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New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 585, 12 March 1851, Page 2

By the Pioneer we have received the first number of the Otago Witness, a new paper intended, we suppose, to supply the place in that settlement of ‘the Otago News, which was discontinued at rhe end of last year. The Witness is under the management of an Editorial Committee, and is printed with the types used in the publication of .its pre-

decessor. As far as may be judged from the number before us, the Witness appears to be in the hands of the party connect d with the Free Church Association, The only information of local interest which it contains is the quarterly statement of the revenue and expenditure of the settlement, which shews a balance in its favom ; the expenditure for the quarter ending 30th December, 1850, being £566 : 1: J, the revenue £6OB : 8 : 3 ; in addition to which the sum of £390 was received from Wellington in notes of the Colonial Bank of Issue in exchange for specie. Among the advertisements we observe a notice calling a meeting for the purpose of forming a Horticultural Society.

By recent arrivals from Port Victoria we have received the Lyttelton Times to Mai ch Ist. The selection of the land by the first body of colonists had proceeded as far as No. 106. The Isabella Heercut arrived on the Ist March with 190 emigrants ; the English mail by this vessel lor Wellington was forwarded by the postmaster oy the Katherine Johnstone, which has gone on to Wanganui, although the Fly and Twins have both arrived direct from Port Victoria within the last few days. The Lyttelton Times, in professing to describe the late public meetings of Wellington gives such an unfair and false account of them as tobetray the influence by which it is directed. After explaining that “ without actual knowledge of the state of parties in Wellington, it would be difficult to gather from the public press how the population were really divided on the question of ! Government,” the writer goes on to assert | that he believes, “ having made the enquiry, i that the whole of the respectable, educated and best part of the community, are unanimously in favour of the report of the Committee ; and that the report is only opposed by those who are recipients or expectants of Government patronage.” It is plain the editor cannot have received his information from any trustworthy source, since no one who was in the slightest degree acquainted with the state of public opinion in Wellington could honestly arrive at such conclusions, or impose them on another for facts without wilfully attempting to deceive him. The memorials presented to Sir George Grey and the signatures they bear sufficiently attest the state of public feeling, and clearly shew that “the respectable, educated, and best part of the community” are evidently opposed to the report of the “persons calling themselves the Constitutional Association.” There is an evident desire on the part of those who have the direction of the Lyttelton Times to introduce in the newly formed Settlement some of the leaven which has created so many divisions and done so much mis Chief here, but from the cautious way in which' the attemptis made, it seems tolerably clear that such views are opposed to the good sense and right feeling of the community.

We have recently had an opportunity of seeing a picture by Mr. Barraud, representing the encampment, in the Horokiwi, of the advanced picket of the force, composed of militia, armed police, and friendly natives of Wellington and Petoni, which, under the command of Mr. M'Donogh, crossed from the Hutt in 1846, and took Ranghihaeata’s pa at Pauhatahanui. The scene represents a turning in the road down which, in the middle distance, a party of stragglers is observed advancing. The figures in the foreground are divided into two principal groups; on the right Mr. M'Donogh and Mr. D. Scott, the leaders of the party, are conversing with ETako, who is dressed in a native mat, and holds a meri in his hand ; in the opposite corner of the picture the bivouac fire is lighted, round which a group of militia and native police are collected, some seated on a log smoking, others engaged preparing the evening meal, while precautions are adopted to guard against surprise, by posting native sentinels. On the hills in the distance is introduced the spot occupied by Rangihaeata when he made his last stand against the attack by the troops, and other forces, under the command of Major Last. The groups are skilfully disposed, and well balanced; and the portraits of Mr. M*Donogh, Mr. Scott, E Pako, and other persons introduced, are easily recognized from the striking resemblance they bear to the originals. The picture is a commission by His Excellency Sir George Grey, and is a very spirited and faithful representation of one of those stirring scenes of excitement which have now happily given place to more peaceful times.