New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, February 23, 1850.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 476, 23 February 1850, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, February 23, 1850.

The recent notices in the London Journals relative to Steam communication between the different settlements of New Zealand shew that this question, of such vital importance to the prosperity of the colony, is at length receiving the consideration in England which it deserves. It is almost a matter cf ' surprise that it has not been previously agitated by the Absentees, who are best able to bring it to a satisfactory issue. The colonists are deeply sensible of its value and importance and are quite ready to co-operate in giving effect to any plan which may be adopted, but they have neither the capital nor facilities for carrying out by their own unaided means & plan for local steam communication. We may be excused if we confess we are not quite so sanguine as the Nelson Examiner as to the prospect of the immediate fulfilment of our wishes, since we are reminded, by previous experience, of the numerous plans originated to promote the prosperity of the colony which have never received any practical development. But if the Absentees, who have so large a stake in the colony, will only do as much as has been done by the Local Government, if they will guarantee to any Company willing to enter into the engagement a sum equal to that which the Local Government have promised to give, we may feel confident that the time cannot be far distant, when New Zealand will possess this powerful means of advancement. By the introduction of steam the Absentees will insure the best means of communication at the cheapest rate, and by their voluntary contributions will not only confer an immediate additional value to their country lands, but possibly defer for an indefinite period the imposition of a land tax to defray the expense of internal communication.

The New Building of the Mechanics' Institute is so far advanced that we understand in the course of a few weeks it will be opened for the use of the members. We believe it is intended to give due eclat to the opening of this Institution, which we are glad to find is in a prosperous and flourishing condition.

In- our, last number, we inadvertently described Mr. E. G. Wakefield's communication to be his third letter to Mr. H. Petre. Although this is the third letter of Mr. Wakefield's onjColonial Politic? published in the Local Journals, it is only the second of the series addressed by him to Mr. Fetre. The title page of the pamphlet forwarded to us is " The Southern Colonies : Their Municipal Annexation, or their National Independence : Jn a Letter from Mr. Edward Gibbon Wakefield to Mr. Henry Petre."

Yesterday's Government Gazette contains a Proclamation extending to Otago the Fro* visions of the following Ordinances : — the Raupo Ordinance, the Cattle Trespass Ordinance, the Dog Nuisance Ordinance, and the Constabulary Force Ordinance, — three quarterly returns for 1849, by the Registrar of the Supreme Court of the Southern Province, of the Estates of Deceased Peisons Intestate, and the return of the Revenue and Expenditure of Wellington for the Quarter ending 31st December, 1849. The Revenue of the last Quarter exceeds that of the previous Quarter by £1241 Us. Bd., the total ordinary Revenue for the Quarter ending September 30, being £2928 17s. Bd. and that for the Quarter ending December 31st, being £4170 9s. 4d. The Report on the Colonial Hospital and Miscellaneous Notices will be found in our fourth page.

Cricket. — On Thursday a match was played on Thorndon flat between the Wellington Cricket Club and the Garrison. The weather was not very favourable, the play being interrupted by frequent heavy showers. The Garrison scored 109 runs in the Ist innings, and 87 in the 2nd innings. The Wellington Club scored 63 in their Ist innings, but as there was not time to finish the game, it was deferred to another opportunity. We believe the game will be played out on Tuesday, when the Wellington Club will go in for their second innings, their opponents being 133 runs ahead of them.