New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, February 12, 1848.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 265, 12 February 1848, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, February 12, 1848.

By the kelson Examiner we learn the appointment of Mr. Domett to the office of Colonial Secretary, and Mr. Fox to that of Attorney- General for the Southern Province of New Zealand. These appointments will commend themselves by their fitness to the general approbation. Both gentlemen are favourably known by their abilities, and they have always taken a leading part in the different public questions which at different times have agitated the community. Step by step the changes consequent upon the proclamation of the New Constitution are slowly developing themselves, so far as the appointment of different persons to official situations is concerned, but any information on the measures in which the settlers are most interested is withheld, they still remain ignorant of the practical details- by which the machinery of Government is to be moved ; the note of preparation indeed is sounded, but it gives an 1 uncertain sound. It is probable that this state of uncertainty and doubt will remain until the return of the Governor from his excursion round the Southern Island, and we must endeavour to restrain the natural impatience these repeated delays are calculated to excite, but they afford too reasonable cause for dissatisfaction ; we have the promise of self-government, but no measures are adopted to give it effect ; no intimation is afforded of the nature of the proposed arrangements, nor any opportunity given by which the settlers night express their opinion respecting them. According to our' present slow rate of .progression, three months will probably elapse from the time the Constitution' was proclaimed before this information is vouchsafed, or any steps taken in earnest to carry out the New stitution. One of the consequences of these repeated delays will be in effect an illegal appropriation of the revenue. Half the year will be

consumed before the requisite arrangements are made for defining the boundaries of the Province with the necessary sub-divisions, &c, and the municipalities are allowed to exercise their functions ; — in the meantime the expenses of the Government must be provided for without any legislative appropriation of the revenue, a course so at variance with all acknowledged constitutional principles, that if it be for this sole reason, we trust on his return from the South His Excellency will by increased exertions make amends for past delays, and not leave the Southern Province until the New Constitution has something more than a mere official existence.

By the Australian we learn that Captain Stokes, late of H.M.S. Beagle had been appointed to the steam-sloop Acheron, for the purpose of surveying the coast of New Zealand.

Sale of Stock. — At Messrs. J. Smith & Co.'s sale of Stock per Raymond, on Thursday, the heifers averaged £7 a head, and were sold mostly in small lots to different purchasers.

Races. — A pending match between Mr. Suisted's Timor pony Bobby and Mr.Asher's grey filly, for £10, once round the new coarse at Burnham Water, came off on Wednesday afternoon. Young Nicol rode Bobby, and Master Jones the grey filly. At starting Bobby took the lead, and kept it, winning by about a hundred and fifty yards. 'Several other races were afterwards got up on the spot, to make up the afternoon's amusements, and test the qualities of the animals on the ground : the most interesting was that between Mr. St. Hill's Little Pickle, Mr. J. Dorset's Phormium Tenax, Mr. J. M. Taylor's Bullet Eye, and Mr. Jones's bay mare, • once round the course, which was won by Mr. St. Hill's Little Pickle. A match was then got up between Bullet Eye and Phormium Tenax, once round the course for five pounds, which was won easily by Bullet Eye.

Programme of the Performance by the Band of the 65th Regiment at Thorndon Flat, on Tuesday, the 15th February : — 1. Overture— Zampa Herold. 2. Grand selection — Daughter of St. "I £ a if e Mark J 3. British Navy Quadrille Jullien. 4. Grand selection — I Lombardi .... Verdi. 5. Hyacinth Waltz Koenig. 6. Grand selection — The Bondman . . Balfe. 7. Gallopade Mohr. 8. The American Polka Jullien