NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Wednesday, July 6, 1853.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 827, 6 July 1853, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Wednesday, July 6, 1853.

On the promulgation of the New Land Regulations, Mr. Wakefield asserted that the boon of cheap Land was bestowed by the Governor with a view to influence the elections under the New Constitution. Every one is quite satisfied that this assertion of Mr. Wakefield's was perfectly unfounded, but while by a most unscrupulous opposition to the gene ral wishes and interests of the Settlers he tried in every way to thwart the opertion of the measure, it was hardly to be expected that Mr. Wakefield, the assertor of a " sufficient price," the denouncer of the Cheap Land System, should himself resort to the cry of " Cheap Land" as an electioneering- dodge ; that he should endeavour, by holding out the bait of giving away the land, to enlist in his favour the sympathies and votes of the men of the Hutt. If, as was clearly intimated to him when the Memorial on the subject of Compensation was presented, Compensation is to be granted, the New Zealand Company, (who received £236,000 in hard cash, and who contrived to obtain a mortgage on the Waste Lands of the Colony,) is the quarter from which Compensation must" come. The Company has been most liberally compensated by the Government, and therefore ought to satisfy the just claims of the Settlers. But this we suspect would not suit Mr. Wakefield's purpose ; his object is not to obtain Compensation for the Hutt Settlers, but to throw dust in their eyes, and by this manoeuvre obtain influence in the New Provincial and Representative Assemblies, and if possible put difficulties in the way of the Government. By the way, how is it that Mr. Wakefield has not published any account of the view of the Deputation with the Governor on presenting the Memorial for Compensation to the Hutt Settlers ? — that not even the written answer of the Governor to the Memorial has been published ? He, who so'often appears the " hero of his story," would hardly have felt any difficulty in the matter, if the result of the interview had not proved so damaging to himself.

Election of Superintendent. On Saturday the electors were called upon to exercise their newly acquired privileges in the election of a Superintendent for this Province. The Church' of England Schoolhouse at Thorndqn was appointed by the Keturning Officer as the place of election. Mr. Fitzherbertin a speech of some length proposed Dx. Featherston for the office of Superintendent of the Province of Wellington. Mr. Lyon seconded the nomination. No other person appearing as a candidate, the returning officer, on a r show of hands, declared Dr. Featherston to be duly elected. , Dr. Featherston, who, appeared to be in a state of ill health then addressed the electors, after wbichthe meeting broke up. About one hundred persons were present.

H.M.S. Calliope arrived yesterday from Hobart" Town, having called on her way at Nelson. We "understand she has onboard a detachment of soldiers of the 65th Regiment.

Mr. M-Lean returned from the Castle Point district on Saturday last.. We understand he

has completed tlie arrangements for purchasing that district, comprising ahout 300,000 acres, which forms the. connecting link between the Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa districts, and has paid the natives one thousand pounds, being the first instalment of the purchase money. The acquisition of this new block of land by the Government, at a time when grazing districts are so much in request, cannot fail to be of great advantage to this Province ; it will also be the means of putting an end to the rents which were paid to the natives by those parties who were leasing portions of this district of them, and who will especially be benefited by coming under the more liberal arrangements of the Government; their payments to the Government under the Pastoral Regulations being about one-half what they were accustomed to pay as rent to the natives, besides having the opportunity of purchasing their homesteads at the fixed price of 10s. an acre under the new land regulations. Within the last twenty months the Government have extinguished the native title to a million of acres on the East coast of this Island, including some of the finest pastoral and agricultural districts in this Province. Judging from what has been already jdone, there is every reasonable prospect that the intervening blocks will at no distant period be secured, and all difficulties arising from the non-extinguish-ment of the native title be entirely removed.