ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 731, 4 August 1852, Page 3

ENGLISH EXTRACTS.

House op Lords, Feb. 10.— The Duke of Newcastle observed, that the noble earl the Secretary for the Colonies would perhaps recollect that in August last he had remarked that, if the question were not taken up' in the next session by the Government, he would himself bring under the consideration of Parliament the question relative to the constitution of New Zealand. As her Majesty's Government had introduced a paragraph on that subject into her Majesty's most gracious speech, he (the duke) should not go on with his motion. But he might? perhaps, be permitted to ask whether the Government was prepared to proceed with that measure, and whether it was intended to introduce it in that or in the other House of Parliament, and at what time ? Earl Grey, in answer to the noble duke, informed him, that as to the House in which that measure rousl originate, he had no choice. He had been anxious to introduce the Australian Bill in that house, but he had been informed by the highest authority in the other, that if such a bill came in from the House of Lords, the House of Commons could not entertain it. It must be introduced in the House of. Commons. The bill, therefore, would be introduced in the other house as soon as the state of business there would allow it to be proceeded with. In,deed, it was already prepared, although there were various points on which the clauses had I not been finally drawn up, inasmuch as from the last despatches which he had received from the colony, he had reason to believe that considerable additional information, which would have a material bearing on the bill, would soon be in his possession. It was not his intention to wait long for that information.^ Even if the despatches containing it did not soon arrive, the bill would be submitted to Parliament with the best information which he could give respecting it, for it was a matter of urgency, which could not conveniently be postponed.

Steam to Australia and New Zealand via Panama. — We understand that it is in contemplation immediately to extend the line of steam navigation now in operation to the Isthmus of Panama thence to Sydney, and thus the great Central American route to Australia will at length be perfected. The scheme is promoted by Captain C. E. Mangles, a managing director "of the West India Mail Company ; and we are informed that.- although the enterprise will not be started by the Royal Mail Company, yet that many of the directors are] individually interested, and that it will be carried out in concert with the Pacific Steam Navigation Company of Liverpool. It is proposed to organize a company by a Royal charter of incorporation, under the title of the " Australasian Pacific Mail Packet Company," and to conduct its operations by means of five iron screw steamships of 1,000 tons burden and 200horse power, running once, a-month from Panama to Sydney (touching at the Friendly Islands and New Zealand), in connection with the vessels of the West India Mail Company running to Panama. The object is to convey passengers, mails, firrespective of any Government grant or assistance), gold-dust, and valuable merchandize by thisi -the shortest .and most direct route, between England-and Australasia. Passengers from England will reach Chagress by the West India Mail steamer in eighteen or nineteen days ; and by the time the

operations of this compa«y are matured, the across the Isthmus, now in course of construction, will be so "far completed as toadmit of the transit from ocean to ocean being made without risk or fatigue in a few hours. Is is proposed that the steamers to be employed should make an average speed of eight knots an hour, which would enable the voyage from Panama to Sydney to be performed in something under forty days, thus making the total time between Southampton , and Sydney only fifty-nine days. — Australian and New Zealand Gazette, Feb. 7.