball room, the band playing the National Anthem. There were about one hundred and fifty persons present, and the room presented a brilliant.appearance, the rich dresses of the ladies contrasting agreeably with the officers' uniforms. Shortly after his Excellency's arrival dancing was commenced, and was kept up with great spirit until one o'clock, when supper was announced. The supper was laid out in the room which on-iformer occasions, was used as the ball room, and which was also a decided improvement, as it allowed sufficient space for a double row of tables the whole length of the room.. The supper was liberally and and substantially provided, and reflected great credit on Mr. Suisted's good management. After supper Mr. Fitzherbevt said that although at entertainments of this kind speeches and toasts were unusual and out of place, he was sure the company would allow him to make an exception on the present occasion to so good a rule by proposing the health of Captain Stanley. The toast was drnnk with all the honours, and Captain Stanley briefly and appropriately returned thanks. • After the ladies had retired, Mr. Hort said he felt there was one toast every one would be glad to hear given, especially the inhabitants of Wellington, who were so much indebted to the gentlemen who had so kindly consented to act as Stewards, for the excellent arrangements of the evening. It was one of the best balls ever given in Wellington, and he begged to propose the health of Mr. Clifford and the Stewards of the ball, and thanks to them for their exertions. Mr. Clifford, in returning thanks on behalf of the Stewards, said, the gratification apparent on every countenance was a sufficient reward for all their exertions ; their only object had been to carry out the wishes of 4he inhabitants by giving an entertainment that would be pleasing to their guests, both to those about to depart from the settlement, and to those who had newly arrived among them, and although toasts and speeches had been prohibiied, still there was one toast he must be allowed to propose as' intimately connected with the intention of the entertainment. They all knew and were ready to acknowledge the services of Capt. Stanley and his officers; but there were other guests present who were also about to leave them, who had been to the settlement on land what the Calliope had been at sea, the safeguard and protection of their persons and property. The gallant 58th had been actively engaged in suppjessing the tumults and disorders which had distracted the settlement during the last three years, and to them in many instances the settlers were indebted for keeping the Maories in check, and the war from their doors. The settlers owed them a debt of gratitude for their exertions on their behalf, and were anxious a3 far as lay in their power to express their acknowledgements. The 58th, on leaving the Southern Settlements, would bear with them the best wishes of the settlers, who would always be anxious to hear of their welfare. Mr. Clifford then .proposed the health of the Officers of the j 58th Regt., which was drank with great cheering, and Capt. Laye returned thanks. After supper dancing was resumed and kept up with increased spirit until six o'clock in the morning, when the party broke up highly gratified with their evening's festivities. Hi& Excellency retired shortly after supper. Thb temporary building prepared for the Ball, on Wednesday evening, was found to be so great an improvement in the additional accommodation it afforded, that we hope Mr. Suisted will take the hint, and before the summer erect in its place a permanent building for similar entertainments.