NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Wednesday, March 15, 1854.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume IX, Issue 899, 15 March 1854, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Wednesday, March 15, 1854.

In the last Nelson Examiner received (March 4) is published the address of the Superintendent on closing the first Session of the Provincial Council on the 28th ult. The address contains the ordinary compliments and congratulations usual on such occasions. The Council •are informed that the Executive Government and Empowering Ordinances have "been approved by the Governor, and the increasing revenue of the Province and increasing amount received from sales of land during the last six months are referred to with evident satisfaction. The address concludes by proroguing the Council to the 18th October. Towards the close of the Session a serious difference of opinion seems to have existed between the Superintentendent and his Council. In considering J,he Estimates, the department of Resident Magistrate was struck out, the Council refusing to recognise the depart • ment as chargeable on the Provincial Revenue — on the plea that it was excepted from the control of the Superintendent. The Superintendent however was of a contrary opinion, and on the Appropriation Bill being forwarded to him replaced the item on the Estimates, which was again struck out by the Council on the bill being returned to them. This led to messages from the Superintendent and fresh debates in the Council, in which some of the members expressed themselves freely, Dr. Monro describing the message of the Supcrin-' lendent on the subject as having been " written in a spirit of factious opposition." A subsequent debate ensued on the question, after the receipt of another message from the Superintendent, proposing as an amendment the insertion of the Resident Magistrate's department on the Estimates, and entering at some length into the reasons for such a course, alleging that unless due provision were made for the department, unless there were a Resident Magistrate in the Provii.ce, several of the most important Ordinances would become inoperative, and that even the machinery of the Constitution, — such as the formation of the Electoral roll of the Province, and the receipt and return of the Writs as returning officer in all Elections in the Province under the Constitution — could hardly be earned out. The Council however remained inflexible, and a motion of Dr. Monro — "that the Appropriation Bill be returned to his Honor without amendment" was carried by a vote of 6 to 3» Messrs. Willis and Co.'s screw steam er" the Nelson arrived at Nelson on the 5th 5 after a favorable passage of 104 days. She had performed the voyage out under sail; the screw was to be fitted at Nelson, and she would steam over to Wellington* Report speaks very highly of her qualities as a sea boat, and the excellence of her accommodation. It is sincerely to be hoped that the Provincial Governments will not let so fair an opportunity slip of establishing steam communication between the different Ports of New Zealand, an opportunity which can hardlybe expected to occur again. The first steamer of the Panama line was to leave England the beginning of January and might probably, according to private advices, be expected to call here in May.

Pkogbamme of the performance by the Band of the 65th Regt., at Thomdon, on Friday. March 17th : — 1. Oerture— Don Pasqualtf < . . Donizetti 2. Cavatina— Hopeonce more this bosom 1 # ir fill— Seige of Rochelle . . , f Ba U* 3. The real Scotch Quadrilles Jullten 4. Selection — Bohemian Girl' Balfe 5. Queen's Waltz Tutton 6. Cricket Polka Jullien 7. Pas Galop — Benuousky ..., fioefioa

♦ Cricket. — The admirers of this very manly and truly English game are informed that a match will be played this day (Wednesday),

between the military and the civilians, when, from the preparations that are making, one of the best contests that ever came off in Wellington may be expected.