New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, August 7, 1850.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VI, Issue 523, 7 August 1850, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, August 7, 1850.

The Gazette published on Monday contains a long Despatch from Earl Grey the Secretary for the Colonies to the Governor-in-Chief relating to the Government of this Colony which, from its great importance, we have reprinted for the information of our readers. In it Lord Grey entirely approves and confirms the measures adopted by the Governor- in- Chief, and fully concurs in the views and proposals of the latter respecting the future introduction of Representative Institutions. The opinions and views expressed in this Despatch have been so fully confirmed by Lord John Russell's speech on the Australian colonies Bill as to preclude the probability of any intention on the part of the British Government to introduce Representative Institutions in the Colony before the expiration of the five years for which the Constitution is suspended. There are two points on which Lord Grey dwells with great emphasis, and which it is important the settlers should carefully bear in mind : First, that whenever the Grant of a Representative Government is given to the Colony, " it must be considered as its indispensable accompaniment that the Mothercountry should soon be relieved from all charge on account of the Civil Administration of the Colony and from a very large portion of the burthen of its military protection." Secondly, that before the settlements of Otago and New Canterbury are established as separate Provinces from that in which they are now included, they should be able to defray the expenses of their Government without assistance either from the Parliamentary Grant or from the revenue of the older Provinces. The Gazette contains a notification of the Royal confirmation of the Provincial Legislative Councils Ordinance and of the appointment of the nonofficial Members of the Council. Tenders are advertised for building or letting to the Government a building for

a Hospital. The amount of notes of the Colonial Bank of Issue in circulation in the four weeks ending the 27th July, 1850, was £2,139. There is also a very interesting account by Capt. Mitchell of his journey from the Nelson District to the Port Cooper Plains, which we intend republishing in our next number.

Melancholy Accident. — On Saturday last as two of Mr. Stilling* s sons, the elder about twelve years and the younger about eight years old, were crossing the Hutt from their father's farm to the opposite side of the river, the canoe in which they were seated when near the middle of the stream was upset, and the younger boy was unfortunately drowned. The other was saved by clinging to the canoe. There was a strpng freshet in the river at the time the accident occurred. We understand that up to Monday evening the efforts made to discover the body of the poor youth who has met with so untimely an end had proved unavailing.

By a reference, to the advertisement it will be found that an alteration has been made in the arrangement of the programme of Lectures to be delirered at the Athenaeum, and that the Lecture tomorrow evening will be delivered b) Mr. Marshman.

We regret to report the total wreck of the small schooner Agnes Hay during the southeast gale at the end of June, all hands saved. We fear there is also every reason to believe that the Carbon was lost in the same gale, as she left Wellington about nine weeks ago for Ahuriri, and has not since been heard of. The following is an extract of a letter from Castle Point : — " A fore-and-aft schooner was seen off here on Sunday, the 30th June, about 11 o'clock, and was tacking about till dusk, when it fell calm. About midnight the wind came from the South East and blew very heavy; next morning two hatches and some pieces of plank were picked up about Tuingara. It is supposed that after dark the vessel stood out to sea, and when the South Easter came on she drove before it round Cape Turnagain, where she must have foundered as it blew with such violence that it was almost impossible for any small vessel to stand against it. A hatch of the following description has been picked up by the natives: — About 2 feet 6 inches square, made of % inch cedar boards, painted red inside and black out, had been hung on hinges, and fastened down with a small iron rod and staple."