NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Saturday, June 5, 1852.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 714, 5 June 1852, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Saturday, June 5, 1852.

In the numbers of the Lyitelton Times recently received we observe it is positively stated that the " design of sending out Mr. Fox, as Agent of the Association, has been abandoned, that the Association has been saved from the-conse-quences of this false step, and that Mr. Godley will continue to fill that office." We have extracted a letter from Mr. Godley, published in tne Lyttelton Times of the 29 th ult., explaining the reason which induced that gentleman to resign his office of Agent, and the motives which have subsequently caused him to reconsider that step, and to continue to hold it. Without entering into detail it is evident from what appears in the Lyttelton Times, coupled with information from other sources, that whatever impression Mr. Fox may have succeeded in making on a few of the members of the Association, the great majority of that body view him with suspicion and distrust, and repudiate any connection with him. But a still stronger reason is to be found in the fact that the days of the Association itself are numbered, or to use Mr. Godley's inflated expression " the, Canterbury Association is pledged to an immediate abdication of its anomalous powers," and therefore, whatever anxiety Mr. Fox may feel for slipping into a snug berth,- he would speculate on a longer tenure of office than the existence of the Association is likely to hold out to him. The members of the Association feel, in fact, the perfect failure of their original scheme, "no revival has taken place in the sale of land;" emigrants and their money are not so easily_.parted as to. give three, pounds an acre at Canterbury, when land of equal value in older settlements in the Colony is to be had for one third the price. It is rather amusing to read the flourish of what they propose doing for the Canterbury Settlement, how the Committee intend transferring " their functions to the provincial Government about to be constituted," just as misers calculate on the good they will do, by the disposition of property, which during their lifetime they never turned to any good account, as far as society was concerned ; " And after death would fain atone By giving what is not their own." A letter from Mr Brittan is published in the Times on the late meetings' at, Christchurch and Lyttelton, for the purpose of forming a Society of the Colonists, to which we alluded in a former number, in which he expresses his belief that "notwithstanding much laboured effect to get

up an artificial excitement, the great body of the community cared little, if anything about the movement; that they were very well satisfied to allow matters to go on as they- were ; - that they considered the general interests of the settlement were sufficiently "well looked after, and that they were not disposed to join any society for the mere purpose .of political agitation, when they we're suffering from no very great present hardships, or immediate political grievances." This is sufficiently plain, and on sufficiently good authority. We have made a few extracts of late English n§ws from the Lyttelton Times, including >a -paragraph, referring to the proceedings of the Canterbury Association. ,

We are informed that the Fair Tasmanian had arrived at New Plymouth with a cargo of ] 000 sheep, on 1 the 29th ult. after a quick passage of six days; and will probably come on to this port.

Pkivate letters from Hobart Town state that in consequence of <the extensive exports of provisions, ao 4 .other < articles of general consumption to Melbourne, to supply the gold diggers, prices-- were very high. Butter is quoted at Hobart Town at 2s. 2d. to 2s. 6d. per lb. ; meat, sd. to 7d. ; bacon and hams, Is. 9d. perlb. ; ale' and porter 18s. 6d. per dozen. The report of good prices, especially of provisions, jshould. encourage those engaged in cultivation in New Zealand to stay where they are, in the certain prospect of obtaining a fair share of the gold in exchange for their produce, rather than leave a certainty for the doubtful and uncertain chance of doing better at the diggings. -

It is reported that the differences between Mr. Enderby, the Lieutenant Governor of the Auckland Islands, and the Commissioners of the South Sea Whale Fishery, are likely shortly to afford employment to the gentlemen of the legal profession.