New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, April 7, 1849.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 384, 7 April 1849, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, April 7, 1849.

We have extracted from the New Zealander a despatch from Lord Grey to the Governorin Chief, in which his Lordship seriously proposes the introduction into New Zealand of convicts, under the denomination of ticket-of- leave men, if the colonists should be willing to receive them. This proposal appears to have been made to the Governors of the different adjacent colonies, and to have arisen out of the different experiments connected with prison discipline now in progress, and the daily increasing difficulty experienced by the Home Government in disposing of convicts, coupled with the urgent demand which exists in the different colonies for additional labour. Earl Grey's proposal is a direct appeal to the selfish interests of the colonists. Assuming the great want of the colonists to be additional labour, he supposes this want to be so pressing that the colonists would be ready to make any sacrifice to obtain relief. He therefore proposes that, if the colonists are willing to receive a certain number of convicts as ticket-of-leave men, they wilt obtain the advantage of this supply of labour, with the probable addition of a number of emigrants whose passage is to be defrayed by the fund arising from the repayment by the convicts of the cost of their removal, or this sum may be spent in any other manner suitable to the peculiar circumstances of the colony; and he points with great complacency to Port Phillip as a favourable instance of the beneficial working of tiiis plan. It is sufficient to say that in every colony in which this proposal has been made it has been universally scouted. The article we have quoted from the Sydney Morning Herald will show the abhorrence with which this threatened pollution is regarded in that cidevant penal colony. They have hardly been emancipated from their former degradation when a worse evil threatens to befal them. The most cursory perusal of the Port Phillip Journals will convince any one that the introduction of exiles or Pentonvillians, or by whatever other designation these convicts are known, is regarded by the settlers of that colony as a positive unmitigated evil, while the great increase of crime shows , the great additional expence to which the colony is subjected in which this experiment

has been made. And if so great a repugnance is entertained to this plan in penal colonies, with whatffeelings of aversion should we regard this threatened violation of the positive pledges which have been given that convicts should not be introduced Into New Zealand. All the arguments used in other colonies against Lord Grey's plan apply with still greater force here. We have not only the European but the native population to defend from this contamination. The British Government have but just succeeded in suppressing formidable disturbances in both Provinces in New Zealand ; the presence of a large armed force is absolutely indispensable ; all the energy, all the ability of Sir George Grey is required to maintain peace and promote civilization amongst the native race, and notwithstanding all these efforts, Lord Grey with a species of infatuation and folly almost inconceivable, does not hesitate to neutralize and destroy all that has been done for their moral improvement or social advancement by the proposed introduction of these missionaries of crime and social disorder. We trust his proposal will be unanimously rejected with indignation, that the settlers of New Zealand will lose no time in expressing their sense of this gratuitous insult. We hope the Governor-in-Chief will inform Lord Grey of the serious dangers likely to result from his indulgence in these absurd crotchets, and that the New Zealand Company, which has always held out as an inducement to intending immigrants the superiority of New Zealand over the neighbouring penal colonies in the absence of convicts — which has taken so much pains in founding religious settlements, wjll assist the colonists in their efforts to avert from these shores this moral pestilence.

H.M.S. Fly, Captain Oliver, arrived on Thursday morning 1 from Auckland, having made a remarkably quick passage of four days and six hours. We believe the Fly will sail for Sydney towards the end of next week via Nelson. We have received Auckland papers to the 31st inst., but they do not contain any local news of interest. The first exhibition had taken place of the Auckland Agricultural and Horticultural Society which appears to have given great satisfaction. His Excellency the Governor- in - Chief was among the successful competitors having obtained a prize for grape ' wine. The Court Martial on Captain C. H. M. Smith, of the corps of.' Pensioners, had terminated in his honourable acquittal. »

We are informed that we were in error in stating that the schooner Rose was presented to Epuni by Sir George Grey. The vessel was purchased by Epuni, and we gladly take the opportunity, in correcting our mistake, to relate the circumstances connected with the purchase, which are equally honourable to the parties concerned,' and which we believe are as , follows : — When Epuni was at Auckland he was desirous of purchasing the schogner, but was nqt prepared to pay the purchase money, down, which amounted to three hund-ed and eighty pounds. In this emergency Sir George Grey offered to endorse Epuni's bill at a short date, for the purchase of the vessel, thus rendering himself liable for the amount in the event^of Epuni's not taking up the bill. The bill was obligingly cashed by the Rev. W. Lawrj, and on Epani's return from Auckland the money was duly paid by him to the Rev. J. Watkin.

Programme of the performance by the Band of the 65th .Regiment, at Thorndon Flat, on Tuesday, the 10th April : — 1. Overture — La Gazza Ladra Rostini 2. Barcarole — Orche in Cielo — Ma-1 ~ . „. rinoFaliero JDonmzetU 3. Swiss Quadrille Jullien 4. Pot Pouri — Tancredi Rossini 5. Jenny Lind Waltz Koenig 6. Song—" The White Squall" 7. Galop Heryt 8. Jupiter Polka ". Koenig