New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, December 25, 1847.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 251, 25 December 1847, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, December 25, 1847.

It is now a month since, on the arrival of the Racehorse from Auckland, intimation was given of the Governor's intention of bringing the New Charter into operation throughout the colony, from and after the 4st day of January, 1848. In a_few^dayswe shall witness the termination of the old year but no steps appear to be taken towards realizing the promise thus deliberately given. We have lately on more than one occasion alluded to the repeated delays of the Governor's visit, and indicated some of the inconvenient consequences arising from this neglect of the Southern Province. These may be shewn to exist in a variety of ways j and to a serious extent, even without reference to the New Constitution, which we were led to expect would immediately be put into operation. To refer to the last session of the Legislative Council, we have not yet received a list of all the ordinances which have been passed, although the greater part of them, we believe, come into operation on the first day of the new year. Some of these ordinances have reached us, and we may take one of them, the Marriage Ordinunct, as affording a practical instance of the inconvenience caused by tne delay of his Excellency's visit to the South, and the evils arising from the w*nt of frequent com-

munication between the two divisions of the colony. This ordinance, intended to regulate all future marriages in the colony, waft passed the 28th September last, and comes into operation on the Ist January, 1848 ; and unless its provisions are complied with, the marriages become void. After this date, in all marriages to be solemnized under its provisions, it is necessary first to give notice to ttie Deputy-Registrar of births, marriages, and deaths, of the district. But this official has not yet been appointed, he still remains in his chrysalis state waiting until the sunshine of patronage shall call him into existence. But if this difficulty were obviated another as great or greater, still remains. The ordinance defines who are to be considered ."officiating j minij3ters''^within its meaning, and before they can,offi<Hate are* turn mnst be made by. the heads of tlie different religious bodies enumerated -by the ordinance to the Registrar- General, who must prepare a list of such persons, which is to be published in the Government Gazette. It is possible this may have been done, but if so, no official information of it has been given in these settlements. »And where the Government interfere, as in this ordinance, with the most intimate social relations of life, and undertake to prescribe and regulate the manner in which these relations shall be entered into, it is but reasonable to expect a little more attention in preventing confusion, and in the requisite adjustment of details, than appears to have been shewn -in this instance. The ordinance itself is full of the inconsistencies and mistakes which seem peculiar to New Zealand legislation. For example it legalizes all marriages celebrated up to the time of its passing, and regulates all marriages which may take place after the Ist January 1848: but what becomes of those celebrated between the two, intervals ? Again it prescribes who shall be- considered " Officiating Ministers," and the names of these ministers must be sent to the^ Registrar General by the heads of the different religious bodies in the colony- to, which they belong before they can officiater^ffrf quit cUstOdtet -ipsos nustode&P — if «ny> of these heads refuse or neglect to make the requisite returns, where is the remedy ?—-Several? — -Several other points might be noted, butfwe have said enough to draw" attention to'tlle subject ; if the other ordinances of the present Session are of the same stamp, they will afford abundant materials for illustration to any one who desires to write a work on the Curiosities of Colonial Legislation.

Thk Waverley arrived on Thursday from Twofold Bay with cattle, after a favourable run of nine days. Before she left Twofold Bay the Lord Hobart arrived from Sydney with intelligence of the following melancholy and deplorable accident to Sir Charles Fitzroy, Governor of New South Wales, and his amiable lady. It appears that Sir Charles Fitzroy who was residing at Parramatta, was about to take his usual drive, when the horses, which were very spirited animals, ran away with the carriage which was upset, and Sir Charles Fitzroy had his leg broken and was seriously bruised, and Lady Fitzroy and the aide-de-camp were killed on the spot. This lamentable event had created a deep feeling of concern at Sydney, where Sir Charles and Lady Fitzroy were greatly and deservedly respected.

A short time since we "gave an account of an,operatipn performed atthe Colonial Hospital on Thorndon Plat, HTwfifclPa large tumour was successfully removed by Dr. Fitzgerald from the back of a native chief of Waikanae, and in which an experiment was made of the application of ether..' Dr. Fitzgerald has since received a letter from the chiefs son, (of which the following is a copy,) thanking him for his attention and professional skill in curing his father ;— Waikane, f ehema 15, 1847. E Tama c Takuta— Tena koe— E hoa ki a rongo mai koe fcua tae mai ..te tana nei kau matua a Hiangarere kuakite katoa nga tangata i ton a mate c korero ana ia ki nga tangata a koe nei ki tau mahinga ia ia ki te pai a tau mahi ki a ia ki tau aroha hoki ki a, i* ki to korua ko te Harawira c tama c paj ana ton* mate 1 .. E pai ana hoki tana korero ki a koe. i E hoa ki a rongo mai holcl koe kp tahi to mau kua mate ka tahi maua te Maori ka te 1 tenei mate ka te ate c tana koru ke i pota m»i » ti wahoko Hona te teßiriawatea te ingoa o tan» tangata c rangi ko nga tangata o konei kei te mate katoa. * > , He ote ano na tou hoa, Na Wireuu Tamiha Tsse*b.

(Translation.) ; * Waikanae, 15th December, 1847., Friend Doctor— Greeting—Hear you our old man Hiangatere has arrived.'* - All the people hare seen his wxnind. He has explained to.the people how you performed ti* operation ; tfca

dexterity of the way "you performed it;^and •your and Mr. Hadfield's kindness to him.— Friend, his wound is healed, and he speaks -well of you. 1 ' Frieud,hear you- u We have lost We.of our people' by death • We are utterly confused, or have become helpless victims to this malady. That man's lungs protruded through his mouth ; his name is Hona te Ririawa. I have to add 'that the people are all down here. (Signed) WifcEMU Tamihana Teheke. The natives along ,the coast have suffered very severely from the prevailing epidemic ; we understand that several native children both at Waikanae and Wanganui have died of influenza. In consequence of the representations made by the natives, we believe the Lieutenant-Governor, at the suggestion of Major Durie the Inspector of Police, has , sent Dr, Knox to administer medical assistance to them at the different settlements along the cbast. - I|l

Christmas Beef. — Mr. Rhodes- the contractor "for 'supplying the Commissariat, Bas" 'killed ' two first-rate oien "for Christmas beef; each animal weighed upwards of one thousand pounds. They were both fed at his station at Wairarapa. Mr. Luxford has also a very fine show of beef, the produce of the Wairarapa stations, and the other butchers are nptbehind hand in their provision of good cheer for the festivities of the season.

Programme of .the Performance by the Band of the 65th Regiment, on Thorndon Flat, Tuesday, 28th inst. : — 1. Overture— Zampa Herold. 2 Caratina — Tutto E'Sciolto — Sonnambula Bellini. 3. La Peri Quadrille Morh. 4. Final Aria— Romeo Tuceise un Figlio — Capuletti E Montecchi Bellini. 5. Trumpeter Waltz Strautt. 6. Duetto— Norma Bellini. 7. Galop Mohr. 8. Budgusky Chrudimer Polka LouitPeschke.

Wanganui. — Letters received lately from ■Wanganui, state that the influenza is very prevalent among the natives there. A detachment of the troops had lately been employed in cutting a road along the banks of the 'river at some distance from the camp, and in setting fire to the fallen bush, the fire spread rapidly, and communicated with some native burial places in the neighbourhood*^ the jnonuments or memorials in which were burnt down. One of these was in memory of the father of the chief "Dawson, our readers may remember that JDawson was very active in the service of the Government in the, late disturbances at Wanganui.

Steam Communication to the Australian Colonies. — A despatch had been received from Lord Grey by the Lieut.-Governor of .South Australia relative to this subject, • which, with the inclosed correspondence, had been published in the Adelaide papers. From these documents it appears that two chartered companies had been formed for the purpose of communicating by steam with the Australian colonies ; one called the Indian and Australian Royal Mail Steam Company, which proposed to communicate with Sydney by a junction with the line already established in the East ; tlie other company intended to communicate with the Australian colonies direct, by steamers furnished with the screw-propeller, touching at the Cape, and having a branch packet to the Mauritius. The latter company have undertaken to make immediate arrangements for despatching an experimental ship, on consideration of receiving the amount of postage chargeable on letters and newspapers which she may carry, and of taking Government emigrants equal to her capacity ; the Government in the mean time agreeing to wait the issue of this experimental trip, and Abstaining from entering into .any agreement • with any other company for the conveyance - mails to these colonies. _ These terms were agreed to by the Government. We publish a selection from the correspondence, which explains at length the nature of the proposed arrangements :— Meriron's Wharf, Bermondsey, March 13th, 1847Sir, — At a meeting yesterday of the gentlemen of London and from Liverpool, the supporters and advocates of my plan for carrying out the Australian communication, via the- Cape of Good Hope, &c, I was requested to again 'address the Right Honorable Earl Grey, her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the .colonies, and solicit the honour of an interview for those gentlemen with his lordship, at any time that may be most convenient after Monday the 22nd instant, when they will be prepared to lay before bis lordship the terms on which the service can be performed. I have the honour to i enclose herewith a letter addressed to his lordchip on that subject. By advices this morning from Liverpool, I am informed of the arrival at New York of jthe, screw auxiliary steam ship k>arah Sands, from Liverpool, after a passage of twenty-one - days, and haying experienced considerable hea-Tjr-a'nd'cpntrary weather during the, passage.

The distance from Liverpool to New York being in a direct line about 4000 nautical miles, gives the performance of this ship at au average of 190 miles per day, or eight knots per hour ; and as she haa strictly an auxiliary power, the nominal horse-power of the engines being only about as one to eight of the measurement tonnage, and the voyage from England to America being considered one of the most difficult and tedious, on account of the prevalence of strong westerly winds in the Atlantic, the performance of this ship is another proof of what may be expected from the application of the screw propeller to a perfect sailing-ship, and will still further bear me out in the calculations "for speed I have made for the vessels to Australia, which are estimated for a much larger- comparative steam power, and to be built expressly with a "view-to speed ; whereas the Sarah Sands is constructed also to carry a .large cargo, iiaving. left Liverpool with more *han lOO&tdns'of goods add over fifty -passengers, besides machinery and fuel for the voyage. The measurement tonnage of the ship is about 1200, add the nominal horse-power about 150. — I have, &c, (Signed) C. D. Hays. B. Hawes, Esq., M.P,, &c, &c.

Meriton's "Wharf, Bermondsey. April 15th, 1847 My Lord, — I avail myself of your Lordship's permission to submit somewhat more in detail than I have hitherto done the advantages I venture to believe will attach to the plan I have propounded for the establishment of steam communication with the Australian colonies, via the Cape of Good Hope, with branches to the Mauritius and New Zealand, and which I conceive to be far greater, both in a commercial and political point of view, than can possibly attend the extension to New South Wales of the existing overland route, whether from Singapore or any other point. In this view 1 am supported, as y<ur Lordship is already aware, by many gentlemen of experience and influence, interested in the trade with the colonies rel erred to, and I cannot but believe that the colonists themselves will unanimously prefer a plan affording advantages of so much more comprehensive a character than the mere postal communication with one colony, to which all other plans that have been hitherto. proposed^-nuut-oe' practically confined. The plan which I have in view, in conjunction with the gentlemen who recently had the honour of an interview with your Lordship on the subject, is the establishment, by means of a public company, of a line of screw steampacket ships, sufficiently numerous, and of adequate power to iusure a regular monthly communication with the colonies referred to, as fully detailed in the pamphlet which accompanies this letter, and to which I respectfully take leave to call your Lordship's attention. Inasmuch, however, as an undertaking of this magnitude cannot be carried out without that assistance from her Majesty's Government, which your Lordship does not consider could be at present afforded, it has occurred to the gentlemen who are favourable to, and have entire confidence in my plan, with the view of removing the doubts attempted to be instilled into your Lordship's mind as to the practicability of the plan — that it is desirable one such vessel as is proposed to be employed in the service contemplated should at once be built and equipped, provided her Majesty's Government are prepared to wait the issue of such experimental voyage, before entering into arrangements with any other parti -is for the conveyance of mails to the same quarter. By way of meeting the heavy expenses which must necessarily attend this experiment, it is hoped yout Lordship will feel justified in so far affording the assistance of her Majesty's Government as to promise that,; in The event of the vessel's equipment and dispatch during the autumn of the present year, a number of emigrants equal to that ship's capacity shall be embarked on board her at the average rate of passage- money which may have been paid by the Emigration Commissioners in other vessels to the Australian colonies- during the preceding six months. Id addition to which, it is hoped that the Postmaster-General will consent to pay either a liberal remuneration for the conveyance of a mail, or to give up altogether the amount of postages upon such letters as the public might elect to forwa/d by the vessel in question. I may also add that I am allowed by Captain Ellice, Superintendent of the Steam Department of the Admiralty, to refer your Lordship to him for a professional opinion upon the merits of my plan. — I have, &c, (Signed) C. D. Hays.

Admiralty, 6th May, 1847. Sir, —With reference to your letters of the 9th, 14th, and 27th ultimo, on the subject of the establishment of mail-packet communication between this country and the Australian colonies, I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request , that

you will inform Earl Grey that though my Lords do uot consider Mr. Hay's projected line by the Cape of Good Hope to Australia can equal that by Alexandria and Singapore, in speed and regularity, yet that it would be so advantageous to the national interests as to deseive encouragement and countenance of her Majesty's Government, it will afford the j communication so much wanted with the west coasts of Africa, at Ascension, as well as with the Cape of Good Hope and the Mauritius : and it may become of the utmost importance by furnishing a direct line of communication between England and the Indian Ocean by sea, without the necessity of passing through the territories of any foreign nation. If the vessels to be employed -should be built under the control of this ' department, and fitted to carry a proper armament, they might prove a useful addition to the national forces. - f The experience derived from-ithe-pafckets. plying between London and Hamburgh, from the, Sarah Sands, and from certain of her Majesty's vessels, shows that the proposed voyage is quite' practipable for auxiliary screw steam vessels, and that a considerable portion of it might be ordinarily peiformed, at a sufficient speed, without the assistance of/team power. The shortest sea distance from England to Sydney, touching all the projecting points, and moving in great circles, is measured at 12,630 geographical miles, and an addition of 600 miles being made for the necessary deviations of an auxiliary sc:ew vessel, would give a course of 14,230 miles ; and this distance might probably be traversed in 65 days each way. Herewith is returned the printed copy of the Report from the Select Committee on Steam communication, which accompanie) your letter of the 14th ultimo. — My Lords believe tbe report of Captain King, and the decision of the Legislative Council of New South Wales to be fully borne out by the facts of the case, and consider the advantages of the route recommended hy Captain King such as to warrant the expectation that steamboats must be employed along k at no distant period ;- but my Lords are desirous, for the reasons before mentioned, of seeing some assistance and encouragement given to" the project of Mr. Hays. — I have, &c, (Signed) - - H. G. ,W4*D.

Downing-street, 4th June, 1847. Sir, — The necessity for communicating with the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury and the Board of Admiralty, on the proposals contained in your letter ot the 15th April, has prevented Lotd Grey from returning an early answer to that letter. I am now directed to acquaint you that her. Majestj's Government accede to your proposal, that in consideration of the Company whom you represent despatching during the autumn of the present year one vessel fitted with the screw propeller, in order to test the practicability of the project of establishing a line of communication by vessels of that description with Mauritius and Australia, via the Cape, the Government should agree to wait the issue of such experimental voyage before entering into any agreement with other associations or the conveyance of mails to the same quarter, and should send by the vessel in question a number of emigrants equal to her capacity at the average passage money which may have been paid by the Emigration Commissioners for the conveyance of emigrants in vessels proceeding to Australia during the preceding six months. The Lords of the Treasuiy have also stated their readiness to furnish the Postmaster-General with the requisite authority for the payment in aid ot the expenses of the undertaking of the amount received onuthe letters and newspapers which nfiay be forwarded by the vessel. In making this communication to you, Lord Grey desires that it may be clearly understood, that even if the experiment should prove successful, her Majesty's Government must not be considered as in any degree pledged to give the preference to that route as it is a material consideration in favour of the other line proposed that it affords to Australia a good means of communication with India and China, with which countries the Australian colonies are likely to have much commercial intercourse. — I have, Sec, (Signed) B. Hawes.