NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Saturday, May 21, 1853.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 814, 21 May 1853, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Saturday, May 21, 1853.

A voluminous correspondence has been published in last Wednesday's Independent by Mr. D. Wakefield, the ex- Attorney General of New Munster, on his resignation of his office. Before adverting to it we may observe that we were also requested to publish the correspondence in the Spectator, and that we gave to the proposal a willing assent, intimating however, that we should at the same time publish our opinion of it, whereupon the correspondence was withdrawn, It may seem somewhat inconsistent that Mr. Wakefield should make a deliberate appeal to the sympathies of bis fellow colonists, that he should submit his conduct to their judgment, and yet should shrink from criticism. We do not, however, pretend to account for his inconsistencies, but simply proceed to notice the correspondence referred to. Mr. Wakefield complains that he lias been treated with injustice by the Governor because his resignation of office has, been accepted, and attempts to justify himself by the publication of an ex- parte statement in which he tries to present the most favourable view of his case. The attempt, however, has not been very successful, on his own shewing he makes a very sorry appearance, instead of meeting with sympathy he has made himself ridiculous, while he finds it impossible to reconcile his present course with his former conduct.- What are the facts? After repeated discussions of the Executive Council at which Mr. Wakefield, as legal adviser of the Government was present, the Proclamation reducing the price of land was finally agreed upon. The Proclamation is dated 4th March, and was published in the Government Gazette on the 10th March. We learn from the . Governor's letter that Mr. Wakefield, as legal adviser of the Crown, advised the issue of the Proclamation and maintained its legality, and even subsequently, on the Ist April, " advanced substantial reasons why the Injunction should be set aside and shewed that the Judge had no legal power to prevent the provisions of the Proclamation being carried out." It has only been since he has fallen under the influence of his brother Mr. E. G. Wakefield, that he has adopted opposite views on this question, and seems to have implicitly surrendered himself to his guidance. "Mr. Wakefield now asserts that he lias never in any way maintained the legality of the Proclamation, affects to draw a distinc. tion between his private and his official opi. nions, and attempts to excuse his conduct as a member of the Executive Council by saying h e did not consider himself under any respon

sibility as an officer of the Government. No doubt if Mr. Wakefield's opinion, given to Mr. Wodchouse for the purpose of being forwarded to the Governor, were published, we should find that much has been said l>v him on both sides of this question; that his former views and those which he now holds are so diametrically opposite, as to place him in a very painful position. Nor even on his own shewing, with every laboured attempt at explanation, is his position much improved, since if we are really to believe that he has all along laboured under the conviction that the Proclamation was illegal, — that he, the legal adviser of the Government, was present at all the meetings of the Executive Council at which this question was discussed, and never once expressed his opinion, what are we to think of his candour or his honesty? What, any person of common intelligence would natr.rally exclaim, what then did the Attorney General receive £400 a year for ? The whole correspondence shows clearly the influence under which Mr. Wakefield has been acting, it also acquaints us with one or two other matters — with the attempt to embarrass the Government by the proposal to stay proceedings under the Proclamation throughout the colony, with the insidious advice (having the same object in view) to the other members of the Government to resign their offices. Great stress is laid on the Judge's obstinacy, " how perfectly idle it would be to change his mind ;" and this is frequently repeated, as if the mere dictum of Mr. Justice Stephens were like the law of the Medes and Persians, irrevocable and without appeal. It is generally understood the opinion of the Attorney. General of New Zealand, (Mr. Swainson) is diametrically opposed to the Judge's decision ; indeed the latter seems to have gone out of his way, and to have expressed opinions on matters that were not even before him, while his precipitation is not calculated to increase the public confidence in the Bench. Mr. Wakefield, certainly could not have contrived more effectually to damage his character than by the publication of this correspondence, nor do we suppose it at all calculated to serve him in the good opinion of the Colonial Minister.

On MoDday two dray loads of wool from Mr. Collins's station arrived in Wellington, being the first wool from the Wairarapa district which has passed over the Rimutaka road, and vre understand that sixty bales will be brought by this road in time to be shipped by the Lord Nelson. This road, which affords an easy access tq the Wairaiapa from -the Htrtt district, and which has been carried on under the able superintendence of Mr. Boy, is now fast approaching to a completion. The length of road over the Rimutaka range is about 12 miles, the summit level of the range being upwards of two thousand feet, or seven times the height of Mount Victoria, above the level of the sea ; the line of road has been so carefully selected that the steepest gradient will not be more than lin 14. This road when complete will be the most important in the province, as it will, in, fact be the line of commnnication with the Wairarapa and Hawkes' Bay Districts, and by a continuation through the interior of the country will become the highway between Wellington and Auckland. The pass over the Rimutaka range for magnificence of scenery is fully equal to some of the finest mountain passes in the Highlands of Scotland. Great credit is due to Mr. Roy for the substantial and careful manner in which the works have been executed.

We are glad to observe that the Union Bank of Australia here has reduced its charges on Drafts on England, as will be seen from the following announcement : — Rates of Exchange upon London, at the Union Bank of Australia. Drafts at 30 days issued at par. „ „ drawn against wool or other colonial produce purchased at 3 per cent, discount.

The Gtoalior from Port Cooper has brought the Hampshire's mail, which was not very large, as the great bulk of letters and newspapers for Wellington appear to have been forwarded by the Maliommcd Shah, which sailed direct for this port, and which is now considerably over due. The following vessels are advertized by Messrs. Willis & Co. for New Zealand. For Auckland and the Northern Ports, Simlah, Robertson, to sail January 25 ; the Crewoell, J. Williams, to sail in March. For Wellington and Southern Ports, Maori, Petherbridge to sail February 10, a New Ship, Barclay, to sail in March, The Cresswell which left Auckland September 14, had arrived in England the end of Decembet , having made a very favourable passage.

By a private letter of December 6th, which has been communicated to us, we learn that Ihe projected company for introducing steam between the different settlements of New Zealand has been dissolved in consequence of receiving no subscriptions or support from the colony ; it was estimated that the expense of keeping two steamers in working order would amount to £8000 per annum, and an outlay of £24,000 would be required for the purchase of the yes. sels. In consequence of the disputes between the Canterbury Association and the New Zealand Company and the attempt made by the former to get rid of the bonded and general debt, it was found impossible to raise any funds for the completion of the road from Lyttelton to the plains. The Cashmere which left Plymouth in company with the Royal Albert for Auckland, after having been out 2 days was struck with aheavy sea that opened her planks, carried away her bulwarks and swept her decks, and occasioned her to put back for re-

pairs, which were expected to cause some detention. With reference- to steam via Panama the writer states " The Pacific Steam Navigation Company's ships will not start until June ne\t via Panama, where the rail performs the distance now in eijjht hours. An American Company has raised the capital necessary for a ship canal through the Tsthmus of Darien, and promises to effect the voyage in 50 days from London to Sydney, calling on their way North at Auckland, home by Wellington ; the Panama route takes fifty seven days. This will benefit New Zealand in no other way than for letters; cargoes they will not undertake, and few emigrants can afford the passage charges now suggested.