New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, February 6, 1850.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 471, 6 February 1850, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, February 6, 1850.

A book has been recently published by the Government of the Statistics of this Province from 1841 to 1848, in a series of forty-three tables or returns. These returns are classed under six divisions, namely, population ; the occupation and profession of the population ; production, consumption, and accumulation; interchange; revenue^nd expenditure; and moral condition. They have been prepared with great care by the Colonial Secretary, and are introduced by a Memorandum, also, from

his pen which, in a concise but perspicuous manner, explains the different divisions of the work and supplies such additional general information that we have republished it entire in our present number, from a desire of giving it a more extensive circulation. These returns are, in fact, an epitome of the history of the Province during the last eight years, compiled from the most authentic sources. They trace its growth from the founding of the first settlement, and show the different vicissitudes it has experienced, and supply an accumulation of facts of the most useful kind connected with its early progress and social condition. And having this guide it will be comparatively easy to mark the future improvement and advancement of the Province by a reference to the facts which it contains. We shall take an early opportunity, by a derailed examination of the different subdivisions, of' laying before our readers such a further account as will embrace most of the particulars not included in the Memorandum now published, but the length to which it extends precludes us from entering further on the subject upon the present occasion.

Robberies. — Several robberies have been committed within the last few days. On Saturday morning, while the clerk of the Paymaster of the 65th Regt. was at his breakfast, some person or persons obtained admittance to the office during his absence by breaking open the back door, a writing desk belonging to the clerk was forced open andseventy- four sovereigns, the amount of his savings, and other articles stolen. On Monday the colour-sergeant of the Grenadier Company of the 65th regt., was robbed of between forty and fifty pounds belonging to the Company. The above robberies are supposed to have been committed by soldiers. On Monday night the policeman in charge of the Stockade near the Hutt Bridge, having occasian to leave his house for a short time, found on his return that some thieves had broken in during his absence and stolen a purse containing £5 15s. and other articles.

On Saturday as a person of the name o Andrew GreeD, was driving his horse and cart up the Kai Warra road, by the side of the dam of Mr. Schultze's Mill, on reaching a narrow and steep part of the road at a considerable elevation above the dam, the horse from some cause or other became restive and unmanageable, and leaving the road, rolled with the cart, which was loaded with goods, down the steep side of the hill, and fell into the water, and was drowned before any assistance could be rendered.

A meeting of the Magistrates of the district was held on Monday, at the Resident Magistrate's office, to consider the propriety of bringing into operation the Town Roads and Streets Ordinance, passed during the last session of the Provincial Legislative Council. The following Magistrates were present : — A. Domett, Esq., Colonial Secretary, D. Wakefield, Esq., Attorney General, Hon. H. Petre, Colonial Treasurer, H. St. Hill, Esq.; Resident Magistrate, Wellington, Major Durie, Resident Magistrate, Waikanae, Major Baker, Messrs. Hort, Fitzherbert, Fox, and Kelham.. An opposition on political grounds was offered by Messrs. Fitzherbert, Fox and Kelham, and although the majority of Magistrates present were in favour of the Ordinance being brought into operation, yet, being chiefly officers of the Government, they refrained from pressing the measure, which consequently fell to the ground. The Town Roads Ordinance gives power to the rate payers, the owners or occupiers of lands or houses within the town, to make and keep in repair the roads and streets of the town and to effect other improvements by means of a rate not exceeding sixpence in the pound on the nett annual value of the property rated, the authority for making improvements, &c, being vested in Commissioners to be elected by the rate payers. That such a measure would have a beneficial effect there can be little doubt, and we think the majority of rate payers would gladly see the Ordinance in operation, as nothing short of a rate raised by legal enactment will supply the necessary funds for making these improvements. Should this be the case, we would suggest that a memorial signed by the rate payers be presented to the Magistrates requesting them, in the terms of the Ordinance, to forward to the Lieutenant Governor a requisition to bring the provisions of the Ordinance into operation in Wellington.

Cbicket. — Yesterday a match was played on Thorndon Flat between eleven from H. M. S. Havannah and the Staff at Wellington, against eleven of H, M. 65th Regiment.*

The Havaniiahs played under great disadvantage in consequence of one of their best players (Lieut. Payne) being ill, and another being left behind in Sydney. This may perhaps account for the small number of runs made by them in the first innings. The weather was very favourable, being a' fine summer's day with very little wind. The game was well contested on both sides and was won by the Havannahs, the 65th Regt. making 69 runs in the first and 65 in the second innings; the Havannahs and Staff scoring 74 runs (including 45 byes) in the first and 62 in the second innings, winning by two runs with five wickets to go down. We must defer the particulars of the score to our next number. We understand the return match between the Wellington Club, (the same eleven that played on the last occasion) and the 65th Regt., comes off on Thursday (to-morrow) at Thorndon.

Programme of the performance of the Band of the 65th Regt., at Thorndon Flat, on Wednesday, February 6th :—: — ' -1. Overture — Haydce Auber • 2. Selection — I Lombmrdi Verdi 3. Massaniello Quadrille Jullien 4. Duetto — Alma Rcgina Golgonda . . ..Donizetti 5. The Fuchsia Valse Barret 6. German Polonaise Walch 7. Galop Walch 8. Trumpet Polka Koenig

Wellington, Ist February, 1850. Spirits and Tobacco under bond tbis day, viz. Brandy 8541 gali. Rum 18,820 . . Gin 5769 .. Whisky 857 .. Tobacco, manufactured 25,208 lbs. „ unmanufactured 1450 . . Cigars 1228.. Snuff 144 ..