NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Wednesday, December 22, 1852.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 771, 22 December 1852, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Wednesday, December 22, 1852.

The English news by the True Briton has beenH anticipated by previous arrivals from SydneyH and Melbourne of the same or later -dates. I But though there is no news of any materialß

public importance, there fire one or two interesting topics connected /with this colony to ' which we may, shortly /advert. First among them we may place steam, the introduction of which seems at. length/ on the eve of accomplishment. It is generally reported, we believe on good authority, that a communication has been received by /the Governor to the effect that the Pacific/Steam Company are disposed to make Wellington their head quarters in New Zealand, if a jetty or wharf can be provided, alongside of which vessels drawing eighteen feet water can discharge their cargoes-. As this accommodation can be very readily" provided, this question, which so greatly affects the future importance and development not only of this but of all the other settlements of the Southern Province, may be considered asvirtually set at rest, since in addition, first ratecoal from the newly discovered coal field of Nelson can be supplied in. great abundance onmore reasonable terms than can be procured' elsewhere. No doubt this intelligence will' have the effect of stimulating the exertions off the committee for making /arrangements for working the coal at Nelson, and we may expect that a good substantial wharf, providingthe requisite accommodation, will' be commenced with all convenient speed, so that the necessary facilities for ensuring despatch in loading and unloading may not be wanting on. the arrival of these vessels. The new Constitution for this colony hasnot, it is said, been forwarded by this opportunity. Of course this must be a severe disappointment to those candidates for public favour who aspire to be Superintendents and Representatives, and who have been actually canvassing under the expectation and belief that the Constitution would be immediately proclaimed. ' To the electors we would repeat the advice given in our last number, and caution them against allowing themselves to be unwarily entrapped into promising their votes beforehand' ; it will be quite time enough to entertain the pretensions and listen to the solicitations of those' persons who are so anxious to promote the public good (which of course in their opinion can only be secured by their return as representatives) when the Constitution has been proclaimed and the day is fixed for the election. It must be some consolation, however, to these gentlemen to know that if the Bill has not arrived, Mr. Fox's approval of it has, in the shape of a letter to the Chairman of the self-styled ConstitutionarAssociation of this place, occupying more than three columns of the New • Zealand Journal. This letter, is much in the same strain with SBSirf IK 13. fr. Wakefield's which we published some time since, and the .two take pretty good care to appropriate to themselves the chief merit of the of the Bill. If Mr. Wakefield eulogises Mr. Fox's modesty and other good qualities, of which no one previously suspected the existence, Mr. Fox is careful to return the compliment, and repays Mr. Wakefield in his own coin. It would be beyond our present limits to enter into a lengthened discussion on this letter, in which as usual Mr. Fox attacks Sir GK Grey (to whom as we have formerly shown the credit of the Bill really belongs) and those holding office under him with that coarse abuse which generally marks his effusions. In.his obervations on the office of Superintendent he hints at the office being " merely honorary," that some one may be found who would sufficiently value the appointment to discharge its duties,"as in an English mayoralty" without anysalary. But however eagerly the office may be coveted by some of his friends, the idea of discharging its duties without receiving any remuneration is, we imagine, the last thought connected ' with it they have ever entertained. " Mr. Fox also alludes to the question of the New Zealand Company's debt, which he says will probably be brought before Parliament next session, whenitmay.possiblybe modified in amount. We have no doubt that the numerously signed memorials which were sent home by the Mid" lothian will operate in causing a careful revision of the Company's claims withja-viewj'tp, their equitable and final adjustment., It is, gntoi the question to suppose that, the settlers will ever adopt as final, an arrangement so hnjust and ruinous to the colony as that which has/ just received the sanction of Parliament. I

The Midlothian from "Wellington arrived in England August 6. Tke.Gashmere from Auckland with a cargo of spars had also .arrived and was laid on for 'Wellington and the southern settlements to sail in September. The Simlah on her arrival in England; « would also be laid „ on for Auckland.

The- General Legislative Council will meet this day at the Legislative Council Chamber, at 8 o'clock. fAs it is understood the Council has been summoned for the purpose of passing the two Ordinances of which notice has been given in the Gazette, the Session is expected to be a very short one.

The last supplement to the Government Ga~ zette contains a list of fifty persons who are declared by the Commissioner to be duly entitled to Crown grants ; among them are Purutu and other aboriginal chiefs, entitled to a grant of a country section in the Lower Hutt.

A sailing match for £5 came off on Monday between Lieutenant Hutchinson's Flying Dutchman, and a bdat belonging to the brig Marmion. The boats started fronv • ]&essrs. Hickson's wharf to sail round Somes's Island and back ; but the Marmion s boat had not the slightest chance,, the other boat coming in about two hours before her. '

Programme of the performance of the Band the 65th Regt, at Thomdon Flat, on Friday the 24th inst: — 1. Overture— D'Eliza et Claudio Mercadante 2. Core c Aria Asi tremendo Annunzio "I e m n i t — Belizario «•• J 3. The Prince of Wales Quadrille Glover 4. Cavatina— La mia Letizia— l Lombardi.Ferdt 5. Mandolina Waltz Buller €. The Crystal Fountaia Polka Jullien 7. The Amazon Galop Buller.