NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Wednesday, January 5, 1853.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 775, 5 January 1853, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Wednesday, January 5, 1853.

Two documents appear in our present number, which are valuable and instructive for the infownation they afford of Mr. Fox's conduct with reference to the land question. The first is a despatch from the Governor to the Colonial Minister, shewing the reckless course

pursued by the late Company's Agent in giving away the lands, not only of the Company, but even of the Demesne of the Crown, with a profusion perfectly unexampled. It appears from Mr. Fox's own admission, that two hours before the final closing c f the Company's offices for business, and five months after the Company had surrendered its charter to the Grown, he did not hesitate to grant land scrip to claims that he had not even time to examine, " many of which had been previously rejected," and he himself confesses that he was utterly at a loss "to discover any ground on which the Company can be held bound to compensate the claimants." Considering Mr. Eox's peculiar position at the time, that he had ieceived from the Company positive information of its having surrendered its charter, with instructions to close its affairs in the colony as speedily as possible, it might reasonably be supposed that an agent, under such circumstances, would be chiefly occupied with setting his house in order, and in leaving the Company's affairs in a business-like and satisfactory footing; that such claims, at such a time, being presented to him, it was obviously his duty to have left them to the decision of the Government, to whom the Company's charter was surrendered, and to whom the management of the lands had in consequence reverted, and on whom the responsibilities of the Company were imposed. But Mr. Fox chose to act very differently. It is notorious in what confusion the Company's affairs were left by him; and in the cases to which we are referring, even though he was unable to discover any ground on which the Compensation could be granted, he granted it without any hesitation. And yet in spite of this reckless waste, the colonists are bound by the recent Act of Parliament to pay the Company the full amount agreed upon five years previously, when such a disposition of the lands was never even dreamed of; they are actually required to pay the Company both principal and interest without having received the slightest consideration. The Colony is in fact called upon first to compensate the Company's purchasers, and then to pay the Company for satisfying its creditors. We leave our readers to form their own conclusions from these facts, simply remarking that throughout the despatch Sir George makes a strenuous effort to save the settlers from the gross injustice which has been practised upon them, and to have the question settled upon an equitable basis. The other document, a communication addressed to ourselves, in whiah Mr. Fox is sontrastedwith himself, speaks for itself; comment would be superfluous It furnishes a most ample proof of Mr- Fox*s unscrupulous readiness in saying anything which he thought might answer the purpose of the moment.

We beg to direct the attention of our readers to anadvertisement calling a public meeting at the Mechanics' Institute on the subject of the Steam Wharf on Friday next,and also to the report of the interesting discussion on this subject in the Council yesterday.

Infokmation has been received of a robbery having been committed by some natives at Rangitikei, who broke open and robbed the house belonging to a shepherd on Captain Daniell's station, and who are reported to have fired upon Messrs. Hickson, Ross, and other settlers, who were on the other side of the river at the time of the robbery. It is believed the robbery and outrage above mentioned were perpetrated by some vagabond Maories, outcasts of different tribes, who have been as great a source of annoyance to their own countrymen as they have proved to the settlers at Rangitikei.

The short session of the Legislative Council closed its sittings yesterday. We have published in our present number three of the Ordinances, viz., the Appropriation Ordinance, the Land Registration Amendment and Extension Ordinance, and the Bank Charters Amendment Ordinance, which have been passed by the Council.

Pbogeamme of the performance of the Band of the 65th Regt, at Thomdon Flat, on Friday the 7th inst.: — 1. Overture to Peeping Tom of CoYentry. . Bithop 2. Tatto parea Sorri dere, scent ed aritT ■„■ M — IlCorsaro f Verdi 3. The Hungarian Quadrille Juttien 4. Cavatina— Piu bel sole; piubelcielo,! and aria, gia dalla menta— Le Tre > Alary. Nozze : . J 5. Rose de Mai Vtlse Koenig 6. Sturm Marsch Galop Julliea 7. The Sailor Prince Polka Koenig

The following is a summary of the contents of last Friday's Government Gazette : — a proclamation by the Governor- in- Chief under the provisions of the Passepgers Act ; a despatch from Sir J. Pakington to the Governor, inclosing copies of the new Passengers Act and directing that its provisions be strictly enforced ; also despatches, together with the opinion of the Attorney and Solicitor General, referring to the desertion of seamen from merchant vessels ; notice of a Light House, called " Birds Island Light" in Algoa Bay, with sailing directions for the same ; a report of an analysis by Dr. Ralph of specimens of Gold from Auckland ; notice that the Government offices would be closed on the Ist and 22nd January; of the appointment of Mr. R. Eaten to be Found keeper at Waimea, Nelson ; a notice by the Registrar, referring to the Intestate Estate of the late Mr. J. Toms, and a list of officiating Ministers under the provisions of the Marriage Ordinance. The following 13 the amount of notes of the

Colonial Bank of Issue in circulation on the 1 lth of December, 1852, being the close of the preceding four weeks £b and upwards £3,550 0 0 Under £5 9,775 0 0 £13,325 0 0 The «urn of Eight Thousand Pounds sterling has been invested in the British funds under the warrant of his Excellency the Governor-in- Chief.