New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, May 2, 1849.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume V, Issue 391, 2 May 1849, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, May 2, 1849.

It will be rergg mbered that one pi the ar- | guments on which Lord Grey most strongly .relies,.in hisj-ecently published despatch to his Excellency the Gaverhor-in-Chief proposing the introduction of convicts into New Zealand, is the success of the experiment in the neighbouring colony of Port Phillip, and the satisfaction experienced" by the settlers there, as decisive evidence in its favour. In looking over a file of Port Phillip papers recently received, we we,re struck with the 'strong contradiction they ( offer to this ,statemiHSt, which evinces on the part of the noble Xord a lamentable ignorance and want of information as to the real state of public feeling in that colony with regard to this question. The resolutions passed at a very large public meeting at Melbourne, which we have republished, show that the settlers there, after having experienced its evil effects, are most violently opposed to this plan ; while the records of the last criminal Sessions held at Melbourne offer the most instructive evidence of the nature of the reformation effected by the previous probation of these convicts. ' Out of 49 prisoners put on their, trial, 13 were free, and 36 were exiles and expirees ! It is not without reason that the Port Phillip settlers express themselves so strongly on this subject, while we c jn New Zealand have still greater reason to fear the evil consequences of Lord Grey's plan, not only, on our own account, but also on that of the native inhabitants.

In consequence of a challenge given by the owner of Pirate, a match, came off on Saturday afternoon, at four o'clock, between Lieutenant Gordon's grey horse Rubens, and Mr. Lyall's Pirate, for 100 guineas aside, heats once round tb,e Burnham Water Course. In spite of the rain, and a southeast gale, a tolerably good field assembled to witness the race. Rubens took the lead at starting, and kept it throughout both heats, winning the first by about 150, yards, and the second by about 300 yards, thus proving Rubens to be by far the best horse. Rubens was ridden by Rowett, and Pirate by Grimaldi.

Qcantiiy of rain fallen during the month of April, 1849, 8 in. 3 tenths.