New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, December 21, 1850.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 562, 21 December 1850, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator, AND COOK'S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Saturday, December 21, 1850.

We hope, among other good results attendant on the ensuing session of the Legislative Council, we may number the publication of the Statistics of the Southern Province for the years 1849-50, in continuation of those published by the Government to the close of the year 1848. These returns, in effect, are an epitome of the history of the progress of Province, compiled from the most accurate sources of information, and published on the best authority. Every year, from the formation of new settlements and the increase of population in those already established, these returns become more valuable as shewing" the gradual increase of the European population, and the amount of wealth from the increase of stock, and increased exports the fruit of increased production. These tables are also useful in shewing the gradual spread of the settlers in the country districts, from the increased agricultural produce and the number of stations that have been formed ; they represent, in the returns of wool lashing, prepared flax, maori grown wheat and other native produce, the increasing civilization of the natives, and the increased wealth of the country resulting from their labour. They are useful as convenient points from which we may judge of the improvements, and additions made to the material wealth of the colony, just as in a long journey the traveller at stated resting places delights to look back on the country over which he has travelled, and compare the distance passed, and. the difficulties overcome, with those which yet lay before him on his onward progress while he recruits his energies for renewed efforts. But these returns are valuable in another point of view ; they complete the history of the half centurj now drawing fast to a close, and memorable to the settlers of this Province, among other incidents, for the dissolution of the New Zealand Company. The statistics of the Province to the end of the present year terminate its history in connection with the Company. The returns of future years will afford the settlers an opportunity of forming an honest judgment of what they have gained by the change ; and we feel strongly persuaded that the history of the next ten years, in comparison with those which have just passed, will be remarkable for the rapid advancement of the colony in prosperity and wealth, and the great increase of its European population, the more rapid in having been , freed from this impediment to its progress.

A specimen of the skull of the Moa in a very perfect state of preservation has been discovered by Mr. Hunt, on the bank of a stream at Motanau in the Southern Island, and has been brought by him to Wellington. The skeleton of the bird is imbedded in the cliff by the side of the stream, a portion of which falling away, has exposed the bones, some of which are sticking out of the bank a considerable height above the level of the stream. With some difficulty the whole skeleton might be obtained. The skull must have belonged to a bird of the largest size.

We are requested to remind the members of the Horticultural Society that the next Exhibition will take place on Monday following, the 23rd inst.. The day fixed by the Committee is as near to Christmas as circumstances will permit, an arrangement which obtained last year, and which was found to have the effect of insuring a very good exhibition.

Cricket. — In last Saturday's Spectator we gave a general account of the match played on the previous Thursday between the 65th Regt., and the civilians with Mr. Wood of the Commissariat, and Mr. Hamley of the Ordnance. The return match was played on Thursday last, and we now offer, together with the score, a few observations on both matches. In the first match the play upon the whole was very fair, although the fielding on the side of the civilians, from their not having practised together, was not so good as we have seen it. The bowling of Greenwood, on the side of the military, and that of Clout, on the side of the civilians, was remarkably good throughout. There was also some very good batting by both parties, as will be seen by the scores obtained. This match was commenced on Thursday the 12th, and was supposed to have been won by the civilians, but on comparing the score papers, an error of ten runs was discovered, and it was agreed that it should be played out on the 19th, previous to the return match ; the 10 runs were easily obtained, and the game terminated in favour of the civilians, with four wickets to spare. The return match then commenced by the civilians going in first, who succeeded in obtaining a small score, owing to the excellent bowling of Greenwood and Copestake. The military headed the first innings by 14 runs ; in the second innings the civilians left their opponents only 35 runs to go in against, and the last man was in when the game terminated in favor of the military, with one wicket to spare. The bowling of Messrs. Wood and Clout, and the fielding of the whole side in this innings was excellent. The game throughout created a great deal of interest, especially towards its close, being the best contested one we have seen for some time. We understand the conquering match will be played on Thursday the 2nd January next, when, from a change being made in respect to some of the players, a good game may be expected.

FIRST MATCH. DECEMBER 12. MILITARY, 65TH. REGT. First Innings. Private M'Veigh c. Valentine b. Wood 11 Corporal Barker run out .....15 Private Copestake c. Val-ntine b. Wood 1 1 Private Greenwood c. Valentine b. Wood 2 Ensign Barton run out 2 Private Hanson b. Clout 5 Lieutenant Thelvrall b. Clout 4 Sergeant Purcell nol out 12 Private Carty b Clout 6 Private G'lling b. Clout 3 Sergeant Warren b. Wood ; 9 Byes 6 Total first innings 86 Second Innings. Frivate M'Veigh b. Wood 2 Corporal Barker b. Wood 7 Private Copestake b. Clout 0 Private Greenwood c. Deighton b. Wood 26 Ensign Barton run out 0 Private Hanion b. Wood 7 Lieutenant Thelwall c. Valentine b. Wood 7 Sergeant Purcell b. Clout 2 Private Carty c. Wood h. Clout 10 Private Gilling run out 8 Sergeant Warren not out 7 Byes 3 Total second innings 79 CIVILIANS AND GARRISON. First Innings. Hamley c. M'Veigh b. Copestake 0 Pringle run out 3 Clout b. Greenwood 7 Wood b. Greenwood 0 Winteringham b. Copeitake 0 Herbert run out 0 Deighton c. CopesUke, b. Greenwood 6 Valentine run out 0 Petr« run out 1 Wodehouse c Copestake, b. Copestake 0 Raymond not out «. .«. . 8 Byes 34 Wide Balls 6 No Balls 0 Total first innings 55 Second Innings. Hamley b. Copettake 21 Pringle not out 0 Clout run out 3 Wood b. Greenwood .22 Herbert run out 2 Deighton not out 4 Valentine run out 7 Raymond c. Copestake b. Greenwood 4 Byes - 39 Wide Ball 1 Total second inning* 103 SECOND MATCH. DECEMBER 19. CIVILIANS AND GARRISON. First Innings. Deighton b. Greenwood 6 Pnngle c Carty b. Copestake : 5 Herbert c . Greenwood b. Copestake 0 Wood run out 5 Winteringham b. Greenwood 4 Hamley c. Copestake b. Greenwood 16 Clout b. Greenwood 1 Valentine b. Copestake 0 Smith not out 1 Raymond c. Greenwood b. Copestake S Wodehouse run out „.,., 0 Byes » Legßyei 0 Wide Balls 1 Total first innings 50

Second innings. Defgl>to n b. Greenwood 3 Fi-ingle b. Copestake c. Gilhng 3 Herbert run out 6 Wood b. Copestake 11 Winteringham c. Copestake b. Greenwood .... 0 Hamley b. Copestake 3 Clout c. Barker b. CopesUke 0 Valentine run out 6 Smithrunout o Raymond not out 1 Wodehouse b. Copestake 0 Byes 8 Leg Byes 3 Wide Balls 2 Total second innings. ..46 MILITARY, 65TH REGT. First Innings. Private M'Veigh. b. Clout 0 Private Phillips not out 31 Corporal Barker c. Valentine b. Clout 0 Private Greenwood b Wood 4 Private Copestake c. Wood b. Wood 0 Ensign Barton b. Clout 4 Lieutenant Thelwall b. Clout 0 Private Hanson c. Valentine b Wood 4 Private Gilling b. Wood 7 Private Carty b. Clout 3 Sergeant Warren b. Clout 5 Byes 6 Total first innings 64 Second Innings. Private M'Veigh b. Clout 0 Private Phillips stumped by Hamley 5 Corporal Barker b. Wood 12 Private Greenwood run out 0 Private Copestake stumped by Hamley / Ensign Barton b. Wood 0 Lieutenant Thelw all b. Wood 0 Private Hanson run out 1 Private GiUmg not out 6 Private Carty run out . . .~ 1 -Sergeant Warren not out 0 Byes 2 Legßyes 1 Total i econd innings ... 35