New Zealand Spectator AND COOK’S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, February 26, 1851.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 581, 26 February 1851, Page 2

New Zealand Spectator AND COOK’S STRAIT GUARDIAN. Wednesday, February 26, 1851.

By the Maria Josephine which arrived yesterday from Nelson, we received Nelson Examiners to the 15th instant, but they do not contain any news of local importance. His Excellency the Governor-in-Chief arrived there on the 13th instant, and had experienced from the settlers a most cordial reception. By private letters we are in-

formed that it was the intention of the settlers to give a public dinner to his Excellency. The Hon. A. Dillon had been appointed Commissioner of Crown Lands at Nelson, and Mr. Dillon Bell Commissioner of Crown Lands at Wellington, and it was rumoured that Major Richmond would proceed in some official capacity to Auckland. It was believed that his Excellency would leave Nelson on the 25th instant (yesterday) for Wellington.

The Salacia arrived on Monday evening, after a passage of fifteen days from Sydney, with a cargo of stock, which we understand are in excellent condition for landing, Mr. Sidey having, from his experience and judicious arrangements in shipping, brought them down with very trifling loss. The Salacia proceeds with the first change of wind to Canterbury.

Last Saturday’s Independent gave palpable signs of the loss it has sustained by Mr. Fox’s departure from the colony. Instead of the voluble and flippant tirades which used to appear in that paper when under his control, in the shape of leading' articles, a short paragraph of some dozen lines about the arrival of the Governor’s despatches was all it could muster for this service. The size of the paper too is curtailed of its former proportions, (four columns less than the previous number) being only five columns wide instead of six. In short, as a bladder filled with wind collapses from the effects of a small puncture, so the Independent's tumid proportions have, since the defection of their former patron and chief, shrunk within a very much smaller compass. It exhibits strong symptoms of decline, until, in the words of Colman—• by weekly succession Its weakly condition is past all expression.

By the Salacia Sydney papers have been received to the 7th inst., containing English news to the end of October, numerous extracts of which will be found in our present number. The Woodstock arrived in England 10th October. The Cornelia was advertized to sail the middle of November for Wellington, and a vessel was laid on for Auckland and Wellington. Among the local intelligence we deeply regret to learn the dangerous illness of Mr. Sea, Manager of the Union Bank of Australia, who is still favorably remembered in this settlement for his kind and conciliating manners. This -will hasten the departure of Mr. Fletcher, the Inspector, now on a visit to this settlement, who returns immediately to Sydney.

We can only at present acknowledge the receipt of the recent numbers of the Lyttelton Times, from which we have made several extracts. The Bishop of New Zealand arrived at Lyttelton on the 15th inst., from the Auckland Islands. His Lordship intended to visit the Chatham Islands before returning to Wellington.

Programme of the performance of the Band of the 65th Regt., at Thorndon Flat, on Wednesday, February 26 : — 1. Overture—Des Puritaines Bousquet 2. Selection—l due Foscari Verdi 3. The Scotch Medley Quadrilles .... Waddell 4. Cavatina—Di Piacerme balza il cor .Rossini 6. Valse—A Deux Temps Jullien. 6. Troop—“ When cold in the Earth*’ Dr Stevenson 7. The Eclipse Polka Koenig