NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Wednesday, November 2, 1853.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 861, 2 November 1853, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Wednesday, November 2, 1853.

The address of the Superintendent to tb« Provincial Council, on the opening of the session on Friday, has been a topic of general discussion. 'Without entering into the consideration of the different questions to which itrefers, we sfcall offer a few observations on it such as it appears calculated to call forth, and in doing so we may notice the working of the old leaven in the. congratulations indulged in at the very onset, — on the success of w the long and arduous struggle" for Representative Institutions, — as if success were at all attributable to the- party with which the Superintendent is connected. But it is so clear from all the proceedings connected with the introduction ©f the new Constitution, from 'iiae debates in Parliament, the published despatches relating to. the measure, the admissions of the Colonial Minister " that tjjemeasure hfietf, ndw reduced to a law, owes its shajpe in a great degree to the valuable suggestions" oiPhis Excellency Sir'Geojge Grey, it is so notorious that even .the election of -the Superintendent is owing to the Governor's recommendation, that looking to the particular period it which the Act was passed, it may safely be affirmed that but for the able despatch of the' Governor, on which the Act was based, j but for his earnest recommendations, iti would not have been brought forward' at that time; that but for him it would ij never have assumed its present shape is now very generally admitted except ty those who wilfully shut theiy eyes to the truth. It is also to be noticed that 'though the address seems carefully to avoid any j mention of, or allusion to the Governor, and when this is unavoidable, places Me M'Lean before his Excellency ; every fact, it contains, referring 'to the growing prosperity of the Province,— the fifty miles of |j main roads already completed, the increa- ; sing revenue of the Province, the large; amount of exports, the millions of acres pur- ; chased from the natives and open to the occupation ofithe settlers, placing at their disposal ample means for immigration and internal improvements, the growing civilization and active industry of the natives, — the contrast in short between the^tate of; the colony on the Governor's assuming the ; administration of the Government and the , state in which he leaves it, — the bare men*; -tion of these facts effets an involuntary j .tribute to his honor, and serves to show! how much the colony is indebtel to his j

wise and liberal policy, and to his strenuous exertions on its behalf. Whatever superstructure 'may hereafter be raised, the solid foundation of prosperity and success of this Province has been laid by Sir George Grey. Another important omission which has been the subject of general observation, is the absence of any allusion in the address to the subject of education. This is the more remarkable as it is a subject of vital importance, and one which occupies the serious attention of all classes oi tlie community, as it has 'also bailed forth their earnest exertions to extend its beneficial effects. It has also been remarked that while the opposition : of the Superintendent and his party to the Government was of the most virulent and unscrupulous kind, while every factious means were to to endeavour if possible to create embarrassment, now that the responsibilities of carrying on the Provincial Government by a change of circumstances .have devolved on them, an earnest appeal is made to the settlers for their generous forbearance and cordial co-operation, that, sensible of their inexperience and of the arduous duties they have undertaken, the settlers should regard all shortcomings with the most favourable consideration, that they should Be to their virtues very kind Be to their faults a little blind. Without further discussing this subject at present we may express our belief that a much greater amount of forbearance and impartiality will be exhibited towards them, than they have formerly shewed themselves capable of entertaining. j

Some natives who have come to Wellington from Taranaki have brought information of a number of sheep, some dead and some alive, which were washed ashore about a fortnight since, on the coast between Wanganui and Taranaki. The circumstance of some of the sheep being alive has given rise to a good deal of anxious conjecture.

Wb had recently shewn to us by R. Waitt, Esq., a ring made of Australian gold, in which were set six pearls of good size and of a very superior quality, which were obtained near Taranaki The ring was made by Mr. Marriott, of Wellington, and is very chaste in its design and workmanship.

The Wellington arrived yesterday from Lyttelton, which she left on Friday. She has brought intelligence of the arrival At that port of the John Taylor, ninety days from London. The Wellington Mail per John Taylor is on ~boafd the Despatch which may be hourly expected.